Van Hart "On Art"

May 2008, Issue #1

Dear Friends,

Thanks very much for your interest in my new=20 newsletter.

In the last few years, I've had the great = pleasure of=20 learning about art (contemporary art, ancient art, and lots in between) = and also=20 developing my own painting skills. These two activities = together have=20 opened my eyes to a whole new world.

While I don't pretend to be an art authority = or scholar,=20 I'd like to share some of my enthusiasm with you=20 in my newsletter. The newsletters will be short and = fun, and will be published every few months by=20 email.

The first issue is below. Hope you enjoy it enough to read it = to the=20 end, where there is a special offer awaiting you!

All the best,

Holly

Auguste=20 Rodin (1840-1917)

The artist I've studied the most is Auguste = Rodin=20 (prounounced oh-GOOST roh-DAN), so he makes a good starting point = for this=20 first newsletter.

Before I knew much about art, I attended = Stanford=20 University and found myself intrigued by the Rodin bronze = sculptures=20 located on campus. After graduating, = I re-visited these=20 sculptures many times. After I took up painting, I = decided to go=20 back to Stanford campus to study Rodin's work and do some=20 sketches.

Some of you may know that Stanford is home to = the=20 largest Rodin collection outside of Paris. Rodin was one of the = most=20 celebrated European artists of his day, and = the Stanford collection=20 spans all 50 years of his creative production.

In Rodin's most original work, he modeled the = human body=20 with realism, and celebrated individual character and=20 physicality. This style was new, and some of his work was = highly=20 criticized. His sculpture "The Awakening" was so = life-like that=20 he was accused of casting it from life instead of sculpting it, = which was=20 not true.

"The Awakening", August=20 Rodin

My interest in = Rodin's work grew=20 strong enough that I created a series of watercolor paintings based on = his=20 sculptures. In painting them and giving them my own=20 interpretation, it somehow felt like I was giving them a new=20 life. For example, Rodin's "Fallen Caryatid with a=20 Stone" portrays a crouching woman carrying a large stone. In = painting=20 her in a glowing gold color, it seemed as if she would now have the = strength and energy (after all those years) to stand up and toss off = that=20 stone.

"Woman with = Stone", Holly=20 Van Hart

Rodin's work is amazing. Most of his = sculptures=20 on Stanford campus can be found at the Rodin Sculpture Garden at the = Cantor Arts=20 Center, which is open for public enjoyment 24/7. For those of = you who=20 live locally, this is a great place to picnic with = friends and=20 family, and a romantic spot for a late-night glass of = champagne.

Enjoy!

Holly

Related links: Rodin Biography ,=20 Cantor Arts Center, = Paintings by Holly Van Hart

Quote of the Day: "Thanks to art, = instead of=20 seeing a single world, our own, we see it multiply until we have before = us as=20 many worlds as there are original artists." Marcel = Proust

Special offer:

I'd like to hear from you! Give me your = opinions=20 on this newsletter, my work (http://www.hollyvanhart.com),=20 whatever! Everyone who sends me feedback by May 15 will be entered = into a=20 drawing for a set of note=20 cards based on my paintings. Just click 'reply' on this letter = or write=20 to holly@hollyvanhart.com.

Please spread the word! Feel free to = forward this=20 newsletter to any of your friends who might be=20 interested.

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