Camille Rose Garcia's Snow White

Camille has a slew of new works, based on Snow White, following on the heels of her last show - Alice in Wonderland. The show opens March 15th at Michael Kohn Gallery in LA, along with a book release and signing.  Camille's works are always enjoyable and beautifully captivating; this group appears to be no different. A must-see exhibition if you find yourself in the LA area, it will be on exhibit thru April, 2012.

"Camille Rose Garcia's wholly original interpretation of the classic tale of Snow White is 

underscored by her dark and whimsical style. With a stylistic nod to the watercolored animation backgrounds of early Disney movies, Garcia references the golden age of early animation as well as vintage German fairy tale books. Garcia adds back the darker elements present in the original Brothers Grimm text, inverting the Disneyesque paradigm of simplistic happy endings and everlasting halcyon days into something closer to the original macabre German folktale." - Via Michael Kohn

Art Herstory: Sculptress Camille Claudel, 1864-1943

Fascinated with stone and soil as a child, as a young woman Camille studied at the Académie Colarossi. In 1882, Claudel rented a workshop with other young women. Alfred Boucher became her mentor and asked Auguste Rodin to take over the instruction of his pupils. Around 1884, she started working in Rodin's workshop. Claudel became a source of inspiration, his model, his confidante and lover. She never lived with Rodin, who was reluctant to end his 20-year relationship with Rose Beuret. Knowledge of the affair agitated her family, especially her mother. As a consequence, she left the family house. In 1892, after an unwanted abortion, Claudel ended the intimate aspect of her relationship with Rodin, although they saw each other regularly until 1898. 

After 1905 Claudel appeared to be mentally ill. She destroyed many of her statues, disappeared for long periods of time and was diagnosed as having schizophrenia. She accused Rodin of stealing her ideas (which may be true) and of leading a conspiracy to kill her. In 1913 at the initiative of her brother, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The form read that she had been "voluntarily" committed, although signed by a doctor and her brother.

There are records to show that while she did have mental outbursts, she was clear-headed while working on her art. Doctors tried to convince the family that she need not be in the institution, but still they kept her there. Her mother forbade her to receive mail from anyone other than her brother. The hospital staff regularly proposed to her family that Claudel be released, but her mother adamantly refused each time. Rodin's friend, Mathias Morhardt, insisted that her brother, Paul, was a "simpleton" who had "shut away" his sister of genius. Camille Claudel died in 1943, after having lived 30 years in the asylum at Montfavet and without a visit from her mother or sister. 

- Edited from Wikipedia, LINK

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the "Pretty In Pink" issue, March. 2012

For the "Pretty In Pink" online exhibit, click here.

In The PInk With Edith Lebeau

Edith is a wonderful Canadian artist and none better to start off the Pretty In Pink issue with. She has many pretty women painted with a pink & rosy palette. Her women are strong and real with character, never relying on the half nude, prepubescent, big-eyed look of current art trends. They invite us into their world, telling stories with just a gesture or expression. Some with witty humor, pensive imaginings, tattoos, wildlife or Victorian hairstyles - they all radiate soulful intelligence. 

 LINK to Edith’s Website

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the "Pretty In Pink" issue, March. 2012

For the "Pretty In Pink" online exhibit, click here.

Neon Knights Opening at Minna

Henry Lewis

Henry Lewis & Lango Oliveira are the "Neon Knights", two tattoo artists who came together for the current exhibition up at 111 Minna Gallery.  This show comprises solo works by both and a few collaborations - many massive, dominating pieces and some small, intricately presented ones. They are stunning works in mainly a black and white palette - a heavy metal mix of tattoo art, street art and ancient Asian watercolors. Dragons, grim reapers, feathery birds of prey, babes, tigers and knights in armor - with a little science fiction fantasy thrown in.  This impressive show is up through the month of March and very worth laying your eyes on.

For an interview by Ransom Notes and look at more of Henry's colorful works click here.

For Lango's Website and works click here.

For Women's Month - Eclectix Gets Pretty In Pink

To help celebrate March - Women's History Month 2012 and the feminine eye, Eclectix has just released their new issue, "Pretty In Pink". All female artists and related posts. The pretty, the pink and the not-so-pretty or pink. Strong women’s art, new feminist visions and rockin’ chick works of surreal & contemporary artists. This week we spotlight the fantastic paints of Edith Lebeau. (above) New related features all month long (and then some) on the Eclectix homepage and a great online art exhibition. 

For the Eclectix homepage, click here.

For the online exhibition, click here.

Brandon Maldonado's Iconic Art

Brandon Maldonado resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an environment rich in hispanic arts and culture. His religion-inspired art, full of somber grace and ceremony, speaks for itself. 

 “The visual language of art has the ability to communicate beyond the confines of spoken language. I believe this quality is the essence of visual arts and is the medium’s greatest strength. Throughout the course of humanity art has been used to inform civilizations, functioning as a powerful propaganda tool with great success. With this in mind I pick up my paintbrushes and attempt to use art as a vehicle for inspiring change.“

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

John Brophy’s Saintly Souls

When I first saw John’s new piece - Daughter of Vulcan (above) it left me gasping. The incredible lighting, casting soft reflective hues on their subject - the elegantly wistful expressive pose and the spirit mixed within the pain - all combined in astounding beauty. He captures that “other world” in a rare way. 

“John usually works out his compositions on the computer using Maya, ZBrush, and Photoshop and uses the result as a concept for the final painting. However, he considers digital imagery less interesting than traditional painting because it has no "object quality". That's why he thinks it is so important to execute the painting by hand in oil using the traditional techniques of the 15th century Flemish painters that he most admires, Memling, David, Van der Weyden, Van Eyck, etc. The digital study is only a launching point for the final painting.”

- Via John’s website, LINK

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

Eclectix Interview With Artist & Photographer Darla Teagarden

Darla is a mixed media artist – combining the arts of photography, fashion and theater sets to produce some very artful and inspiring shots. Formerly a stylist, model and dancer, her current works are photographic – often hand drawing the backgrounds and using recycled or vintage props. Darla’s works are wonderfully dramatic, peek-a-boo-like window displays into postcard historical fantasies....

For the entire interview and a gallery of Darla's art, click here.