Abstract Expressionists Through the Mail

photo: usps

En-light of the recent removal of the postal stamp machines at the post office people have had to make special trips to get their stamps. Well, my brother works 2nd shift so he was finding it hard to get to the post office to buy just a few stamps (not wanting to buy a whole booklet) so he went online and purchased these stamps which he thought were really cool (the artist in him). He was so excited that showed me his stamps that featured abstract expressionists.

These stamps are a perfect way to show your love for unique art via the mail. These timeless artworks would brighten up anyone's day even that bothersome bill collector.

USPS said: "In celebration of the abstract expressionist artists of the 20th Century, Art Director Ethel Kessler and noted Art Historian Jonathan Fineberg (Gutgsell Professor Art History, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) selected ten paintings to feature on this colorful pane of self–adhesive stamps. Kessler used elements from Barnett Newman’s Achilles (1952) to frame the stamps. The arrangement of the stamps suggests paintings hanging on a gallery wall. For design purposes, the sizes of the stamp are not in relative proportion to the paintings. The pane also features selvage text and a quotation by Robert Motherwell. Each stamp includes the artist’s name and verso text that identifies the painting and briefly tells something about the artist."

List of Stamp Artwork:

* The Golden Wall (1961) — Hans Hofmann (1880–1966)

* Romanesque Façade (1949) — Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974)

* Orange and Yellow (1956) — Mark Rothko (1903–1970)

* The Liver Is the Cock’s Comb (1944) — Arshile Gorky (1904–1948)

* 1948–C (1948) — Clyfford Still (1904–1980)

* Asheville (1948) — Willem de Kooning (1904–1997)

* Achilles (1952) — Barnett Newman (1905–1970)

* Convergence (1952) — Jackson Pollock (1912–1956)

* Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 34 (1953–1954) — Robert Motherwell (1915–1991)

* La Grande Vallée 0 (1983) — Joan Mitchell (1925–1992)

**Sheet of 10 stamps $4.40 Click here buy your stamps

Titantic Binocular Keys Sale For $137,000

Binocular Keys from the Titanic were recently sold in an auction for $137,000. The keys were in possession of the second officer David Blair, who forgot to pass them on to the person who ended up replacing him on the Titanic's Voyage.

Create Your Own Pop Art

photo: robcubbon.com

Rob Cubbon is web/graphic designer who was giving lesson via his blog on how to create cool Pop Art. Pictured is Rob's Pop Art of Pop/R&B singer Rihanna.

Now, you can try to do it your self by following Rob's instructions or you can request that Rob transforms your favorite photo into Pop Art for about $150.00.

Check out this really cool psychedelic-pop-art of Jimi Hendrix that Cubbon did.

Captured on Canvas: Pamela Anderson by Ryan Alexiev (made from Cheerios)

New R. Jenkins Originals Available

photos: R. Jenkins

Former featured artist of the month R. Jenkins has two new original paintings available. Both are amazing pieces of art to add or start your collection.

NEW collection entitled "Contemporary Vintage". Both original paintings are now available for purchase at $175.00 each or $300.00 for both - free shipping to any US State.

"Contemporary Vintage" is R.Jenkins' first collection of the year,which is a fresh new follow-up to the "Culture & Growth Series". These paintings focus on using vivid colors in an imaginatively "vintage" way.

To purchase one, both or any other Original R.Jenkins painting please contact R.Jenkins directly at:

(267) 208-2982

Email: UrbanAbstracts@gmail.com See more R. Jenkins paintings click here

Be Creative Turn Your Photos Into Framed Art

photos: R.Brown/saywhatnews.com

Turn your photos into framed art work. Every year we take photos of the beautiful scenery on our vacations and hide those photos in photo albums or in drawers. And every year we work hard in the yard and plant beautiful flowers and take photos and do the same thing with the photos as we do with our vacation photos. Be creative and take those photos have them matted and framed then display them through out your house, office or even give them away as gifts.

I have provide some examples of photos I have taken on vacation and in the yard.

Captured on Canvas: Nina Simone

Nina Simone: The High Priestess of Soul Gets a Statue in her Honor

photos: Nina Simone Estate

The High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone gets her own statue in her honor. The Nina Simone Legacy Project's Statue unveiling in Tryon, NC happened on February 21, 2010.

Here are more photos from the unveiling:

Princess Diana's Family Auctioning Off Their Peter Paul Reubens Painting

photo: india times

The late Princess Diana's family is auctioning off their Peter Paul Reubens painting, "The Commander Being Armed for Battle". The portrait which hung on the wall in Princess Diana's family home when she was a child is set to be auctioned off this summer in London. The Reubens painting is one of the 600 Spencer possessions worth an estimated $29 million to be sold.

