La Sieste

La Sieste (Les Moissonneurs), 1919
pencil on paper
Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Purchase: The Fred W. Allsopp Memorial Acquisition Fund, 1984. 84.52

Picasso was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain and from very early in his life proved to be a precocious and prolific artist. By 1900, the young Picasso first visited Paris, which was far more active in terms of its influence on the art world, compared to his native Spain. By 1908, Braque and Picasso began the modern movement of Cubism and by 1910 - 1911 the two artists hit full stride with it.  During the years 1917 - 1925, Picasso's work shifted considerably to a Classical or Neo-Classical style. This leads us, specifically to Les Moissonneurs (The Harvesters). The title La Sieste is the Spanish term for a midday nap, with the additional term Les Moissonneurs in parenthesis. This is French for The Harvesters,and is the earliest known title for this piece. Les Moissonneurs, indicative of Picasso's new direction, is a near reduction to pure contour used to create volume. The thickness of the hands and the sleepy quality of the figures cause one to think of weighty, unmoving, ancient statuary.
http://www.arkarts.com/collection/drawing_collection/coll_display_picasso.asp

Van Gogh by Gary Peterson

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/van-gogh-gary-peterson.html
Van Gogh by Gary Peterson
Charcoal on cardstock.
2'5"x 3'7"

Gary Peterson studied architecture and spent years designing retail interiors, but he is said to be a fine-artist at heart. He has practiced in many traditional medias (oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc.) and has done  a lot of pen and ink drawings lately. His art cards are available at The Detroit Institute of Arts and one of his drawings was recently auctioned at Cranbrook Academy of Art. He founded The Peterson Institute of Arts & Sciences Research Laboratory and Gift Shop where he is the Dean of Behavioral Sciences, intellectual handyman and tourguide. Hes also a musician, acoustic guitar builder, published author and humor scene investigator." I think good art should connect the dots for you."( http://fineartamerica.com/featured/van-gogh-gary-peterson.html)

Bowl with Hollyhock Crests and Cherry Blossoms,

http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=image;hex=M2000_173_3.jpg

Japan Bowl with Hollyhock Crests and Cherry Blossoms, 18th-early 19th century Ceramic, Porcelain with blue underglaze, 2 x 9 in. (5 x 23 cm) Gift of Allan and Maxine Kurtzman (M.2000.173.3) Japanese Art Department.

Although the artist is unknown this bowl shows alot of postive and negative space in its design and painting. The negative space is very interesting while the positive space is intriguing as well.