Friday, August 1, 2014

Fine Art Friday: Ivan Aivazovsky

If you've read any of my Fine Art Friday posts, you know I love me some Van Gogh, Degas, Norman Rockwell, and and Dali. But if I'm going to be totally honest with you, I have to admit something.

I'm having a love affair.

Ivan Aivazovsky Ninth Wave
(The Ninth Wave, 1850)

I'm in love with Ivan Aivazovsky's seascapes. 

The pounding surf, dramatic clouds, and gorgeous lighting give such feeling, such deep emotion to his work that I honestly couldn't help falling in love. I mean seriously, that guy could paint!

I've loved his work for some time, but it wasn't until recently that I took a moment to put a name with those incredible seascapes.

Ivan Aivazovsky Stormy Sea at Night
Stormy Sea At Night, 1849

Aivazovsky was born in modern-day Ukraine, met instant success as an artist, and basically spent his life painting beautiful oceans all day long. The man painted from memory. Freaking memory. As in he would go the beach, look at beautiful waves, and go home and paint it and become famous. If I thought I could express my conflicting feelings with any eloquence, I would. But I can't, so I'm just going to show you a bunch more of his paintings and let them speak for me. 

Ivan Aivazovsky Sea Against a Rocky Shore
Sea Against a Rocky Shore, 1851

Ivan Aivazovsky Fishing Boats
Fishing Boats, 1854

Ivan Aivazovsky Sunset at Crimean Coast
Sunset at the Crimean Coast, 1856

Ivan Aivazovsky Black Sea at Night
The Black Sea At Night, 1879

So that's my confession for the day. Ivan Aivazovsky. Wow.
-Cailey

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