24 Thursday Sep 2015
Posted in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration
08 Thursday Aug 2013
Posted in Art & Design, Featured Artists
Tags
animal drawings, animals, Anthony Scutro, art, artist, artwork, black and white, carving, craft, design, eyes, Four Word Progress: A Group Change of Perspective, frog, Haida, illustration, jersey city, Native American, new jersey, orca, outdoors, owl, ox, pipes, skulls, snake, Summer Dawn Hortillosa, symbolic images, The Jersey City Independent, theme, Two Doors Salon, wood
If you enjoy traveling through a piece of art and taking a trip among the unique mind of the artist, then you will love Anthony Scutro’s work. Intricately detailed, his illustrations express various thoughts, themes, and ideas that are briefly connected to the whole. You imagine the artist living and breathing through its production, as the time and patience clearly shows with the final product. One can say Scutro really has a knack for layering, by building numerous worlds within one main portal the viewer gets transported to new levels in a constant flow. Tunnels of imagery and ink filled visions lead the way, proving that the paper has a life of its own.
The artist in his studio
Living in Jersey City, New Jersey, the artist works as a freelance film editor and enjoys all aspects of the outdoors. Having went to grammar school with him, I can say he is an interesting individual with many talents. Scutro started drawing at a young age when he didn’t have much else to do and was inspired by the work of a stone carver at a sportsman show his parents took him too. He was intrigued with the Haida style the man was exhibiting, which is also known for its wildly themed drawings of animals much like the style Scutro has developed. “I would always draw animals and loved how they had one amimal morph into the next. I thought it would be cool to do my own spin on it…Animal shapes tend to fit into each other and I also can distort them to make it work,” he states.
In some cases, the artist also ties his works together by a certain theme. You will notice the owl above filled with skulls, the orca filled with black and white animals, and some others not included here like an octopus contained with eyes.
Power
Nature
Scutro is always trying to reinvent his work and challenging himself with new ideas. He is now experimenting with other types of imagery outside the realm of animals such as devoting a work to interesting people he knows. “I try to show someone’s life in a picture. I interview them and write everything down, and then depending on what I think is more important to that person, I make it bigger and design it so you follow the path between the light and the dark and get a blueprint of that person’s life and what they love,” he says.
Long Island Girl
Could Have Done Better
Besides drawing, Scutro also enjoys the art of carving and has continued to create Native American peace pipes. He says it all started when his friend showed an interest of having one incorporated into his wedding. Upon looking for one he thought would make a great gift, he was unsatisfied and decided to make one himself. This favor for a friend eventually developed into a hobby where he now masters his craft.
“Pipes are just really fun to make…They’re made out of antler and wood that’s aged for two years or more and some of them also have tubing and plumbing fixtures so there’s a modern edge to it. They’re all built, painted, and have things carved into them and then I use a nontoxic protective seal so it can be preserved,” says Scutro. I have seen this pipes first hand and I have to say they are really beautifully made. You can tell he loves the process and puts so much care into his work.
There is so much to explore in Scutro’s work and I believe there will be much more to come from this artist. You can view more of his work on his website and contact the artist himself to commission a piece. He has recently exhibited his work in various art shows including Two Doors Salon in Hamilton Park, NJ on June 7th and being a part of Four Word Progress: A Group Change of Perspective in Jersey City, which recently had its opening reception this past July 9th.
“I simplify life through my art by making it black and white because life never is actually in black and white. My work tells a story of a person or place or mindset through a puzzle of images.” ~ A. Scutro for Four Word Progress
{All quotes taken from The Jersey City Independent June 3, 2013 article by Summer Dawn Hortillosa}
09 Friday Nov 2012
Posted in Art & Design, Featured Artists
Tags
andy warhol, art, canvas, color, conservatory of amsterdam, countryside, de kooning, dutch, fine arts, fryslan, greetings cards, guitar, hurricane sandy, karel appel, matisse, music, netherlands, new york, owl, painting, picasso, playful, red cross, Reinder Oldenburger, ryan oldcastle, rythm, songwriting, structure, Van Gogh
My first impression of Reinder Oldenburger was definitely a good one, as he seemed laid back, kind and very sweet. Off the bat you can tell he was artistic, which he totally is, and he looked quite handsome that one winter day. You see I met him and my friend Jen in NYC to take photos of their wedding at city hall. It was such an honor to capture their special day.
Photo Credit: Jen Lombardo
Since that day, I have kept up with what Reinder has been creating and I have to say, I am impressed. Not only can he write and play music but he paints as well. Born in the Netherlands, he started playing guitar at 13 and then later moved to attend the Conservatory of Amsterdam. The artist, 28, now resides in Queens with his wife and fabulous makeup artist, Jen Lombardo.
