Rather mind-blowing that the Art Institute of Chicago has 184 of Winslow Homer’s artworks. Usually when I look an artist in their catalog, there are 4 results. Maybe 10. Sometimes it might balloon up to 16. But here are one hundred and eighty-four! One of the top images is a watercolor of a man rowing …
A long-time art world mystery has been solved. A hidden message exists in Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream”. Written in pencil in the corner of the painting reads, “Can only have been painted by a madman”. Who could have wrote such a thing? A vandal? Someone who hated Munch’s work? Ends up, it’s the …
Put Edvard Munch’s phrase “painted by a madman” on any artwork Read More »
During the first century, what did the Ancient Romans use to hold their stuff? Answer: Very cute containers! The Art Institute of Chicago’s collection has this adorable 1st century Roman container for personal items: I love how this looks like a ceramic container someone would make in a basic ceramics class. Rough around the edges, …
1st century Ancient Romans held their personal belongings in cute containers Read More »
What if there was a tool that could tell you which artists in art history are most like your artwork? Upload 20 images of your artwork to this tool. Based on your art, a list of artists is generated most similar to your artwork. How would this work? The program would use machine learning to …
Idea: An artificial intelligence tool that lists artists most similar to your art Read More »
These Versailles trees in gray wash are relaxing. I really enjoy how this artwork is cropped by my modified version of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art Tab. (This is a Chrome add-on that displays art in new browser tabs. I modified the Chrome add-on so it crops the artwork tighter.) Because of the cropping, …
It is my greatest desire that some video game midi music play in the background while this is displayed. Are there other examples of 16th century Switzerland textiles with bitmap art? I’m googling: Switzerland 16th century textile Google is not a very good search engine for finding 16th century Switzerland textiles. Is there a better …
16th century Switzerland textiles that look like bitmap art Read More »
What is the toilet paper like from various art museums? In 2018, I wrote a draft about making art with toilet paper. I never published it, because, well, this is a weird project. Now that toilet paper has surfaced as a valuable material, I am reconsidering this art project. Here’s the original draft as I …
Need a moment to quiet your busy life and meditate on your mortality? Meditate on some skulls. Do you love skulls? Then you’ll love the El Greco exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago. Do you find skulls creepy? You’ll discover that these compelling paintings will give you a whole new appreciation for the depth …
A couple weeks ago I started a project where on my lunch break, I go the Art Institute of Chicago, stand in front of an artwork, and sketch it. I set out with this project to help improve my drawing skills, but instead I’m discovering another curious result. Sketching art is making me think. Sketching …
Another Guardian Lion‽ A pair of famous lions guard the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago. Inside the museum resides another guardian lion. This unknown distant cousin comes from Cambodia. It currently sits guard at the entrance to one of the busiest galleries. Literally at the entrance. Not off to the side, but right …
The third guardian lion at the Art Institute of Chicago Read More »
Imagine drawing everything in the Museum of Modern Art. And then doing it again a second time. That’s what artist Jason Polan did. Unfortunately, Jason, a 37-year-old, passed away last week. Only last week did I discover his artwork (due to his passing). He’s an incredible guy. By drawing every artwork, he became very familiar …
