Tag: Colorful

The Controversy Surrounding Jackson Pollock’s
by David Burgess on 0

The Controversy Surrounding Jackson Pollock’s

When Jackson Pollock premiered his “Ode to a Black Girl” art exhibit in 1957, it sparked a fire of controversy. Many felt that the piece was racist, sexist, and homophobic. Today, “Ode to a Black Girl” is considered one of Pollock’s most iconic pieces. Despite its controversial past, the piece remains a powerful statement about the African American experience.

When it comes to Jackson Pollock, there are many opinions out there. Some people believe that the artist was an innovator, while others feel that his work is shrouded in mystery. Regardless of the opinion, one thing is for sure- Pollock is one of the most highly-celebrated and highly-debated painters of the 20th century.

“In the Sea of Fog” is a painting that is often misinterpreted as an abstract painting. However, the painting is actually composed of a series of highly colorful and intricate paintings. The controversy surrounding the painting stems from the fact that the painting is highly political and critical of the American government. The painting has been called an “abstract statement of hatred and anger” and has been widely condemned by art critics.

The painting “The O’Jays” is one of the most famous pieces of art in history. It has been criticized for its controversial colors, lack of realism, and its use of surrealism. The painting has been called a “work of art in chaos.” It has been said that the painting was created in a time of rapid change and that the artists were not able to capture the essence of the times.

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Art Deco Design: Deco Rugs and Carpets
by David Burgess on 0

Art Deco Design: Deco Rugs and Carpets

Art Deco Rugs

Art deco rugs were introduced to the world at the Paris Exposition of Modern and Decorative Art (Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes) in 1925. For that historic world’s fair, the buildings were decorated in art deco rugs and the style took hold.

Art deco designs featured bold geometric shapes, stylized floral patterns and other natural forms, often with juxtapositions of dark and light. Artists from around the world started to design rugs and textiles. Some of the most creative rug designs were created by Jean Michel Frank and Emile Jacques Ruhlmann of France.

These rugs continue to be popular with interior designers today, and you can create your own Art Deco look with these stylish Art Deco rugs. This page showcases some of the best deco rugs available to buy online and at reasonable prices. So if you are looking to create a new style for your home, think about using rugs as decor highlights. Although antique rugs from this era can be quite expensive, you can buy new Art Deco style rugs from $80 to $600. Scroll down to enjoy some easy online shopping.

Art Deco Style

Deco Design Characteristics

The Art Deco Style was influenced by the formalized lines of ancient Egyptian and ancient Aztec art, and it borrowed from neoclassical, modernism, art nouveau, cubism and constructivism.

This time period, just after the First World War, was also known as the Machine Age. For the first time, rugs began to be made my machine, and because they were not expensive like the traditional hand-knotted oriental rugs, they were seen as rugs of the people i.e. stylish designs that the common man could afford. A new market was started and art deco rugs gained increasing popularity in Europe and America.

Not all art deco rugs were machine made, but this was an option, and the world was ready for it.

Art Deco Rug

Deco Rug Design

 

Art Deco Rugs & Deco Carpets

Designs of the 1920s and 1930s

When it comes to rugs and floor coverings, Art Deco rugs encompass an infinite range of design possibilities. Other applied art movements defined one over-arching theme, while Art Deco embraced influences for all ages and from all over the world. These modernists designs were highly sought after and are still relevant and in demand today.

Rugs and carpets designed in the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 30s represent the best and most beautiful side of industrial design and globalization. By the late 1920s, the rugs and carpets that were produced were colorful and derived their influence from many areas, highly decorative Persian rugs being only one. Designers in rugs, as much as anywhere else where the style was being copied, rated the latest innovations in construction, design and color theory.

The people who designed and wove Art Deco rugs were innovators who paved the way for mid-century and modern designers, abstract artists and many contemporary design movements. At a time when commercial air travel was new and novel, designers, importers and carpet traders provided a vital link between east and west. The cultural diffusion that occurred in the early 20th century is ever-present in Art Deco rugs, even today. The creative atmosphere and historic design conditions of the era resulted in a colorful melting pot that combined influences from all parts of the globe.

Deco Rugs

In Summary

Art Deco rugs and carpets run the breadth of the spectrum in design from stoic masculine rugs with sharp geometric shapes to feminine floral weaves with contrasting colors and pastels. In China, the vibrant jewel-tone carpets manufactured for the explorer and entrepreneur Walter Nichols, are in a league of their own while rugs produced in the same era in England, Europe and Scandinavia were all pieces that led to the designation of the Art Deco or Art Decoratif term in the mid 1960s. British colonial influence in India led to the creation of many phenomenal Art Deco rugs there and they continue to present a combination of modernity and glamour.

In recent years, Art Deco rugs, along with other modernist design, have seen a resurgence. In many places, people are falling back on the reliable, often simplistic, forms to decorate their homes and with good reason: Modernist design fuses form and function into a single beautiful piece that is a work of art in its own right.

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Peacock Pictures Including the White Peacock
by David Burgess on 0

Peacock Pictures Including the White Peacock

Peacock Pictures, Facts and Gifts

Peacock Pictures and some interesting facts are included here. I took these pictures with my 8 year old grand daughter during a morning hike. The White Peacock is one I hadn’t seen before, and we were lucky to see many magnificent male peacocks fanning their feathers while doing the mating dance.

