The Anthrotorian

Flower petals, the shape of a leaf, the structure of a branch — there is so much inspiration to be found in nature.

These botanical prints are part of my portfolio of work perfect to frame together or hang with pieces that you already have in your collection. I have used muted, natural colors that would be found in the natural world in these pieces.

Are you missing lounging on the beach, wandering through new cities, and exploring new places?

Me too.

Though we may be limited to where we can go right now because of COVID, that doesn’t mean that we can’t bring a little adventure into our homes!

On my last trip to LA (also my last pre-COVID trip), I was very excited that I would have a chance to finally cross The Getty off of my “museums to visit” list. I have wanted to get there for years — ever since reading Loot and learning about the more controversial side of the museum.

Curved lines, symmetry, freeform flow — so much can be conveyed with just a few lines.

These abstract prints are part of my portfolio of work perfect to frame together or hang with pieces that you already have in your collection. I have used muted, calming colors that off-set the chaos of some of the compositions, but one unifying thread through them all is the use of only one color plus white.

There is something about the simplicity of line drawings that I find beautiful, and nothing is more beautiful than a line drawing of a woman — whether it is of her profile while she is deep in thought, the curves of her back after a bath, or her smile when she is looking right at you.

There’s nothing that makes me want to pack my bags more than vintage travel posters — especially ones that show me palm trees, beaches, and a tropical paradise!

These are some prints that I have collected during various trips to the Hawaiian Islands and they instantly transport me back to the sand, sun, and floral breezes of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, The Big Island, Molokai, and Lanai.

Unfinished artworks give off an aura of mystery. Were the works left incomplete by accident, or was it an intentional choice on the part of the artist?

Some of the most enigmatic and beautiful art — both for its unique aesthetic and intriguing historical context — is that which was left unfinished.

Throughout history, cultures around the world have used an array of different symbols to depict love and affection, many of which ended up appearing in their art. Some representations, like the Irish claddagh, the harp, and the apple derive from ancient mythology and cultural folklore.

In the year 1668, Louis XIV began his expansion of a small chateau into what we now know as the opulent Palace of Versailles.

Every surface and object in the palace was painstakingly designed and created by thousands of artists in the Royal Academy, led by the three head designers — Le Vau, Charles Le Brun, and Andre Le Notre — in order to create a palace fit for the Sun King and his court of almost 20,000.

There are A LOT of art galleries in Paris, and it is impossible to see them all on your first, second, or even third visit to the city.

So, I’ve put together a list of the top six galleries that you must visit based on the uniqueness of their collections, the space that the art is housed, and their location in the city. (They also all have fantastic museum shops, if you are interested in art books or unique souvenirs!)

There is SO much to see at the Louvre in Paris, but after purchasing their entry ticket most visitors head straight to the Denon Wing and the Mona Lisa. (Read this post to find out why the Mona Lisa is such a big deal.)

The galleries in this wing, housing the Decorative Arts and the Italian, Spanish, and French paintings (also made famous from the movie The Da Vinci Code), are packed with tourists waiting their turn to stand in front Mona.

There are A LOT of museums in Paris, and it is impossible to see them all on your first, second, or even third visit to the city.

In fact, I didn't make it to the Centre Pompidou until my third time to the city — and was that ever a mistake! Not only is the exterior of the building a must-see, the museum is home to over 100,000 works created in the 20th and 21st centuries, and an INCREDIBLE view.

The Berlin Wall cut through the center of Berlin from August of 1961 to November of 1989, separating the Soviet Union from Western powers. More than just a wall though, it was a complex military system that rose more than 12 feet high and had 302 towers, 12,000 guards and countless kilometers of barbed wire.

In 1501, Michelangelo (yes, the same guy who painted the famous Sistine Chapel located in the Vatican in Rome) accepted a commission to carve a marble sculpture of the biblical David to be placed high atop a buttress on the Florentine Cathedral.

If you’ve never been to New York before, The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) might seem like it’s just another museum in the longgggg list of museums and art galleries that are on must-see lists for the city. But it is not just like the others, ohhhhhhh no my friend, it is not.

Here are 10 reasons why you need to add visiting The Met to your New York travel list.

When the Peter Robertson Gallery described Canadian artist Steve Driscoll's show, And a Dark Wind Blows, to me as "a water installation that would reflect his paintings" and an unusual art exhibit, I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe a few oversized tubs of water placed under the works?

I was transfixed by the complex, layered, collage-like work by contemporary Swedish artist Kent Lindfors when I came upon it in a light-filled gallery at the Gothenburg Museum of Art in Sweden. The collection on display was a retrospective of the artist's work from the 1970s until 2016. Kent Lindfors was born and works in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden.

For the first time Canadian artists Ron and Damian Moppett (father and son) are exhibiting selections from their vast collection of work together at the Art Gallery of Alberta. This unique show explores the similarity in their artistic practices and the different approaches that they use to interpret the subject of the artists's studio.

