the hurried pretense of their expressionless faces

blog title quoted from jinyoung yu
as translated by stella im hultberg

I look at the work of Jinyoung Yu and I am given over to an overwhelming need to weep. Once more one of my favorite artists, Stella Im Hultberg -- per her { lovely distractions } blog -- has opened my eyes to art and artists that would otherwise have escaped my notice. When I first gazed upon these naked pieces my mind conjured up Miyazaki's Spirited Away which contained a shadow character of a similar construct. It had an amorphous shape (initially) as dense and dark as shadow and a pale, expressionless face/mask that nevertheless encompassed a deep sadness. Those who have had the pleasure of watching the film know that this creature devoured everything in sight in an attempt to fill the hollowness within. But no meal can satisfy an ache like that, no coin can tempt it close. As wonderful as the film is it drops the ball here a bit; I am left with an itching curiousity about that hungry shade; what was his story? I want his story. That's my problem, however: Spirited Away is not his story or the story of anyone else but Chihiro, and that was gorgeous enough. Anywho. I am reminded of that character when I look at the work pictured above and directly below.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

*

This is by an artist named Monica Subide. Entitled "Ballerina", it can be found on { lovely distractions } as well, and I love it to death! Stella comments that she loves the "emotion in the brushwork" and I concur. My eye is compulsively drawn to the black strokes flowering madly from the subject's torso. The peeking toes at the fraying edge, the pale innocence stirs an empathy in my soul. As with Jinyoung Yu's work (currently selling at Union's for $30,000-$50,000 a pop) I'm sure her art is too rich for my blood, which is a shame, because I would love to own one.

--
listening to an amalgam of soundtracks:
Amelie
1st Shop of Coffee Prince

YES!

Guess what I received today by mail? A set of (4) prints by the infinitely fabulous artist, Stella Im Hultberg, the result of a purchase made roughly two weeks ago. Stella's artwork is striking, sensual -- I am a big fan, one who is very eager to own more of her pieces (if my bank account can suffer it ^^). So, this -- my very first art buy! -- is a very exciting moment for me.

Four 4 x 5 inch giclee prints printed on Sommerset Velvet Fine Art paper, signed, numbered and limited to 500, all for a reasonable price -- who can complain? Plus, I was one of the lucky ten percent who received a chase print so, "YAY"!!! I love every print in the set, not one bum in the bunch. Love! I'd like to own a larger print and/or original but moolah is an issue and I'm not as quick on the draw as others who frequent her site or the galleries which feature her work. One day though. One day.

Here's what I bought:


...................................{ set of four }

Thanks Mom -- yours was ultimately the driving influence
-- buy what you love indeed.

*click on image to check out larger examples, the seller's gallery

hey stella

For about a year now I have been frequenting
the various blogs of one, Stella Im Hultberg.


.................{happiness is a warm gun}..........

Her art blog, 'happiness is a warm gun', is routinely
updated with news on her pieces (the jpeg above
being a gorgeous example of said work) and any
upcoming shows. If only I lived near enough to attend.
Sigh.


.....................{lovely distractions}

The other blog, 'lovely distractions', is a visual dialogue
on what Hultberg finds beautiful and inspiring. The
second photo featured here is one such example. I
am so thrilled she's put together a site with a theme
like this! It is exciting to see what draws an artist, as
well as an opportunity to be introduced to artists and
photographers who I otherwise might never have
known.

Stella Im Hultberg is very talented and I invite everyone
who might traipse across this blog o' mine to give this
artist's websites (and artwork) a whirl. You won't be
disappointed!

^_^

*click pictures to explore sites