Clyfford Still

Happy Birthday Clyfford Still!! Born today in 1904, in North Dakota, Clyfford Still was one of the foremost leaders of Abstract Expressionism. After relocating to the west coast in the 40's and teaching at various colleges, including California School of Fine Arts, Still developed his mature style. He became disenchanted with the art world and retreated into obscurity, showing in only occasional exhibitions, creating a mysterious persona. While other artists in the movement had rather predictable compositions of juxtaposed rectangles or narrow strips of thinly applied color, Still painted thick, ragged shapes of color as if the top layer had been torn away revealing the color beneath. He kept the majority of his work and upon his death left instructions for a museum which was just recently opened in Denver, CO. The Clyfford Still Museum, directed by Dean Sobel, is home for over 2400 works which have been sealed off from the public for decades. At the artist's direction the city accepting the work agreed to permanent housing for the work, following the opening none of the work is to be sold or loaned, and the museum cannot include a restaurant or auditorium, all adding to the enigma that is Clyfford Still.

Alexander Brullov

Happy Birthday Alexander Brullov!! Russian born artist from a French family of artists, Brullov was born in 1798, in St. Petersburg. He attended the Imperial Academy of Arts and then studied art and architecture on a tour of Europe, creating many watercolor portraits. He was also an illustrator, a lithographer and teacher. In his architectural design he was interested in Gothic Revival, through his painting he explored Romanticism and Neo-Classical styles. One of his most well known portraits is that of poet Alexander Pushkin's wife Natalya Goncharova-Pushkina.

William Blake

Happy Birthday William Blake!! An English painter and poet, born in 1757, William Blake was a formative figure of Romanticism. At an early age it is reported that Blake saw visions. This coupled with the fact that he showed promise as an artist, Blake did not attend conventional school, but was educated at home and began studying art at age 10. Shortly thereafter he began to write poetry. He was inspired by Greek and Roman mythology as well as the work of Raphael, Durer and Michelangelo. He created engravings to illustrate his poetry ans the work of others. The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun is included today.

Jose de Creeft

Happy Birthday Jose de Creeft!! American sculptor, born in Guadalajara, Spain, Jose de Creeft was born in 1884, educated in Paris and immigrated to the US in 1929. He first began learning carving as an apprentice to a wood carver at age 16 and eventually became an expert at direct stone carving. He was as interested in his creative process as he was in the actual sculptures, devising tools to simplify his work. He was not only a sculptor, but drew and painted as well, though his two-dimensional work was primarily abstract.

William Sidney Mount

Happy Birthday William Sidney Mount!! This American painter was born in 1807 and came from a family of painters (one of three brothers who were painters). His family lived on a farm on Long Island. After an apprenticeship with his older brother, William became a portrait painter and genre scenes of life on the farm. After a short stint in New York, he returned to Long Island to settle in Stony Brook for the rest of his life. His style lends narration to scenes of American life in the 19^th century.

Isaac Rosenberg

Happy Birthday Isaac Rosenberg!! Born in England, 1890, Isaac Rosenberg was a war poet (WWI) and visual artist. He began studying engraving in earnest when he quit school at age 14 to apprentice. He was considered by most to be the greatest war poet of all time, authoring Poems from the Trenches. Although against the war, poverty moved him to enlist in the army and sadly he was shot and killed at the young age of 28. He left behind several self portraits, one of which (from 1915) I am including today.

John Bacon

 Happy Birthday John Bacon!! English sculptor Bacon was born in 1740. Although he began modeling china figures for Wedgewood and the Derby porcelain factories, he soon turned to marble and became known for his monuments as well as tomb designs. He was a member of the Royal Academy and while there developed a tool to aid in the sculpting of marble. His sons Thomas and John carried on the family tradition and studied sculpting with their father. The River Thames, Bacon's interpretation of Father of the mighty river, is included here and is located at the Ham House in Richmond, London.