Who's Your Favorite Visual Artist and Why

Mine's Salvidore Dali. His paintings are so puzzling until you start to study them. Then you see all sorts of images and understanding. His dreams inspired many works and he was one wierd dreamer. He had a monster ego and only his second wife, Gala, could semi-tame him. So many other reasons. Second, Georgia O'keefe

I'm a fan of Marc Chagall I really like the colors he used and I'm a bit of a cubism fan. His pictures often have an element of whimsy to them which I really enjoy. I'd really like to own one some day.

Oh Dave!!! I promise that by the end of my reply, you will regret asking this question!! Ha! As many of you know I am an interior designer and the visual arts are of paramount importance to me. I have a degree in design which focued heavily on art and architectural history. I have had the privlidge to study abroad in Italy and Switzerland. I went to Venice and tooled around St. Mark's square. I have been to the Uffizi in Florence, seen David, I even bought an anniversary band on the famous Rialto bridge. I have seen the Last Supper in person (Milan). The Florence cathedral (S. Maria del Fiore by Brunelleschi) was awesome! I've been to the leaning tower of Pisa. I've been to the Milan Cathedral which was just sooo over the top! It was amazing though! Also the birth of Venus at the Uffizi. I have also been to the MOMA and the Guggenheim. I always plan my vacations around what museums I can visit. (except Vegas of course....that's a whole different kind of visual stimulation!!! HA!) Dave, when I was in Florence there was this traveling show with hundreds of Salvidore Dali pieces. In fact, that was the whole show!! Tons and tons of sketches and paintings. You would have loved it!! Most of his sketches were drawn out of his frusteration from his impotence. I had to go by myself. I was the only Dali fan in the group. The rest went on to a modern art museum featuring a whole lot of nobody important. I thought they were crazy!!! There is no way that I can narrow my favorites down to one, but I do tend to gravitate to Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, Ghiberti (The Gates of Paradise)-which I also got to see-AWESOME!!! but it's like asking me to pick a favorite child! Brunelleschi and Georges Seurat are in the favorites catagory too. Ummm.....Edgar Degas (all the ballerinas) was great! I don't care too much for Monet. Manet was much better. And of course there are many, many more that I will think of in about two minutes!! We are planning a trip to London this summer. I will be all over those museums too! I'll get to scratch a few "gotsta sees" off my list. Art gets me all excited! Can you tell!? Thanks for letting me bloviate about something other than wls!!!! Slap and tickle, Channan (I didn't have time to check the spelling on these artists....I hope I got them right!)

Tim: Chigal excites me too. Channon: I steered clear of the sexual aspects of Dali's art. Your right, but he was Gala's stud! Marge and I did our undergraduate work at the University of New Mexico and that's really where we came to appreciate O'keefe. I want to visit her ranch someday. We're Unitarians and UUs have retreats and camps on the ranch. I also enjoy the Rennaissance(SP) period, but you struck gold with the impressionists, and Seurat scenes are fascinating. We used to spend time annually in Chicago. I love that museum. Spent time at the MoMA decades ago, as well as the Met. and the National Gallery. I've yet to set foot on the "Continent." In my hard times after Cathy's death, I would get lost in Dali. We all handle grief so differently... Have you been to Venice? I noticed the Italian influence from your house background in your pictures. Your so classy...cal! Dave

Dave!!!!!!!!!!! Are you trying to turn me on with all of this art talk? There's nuttin' better than a man who appreciates fine art. Yes, I've been to Venice. Hated the city.....loved the art and architecture! Glad to see someone else who even KNOWS who Seurat is! He's not mentioned too often among the greats! You have to have studied to know him. You must have seen his work in Chicago. If I remember correctly, his "A Sunday at Le Grande Jatte" (sp?) is at the Art Institute of Chicago. To be honest...I haven't spent too much time studying O'Keefe. Don't know why...just into the classics, I guess. It's interesting that you would pick up on the Italian pieces in my home and not the oriental. I have a lot of asian influence mixed with Tuscan. Somehow...it just works! Want to hear something corny....I have Pinky and Blue Boy in my living room! Ha! They are temporary until I can find some amazing French pieces! Channan

Actually did notice the oriental influence. Southwestern Indian Art is great... sandpainting. BTW, Marge is a chili fanatic... guess what the kitchen theme is? Dave

Like Channan - I've seen a lot of artists' original works in the US and Europe. While I find a lot of them beautiful, or amazing, they are for one time viewing instead of living with. To live with: I like some of Paul Klee's works. The ones that look like kids or teenagers on drugs did them. I really like the blocks of bright colors. Justin Bua has done some great pictures of musicians, I like his style. Of the "old timers" I like Vincent van Gogh. Okay. He isn't an old timer, but I like his stuff anyway. -Pam

I would have to say that my all-time favorite artist is Josephine Wall. She has the uncanny knack of telling a complete story in one painting. Each little segment of the painting is a part of the story, with pictures woven into pictures woven into pictures. Nickie Close second would be Amy Brown, Ciruelo, and Dorian Cleavenger

Well, it is official: our needs, wants, interpretations, taste, etc. are as broad as we use to be. Another OH gift... Dave

I am a big fan of Seurat (spelling??) -- I can look at those dots for hours.... I also love Rembrant-- On the other side of the pond, I think the works from all the Hudson River Valley School painters have an incredible use of light-- I have a Church on my living room wall (print, not an actual) OK-- My split personality is showing up hear-- I also have a think for Ukiyoe prints-- I actually have a Hasai (he's more modern-- first half of the 20th century) in my house-- It is the size of a postage stamp, but it wonderful. I think the Japanese wood block prints are so unusual and love them. So that woudl be my Old Word, New world and Far east favorites. Great question Dave!