by Marty Coleman | Feb 6, 2012 | Naked vs Nude - 2012, Peter Kunkel |
The naked truth is that it’s ‘Naked Vs Nude’ week at the NDD.
When I was in graduate school I read a book called ‘About Looking’ by John Berger. In it he proposes that there is a difference in art between someone who is naked and someone who is nude. Since I have been doing my ‘Artist I Love Winter Weekend’ series I have presented a number of art pieces in the ‘nude’ genre. That got me thinking about this difference between naked and nude that Berger suggests exists. I decided it would be fun to explore the idea with you.
One of the ideas Berger puts forth is that, while nakedness reveals itself, nudity does not. He says, “The nude is condemned to never being naked. Nudity is a form of dress.” So, if nudity is a form of dress, wouldn’t it mean that both women in this drawing have some fashion sense? What do you think?
In particular, within your experience with nudity in art, film, life, do you think there a difference between being naked and being nude? Explain.
haha…By the way, if the clothed woman in this drawing has ‘fashion sense’ maybe being without clothes WOULD be better fashion!
See the complete ‘Naked vs Nude’ series here.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who admits he has been more than once.
Quote by Peter Kunkel, who I think would admit it too.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 4, 2012 | Art, Artists I Love, Thomas Hart Benton |
Week #4 in my Winter Weekend series on artist’s I love – This week it’s Thomas Hart Benton, 1889-1975.
The Music Lesson
Benton started out in Missouri as the son of a US Senator. As a result he was well-educated, world-wise and somewhat wealthy. He spent time in New York and Paris learning his craft as an artist, trying on different styles. Eventually he moved back to Missouri and embraced what became known as Regionalism. His images depict farmers, families, workers and environments that show an everyday America.
Wreck of the Old 97
He often showed a tension between the new and old, in particular how that tension affected the growth of America into the west. You will see again and again a stylistic ‘bump’ in the middle of many of his paintings. This swell, as if the world was fluid like an ocean, is one of my favorite things about his work.
Persephone
As did many artists, Benton loved to reinterpret ancient myths. This image is a midwestern play on the myth of Persephone. Through a series of calamities she was condemned to Hades. A bargain was struck with the Gods by which she could spend half her time above ground, on the earth, and then return to Hades for the other half. Thus was born the reason behind our spring and summer seasons of bounty and growth and our autumn and winter seasons of death and desolation.
Benton Murals – Missouri State House
Benton painted many murals, including a number in the Missouri State House. One of the items on my bucket list is to visit Kansas City and surrounding areas to tour all the amazing murals he created.
Sources of Country Music
‘The Sources of Country Music’ was his final painting. It was still on his easel when he died in 1975.
__________________________
Fall/Winter 2016
Winter/Spring 2015
Summer 2014
Winter 2012/2013
Winter 2011/2012
___________________
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 2, 2012 | Niels Bohr, Quotes on Quotes - 2012 |
The truth is it’s day #4 of ‘Quotes on Quotes’ week at the NDD!
Physicists understand very well that what seems to be is not always what is. The rest of us so often assume appearances and conventional knowledge are safe to follow. If we follow those we will pretty much have the truth, right? Well physics tells us that is not always the case in the scientific realm.
In our daily life that we can see and feel, touch and hear, the same is true. I have had two long relationships, my first marriage lasted 20 years, and I am now in year 8 of a relationship with my second wife. In both cases I have come to learn that their reality is often very different than mine. At times in both relationships we have all wanted to argue and believe that our reality is THE reality. The other person is not understanding, not obeying, not living by what are an obvious set of rules, methods, behaviors, thought processes that OF COURSE we all should go by. If they are broken then the other person’s motivations must be suspect.
I know I have been guilty of that, more when I was younger, but it still it comes up. I also know that both my wives have been guilty of it as well. And we have had to talk about it, sometimes painfully. Obviously my first marriage didn’t survive, but we actually were still able to understand each other better and not be so judgmental of each other towards the end of our marriage. My current marriage to Linda has had some of the same things, but because we are both older and wiser, we seem to be able to not be quite so rigid in our understandings and judgments.
It takes work but if you start from the assumption that you don’t hold the only profound truth about relationships and behaviors, then at least you have a way in to the conversations about how someone sees things differently than you. Not wrong, just different.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who is the opposite of who you might expect.
Quote by Niels Bohr, 1885-1962, Danish physicist. He also designed his own coat of arms for when he was awarded the ‘Order of the Elephant’ by the Danish government. It included a yin and yang symbol and the motto in latin “contraria sunt complementa” (opposites are complementary).
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 1, 2012 | Anonymous, Quotes on Quotes - 2012 |
And I quote, “It’s day #3 of Quotes on Quotes week at the NDD.”
The biggest, baddest, most humongous tome in the world may have drama, it may get a lot of attention, it may get it’s own mini-series, but that doesn’t mean it has substance that can actually help or nurture anyone.
Sometimes the small and anonymous does that better. So, don’t be under the delusion you need to be famous or powerful and an attention getting drama queen to contribute well to your world. Maybe all you need to do is be a flower.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who some day would like to see a real live person painted just like the person in the drawing.
Quote by Anonymous, who thinks the same thing.
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 31, 2012 | Franklin P. Jones, Quotes on Quotes - 2012 |
Don’t quote me, but it appears to be day #2 of Quotes on Quotes week at the NDD
This is a quote about cliches. Cliches are usually embodied in quotes. Thus, this is a quote about quotes.
This quote is about language. Language explains things. Thus, this quote explains things.
This drawing is by Marty Coleman. Marty is left handed. Thus, this drawing should be looked at left to right.
