Alayna Rose

'Motion So Soft' Mixed media, signed

2008

'Leonardo & Rodin Dreaming of Jona Lisa' is an original mixed media collage, signed and dated by the artist in the lower right. Part of Barnett's 'Famous Artist Series,' this vibrant collage pays homage to artists Leonardo da Vinci and Aguste Rodin by staging a visual conversation between their oeuvres. Below da Vinci's self-portrait, the Mona Lisa dreams of Rodin's thinker, played by artist and Barnett's close friend Joan Dvorsky, whom Barnett has nicknamed 'Joan of Art' and 'Jona Lisa,' an allusion to Joan d'Arc and the Mona Lisa respectively. The scene is surrounded by Rodin's figural drawings of dynamic nude forms in the upper and lower left and upper right corners of the composition. Although principally an homage to da Vinci, Rodin, and Dvorsky, the composition features a number of other artistic 'easter eggs' like the glass flowers that surround Dvorsky—the work of artist Dale Chihuly at the Garfield Park Conservatory—and the birch bark next to Dvorsky, a sample taken from Barnett's own 'Birch Bark Series.' Mixed media iridescent acrylic collage signed and dated lower right 23.5 x 20.875 inches, art 35.625 x 32.9375 inches, frame Signed and dated in lower right Framed to conservation standards using archival materials including 100 percent rag matting with a 1/4 inch beige bevel, Museum Glass to inhibit fading and reduce glare, and housed in a rosewood-style wood moulding. David Barnett, an artist, collector, appraiser and gallerist has been passionate about art from the early age of five. David’s career as an art dealer began at age nineteen when, as a fine arts student, he sponsored an exhibition of work by fellow student artists. In 1966, he opened his first gallery in a converted basement apartment at Wisconsin Avenue and 21st Street. In 1985 David moved his gallery from Wisconsin Avenue into the Old Button Mansion on State Street and has been active ever since. David’s talents for recognizing undervalued artists and for meeting the needs of art lovers, art collectors and artists have created a vibrant, flourishing gallery and collection of over 6,000 works of art. David was born and raised in Wisconsin. He has been painting in watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels as well as fine art photography. David has more than 10 different series he has developed over the years. They include Abstract, Surrealism, Morph Dog, Up North Birch Bark, Impressions of Mexico City, Southwest, Fireworks, Famous Artist Paying Homage and Garden Panorama. Influential artists include Vermeer, Miro, Kandinsky, Chagall, Nolde and Klee. David has been featured in many magazines, newspapers and public television programs regarding his beautiful gallery, collection and knowledge and passion of fine art. David also has work in the permanent collection Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona. Since its opening in 1966, The David Barnett Gallery has flourished to become Wisconsin's premier gallery and has the most diverse range of art available in any Wisconsin gallery, including works of art that represent more than 600 artists. The gallery also offers custom framing, art appraisals...

The present work is an excellent example of the abstract paintings of John Baughman. Born in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baughman continues to experiment with Abstract Expressionism. The present work certainly draws influence from such artists as Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb in the use of fields of color and disparate glyphs. 36" x 12 1/2" artwork 45 1/2" x 21 1/2" frame Framed to museum standards in a 24 karat gold-leaf moulding and a linen liner ABOUT JOHN BAUGHMAN: His mother always thought he was just a little bit of a rebel - and not just because he mixed his paints and painted out of the lines on his paint-by-number pictures. To this day, John Baughman marches to his own drummer, which is apparent when viewing his multi-media artwork. That is also part of his charm. Growing up in rural Western Michigan, John was the oldest of five children. There were no artists in his family, but he was interested in drawing at a very young age; he differed from most young artists in that he wanted to be experimental rather than ordinary. A kind, neighbor lady, Paula Larson, who was a Director of Art, encouraged John to keep his interest in art by always leaving artistic materials on her kitchen table. They were open to him whenever he pleased. John's father was an executive for GM and hoped his son would grow up to be an engineer. John loved to draw cars, and entered the contest that the company held every year to design autos for the future. Airplanes were something else he enjoyed drawing. During his high school years, John had several other buddies who enjoyed drawing as much as he did. In addition to that interest, he says they fished every stream in driving distance of home and loved sports. He played three sports in high school and still has a deep love for baseball. After high school, John left for college which he says was a big mistake. He quit and joined the Navy where he was sent to Vietnam. There is no doubt in his mind that this experience influenced his painting. John went back to college after the Navy and attended seven different colleges changing his major many times. He still wasn't where he wanted to be. Defining his strengths, John knew he could write, draw and sell ideas making advertising seem almost ideal and quite appealing. John's foray into the business world went very well, and he eventually owned his own company. During this time, he met a woman who was also an artist, and worked with her for several years. The two of them later married. John and his wife, Janet Richardson Baughman, bought acreage and moved there. Turning one of the buildings into a studio, the couple become "hot" in the art world and continued their artistic endeavors as well as running a business. Of his art, John says, "Art is the core of my life." When viewing his abstract paintings, it is clear that he is not locked into one thing. Oils play a very important role in his art, but John is continually experimenting using new mediums. To say he is multi-media is almost an understatement. He is still an "out of the lines painter," and feels that it is very important for an artist to be willing to take a risk. An innate sense of arrangements and space plus his use of the color palette, which is all over the place, cause John's work to constantly change. A subject that he has painted, he may readdress, and it will look completely different. Inspiration for his art is all around him. Sometimes he finds it running between his legs when he is standing in a stream or perhaps looking at the beauty that surrounds him where he lives. As time has passed, his artistry has evolved into a more sophisticated look with his paintings now having more layers and texture. John hopes that people viewing his art will find order and peace. John and Janet raise sport horses on their farm, and train them to be dressage (disciplined form of exhibition) horses. They feel the same passion for these animals as they do for their artwork. John still loves sports, and fishes as often as he can. Both he and his wife are golfers. Assuming the title of "sports uncle," John spends several evenings watching his three nephews play baseball. And still hugely important in their lives are their three grown children, who live in various parts of the country. Janet remains John's largest influence in his artwork. He feels there are so many great artists that it is difficult for him to choose a favorite, but he does love Mark Rothko's work and emulates small elements. He also greatly admires Conrad Marcarelli...

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