Martin Stynes, An Artist to Know

Please check out my friend Martin Stynes new website.  It is also now listed in my column of artists to the right.  Martin is a wonderful generous spirit who resides in Manchester, England.  He was born in Ireland, and has the soul of an Irish poet.  He has work on exhibit at the Morean Art Center in St. Petersburg at present.  I encourage you to get to know him.  In doing this blog and in visiting art shows, galleries, and exhibits I have met many wonderful artists.  It enriches my world and I know it will enrich yours as well.  Our world is full of many things....art helps bridge all the gaps.  At any time if you want to recommend an artist for me to check out to highlight, please feel free to do so.  You can do so on post with the blog or directly through rabbits5@aol.com.  I can think of fewer things that can make our world better and a bit smaller than to build a network of artist!

My Friend Martin Stynes                                                                             Manchester, England

Art of the Olympics

Ackroyd and Harvey(click)
British Photographers

Another two amazing artists of the Olympics.  There work is innovative and fresh....literally fresh-it is grass!  They have a method of putting detailed photographic images on who canvases of grass.  As unbelievable as it sounds, these stunning art works can last up to a year with living natural grass.   The discovery that led to two photographers working with images on grass happened accidentally.  They had an installation with grass and had left a ladder in front of the area...they noticed after the exhibit was over the ladder had left an impression, so began their experimentation. Artist are so similar to scientist for it is often an area of discovery, trial and error.  Think of who invented the crayon, or the idea of a fresco, or using ground bone for paint...artist experiment and create.  Ackroyd and Harvey are members of that fine tradition of artist experimenters!

Ackroyd and Harvey, British Photographers                     from google image

Typographic metal rings at London Olympics designed by Ackroyd and Harvey                                 from google image

The 7 rings designed(click for link) by Ackroyd and Harvey are through the park.  They have typographic letter in the metal and are designed to grow into the trees!  So fascinating.  It will be a permanent image of the 2012 Olympics.

The Art Of Ben Cockrel/New Artist Series

I want to introduce you to Ben Cockwell.  Ben is an artist I discovered on line through his blog.  He lives in the Falkland Islands or the Malvinas Islands off the cost of South America.  Ben is British by birth, but feels a great kinship to Vincent Van Gogh.  When you see his red hair and art work I think you will see why.  His landscapes of the area are wonderful and his textural strokes of brush work and pencil will give the feeling of the wildness of the Island.  But his people and animal portraits are extraordinary also. His work does remind me of  Van Gogh and another American artist by the name of Walter Anderson.  He captures he essence and spirt of what he draws as if he is one with the subject.   You can almost feel its being.  Ben does a blog about his work, he writes about his walks on the Island and takes photographs also.  I encourage you to get to know Ben and his art work.  He is oft to new adventures right now, working on a ship that will be going through the Islands.  I look forward to the art that will come from his adventure.
His site is listed as Benco...a combination of his first and last names. I have his blog listed under the column blogs I follow if you would like to sign up for his adventures.  http://bencosart.blogspot.com/

Ben Cockrel/Falkland Artist

Bridget Riley/British Artist Use of Color

Bridget Riley/British Op Artist(scroll over Bridget's name and click for a link to her bio) who was known for her use of color and optical illusion.  


  This post is for my Brit friends and  a special hello to Whitstable!  I can still see the tidal pools and sea life on the beach, feel the sea breeze and watch Freddy, the King Charles Spaniel, pick up stones and run with them!