Lakescape on an Overcast Day

“Lakescape on an Overcast Day” includes some whimsical ‘eyes’ in the foreground bushes. All fauna eyes are pure chance. I highlighted these through further pencil work to accentuate their creature-like qualities.

A prominent all-seeing climate change eye appears in the midst of the lake. This ‘eye’ occurred completely by chance without design or forethought by me. I kept the mid-ground trees and bushes (above the waterline) without heavy pencil shading, to make for a pleasing visual contrast within my composition.

Please enjoy, thank you.

Surreal & Pop Art Egyptian Rabbits

“Pop Art Egyptian Rabbit with ISBN & Barcode“[9th September 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Pop Art sketch with 3H, HB and 3B graphite pencils on 280gsm 250mm x 300mm fine art gesso primed canvas [pad], 7279 x 6004 pixels in digitally edited image shown.

At the lower-right corner of this artwork the 13-digit ISBN numbers read, in their English alpha-numerical conversion – ‘Earth Sale’.

The machine code numbers, made of a series of 0’s and 1’s, are replicated from my previous artwork – ‘Surreal Egyptian Rabbit with Venus’.

Nucleic and astronomic ideas feature without a predefined actuality.

“Surreal Egyptian Rabbit with Venus” [8th September 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, surrealist sketch with 3H, HB and 3B graphite pencils on 230gsm 270mm x 195mm fine art paper, 7599 x 6033 pixels in digitally edited image shown.

This artwork “Surreal Egyptian Rabbit with Venus” is a new composition inspired from ‘Surreal Egyptian Rabbits’.

[Please note I have not fully cropped the image above.]

“Surreal Egyptian Rabbits” [7th September 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, surrealist sketch with 3H, HB and 3B graphite pencils on 230gsm 270mm x 195mm fine art paper, 7289 x 5559 pixels in digital image shown.

This artwork is a first edition surrealist sketch from my own Impressionist artwork entitled “Two Rabbits Munching” (see sketch image below). Three rabbits of the field have become ancient Egyptian representations in symbolic form. A sword appears as a shadow to the pathway with a scythe or axe-like appearance snaking over the grasses below.

One rabbit’s head is hiding or partly obscured. Vegetation eyes look at us within long grass stalks growing at the feet of a moth. The letters SOS can be seen in the mid-ground grasses.

“Two Rabbits Munching” [6th September 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with 3H, HB and 3B graphite pencils on 230gsm 270mm x 195mm fine art paper, 7223 x 5392 pixels in digital image shown.

This sketch is composed from a spontaneous photograph during a breezy thought-walk all around my local Nature Reserve.

These particular hedgerow rabbits frequent Buzzard’s Wood Hollow and the Meadow Three grass verges.

Hilariously, further along the obscured mid-placed path there are some adventurous rabbits that use the smooth flat sculptural Water Vole Ground Stone as their convenient dropping offerings place!

As if hunger-laden grass is far too improper for their furry behinds.

Here is the grainy photograph from whence the sketch is derived. I included the vagueness of the rabbits in the sketch although I chose two rabbits rather than three for the composition:

Photograph from Hay Meadow 6th September 2021 [mobilephone camera only]

Notice how, just as in my sketch, the far left rabbit is poised for running.

Hope you enjoy 🐇 🙂

“Self Portrait within the Universe”

Artwork includes luminary light with digitally edited photography to create this image.

The title for this artwork is based upon an ancient quotation. “Self Portrait within the Universe” includes direct visual references to unfathomable phenomena.

“Rabbit in Meadow Sunset”

“Rabbit in Meadow Sunset” [17th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist is my most recent Meadow Conservation series of sketched artworks. Featuring the fields of my local nature reserve.

It originally looked like this:

earlier draft version of “Rabbit in Meadow Sunset”

However, having subsequently photographed an adorable baby rabbit on one of my walks that day I decided to include the rabbit in my sketch.

I believed that for my Meadow Conservation series of artworks, the first draft was too eerie for the beauty I wished to highlight in the field. On the paper, the final version is slightly greater in contrast than in the first image above.

I think it looks even better when you actually see it for yourself, as the dark highlights are closer in values to the first draft on the paper.

