THEINKONME: DISTRACTIONS

Lowbrow Art

This art form arose in Los Angeles in the late 1970’s, invented by Robert Williams, who is a painter, cartoonist, and founder of Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine.

Much of the Lowbrow art is both spooky and humorous. It deals with emotion, rebellion, imagination, and even the grotesque and at times strange. It combines fears and nightmares and places it in a world all of its own. It is a place where we are forced to forget everything that rationalists want us to follow and the abnormal is embraced.

It is filled with wry humor, goblins, ghosts and figures from myth and legend. Like many forms of art, it is not always about what you can see in the painting, but rather what you cannot seem to easily comprehend that matters. That to me makes the biggest impact in a painting. I truly enjoy this art form, there are many amazing Lowbrow artists. Here are just a few of my favorite ones.
By Mr.Tattoos

Viva La Muerte, 2009

Drink-Her, 2007

Dirtyland, 2007

Artist - Brian Viveros

Kickin' It Old Skool, 2009

Loco, 2009

Homie Humpty, 2007

Artist - Jonathan Bergeron

Where Crows Die, 2007

Lonely Day, 2008

Luey Skeletal, 2007

Artist - Bob Dob

Blessed, 2006

Sweet Victory, 2006

Sleeping Study, 2004

Artists - Ray Ceasar

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shadow Art

Art is a part of our everyday life, and inspiration comes from everyday things. When light filters through random objects to unveil shadows unperceived to the eye. Yet, it is not a new art form, in fact, it became quite popular in the Japanese Edo period (1603 - 1868), but instead of physical objects put together, they were drawings printed on woodblocks of both the object and the shadow it revealed. Today, modern artists assemble these beautiful visions out of random objects and astonish us every time they do it.

By Mr.Tattoos

Artist - kumi Yamashita

Artist - Shigeo Fukuda

Artists - Tim Noble & Sue Webster

Artists - Henrietta Swift & Christopher Smith

Artist - Larry Kagan

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sandro Botticelli

(March 1, 1445 - May 17, 1510)

Definitely one of my favorite early Renaissance painters. His art adorn the walls of The Sistine Chapel, amongst many of the greatest Renaissance artists. His paintings have preserved exceptionally well, he prepared his own tempera pigments with very little fat and covered them with a layer of pure egg white in a process unusual for his time. They will last for many years to come and can be found throughout the world.

By Mr.Tattoos

Venus And Mars, 1483. The National Gallery, London.

The Birth of Venus, 1482. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Fortitude, 1470. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

St. Augustine in His Study, 1480. The Chiesa di Ognissanti (All-Saints Church), Florence.

The Madonna of the Magnificat, 1483-85. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Abundance, 1482. The British Museum, London.

Pencil and wash, highlighted with white.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Great Alberto Vargas

(February 9, 1896 - December 30, 1982)

If you're into Pin-ups, then you've most likely heard of Alberto Vargas. From the famous Esquire, " Varga Girls", to Playboy's very own, "Vargas Girls." Legal matters were the reason for the name change of course. His work is undeniably one of a kind. Although there have been many Pin-Up artists, there has not been any like him. His typical combination of watercolor and airbrush were the perfect combination for what would become his iconic style.

Born in Peru, but moved to Manhattan after finishing two years of liberal arts and photography study in France, Switzerland, and Germany. He started painting Ziegfeld Follies girls in the 1920's, then Hollywood movie stars in the 1930's, to eventually receiving recognition for his work in Esquire magazine in the 1940's, and finally ending up at the Playboy magazine in the 1960's and 70's.

By Mr.Tattoos

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Graffiti

There is something special about graffiti that absolutely fascinates me. Yet, it is another art form that 'till this day is frowned upon by most people. But how can one frown with sights like these!?

Especially when it evolves to this level, you can clearly tell it comes from the heart.

Here are a few pictures of great graffiti that I've taken throughout the years.

By Mr.Tattoos

San Antonio, TX