Jen Davis’ self-portraits are startlingly beautiful. It is a testament to the artist’s talent that the beauty and humanity in the work drowns out the antipathy we all harbor towards the overweight body.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Jen Davis’ self-portraits are startlingly beautiful. It is a testament to the artist’s talent that the beauty and humanity in the work drowns out the antipathy we all harbor towards the overweight body.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Stefan Dunlop is based in Australia. His unusual treatment of classic portraits is unexpected and delightful. The loose brushwork establishes and reminds us of the artist’s presence and in Sunday Painter (3rd down) the artist takes the materiality one step further, creating the illusion that the painting is melting before our eyes.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Royal Jarmon is a self-taught artist from the Midwest who decided a few years back (despite being discouraged in the past) to pursue his art seriously. The work that really stands out to me is this series of very large scale portraits with loose, watery faces and crisp, graphic details. The details, which include a painted check jacket, high-end headphones and decoupaged newspapers, are so carefully chosen and portrayed that in my opinion they make the portraits.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
These are images of Alan Reid’s vaguely art deco, vaguely John Currin-esque show, The Chameleon at A Palazzo in Brescia, Italy. Reid’s portraits are of “light” subject matter; however, the unique fusion of classical and modern visual motifs is quite special. And what a splendid exhibition space! Not to mention really wonderful art. I am jonesing to see these exhibits in person.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Austin Power has six new portraits up on Art Hound’s sister site, Buy Some Damn Art. Austin is an incredibly thoughtful person and in typical fashion he put a great deal of thought into selecting his subjects.
“All of these portraits are of Artists & Designers that I personally know and admire. I wanted to make a show in the spirit of your work here on BSDA and Art Hound… I wanted to share that love and respect with artists and designers in my life. So rarely are my viewers allowed to access my subject at the same time as my painting. I think that this platform allows a special opportunity to connect the work with its origin and inspiration.”
Read about Austin’s subjects here.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Maja Ruznic via New American Paintings #97. Maja was born in Bosnia but emigrated to the US and currently lives in San Francisco. I have a massive crush on Maja’s portraits.
“The figures in my small works on paper are Anti-Heroes, characters I have created based on my interest in those who live along the interstices of society—homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, derelicts and vagabonds—individuals whose psychological state reminds me of my immigrant experience.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.