Here is the cute lil baby rabbit.. it.. is.. really really.. a joyous little creature:

DIstant photograph of a baby rabbit on a field near Ridge Willow [June 2021]

Through my appreciation of past masters I am seeing the inspiration of Picasso, Van Gogh, and in this rabbit, Edvard Munch in my work. The style of my drawing the rabbit’s expression was completely chance, through over-sketching work on the paper.

Not until I zoomed in on the baby rabbit’s head did I see an unintended facial expression.

Immediately I thought, Munch of inspiration. I also chose to keep the ‘eyes in the grass’ just above right of the rabbit. A small dog went chasing the rabbits away, so perhaps this is why I inadvertently drew the rabbit showing ghastly surprise.

The reason I kept this expression in my artwork is to kind of picture the effect manmade negative climate change and habitat destruction is having on wildlife.

I might sketch this lovely baby rabbit again, to show its qualities in a non-stylistic, realist way.

Chess in Art

“Passing” [7th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, sketch with 3H HB 3B pencils signed in black ink on A4 250gsm Artist’s paper.

This artwork title, “Passing” [7th June 2021] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, is a literal translation of an early board game called ‘Senet’ popular in ancient Egypt from at least c2600BCE – 3100BCE.

I have known to play the game of chess from an early age, due to my Dad having a great interest in chess throughout his life. Reading books, owning chess computers, playing over the board at chess clubs et al. My Dad was secretary at county and local club level.

I myself captained a local chess club playing home and away events, won a club classical over-the-board Swiss Tournament and made runner-up in a club classical over the board annual All Play All competition.

Here is my Swiss Tournament winner’s trophy in 2003 (without showing my personal name inscribed on the trophy for anonymity):

My Swiss Tournament 2003 Winner’s trophy won at a Chess Club over the board annual competition.

Every chess player appreciates that to receive a competition trophy is a very happy achievement. Even more so knowing some of my opponents had competed successfully at county level. One of my opponents from this 2003 tournament had previously drew a chess Grandmaster (GM) in an over-the-board simultaneous competition!

The reason I created this artwork shown above is for my love of chess, the beauty of the game and its place in art history.

Here is the spiritually symbolic ancient Egyptian board game of Senet being played by Queen Nefertari [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertari]:

Nefertari (1295–1255 BC) playing the ancient Egyptian game **‘Senet’** [photography of the wall relief by The Yorck Project – 2002)

As an artwork it’s particularly interesting to note Queen Nefertari is seated upon a square chequered drapered chair. Clearly we also see Senet pieces displayed in-game on the table board, not unlike modern chess pieces!!

This communicates to us the thinking abilities of ancient human beings, culturally, spiritually and intellectually. Whilst our sciences and some religious ideas might differ through centuries of new learning, human intelligence is really a preservation of society, our individual life course and personal/collective decisions.

“J’adoube”

“the Rabbits of Ridge Willow – sketch one”

“the Rabbits of Ridge Willow – sketch one” really is a very quick simple sketch from a photograph of a rabbit at Ridge Willow.

I was stood still watching it lift up from its grass cover to chew some hay.

The first sketch session details were drawn ‘plein air’ in half an hour whilst I sat just in front of Ridge Willow, by their nearby burrow.

This artwork is purely fun. Discovering there were rabbits actually living on Ridge Willow is a delight of nature.

‘Man Sailing In Tumultuous Waves’ sketch on card paper

“Man Sailing In Tumultuous Waves” [2012] quick sketch on card paper by Matt The Unfathomable Artist. Photograph digitally edited.

John Singer Sargent – Portrait Art’s Everything

‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ [1885] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 68.5 in × 60.5 in

The title for the above painting by John Singer Sargent ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ is from the song called ‘The Wreath‘ by eighteenth-century operatic composer Joseph Mazzinghi.

The two girls are the daughters of Frederick Barnard an illustrator by profession.

Dolly aged eleven is to our left and Polly aged seven is standing in front of her to our right. Sargent found inspiration to include Chinese lanterns whilst sighting them during an earlier boating expedition on the Thames with American artist Edwin Austin Abbey.

This en plein air technique literally influenced by Monet to John Singer Sargent was completed over countless sessions whilst visiting Broadway, Worcestershire, England – The Cotswolds.

I promise you would find a visit to the Cotswolds oh so very pretty just like these two adorable girls painted herewith. Therewith or herewith – its almost like going back in time.

