Thomas Ansel, Artist

11/02/2022

Henri Matisse

09/20/2022

07/30/2022

‘The sunflower is mine’ 🌻

Vincent van Gogh died in 1890. Soon after his death he became known as the painter of sunflowers, an identification that endures to this day. No other artist has been so closely associated with a specific flower, and these works continue to be among Van Gogh’s most loved.

Yellow may have been the artist’s favourite colour, but the flower also had significance for Van Gogh. In this painting the fifteen sunflowers are in different stages of their life cycle, from young bud through to maturity and eventual decay and death. The bud in the lower left corner has yet to reach full flower, seven flowers are in full bloom and the other seven have lost their petals and are turning to seed. Long strokes follow the direction of the petals, leaves and stems, whose sinuous lines echo those of Art Nouveau style, while small, raised dabs of stippled paint imitate the bristling seed heads.

The sunflowers’ life cycle follows the vanitas tradition of 17-century Dutch flower painting, but the sunflower had also been associated with love, both sacred and profane, since the 16th century. This was because just as the sunflower turns to follow the sun, so the true believer follows Christ, and the lover follows the object of their affection. This idea could be extended to other instances of devotion, such as the subject who follows a leader or to the notion of art following nature. Symbolism aside, sunflowers were also visually striking examples of the beauty and vitality of nature, with which Van Gogh had always had a strong bond.

Take a closer look at this iconic painting on our website: https://bit.ly/2FtK7dN

07/30/2022

"Anything is art if an artist says it is."

Marcel Duchamp is recognised for breaking down boundaries between art and everyday objects. He was was born in 1887.

07/21/2022

ArtWalk is upon us and with it comes the wonderful pedestrian friendly downtown that we will enjoy for the bulk of Friday, July 22nd. Here are some important reminders to make your celebration more enjoyable and safe.

Streets will close at 2pm on Friday, July 22nd (Main Street from Memorial Drive to High Street, Broad and Columbus from Chestnut to Wheeling with alley access maintained). Please make sure you aren't parking within these boundaries after that time. Plan ahead and take advantage of the many parking lots that become open to public parking after regular business hours with access points off of Zane Alley, Wheeling Street, and Chestnut Street. Streets will open back up at 11pm so please be mindful at that time of traffic and security.

Take in the Italian Street Painting, the plethora of food trucks, and the great grab and go options many of our restaurants have available! Six Foot Blonde will be on the stage downtown at 7pm and live music pop up acts will occur throughout Downtown as well as street performers.

Take advantage of the open refreshment area but please drink responsibly; remember that all drinks must be in the approved DORA cups and you cannot take the cup INTO a liquor license space. You may only leave the liquor license space with your beverage. Please dispose of your used cups in the recycling bins provided throughout downtown.

The Beer Garden will be open at 5pm in the parking lot between Art & Clay on Main and The Mithoff. Join us at the beer garden for an ArtWalk After Party from 9pm-11pm!

If you are unable to visit all of the locations to see the art in one night, you are welcome to visit them next week; displays will be up through July 30th.

We cannot wait to see you Downtown!

https://www.destinationdowntownlancaster.com/events/artwalk

07/21/2022

Lancaster, Ohio ArtWalk, Paperback Exchange
6p-9p, July 22nd.
The Imaginantion of Thomas Ansel
https://fathomartsconsortium.org/
https://www.facebook.com/epiloguebookery.oh/

06/04/2022

05/31/2022

FRIDAY JUNE 3rd Lancaster, Ohio

01/27/2022

"Star Flower"
Acrylic, Ink
2022
12"/28"
Thomas R. Ansel

01/27/2022

"HORNED ONE"
Collage, Acrylic and Ink

07/22/2021

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