[image_with_animation image_url=”8621″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Xu Wei (1521-1593) was a Ming Chinese painter, poet, calligrapher and dramatist. He was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. He married a woman, who died 5 years later. He fought Japanese pirates. He had bipolar disorder, a condition recognized in China, so after the pirates things got ugly with his mental state. He attempted suicide 9 times, and murdered his third wife in paranoia she was having an affair. After dying in poverty, he became well known for his flower and bird paintings.
Age old question: Should we separate the art from the artist?
I’d prefer not to. These are flower paintings made by a man in a lot of pain. He murdered his wife. We are all complicated beings, and the flowers are no less beautiful to me. The story of the maker can surround the art with context, complexity, and depth. Knowing dirt about an artist can also totally ruin an artwork for me, but I’d still prefer to know the whole story, rather than ignorantly enjoying the half.
” load_in_animation=”none What do you think about separating art from artist? Your comments are welcome.
[image_with_animation image_url=”7901″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I learned from the fabulous Suzanne Walker that this narrative painting “The Story of Joseph” by Biagio d’Antonio uses space as a representative for chronological time. The painting illustrates a story that follows a sequence clockwise around an ellipse, starting at the upper left. The scenes that happened farther back in …
Spring quarter classes completed last week, and we have a few week’s break before summer classes begin. At the request of my students, I’ll be posting creative project suggestions on V. Notes until classes start up again on June 21. Christo and Jeanne Claude On May 31, 2020, Christo, the his partner Jeanne Claude through …
I chose these sketches specifically to look at how vine charcoal can be used in a drawing to talk about change, movement and time. Vine charcoal is a lovely medium. It’s just a simple burnt branch, and it allows the artist to make a line, smudge it out, and make another. The dark lyrical lines …
[image_with_animation image_url=”8864″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Our first annual Seattle Artist League show was an enormous success – over 100 artworks in a wide variety of styles, and a very active reception with enthusiastic reviews. We’re doing it again! All past and present students and teachers at the League are invited to show their work …
Xu Wei
[image_with_animation image_url=”8621″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Xu Wei (1521-1593) was a Ming Chinese painter, poet, calligrapher and dramatist. He was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. He married a woman, who died 5 years later. He fought Japanese pirates. He had bipolar disorder, a condition recognized in China, so after the pirates things got ugly with his mental state. He attempted suicide 9 times, and murdered his third wife in paranoia she was having an affair. After dying in poverty, he became well known for his flower and bird paintings.
I’d prefer not to. These are flower paintings made by a man in a lot of pain. He murdered his wife. We are all complicated beings, and the flowers are no less beautiful to me. The story of the maker can surround the art with context, complexity, and depth. Knowing dirt about an artist can also totally ruin an artwork for me, but I’d still prefer to know the whole story, rather than ignorantly enjoying the half.
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[image_with_animation image_url=”7901″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I learned from the fabulous Suzanne Walker that this narrative painting “The Story of Joseph” by Biagio d’Antonio uses space as a representative for chronological time. The painting illustrates a story that follows a sequence clockwise around an ellipse, starting at the upper left. The scenes that happened farther back in …
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[image_with_animation image_url=”8864″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Our first annual Seattle Artist League show was an enormous success – over 100 artworks in a wide variety of styles, and a very active reception with enthusiastic reviews. We’re doing it again! All past and present students and teachers at the League are invited to show their work …