A Thousand Pieces of Cathartic History, 2007 Magazine cut out and ink 30 x 22.5 in / 76.20 x 52.25 cm / Reflections on a Sublime and Mystic Gulf, Magazine cut out, ink and watercolor 30 x 22.5 in / 76.20 x 52.25 cm

These are images of cultural turmoil, presented as frentic masks. If monsters and maidens are traditional contraries in a male- orientated imaginary realm, the suggestion here is that the feminist sensibility knows that they are coincident, that they may dwell in the same body. - J Simpson New York Art World.

Agressive energy, Erotism and Horror feature highly in (NYC based) Debra Hampton’s large, encapsulating multi-media collages. The core of Hampton’s wonderful figurative collages is the color photograph. In particular, from a magazine cut out Hampton intricately places each piece in intentional, random and symbolic presentation. This process is coupled with ink and paint in the exploration of patterns of chaos, chance, and definite order.

Hold Me, Guide Me, Guard Me, 2007 Magazine cut outand ink 50 x 38 in / 127 x 96.52 cm / Tradition in Flux, Magazine cut out, ink and watercolor 30 x 22.5 in / 76.20 x 52.25 cm

To view more of Debra Hampton’s collages / and for more info visit her website. Happy easter to all my readers!

Retratos Vitoriano - em homenagem à Ray Caesar.

Helenbar is a Model and very talented designer from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Through a series of self-portraits she transforms herself into digitally manipulated forms of surreality. Her treatment of images is always amazingly sensitive and subtle. Beyond the technique, she works on the basic questions of language; understanding hierarchies and specific values of each area, thus constructing references and context. Many of her works play homage to various fictional characters, one in particular that springs to mind is the fascinating photographic interpretation of Alice in Wonderland series she accomplished, based on original work of Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, 1865.

Her influences in her life and works range from writers to an interesting mix of artists, these include: George Meliés, Ingemar Bergman, David Cronemberg, David Linch, Roman Polanski, Neil Jordan, Tim Burton and artists as Gilbert and George, Andy Warhol, Pierre et Gilles, Ray Caesar, Mark Ryden, Jeff Koons, Nan Goldin and Joel Peter Witkin.

Natureza Morta 2006

Geisha 2005

Be sure to check out all of her portfolio at Helenbar.com. Follow the jump to see a selection of her fantastic images. more…

Metal Head, Pencil and Painter IX

Manabu Hassegawa is an illustrator from Japan. His portfolio (mostly) consists of these fantastically drawn and painted female figures, in a style that combines both grotesque and erotic. This charming fusion is accentuated by very personal caricatures and vision. See more after the jump and share your thoughts. more…

Octopus. 1994. Acrylic on board. 21 x 29 inches.

“Art is a kind of tenacity, an insistence upon asserting your own originality.” / “By contrast, superrealism deals with the technical issue of how close one can get to one’s object.” / “Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking.” - Hajime Sorayama

Hajime Sorayama is an illustrator of super-realistic pin ups, erotic art and robot / cyborg type imagery. Born and based in Japan, Soryama has been working independently as a freelance illustrator since 1972. Since then, he has been perfecting his own super-realistic illustration techniques and skills that require the use of a very fine brush, pencil, acrylic paint and the airbrush to complete finishing details. In part, this level of craftmanship and meticulous attention to detail has given him the description as one of the most significant erotic artists of the 20th century. It is hard to disagree with the claims, since his sensual, innovative, mythical, futuristic, memorable and hyper-realistic style has been significantly taking erotic art to completely new levels…

Ophelia. 1994. Acrylic on board. 21 x 29 inches.

Sorayama’s highly detailed art is featured in movies, TV, books, magazines and ads. In December, his original illustrations will be on show at Artspace Gallery - at Art Now Fair in Miami. For more info, visit Sorayama’s site. You might also want to view a selection of my (NSFW) favorites after the jump. more…

Funfair

What intrigues me most about Daniela Uhlig’s work is the expressive figures and animals done in a wide range of styles and techniques. She’s mostly into painting with traditional paint and brush, but recently (out of necessity) started creating digital artworks. Her online galleries both here and here, consists of mostly comic pop art, but you’ll also find a vast array of deliciously flavored imagery ranging from Art nouveau to full pin-ups of eroticism. Most, if not all pieces, are beautifully drawn and masterfully designed to encompass great sensuality, macabre humor and some rather fascinating “freakish” concepts that are illustrated perfectly. Note: Some of Daniela’s artwork could be considered NSFW, so it’s recommended only for a mature audience. View more after the jump.

Strawberry

Peg Leg

more…

Just discovered some truly paintalicious imagery by Gianluca Mattia, an artist born in Bari, Italy. After his studies in art, Mattia specialized in digital illustration and graphics 2D and 3D. His first illustrations represented creatures of different sorts, but it is in these modern, provocative, punk and sexy pin-up digital paintings that his talents have become realized. His works are admired by Maxon, a German software house who are leaders in CG graphics. Ultimately, this has lead to his works becoming a reference point for users of Cinema 4d. In 2006, Gianluca created the calendar for Suicide Girls of Los Angeles. Most recently,however, Mattia’s incredible talents are utilized by the the Italian fashion agency GoGo dolls and guys. View a few more of his beautiful imagery after the jump. more…