Jazz Art

This post is dedicated to the only true original American art form...Jazz. The first Jazz music I remember was Duke Ellington. The big band music was alright, but it didn't move me like Hip-Hop. Years later when visiting a friend I discovered Miles Davis "Porgy and Bess" and really became a fan of the genre.

The music was an acquired taste but I've always loved Jazz Art. Most of the paintings are depictions of musicians performing in a smoky cafe with sharp dressed patrons. The art has a certain elegance that the bright, attention grabbing, style in Hip-Hop art is missing. 

Some of the first Jazz paintings I saw were by a talented artist named Justin Bua. He uses a broad spectrum of colors giving his paintings, some of which are caricature a life like quality. Below are some of my favorites pieces of Jazz art. If I have the artists name I will add it to the link list and you can Google them to see more work.

 

Blood Art

There are many different ways to make art. Some people draw with pen, pencil and markers, while others use paints like acrylics, watercolors and oils. Vincent Castiglia uses a unique medium to make is art...he uses blood.

In an attempt to get closer to his art on a more spiritual level Vincent started using the very essence of life to create blood art. He mixes his own blood with water to create a range of rust color like effects other artists can only hope to achieve with paints. Vincent uses the blood with a technique that when it's applied to canvases achieves more color range and texture than the basic sepia tones used to make blood stains. 

He has invented a technique that allows complete control of this unusual iron rich pigment so that he can create any image he imagines. People who view his work see more than the visceral image on the canvas, they see into it, and through it to feel the art on a spiritual level. Some say his art effects the mind on a psychological level that probes the emotions. 

In 2010 several of his paintings were featured in the  film Savage County. He is one of the only artists allowed to have a exhibition at the prestigious H.R. Giger museum. As you know H.R Giger is one of my all time favorite artists and I see allot of his influence in Vincents work. 

Below I posted a few paintings from the blood painter Vincent Castiglia. If you want to see more of his unique art go to his website vincentcastigliaart.com. 

Local Graff Art 2

In the spirit of the giving season I offer the next installment of the Local Graff series. 

Below are some pics I shot in Amsterdam Oost (East) by a place named Flevopark. This park is known as one of the meccas of graffiti, because of all the tall walls and low police intervention. While roaming the area looking for good pics to post, I was fortunate enough to see a group of talented artists paint a new mural in front of me.  Check the pics below.