Art Inspired by George Hoyningen Huene

Photographer George Hoyningen-Huene (1900 - 1968) worked for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and later became a portrait photographer for movie stars, and I've always loved his elegant and stylish advertising photographs for swimwear like the Divers above, shot in 1930. The horizon line suggest that they are looking over the ocean, and the focus is more on composition and light than on the swimwear itself.


The Photographic Art of Hoyningen-Huene


The photograph of this Diver which he did for Vogue in 1929 has inspired two artists.


Kenton Nelson who's paintings were used in the movie Something's Gotta Give.


And Cathie of Magic Markings Art who rendered a combination of the two.


Cathie is an artist who also teaches Painting Classes, and she has created an entire series of bold and colorful canvas beach paintings and portraits that she sells in her Etsy Shop (click images).


For her process, Cathie explains, she takes a vintage photograph, hand paints the figure, then cuts and collages it onto a hand painted canvas board. After that layers of paint are added on top of the collage to give it an impressionistic feel, and the entire surface is then coated with varnish to seal and protect it.


Cathie also makes cool sets of art blocks which you can arrange and/or stack any way you want. Fun! And for a little bit of Cathie's family background, check out my feature on Daily Vitamin Sea: A Family of Beach Lovers, Vintage Beach Photographs & Beach Paintings.

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