A Site for Sore Eyes!

As we witness the landscapes of our world continuously change around us, so too has the nature of landscape art over time. One may typically associate landscape painting with more traditional, historical exhibits in a museum, but the genre has surged in relevance within contemporary art. While rooted in the depiction of the natural scenery that surrounds us, today’s artists use landscapes to illustrate many present-day themes such as environmental fragility and our dependence on virtual spaces. What keeps these artworks modern is their range of mediums and use of technology, as well as their range of styles from photorealism, to abstract and beyond.

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While we will never tire of the Impressionist work of Monet and Pissarro, or the historical Canadian landscape paintings of the Group of Seven, here are some examples of works we are loving right now, including art prints and paintings by Sarah Anne Johnson, Vik Muniz, Scott McFarland, Pablo Genovés, and more.  Please contact us for any inquiries or if you are interested in selling or purchasing fine art.

Sarah Anne Johnson

 

Edward Burtynsky

 

Vik Muniz, Pola Museum of Art (Water Lily Pond, after Claude Monet), Repro, 2016, Digital C-Print, Edition of 6, 40 x 41 inches 

 

Scott McFarland, Video, Edition of 3, 49 x 28 inches

 

Pablo Genovés, Chandelier, 2017, Pigment print, 39 x 48 inches 

 

Luc Courchesne, 2013/09/15 Thonon Les Bains, 2012, Digital print on archival paper, translucent acrylic disc and rotary device, Edition of 3, 10 x 10 inches

 

Alex McLeod, Iceberg, 2017, Chromogenic print, Edition of 3, 32 x 48 inches

 

Thomas Jackson, Tulle no.12, Stinson Beach, California, 2020, Archival pigment print,
Varied sizes and editions 

 

Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Keeping It Simple, Tuscany, Italy, 2016, Archival inkjet print, Edition of 7,
41 x 43 inches

Think Outside The Box!

What shape comes to mind when picturing a painting on canvas? Most of us would probably think of a rectangle or square. The rectangular canvas is most prominent not only for its aesthetic properties, but also because it is easiest to stretch on a frame with right angles. However, when it comes to art, the possibilities are limitless. Changing the shape of the canvas can add character and depth to a piece, bringing a surprisingly different energy and feel to any given artwork.

Constructivist artist Peter László Peri is believed to be the originator of the shaped canvas back in the 1920s, where geometric shapes in art aimed to reflect the modern industrial era. (Though the « tondo » circular painting goes back to the Renaissance!)

 

 

 

 

Left: Peter László Peri, In Front of the Table, 1922, Tempera on board, 25 1/4 x 34 in, MoMA. Right: Michelangelo, Doni Madona, circa 1507, Oil and tempera on panel, 47 1/2 in diameter, Uffizi 

 

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Subsequently, well-known artists like Frank Stella and Minimalist Kenneth Noland took up the mantle, experimenting with varying irregular, asymmetrical shapes, curves, and chevrons of flat colour. From then on, the style has been taken to all kinds of places from Elizabeth Murray’s brightly coloured, elaborate, whimsical forms to Sam Gilliam’s colour field painting, which is completely freed from the constraints of the stretched canvas itself!

Kenneth Noland, Diamond, Photo by Emily Andrews 

 

Sam Gilliam, Swing, 1969, Smithsonian American Art Museum

More recently, contemporary artists such as Beverly Fishman, Peter Halley, and Josh Sperling have undertaken the challenge of combining multiple shaped canvases into an assemblage. Each unit has a symbiotic relationship with the others to create a seamless work in which colours and shapes interact. 

 A piece of irregularly shaped art makes a fun, interesting addition to your fine art collection. If any of these artists are of interest, or if you have any other art needs you’d like to explore , please do not hesitate to be in touch!

