EPICUREANISM: DYNAMIC ART THAT DELIGHTS

CHESS-KNIGHT MARTINI 24 x 18" Acrylic on Canvas Board by Roopa Dudley (SOLD)

What is Epicurean Art & Epicureanism?

Epicurean Art is a form of Dynamic Conceptual Art that not only delights the senses but is also thought provoking. It is aesthetically as well as intellectually pleasing and is usually discussed at the dinner table in good company while people enjoy delicious cuisines and sip fine dessert wines. It is directly opposite to Minimalist Art as it is the art of opulence - Content wise as well as Context wise.

Epicureanism is a term that I came up with to define the type of art I create as well as the form of art created by other artists that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also delights the intellect. It is a new genre of fine art that is neither Representational nor Abstract, Pop nor Graphic, Decorative nor Grotesque, Expressionist nor Impressionist, Modern nor Traditional, Gothic nor Steampunk but rather a mixture of some or all in unification. The world has been ready for a new kind of 'ism' to define this genre that is hard to describe otherwise. So here’s to Epicurean Art, Epicureanism and Epicureanists!

EPICUREANISM (Definition): 1. the cultivation of a refined taste, as in food, art, music, etc.; connoisseurship.
2. a devotion or adaptation to luxurious tastes, especially in drinking and eating, or to indulgence in sensual pleasures.

However, according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism it specifically states under the subheading Modern Usage & Misconceptions  "In modern popular usage, an epicurean is a connoisseur of the arts of life and the refinements of sensual pleasures; epicureanism implies a love or knowledgeable enjoyment especially of good food and drink (as stated above).

Because Epicureanism posits that pleasure is the ultimate good (telos), it has been commonly misunderstood since ancient times as a doctrine that advocates the partaking in fleeting pleasures such as constant partying, sexual excess and decadent food. This is not the case. Epicurus regarded ataraxia (tranquility, freedom from fear) and aponia (absence of pain) as the height of happiness. He also considered prudence an important virtue and perceived excess and overindulgence to be contrary to the attainment of ataraxia and aponia." 

Below are a few more examples of Epicurean Art. More examples are on my blog "Roopa Dudley Paintings"

http://roopadudleypaintingsblog.blogspot.com/

CHESS-BISHOP SANGRIA (SOLD)

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER (Knight) (SOLD)

ARTASCENT (Art & Literature Journal)

http://www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/573575

                                                   ArtAscent is a large 9"x11" glossy magazine online and in print. ArtAscent Art & Literature Magazine - 'Connecting Art Lovers with Winning Artists' is their motto. If you are a writer or an artist, I strongly suggest that you get acquainted with it and submit your art if you find it fitting to the theme they have assigned. You very well could be the next award winning artist!

MY SECRET REFUGE (Hermit House)
 by Roopa Dudley
received an  Honorable Mention Award
in ArtAcent HOME

It offers a platform for serious artists and writers to display their artworks and writings meanwhile also honoring them by awarding prizes - Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honorable Mention Awards. 

Artists and writers are carefully selected by the curator in accordance with the theme of the journal and then those who are fortunate enough to make it in the juried selection, get exposure of their work not only in print but also online.  Furthermore, the artists also get exposure on ArtAscent's facebook page once the journal is published in print. 

This journal is expensive with the price tag a wee bit over $20.00/- plus tax, shipping & handling because it is available online only. I am not sure if it is available in book stores yet as it is fairly new. It got established in early 2013 and so far has eight publications out . 

STUDIO VISIT MAGAZINE (Volume 23)

Today I received the long awaited dozen copies of my Studio Visit magazines (Volume 23) that I ordered for my records and for my art collectors as a token of gratitude for their love and support of my work they have been showing for the past years. This is an American Art magazine and has a nice professional feel to it with glossy pages that showcase artwork. It is an amazing source of what is hot and happening in the art world featuring the paintings & sculptures created by living national and international artists . The paintings are juried-in usually by an art museum director and out of thousands that enter only about 350 or so artists get selected to showcase their works. Some of the artists who do get selected opt out and their paintings are not displayed because once selected, they are obligated to pay $250 fee since the initial entry to this publication is free. Museums, Curators and Art Gallerists receive this very expensive magazine for FREE (because the selected artists pay the cost). Why you ask? Because now they have the benefit and a chance of being discovered by the Museums, Gallerists and Curators which otherwise would not have been possible. In my opinion, it is a great venue for the emerging as well as a professional painters for it gives them a prestigious platform to display their finest works in print for the world to see. Would I do this again? Most definitely. It is one of the best forms of *Permission Marketing tool me think. Visual Art is about exposure -- the more the better. A lot of the artists however, disagree with me because of the cost involved.
*Seth Godin wrote a book on Permission Marketing and that is what I am referring to here.

