Who is your favourite famous painter?

chris newbrook 20 Nov 2009

Yes Minerva Florence is one of my favourite cities, i also had my honeymoon there 4yrs ago so it's a special place for both of us.

I have a biography of O'Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz which is one of many biographies i must get round to reading. I know he was a superb photographer during the early 20C, and she was his perfect muse and he took many photos of her, including some amazing nudes. Their passionate and artistic relationship is fascinating. I know their life together was bitter sweet but they both left a very powerful legacy.

Cole I think i prefer Degas' sculptures to his paintings actually, there's something more naturalistic about his sculptures. I do like Degas' portraits though and the sense of vulnerability in his subjects.

It's similar for me with other artists, such as Michaelangelo who i also thought was a better sculptor than painter.

chris newbrook 20 Nov 2009

I really like this one by Alfred Stieglitz as well, and the way he cropped his compositions was very unique to his style. Ive a feeling O'Keefe's paintings influenced his photography to a degree, and vice versa.

Mark Adams 20 Nov 2009

Interesting thread. I have always loved Dali and Magritte since I was a kid. At this moment I really love Wayne Barlowe the science fiction artist. There are quite a few paintings by him which I am fascinated by.

20 Nov 2009

chris newbrook 23 Nov 2009

Yes Minerva their relationship certainly was a tempestuous one, though its a shame it can take almost a lifetime for soulmates to find eachother, and in Stieglitz's case finding O'Keefe was to the detriment of his first wife.

They were both very focussed artists and Im sure he was attracted to her intellect and strong fiery nature as well as her beauty.

24 Nov 2009

chris newbrook 24 Nov 2009

I think my idea of a soulmate is someone who has an evolved consciousness on a similar level and path to your own. Were the person has found who they are and happy within themselves, rather than constantly searching for happiness external to themselves.

I know some will wonder how couples can be truly happy in some cases when there is such a large age difference, i.e... O'Keefe and Stieglitz.

How could they have been at an equally evolved level to be happy together and fulfilled. But as we know some people can evolve much quicker than others, and O'keefe was obviously precocious and wise for her age. And females tend to mature quicker than males anyway dont they.

I think part of the soul's 'layers' you mentioned Minerva relates to blocking. As a person becomes truly themselves when they can free themselves of toxic memories and pain. When a person is truly happy within themselves they become like an open book and they bring light into the lives of others.