09 January, 2016

Matisse - Short Bio

Henri Matisse. 1869-1954.

He migrated south within his native France; born in the north, then to Paris in the central part of the country, and finally he settled in the south on the French Riviera. He found color to his liking, and it became his chief tool of expression. M. Henri Matisse bestrode the Modern Era as a titan, and showed the visual world color and line in their pure forms, all the while working from life.

French painter Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954) in his studio.

May 01, 1913. Credit: Alvin Langdon Coburn.

Artworks:

Henri Matisse - Music. 1910. 260 x 389 cm. / 102.4" x 153." Oil on Canvas.

Henri Matisse - La Mimosa, 1951. Mimosa, 1949–51, a cut-paper maquette for a rug that was realized in 1951.

08 January, 2016

Matisse Drawings

I'm always the last to know about these exhibits. This was in Brisbane in 2011. Enjoy this short window into Henri Matisse's life practice of drawing.

07 January, 2016

Matisse Museum

The Musée Matisse.

This is funny. Anthony Peregrine of the UK Telegraph, writes this
"...word of warning: going to Nice solely for Matisse smacks of hair-shirted obsessiveness."

That'd be me. Can't do beaches or water sports. My shirt's too hairy, I guess. Hee hee.

I do plan on addressing the resistance to Matisse that many feel, which is like in kind to the resistance to Modern art, only more focused. Please return here for the Month of Matisse posts.

06 January, 2016

Matisse Month

Matisse Month.

Since Henri Matisse was born on December 31st, 1869, it seems good to spend a month celebrating the old keener. Matisse was the definitive colorist, and without doubt the greatest French artist of the 20th Century. It is worth noting that Pablo Picasso said: "In the end, there is only Matisse."

Drawing is of the spirit; color is of the senses.

I've been over forty years discovering that the queen of all colors is black.

Drawing is putting a line round an idea.

Seek the strongest color effect possible. The content is of no importance.

Creativity takes courage.

Quotes by Henri Matisse.

Quote Image: Like Success dot Com.

03 January, 2016

Never Forget the Affection I Had for You.

01 January, 2016

Happy New Year! 2016.

Dark Rose Arrangement. 2014. 10" x 6." Pastel & Graphite. Casey Klahn.

30 December, 2015

Light Above

Severe Descending Light. 2015. Pastel & Dry Ground on Vellum. 12" x 9." Casey Klahn.

24 December, 2015

Carols

It seems appropriate this year to post a long Christmas service. Blessings to you, kind reader.

23 December, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Best Wishes!

18 December, 2015

Bifurcated Blue Nude

Bifurcated Blue Nude. 2015. Pastel & Oil. 13.6" x 8." Casey Klahn.

12 December, 2015

Messing Around

Messed Up and Clowning About. 2015. Pastel. 14" x 8.5." Casey Klahn.

10 December, 2015

Self Portrait in Hell

Wearing My Hair Long, Headed for Gehenna. 2015. Pastel, Oil, Charcoal & Figment. 11" x 8.6." Casey Klahn.

05 December, 2015

Edvard Munch

Rehab. 2015. Pastel, Oil, Charcoal & Figment. 16.5" x 10.6." Casey Klahn.

29 November, 2015

Portraits Are What I Do Now

Vincent in Rejection. 2015. Pastel. 12.5" x 10." Casey Klahn.

Without overthinking it, my art has become about faces and figures. Expressionist and (forgive this phrase) Matissian is what I wish to do. By Matissian I mean decorative, which was Henri Matisse's way of describing the abstract elements of artwork.

The struggle is between the narrative and decorative styles. They are in opposition to one another. It turns out that if I can avoid the narrative in these portraits, then they become more powerful.

I have made several attempts to render Vincent van Gogh without looking at his paintings. This is the first time I liked one.

Why not post the Don McLean tune? Please enjoy.