Zatista The premier source for original art online

If you haven’t heard about Pinterest yet, take a few minutes today to check it out. As lovers of all things visual, especially original art, we naturally love the site.  In the words of Pinterest:

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

Best of all, Zatista is pleased to announce we’ve got some great boards going where we regularly post a selection of the amazing works on the site.

So head over, check out Pinterest and follow our boards!

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer on Wikipedia.org

Face it; reproductions in books or online are no match for viewing original artwork in person. With a nod to the recent popularity of “bucket lists,” here is my personal short list of seven paintings to see before you die. What’s on your list?

1. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, 1665
At 18.5” x 15.7”, this work is relatively small but demonstrates Vermeer’s mastery of light and figure. It is currently located at the Mauritshuis in the Hague.

The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch on Wikipedia.org

2. The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, 1510-1515
Not much is known about the artist, but this triptych is one of Bosch’s most famous and most recognizable works. It is located in Madrid at the Museo del Prado.

Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Francis Bacon on Wikipedia.org

3. Study after Velazquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Francis Bacon, 1953
This dark and haunting portrait is one of 45 works done in the 1950s and 60s which were influenced by Diego Velazquez’s portrait of Pope Innocent X. View it at the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse on Wikipedia.org

4. The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse, 1888
Based on a scene from Lord Alfred Tennyson’s 1832 poem bearing the same name. Located at The Tate Gallery, London, England.

Braids by Andrew Wyeth on Wikipedia.org

5. Braids by Andrew Wyeth, 1979
Part of The Helga Pictures, a group of 247 studies that the artist did of the German model Helga Testorf. Most of the paintings were purchased by millionaire Leonard E.B. Andrews in 1986.

Madonna by Edvard Munch on Wikipedia.org

6. Madonna by Edvard Munch, 1894
One of the five versions of the Madonna painted between 1894 and 1895. This version was stolen from the Munch Museum of Oslo in 2004 but was later recovered and remains there to this day.

Nighthawks by Edward Hopper on Wikipedia.org

7. Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, 1942
At The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois since its completion in 1942, this painting not only displays Hopper’s love of extreme perspective and effects of light, but also his deep sympathy for the unique scenes and characters of New York City.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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Fish Waterecolor Original Painting by Liat Koren on Zatista.com

Not all works of art end up being large or on a grand scale. In fact, some of the most effective and deftly crafted works are considered small or even miniature. Some artists who mostly work in larger formats like to challenge themselves with the occasional small piece as a change of pace or a study for future work, while some are perfectly content working on that smaller scale from start to finish. Most artists will agree that any change of perspective can be refreshing and inspiring to their process.

A Bacchante by Jacques Jean-Baptiste Augustin on wikipedia.org

One of the finest examples of working small is the portrait miniatures that were popular in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. In the days before photographs, these miniatures were a perfectly compact means of carrying around the likeness of a loved one, family member, or friend. Some of the most stunning examples are in watercolor or on copper or ivory, and are as valued and visited in museum collections worldwide as more expansive and imposing works.

Still Life With Apple and Lemon by Livia Mosanu on Zatista

From the point of view of the casual collector, smaller works might be sought out for a number of reasons, among which limitations in living space and budget come first to mind. They can also be the perfect focal point in a tiny space or a subtle accent completing the décor of rooms already dominated by larger artworks.

African Sunset by Jean Lurssen on Zatista.com

Many contemporary art galleries now feature small works shows as part of their regular schedule of exhibits. These displays seem to challenge the belief that bigger is better, and, the way a whisper often commands more attention than a shout, invite the viewer to slow down, narrow their attention and engage in a more intimate exchange. The big picture is great, as they say, but sometimes it can be rewarding to think small.

Balancing Act by Pamela Sweda on Zatista.com

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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Houston, TX by Theron Murphy

It’s the newest craze that’s sweeping the Internet. It’s Maddie On Things!

17 March 2012 by Theron Murphy

Billed as a “super serious project about dogs and physics” (do I detect a note of sarcasm here?), this blog is a traveling show of sorts. Maddie’s owner, photographer Theron Humphrey, will be hitting all 50 states over the next 365 days with his noble hound in tow.

Austin, TX by Theron Murphy

How he gets Maddie to balance the way she does, is what I want to know. I mean, the photos are gorgeous and she is certainly adorable, but come on man, out with the secret. I have a giant coonhound of my own, and he won’t balance on our kitchen floor for long. In the blink of an eye he’s on his side, jowels flapping everywhere, howling in his sleep. I even tried to show him this website, but he just passed out next to me on the couch.

Cedar Creek, TX by Theron Murphy

Austin, TX by Theron Murphy

I digress, but you can follow Maddie’s incredible adventures at maddieonthings.com.

Tulsa, OK by Theron Murphy

Okesa, OK by Theron Murphy

What type of photography captures your attention these days? We may not have Maddie, but we have lots of great images here on Zatista!

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Image: Collider.com

Via SF Gate

Ralph McQuarrie, the artist and illustrator who brought George Lucas‘ Star Wars script to life, passed away on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. He will be remembered as a pioneering collaborator, one of the first illustrators to work widely with filmmakers, giving shape to their words and vision.

Image: movieline.com

Lucas credits McQuarrie’s images for landing him a production deal for the Star Wars series with 20th Century Fox. After first being turned down by United Artists and Universal, Lucas hired him to draw the martian landscapes, super villains and hyper-futuristic spacecraft that made the films famous. Everything from Darth Vader‘s mask to Boba Fett’s helmet and C-3PO’s golden skin began with a stroke of McQuarrie’s hand.

Image: thesuperficial.com

The artist went on to work extensively in the movies, eventually contributing to the production of other classics including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. He and a cast of collaborators also won an Academy Award for their work on the 1985 film Cocoon.

Image: wharferj.wordpress.com

As a member of the generation that grew up with his drawings all over everything from our bed sheets to our underwear, I can attest to McQuarrie’s powerful ability to capture the imagination. I’m sure the global creative community is mourning the loss and light of his artistic talent.

Related articles

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