Still Life with Puppies, etc.

Still Life with Three Puppies
(1888), Gauguin

This post is inspired by one of Paul Gauguin's lesser-known paintings, entitled "Still Life with Three Puppies". It caused me to research the topic of obscure, maybe out of character works by famous artists. While Gauguin is famous for painting native Tahitian woman, I found it very strange that he would consider painting, of all subjects, puppies. Upon further study, it's true that Gauguin often included horses and dogs in his landscapes. You may also find an occasional cat or bird.

Apparently, the artist was influenced by the Japanese prints that Van Gogh brought to him, along with children's book illustrations. The puppies must have been just born, as they are disproportioned to the goblets and fruit arranged on the tabletop. I love the pattern captured in the tablecloth! The dark blue outlines mimic its botanical print, with the shapes repeated on the dogs' coats.

Woman Walking in a Garden (1887), Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh also had a few paintings in which he departed from his usual style of expressive brushstrokes, making him seem calmer and his palette more monochromatic. The sunny yellow skirt is surely reminiscent of Vincent!

Still Life with Apples, Pears, Lemons and Grapes
(1887), Van Gogh

His Still Life with Apples, Pears, Lemons and Grapes is also an interesting choice of subject for Vincent, as with his friend, Gauguin's experiment with Still Life. Only the background has his characteristic mesmerizing, swirling brushstrokes. I am amazed that I can still find these gems, after studying my favorite artist for so many years!

Sunflowers (1887), Van Gogh

One of Van Gogh's most prolific subjects was sunflowers. In more than a dozen of his paintings, the sunflowers are arranged in vases on tabletops. Other than his paintings of crabs, I hadn't recalled this version of (dead) flowers. I like that he chose a blue background color and less-vibrant yellow for the subject!

Other researchers of this topic put Edvard Munch's The Scream, Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, and Marcel Duchamp's Fountain into this category, but I don't agree. These are still classics and immediately recognizable to everyone who see them.

The Table (1920), Miró 

As you know, Joan Miró is another of my favorite artists. His The Table shows a still life primarily in yellow and black, with a very graphic array of geometric shapes. This is a certain departure from his minimalistic grouping of symbols in black and the three primary colors. Like The Farm (1921), this is a very busy composition!

Still Life with Old Shoe (1937), Miró 

Then there's Miró's Still Life with Old Shoe. I absolutely love this non-traditional 'still life'! It's like he airbrushed the colors. Again, I don't know why I hadn't ever seen this painting before! He even added green to the mix of colors!! It reminds me of the charcuterie board my daughter made for Thanksgiving, along with the pumpkin made of puff pastry-covered brie cheese (foreground lower left?).

Oysters (1862), Manet

The final three examples may be described as still life's though they include a solitary subject, rather than being composed of various unlike items. I'll begin with Édouard Manet's Oysters. His composition also included a plate, a fork, a halved lemon, and a dipping sauce. The dark table and charcoal grey background make the objects appear to float.

Still Life with Golden Breams (1812), de Goya

Also, a still life composed primarily of a pile of dying fish, here is Francisco de Goya's Still Life with Golden Bream. Some have said that it "emblematic of the human bloodshed brought on by Spain's war with France". I'm not sure what possessed de Goya to paint such a thing! I'm reminded of Andrew Wyeth's study of a dead squirrel, in which he smears blood on his painting.

Mound of Butter (1885), Vollon

Finally, I am including this Mound of Butter! A painting by Antoine Vollon, it is simply a knife stuck in some butter on a platter, on a table with two eggs. Maybe this image sparked Steven Spielberg to use Devil's Tower as the image that haunted Richard Dreyfuss' character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)!

2025 Pumpkins, Etc.

M's Logo 2025

M's Trident 2025

This year's pumpkin carving party with the family was cancelled due to a power outage. Prior to that, I carved a 2-sided jack-o-lantern supporting our Seattle Mariners in the ALCS playoffs. One side displayed the upward pointing trident symbol, while the other side showed the Mariners compass logo. And, no, it's not a pitchfork!

2025 Frankie

On Halloween eve, I carved two more scarier pumpkins -- one of a disturbing-looking Count Dracula and another of a friendly-looking Frankenstein. 'Frankie' was a traditional carving, although I got creative with the lid in order to emulate his flat-top head and hairline. The simple design itself was copied from a pumpkin I saw online.

2021 Frankie

It's a lot different than my 2021 version which I imagined from a photo of Boris Karloff's character. it's funny how just a few well-placed wavy lines can generate a recognizable image. Creepy!

2025 Dracula

Dracula was painted in using a black Sharpie, as I've done for the past two years. For the shadow on the left of his face I peeled off some of the skin to accent his face. I was going to insert some red beads for the eyes, but alas my supplies cupboard was bare; at least I was unable to find the craft beads!