The house of these very gardens was then owned by yet another friend of Sargent’s – American painter, writer and sculptor Frank Millet. Sadly he died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

A 2016 auction of the beautiful “Poppies – A Study Of Poppies for ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'” sold for £6,858,000 USD at Sotheby’s.

The history, its painted subjects, the luminous mastery and intricate technical derivation would make the original ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ a grand prize for any serious Art Collector.

What do you like most yourself about this painting?

The trodden grasses? The girls’ concentrated facial expressions?

Warm Chinese lanterns incandescently glowing amidst arty white lillies?

I particularly love that Barnard’s daughters are thoroughly engaged, individually, in an unspeaking togetherness. A shared purpose to delight each other and themselves equally.

John Singer Sargent gifts us with this painting for the ages.

‘Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife’ [August 1885] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 20 1/2 x 24 1/2 in

Rock and roll baby!

I thought of The Beatles when I first saw the painting ‘Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife’. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and more specifically George Harrison.

Stylistic lyrical geniuses.

Robert Louis Stevenson is super cool. Sargent captures Robert’s inherent quirkiness, his restlessness of thought. Creatives can, at times, exhibit this characterisation without being aware of their indifferent juxtaposition.

Art takes over the mind. It becomes the working of the hands. The pacing of the feet by sheer conscious will.

Interestingly his wife appears almost ghostly and distant in this full-bodied reddened portrait. Stevenson looks as if he wants to ‘get away’ to his writing even as Sargent’s brush strokes are being formed.

The opened door and positioning of our protaganist might seem incidental. However, would you have chosen this composition over all other possible scenic angulations?

We have to say ‘Eureka!’

John Singer Sargent is a true portrait artisan. The Rubens of his generation. Sargent is as accomplished at Impressionist works as he is portrait Realism.

‘The talk of the town’.. Sargent probably knew someone’s ‘ears were burning’.

‘Miss Elsie Palmer’ [1889-90] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 75 1/8 x 45 1/8 in

I found the pose of ‘Miss Elsie Palmer’ quaint and disciplined. A pragmatic solution to posing for great lengths of time. Her hair natural and the clothing fabrics a multitude of folding criss-crossing layers.

Miss Elsie Palmer’s eyes look rather mournful here. This is a professional portrait revealing a practically perfect young lady in every way. Modest and likeable. Sargent’s use of light and dark is exemplary as expected. Mood is, as Warhol commented in his own way, where Sargent’s genius shines.

Looking through his vast body of work is hugely pleasurable for any art lover. Blending of interactive foreground and background details. His unique artistic quality incorporated from canvas to canvas.

Quite remarkable.

‘Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ [c1905] by John Singer Sargent, Watercolor on paper, 50.16 x 33.02 cm

Immediately above is a relaxed Impressionist portrait of the artist ‘Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ by his close friend John Singer Sargent.

Immediately pictured below please take a look at Sargent’s fellow artist Giovanni Boldini‘s (1845 -1931) likewise expert rendition ‘Portrait of the Artist Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’:

‘Portrait of Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ [1902] by Giovanni Boldini,
Oil on canvas, 49 5/8 by 39 3/4 in

Boldini’s portrait is regal and dignifying in its own exquisite artistic right.

Whilst Sargent’s portrait clearly demonstrates his extreme skill at Impressionism. The sense of body and movement in both artworks is outstanding. Please remember that Sargent is strongly regarded as the epitome of classical high society portraiture. True it is too.

Yet he is also very brave artistically with his career.

Impressionist works. Perfected landscapes. Architectural masterclasses. Ordinary peoples, time-indefinitely painted during his various travels.

John Singer Sargent – Art at Everything.

Aelita Andre – Abstract Expressionist Genius

‘Sun Flares and Pegasus’ [2008] by Aelita Andre, acrylic on canvas, 36 ins x 24 ins. Photography by Nikka Kalashnikova.

Let’s begin with the second most surprising aspect of Aelita Andre’s artwork as you read my blog herewith..

.. Aelita is just 10 years of age at the time of my writing this article. And yes, when you look at all her most up-to-date work displayed on her website: http://www.aelitaandre.com/ you might become perplexed at how Aelita has work going back to 2008!

Highly respected gallery curator Peter Gagliardi describes Aelita Andre as a genius.

