Beautiful Youth

I haven't heard of Ryan McGinley until I came across his campaign ads with Italian fashion house, Missoni a couple months ago, although I remember seeing the ads in Vogue last fall and winter season. I remember thinking Whoever the photographer is, they know what the Missoni customer wants, but it could be different. McGinley creates a very free, playful style aesthetic in his commercial and artistic photography, often being provocative, yet still in the artistic context. McGinely is known for placing a less-than-subtle of free spirit rebel youths in a minimal style setting. The style of the photographs fits my vision if I were ever to express myself with photography, being that nudity makes it more bolder. Not necessarily being sexual.

McGinely had successful start into photography. He was the one of the youngest artists to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, including being awarded Young Photographer Infinity Award.


'Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere' series







'Moonmilk' series



In collaboration with Missoni for the F/W '09 campaigns, McGinley still maintains his cool and free aesthetic in the minimal style shots. Missoni's color striped wool shirts, cardigans, and coats signature blends well with the artistic vision of McGinely.

a

Perhaps because I'm starting to turn in a different place in my life, at the moment, it may be spreading into my work. Beginning with a new medium incorporating into new artwork, I went ahead to run in a different direction - with watercolors. Usually shying away from watercolors and opting more thicker material such as oil, I wanted to examine the fluidity of watercolors and the effect of my usual charcoal figures. Working in a burnt umber shade and small use of light lemon, I fused the graphite drawing with enough water and a small dose of the colors.

It wasn't exactly the way I intended for it to work, but it definitely pleased the cloudy effect of charcoal and water. The loud hint of umber in both drawings hardened the delicate figures.


Untitled, December 2010, 6" 12", graphite and watercolor.

Untitled, December 2010, 6" x 12", charcoal and watercolor.