Dear Friends,
Thanks very much for your interest in my new newsletter.
In the last few years, I've had the great pleasure of learning about art (contemporary art, ancient art, and lots in between) and also developing my own painting skills. These two activities together have opened my eyes to a whole new world.
While I don't pretend to be an art authority or scholar, I'd like to share some of my enthusiasm with you in my newsletter. The newsletters will be short and fun, and will be published every few months by email.
The first issue is below. Hope you enjoy it enough to read it to the end, where there is a special offer awaiting you!
Holly
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
The artist I've studied the most is Auguste Rodin (prounounced oh-GOOST roh-DAN), so he makes a good starting point for this first newsletter.
Before I knew much about art, I attended Stanford University and found myself intrigued by the Rodin bronze sculptures located on campus. After graduating, I re-visited these sculptures many times. After I took up painting, I decided to go back to Stanford campus to study Rodin's work and do some sketches.
Some of you may know that Stanford is home to the largest Rodin collection outside of Paris. Rodin was one of the most celebrated European artists of his day, and the Stanford collection spans all 50 years of his creative production.
In Rodin's most original work, he modeled the human body with realism, and celebrated individual character and physicality. This style was new, and some of his work was highly criticized. His sculpture "The Awakening" was so life-like that he was accused of casting it from life instead of sculpting it, which was not true.
"The Awakening", August Rodin
My interest in Rodin's work grew strong enough that I created a series of watercolor paintings based on his sculptures. In painting them and giving them my own interpretation, it somehow felt like I was giving them a new life. For example, Rodin's "Fallen Caryatid with a Stone" portrays a crouching woman carrying a large stone. In painting her in a glowing gold color, it seemed as if she would now have the strength and energy (after all those years) to stand up and toss off that stone.
"Woman with Stone", Holly Van Hart
Rodin's work is amazing. Most of his sculptures on Stanford campus can be found at the Rodin Sculpture Garden at the Cantor Arts Center, which is open for public enjoyment 24/7. For those of you who live locally, this is a great place to picnic with friends and family, and a romantic spot for a late-night glass of champagne.
Enjoy!
Holly
Quote of the Day: "Thanks to art, instead of seeing a single world, our own, we see it multiply until we have before us as many worlds as there are original artists." Marcel Proust
Special offer:
I'd like to hear from you! Give me your opinions on this newsletter, my work (http://www.hollyvanhart.com), whatever! Everyone who sends me feedback by May 15 will be entered into a drawing for a set of note cards based on my paintings. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write to holly@hollyvanhart.com.
Please spread the word! Feel free to forward this newsletter to any of your friends who might be interested.
Links to:
"The Awakening", August Rodin
"Woman with Stone", Holly Van Hart