Robert Jones's Blog, page 19
August 10, 2015
Mythology on Canvas (Part 2)
The first paintings I would like to feature in this series are by John William Waterhouse. The first is simply titled A Naiad and was completed in 1893. It is only if one is familiar with what a Naiad is that the composition of this painting takes on its full power. Naiads were typically female … Continue reading Mythology on Canvas (Part 2) →
August 3, 2015
Mythology on Canvas (Part 1)
For my next several posts, I will discuss my impressions of individual paintings by the Pre-Raphaelites of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This group includes artists such as Edward Burne-Jones, Herbert James Spencer, John William Waterhouse, and Evelyn DeMorgan. These individuals are often noted for their realism, and they have sometimes been criticized … Continue reading Mythology on Canvas (Part 1) →
July 27, 2015
The Dogwood Legacy
Please bear with me for just this one post while I indulge in some shameless self-promotion (something, incidentally, with which I am uncomfortable) by giving a brief overview of a trilogy I have written. It is The Dogwood Legacy, and it has been available on Amazon and Kindle since late May of this year. The … Continue reading The Dogwood Legacy →
July 20, 2015
Doug Jones: Man of Mythology
Doug Jones is one of the top creature actors in the motion picture industry, and he is also my youngest brother. I am proud of him, and I have no qualms about continuing the nepotism I began in last week’s post where I wrote about the work of my son-in-law. Doug began perfecting his technique long … Continue reading Doug Jones: Man of Mythology →
July 13, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 7)
Okay, so I lied in my last post, or at least I was mistaken. I decided to go one more week on the topic of animated mythology. Those following my blog might be a little surprised by this next and final selection for the series. Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast from DisneyToon Studios … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 7) →
July 6, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 6)
For my last installment on this topic, I will conclude with the animation which is, for me, perhaps the most compelling. The Secret of Kells by Tomm Moore is an interesting mix of history, cultural conflict, and spirituality, and its visual approach alone expresses these themes without words. The plot receives additional dimension by the … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 6) →
June 29, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 5)
Another animator who has captured my attention is Tomm Moore. His work was recommended to me by my youngest daughter, Heather Irene Jones, who is a professional artist, living in Brooklyn, New York. This week, I will comment on Song of the Sea, his tale of a selkie and her role in restoring her family … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 5) →
June 22, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 4)
Another animation from Studio Ghibli that I would like to feature is The Tale of the Princess Kaguya by Isao Takahata. This is a reasonably faithful adaptation a real Japanese folktale titled The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The artwork is wonderfully impressionistic and very emotional in tone. Okay, my wife didn’t like it that … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 4) →
June 15, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 3)
So I might as well get my confession over with. I’m a fan of Hayao Miyazaki, and he is one of the sources I go to when I need to recharge my creative battery. I could go overboard writing about his body of work. Instead, I will mention one more of his animated features before … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 3) →
June 8, 2015
Animated Mythology (Part 2)
Hayao Miyazaki is not only a brilliant animator but also an ingenius creator of new mythologies. Many of his animated features exhibit wonderful imagination and originality in this regard. A common device which he uses very effectively is anachronism, the combining of elements from different periods of history and prehistory. Take, for example, Ponyo from … Continue reading Animated Mythology (Part 2) →
