The stuff of dreams and nightmares. The substance of real expressing surreal — pervasively touching, tangibly effectual.  That’s Erika’s sculpture work. 

She works in clay — wet, gooey, squishy, primitively sensuous.

And paper mache — wet, gooey, squishy…pulpily primal.

Her sculpts have meaning.  Significance delivered straight from the breast of the id — love, fear, fun, gristle.

They have emotion – love, fear, fun, gristle.  

They demand you to reach …reach …touch. 

But you can’t.  Here, they are only pictures.  Pictures of what is. 

Can have? 

Oh, yes. 

Go talk to Erika here: Erika Takacs

And while you’re there, the wall art is all class — sophisticated class. Lovely.

It’s all art. And good art.

D.L.Keur

Want to see something beautiful?

Beautiful…

elegant…

ART?

FINE ART?

DIGITAL FINE ART?

Let me introduce you to

…Barb Young. 

Extraordinary artist.

Online, she can be found HERE. 

Not all of her work is extraordinary.

But the majority of her works show

her touch of vision’s genius

…if we could just get

…that signature

…to be less

…intrusive and gauche.

Now

…look.

Go ahead.

Scroll down and experience…

Golden Elegance Framed by Barb Young.

Wow.

D.L.Keur

Exploring two styles — both exceptional — of Henry Bateman’s art.

When first you come upon Henry Bateman’s website, you contemplate whether or not to continue, because the site is BUSY.  Not as busy as some, but busy enough that this viewer had a difficult time walking through the crowded streets.  You take a breath, then plunge in, and, once inside, you find it’s friendly.

Henry Bateman’s work is about people and the places they populate, people and the things they do, people and the results of their passions.

Henry Bateman is a photographer who photo-manipulates his work into art that is at once unique and evocative.  His “Shrines 2″ gallery stamps a feeling.  It makes me want to walk inside the picture, to visit where he’s traveled, to see and feel it for myself.  The images beckon and beg one to enter and explore. 

And I can see them.  Hanging.  Hanging on stark white, stucco walls — big walls, huge pictures –  gracing long, cool, open wall space in the entry, in the living room.

And then we come to Henry Bateman’s “attracted to light” gallery. 

Again you stand, knowing yourself within the hallway, there within the room, within the scene, hearing your own footsteps, your own breathing, your own heartbeat, or watching from the back, there while others listen, act, be. 

Henry Bateman is an artist who captures moments live in life that permit you entry to another world and moment.

You can find him on the Net at http://www.pissedpoetpics.com/

D. L. Keur

“Exquisite.  A unique view.  Expressed. Perfectly.  …But, gee, I hope not.”

“What?”

“It’s so aesthestically beautiful. It so sets off her work.  Balanced, simple, fast-loading, and easy to navigate — perfect.  Not busy.”

WHAT?!”

“Her website.”

“Yes, I agree.  It is good.  One of the best I’ve seen.”

“But it says, ‘new site coming soon.’”

“Too bad.”

“Yeah.”

“What about her art?”

“Wow. I had a hard time picking just one.  I’d have a hard time not buying one of everything in the gallery.”

“She is good.”

“Very.”

The photographic art of Louise Mann - life from an existential view. 

http://louisemann.com/

D. L. Keur

North Carolina artist Ursula Vernon, aka ursulav, is a real media artist, using a broad spectrum of media including watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil and more.  She is also a digital artist, her digital tools being Painter 7 and a Wacom. 

I’d classify her work primarily as illustration with extremely high commercial value — and I mean high — but I certainly don’t mean that as any indication that her work is less valuable than work I classify as “fine art.”  In fact, as a collector, I would rate this young woman’s work as extremely valuable if you can secure the real media originals and the master files respectively.

To my eye, Ursula Vernon’s artwork holds a very distinctively successful stamp and style, some of it remeniscent of Beatrice Potter, who might or might not be an influence (See illustrations, bottom page).  What I consider her best work, though, is classically “Disney cute” holding a very strong popular appeal.    Her magic is her ability to use light and shadow to enhance skillful definition. 

I believe Ursula can and will become a “name” in the world of illustrators.  She’s certainly heading that way with the work I see online. 

Ursula’s work can be seen at her website, Metal&Magic, http://www.metalandmagic.com/, where you can learn more about her and communicate directly.

D.L.Keur

Ben Carpenter is a “sylvan” artist who uses a lathe and carving tools to shape his sculptures.  His reverence for wood and interest in nature is imbued in his work which he says is designed to be handled.

Fully three dimensional forms, with each surface and orientation more intriguing than the last, Ben Carpenter’s work exudes unique power in exceptional beauty, each piece its own masterpiece.  And you can afford them, too.  Check out those prices.  The work is irresistible, and the price is right even for collectors who don’t own the bank.  And, believe me, these are a collector’s dream find. 

Residing in the Pacific Northwest, Ben Carpenter’s work is featured on Sculptor.org where contact information and pricing is available.

D.L.Keur

The art of Derek Tan — there are just a few pieces, but, wow, what excellence.  Yes, some of it isn’t extraordinary at all, but then there are the ones that are simply brilliant — light, concept, execution, vision. 

I found Derek’s work on DeviantArt, then found a better gallery of his works at his HumbleVoice website. 

Do visit and check out his abstract digital artwork.  Well worth it. 

Excellent. 

D.L.Keur

The first victim I set before me is Joe Barrouk of A Singular Creation’s fame.  He’s the owner of that very beautiful, very friendly, and helpful artist’s community.  He’s also the webmaster.  More though, he’s the artist whose work drew me to more thoroughly investigate his website.  It is his works I find most intriguing of all — not his rooms and landscapes, but the faces he paints — the colors he combines in creating them, his blending, and his very clean, “modern” style.  Joe Barrouk’s faces are his genius.

With a “penchant for peach,” Joe Barrouk’s oil on canvas work captivates me in ways that few can.  All the works I’ve seen focus on a Christian theme, but in such a way as to never offend those outside that faith. Rather, the paintings carry an essence of the biblical lands of antiquity.  These are quiet, but dynamic works of merit.

And, of course, being a web designer and webmaster, Joe Barrouk also uses his gift to create wonderful digital art for use on the websites he builds.

Visit Joe Barrouk and his creations at http://www.asingularcreation.com/.

D. L. Keur