"Why Sargent Painted Outside The Lines" by Evan Puschak

This wonderful deep dive into the work of painter John Singer Sargent is entertaining, amazing, and educational. I loved learning that he and Monet were friends! But the true take away is how Sargent's incredibly Impressionistic brushwork turns into images of such realism when taken as a whole. Sublime.

BEAUTY: Painting--Chris Stott

I am in awe of these impeccable, photorealistic paintings by Chris Stott. He elevates vintage objects like cameras, typewriters, electric fans, and books into charming celebrations of an era that created solid, dependable industrial objects that were also beautiful. But the way he does it blows my mind: working in oil on canvas, he manages to capture every element, curve, fold, reflection, and shadow of these still lives. Such work requires incredible skill and control of the medium.

Selected prints of his work can be bought at his sites!
https://chrisstott.com/
https://www.xmarksthestott.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Rikki Niehaus

In a series hilariously entitled Swedish Landscapes and inspired by a new 22-acre Ikea store in Burbank, Los Angeles artist Rikki Niehaus shows us a rather Don Draper-esque gentleman inhabiting said Ikea store...

Top to bottom: A Field In Sweden; Arrivals and Departures; Capsule; Make Do and Mend; New; Tarzana; The Dream

http://rikkiniehaus.com/wp/

BEAUTY: Painting--Samantha Fields

The glorious work of California painter Samantha Fields captures sunlight the way we actually see it--hazy, through half-closed lids squinting in the glare, or perhaps through a windshield, or piercing through mist or fog.

Top to bottom: Faded In The Sun; Lost In The Sun 2; Lost In The Sun; Mt. Washington Sunrise; Rio de Los Angeles; You Can Still Die While The Sun Is Shining

http://www.samanthafields.net/

BEAUTY: Painting--Kevin Peterson

The realistic work of Kevin Peterson shows scenes of children accompanied by what we normally think of as wild and dangerous animals but in this case, they seem to be acting as spiritual guardians, links to a preferred natural world that is ultimately less dangerous than the urban areas through which these children wander. It reminds me of the spirit animals called Daemons from "The Golden Compass" previously here.

Top to bottom: Bidding; Coalition; Coalition II; Fort; Fossil Bright In The Sun; Protector; Quest; Savior

http://kevinpetersonstudios.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Joel Rea

New work by Australian painter Joel Rea (previously here). Surrealistic scenes painted in an almost photorealist style.
"Tyger, tyger, burning bright..."

Top to bottom: Clash; Conquest; Depths of Memory; Elevation; Solo; The Other Side; The Promised Land

http://www.joelrea.com.au/

BEAUTY: Winter Art--Laurent Pernot

For winter, here are some images of the work of French artist Laurent Pernot who takes everyday objects--paintings, keys, books, flowers--and dips them in frost and ice (resin). Most startling is his self portrait covered in ice standing in front of one of his frozen canvases.

http://www.laurentpernot.net/