Markus Ray’s “Art Look”

This is a commentary “About Seeing.” As an artist, it is one of my principle actions in life—to look. And what is it I see? As a painter this involves a translation into a very specific and rarefied picture plane, using paint or charcoal or what have you, onto a window of expression [...]

India’s illustrious past Long have I known that the mysteries of ancient India are illustrious and deep. She captivates anyone who has the eyes to see and the ears to hear. She is a force of spiritual reckoning to deal with, for anyone seriously pursuing the higher truths of a meaningful [...]

What was missing? Today I sauntered over to the National Gallery of Art to see the current exhibition, “SARGENT AND SPAIN.” I absolutely love Sargent. He is one of the greatest painters of all time, bar none, in my Art Look book. But as far as the exhibition at the NGA, if you are [...]

A Virtual Immersion On Christmas Day a friend of ours came for dinner, and afterwards we drove up to a shopping center in Northeast Washington DC to see a virtual Van Gogh exhibit that was billed as an “interactive immersion.” I have no idea what we paid to get in, as our friend had [...]

We are up here in Iceland, where, on this “Nordic Hawaii” of volcanic action, I have been contemplating Viking Art. My mind is vaguely recalling the intertwining tracery of intricate woven patterns of geometry, intermixed with simple animal and human figurines making various [...]

PASSION FOR THE FEMALE FORM Almost all of Modigliani’s greatest works are of the female form. His portraits of figures elongated and simplified are his hallmark, especially elongated necks in his portraits. But what distinguishes his work mostly is an unrelenting passion for Life, and a [...]

A SACRED SPACE OF IMMENSE BEAUTY Where would you put a crown of thorns? Let’s say tomorrow someone gave you the “crown of thorns” that was on Jesus’s head during his crucifixion, and you knew for certain it was that, what would you do with it? Now of course, all [...]

AMSTERDAM’S JEWEL Renovations on the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam took nearly 10 years. But what they came up with is a masterpiece, and well worth the wait. Some of the greatest paintings in the world are housed in this Jewel in the crown of Dutch Art and Culture. There are the expected [...]

PEACEFULNESS ABOUNDS POLAND and ESTONIA have been on our tour schedule for many years. Not only have we met some wonderful people there, a peacefulness abounds in these countries in North Eastern Europe. We go in the summertime, so the weather is perfect, as the days and nights are moderate. [...]

THE FAMOUS AND THE NOT SO FAMOUS A couple years ago we did some work in Madrid, and as usual I am on the look out for Art. I look at Art. My own, and the Art of others. Being close to Toledo, we spent a day going there, as I was sure about the […]