Beardsley's King Arthur

Fame came to Aubrey Beardsley in 1893 after publishing "LeMorte D'Arthur" , an english epic about King Arthur, by Thomas Malory with Aubrey's illustrations. It was a triumph! Critics wrote: "...Nobody can bring a simple line to its inevitable end with such a confidence..." In this work Aubrey Vincent Beardsley's style was born. He uses pen and ink. Black and white only, there is no half-tones. Edition of King Arthur with Beardsley's illustrations is very popular even today.

Influence of Japanese art

Some of Aubrey Beardsley's drawings, inspired by Japanese shunga, featured enormous genitalia. His most famous erotic illustrations were on themes of history and mythology, including his illustrations for Aristophanes's "Lysistrata" and Oscar Wilde's "Salome".

Erotica

Aubrey Beardsley was the most controversial artist of the Nouveau era, renowned for his dark and perverse images and the grotesque erotica, which were the main themes of his later work.

Sunday on Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Original Beardsley picture Geclee print on canvas and T-shirts with Beardsley

Beardsley's color giclee print 20"x30"

Beardsley at Waterfront

Compare original Beardsley (black and white) with color enhanced version:

Residents of Toronto (Canada) and tourists have had an excellent opportunity to meet some of Beardsley's works on canvas and T-shirts last Sunday.

Bathyllus

Bathyllus Posturing. Illustration from"The Sixth Satire of Juvenile", 1896

Now "Toilette Salome" in colors

Toilette Salome

Now it's "John and Salome" in colors

This is original Beardsley's picture "John and Salome"

Aubrey Beardsley Art

With great excitement I present to you my latest project. It began in October 2007 when my friend Erin SinClair suggested using her workshop while she traveled across Europe. She said to me, "Elena, why don't you use my workshop while I'm away? I know you like the view of the lake and you could sit by the window, make coffee and compose your stories." That chance sounded too good to pass up, so I took it. I didn't end up doing any writing at all, but I did conceive one thing: the web art-gallery.
This part I call "Imaginations in Beardsley’s Theme”. This was the idea of Erin SinClair, whom I met while she was gallery curator for American artist Paul Hunter. Erin is a very talented artist whose prevalent themes draw inspiration from the Moon (she has the Moon in silver, gold, copper and bronze, all on not grounded canvas) and that of the horse (she makes very impressive horses). I enjoy her compositions of figures and letters in a collage style, but my favourite piece is a Mermaid she constructed from the bumper of an old car, that really should be in the Louvre (but is instead showcased in her bathroom or kitchen depending on her mood). Following Erin’s style, I wish to paint Beardsley’s drawings in the colours of the rainbow: red, orange, green, blue, indigo, violet and yellow. I would like to make a compilation of Beardsley’s drawings opposite artists like Klimt or Kirhner. I think that the effect will be striking. If anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to bring them to the web art gallery.
Yours, Elena