Marc Foster Grant

Bay Area Poolside Figurative Abstract, S.S. Claremont Hotel in Acrylic on Paper

2003

Bold and bright figurative acrylic painting on handmade rag paper of a couple in bathing suits by the pool after swimming, by Marc Foster Grant (American,...

Fantastic figurative abstract color field painting by Northern California artist Arthur Krakower (American 1921-2009). C. 2008. Monogram "AJK 08" lower right corner. Unframed. Arth...

Oil on Canvas, Made in Florence, Italy Daylight explores a playful world where dreams and reality meld together to create surreal moments. When engaging with Piussi's work, we enter an arena where we are immersed in childlike delight. We experience snapshot images of a world reduced to its essence, in a seemingly comic-book style that has echoes of Giotto and Paolo Uccello, and even of medieval illuminations. My work is simple: the subject matter is stripped to basics, so all that is engagement, controversy and links to reality is taken away, and what remains is an icon with an aura of philosophical suspension, and a window into the enigma of existence. Piussi’s work is directly influenced by artists Alex Katz and David Hockney, and his style reflects a comprehensive understanding of the work of Giotto and Paolo Uccello. In "Girl on a Rock with Mask”, the figure represented in this painting conveys a blank mood, such that the viewer is invited to examine their own intimate feelings that arise when observing the image. Piussi creates a universe of more profound truths in his examination of the tranquility of everyday life: he reminds us of our need for reflection, shows us a fearlessness in the face of stillness and the passage of time. The broad repertoire of his paintings, with their naturalistic color and semi-abstract shapes, presents us with Piussi’s views concerning our contemporary lives. Rather than mimic the appearance of nature, Piussi reaches for its essence, in visions that are devoid of distracting details. Women stand on the shores of quintessentially peaceful seas; they are self-contained, at ease. These women are unwitting replicas of classical goddesses. Or we see a proud diver echoing Neptune, holding his trident. Piussi was born in 1967 in Udine and raised in Florence, where he majored in sculpture at the Institute D’Arte. He completed his artistic education at Milano's Brera Art Academy where he majored in painting. Piussi went on to live in Florence, where he now pursues his passion for painting, bronze, terracotta sculpture and bas-reliefs. Giacomo Piussi...

This piece depicts a colorful collage composition portrait of a Pin-up model from the 1950s, as Jon Davenport explores the process of deconstructing iconic imagery from the past and present. Davenport start’s out with photos of his paint-stained studio floor and collages in articles/advertising from an array of vintage magazines collected over the years; plus any other interesting stuff captured on his travels. He then transfers the images to a panel board, layering them on with gel medium, together with strokes, splashes, drips, and splats of paint. Once it's dry, another layer of gel medium is poured on to give it a melting effect. After it drys off again, another layer of paint is added to embellish a few areas and to accentuate or fade out certain aspects. And then, he finally adds a coat of polyurethane for protection and making the colors pop. This unique work is executed on a wood panel board and comes ready to be displayed with hanging wire on verso, signed by the artist lower right. Art measures 36 x 36 in From biology student to owning and running a creative agency in London to a career as a fine artist, life has taken Jon Davenport on a rewarding and unconventional journey. Despite his scientific beginnings, he’s always had a strong artistic streak weaving its way through his different career paths. Growing up in Ipswich, UK, Jon was always an avid drawer, and could often be found with a pencil and paper in hand. With the arrival of his first computer, he embraced the new frontier of digital art and had work published in one of those early computer magazines. His creative urges took a backseat to get a biology degree at Brunel University in London. It was afterward, in his first job working at the Archant newspaper group in Ipswich, that he quickly progressed from plate maker to becoming an integral member of the art studio. It was during this time that he taught himself photoshop, desktop publishing, and graphic & web design. After a few years, he set up a design agency, and eventually went full time and moved to London. This proved to be a successful move, working for a number of clients such as Nike and Virgin, and gaining praise from the likes of Richard Branson and Tony Blair. It wasn’t until Jon moved to the USA to marry his wife, Atlanta artist Christy Kinard...