The Photo-Realistic Paitings of Yigal Ozeri
We are in awe of the incredible, large scale photo-realistic PAINTINGS of Yigal Ozeri
Exhibiting internationally, The Blip will keep you posted if there is a London show coming, as we will be the first ones there!
Sleek & Mysterious: The Work of Kate MccGwire
'I gather, collate, re-use, layer, peel, burn, reveal, locate, question, duplicate, play and photograph'
This evening, The Blip salutes British sculptor, Kate MccGwire. We are intrigued by her delicate feathered sculptures- mesmerising, as they seem to simulate movement.
Her work is on show in London with a private view on Friday 9th October- but the exhibition will continue until the end of January, and The Blip is definitely not going to miss it. See picture for invite.
See more work on her website.
All Photos :Kate MccGwire
Beautiful Macabre: The Paintings of Tijana Titin
Tijana Titin's work is expressive, honest and intriguing, as throughout her work she reminds us of passionate emotion, carnal desires, in a style, pallette and fresco style that echoes the old masters. The Blip caught up with her to ask her a little about her life and inspirations.
Hi Tijana! Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I am Berlin-based Serbian artist. I first studied painting in Serbia and got my graduate degree in 2006 at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. Because of my achievements during studies, I managed to get a scholarship from the Serbian Government for my post-graduate studies at the University of Arts (UdK) in Berlin. I came to Berlin in late 2006, learnt German, finished my studies three years later and decided to stay here, at least for a while.
Even though I have formal academic education, I wouldn't say I believe much in it. Already in my student days I was aware of the fact that it is up to you to make most out of it. It certainly can open some doors, like Berlin in my case. I believe the best part of it were the intensive dialogues with my generation of fellow artists and my professors. That discourse often helped me to understand my works better, and to position myself in the art world. Apart from that, my artistic interests, my subjects and inner processes were happening quite independently from my studies.
How would you describe your style?
Maybe saying it's abstract figuration would be the most accurate description. Or sometimes figuration in abstract space...
Which artists have inspired you?
Old masters above all! I cannot explain exactly, but I get more ideas while looking at artists of Baroque, Michelangelo's Last Judgement, Tintoretto and Titian than of any others -I guess the powerful compositions, intensity of emotions and all the drama is closer to my artistic nerve. Other influences are: Bacon, Freud, Schiele, de Kooning, Chagal, Picasso, Matisse ...
If you could collaborate with any other artist, past or present, who would you choose, and why?
This is the hard one! With so many inspiring people...with Andrei Tarkovsky and Nina Simone from the past...From the present Emir Kusturica, David Lynch, Wim Wenders...
What mediums do you work in?
Mostly with oil paint, because it matches my artistic sensibilities the best. From time to time I'll use almost all other mediums for drawing or small paintings: ink, aquarelle, pastel, collage... not a day passes without me doing some pencil drawings in my diary or next to items on my to-do list...
What factors best help you work and inspire you in day to day life?
Firstly, sensitivity is very important. Quantity of what you see and live is often not the deciding factor, but how you perceive it. I am a fan of deeply emotional experiences, exciting conversations, intensity and how I like to call it - "juices of life". Those things inspire me above all, and the works I have done in difficult phases of my life often have a greater emotional charge and energy. Nevertheless, I believe the true artist is the one who can find richness even in the smallest sensations. Whether life is exciting or still, generous or bitter, if you are sensitive enough and your pores are opened, you are always inspired and have something to give.
My personal greatest interest and concern is a human being and his position in the world today. I often paint interpersonal relationships as well. Most of my works have an intimate subject with which I deal through art. During the process subjects become universal, because I paint things we are all going through.
And last but not least: self-discipline is also crucial. When I manage to work every day for many hours, I keep opening the new doors in my own works.
Picasso expressed it the best: "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
What do you like to do when you're not painting?
Watching good movies, reading books, listening to music...
Sports-playing and watching
Meeting friends
Reflecting next to the river (or some water)
Recently, Meditation.
Are there any particular pieces of your own, that are really meaningful to you, if so, which ones, and why?
I mentioned that many of my works have intimate background and I remember dealing with internal struggles while painting them. These processes made me understand life better and learn a lot about myself. In that sense, many works are meaningful to me: the list would be too long! I would separate "Ghosts of Love", one of the last paintings I made - I was going through extreme pain at the time and the work just poured out of me.
Thank you, Tijana!
Please check out Tijana's website and connect with her on Twitter
Tyler Thrasher
Tyler Thrasher caught The Blip's eye through his Instagram account with his beautiful, unusual, crystallised skulls and insects which become both mystical and obscure. We got in touch to learn about his incredible technique and learnt that the artist has many sides to him, too!
