The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

Why Urban Decay Is My Jam

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Confession: I slam on the brakes and jump out of the car to capture the detritus of life.

It’s the dirty, weather-beaten, peeling surfaces of walls and structures in any large city. You typically won’t find these textures in the fancy parts of town, so that’s why I like to take detours and longer ways home. Some of these moments end up on canvas, some find their way onto the hand-painted jackets in our new “Urban Artwear” collection.

It might just be a simple combination of colors…sometimes it’s just erosion, but most of the time it inspires an idea — or series of ideas — for some funk-ass abstract art.

(Pic #2) Ventura, Cal.

(Pic #3) San Pedro, Cal.

(Pic #4) Los Angeles, Cal.

(Pic #5) Oxnard, Cal.

Putting Ukrainian Artists On The Map

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(Pic #1) “Bevza Time of Pure Potency” by Petro Bevza, Oil on canvas, 62” x 47”

I randomly selected my Top 5 — but there are untold numbers waiting to be discovered.

My heart is heavy this week, with the Russian-Ukraine conflict fully engaged.  And whenever there is political uprising or threats to humanity, artists are the first to find a way to reflect the truth in the story. Artists teach us how to interpret and ultimately how to heal. I have enormous respect for these skills, and I know they will not fail us this time.

I knew nothing of Ukrainian art until today. Once I started exploring in cyberspace, I was blown away. Here are a few pieces that caught my eye, as I celebrate and share the work of 5 artists who exhibit in Kyiv.

(Pic #2) “Klitschko” by Mikhailo Deyak, oil on canvas, 47” x 35”

(Pic #3) “Pines at Sviatashyn #1” by Oleksili Beliusenko, Oil on canvas, 31” x 23”

(Pic #4) “Carter Visiting Rothko” by Natalia Bahatska, mixed media and acrylic on canvas.

(Pic #5) “Tea Cups” by Lena Vylusk , Oil on canvas

More on Best Ukrainian artists:

https://fineartshippers.com/cutting-edge-contemporary-ukrainian-art-at-voloshyn-gallery/

 

 

 

 

A Kind Of Beauty I Can’t Explain

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(Pic #1) Oceanfront property in Santa Barbara County — worth millions.

Shore vs: Street

The views are unspeakably stunning. It’s why the Santa Barbara coast is known as the American Riviera. I get kind of giddy when we drive through its lush landscaped back roads, and get to walk barefoot on the beach. But nothing sends me spinning like the raw, painterly improvisations by local graffiti artists. On this day, less than 50 yards from the crashing waves — I spied a full city block of impromptu abstractions on an abandoned property in Summerland.    (Pics #2 #3 below)

It’s a rush I have trouble explaining to others.

For most, visiting this big bucks zip code, the breathtaking vistas, and sprawling homes are the attraction. For me, it’s the spirit of freedom (and admittedly defiance) that gets my heart pumping.

(Pic #2) Street art on an abandoned property in Summerland.  MY kind of view.