Mikael B., Swing City, 2021, Spray paint on custom shaped canvas, 30 x 80 in

 

Beverly Fishman

 

Josh Sperling

 

Peter Halley, Horizon Line, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 79 1/2 x 78 in

 

Elizabeth Murray, Back in Town, 1999, Oil on canvas, 97 x 92 in

 

Ellsworth Kelly & Roy Lichtenstein

 

KAWS

The common misconceptions, their value, and why you should consider adding them to your collection

There are many misconceptions when it comes to prints and printmaking. The most common and erroneous of all is that prints are akin to posters. This could not be further from the truth, as printmaking is a complex process in which the artist takes part every step of the way. Some of the most common printmaking techniques include engravings, etchings, linocuts, woodcuts, and screenprints, each with their own unique procedures and difficulties. Although prints are produced in multiples, they exist within a limited edition and each one bears the mark of the artist’s hand, rendering it high quality, fine artwork. 

Many are also under the illusion that paintings are more valuable than prints. On the contrary, a high-quality print by an established artist will often be far more valuable than an original artwork by someone lesser-known. Prints and multiples are sometimes accompanied by jaw-dropping price tags in the thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even millions. Just this past March, Banksy’s Girl with Balloon – Colour AP (Gold), number 7 in an edition of 88, sold for a whopping £1,104,000, almost double its high estimate of £600,000! 

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Banksy, Girl with Balloon – Colour AP (Gold), 2004, Screenprint, Ed. of 88, 25 1/2 x 19 1/2 in

Alex Katz, Ada in Spain, 2018, Screenprint, Ed. of 150, 46 x 32 in (left), Tom Wesselmann, Nude & Mirror, 1990, Screenprint, Ed. of 100, 58 x 66 in (right)

The true appeal of prints lies in the medium’s ability to make fine art within reach to a broad range of collectors. Original works by renowned artists are virtually untouchable to most of us in today’s market. Acquiring prints can be a more accessible way of building up a respectable, investment-quality collection with big-name artists.
 
If you would like to learn more about adding prints to your collection or if any of the artworks included here are of interest, please contact us!

Henry Moore, Four Reclining Figures, 1974-5, Lithograph, Ed. of 25, 29 x 33 in

Gunther Forg, Berliner Serie, 2001, Screenprint, Ed. of 50, 19 1/2 x 13 3/4 in

Tom Wesselmann, Monica in Robe with Motherwell, 1994, Screenprint, Ed. of 80, 40 x 58 1/4 in

Lucian Freud, Girl Holding her Foot, 1985, Etching, Ed. of 50, 27.3 x 21.3 in

Jim Dine, Blue Artist at the Bahnhof, 2018, Woodcut print, Ed. of 12, 61 3/5 x 50 4/5 in

Chuck Close, Self-Portrait/Pulp/Pochoir, 2000, Pochoir on paper, Ed. of 40, 24 3/4 x 19 1/2 in

Roy Lichenstein, View from the Window, 1985, Lithograph, woodcut, & screenprint, Ed. of 60,
76 1/2 x 30 1/2 in

Marc Chagall, Entre printemps et été, 1973, Lithograph, Ed. of 50, 20 x 15 1/2 in

Beyond Sketches and Scribbles

Pencils perhaps conjure memories of one’s days in elementary school. It is a medium most would not necessarily tend to associate with the realm of high art. The truth is, however, pencils, both coloured and not, are far from a relegated medium and they have garnered increasing interest amongst fine art collectors in recent years. Lauded for its versatility, precision and vast graphic possibilities, many artists have adopted the medium into their arsenal of crafts.

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 From George Condo’s linear illustrations to DiegoKoi’s hyper realistic drawings, several breathtaking and complex fine art pieces have been brought to life with a humble pencil. Enjoy some of our current favourite pencil-based pieces and please contact us if any artists are of interest.

DiegoKoi, Sensazione, 2012, Pencil on paper.

George Condo, Profile with Pink Hair, 2018, Coloured pencil on paper, 22 1/2 x 16 inches.

Jorge Méndez Blake, Tada escritura comienza en una selva VII, 2020, Coloured pencil on paper, 40 x 28 1/10 inches.

Meaghan Hyckie, SIM-11, 2019, Colour pencil on paper, 22.5 x 26.5 inches.
Reproduction courtesy of the artist and Olga Korper Gallery. 

Margaret Priest, What Makes A Room A Room, #2, 1986, Pencil on paper, 22 x 30 inches

Zipora Fried, Coloured pencil on paper.

