Incredible Artist #5: Anders Zorn

Anders Zorn

Nationality: Swedish

Born: 1860

Died: 1920

What's to like: Swedish artist whose oil paintings, watercolors, etchings and sculptures cover a wide range of subjects, mostly figurative. Uses his beautiful, painterly style to create lively portraits with an amazing sense of light and color. One of my all-time favorites.

Incredible Artist #4: John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent

Nationality: American

Born: 1856

Died: 1925

What's to like: An American expatriate who documented his world travels in his oil paintings and watercolors. Known for his iconic portraits and portrayals of everyday life, his style is loose and energetic without looking uncontrolled.

Incredible Artist #3: John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse

Nationality: English

Born: 1849

Died: 1917

What's to Like: Heavily influenced by Pre-Raphealites painters. Waterhouse painted mythogical and historical events with a Romantic/Neo-Classical twist. The settings are just as beautifully rendered as the figures.

Interesting Article On Modern Art via The Mail

Here's a link to a great article examining the average time museum goers spend looking at modern and traditional art. 


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365672/Modern-art-How-gallery-visitors-viewed-work-Damien-Hirst-Tracy-Emin-5-seconds.html

Incredible Artist #2: Hans Holbein the Younger

Hans Holbein The Younger

Nationality: German

Lived: 1497-1543

What's to like: German artist who became the court painter for the English monarchy. Maybe the finest portrait artist ever. His draftsmanship is second to none. If you want to learn how to do portraiture, study Holbein's drawings.

Incredible Artist #1 (in no particular order)

Adolph Menzel

Nationality: German

Lived: 1815-1905

What's to like: Art school dropout who became a master painter and draftsmen. Used a carpenter pencil to achieve beautiful wash-like gradations of value. Accomplished figure and portrait artist.