Art Kaleidoscope

Hermann Hesse landscape watercolors

Hermann Hesse landscape watercolors

Nobel laureate 1946, Hermann Hesse – one of the most widely read authors of the XX century. According to him, all his art was a “protracted attempt to tell the story of my spiritual development”, and “a biography of the soul.” And one of the main themes of the writer – the fate of an artist in a hostile society, and a place of true art in the world. Hermann Hesse began painting with great enthusiasm since the First World War. Meanwhile, being self-taught, the artist dabbled in different styles: from the naive art and modernism to the graphics. However, the main theme – landscape motifs in lush iridescent colors. Indeed, nature inspired Hesse and helped restore internal balance. Rich colors and soft light emanate from the pictures. As a result, longing for harmony and happiness, Hermann Hesse has created the most significant legacy of 3000 watercolors. His paintings transfer the rainbow colors and beauty of Ticino – his chosen dwelling place on earth where he lived from 1919 and until his death in 1962.
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Stunning realistic portrait. Russell Powell painting on palm

Russell Powell painting on palm
California based artist Russell Powell creates realistic portraits on unconventional surface – his own hand. Painting on the palm has its own characteristics and originality. Incredibly, the textured surface does not keep him from adding intricate detail and dramatic shadows that give the impression of three-dimensionality of the picture. After Powell finishes portrait, he puts his painted palm onto blank paper. We know this process as “hand-stamping”. His signature paintings are intricate portraits, mostly of celebrities. With his brush strokes, he incorporates colors, textures, and fine details onto a very unusual medium.
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Movie poster. Frankenstein 1931 horror monster film. Universal Pictures. Directed by James Whale

Frankenstein 1931 horror monster film
From the artistic point of view, the film has become a perfect example of inspiration for artists engaged in movie posters creation.
A talented scientist Henry Frankenstein decides to surpass God himself. He creates a human being with his own hands. Glued together from the remains of corpses and the brain of killer creature immediately behaves aggressively towards the creator … Based on the novel by Mary Shelley, the film immediately became a classic of horror movies and Frankenstein monster took halo of cinematic monster. It is surprising that shot in the 30s movie impresses with its interesting scenario in which lies quite instructive idea.
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Apples. Valentina Maximova Textile collage

Valentina Maximova Textile collage
Born on May 1, 1953 in the village Kostyanka of Arkhangelsk region, talented artist of applied art Valentina Maximova lives and works in the old Russian city of Uglich. In 1975, she graduated from the Yaroslavl Art School. Noteworthy, Valentina Maximova is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia (1997), and a member of the Association of Uglich artists. Meanwhile, the collections of stunning Textile collages by Valentina Maximova decorate the Uglich museum, as well as Russian and foreign private collections. In addition, Valentina Maximova is a permanent participant of regional, national and foreign (Germany, Belgium, Italy, and France) exhibitions.
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Blue and yellow. Color and Geometry by Franco Fontana

Color and Geometry by Franco Fontana

First of all, Italian photographer Franco Fontana invented “photographic line”, more common known under the name of “the concept of lines.” Accordingly, since 70s of XX century, his work, thanks to its unique and recognizable style, has become a benchmark in the field of color photography. And what makes it stand out among hundreds of works of his colleagues – an incredible sense of composition, true geometric construction of the frame, and magical selection of colors.
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Bunker Festival. Turin Italy 2012. NeSpoon Lace Street Art

NeSpoon Lace Street Art

Creative Polish artist, known as NeSpoon, adorns buildings with intricate lace patterns. Noteworthy, for drawing patterns on the wall she uses special stencils. Meanwhile, the works are part of the author’s series called “public jewelry”. According to the artist, laces have a certain cultural code, characteristic to every nation. Besides, lace contains a special symmetry, order and harmony. And of course, the beauty which in our life is often not enough, and we seek for it instinctively. One of her statements – “I would like to make positive art and to deal with positive emotions. Sometimes, I also comment in my art social and political issues that I consider important. Why street art? Because it gives freedom”.
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A painting featuring downtown Ann Arbor, MI. Hyper realistic painting by Rick Pas

Hyper realistic painting by Rick Pas

First of all, American artist Rick Pas works in the direction of Contemporary Realism. A passionate artist, experiencing all the highs and lows he considers creating to be an addiction. Meanwhile, Rick Pas is interested in the surface textures of nature and creates paintings that portray every insect, or a bird in detail. Undoubtedly, this hyper realistic effect that makes viewers run a hand over the feathers and moss, or grasp an object in the painting. Noteworthy, the subjects of his paintings – human interaction with nature. And he often finds inspiration for paintings in remote wilderness of the world, local parking lots, as well as his own backyard.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Rick Pas graduated from Eastern Michigan University. In addition to numerous exhibitions throughout the USA and internationally, art works by Rick Pas were featured in numerous art magazines, from “Wildlife Artist of the Year” in Michigan Out of Doors, December 1982 (article & cover illustrator) to “Abuzz About Bugs,” and The Artist’s Magazine, July/August, 2015.
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