Come Visit SFMOMA With Me!! (Part 2)

(This is part two of my visit to SFMOMA…..

you can drool over the paintings from part one HERE if you wish!)

I went through a phase when I was way back in art school that I adored Robert Motherwell (pictured above).  His paintings are simple and bold and fabulous and BIG!  And just usually black and white.  Seeing his work again got me majorly itching to go at it Motherwell style! Maybe I will.

These paintings by Roy Lichenstein are super cool if you ask me!  He’s the artist known back in the 60’s and 70’s for doing those comic book like paintings.  You can see them HERE if you don’t know what I’m talking about.  I’ve never been a big fan of those paintings–I mean, they’re ok….but this piece I really like,

(Isn’t it great how that women’s shirt matches the painting?!)

This is another one of those paintings I’ve seen a million and two times in art history books–and seeing it in person is so much more impressive.  It’s done by Jasper Johns, just in case you don’t know–and it was kiddy corner to the Robert Rauschenberg painting (that I adore), of course.  These two artists were monumental in getting the “mixed media” movement of today started and going—way back in the 1960’s.

I just realized something….I have a thing for art of the 60’s for sure.

Huh.

And here’s another Jasper Johns.  Sweet, simple, grey–and a piece that requires you to stretch your mind a bit, don’t you think.  I was enchanted by his brushstrokes the most and that he had the audacity to create this.

And, the museum had a big and luscious Jim Dine painting.  What’s not to love/hate about a painting of a big heart?!?!  At least that’s how I feel about it.  This painting was extra crusty with fabulous texture and the colors made it very moody.  I like it!

Detail.

I’m a HUGE Chuck Close fan.  His work is I N C R E D I B L E.  And it was so freaking cool to actually see one of his polaroid photographs there that he used to create this baby.  I don’t know if you know–but Chuck’s paintings are huge–and he does them all from sitting in a wheelchair.  Impressive isn’t even the word for it!  And, I think even Tracie is blown away here too!

Detail.

Detail.

I love love love love love to see preliminary sketches and notes and all that good stuff–of how and what the artist planned for in their final piece.  So you can just imagine how giddy I was to see the above piece by Robert Arneson for his ceramic piece below.  I personally like the drawing a bit more than the actual piece!!

Detail.

Ok, really, I shouldn’t say that.  I like them both tremendously.  And you can see where he wrote on his drawing to cut out the glasses into his head….and he did!  Fun stuff!

Ok, I can’t remember the name of the Artist for this painting.  I apologize–but not only was I in love with the artist’s palette and juicy brushstroke…you can help but be charmed a bit by that baby butt.  I love art that doesn’t take itself too seriously!

Once again, I’m drawing a blank when it comes to the name of this Artist as well.  So sorry (I feel like an arse!).  This painting stopped me dead in my tracks.  I must have stood staring at it for who knows how long.  The realism of it overall is great, of course–but the artist set up a definite mood–a feeling just radiates from this painting when you look at it–that you can’t help but be pulled into the mystery of it all.

I love that about art.  I so, so love that.

Well that concludes are brief visit to SFMOMA.  I wish I had more to share with you–but after we hit the 20th century gallery we spent our time swooning at the Picasso’s and Matisse’s in the Stein collection.  Unfortunately I couldn’t take photos in that exhibit.

Though, it’s been a while since I last visited an art museum.  For 8 years I used to work in one.  I was an art educator at the Cleveland Museum of Art–and I always felt my co-workers were the paintings themselves.   I kind of miss that a little.

I think I’ll plan a visit for the Phoenix Art Museum sometime here soon….I’ll be sure to bring you along!