BEAUTY: Painting--Hiroshi Sato

The engaging work of Hiroshi Sato reminds me of the wonderful California Figurative artists from decades back, like Richard Diebenkorn (previously here) and Wayne Thiebaud. I love Sato's color choices as well as his composition. His story is fascinating as well, and informs his work...watch the video below.

https://www.hiroshisatoart.com/

HALLOWEEN BEAUTY: Painting--Farley Aguilar

I have saved this post about Farley Aguilar's art until Halloween. The artist himself does not claim to be influenced by Halloween in particular, but his busy, doodly images are delightfully terrifying. Most figures are either in masks or possess faces that look as if they are grotesque masks. His portraits are also populated by witches, ghouls, zombies, and pinheads... perfect for the day.

Top to bottom: 3 Boys As Rabbits; 3 Spirits; 4 Little Devils; 4 Women Sewing; Children On Stairs; Community Portrait; Dogville

No dedicated website.

BEAUTY: Painting--Aaron Smith

I can't believe I have never posted anything about Aaron Smith or his art... until now. He is all over the blogosphere for reasons other than his art (his tattoos, his nostalgic waxed moustache, his general masculine woofiness), but it is his images of Victorian and Edwardian gentlemen rendered in glorious, glowing gobs of paint, thickly applied with a palette knife thus looking more like cake frosting, that interest us here...

Top to bottom: 2 Beards (Czar Nicholas II and George V); Buck; Ginger; Kicker (Roger Casement); Left Handed Likely; Shirkster (Prince Albert Victor); Zhooshy (Prince Albert Victor)

And here is the man himself, along with his sexy tats and stache...down boys, he has a husband.

http://aaronsmithart.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Stephen Lack

The suburbs have always creeped me out a little. It seems like they hide a side of people that is the opposite of what the suburbs often pretend to be. I am not the only one who has ever felt this. One of the greatest examples of this kind of duality is David Lynch's film "Blue Velvet." And artist Stephen Lack feels it as well. His naïve, colorful, neo-expressionist paintings of suburban neighborhoods and the people who live there show the kind of violence percolating under the surface.

Top to bottom: Suburban Asteroid; Suburban House Halifax; L.I. Oil Tanks; Our Home; Teenagers Hanging Out By The Pool; Boy Kills Friend; Suburban Hunting Party

Aside from his art and impressive residency and teaching positions at institutes the world over, Lack is best remembered as the star of David Cronenberg's 1980 film "Scanners."

http://stephenlackart.com/