Waugh's rise through the art world has been overwhelming.
Born in Montreal in 1963, he is self-taught in every artistic aspect. He gained
experience in the fields of graphic illustration and product design before
turning to painting in 1988. Since then, his popularity among art connoisseurs
has escalated to the point where he is represented in galleries in virtually
every major city in North America. His paintings have been acquired by hundreds
of major corporate and private collectors worldwide.
Waugh's art draws us into an expressive vision of warmth and hope,
reflecting his positive perception and appreciation of life. From clear
and detailed images in Waugh's mind, the speed and effectiveness by which he
carries these thoughts through to fruition, makes the definitive results seem
effortless.
Although all of Waugh's works of acrylic and mixed media are one of a
kind, they are however linked with a similar deep thematic vibrancy. His
paintings are seemingly riveted together with the artists characteristic
gold-dots which act as points of union to harmonize the colors and images of
each piece into a unified rhythmical composition. Flowing from his natural
artistic talent and through progressive experimentation with various methods
and media, Waugh creates works of art in both the abstract and
representational, the latter taking on the gracefully interpreted elements of
the human structure, in an embracing ballet of form, texture and color.
Waugh is permanently displayed at the American Express Building in New
York, the Chrysler Building in Detroit, and the Hyatt Hotels International.
Vincent Van Gogh
What drove
Vincent Van Gogh, born March 30,1853, to his mental illness and suicide? Could
it have been the many things he tried, but failed at in his life? He failed in
many different careers, in love, and even his artwork. Van Gogh sold only one
painting his entire life. Because of his mental illness, he was considered a
crazy person.
At the age of
sixteen, Van Gogh went to go work with his Uncle Vincent, whom he was named
after, as an art dealer at the Goupil and Co. This job had branches not only in
Europe, but America also. Vincent was assigned the branch in London. There he
got his first rejection in love. He fell in love with the daughter of his
landlady. Van Gogh thought her feelings would be mutual, though she was not
attracted to him. In fact, she was disgusted by him. She was engaged to be
married, anyway. Because he was so hurt from this rejection, he took it out on
his career. He told the costumers they were buying useless junk and insulted
them for that. Van Gogh had to go to Paris and only his uncle’s influence
allowed him a second chance with the firm. His harsh behavior toward the
costumers continued. In 1876, the Goupil’s managers had to let him go.
Van Gogh, being
the son of a Lutheran minister, was very much drawn toward religion. Van Gogh
decided to prepare himself for ministry by training in the study of theology.
He failed at the courses and could not be the minister he hoped to become. Even
though he failed the courses, he still had the desire to be a minister. His
superiors sent him as a lay missionary to Belgium instead. There he wanted to
be like his father and help out the unfortunates as a preacher. He tried to
fight poverty through the teachings of Christ. Van Gogh’s mission had to be
discontinued. His approach to fighting poverty did not make his superiors
happy. In 1879, he moved to his father’s home in Ettan and stayed a while. He
then left Ettan and went to The Hague.
After leaving
Belgium, he found he enjoyed painting stuff that moved him emotionally. He then
thought painting would be the way to go in his life. Because Theo, his brother
and only family member who really cared for Vincent, was delighted that Van Gogh
was trying to find himself, Theo decided to send Vincent one hundred francs
every month as an allowance. Van Gogh needed the money since he was a very poor
man.
When Van Gogh
was twenty-seven years old, he considered himself a failure. He could not hold
a career and was not able to make a living. He could not stay in any job he
tried, such as a an art dealer, a teacher, or doing missionary work. He felt he
had no other way to go in life. He turned to the most helpless form of
employment, being an artist. Theo supported hi decision and influenced him.
Their relationship became close and they began a frequent correspondence.
At the end of
the winter and during the beginning of the spring, Vincent was going to face
yet another rejection from a woman. He went to visit his parents and met his
cousin, Kay. She was a widow with a four-year-old child. Kay was several years
older than Van Gogh was. Van Gogh, who thought he was in love with her,
declared hi feelings for Kay. It only turned he off and she never wanted to
hear from or see him again. She left and went back home the next morning. Kay’s
leaving only made Van Gogh want her even more. He went to Kay’s parent’s house
to find her. They refused to let him talk to Kay. This made Van Gogh feel even
more abandoned and alone. The rest of Vincent’s family turned against him after
that, also. Theo was the only one who still cared for him.
Once again,
Vincent fell in love. This time he was not rejected. His new love was a
prostitute with a child and pregnant with another. Christina, also known as
Sein, was ill and smoked cigars. Van Gogh, thirty-years-old at the time,
proposed to marry her. At first they were happy with each other. They had
nothing in common except a background of misery. Arguments began and Christina
slipped away from Van Gogh. After two years with Sein, Vincent was alone once
again.
