Words from Artist George Caleb Binghan 1879

Beauty is Various

To the beautiful belongs an endless variety. It is seen not only in symmetry and elegance of form, in youth and health, but is often quite apparent in decrepit old age. It is found in the cottage of the peasant as well as in the palace of kings. It is seen in all relations, domestic and municipal, of a virtuous people, and in all that harmonizes man with his Creator. The ideal of the great artist, therfore, embraces all of the beautiful which presents itself in form and color, whether characterized by elegance and symmetry or by any quality within the wide and diversified domain of the beautiful.
Mere symmetry of form finds no place in the works of Rembrandt, Teniers, Ostade, and others of a kindred school. Their men and women fall immeasurably below that order of beauty which characterizes the sculpture of classic Greece. But they address themselves none the less to our love of the beautiful, and none the less to nourish the developement and growth of those tastes which prepare us for the enjoyment of that higher life which is to begin when our mortal existence shall end.

I was pondering the idea of what I find as beauty in the world around me as to paint it on the canvas. I am wanting to paint a series of human form that exists around me today. Human form itself has not changed much (minus the steroids and body enhancements), but what people express through choice of apparel. This has been a basic study for artists of all generations and it shows in the portraits of Rembrant, Singer, Wyeth and myriads of others who paint the people around them. I think I will start with those closest to me for I know them best. I will post my efforts as I go along.

Art for Sony Online Entertainment

Here is a piece done for Sony Online Entertainment recently.

New Beginings

2010 will be a year of changes for me. First of all, I am committed to this blog
and my musings of art and music. Second, as an artist I am trying to leap further along the path by looking backwards at my earlier style or approach of painting, before illustration presented me with time constraints and form. I am hoping to again paint what my heart tells me to this year. This desire has been whispering to me consistantly over the past years and it's time to listen.

Mark