Two Studies

A mural, done properly, requires lots of sketches and preliminary studies to determine structure and tonal values, as well as composition. These are but two studies for a mural by Ludwig Zaiser back around 1910. It's unlikely that the mural itself survived two world wars.

Beasts and Demons

Now and then I receive email enquiries regarding background information on this image or that. 

This image is one that particularly caught my attention because I greatly admire the artwork of WT Benda. Peter was wondering if I knew the date or where this work might be. I do not. This reproduction is from an old Architectural Digest magazine with only the caption: A Mural Decoration by W.T. Benda.

Knowing Benda's fascination with masks, collecting and creating them, this retinue of beasts and demons makes a bit of sense, but still is a mysterious crowd. Some of you out there are fans of Benda, and knowledgeable besides. Do you know the date or whereabouts of this mural? Is this a reproduction of a study or of the actual mural? Are these dimensional masks placed on a painting, or is this a conceptual preliminary meant to drive the execution of full-sized masks? Enquiring minds want to know.

WT Benda — A Mural Decoration

Deep Water

A number of years ago, I was pretty sure I had the inside track for the project of painting a large astronomical mural for our planetarium. At the last minute I was nudged out so that another artist who was 'more familiar' with the subject got the assignment. That was Michael Carroll, whose repute within the astro-art field I was unaware of at the time. I took the loss of the project in stride, as these things happen, but when I visited Michael in the middle of his work on-site and he good-naturedly asked if I would be interested in being hired to stretch canvases for his other work—well I felt like I'd fallen in the mud. Bless his heart, he did nothing wrong by asking.

My pride was stung for more than a little while. I'm well over that now, and can even blog about it. And Michael, if you happen to look in on this post, I've admired your work in the books and magazines, and I think this painting of yours, below, of deep water luminescent organisms is mighty fine. You of course were the better artist for the mural project, but I just know I coulda been a contenda.

Michael Carroll — Deep Water Life

Mural

I've painted quite a few murals on-site in my time, of all sorts of subjects, but I've never been commissioned to paint one quite like this. If you have a commission like this, well, gee, talk to me.

Ramon Chatov (or I've also seen it spelled Chatoff)

Plymouth Hotel (I don't know which one)

Jewel of the Desert

In a world of beautiful hotels, there are some that are downright gorgeous—such as The Arizona Biltmore, known as the Jewel of the Desert, built in 1929. One of the facets of the jewel is of course the artwork, such as these two companion murals, interpreting First People's symbology with an Egyptian flavor.

Maynard Dixon — The Legend of Earth and Sun —1929

Edith Hamlin — The Turquoise Goddess and the Warrior Twins — 1949

A glimpse of Hamlin's mural in situ