He met another
woman. She seemed to care for him, though. Her family on the other hand, did
not like Vincent. Once again, he was shut out and he felt he had nothing to
offer. Because of this, Theo allowed Van Gogh to join him in Paris where he was
living. There he discovered the world of art and a whole new type of art. He
learned all about colors from the different painters, including Paul Gauguin,
who became a close friend of Vincent’s. After staying in Paris about a year,
Vincent decided it would be best to leave. He was not getting along very well
with Theo and he thought he was not successful because Theo could not sell any
of his art work. People would not even consider his artwork.
Van Gogh then
moved out of Paris and bought he "Yellow House" in Arles as a Home of
his own for painting. Theo still continued his frequent correspondence and
monthly allowance of one hundred francs.
Vincent did not
like it living in the house all by himself. He was beginning to get very
lonely. Vincent wrote Theo a letter asking him to convince his old painter
friend, he met in Paris, Paul Gauguin, to join him in Arles. He had hoped to
keep each other company while painting. Gauguin agreed to the idea.
Near the end of
October 1888, Van Gogh and Paul had such and argument Gauguin decided to leave
for the night. Vincent secretly followed him and threatened him with a knife.
Van Gogh returned home afterwards. At home, holding the razor in one hand, he
started high at the back end of the ear, and downward so that the lower part of
his left ear was chopped off. He then wrapped the ear in a cloth and gave it as
a "present" to a prostitute.
Van Gogh later
began having hallucinations of strange sounds and people trying to poison him.
After the ear incident and these hallucinations, Van Gogh realized he was
mentally insane and should send himself to a mental hospital at
Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. At the asylum, they locked up Vincent during attacks such
as hallucinations.
Vincent finally
left the asylum, after staying a while. He then stayed with Theo and Theo’s new
wife, Jo. When Van Gogh learned information that Jo was pregnant, another
attack came on. After three days, he decided it would be best if he left.
On July 27,
1890, Vincent Van Gogh somehow got a hold of a gun. He went out to the country
at the place he was staying at and shot himself in the upper abdomen. He walked
up to his room and laid by himself bleeding to death, just like he had done
after cutting off his ear.
Theo arrived the
next morning and stayed until Van Gogh died July 29, 1890 at the age of
thirty-seven.
Charles
Bibbs
An
artistic genius educated in and a native of Los Angeles Bay Area, Charles Bibbs
creates his special brand of stylized art capturing the attention of art
enthusiasts around the world.
Charles Bibbs' noble
compositions and signature technique fuses acrylic paint and ink coupled with
African and contemporary African American themes.
The art of Charles
Bibbs is born through a creative process which comes from a level of
spirituality and commitment to empowerment in the African American community.
Annie Lee
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Annie
Lee is an internationally acclaimed artist and gallery owner known to art
collectors the world over. LaShun Beal
LaShun Beal was born January 28 1962. He's a native of
Detroit, Who now resides in the Houston area. Although he's taken a few
classess, he has no formal art training and really considers himself to be a
self-taught artist Beal was adventurous in his youth; he wanted to see the
world. Joining the United States Marines gave him a great opportunity to do
so. Phillip Jaeger
Phillip Jaeger has always been a maverick, never content with the
norm, always poking around the edges looking for another way. It is this very
approach to art and living that makes Jaeger’s work profoundly memorable. Born in Louisville, Kentucky to a career Army officer, the artist
lived a nomadic life in his early years. From 1966-1968 he studied Foreign
Affairs at FSU. In 1968 he transferred to Wharton, where he worked his way
through as an OTC trader. After moving to California, Jaeger received a
degree in American Studies and a lifetime teaching credential. He then
studied law at Pepperdine University where he was awarded a law degree. Despite his accomplishments in Law and business, it was not long
before he became restless and discontented. It was Jaeger's lifelong passion
for collecting art which led him to the studio.In 1981, he rented the atelier
of a Tamarind Master Printer and the rest is history. He is not only self-taught, but quite proud of the fact, “By not
having to un-learn what many have been taught in art school, I have been able
to move through many art processes with no apology for breaking the rules.” Beneath the timeless serenity of Jaeger’s work, seemingly unyielding
shapes are softened and then energized by his masterful use of color and
texture. In the hands of Jaeger, what would otherwise be static comes fully
to life as both vital and organic. Jaeger is often quoted as having said that the real work of a piece of
art does not occur in the eyes, but rather behind them: “catching and holding
the viewers attention the second time the eye comes through the image, is
truly the measure of it’s visual quality.” |