Rubens’s 1613 to 1614 “A Commander Being Armed for Battle” will be valued at 8 million to 12 million pounds, said Christie's International. (In the above photo a Christie's employee was photographed admiring the painting)

The family is taking advantage of an opportunity,” said Orlando Rock, director of Christie’s Collections Department. “There’s been a polarization in the market toward masterpieces and if you’re lucky enough to own interesting things they can achieve prices that might not be seen again.” The Spencers, through their trustees, were encouraged to sell after record auction prices such as the 29.2 million pounds paid for a Raphael drawing of a muse at Christie’s in December, said Rock. The Rubens depiction of a warrior, traditionally identified as the Emperor Charles V, hung over a door at the family estate of Althorp, Northamptonshire, and is included in a July 6 London sale of Old Masters and 19th-Century Art.(Bloomberg)

Art in Form of a Doll: Michelle Obama's Inaugural Doll

Art in form of a doll: Michelle Obama's Inaugural Doll. This piece of art captures a historic moment. The porcelain doll of Michelle Obama is stunning, classy, beautiful and sophisticated. The doll is a perfect life like re-creation of Michelle Obama and is fully poseable

Price: $149.00 Order your Michelle Obama doll by clicking here

Jean Michael Basquiat Art Helps Solve A Crime

photos: artnews.com

Jean Michael Basquiat art helps solve crime. On the TV series Law & Order, New York police detectives Lupo and Bernard (played by Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson)discovers a murdered interior designer played double duty as a drug dealer.

RECAP from Artnews: The detectives enter the Manhattan apartment of a murdered interior designer and find a $5 million art collection that includes canvases by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Glenn Ligon. To determine how an interior designer could afford such art, the detectives discover she was a drug dealer, and that, in turn, leads them to her killer.

René Balcer, an executive producer of the show and a collector of Asian art, says it is routine to feature art on the series. "If you're a detective in New York, you're going to have cases that involve art; you're going to be in houses with incredible art," he says. basquiatonline.com

Is It Pencil Art or A Painting

photo: artnewsblog.com/anthony lister

Is it pencil art or a painting. Some art work is a perfect blend of the two and it smears the lines between the two. Then I guess it would be considered a Painterly style painting which is when there are visible "brush strokes", the result of applying paint in a less than completely controlled manner. Anthony Lister is an amazing artist who blends the to into a master piece painterly style painting.

When I saw this piece of art it screamed at me, it literally jumped off the computer screen and sent vibes of enthusiasm through my bones. Anthony Lister website

Strong and Powerful Meaning

photo: jinixxxi.devianart.com

This photo by Alexandra Zsoldos is strong and powerful. Its amazing how the eyes and a satin corset can speak so loudly in a photo and be sexy at the same time. The photographer takes a risk using a corset to represent bondage or even silence. This is truly a creative way to connect with the lens using the models eyes and a prop. Jinixxxi Website

Captured on Canvas: Biggie Smalls by R-mer

In Celebration of Black History Month: A New Michelle Obama Wax Figure Unveiled

photo: huntington post

In celebration of Black History month Madame Tussauds' unveiled a new wax figure of the First Lady Michelle Obama. The new figure wearing a duplicate version of her elegant white one-shoulder gown she wore at the inaugural ball joined the wax figure of President Barack Obama wearing a black tuxedo (unveiled last year).

Michelle Obama is the 3rd First Lady to be immortalized as a wax figure, she follows behind Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Hilary Clinton.

Talk show host Wendy Williams was given the special privileged to unveil the First Lady's new wax figure on her show the other day. In Wendy fashion, Wendy unveiled the figure from behind a pink curtain to the world.

See the unveiling of Madame Tussauds' Michelle Obama wax figure on Wendy:

Without Sanctuary Exhibit Stirs Mixed Emotions

Without Sanctuary a lynching exhibit at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center stirs mixed emotions in Cincinnati. The exhibit features James Allen collection of very graphic/haunting photos of lynchings in America.

I found a flash player movie with narrative featuring some of the photos that are part of the exhibit and I have to say looking at those photos of human-beings being lynched just because of the color of their skin and ignorance of those doing lynching truly disgusted me. People actually stood there and watched smiling and were joyous as they watched life leave their victims bodies. This turned my stomach and brought tears to my eyes. How could there be so much evil towards a race because they looked different? Many feel this exhibit should not even be but others feel its a must so that we don't forget.

The even more sickening thing is that the photos were put on the back of post cards and sent through out America so people could witness these horrific acts. The slayers had nerve to brag about it and send proof in the mail. Unbelievable.

I wanted to report on this exhibit because I too believe we need to be reminded of our past as a People not just black and white but as a People. If you never forget history then history can't repeat its self. Although the photos are horrific to view, it gives you a chance to say a prayer for each one of the victims souls and be thankful that we as a People have come a long way.

** Click on photo and watch the video

Kelly Rowland's Alter Ego Photo Shoot with Derek Blanks

photo: derek blanks facebook

Former Destiny Child's member Kelly Rowland recently did a photo shoot for fame photographer Derek Blanks as part of Blanks famous Alter Ego theme. As always Blanks photos are amazing and totally genius.

Take a look at some of the behind the scenes footage:

Captured on Canvas: Paul McCartney

The Uniqueness of Black and White Line Art

The uniqueness of black and white line art is very appealing to the eye. The artistic nature of this piece truly transcends the definition of what art is. Up close you can see the image of a person's profile but looking at it far away it looks like light streams bouncing around on the page.

artist unknown.

The Tank Chair

The Tank Chair created by Hip-Hop master mind Pharrell Williams is a power piece of art. The chair is made of Plexiglas and full grain colt leather and the chair comes in different colors (black, white, sky blue. Pharrell's creativity delivers won-dress works from music to art. His insight is truly worthy of being displayed in a art gallery. Williams The Tank Chair was on exhibit back in December of 09' at the Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin during Art Basel Miami.