Chuck Close

 Chuck Close was born on July 5, 1940 (age 76). He became known because of his photo realistic portraits. He is also known for  painting more abstract portraits. He was left severely paralyzed in 1988 from a spinal artery collapse. He suffered from a condition as a child that made it difficult to lift his hands. He used ink, graphite, pastel, watercolor, conté crayon, finger painting, and stamp-pad ink on paper, printmaking techniques, hoofmade paper collage, Polaroid photographs, Daguerreotypes, and Jacquard tapestries in his portraiture. He often uses the grid technique. He says he is unable to recognize faces and portraiture helps him with this. 

Morbo

These pieces were created by Andy Reisinger and Ezequiel Pini.
I like these because I have no idea what they are, but I can invent uses and personalities for them on my own. They made these with furry bacterial growth and wormy tubes.
  

As a student Philip Pearlstein was already producing very cool work.











He also produced art while he was in the army.

He is also an amazing figure drawer/painter.

I like the Morpho Glider because there are few things more satisfying than a kite that stays in the air.





I also like the flame. Its curved design is cool and I like the way they are painted.

Keith Haring

Keith Haring was born in PA in 1958. He liked drawing and cartooning as a young child and after high school he went to a commercial graphic arts school in Pittsburg. After two semesters he left and went to SVA in New York. In 1980 he noticed unused advertising panels in subway stations and began to draw on them with chalk. He made more than 50 public artworks between 1982 and 1989. He created a mural for the 100th anniversary of the statue of liberty along with 900 children. In 1988 he was diagnosed with AIDS. He used his art in the last years of his life to generate activism and awareness about aids. In 1986 he opened the pop shop where he sold merchandise with his art printed on it. He died in 1990 of AIDS related complications.

Cody kites are very cool.





This is also cool but it would be cooler if it could carry people.





Animal kites also seem pretty great.





I think I want to make some sort of box kite.

James Lake

James Lake makes sculptures out of cardboard. His sculptures are often of people.  James is a disabled artist, and he seeks to make work that cannot be marginalized in an attempt to break barriers in the art world.break down the barriers in the art world.

(right now I am in this position on a chair like this one)
(in case anyone was wondering)

Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence was an African-American painter known for his portrayal of African-American life. He was born in 1917 in New Jersey. He moved to New York City when he was 13 and became interested in art. He dropped out of school at 16, and he continued to pursue his art at the Harlem Art Workshop, the Harlem Community Arts Center, and then the American Artists School.














(this one is my favorite)

Trina Merry

   Trina Merry is a body painter. She began taking art classes when she was 11. She became interested in body painting after posing as a canvas in 2006. She works from her studio in Chelsea, NY.