Artist Alphabet Day 12: (L)arsson, Carl

 

Carl Larsson was a Swedish painter born in 1853. He always considered his oil paintings to be amongst his best work, yet it was first when he started with watercolors that his carrier started taking off. Carl Larsson married Karin Bergöö, an excellent painter, crafter and designer. Together they had 8 children. Karin's artistic taste and bold design played a central role in Carl's work. The sense of partnership they seemed to have both in life as well as their creative work is what truly inspires me - in addition to beautiful illustrations of course. I also love that Carl Larssons work make me feel so at home - very Scandinavian.

http://www.clg.se/encarl.aspx

Artist Alphabet Day 11: (K)iki Smith

Kiki Smith is an American artist born in 1954 Germany. Her work has been represented in galleries across the globe and includes sculpture, illustration, printmaking, textile and installation. What I really love about Kiki Smith's artwork is how she incorporates a variety of medium and both piece together and layer different elements within the specter of a room. She takes space.

See more of her beautiful work here: http://www.pacegallery.com/artists/442/kiki-smith

Artist Alphabet Day 10: (J)ean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960. He was an incredibly talented artist who challenged and questioned with his art work. Heavily influenced by the ongoing graffiti movement as well as an active participant, he drew, wrote and painted on anything he could get his hands on - refrigerators, lab coats, walls, cardboard-boxes... Jean-Michel Basquiat tragically past away only 27 years old in his apartment from a drug overdose.

"Jean-Michel lived like a flame. He burned really bright. Then the fire went out. But the embers are still hot." - Fred Braithwaite

For more information about Jean-Michel Basquiat, go to:

http://basquiat.com/

Artist Alphabet Day 9: (I)nma Lorente

Inma Lorente is a wonderful illustrator from Valencia I  recently became aware of. Her work is sharp with amusing color combinations and fresh mark-making. Inma Lorente's work is a huge inspiration to me.

Here is a great interview with the artist:

http://illustrationmundoblog.tumblr.com/post/60267207879/interview-with-inma-lorente

If you would like to see more of Inma Lorente's work, you can follow her on tumblr:

http://inmalorente.tumblr.com/ 

Artist Alphabet Day 8: H...

Henri Matisse was born in a textile-town in France, in 1869. I wonder if the textile town held such a powerful influence over Matisse that they made a way into his paintings. His work can be parted into several periods that where stylistically different from one another, yet his goal remained the same: to discover "the essential character of things" and to produce an art "of balance, purity, and serenity." For as long as I can remember I have seen Henri Matisse's paintings and admired his clean and daring color pallets along with his variety of patterns.

Check him out: http://www.henri-matisse.net/biography.html

 

Artist Alphabet Day 7: G...

Gustav Klimt was born in Austria in 1862. His paintings was not well accepted by the public during his lifetime. After his death, however - the paintings have been celebrated and counted as some of the most influential and important paintings to come out of Austria. Gustav Klimt inspired me from an early age. I was drawn to his intricate patterns as well as the elegance and simplicity in his human figures.  

To learn more about Klimt, follow the link:

http://www.gustav-klimt.com/

Artist Alphabet Day 6: F

Frida Kahlo is perhaps one of the most known female artists in the world. She is known for her self portraits, strong eyebrows, intense and shocking paintings. As a teenager and young adult she spent months and months in her bed suffering incredible pain as a result of an accident that nearly killed her.

See more of Frida Kahlo here:

http://www.fridakahlo.com/

Artist Alphabet Day 5: E

As a child growing up near Åsgårdstrand, in Norway, I was introduced to Edvard Munch's paintings, drawings and etchings at a young age. I enjoy how his work echos deeply with emotions of isolation, heart-ache, frustration, melancholy and the feeling of being miss-understood. Edvart Munch is most famous for his painting: Skrik (Scream).

Learn more about Edvart Munch, his beautiful artwork and tragic up-growing here:
http://www.edvardmunch.org/

Artist Alphabet Day 4: D(avis, Eleanor)

Eleanor Davis is an artist and cartoonist I deeply admire and look up to. She has an incredible sense of color and patterns, and always creates interesting shapes in her work. She is only 32 year old, yet has an impressive list of clients. If you don't know her work yet - take a look at her website: http://doing-fine.com/

Artist Alphabet Day 3: C

Day 3 of the Artist Alphabet! Today is Charley Harper's day - a famous American illustrator. I admire Charley's sharp geometrical shapes, patterns and elegant illustrations.
To learn more about him and his work, follow this link: https://www.charleyharperprints.com/charley-harper/about-charley-harper/ 

Artist Alphabet Day 2: B

 Today I have chosen to draw Bob Marley - in honor of my soon-to-be husband, who grew up loving Bob's music, lyrics and positive rhythms. Bob grew up in Jamaica and was bullied from a young age. I imagine that Bob was drawn to music, that it gave him an emotional outlet and allowed him to heal and grow.

 You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.

 

Artist Alphabet Portrait of...

Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish author, my childhood hero and as of 2013 she ranked as the third most translated children's books author. Her writings include the stories of Pippi Longstocking, Emil in Lønneberga, and Maddiken.

For more information about her life and works, follow the link below.
http://www.astridlindgren.com/en