I recently paid a visit to The Gothenburg Museum of Art (aka Göteborgs Konstmuseum) in Sweden and was blown away by the incredible collection housed in this Swedish art gallery. The space contains an eclectic mix of historic works, Scandinavian art, contemporary sculptures, paintings by famous western artists, new work, and more.

When I saw that there was a call for submissions for travel photos at one of my local art galleries, I jumped at the chance to submit. I couldn't have been more excited a few weeks later when I found out that five of my photographs were chosen to be part of the exhibit!

National Geographic Magazine recently ran an article highlighting how rampant tomb raiding and trade in stolen antiquities still is. I know what you're thinking. Tomb raiding is nothing new — the looting of ancient art has been going on for hundreds of years. So, why is it being written about and highlighted now? What's changed?

I recently wrote an article on contemporary Aboriginal art and artists for Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine, and the depth and variety of work that is available in this genre of art is incredible.

Investigative journalist Stephen Kurkjian has written the definitive, revealing history of the famed Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist that took place 25 years ago. Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World’s Greatest Art Heist takes a look at the investigations, theories, blunders, and complex web of the Boston mafia that all contributed to the paintings being stolen and remaining hidden for all this time.

A familiar sight to students of art, and those who have visited any major museum, The Three Graces have been depicted in many different mediums ever since the ancient Greeks were carving them into stone.

Also known as Charities, they are shown as three eternally young, beautiful women gracefully dancing or gently frolicking while holding onto each other’s arms, hands, shoulders, necks, or waists.

For the final project in my non-fiction writing class in university we had to create a zine. I found the process of taking a subject I was passionate about and shrinking it down to meaningful, concise thoughts incredibly difficult, but also a really interesting process. I also found it surprising how many people don't actually know what a zine is.

Award-winning Canadian artist Chris Cran has his work displayed in private and public collections all over the world, and it's easy to see why.

His painted work — which he has been creating prolifically for the last 40 years — takes traditional art genres and turns them on their head. Still-life, portraiture and landscape works suddenly become oversized, avant-garde works of brilliance.

British artist Ben Johnson is in no rush to get his paintings done. In fact, he has spent the equivalent of 17 years on one painting alone!

He is best known for his works that show intricate architectural spaces, and large-scale city skylines from places like Hong Kong, London (you can see this one at the National Gallery in London), Jerusalem, and Liverpool.

I was so excited to explore Edmonton, Alberta's first Nuit Blanche! This all-night (from 7 pm until 4 am) contemporary art event took place in the city's downtown core and was made up of more than 30 artworks, performances, and interactive exhibits. This festival began in Paris in 2002 and since then has spread to cities all over the world!

According to the Edmonton Art's Council who funded the project, it "superimposes private and intimate suburban spaces upon the urban environment and shared public space" (aka there are really cool looking mini houses in trees in the middle of downtown that are perfect for Instagram-ing!).

Alex Janvier may be a prolific and significant Canadian Indigenous Artist, but there are no teepees, totem poles, or feathered headdresses in his portfolio.

His impressive 50-year artistic career and his contribution to the art world caused him to receive the Governor General Award in 2008, but there was once a time when the Canadian government was ready to hinder, rather than help, the progression of his career.

I recently had the opportunity to meet author and artist Douglas Coupland and participate in a huge art project that he is undertaking.

Coupland is often attributed with popularizing the term "Generation X", which was also the title of his first novel. He is a prolific writer, and on top of writing books, contributes to Vice regularly.

Digital prints, giclée prints, original work, illustrations, reproductions — there are a lot of different terms that are thrown around these days when it comes to art, and each term comes with a vastly different price range.

One of my favourite gallery or museum spaces in the world, the Musee De L'Orangerie is located in Paris on the southwest corner of the Jardin Des Tuileries.

The last time I was in Paris, I was determined to visit smaller museums and locations in the city that had little-to-no mention in tourists books.

This stunning photo, by the incredibly talented Malorie Shmyr, is part of a series called Delicate that is featured on the Opalus Magazine website. Malorie is also the editor of the publication by the same name that features incredible work from artists and creators all over the world.

Around 490 BCE, on the peak of the Acropolis, Athenians began building a temple to Athena Parthenos. It was unfinished when the Persians sacked Athens soon after, and then in 438 BCE was completed by Pericles as a temple to the goddess Athena. No expense was spared — even the roof was covered in the finest white marble rather than the usual terra cotta tiles.

Believe it or not, I am not usually a fan of documentaries. I tend to read non-fiction and watch fiction, so when I do sit on the couch in front of the TV, it's usually for a drama, rom-com, or hilarious sitcom.

But, recently, I have jumped on the documentary train, and have discovered some pretty fascinating stuff.

Located on the south bank of The River Thames in London, the Tate Modern is the world's most popular contemporary art gallery (more than five million visitors stroll through its doors every year!), and one of the top sights in London.