A « Snapshot » of the Fashion Icons

The nights are getting chilly and the leaves have begun to turn red, signaling the start of the fall season which coincides with the launch of Paris Fashion week. The anticipation of the most dazzling designer shows across the pond has inspired us to highlight some of our favourite fashion photography artworks. The genesis for fashion photography may have been clothes, but today, we recognize the artistry behind each shot and the ability to tell a story, evoke a mood, or promote a lifestyle.

Over the years, the genre has evolved in many ways, resulting in a plethora of images that are designed to provoke the viewer’s attention. Admire the sinewy grace of model Dovima as she poses fearlessly amidst a group of circus elephants for example. Or perhaps the intricate way in which the architectural detailing of the wall panel complements the elaborate ruffles of the Christian Dior gown in Patrick Demarchelier’s image. And before you ask, no, Ormond Gigli’s Girls in the Windows (1960) is not photoshopped! The artist intentionally and strategically coordinated these women to stand in the windows of a condemned building to realize his dream photo. How’s that for taking risks?!

Richard Avedon, Dovima with Elephants, 1955, 14 x 11 inches, Ed. of 100

Patrick Demarchelier, Christian Dior Haute Couture, Spring/Summer 2011, 2011, 20 x 24 inches, Ed. of 8

Ormond Gigli, Girls in the Windows, 1960, 16 x 16 inches, Ed. of 100

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Fashion photography has empowered artists to push boundaries, both artistically as well as ideologically – often turning conventional beauty and gender norms on their heads. Take, for instance, Helmut Newton’s Rue Aubriot, which uprooted all preconceived notions of femininity with the model’s tailored suit, sleek hairstyle, and cigarette. 

Helmut Newton, Rue Aubriot, 1975, 16 x 22 inches

In one of its 2014 articles, The New York Times proclaimed fashion photography as the « artworld’s rising star. » Artistic images of glamour, beauty, and sartorial expression have been gaining momentum over the years, enticing more collectors, and making their way to major art spaces, no longer buried in the pages of fashion magazines.

Through its daring innovation, fashion photography has garnered the respect of museums worldwide and has become a highly collectable genre. If you are interested in any of these iconic shots or would like to start your own photography collection, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Mario Testino, Sienna Miller, Rome, American Vogue, 2007, 53 1/10 x 70 9/10 inches, Ed. of 3

Steven Meisel, Naomi Campbell, Vogue Italia, 1992, 20 x 24 inches, Ed. of 7

Nick Knight, Susie Smoking, Susie Bick for Yohji Yamamoto, 1988, 30 x 23 7/8 inches, Ed. of 3

Pamela Hanson, Patti Sylvia, Joseph Campaign, 1987, 24 x 30 inches, Ed. of 5

Tim Walker, Pearlescent Xiao Wen, Shoreditch, London, 2011, 25 1/5 x 19 7/10 inches, Ed. of 10

Horst P. Horst, Around the Clock, 1987, 20 x 16 inchesLillian Bassman, Barbara Mullen Blowing Kiss, 1950, 40 1/5 x 29 9/10 inches, Ed. of 25

For nurseries, playrooms & more!

The artworld is often assumed to be reserved for sophisticated, wealthy, and highbrow elites. This stereotypical notion could not be further from the truth. Art can be enjoyed by all, especially a key demographic not usually considered when it comes to the field–kiddos!

Of course, children love to get their hands messy in their artistic creations, but there is also great value in subjecting kids to art displayed in galleries, museums, and even in home environments. Interacting with artwork has a slew of benefits for younger viewers as it engages their senses, sparks creativity, fosters critical thinking, and has been linked to language development.

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This back–to–school season has inspired us to compile some of our current favourite artworks, from Takashi Murakami’s multicolored flowers that depict joy and innocence to Hunt Slonem’s iconic paintings of animals. We believe these pieces would be especially appealing to a younger crowd and would work perfectly in a nursery, a kid’s bedroom, or a playroom.

Regardless of their age, creating a space for your children to grow plays a significant role in their comfort and independence, and adding artwork to that space is one way to open up a whole world of fun, imagination, and exploration. 

Enjoy these fun pieces and please contact us if any artists are of interest.

Takashi Murakami

Mr. Brainwash

Michael Craig Martin

Beau Dunn

Donald Baechler

Tom Slaughter

Hunt Slonem

Alexander Calder