'Only Time' - Acrylic Painting on Canvas (20 x 20 inches)

Loes Modderman - The Art of Science

About a decade ago or so I got the idea that I’d really fancy myself being an artist.  Back then though, I felt like I needed some affirmation first.  I wanted to know for certain that it really is my destiny to be an artist indeed.  So I figured an online aptitude test might be exactly what the doctor ordered…

Eventually I came across a site which would give me the immediate answer once the test was taken – free of charge.  So whilst answering each and every question as authentically, truthfully and honestly as I possibly could (otherwise what would be the point?), in the back of my mind I also eagerly anticipated, “Ooh, this is gonna be sooo ARTIST!”  Finally the test was done and the result due and it read – ‘Scientist’.

“Scientist?  Are you kidding me?”  Feeling utterly void and completely depersonalized it dawned upon me that I had taken the totally wrong high school subjects for this.  Besides, I never seemed that interested in science anyway.  Then again I also didn’t take art in high school…  “Yeah, but science, really?  Ain’t that suppose to be like the total opposite of art?  You know, like North and South?”  Then a thought whispered, “Both are poles”.

“You mean there could actually be similarities between the two?  Hey, could somebody possibly be maybe like an ‘artistic’ scientist?  Or a scientific artist?  Is there ever such a thing like Science Art?

Next thing I googled “science art” and that was how I came across the fascinating site of photomicrographer Loes Modderman.  Basically these are microscopic images of crystals, liquids, sand, etc… needles to say unseen to the human eye.  So next time somebody utters that it’s total rubbish that certain stones and crystals hold and exude certain energies, just think about it then – with mesmerising images like these going on galaxies deep inside them, how could they not?

Miniature Glass Plants - French Beaded Flowers

Unlike life flowers, French beaded flowers could literally last for generations.  All they require once a while is a quick feather-dusting to retain their splendour.  The most basic technique involves using seed beads, but I discovered adding a sprinkling of other materials here and there – like pearls, crystals, cup-chain, gemstones or even alternating some of them with plastic flowers can really make a piece seem that more dimensional.  After all, French Beading is more like sculpting rather than sewing – so I even refer to these pieces as sculptures – “air”broidery, rather than embroidery… 

Originally, medieval French- and other European peasants would collect discarded beads from the noble’s lavishly embellished clothing and by stringing those beads onto steel wire they developed the art of fashioning them into beaded leaves and flowers.  Even in 16^th Century Venice beaded flowers were created for churches, parade floats and banquet tables.

It is also known that Princess Grace of Monaco owned beaded flowers for she appreciated their durability and charm.  Today, more people are rediscovering and embracing this seemingly lost art which can be viewed on popular sites like Etsy and Pinterest.

Erdem Spring 2011 - Ready-to-wear - Palette Splash - Blue / Emerald / Cadmium Orange / Golden Yellow / Pale Yellow

Etro - Spring 2013 - Bright Floral Abstract

Nina Ricci - Spring 2015 - Mismatched earrings from found objects

Wassily Kandinsky (1866 - 1944) - My Personal Favourite Paintings

No doubt THE artist whose work originally influenced my initial painting style the most - the "Father of Abstraction" - Wassily Kandinsky.  It turns out that his compositions and improvisations (most notably from the period 1911 - 1914) really resonate with what I consider his absolute most beautiful works of all time.  That is, of course, just my own personal taste...