The above artwork ‘Sun Flares and Pegasus’ is undoubtedly the work of a naturally gifted artist regardless of her tender age. It’s reasonable to say that even the most knowledgeable art professionals cannot possibly know every single artwork by every renowned artist of the past 500 years.

There’s always a new masterpiece yet to be discovered..

Her arrangement of colour, use of space and positioning of paints in an orderly chaotic art production is confoundingly beautiful to explore throughout this piece. It’s clear to see that Aelita enters another world whilst she paints.

The Artists Dimension.

Abstract work as a style soars with the sense and feeling of an eagle when it comes to subconscious ideas represented within artforms.

If Expressionism is the perceivable representation of any given physical subject how do we artistically explain expressionist works regarding invisible matter? I do believe this is possible since we can genuinely interpret shared emotions from Abstract-Expressionist works.

The art world makes readily classifiable distinctions between art styles. Reinforcing the art classification table from classical fruit bowls to abstraction.

That the art business is founded on creativity, originality and quality is the reason why Aelita Andre’s work will continue to be sought after.

I chose to write about ‘The Time Before Time’ pictured below courtesy of Nikka Kalashnikova as I’m enthralled by its unusally clever expressionistic quality.

Honestly, as always, this is one of the best artworks for mentally picturing how one might physically imagine TIME itself. Especially as I’m an admirer of the visionary H.G. Wells. It seemed perfectly conceivable to me almost to the point of laughing until solemnly returning to my instantaneously intuitive conclusion..

.. that Aelita has envisaged a believable metaphysical painting of ‘Time’ just as one might artistically reveal atmospheric Earth air, universal space or the various forces of energy.

We have to be entirely serious about being fun. Aelita Andre is commensurate in both.

‘The Time Before Time’ [2015] by Aelita Andre, acrylic and silver leaf on canvas, 30 ins x 24 ins. Photography by Nikka Kalashnikova.

‘Swirling Starlight #3’ shown below has a magical quality, depth of structure with considerable intricacy and a notably romantic flavour. The textural layers correspond neatly. An entire orchestration of colour. Our ‘mind-hands’ call upon our eyes to ‘touch feel’ thus causing our complimentary senses to wander all around the canvas excitedly.

Only learned painters can produce work with such skillful art direction as this. All her own.

Nurture accompanied by natural genetic advantages.

Gwyneth Paltrow has numerous artistic talents that had the freedom to grow in a creative environment. Again though, we’re all unique persons.

We have to learn these things for ourselves.

Aelita’s perceptive awareness made sense of the art around her breathtakingly quickly. All art beyond purely spiritual actuation requires some process of originating physical ingenuity.

Aelita attained personal-artistic-physical control over what she was painting from a very early age.

Born with a natural gift made in about nine months.

Interestingly there are some child geniuses of mathematics whose parents haven’t the slightest idea where their child’s abilities were derived. Even so, parents whose child had reasonable early nurture in any given field at first struggle with the reality that their child is accomplishing feats beyond any ordinary explanation.

‘Swirling Starlight #3’ [2014] by Aelita Andre, acrylic on canvas, 24 ins x 30 ins. Photography by Nikka Kalashnikova.

Continuing our discussion about early artistic ability ‘Blue Butterfly’ shown here..

‘Blue Butterfly’ [2011] by Aelita Andre, acrylic on canvas, 40 ins x 40 ins. Photography by Nikka Kalashnikova.

.. is particularly impressive as we all enjoy seasonal butterflies performing their instinctive dreamy dances as winged fairies across our sunny blue skies.

Deoxyribonucleic acid = DNA.

Strands and fronds float about going to goodness knows wherever they please.

Professional artists inspire and become inspired. Whilst viewing ‘Blue Butterfly’ I began thinking about artworks at the atomic and molecular level as explanations across art genres. The interactive experience roving gleefully over this most artful achromatic-chromatic painting is intensely inspirational.

The capacity for Aelita’s personality and her artworks to inspire people of all ages will firmly establish Aelita Andre as an eminently recognisable international artist. I love her engaging art performances, the irrepressible elegance and attractiveness of her wildly free-spirited pieces.

Aelita Andre is the living definition of an Abstract-Expressionist genius with true star quality.

Kieron After Claude

“Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” [2015] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on canvas, 16ins x 22ins.

