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Nonhuman Artists

December 31, 2008 in art, calligraphy | No comments

sea lion practicing calligraphyDec. 31, 2008 — I was looking around for news concerning one of my favorite nonhuman calligraphers, Jonao, a very talented sea lion, who for the past several years has produced beautiful calligraphy in public demonstrations in celebration of the New Year — but, alas, this master scribe seems to have been replaced at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama by a younger sea lion named Jackie, shown here practicing for this year’s show.

My websurfing led me somewhat astray (as usual), and eventually to the following video clip of a brilliantly artistic elephant. If you’ve never seen an elephant painting before, get ready for a shock! I’ve seen amazing examples of abstract painting and drawing by elephants, but the following demonstration is almost beyond belief.

You also might want to watch a follow-up video, which gives some background on this pachydermic Picasso.

More Artwork by Victor Hugo

December 14, 2008 in art, calligraphy, lettering | No comments

Dec. 14, 2008 — Here are a few more paintings and drawings by Victor Hugo, some with lettering.

Wikipedia has this to say about Hugo’s artwork:

“Many are not aware that Hugo was almost as prolific in the visual arts as he was in literature, producing more than 4,000 drawings in his lifetime. Originally pursued as a casual hobby, drawing became more important to Hugo shortly before his exile, when he made the decision to stop writing in order to devote himself to politics. Drawing became his exclusive creative outlet during the period 1848-1851.

“He would not hesitate to use his children’s stencils, ink blots, puddles and stains, lace impressions, “pliage” or folding (i.e., Rorschach blots), “grattage” or rubbing, often using the charcoal from matchsticks, or his fingers, instead of pen or brush. Sometimes he would even toss in coffee or soot to get the effects he wanted. It is reported that Hugo often drew with his left hand or without looking at the page, or during Spiritualist séances, in order to access his unconscious mind, a concept only later popularized by Sigmund Freud.”

Victor Hugo’s Lettering Art

November 21, 2008 in art, calligraphy, lettering | 2 comments

Nov. 21, 2008 — Victor Hugo produced several thousand drawings during his lifetime. This work went largely unnoticed by the general public — eclipsed by Hugo’s phenomenal success as a man of letters — but it was highly regarded by many artists and art critics. For example, Théophile Gautier wrote, in his preface to Dessins de Victor Hugo (pub. 1862): “If Victor Hugo were not a poet, he would be an artist of the first order.” Other famous admirers of Hugo’s artwork were Eugène Delacroix and Vincent Van Gogh.

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