Art for our sake: Two

Having promised to repeat my review slot of some of the fantastic work in Vocal's Art community, here is Part Two.

Ray Taylor, July 10 2023

First mention goes to The punch line, Patricia K Wheaton's take on Picasso The Three Musicians, 1921, MOMO New York (see detail above). A gloriously personal piece that masterfully captures the essence of the painting, as well as hinting at Picasso's sense of humour, mischief and wonder. All told through the eyes of a graduate in retrospective and reflective mood. Best art commentary I have read in a long time.

The Notorious Madame X, by Herman Wilkins, is another piece that brings new light to art and artists, in this case John Singer Sargent. One of many artists I came across through the passion of my late father. However, this is a story inspired by the artist, rather than a critique, and with lines like "Her voice sounds to him like an iris dappled in honey on a summer's evening as the rain begins to fall" need I say more? Another winning entry perhaps...

In a similar vein, The lady of Shalott by Jon H. Davis tells a tale, compelling and intriguing, and with an unusual twist in the end. Inspired, as it was, by John William Waterhouse's sumptuous painting of the poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This painting has particular meaning for me as it was one of the first paintings I can recall from a visit as a young boy to the Tate Gallery (as it was then known) in London. I remember it making a big impression on me at the time. These days I find the pre-Raphalites quite irksome, although I do like to spend some time with my Lady Elaine whenever I am at Tate Britain, as it is now known. To me, Jon's story really captures the essence of the mythical Arthurian lady and Waterhouse's painting. Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory Jon.

Katsushika Hokusai's Under the Wave off Kanagawa is a great choice of inspirational art for Meagan Dion. Her The Great Salty Beast brings a remarkably human touch to Hokusai's formal and disciplined woodblock print. Reading the story, you will surely feel you are about to be consumed by the wave towering above.

At this point, I would like to offer one of my own stories, and will leave any comment to readers. A young man is captivated by a Gainsborough painting of a mother and her two children, as is the mysterious woman who joins him, inviting him for walk around the park.

The picture of Elizabeth Moody

More from the story of art

Bringing us right up to date, Chatell Williams, in Exploring the Vibrant World of Contemporary Art provides an insightful study into the world of current era expression. Contemporary art is, says Chatell, "a dynamic and ever-evolving field that challenges traditional notions and pushes the boundaries of creativity." Read on to learn more about contemporary art and the role of art in defying Convention.

Taking a different approach is Mahrosh Khan with Into the Storyscape: The Mesmerizing Journey of Narrative Paintings. Among the most fascinating of paintings are those that tell a story, weaving words of wonder into their canvass with little more than palette knife and paintbrush. Mahrosh considers four works: Rembrandt, The Night Watch, Botticelli, Birth of Venus, Munch, The Scream, and Pablo Picasso, Guernica.

On the question of Guernica, Gokul Nath's article of the same name provides fascinating insight into the symbolism and sentiment of Picasso's epoch-defining work.

More from the author

If you enjoyed reading this roundup of some of the best recent stories in the new Vocal Media Art community, you might also like:

Art for our sake - Part One of the Art community roundup

Art for our sake - Part three

Looking up at art one: Constable - Part One of the 'ways of seeing' series

Looking up at art two: Francis Bacon - Diptych August 1972 and meaning

The Hands - One of Barbara Hepworth's lesser known paintings.

Some of Ray's fictional stories, inspired by works of art

• The picture of Elizabeth Moody
• Losing my Cezanne
• When Piet met Hilma
• The Night Watch
• A very messy bed
• Naganandi

Some of Ray's other short stories