Art

March 23, 2020

Poignant Paintings Depict Land Animals Half-Submerged in Rising Sea Water

Known for her hyperrealistic animal paintings, Portland-based artist Lisa Ericson is back with a new series of work that defies the natural order of the animal kingdom. Titled Islands, Ericson’s latest string of surreal paintings is a continuation from her previous Mobile Habitats and Border Crossing series. Each piece highlights our ever-changing climates by visualizing land animals half-submerged in rising waters, while marine life swims and grows around their feet.

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March 15, 2020

5 Illuminating Facts About Dale Chihuly, a Master of Contemporary Glass Art

For nearly 50 years, Dale Chihuly has practiced the glistening art of glassmaking. With his transcendent, jewel-toned sculptures installed in top sites around the world, the American artist has helped transform the age-old craft into an international art form. While you may have gazed at one of Chihuly's sparkling sculptures, you may not know about the man behind the blown glass. Learn more about the contemporary master with these illuminating facts about Dale Chihuly.

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March 13, 2020

9 of the Best Paint Palettes for Mixing Your Favorite Types of Pigments

The palette is an unsung hero of painting. It’s where you’ll harmonize your color choices and mix all those great hues to create wondrous works of art. Although the variations of this tool might seem the same, not all palettes are created equal. Our guide introduces you to some of the highest-rated palettes that you’ll use time and again.

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March 12, 2020

Dynamic Palette Knife Portraits Beautifully Balance Order with Chaos

Artist Françoise Nielly creates dynamic portraits that find order in chaos. Using vibrant oil pigment and a variety of palette knives, she depicts her subjects' eyes, noses, and lips among angled strokes and layers of neon paint. At first glance, the paintings read more abstract than figurative. But thanks to Nielly's masterful handling of the palette knife, we can easily see the features emerge through the mounds of scraped-on texture—ultimately bringing their humanity into focus.

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