2024 Vampire Barbie

Last year I tried to carve Barbie, which was inspired by the release of the movie. Unfortunately, she wound up looking more like Mediterranean Barbie or even Vampire Barbie.

T-Rex Design

I fully intended to carve another two pumpkins, but honestly, I lost interest. It was disappointing not to have family over to see what they would make. Earlier this year, we went to see Jurassic Parking Lot, a University District play that spoofed the original movie, starring Jeff Goldbloom. The silhouette of the classic T-Rex dinosaur would not have left much structure, and especially as the pumpkin would begin to rot. I suppose I could have peeled the skin for the background!

Raven 2020

It's a similar situation with the raven I carved in 2020. It looked great initially, but the thin pieces of unsupported pumpkin soon began to rot. To keep the bird's beak from pulling away from the moon, you can support it by adding hidden toothpicks.

2022 Wookie

Chewy Design

My 2022 Star Wars Wookie wasn't bad, but not nearly as recognizable as the one I almost carved this year. At this point, I didn't peel the skin of the pumpkin to different depths to achieve a range of values (like the Cheshire Cat below). Lots of cutting!

2024 Snake Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice 2024

Every year I look for inspiration from current pop culture. Besides Jurassic Park, I've been inspired by Beetlejuice, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, and various Star Wars characters from movies and TV series.

2022 Harry at Night

2022 Daytime Harry

2022 Cheshire Cat

2022 Grogu (Baby Yoda)

2022 Mandalorian

                             

2023 Ahsoka Tano

2024 Darth Vader

                            

Ahsoka Tano incorporated many techniques, including peeling of the skin and embellishing with black Sharpies. Her tiara is actually a cutout piece that was reinserted (tilted outward) to give a 3D effect. One of my most challenging carves and maybe my most effective!!

Famous Portraits of Children

The Age of Innocence (1788),
Reynolds

Now that I've been blogging for over six years, many of my favorite artworks have appeared in multiple posts. I apologize if you've already read about these common subjects. My love of portraits began with Rembrandt, who famously painted 75 self-portraits. As I became an art docent in my daughter's elementary school classrooms, I was exposed to many more talented portraitists, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, Principal Painter to the King. This painting may be of the artist's great niece. It was featured in my November 2022 post entitled, Famous Artists & Paintings -- By Century.

Lady Caroline Howard (1778),
Reynolds

Ten years earlier, Reynolds painted the portrait of Lady Caroline Howard, which was used early on in the art docent program in which I taught. See Artists With July Birthdays. The background and position of the subject figures are very similar, although you can easily see their stations and style of dress are quite different.

National Gallery, London

In Portrait Artists, my post from March 2020, I included a sweet portrait by John Singer Sargent. Although I'm a huge fan of the Impressionists, always gravitating to Van Gogh in particular, Sargent is my favorite portrait artist. Like Rembrandt, I am pleasantly surprised when I encounter one of Sargent's works at an art museum. 

A Girl with a Watering Can
(1876), Renoir

In Pierre Auguste Renoir's painting of A Girl with a Watering Can, the subject green watering can seems to get lost among the foliage and the dark blue of the girl's dress. If it wasn't for the lace trim on the dress it might be invisible. He has divided the composition in half, with the green grass in the background and the light dirt path in the foreground, balancing the girl's face color.

Young Girl with Doll (1884), Morisot

Much creepier is this portrait by Berthe Morisot. The black dress and the unusual and complicated background make it even more so. I am confused by the background. It feels like the girl is outside in a garden, but then the 'window' in the top right corner seems to depict a distant scene. Considering the upholstered chair, now that far off lighter area could be a bed. The large pot is also a distraction for me.

Little Girl in a Blue Armchair (1878), Cassatt

Perhaps the best known painter of children (and mothers) is Mary Cassatt. While I appreciate the cyan blue color of the fabric in the four chairs, I am less pleased with the clothing and pose of the young child. She seems to be relaxing, focusing on the dog resting nearby, and (maybe) waiting to be dressed. Apparently, Edgar Degas helped Cassatt rework this and ten other entries for her debut exhibition in 1879.

Mother and Child (1914),
Cassatt

My favorite is this pastel painting with its soft coloring and subtle blue shading. I like the child's little pink feet emerging from the mother's supporting left arm. The background is comprised of many colors, reminding me of one you'd see in a photographer's studio.

The Railway (1873), Manet

Édouard Manet's painting of a well-dressed child waiting for a train features his favorite model, Victorine Meurent. You may recognize her from his famous Luncheon on the Grass, although here she is clothed in a rather drab blue suit and matching hat. The model may not actually be related to the child. She may be portraying a nanny, who curiously is also caring for the girl's puppy.