Please check out Tyler's Facebook page for more incredible work!
A Little Chat With Lola Dupré
If you follow The Blip on our Facebook or Twitter you'll know that it's no secret that we love the slick, self-styled collage artist Lola Dupré
- who physically slices and manipulates paper images then painstakingly refits them together to a dazzling effect.
Her Past clients have included: Penguin Books, Nike, New Republic, New Statesman, Die Welt and Flaunt Magazine.
The Blip asked a few questions to get to know her a little better:
Hi Lola!
Where are you from originally? Where did you study art? Are there any particular artists that have inspired your style (either past or current?)
Hard to say exactly, somewhere between Paris, Algiers and Glasgow Scotland. Right now I am in Galway, Ireland. I never really studied anything anywhere! I think I get inspiration from everything that I am exposed to. Everything and everyone great or small.
Your particular paper cutting style is really intriguing, how would you describe your own style?
Hard to say, I am committed to working with scissors but a lot of my inspiration is digital manipulation.
What do you love about working in collage? do you work in other mediums as well (even for personal work) and how do you feel about using digital manipulation, like Photoshop?
I love collage, and paper in particular. I used to work with papier-mache, and I really appreciate the tactile nature of paper and its subtle depth. I like its use in 2D collage and in paper garments. I never really use digital manipulation except for cropping final files etc. but I have a lot of respect for it, and perhaps in the future I will use it more.
How long do you usually spend on a piece? what do you think about other people's perceptions of your work? Have there been any comments that you've found particularly funny?
Time changes between every piece, hours, days or weeks. I am not really sure how other people perceive my work. I try to make interesting visuals, a combination of technique and content, both are important to me.
If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be?
So many, hard to say, of course someone like Jean-Paul Goude or Grace Jones.. Tim Walker or Nick Knight.. so many.
What is the most personal/meaningful piece that you have created so far? Do you have a favourite piece?
I try to forget what I have done and work on new thing and ideas, my favourite piece is usually the last project I worked on.
Do you travel with art materials? What is one thing that you can't leave the house without?
I travel with scissors and my brushes, but I like cheap scissors so I can pick them up anywhere. I cant leave the house without my wallet!
If you could own one piece of art, no matter how famous or priceless, what would it be and why?
I don't know, something ridiculous like the Mona Lisa, but only so I could sell it and get a pile of cash. I am not interested in owning things, only the minimal items I need. I want to travel light.
Do you have any advice for other creatives with regards to seeking commissions in the internet age?
Keep working and get it out there on the net, people will see it in time. Collaborate when you can. And when you start getting jobs - give 200% always, double what is expected of you. Make a good impression.
Thank you, Lola. The Blip salutes you!
Please check out her website and follow her on Twitter.
Tadanori Yokoo - Japan's Psychadellic Pop Artist
You may not recognize his name immediately, Tadanori Yokoo's artwork has appeared on the album covers and posters for some of our all time musical heroes, including The Beatles, Miles Davis, Santana, and Earth Wind and Fire.
Yokoo gained cult status in Japan in the 1960's and influenced a lot of the psychadelic movement in the United States, and even today, his influence can be seen in the art work of modern-day graphic designers.
Lu Cong- 'Makena 6', oil on panel
Lu Cong is a contemporary portrait and figurative artist, inspired by 18th Century Romantics, who predominantly focusses on the facial features of his subjects, however we found this one painting of a woman floating particularly striking. We adore the freshness of the skin and delicate fabrics, combined with the surprising composition. Cong is no stranger to unusual and unsettling images; you can see more of his work on his website.
Robert Brownjohn The Rock And Roll Graphic Designer
The Rock and Roll Graphic Designer:
To celebrate the birthday of graphic designer,Robert Brownjohn, we have been looking at his work. Here's the cover art that he designed for The Rolling Stones 1969 album, 'Let it Bleed'.Known to most in his adult life as simply 'BJ', he was born in 1925 to British parents in New Jersey.
By 1944 he had earned a place at the Institute of Design in Chicago, previously known as the New Bauhaus by founder László Moholy-Nagy- and Moholy-Nagy's influence can be traced through Brownjohn's work.
In pursuit of his career in graphic design, BrownJohn moved to New York City in 1950. He adored jazz passionately, and this passion led him to become friends with some massive jazz stars, like Miles Davis and Charlie 'Bird' Parker. He was a known face and most of the biggest parties,
Whilst working as a freelancer he completed projects for a many clients including Columbia Records. Brownjohn’s famously debauched personality and his love of jazz allowed him friendships with giants of the genre such as Miles Davis and Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker.