The Art Gallery of Alberta is one of the oldest art galleries in Canada and celebrated its 90th birthday with the exhibit 90x90 featuring 90 pieces by 90 different Albertan artists created between 1924-2014.

I was lucky enough to preview the exhibit and was completely blown away by the work on display.

If you think you've met a struggling artist before, think again.

Tarzan and Arab (real names Ahmed and Mohamed Abu Nasser) are 25-year-old twins who were born and raised in Gaza City where theatres don't exist (the last one was destroyed a year before they were born), and artistic expression (of ANY kind) is considered to be pornographic.

After just one visit to malorieshmyr.com it is obvious that this talented creative director, fine artist and 3D modeler is something special.

The last couple of years have brought a world of success for this Edmonton, Alberta-based talent whose whimsical view of the world has been translated in movies, on the runway, on canvas, in print, and in photographs. I have had the honour of knowing Malorie for many years now and have had the pleasure of interviewing her to get some insight into the life and mind of a working artist.

When I was studying Art History, the most fascinating artists to me were the ones that made an effort to do something entirely different — the men and women that stuck their tongue out at the norm and refused to make the highbrow art world happy.

This stunning work by Picasso is housed in the Museu Picasso in Barcelona.

I was completely enchanted by this work when I came upon it while walking through the museum one afternoon. It is oversized, and unlike anything that I had ever seen before — by Picasso or any other artist for that matter.

Combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms, the Templo Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia aka the Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Family aka the Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic Church — and UNESCO World Heritage Site — in the heart of Barcelona, Spain.

After a reconstruction by architect Josef Paul Kleihues, the Hamburger Bahnhof reopened in 1996 as the Hamburger Bahnhof: Museum für Gegenwart — Museum for Contemporary Art — one of the first state museums in Berlin devoted to "living art."

The Sistine Chapel recently celebrated its 500th Birthday and, along with a huge party, it also got a warning — it may soon have only a limited amount of visitors.

Write a short story that is set in Argentina in 1932, in which a teacup plays a crucial role. Describe the greatness of sandwiches. You are a pirate — describe your perfect day. What is a character holding a blue object thinking right now? Write ten new cheers for a high school cheerleading squad.

You don’t have to be an art expert to recognize this painting by Gustav Klimt. Next to the Mona Lisa, The Kiss is one of the most replicated images in the art world.

Imagine that you are one of the first explorers to North America’s West Coast.

It’s early morning, and after a paddle through the still ocean water, you have docked your canoe on a grey pebble beach. The sun has yet to pierce through the thick fog, and you can see your breath in the crisp air.

There is not a soul in sight.

A watercolour painting? Packing tape on the wall? A painted square of colour? A bicycle wheel drilled to a stool? A marble sculpture?

Are all of these things really considered art?

What is art?

Joshua Knelman is an award-winning journalist and editor who has created a major work of investigative journalism in this fast-paced, fascinating book.

Hot Art traces Knelman’s immersion in the shadowy world of art theft where what he uncovers takes him all over the world, through a web of corruption, secrecy, and violence.

When Sigmund Freud started writing and teaching about the importance of exploring memory and the unconscious mind, he intended to revolutionize the medical world, not the art world.

The glaringly white Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II AKA Altare della Patria AKA Il Vittoriano AKA The Victor Emmanuel II Monument AKA The Wedding Cake was built to honour the first king of unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel.

It's iconic, stunning, impressive, in a lot of movies, etc… but did you know that the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles is an example of deconstructive architecture that shows the avant-garde tendency to disturb traditional architectural values of harmony, unity, and stability through the use of skewed, distorted and impure geometry?

Antoni Gaudi, one of the world’s most famous Modernist Architects, combined Gothic influences with inspiration from nature and innovative materials to create the marvelous Park Guell, located on a hill at the northern edge of Gracia in Barcelona.

According to Canadian Stewart Steinhauer, though he makes his living creating beautiful stone sculptures, he is not an artist but simply someone who “inadvertently makes stuff.”

Nicknamed La dame de fer (the iron lady), the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-recognized buildings in the world. This latticed iron structure, located in the Champ de Mais in Paris, was erected in 1889 for the World’s Fair of that same year.

After spending a lazy Saturday afternoon savouring a cappuccino at my favorite local coffee shop, I wandered across the street attracted by a painted bronze sculpture in the window. The naked female figure had been captured in a moment of ecstasy with her head thrown back and her arms reaching skywards.

A version of the painting The Scream sold a few years ago for almost $120 million, making it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction at the time.

When my sister recently came home from a trip to Paris she seemed impressed with everything that she had seen — except for the Mona Lisa.

One of the most recognized works of art in the world, reproductions of it usually come in poster sized prints while the original, hung behind thick, bullet proof glass and guarded by a velvet rope is miniature in comparison.