BEAUTY: Photography--Michael McCluskey

Michael McCluskey is a sensitive photographer. The images here in his Mourning and Evening series of empty locations in suburban or rural communities feel haunted and heartbroken, as if each one of these homes, rooms, and spaces is the receptacle for an event which cannot be erased.

Artist's Statement:

“To me these pictures are like sad, love songs. I spent many hours walking and shooting in an attempt to express or rid myself of the overwhelming heartbreak I was feeling. At the time I didn’t know why I was drawn to the subject matter and light that I was capturing but after having some time and space away from it now I do.

Someone described one of the images as being 'nostalgic in a poignant way'. Which I think does a good job of describing some of these pieces and also correlates with how we feel when looking back on the time we spent with someone who is now absent. A mix of warmth and fondness for the good times you had together followed by the sadness of its ending.

The images that have sunkissed subject matter and fiery skies in them are looking back on the early, romantic stages of love in the way that they’re so saturated and passionate but only for a short time.

The images that have a darker tone represent loneliness and the fear of feeling that way forever.”

Top to bottom: Dread; Remembrance Pt. 1; Places; Remembrance Pt. 2; Mixed Feelings; Wash; Moving Pieces; Comfort In Knowing; Mourning and Evening

https://www.michael-mccluskey.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Linden Frederick

What I love most about Linden Frederick's work, aside from the Photo Realist style, is the fact that he chooses to show his New England small town homes and landscapes at twilight or evening. The resulting color palette is deep and rich...reminding me of certain Maxfield Parrish paintings. These lyrical images border on Romantic Realism...

Top to bottom: Bayside; Gate; Midnight; Night School; Porch; Right of Way; Seasonal; Short Order; Southbound; Summer House

http://www.lindenfrederick.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Glen Rubsamen

Los Angeles artist Glen Rubsamen takes inspiration from a familiar site to most Californians: silhouetted palm trees and billboards at twilight. These images are fun, bold, graphic...with a touch of Ed Ruscha about them.

Top to bottom: Always The Optimist; Believe It If You Need It; Beynd Our Reach II; Beyond Our Reach; Cutting It Fine; Devereux; My Favorite Things; My Innermost Wish; Once And For All; The Machine In The Garden; The Night Shade; Visable [sic] From Space

http://glenrubsamen.com/index.html

BEAUTY: Illustration--Yan Nascimbene

I recently came across the work of French illustrator Yan Nascimbene and fell in love immediately. Not only did he render light, shadows, silhouettes, twilight landscapes, and the night sky in a glorious, clean, spectacular fashion, but he managed to do it all in WATERCOLOR! Sadly, Nascimbene died in 2013 at the young age of 63. His work was whimsical, expansive, touching, and enigmatic--possibly even approaching the surreal-- but presented in a pristine way. Just stunning...

This might be my favorite image of all: this road or path winding through windswept trees is illuminated either by a flashlight or by headlights...what a beautiful image.

His website seems to be deactivated, but he still has a presence on Behance. The bio says if you are interested in buying his work, contact his family at yan@yannascimbene.com.
https://www.behance.net/yannascimbene

BEAUTY: Painting--Dan McCarthy

More often than not, artists are haunted or psychologically/emotionally connected to certain images that they return to over and over. Luckily for us, artist Dan McCarthy is fascinated with that mysterious, glorious time that is neither day nor night but the murky space in between. Known as "twilight," it is also referred to as "gloaming." The sky near the horizon is luminous blue from the remnants of the sunset while darkness and stars emerge overhead...

Top to bottom: Gloaming (Glows In The Dark); Gloaming; Good Times; The Gloaming 2; The Gloaming

http://danmccarthy.org/