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.
Richard Schmid is an amazing contemporary artist, whose books (specifically “Alla Prima II”) I often feel tempted to buy, but the price is quite high even for used copies (~$150-200), so I still haven’t bought it yet. For me, it’s still very expensive. By the way, in the book, he shows the process of creating his works layer by layer.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Perhaps, Croatian artist Joseph Zbukvic is the best watercolorist among contemporaries. The only disappointment is that he only paints urban landscapes, sometimes featuring horses. The world deserves more 🙂 Take a look at his works! I always watch watercolorists with great interest and admiration because their technique does not forgive mistakes.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 