American Comics

Like anime I wonder how anyone can not consider the work in graphic novels to be worthy. They are no easy thing to make and while they may overemphasize certain features of human anatomy they are still impressively drawn. Below I have the works of the artist Jim Lee who started his career with Marvel Comics and the X men, before moving to Dc Comics. 

Spirited Away

It's amazing to me how anyone could believe anything about anime not being a legitimate art. It has come along way in America, but there are still naysayers. This is why when showing someone unfamiliar with anime works I skip to the best possible thing to show them, Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. So popular are the movies created by them, they are released by Disney in the United States. If anyone ever has doubts about the anime style they need only take a look at this movie. The scenery and background are not just there in the back as a thing to anchor the character they have an undeniable presence all their own. They are almost photo realistic, but unmistakably still has touches of anime. The pictures below really don't do justice to the amazing artwork in the movie and it can not be described how breathtaking it was to watch this for the first time. Not only for the art, but the wonderful fantastical story line as well. 

Salvador Dali

Even if one doesn't know the name of the artist, few people would nor recognize Salavdor Dali's work when they see the second picture posted below. The melting clocks have become very iconic, if disturbing at times. When looking at these paintings I'm almost reminded of pictures and scenes in children's story books with the way they are colored. However, it is like story book and fairy tales gone wrong. Each painting is pretty photo realistic, which makes the surreal content even more jarring. 

John Salt

Artist John Salt specializes in photo realistic paintings. At first glance they almost seem like actual photos, but at a closer look they are actual very detailed paintings. He seems to favor subjects that have to do with automobiles, body shops and junk yards. This makes one feel when looking at the subject matter as well as how the piece is rendered that these are photos taken years ago. The two bottom paintings depict older types of trucks and cars that are not seen around as often today that are left in disrepair. With the style of light and color the feeling that these are old photographs is even stronger. 

Real Life Transformers

 Guillaume Reymond, is a French artist known for his photography works. These pictures are meant to depict "Real life Transformers." 

Rune Guneriussen

Born in 1977, Norway. Attended the Art Institute in England.  The interesting thing is that the artist works in instillation pieces and photography. The feeling that this invokes in me while I view is a sense of warmth that comes from the light of each lamp in contrast with the cold and desolate background. It really messes with the senses to see these natural displays coupled with very human and modern appliances that we encounter in everyday use. While walking in the woods or on the coast the last thing one would normally see is light coming from a lamp that would be more commonplace in a living room. These photos really make these ordinary things seem as fantastical as something that would appear In Alice in Wonderland.