Owl
Color plays a big part in his art as well as his music. In 2011, he decided to start putting his thoughts on canvas and through this has become a self taught fine artist with clear intention and abstract vision, one held by the great expressionists that have truly influenced him. His work is playful, raw and childlike with a touch of maturity and sensibility. It’s amazing he has only been painting for about a year.
I asked Reinder if he would do an interview with me for the blog and he kindly said yes. I am very happy to share the Q and A we had so you can learn a little more about this unique young man too.
What would you consider your first love, music or art? And why?
I started playing guitar in 1997 when I was 13. I took lessons and started playing in some local bands and eventually moved to Amsterdam to study music at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. I didn’t start painting until much later in 2011 after a visit to the van Gogh museum so it’s safe to say music was my first love.
How do you feel art and music/songwriting influence each other in your life?
I think they are essentially the same. They both have rhythm, color, and structure. I get inspired to paint a picture from listening to music and vice versa.
Andy Warhol
What is it that draws you to use vibrant colors in your paintings?
I think they’re just mesmerizing! Some of my favorites are cadmium yellow, naphthol red and azure blue. They’re so powerful I find it hard not to look at them.
Untitled
How do you feel your upbringing and surroundings have influenced your artistic vision and what experiences have influenced you the most?
I grew up in a generation without cell phones and social media. There was less distraction and more time to use the imagination. I’ve had a very free and untroubled childhood growing up on the Dutch countryside. The skies are amazing over there! The Dutch landscapes are a painter’s dream and I definitely believe that has influenced my perception of space and color.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Most of the time inspiration comes as I’m working. Music and books are some of my favorite sources. I believe that everything I see, hear and experience influences and inspires me when the time is right.
Explain your artistic process when starting to work on a painting.
A blank canvas can be very intimidating. It’s all about being open and fearless, adding and taking away. Every brush stroke leads to another. I often have no idea where I’m going. I basically start building on a simple idea and let the current take me to unknown waters. When I paint I like to listen to loud music and drink lots of coffee.
Untitled
Is it ever hard to part with a painting when it’s sold?
For me it’s all in the process of creating. I’ll give it everything and when I’m done with a painting I’m ready to part with it.
Who are your favorite artists and why?
Picasso, Matisse, de Kooning, Karel Appel, and van Gogh are some of my favorites. Mostly because of their incredible use of color.
Vincent van Gogh
{To learn more about Reinder, you can visit him at reinderoldnburger.com and ryan oldcastle.com. You can purchase his paintings in his Etsy shop. Also currently for sale are limited greeting card boxed sets featuring 8 paintings from his 2012 work which you can buy for $20. He is kindly donating 25% of the profits to the Red Cross to help Hurricane Sandy victims.}
17 Tuesday Jul 2012
Posted in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration
Tags
a perfect monster, Alphonse Mucha, animals, Art Deco, baroness, earth, eyes, flowers, john dyer baizley, music, nature, owl, romantic, trees, women, woodland
I had to showcase John Dyer Baizley eventually, considering he is such an amazing artist and his band, Baroness, is one of my favorites as well. Since their new album, Yellow and Green, just came out I figured this would be the perfect time. If you don’t know who Baizley is then I am happy to introduce you to his work.
The artist resides in Savannah, Georgia but grew up in a small town in Virginia. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design he moved to Georgia and formed the band Baroness with friends from back home. They have been creating amazing music ever since then. All their albums are designed by Baizley which really gives them a signature look. He also designs cover art for other bands like Pig Destroyer, Flight of the Concords and Blask Tusk.
His work is reminiscent of the art deco style with remnants of gritty texture and clean lines. There is always beautiful movement in his work which keeps it fresh and spontaneous. The fantasy element is a major part as well. With a mixture of nature, animals, women, skulls and other elements, his work is a story of imagination and grace. Clearly influenced by Alphonse Mucha, the softness to this style is uniquely showcased through bold lines and color as well as intricate details.
I chose the cover Baizely did for the band Kvelertak for this first palette because of its earthly colors and romantic feel. There is a sense of power and love that shows through this piece that I connect with. The details and shading are flawless and the colors are soft, feminine and woodland inspired. Then to top it off, the eyes of the owl are intense and captivating as they lure you into the fantastical world of John Dyer Baizley’s mind. That’s what I call a work of art.
{You can listen to Baroness’ new album on NPR and purchase it from iTunes. I highly recommend you check it out as well as all their other albums. Every single one is filled with amazing music that will not only inspire you but get you amped. You can also see more of Baizley’s art at his official blog, A Perfect Monster.}
The Design Inspirationalist 