
Ballerinas Backstage 1897 - Edgar Degas
Artist Wiki page - Website

Another Thorny Crown series: Gray J - Margaret Bowland
This is not a hair inspiration but an introduction to an artist who came into my world and aesthetics today. So exquisite, it floats not just in light, form and color but in thought.The concept of beauty for the minority woman…the little girl. It’s something I’ve struggled with in my teens. Eventually with age, I realized that I am beautiful as most women are in this world (in their own way).
Beauty was not meant to be caged or owned. One day I hope to own a print. Perhaps if I’m lucky…an original piece? Will definitely attend an exhibit when it comes back to Los Angeles
Artist Website:
http://www.margaretbowland.com/
Source:
http://www.margaretbowland.com/paintings/painting17.html
Referral:
http://www.womanist-musings.com/
Artist Statement:
Art was until very recently a search for visual harmony – Picasso’s “lie that makes us realize the truth.” That lie was compositional, spatial harmony. But what was that truth? We no longer have any faith in Truth capitalized. Plato says in The Sophist that “by the art of painting we make another house, a sort of man-made dream product for those who are awake.” I believe in those houses, that in this illusory space our stories unfold. This space holds as much power now as it ever has. The human psyche still dreams, those dreams are still our stories, and within these stories our consciousness is revealed. I need art to be the story, in visual terms, of what happens to people.
We inhabit a purely relative world, in terms of belief structures, yet each of us knows and in a sense, believes in, the need to be beautiful. My work is about beauty—what it means to be beautiful and what significance the idea has in the twenty-first century in the world of art. We all know that being beautiful is as important as being rich, that being beautiful is itself a form of wealth. One must be tall, thin and white. One’s features must be diminutive and regular. We recognize deviations from this norm, but recognize that these deviations, even if appealing, are far from ideal. The need to be beautiful fuels one of the largest and most ruthless industries in our world.
Beauty makes sense to me, has weight for me, only when it falls from grace. It starts to matter when it carries damage. Sorrow allows it to cast a shadow. It becomes three-dimensional. It enters our world.

* I am in love with Laura James’ work - I visit her site at least bi-weekly to look at her work. Alas I can only afford her prints, 1 will soon be a very belated birthday gift to myself by the end of this summer and the second a new year gift for accomplishing the year’s goals. Yipee!! Woot! Expect a repeat posting of her work.
Clockwise (Your left top: ,”Woman Reading 1997”, “For the Elder Sister”, “Black Girl with Wings”, “Couple”)
Artist Website: http://laurajamesart.com/
Other Links: http://www.myspace.com/laurajamesart,
Born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, Laura James is a self-taught painter of Antiguan heritage. Working as a professional artist and illustrator for almost twenty years, Ms. James is best known for her illustrations in the Book of the Gospels lectionary published in 2000 by LTP on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. An award winning edition of the four gospels, it includes 34 paintings rendered in the Ethiopian Christian Art style which over the years Ms. James has made her own. The book is used worldwide by numerous Christian denominations and her religious art is at the forefront of the movement toward a more inclusive representation of Biblical figures.

Three Generations - Melinda Byers
Artist Website: http://www.mbyers.com/

Mi Amor - Frank Morrison
Artist Website: http://www.morrisongraphics.com/catalog/index.php
Frank Morrison’s art work is unique and will make a statement that you simply can not miss. The exaggerated body parts and flowing motion of the characters depicted in Frank’s art work are his signature and provide us with a glimpse of his endless creativity and talent.
*One of my favorite artists. You’ll see repeat posts of his work here. :)
Approach to this style? Pin Curls and pearl beads with bobby pins(might be too much) or make a very simple pearl 3 strand headband to support the pincurl (will post a dyi of my attempts) or make a fishnet with the beads?(again..seems too costumey)