Peacocks are sacred birds in many parts of the world, as well as the National bird of India. The peacock that most of us know for it’s beautiful coloring of the eye feathers is called the India Blue. This is just one of several kinds of peacocks, and the exact opposite is the all white peacock.

The images here will show both male and female peacocks, as well as answer a few basic questions about Peacocks including why the male peacock is the pretty one. Besides the Peacock Images, there are links to other photos I have taken of nature.

Male India Blue Peacock

Peacock Feather Facts

The Male India Blue Peacock’s feathers are close to 5-6 feet in length when they are mature.The juvenile male is almost as drab looking as the female, as the tail feathers haven’t fully grown in yet. It takes about 3 years for a peacock to mature.

Peacocks have several kinds of feathers besides the eye feathers. There are 3 main sets of feathers:

1. Eye Feathers– these are the ones that are on the tail (train)

2. Wing Feathers– the striped or molted ones on the side

3. Sword Feathers– they are part of the tail, the tall wispy ones

Besides these are the beautiful feathers on the neck area, and the top feathers on their head. But mostly it is the eye feathers of the peacock that people collect. They use them for crafts like masks, earrings, and many other things. Peacocks lose their feathers once a year.

Watching several males from young juveniles to the older males they really reminded me of junior high and high school aged boys…trying to outdo each other for the benefit of a group of girls that acted like they could care less. In some of the peacock photos here you will see a few female peacocks not paying much attention and the male peacock just strutting his stuff.

The male peacock will strut around in full display,fanning his beautiful display of tail feathers, but if there are no females he will strut for the other males, it really is both beautiful and laughable.

What Do Peacocks Eat?

Wild or Domesticated Peacocks, what do they eat?
Peacock images taken by Kathy McGraw

Peacocks are part of the pheasant and turkey families and are used to foraging for their food.

Peacocks eat just about anything that is small and crawls from the insect world like ants, ticks, bugs, worms, termites, scorpions and mice. They also eat flowers, plants, grains, and berries. Peacocks have also been know to like cat food (dry) and chicken feed.
White Peacocks
All White Peacocks
White Peacock Picture by Kathy McGraw

White Peacocks have the same feathers as their counterparts except they’re just white.

Many people think the white peacock is an albino, but it’s not. Albinos have pink skin and eyes, but the white peacock has blue eyes. It is also believed they are rare, but again this isn’t true. There are probably more in captivity than in the wild, but they aren’t rare. Also some people believe that the white peacock is magical. This one, I can’t prove or disprove as everyone has their own beliefs as to spirituality and faith.

After following several peacocks around the ranch, we noticed a white peacock in the distance in one of the cages that was fanning his tail feathers, so we rushed over to see it. We were barely able to get this picture before he stopped fanning, and put his feathers down.

White Peacock Feathers

White Peacock Dry Erase Board
The White Peacock is beautiful if you’ve never seen one. No, it doesn’t have the coloring of the India Blue, but just appreciating the difference, and the conversation of “Have you ever seen a white peacock” makes this a great gift.

Peacock Fanning his Trail of Feathers During Mating Season

Male Peacock Fanning his Tail Feathers
Peacock Picture by Kathy McGraw

Why is the Male Peacock the Pretty One?

Male Peacocks have beautiful coloring while females are drab
Female Penhens blend in Image by Soleil

In the animal kingdom most males are the colorful ones, or the ones that have something extra like big antlers on bucks, and huge manes on lions. Why is this? And why do the male peacocks have the beautiful tail feathers while the females do not?

The most important reason the male peacock is prettier is for survival of the species. Males strut their stuff and show off with strength or wit, but it is the female who does the choosing. If a female is interested in selecting him she will let him know and then they mate.

The drab coloring on the female peacock helps her blend in with her surroundings while she is protecting her eggs which usually take about 28 days to hatch. Peacocks have to avoid their natural predators and the male can fly into a tree as he doesn’t have to worry about the eggs or chicks, while the female does.

Peacock Jewelry

Beautiful Jewelry With Peacock Themes
Peacock Necklace This genuine 925 Sterling Silver Peacock necklace, with gemstones and box chain, is just one of several peacock themed jewelry items that show off the majestic image of the peacock. Peacock feathers are what give these jewelry pieces their colorful charm.

More Photos by Kathy McGraw

and her grandchildren
I love taking photos and am still trying to figure out how to do them digitally. Most of my cameras are film, with all the lenses and filters. My grandkids also love taking photos and I am so amazed at the eye that a couple of them have. The peacock images were all taken during a morning photo shoot where the youngest and I went out at 5am to get pictures of the sunrise. We did get some amazing shots, and had a wonderful morning. Many of the photos in all of my writings have some of the best memories. And to me, that makes a great photo 😉

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Peacocks

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My Grand daughter and I had a wonderful time taking these peacock pictures. She is 8 years old, and both of us spent a beautiful morning taking photos in the desert, and these peacocks were just one of the subjects we found that morning. You will notice the lighting…early morning shadows, but that’s as good as it gets when you are visiting somewhere.

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