Art in History

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If Oprah bought a painting online...

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Bold & Beautiful 2009 Trunk Show

Dramatic Jewels & Handbags

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SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009

2pm - 5pm

www.sanmarinogallery.com

Artists come in all forms

Artists come in all forms. Of course there are the painters and the sculptors. But, just as talented and amazing are the artisans who work in the lesser known areas, such as jewelry.

There is one who travels the world, purchasing semi-precious gemstones of the finest quality. She then goes through them to pick out only the best shapes and colors for her one-of-a-kind design. The stones that are left over are sold wholesale to other jewelers. Every piece is loaded with large, chunky stones (her signature) and even the clasp is hand hammered silver with a little stone setting. Every piece is wearable art.

Another works in miniature. The chains are miniscule, the stones are teeny and each one is hand drilled for the chain. Some of the pieces are drilled onto fishing line that has been sliced into sprays, with little bits of the stones knotted on. Her work is very light and dainty. When you really look at it, you are amazed at the amount of work necessary for these mini art forms.

Today, I was speaking with the fabulous artist, Hong Nian Zhang – one of the 100 Living Masters and one of China’s ten most influential artists of all time!

He is such a humble, sweet and interesting person. He was calling to tell me that he is in China researching the costumes for his next historical painting and he went to the Beijing National Museum for a meeting with Curators. To his shock, a painting he had done in 1984 was hanging proudly on and end cap for a current exhibit focusing on workers in the countryside.

He had forgotten about this painting and the fact that the Museum owned it. He introduced himself to the museum docent and started a “Celebrity frenzy”!!!! He is famous in China for his very daring painting “No” , but since moving to Woodstock, NY in 1986 he has gotten away from the limelight.

His wife, Lois Wooley, an American portrait artist was with him at the museum and she had never seen this particular painting. She was thrilled and yelling in the background of the phone. She said the hay in the painting looks as if you could pluck it off and that every stick of hay was “built up” on the canvas to look 3D. She said the rosy sunset clors of the background were so beautiful the painting captivated her long before she knew it was her husbands.

Quality catches the eye every time.

In the Art world there is something new every day. Installations of glass or light, or wire and medications thrown on the floor. Some of these are interesting to look at – some certainly cause one to ask “WHY”???? But whenever there is real talent, raw drawing and painting, it just jumps out and SCREAMS at you. There is no way to fake talent, you have it or you don’t.

Seeing hundreds of things pass my desk daily only reinforces that. Quality catches the eye every time. The ability to use just a bit of pencil and make a whole scene come to life, that fascinates me.