"Aquarela" by Toquinho

"Aquarela" is one of the most beautiful songs of all time.
Its author is the talented brazilian composer Toquinho.
Although this blog is mainly dedicated to visual arts, I felt the need to add this song, together with a wonderful videoclip. Afterall music is Art.

Hand Painting by Guido Daniele

Guido Daniele is a talented italian artist born in Soverato and now working in Milan.
He attended the Brera School of Arts where he graduated in 1972 with a major in sculpturing. In India he attended the Tankas school in Dharamsala.
In 1972 he started working as an illustrator for publishers and advertising companies. He has also specialized in trompe l'oeil.
In 1990, Guido starts exploring the body painting technique and with its development he focus on hand painting creating amazing works of Art.
You may visit his website to learn more.

The Art of Zac Freeman

Zac Freeman is a fine artist who works with several media.
He owns a B.F.A. from the Jacksonville University with cum laude and departmental honors and his art has been exhibited, among other places, at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Jacksonville), Chester Gallery (Chester, CT) and Miami Museum of Science and Space.
His work is part of the Art collection of The Regency Group ( Florida).
The quality of Zac Freeman's Art has granted him a well deserved recognition and has been featured on several publications.
Although as mentioned before he uses several media, I believe that the "Disposable" portraits collection made with junk, trash and disposable goods may be considered his ex libris.

ABC 3D POP-UP BOOK

Roaring Brook Press, a publisher of quality books for young readers, brings us a book with a 3D pop-up alphabet.
The book is called ABC3D and the author is Marion Bataille.
Although the concept of books with pop-up elements is not new, in this case the result is worth taking a look.

Sculpting Surrealism by Nemo Gould

Nemo Gould is an artist born in Minneapolis, MN and raised in Nevada City, CA.

He earned his BFA in 1998 at the Kansas City Art Institute and in 2000 his MFA at the University of California, Berkeley.

His sculptures have been exhibited in museums, galleries and are owned by Art collectors.

This gives us an idea of the quality that Nemo achieves on his works.

I trully advise you to visit his website. You'll be thrilled.

Handmade Tapestries of Portalegre

In the city of Portalegre, in the Alentejo (South of Portugal), one will find one of the best tapestries in the world.
Based upon the artwork of known portuguese and foreign artists, these handmade tapestries take advantage of an available palette of 7000 colours.
Each weft consists of eight threads, meaning that different colours can be mixed in the same weft, resulting in reach chromatic effects.
The tapestries are woven by hand on a vertical loom and grow horizontaly, using a technique that permits to achieve great definition on small details.
The tapestries of Portalegre are limited in series of 1, 4 or 8 of the same original and are numbered and signed by the artist.
You may take a look at their site to learn more about an almost lost Art.
They fight with difficulties and the wage of the weavers is far less than what they deserve.
An increase in the number of buyers would help to keep these wonderful works of Art available to those who are true connoisseurs
In Lisbon you may also visit a permanent exhibition at the Galeria Tapeçarias de Portalegre ( Portalegre Tapestry Gallery).

Arts For The Parks 2008

The well known Arts For The Parks call for artists celebrates its 22nd competition.
Inspired by the american masters of landscape, namely of natural parks, the competition gives the participants the opportunity to have their works exhibited throughout the USA.
The call is open to all artists and the participants may enter using traditional mediums (excluding 3D, namely sculpture), photography and digital art. The work must be representational, abstract art will be disqualified.
There are several prize categories and benefits for the artists.
This is trully an opportunity to have one's work known through a vast public, so make sure that you take note of the dealines.
You may learn more about it by reading the prospectus and by checking the menu on the right.

Italian Street Painting Festival

On the 14th and 15th of June, will take place at the San Rafael downtown (25 minutes North of San Francisco, California), the Italian Street Painting Festival, regarded as one of the world's finest.

Also known as madonnari, the street painters will skillfully transform the pavement with their Art. It will be an excellent oportunity to get in touch with artists and appreciate things like anamorphic perspective.

Other forms of entertainment will also be presented to the public.

It is also important to remind that the proceeds will benefit the Youth in Art program.