The ancient Roman architect, Vitruvius explained there were four orders of architecture, four types of columns in his opus De Architectura. His ideas still circulate in architecture today. But, his notion of capitals on columns is a reductionist idea. If … Continued
Among our first primordial human passions was collecting sea shells for aesthetic, utilitarian and commercial purposes. Across time and cultures seashells have played a role in art, commerce, religion, and our technology. Let’s consider the aesthetics of seashells in painting … Continued
Painting and Architecture share a fanciful history. Ancient Roman artists enjoyed describing architectural space in frescos and mosaics. Their images were not what we today call realistic. But, they were perceived that way then. Audiences shift their needs and perceptions … Continued
According to the Museum of Modern Art, decalcomania has its origins in the 18th century but would later be popularized by surrealists like Max Ernst and Oscar Dominguez. I think the origins go back much further perhaps as early as … Continued
Even before Ulysses ports were starting points for adventure and welcoming sites of homecoming. They have been the nexus of cultures. New ideas arrive as others are exported. Life is sustained and enriched as trade passes through them. Inevitably, they … Continued
The motif of painting wet city streets was not in the pictorial canon prior to the mid 19th century no doubt because city streets were rarely bricked or cobblestoned. Even those surfaces were not as smooth and evenly reflective as … Continued