Today, one of my favorite contemporary painters, Karin Jurick, has reached a milestone. The incredibly talented artist completed her amazing series of 100 faces.
Titled BUST-ED, the project features individual loose studies of the human head, each painted from actual mugshots [with names concealed for obvious reasons]. For the past 100 days, she has painted the 4" x 4" portraits on masonite, one each day. They include men and women of all ages and races. Some are frontal, others are profiles - all are fabulous.
The very first painting in the series: The 100th painting in the series:
All 100 paintings:
What began as a 'painting a day', that were going to be available for auction individually, was quickly pre-sold to one individual patron - much to my dismay.
Nevertheless, you can view each individual portrait on her BUST-ED blog or better yet, order the book she has created of them on Blurb. Available in hardcover or softcover, each has a page dedicated to the individual portraits.
The book features one portrait per page. here are some sample spreads: Buy the book here.
Karin is truly one of the most skilled artists around and her works are quickly sold. Be sure to see her website and the galleries that represent her. Karin Jurick
above: Celebrity Olivia Wilde and her husband Tao Ruspoli make an appearance in the 2011 Calendar
The 2011 Lavazza Calendar is out now and this year it captures the romance of "Falling In Love In Italy" as seen through the photos of celebrity photographer Mark Seliger amongst the beautiful backdrops of Italy's cities and countrysides.
The annually produced calendar, which is not available for purchase but instead is designed for Lavazza's clients, has bimonthly shots that feature six couples engaged in love, including actress Olivia Wilde and her husband Tao Ruspoli, with Italy as the backdrop.
The Cover: above: Bill Gentle as Cupid. In a typically Italian cafe, a modern Cupid is enjoying a Lavazza espresso to pick himself up, before beginning his workday.
January - February, Capri: detail: above: Olivia Wilde and her husband Tao Ruspoli. A gentle reawakening with the Capri promontory in the background, for the two lovers reclining on the beach in the pale light of dawn.
March - April, Naples: detail: above: Enrique Palacios and Monica Castillo. Blown by the breeze, snow-‐white veils strike against a light-‐blue Mediterranean sky, interpreting a true Neapolitan love story.
May - June, Verona: detail: above: Noot Seear and Cedric Bihr. Verona: the famous lovers’ balcony and a modern Romeo, who unexpectedly dropped down from the sky, with his parachute on a sculpture shaped as a coffee cup.
July- August, Tuscany: detail: above: Liliana Dominguez and Alessandro Giallocosta. In a field of wheat — a typical Tuscan landscape — two lovers take a break behind a haystack, which has the shape of a coffee cup. September - October, Venice: detail: above: Violet Budd and Enrique Palacios. Venice: high water, magic night atmosphere, an espresso... perfect ingredients for a prelude to love.
November- December, Florence: detail: above: Jeisa Chiminazzo and Ivan Olita. In a traditional Italian garden, two young lovers are surrounded by plumes of fireflies, all attracted by the flavour of espresso.
The "Making Of" video:
Backstage at the photoshoot:
Olivia Wilde talks about her marriage and appearance in the 2011 Lavazza Calendar:
The theme Falling in love in Italy is a statement that Lavazza has been proudly promoting for years, thanks to a series of international photographers, through the pictures of its advertising campaigns, linked to the company’s famous calendar and enjoyed by people all over the world.
Three Calendar pictures (Naples, Tuscany and Venice) were chosen to convey the mood and sensuality of a couple falling in love, captured by Seliger and enhanced by the perfect backdrop of “cult” Italian landscapes in which Lavazza espresso is both an ingredient and a protagonist of the romantic atmosphere and Italian way of life. This last element is inextricably linked to the quality and experience of the brand in the world, which Seliger has interpreted by including a Lavazza espresso in every shot.
The press and poster campaign will cover 16 countries.
As in Lavazza’s previous international campaigns, the 2011 campaign will allow the public to enjoy pictures with great artistic value. They are a kind of open-‐air art exhibition that describe the glamorous, seductive world of Lavazza coffee.
The visuals will be enhanced by the pay-‐off, The Real Italian Espresso Experience, which underlines not only the Lavazza tradition and its sense of belonging, but also its drive towards innovation and internationality, revealed by the attention focused on the espresso "ritual” of which Lavazza is the standard-‐bearer.
Full Credits: Photographer: Mark Seliger Creative Project: Armando Testa Executive Creative Director: Michele Mariani Creative Director: Andrea Lantelme Vice Creative Director: Michele Pieri Production: Federico Levizzani, The Box Films Set Designer: Kristen Vallow Stylist: Alice Gentilucci Hair Stylist: Rudi Lewis Make-‐up Artist: Lucia Pica Photographer’s Assistant: Patrick Randak Post Production: Alexandro Martinengo, Mark Seliger Studio
Special Guests: Olivia Wilde & Tao Ruspoli (Capri)
Special thanks to: Ballantyne, Luisa Beccaria, Blumarine, Brioni, Etro, Gianfranco Ferrè, La Perla, Ermanno Scervino, Giuseppe Zanotti Jewels : Leo Pizzo Event Planning and realisation by Promoconvention Press Office Edelman
the above Matthew Rolston photo of Ann was deemed the winner by the collective panel of judges
For those who don't tune into ANTM (that's America's Next Top Model for you non-watchers), you wouldn't be aware of how the show has upped the creativity quotient for their 15th cycle.
They've enlisted more impressive photographers and judges than in previous cycles, have wrangled a Vogue Italia spread and cover of their Beauty supplement as part of the winner's package and in the episodes that have aired thus far, seem to be taking the creative art of modeling a bit more seriously. Don't fret, the cat-fights, insipid conversation and petty drama within the modern beachfront Venice house still occur.
above: photographer Matthew Rolston
Wednesday night's episode featured legendary beauty photographer Matthew Rolston as both a photographer and a judge. Rolston chose to style the models as underwater mermaids and placed them along with diamonds, pearls and sea life beneath a plexiglass case filled with water. For many of the models, it was their best shot of the season, not surprisingly.
For the more discriminating folks who may consider this reality television entertainment a waste of time, let me just share with you the portraits shot by Matthew Rolston of cycle 15's remaining contestants. You may very well decide to start tuning in.
the above photo of Chris was Matthew Rolston's personal favorite
I don't know if these young and beautiful women realize that this may be the only time in their potential careers that they are ever shot by the likes of Matthew. Never again may they be in front of the lens of such a reputable and respected photographer, so I hope they cherish the following photos and place them in their portfolios forever (except for Chelsey and Liz whose photos, although beautifully shot, are not flattering).
About the show this season The show features Tyra Banks and gives real young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of high fashion supermodeling.
Lending their expertise as guest judges during this high fashion cycle are designer Diane Von Furstenberg, designer/stylist Patricia Field ("Sex and the City"), top beauty photographer Matthew Rolston, supermodel Karolina Kurkova, top fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier, Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini, designer Zac Posen, designer/model Margherita Missoni, IMG Models executive Kyle Hagler, Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani and designer Roberto Cavalli.
Banks leads the panel of judges, comprised of influential fashion editor Andre Leon Talley and photographer Nigel Barker. Jay Manuel serves as the photo shoot creative director, while Miss J Alexander returns as the runway trainer.
The prize package has also been given a high-fashion makeover. The winner of Cycle 15 will receive a career-launching package, including a contract with IMG Models, one of the top international modeling management companies in the world; a fashion spread in Vogue Italia and an additional spread and cover of Beauty in Vogue; and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment, in association with Bankable Productions. Tyra Banks is the creator and executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Laura Fuest ("Pit Boss").