This quote is by Franklin P. Jones. Franklin was a reporter and lived from 1908-1980. Thus, this quote is reporting something strange.
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 30, 2012 | Benjamin Franklin, David H. Comins, Quote Authors, Quotes on Quotes - 2012 |
It’s day 1 of Quotes on Quotes week. Do you have any great quotes about quotes? Let me know about them!
Have you ever known something was completely, absolutely true but no one would believe you because you are just a schmuck friend or family member? Then a month or two goes by and that same person who didn’t believe you comes back and says, “Hey, did you know that XXX is true? I read it in the Times this weekend. Isn’t that amazing?” You, of course, want to kick them in the head and say, “I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT AND YOU DIDN”T BELIEVE ME, YOU KNUCKLEHEAD!”
That is where being an authority comes in handy. I think the best way to be an authority is to give credit for everything you know to Ben or George or maybe Einstein or Edison, even if it’s your idea. A little less ego but more recognition isn’t all that bad a way to go.
Drawing by Pable Picasso
Commentary by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quote by Aristotle
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 29, 2012 | Art, Artists I Love, Edward Hopper |
Weekend 3 of my remembrance and sharing of the artists who have influenced me over the decades. This week, Edward Hopper.
Edward Hopper – Woman in the Sun
Edward Hopper got my attention while I was still in High School. What grabbed me was first and foremost his incredible compositional skills. If you have ever heard me talk on my own work you know that in spite of me always having some emotional or psychological content in my work, while I am actually doing it I am overwhelmingly concerned with the visual composition of the piece. Without composition, content is diminished in my eyes.
Edward Hopper – Woman in the Sun – sketchbook record
I found this while looking for images for this post. I love the idea that he made a drawn and written record of his paintings, including who he sold the piece to. I wish I could get $15,000 for one of mine! Any takers?
Edward Hopper – Western Motel
Check out my napkins and often times you will see people inside with simple windows showing a distant landscape. Hopper frequently did the same thing and I always loved the emotional and psychological power it had in his images. Speaking of composition, note how every single item and element in this painting has its compositional as well as its story telling purpose.
Edward Hopper – New York Office
Another visual idea Hopper plays with often is the street or path disappearing into and behind the main subject of the piece. The juxtaposition of the brightly lit woman in the office, elegant and colorful, with the dark foreboding side street going who knows where is a powerful symbolic idea. Its the hint of a secret, the hint of all not being exactly as it seems, that there is something darker, scarier, going on, that I find so powerful. And once again, this idea would never have the power it does if Hopper didn’t know how to compose the image to perfection.
Edward Hopper – Chop Suey
I will admit, my main fascination with this image, besides the incredible composition, is the woman in green. Whenever I have looked at this painting over the years I am taken to that moment in time, wondering who she is and what she is all about. By the way, note the woman with the red hat and brightly lit profile on the far left. Why do you think he included her?
Edward Hopper – Night Shadows – Etching
Of course, with his focus on the power of composition you know he would find a way to use black and white. His etchings are as amazing as his paintings.
Edward Hopper – Room by the Sea
And finally, one usually does not see Hopper categorized as a metaphysical or spiritual artist. But I think of him that way, with his sparse lonely individuals lost in thought and his isolated buildings and homes placed in unlikely environments. This one is probably my favorite when it comes to that idea. It is not about a room by the sea, it’s about you taking a step into the unknown. I love this piece because, for me, it’s about courage – the single most important characteristic one needs to lead a creative life.
___________________
Fall/Winter 2016
Winter/Spring 2015
Summer 2014
Winter 2012/2013
Winter 2011/2012
___________________
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 27, 2012 | Dogs vs Cats - 2012, Samuel Butler |
It’s the final day of Dog and Cat week. Enjoy it, it’s what you were meant to do!
That doesn’t mean you feel joy all the time. It simply means you pursue joy and happiness. Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s selfishness. Do it right and you will end up helping your family, friends, co-workers, and complete strangers be happier and have more joy as well.
Drawing by Marty Coleman, who once went to a real bullfight in France.
Quote by Samuel Butler. It might be THIS Samuel Butler or maybe it’s THIS Samuel Butler. If you figure it out, let me know, ok?
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 26, 2012 | Dogs vs Cats - 2012 |
If I have not erred, it’s day 4 of Dog and Cat Week at the NDD!
Cats, Dogs, and Humans by NapkinDad
So true, so true. Why is it that humans are the only animal that errs, or even knows it?
Drawing by Marty Coleman, a lover of forgiveness and purring.
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 25, 2012 | Dogs vs Cats - 2012, Mary Bly |
Dog gone it if it ain’t day #3 of Dog and Cat week at the NDD!
I open the door for the dogs and Wiggle Dog comes in at a full gallop, even if I just let her out. Stubby Dog comes pretty close behind, unless it’s particularly nice out, in which case she put on her cat persona and looks at me with that ‘aren’t you going to come out and play?’ look. Normal Cat meanwhile wants to come in. I know she wants to come in because she is whining at the window telling me so. I know she will trail behind the dogs, but what I haven’t quite gotten used to is the fact that I need to put my winter coat on because she will take SO LONG to get to the door that I get a little bit of frostbite otherwise.
She also happens to be the only one of our four legged roommates who has been almost arrested for breaking and entering. She scared the bejesus out of a neighbor once by going in through their doggy door and rubbing up against her leg while she stood at the sink washing dishes. To say she freaked was an understatement. I got her off serving time by my charm and a well-timed bribe to the cat police. She still owes me.
© 2025 by Marty Coleman, who once painted his picket fence to match his dalmatian, Oreo.
Oreo and her fence
Quote by Mary Bly, 1962 – not dead yet, American author under the pen name Eloisa James
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