Page 50 features "Three Knights in Paradise" and page 51 "The World is Your Oyster (Knight)". Both of my Original Paintings were SOLD during my last annual Studio Exhibit that was held in my Art Studio on my 41st Birthday on July 6th, 2013. I am sure you are wondering what those paintings featured in this magazine look like so without any further delay I am posting the images for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
                                                                                       

The World is your Oyster Knight by Roopa Dudley SOLD

Three Knights in Paradise by Roopa Dudley SOLD

TASCHEN ART BOOKS SERIES

These books are printed in Germany and make an excellent gift for any art lover. I have a whole collection of my favorite artists and I use them all the time when I am doing research. They first came out in the soft cover which I have, but now they are bigger and in hard cover as well.

I understand that in this digital revolution everything one needs to find about any painter can be done on the internet. However, I still find these books nice to have on my book shelf and to be a valuable source for the research projects for the following reasons:

1. They provide a detailed history of the artist in question.
2. The images are of high quality and complete. The pages are thick and glossy which makes it a joy to read.
3. There are images by other painters used for cross referencing with the images of the artist in question.
4. All the paintings are explained in detail as to what their relevance is and why they are important.
5. The back pages of the book contains Chronology (timeline) of the artist in question that I find very useful.

Aside from the reasons stated above, the soft glossy covered series is priced very reasonably. Each of the books I ordered from amazon was under $10 which is a bargain. Sometimes even cheaper if you can find it on the bargain pile of the book stores.

LINE COLOR FORM (An Art book by Jesse Day)

This is one of my favorite books on the practical aspects of art. Here is my "Why":

-  It has only 121 pages and most of them are filled with colored images that go with the topic that is being discussed. The book is not too wordy and has no fluff--great for artists who have ADHD or short attention span.

-  Even the table of contents have a concept image to visually define each chapter.

-  It contains a wealth of information regarding line, color, composition, material and formal analysis.

- Another interesting feature (my favorite) deals with "Useful Terms and Expressions" (a vocabulary list for artists) which I recommend to professional painters to commit to their memories.

I have learnt a lot from this brief but well written and engaging book. I use it every now and then to refresh my memory. The cover is paper back but laminated and the pages are smooth, heavy weight and glossy. I paid the full retail price of $19.95 but it is really well worth it. It also makes a lovely Christmas, Graduation or Birthday gift for any aspiring artist.

TULIPS & APPLES (A Masterpiece by Sandra Thome)

Tulips & Apples 20x24 Acrylic 2006 by Sandra (Kiki) Thome

It was extremely hard for me to pick just one painting for an art review of this Canadian born American Painter. This usually does not happen to me as I tend to know fairly quickly which one to pick and write about. So I did something new this time and just randomly picked one. Viola! we have "Tulips & Apples".

The composition, the color, the style, the rhythm, the contrast and the craftsmanship all shout out euphoria and joy from any angle you look at. It is actually more than euphoria -- it is a magical and a religious experience. It reminds me of the beautiful stained glass windows of the church I used to go to years ago.

The artist has a distinct style that is recognizable from thousands of paintings along with her bright and vibrant palette. Each one of her paintings is visually delicious and a delight that goes without saying. In an interview I did with her that I will be posting on my Art Blog soon, she revealed that she love all colors. The more I look at her paintings, the more I agree that she is right on the money.

CROSSING THE THAMES (A Masterpiece by John Payne)

Crossing The Thames at McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD by John Payne - American Artist

One fine summer day in August of this year, as I was touring my favorite art galleries in historic Annapolis, I came across this mind blowing masterpiece. It was hanging in McBride Gallery - one of the most coveted galleries in the area. The photograph does not do any justice to this painting so I will do my best to describe what I personally experienced.

This painting magically teleported me back in time. The experience was unbelievable. I felt as if I was right there standing in the middle of this bridge witnessing all that was unfolding right before me. I could hear the spokes of the bicycle wheels and strange sounds of vintage vehicles passing right through me. In the distance I could hear the chimes of the Big Ben. I could feel the smouldering smog of London. I could see the cloudy and damp weather impressing on and around me. The people and objects looked hyper-real as if I can reach out and actually touch them.

John Payne's painstaking paintings are truly a sight to behold. If you are ever in historic Annapolis, do visit the McBride art gallery and experience the evocative paintings by this Marylander painter yourself.