Zest for the Best

This post goes out to my main man in the art world, David Hockney. While credited as one of the masterminds behind the British Pop Art movement and as one of the best contemporary artists, in actuality, Hockney's talents exceed such titles. Judging by the versatility of his work, his zesty yet frank personality and, obviously, his intrinsic eye for color and composition, I'd reckon he's quite possibly the most glorious artist that will ever live. But, I'm no expert.

Hockney was born in 1937 in Bradford, England and spent the majority of his adult life between England and Los Angeles. Distinctive to his style is that his work totally reflects his environment; you can look at virtually any painting and determine if Hockney was living in California or England at the time.

His portfolio is dominated by brilliant color palettes and landscapes, with a number of portraits, interiors and still lifes thrown into the mix. I want to say that painting is his forte, but he's also an amazing printmaker, photographer and he definitely has that technological artistry going on. In fact, there have been a number of exhibits exclusively featuring his iPad drawings and paintings. I could give praise to this creative savant until the sun goes down, but I'd rather you fall in love for yourself.

"Life is such a mystery, why can't there be another? Why would there be only one mystery?"

Red Pots in the Garden, 2000
oil on canvas, 60x76 in.

The Gate, 2000
oil on canvas, 60x76 in.

Late Spring Tunnel, 2006
oil on canvas, two parts, 48x72 in.

Bigger Trees Near Warter, 2007
oil on 50 canvases, 180x480 in. overall

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), 1972
acrylic on canvas, 84x120 in.

"I've always been a privileged person. I get intense pleasure through the eyes."

Autumn Leaves, 2008
color inkjet print on paper, 35x46.5 in.

Woldgate Woods, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Woldgate Woods III, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Woldgate Woods, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Winter Timber, 2009
oil on 15 canvases, 180x240 in.

Hawthorne Blossom, Woldgate no. 5, 2009
oil on canvas, 60x72 in.

Early Blossom Near Brid, 2009
oil on canvas, 36x72 in.

Mulholland Drive: The Road to the Studio, 1980
acrylic on canvas, 86x243 in.

Shirley Goldfard & Gregory Masurovsky, 1974
acrylic on canvas, 45x84 in.

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven), 2011
oil on 32 canvases, 144x384 in.

Pearlblossom Highway, 1986
photographic collage, 77x112.5 in.

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven), 2011
iPad drawing printed on paper, 57x42.5 in.

"In your head you can go anywhere, didn't you know that? You can even go to the edge of the universe. You'll never get there on a bus or a spaceship or whatever they think up next."

Zealand: Balancing Act, 2014
photograph, 3x5 in.

All pictures (except Zealand) via here