Having viewed John David Ratajkowski’s beautifully charming ‘Cow Tuesday’ art pieces online I thought it would be interesting for me to include “Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” by prodigious child artist Kieron Williamson.

Artists incorporate a unique personality and stylistic signature to their artworks. Art experts know a John Ratajkowski artwork from a Kieron Williamson, a Basquiat from an Andy Warhol.

All masterful artists in their own right.

Where do I begin writing about an artist whom at six years of age was already exciting prospective buyers into making sealed bids for his artwork?

His lifetime earnings have exceeded £2.5 million.. and Kieron is still only 14 years old!

‘I guess’, said the movie veteran, that when you make a child genius we should always appreciate that their early talents have also likely been nurtured from a very young age. Even so, they are undoubtedly born this way.

Like Justin Bieber musically.. and beyond.

“Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” is glorious. Cows have that remarkable quality of looking at us pensively. They’re immensely trusting. Chewing the cud they couldn’t care less what was going on in another field, sheep grazing by their side.

Kieron’s artwork above captures the layperson’s idea of cows. Aloof, awkwardly thoughtful and at great efforts in movement at everything until perhaps the Farmer calls. That’s how I see it.

Then again, I breathe art every single day of my life. Kieron and John too.

“Dramatic Sunset” [2009] by Kieron Williamson, Pastel from his 2nd Exhibition, 14 ins x 10 ins.

Immediately above is an astoundingly mature artwork by Kieron Williamson when he was just seven years old. I encourage you to look online to see his people-in-rural-landscapes work.

This sunset pastel is one of my favourite sky scene artworks, ever. I’m trying to bring forward words to describe here what I’m seeing. Artists study artists and none more so than lifelong famed British artist David Hockney.

Therefore I can say that this sunset pastel has become ‘pools and portraits’ to the art world in my opinion. KRW Esq, if you will.

“Distant Cattle” [2014] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on board, 10 ins x 14 ins.

The above artwork “Distant Cattle” contains intense drama. The wind could be roaring any moment soon. Those approaching clouds might loom as a thunderous downpour. This painting is about our relationship with the environment. How it makes us feel.

‘Urgency mixed with the oils of imperturbability’.

Thanks Kieron, I’ve hyphenated this new saying as it sounded, dare I say of classic landscape art, inspirationally cool.

JMW Turner’s are cool. And Hockney too.

Imperturbability, he said. Oh how this most unusual word somehow reminds me of Roald Dahl and all his wonderful children’s books.

“London Monotone Figure” [2013] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on board, 10 ins x 14 ins.

I continued to sit back in my chair whilst I first viewed “London Monotone Figure” on Kieron’s website:

http://www.kieronwilliamson.com

Anyone familiar with my photography will probably understand why for interconnective reasons:

“The Snow Walker” [photographed 6th January 2010, 1635hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist,. Unknown man walking near and to my hometown local lake.

Interconnective reasons of Imagination and Reality.

You see, at around 9 years of age I was by my own personal request gifted with a children’s book about spycraft. It was for Christmas that year I think.

Can I please imagine that the solitary figure in Kieron’s painting is a spy vanishing into London’s misty void? Okay, he might be an old man.. in disguise? Or a blind man tapping his way along the murky pathway? Kieron’s painting allows artistic licence for our imagination.

Which brings me to my next interconnective thought..

..The 1927 film ‘Metropolis’ by Fritz Lang was my Dad’s favourite movie. He owned the complete film on video.

The full movie is itself a work of art, inspirational even to this day. I’ve no doubt my Dad saw a simile of his own mother and father in the film. Yes a good likeness of character, a simile of my Gran and Grandad. I’m absolutely certain of this.

M and the spy movie genre began to find its place in film art history.

“London Monotone Figure” is also a superior artwork. Its simplicity and complexity. A bluish-grey gun metal palette. Mysterious, Spooky, Ghostly. Absolutely charming, characterful and inventive of Kieron’s design.

Kieron Williamson is producing masterpieces in a consistent manner with the dexterity of past greats such as Carlos de Haes.

Here’s to a superb “Family Gathering” as we check the “View From A Window” at “Day’s End, Norfolk” just wishing for the “Blakeney Sunrise” to arrive.

The Unfathomable Artist

Art Blogging Infinitum

Tag Archives: artists