When he joined Chermayeff & Geismar in 1957, he started to experiment in type design as well as taking on commercial projects for giants such as Pepsi.
Brownjohn left Chermayeff & Geismar in 1959 to move to London and become a design director for McCann-Erickson Ltd. It was at this point in his life that he designed the title sequences for many films, including the Bond films ‘Goldfinger‘ and ‘From Russia with Love‘.
The Blip Salutes: Alvaro Tapia Hidalgo
The Blip Salutes: Alvaro Tapia Hidalgo !
We completely adore these pieces, and to our delight, we've found that the artist is selling prints on Society 6...
.... and we'd gladly give him all of our money for these beautifully coloured and expressive pieces!
Check out his Facebook Page above or his website
Beautiful Paper Cuttings By Maude White
"When I cut paper, I feel as if I am peeling back the outer, superficial layer of our vision to reveal the secret space beneath. With paper cutting there are so many opportunities to create negative space that tells its own story." -Maude White
We love the delicate, painstaking paper cut-outs by Maude White.
You can see more of her work on her website.
Environmentally Responsive Sculptures by Janet Echelman
Janet Echelman is the artist behind a monumental sculpture made of suspended netting that spans the entirety of empty space above a disused highway in Boston.
At its widest, it is 600 feet, swings and vibrates and glows in the changing light as the day progresses, along with lights that are triggered by sensors to project onto the sculpture.
You can hear her speak about her environmentally responsive sculptures in her Ted talk here.
Shuby
Shuby was originally a street artist, her medium mostly being pasted posters, but she gained so much popularity that she went on to be an artist in residence at Magazzini Del Sale. Her work is usually made out of chance- finds from charity shops, which she then playfully manipulates through collage.
The Weird And Wonderful World of DRØMSJEL
'In Silence' Installations by Chiharu Shiota
The fascinatingly delicate and disorientating art installations of Chiharu Shiota.
For her 2013 installations, 'In Silence', Chiharu Shiota presented us with a charred piano and a series of rooms, filled with fine, spider-like threads, that's somehow unnerving.
The pieces were autobiographical, as Chiharu recalls the time in her childhood where she was awoken by the sounds of burning timber, to witnessing the burning of a neighbor's house. The works have travelled around the world, to many museums, and visitors are invited to walk along the pathways through the pieces.
Whistling Bear iIlustrations - Wayne Danting-Langdale
On this beautiful and bright Saturday, we have been in awe of the beautiful work from multi-talented illustrator
Wayne Danting-Langdale from Whistling Bear Illustrations.
Wayne studied Fine Art at DeMontfort University in Leicester, he pursued a career in teaching. After creating a personal project for his wife in 2013, he realised that illustration was his calling- and what he has always wanted to do.
Since then, he has acquired a variety of commissioned work, and says that his "weapons of choice" (we like that) are currently ink, watercolour, dip pen, feather quills and a brush.
When The Blip asks about his inspirations, Wayne says:
"My key inspirations have been Sunga Park, Carne Griffiths and David Sossella. Inspiration is an everyday thing, and can strike at any second, so I often find new project ideas from things that I am passionate about, observations from my surroundings and the people I care about.
I always have projects I want to give my wife as my fail safe to reignite my creative process if I get stuck in any way."
We've been particularly intrigued by his beautiful and textured animal portfolio, but please check out his website for more of his great work:
http://www.whistlingbearillustrations.com/
Android Jones
Acorrding to Wikipedia, Android Jones kicked off his career by working with no less than George Lucas for Industrial Light and Magic, moving on to be the only North American concept artist for Nintendo.
There are limited edition prints available from his website.
For more vibrant and fun work, have a look at his site:
At some point, the legendary photographer Saul Leiter scurried back to his secret stash of unseen nude photography, pulled out a paintbrush, and coloured them in. They've now been published in a beautiful new book, "Unseen Nudes" published by Sylph Editions.
Strange, psychedelic, marbled lands, interspersed with wild animals and tiny curious and adventurous little girls. Blip loves the work of Seonna Hong.
Blip loves: Mitch and Bekka - An illustration collaborative that met due to a partnership between Derby University and Spengergasse Austria.
They both went on to graduate with first class honours and won individual awards in the final degree show at Derby.
Mitch works almost completely at his computer with his graphics tablet, using tone and a sense of realism to depict nature, humour and pop culture whilst Bekka works with fine-line pens in an intricate linear style with themes of fantasy and imagination.
Inspirations include: Greg Simkins, Tyler Stout, Sam Gilbey, Kerby Rosanes and Victo Ngai
To see more of their work, go to:
