Wolfgang Beltracchi is possibly the most artful forgers ever to have gotten into the game. While most would create a forgery by meticulously copying every line, shape and color in a known masterpiece, Beltracchi studied the artist then made his own original compositions imagining what the artist would have painted. In this episode, I talked to my fellow art teacher and art crime enthusiast, Emily Fiedler. I showed her two works, one by Beltracchi, and one by Campendonk. I labeled them...

Kawaii is a Japanese word translating to something like "cute" or "adorable" but it is much more than that. While kawaii figures tug at the heartstrings with their big eyes and baby-like proportions making them seem helpless and vulnerable, kawaii can also represent a rebellious spirit. Check out my other podcast Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email:...

This is an encore presentation of my episode about Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield. My guest for this episode was Lindsey Little, creator of the Oni Girl comic. Here is her link tree for all the places to find her and her work https://linktr.ee/OniGirl Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your...

It was early evening just a few minutes from closing time at the National Museum when suddenly the normally peaceful museum took on the aesthetic of an action movie. An armed intruder walked in yelling at the guards and patrons to be still and calm which I have to assume had the exact opposite effect. He had two accomplices already in the space and they apparently were trained on the guards. Meanwhile, the thieves detonated explosives in two cars parked in front of hotels across town. The...

Sandro Botticelli, born Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, was a renowned Florentine painter during the Renaissance. By the 1470s, Botticelli established his own workshop and gained recognition for his unique style. He received commissions from wealthy patrons, including the powerful Medici family. For the Medici, Botticelli painted portraits and created allegorical and mythological works that showcased his mastery of line, color, and composition. His most famous paintings, "The Birth...

Walt Disney started making silly fun cartoon shorts, but he had a vision to elevate animation to the status of a feature film capturing the full scope of human emotions in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Nobody believed he could do it. While there had been some feature length animations in other countries, they flopped. Disney pioneered new techniques to draw audiences into his fairy tale world. Learn how Disney's Folly became Disney's Triumph as he risked it all to create a work of art like...

Berthe Morisot was among the most successful French Impressionist painters during her lifetime. Today she is less well known than her peers like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, but in the 19th century, she was the more bankable artist. She was accepted in the Paris Salon, but ultimately she left the salon to participate in the first exhibition of the Impressionists. In this episode we discussed Morisot's painting The Cradle which depicts her sister Edma looking at her baby in a...

Origami is the Japanese art of folded paper sculpture. It is a tradition that is basically as old as paper. In the 6th century CE, Buddhist monks brought paper from China to Japan. While origami has been practiced for hundreds of years, it has gone through some drastic changes in the way it was perceived by people. Early on when paper was really expensive and labor intensive to produce, origami was for the select few and for special occasions. As paper became more affordable, ordinary people...

Frank Stella first rose to prominence with his black paintings in 1959. He was a leader of the minimalist movement and at the age of just 23, Stella showed his work at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. While he was first known for his minimalist work, Stella reinvented himself throughout his career. His constant experimentation with form, color, and materials continues to inspire generations of artists. He remained active until his passing on May 4 2024, leaving behind a legacy of...

Neil Harbisson is a contemporary artist who hears colors. He deliberately chose to hear colors and to make that happen, he underwent surgery which has caused him to become the first person ever to be issued a government ID recognizing him as a cyborg. Harbisson has a condition known as achromatopsia. For him and others with complete achromatopsia, all three types of cones in the retina are nonfunctional. He sees using only his rods meaning there is no color in his vision. It is a relatively...

Michelangelo Merisi, born in 1571 amidst the darkness of the plague, would come to be known not by his christened name but by the name of his birthplace – Caravaggio. Orphaned young, the specter of loss would forever paint itself onto the canvas of his life. Yet, from this darkness, a genius of light and shadow would emerge, revolutionizing the art world with his raw and dramatic style. While controversial in some circles, this mix of gritty realism and the divine was exactly what the...

This is an encore presentation of my episode about how DayGlo colors work and how they were developed by a pair of brothers in the 1930s. Check out my other podcasts  Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Seidenberg is an incredible photographer and in this episode, I spoke with Steven Seidenberg and the writer, Carolyn White about a little-known bit of history in Post World War 2 Italy. His latest book The Architecture of Silence: Abandoned Lives of the Italian South documents the ruins of a failed policy that gave impoverished people a bit of land and housing without the infrastructure needed to sustain a community. The companion book Distant Voices: on Steven Seidenberg's...

Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022), the Swedish-born American sculptor, wasn't your typical artist. He wasn't interested in grand figures or historical scenes. Instead, he found inspiration in the most unexpected places: the everyday objects that cluttered our lives. His art, a blend of Pop Art and gigantic whimsy, continues to transform cityscapes around the world. Related Episodes: Andy Warhol Roy Lichtenstein Yayoi Kusama Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed...

Jess Phoenix is a designer based out of Seattle, Washington. She is known for making bright, bold floral patterns. She was nice enough to sit down with me to share her history, her influences and her process. Find Jess Phoenix online: Website: www.jessphoenix.com Instagram: @Jessraephoenix Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email:...

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) stands as a titan in the realm of Japanese woodblock prints of the ukiyo-e period. His tranquil landscapes, meticulously detailed cityscapes, and captivating depictions of flora and fauna continue to resonate with viewers centuries after their creation. Hiroshige's life, however, was far from a serene stroll through the picturesque scenes he immortalized. Born into a humble background and navigating a rapidly changing artistic landscape, Hiroshige's artistic...

It is time to announce the winner of this year's Arts Madness Tournament. Thank you all for taking the time to share your opinions and insights about all of these great artworks. I hope you learned a bit, had some fun and please continue listening and telling your friends about the show. Arts Madness 2024 links: The Brackets Spotify Playlist Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this...

Peter Paul Rubens wasn't your typical 17th-century artist. He produced magnificent Baroque masterpieces, his canvases overflowing with vibrant colors and dynamic figures. While Baroque art was known for its high drama, in this case, the real life of the artist may have been even more intriguing. Rubens was not only a highly skilled artist, he was also a shrewd diplomat and a cunning spy, a man who navigated the treacherous world of European politics with as much finesse as he wielded his...

Today I have another artist interview. I have been a big fan of Tom DesLongchamp since I first encountered his drawings while I was researching an episode of my other podcast Art Smart. In addition to mind blowing marker drawings, Tom creates live animation performances on Cartoon Mess. I talked with him about his life, his influences and his process. Check out Tom's links: Website https://www.tomdeslongchamp.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tomthinks/  Twitch...

Betty Woodman was an artist who started as a conventional potter but through her career began making creative connections that elevated the form. She built off traditional plates, bowls, vases etc. adding bold colors, and twisting the forms into something that was more about the artist's creative vision than a functional object. Betty Woodman expanded people's notions of what ceramics could be. Arts Madness 2024 links: The Brackets Spotify Playlist Vote in the Current Round As I...

Piet Mondrian is considered an icon of modern art, but he didn't start off that way. While he always loved art, he got his degree in education. Mondrian's early paintings were somewhat traditional landscapes. He experimented with Impressionist and Post Impressionist styles, then moved on to some Cubist influence. His major breakthrough was with the De Stijl movement focusing on the basic elements of art using straight lines and primary colored rectangles. Mondrian was one of the most...

In this episode of Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages, we delve into the captivating world of The Forbidden City, a monumental complex in Beijing, China, steeped in history and artistry. We explore the architectural marvels that define its majestic presence, from the sprawling palace compounds of the outer court, reserved for state affairs and accessible only to men, to the intimate domestic spaces of the inner court, dedicated to the imperial family. The Forbidden City is one of the...

In what many would consider a major upset last week, Leonardo da Vinci was knocked out of our Arts Madness Tournament. I love the stories surrounding Leonardo and his work, so I thought this would be a perfect time for an encore presentation of my interview with Nicholas Day, author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes Order The Mona Lisa Vanishes on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mona-Lisa-Vanishes-Legendary-Celebrity/dp/0593643844 Lisa Gherardini was not born to fame and fortune. In fact, her family...

This week we are wrapping up Round 3 of Arts Madness 2024. The matches are very close. Last week, Emily Kame Kngwarreye beat Keith Haring by a single vote. This week, one of the most famous artists of all time is on track to be eliminated. Be sure to check the links below to see the brackets and vote for your favorites. I also wanted to share something for a little fun fact Friday. As many long time listeners know, I love a good caper or con (see the linked episodes below). I recently...