Category: Art Rauf Likes

Andrew Wyeth is one of the most beloved and, at the same time, one of the most underrated American artists of the 20th century. All his paintings exude an atmosphere of loneliness, longing, and melancholy. Essentially, he would sit on his porch or inside his house and paint everything around him.

In “Christina’s World,” a painting where a girl is semi-lying in a field, this girl is Wyeth’s neighbor Anna Christina Olson, partially paralyzed by CMT disease. Despite her physical limitations, Christina led an active life on the farm, helping with chores and taking care of the house. The painting symbolizes human resilience and the pursuit of goals despite difficulties.

Andrew Wyeth’s father, Newell Convers (N. C.) Wyeth, was a renowned illustrator and artist. The family was generally quite creative (his father, grandfather, and two aunts were artists), making it difficult for Andrew to avoid the fate of becoming an artist himself. 🙂 He was taught art by his father from an early age, and they were very close. When Wyeth was 28, his father died under the wheels of a train, and since then, the melancholy in Wyeth’s paintings has only increased.

His father made him draw from plaster casts and Rimmer’s Anatomy, teaching him to study the model, then turn his back on it and draw from memory. It’s actually a very interesting approach. I always thought that foreign languages should be learned in the same way. Read or heard a text—turned your back on it and recited it. A lot of information goes in one ear and out the other, and what enters through the eyes often goes somewhere deep and gets buried. Separating the important from the unimportant and being able to reproduce knowledge is a very important skill. This is partly why I write a lot on Facebook and the Hybrismart blog, because it’s a way to remember and understand things better.

I remind you that similar posts are grouped under the tag #artrauflikes, and on beinginamerica.com in the “Art Rauf Likes” section, there are all 63 (currently) of them (unlike Facebook, which forgets (ignores) almost half).

Artist Inna Tsukakhina hails from Russia. Many of her artworks align with the “mainstream,” yet a few stand out as particularly intriguing. Her artistic expression largely embodies a “gentle romance” reminiscent of watercolor techniques, although she utilizes oil paints.

Let me remind you that similar posts are collected under the tag #artrauflikes. Moreover, on beinginamerica.com within the “Art Rauf Likes” section, you can explore all 62 entries (current count), as opposed to Facebook, which tends to overlook or omit nearly half of them.

Janet Fish is an American artist. Today is her birthday, she is 86 years old. She has an interesting still life technique and a very recognizable style!

I remind you that similar posts are grouped under the tag #artrauflikes, and on beinginamerica.com in the “Art Rauf Likes” section, you can find all 58 of them (as of now), unlike Facebook, which forgets (or ignores) almost half of them.

Chinese artist Jianwu Tan boasts a varied portfolio, each piece showcasing his mastery in knowing when to restrain and when to embrace photorealism. His body of work spans several series including Tibet, ballerinas, nudes, and portraits.

I remind you that similar posts can be found grouped under the tag #artrauflikes, and on beinginamerica.com in the “Art Rauf Likes” section, where all 58 of them (to date) are available. This is in contrast to Facebook, which tends to forget (or overlook) nearly half of them.

Today in the news, the UK is abuzz with controversy over the new official portrait of King Charles III by Jonathan Yeo. It is quite contentious. However, after the portrait of the Queen painted from life by Lucian Freud, which also faced significant criticism, the British have continued to invite artists who love to experiment. So, Jonathan Yeo. He actually has some good paintings. I am attaching some of them, and at the end, the controversial portrait of Charles. The artist probably thought that if he made a simple official portrait in a classic style, it wouldn’t garner the needed attention. Well, he wasn’t wrong.

I remind you that similar posts are grouped under the tag #artrauflikes, and on beinginamerica.com in the “Art Rauf Likes” section, you can find all 58 of them (as of now), unlike Facebook, which forgets (or ignores) almost half of them.

Arkhip Kuindzhi (1842, Mariupol). In Russia and Ukraine, this name is probably known to everyone, but outside these countries, almost no one knows him. Meanwhile, he left a very interesting mark in history.

I remember “Moonlit Night on the Dnieper” well in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. It should be noted immediately that the painting has darkened significantly over time. It creates a complex impression — the colors seem almost luminescent (but they’re not). Printed reproductions, photographs, and online images fail to convey the magic of this painting. Anyone who has been to the museum and seen it with their own eyes will confirm this 🙂 What also deserves special attention is how Kuindzhi showcased the painting. The canvas was displayed in a darkened room, with walls draped in dark fabric, and it was impossible to approach the painting closely. Light was directed onto the work in such a way that it reflected off the canvas at a certain angle, making the thickest areas of paint gleam as if they were burning from within. It created the impression that the viewer was not looking at a painting but through a window.

It is curious how Kuindzhi depicts moonlit nights in other nocturnes. He does not paint the moon itself. It is located outside the canvas — behind the viewer. Although the moon itself is not visible, the light makes it clear that it is a full moon. Kuindzhi aimed to convey how moonlight reflects off different surfaces, and he succeeded in doing so.

In 1882, at the peak of his success and popularity, Arkhip secluded himself in his studio and did not allow any visitors. His further creative life became a mystery to everyone. Admirers and critics began to believe that Kuindzhi had exhausted himself. But he continued to create; he simply did not want to show his works to people. The artist’s seclusion ended in 1901, almost twenty years later, when Kuindzhi reminded everyone of his existence. He showed his students and friends four paintings, and later, other works became known as well.

I remind you that such posts are grouped under the tag #artrauflikes, and on beinginamerica.com in the “Art Rauf Likes” section, all 57 (as of now) are available (unlike on Facebook, which forgets (ignores) almost half). Very likely the posts are available on raufaliev.com as well — the migration is in progress.

Ans Debije (Netherlands). Her still life technique is impressive: from a distance, they look hyper-realistic, but up close, it’s pure impressionism. The way materials are conveyed is amazing—just one spot or brushstroke, and you can immediately tell if it’s plastic, glass, or metal. She has hundreds, maybe even thousands, of small works, and they are all simple and beautiful. Choosing the best is difficult. Check out her website — https://www.ansdebije.nl/. Brilliant!

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Today I’m showcasing a very unique artist, Michael Taylor. His works remind me a bit of Lucian Freud (I should write about him separately sometime). Both artists hail from the British school. Among the paintings included, there is “Boy with an Apple,” commissioned by director Wes Anderson for his film “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” The fictional story of the portrait played a crucial role in the plot of the film, serving as a MacGuffin—a pivotal item around which the action is built. Notice that the paintings are simultaneously photorealistic and not realistic at all. This is what is known as “controlled distortion.” Very unusual and very cool.

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Zhaoming Wu. Predominantly paints faceless ladies adorned in complex drapery and set against contrasting light, yet he does so enchantingly that it’s hard to look away and not examine each work in detail. He also creates impressive charcoal portraits. He has a Facebook page and offers lessons. He lives in San Francisco. I remind you that similar posts are published several times a week on my blog, and there are already no fewer than 50. You can find them on beinginamerica.com by searching for a tag or in the “Art Rauf Likes” section.

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