Buttercups and Daisies (1881),
Hugh Cameron

I much prefer the portrayal of youths in the 19th century to those depicted as miniature adults in the earlier 18th century. Although this subject is shown without adult figures, she is realistically proportioned. Perhaps being related to the subject allows Cameron to capture the sweet personality of the little red-haired girl.

Women of Abstract Expressionism

Untitled (1951), Frankenthaler

In February of 2017, the Palm Springs Art Museum (PSAM) held the "Women of Abstract Expressionism" (WoAE) exhibit. While still volunteering at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), I created a MS PowerPoint presentation to give to my then committee of department volunteer chairs. I've blogged about several of the dozen artists in past posts, but not the entire group.

This untitled work by Helen Frankenthaler is reminiscent of a work by Spanish Surrealist, Joan Miró. I'm thinking of his Harlequin's Carnival (1925).

The Palm Springs area is rich in art, including multiple locations/venues​ (e.g. Palm  Desert), and events (e.g. Desert X)​. In 2017, Palm Desert was showcasing “Glass of the New Millennium”​ at Kaplan/Ostergard Glass Center​. Other attractions included: The Galen and the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden​; and Desert X – International Art Biennial in the Coachella Valley​. Lots of artsy things to do and see!

PSAM contains a mezzanine level overlooking a large atrium​. There is a wide variety of art on display, including a Chihuly in “Contemporary Glass”​.

The WoAE originated at Denver Art Museum, exhibited June – Sept 2016, and then on to the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.​ It celebrates the “Divine 12”, often unknown or unrecognized female artists of the mid twentieth century. Many of these women were still alive when we visited.

Mountains and Sea (1952), Frankenthaler

Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) is famous for Color Field paintings and Lyrical Abstraction. I appreciate her pastel compositions the most, as opposed to some of her larger, more monochromatic (red) works. See Palm Springs 2020. Here, I see a portrait of a woman in a fancy hat! This is reminiscent of Kandinsky's (1913) Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle). See my post entitled, Our National Gallery of Art in DC. See also, Palm Springs Art -- Marilyn Monroe & Museum Exhibitions.

JFK (1963)

Elaine de Kooning (1918-89), wife of Willem de Kooning, is probably most famous for her figurative expressionism, and specifically her portrait of President John F. Kennedy. I included the portrait in My Art Journey.

The Eye is the First Circle (1960), Krasner

Lee Krasner (1908-84), wife of Jackson Pollock, was famous in her own right. Expressing her grief at the loss of her husband and mother in 1959, Krasner painted The Eye is the First Circle in 1960. Its title is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Circles, an essay about spiritual growth.

Inclement Weather (1970), Hartigan

Grace Haritgan (1922-2008) used vibrant colors and sometimes representational elements in her abstract compositions. It is currently on display at  the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Antigone I (1958), Schwabacher

Ethel Schwabacher (1903-84) expressed anxiety and loss in her paintings following the death of her husband, Wolf in 1951. Wolf was a Jewish entertainment lawyer with clients such as the Marx Brothers. Studying under artist Arshile Gorky from 1934-36, she wrote his biography.

All Green (1954), Abbott

Mary Abbott's (1921-2019) work was inspired by nature and the jungles of the Caribbean. She was a descendant of President John Adams, a debutant and model in her youth, and a student of artist Mark Rothko. Although not representative of a jungle per-se, she's expressing how she feels by using the colors of the foliage and the sea.

Incision (1958-61), DeFeo

Jay DeFeo's (1929-89) Incision was both large and impressive when viewed in person at PSAM. Although it is largely shades of gray, the use of thickly applied oil paint and string seem to drip off the canvas. 

The Wave, Roaring, Breaking (1959), Fine

Russia-born artist, Perle Fine (1905-88) was a protégé of Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian and a student of Hans Hofmann. She used hard-edged pure abstraction as her trademark method. This is yet another example of oil and collage. Bristling (1946) uses oil and sand, and shows the influence of Mondrian.

The Beginning (1960), Gechtoff

Ukrainian-American artist, Sonia Gechtoff (1926-2018) was inspired by Giotto’s Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy where she spent time viewing frescos of the early Renaissance artist. It is intended to be a Genesis story and heavily influenced by Giotto.

Harlem (1981), Godwin

Lyrical abstract expressionist, Judith Godwin's (1930-2021) work has been displayed in over thirty-five art galleries. It's characterized by large organic shapes and sweeping brushstrokes. She was also a student of Hans Hofmann, who became her mentor.

Exodus (1960), Remington

Finally, Deborah Remington (1930-2010) also used hard-edged abstraction in her early works, then transformed into a machine-age abstraction, reflecting machines and industrial design during the era between the World Wars. Her work typically includes red and blue lines with black in the background.

Many of these expressionists were inspired by writers and poets whose works themselves are subject to interpretation.