Steven Kenny has recently published a book of his beautiful paintings entitled Soul Flight, which is now available (signed by the artist) from his personal website.

Steven combines Realism, Surrealism & Symbolism to convey his understanding of the universal language of nature. He masterfully merges the human figure, plants, animals and all other forms of matter and symbolically alludes to the dynamics of human nature.

I'm about to order a copy of his book now. To the right of this post is my favorite oil painting by Steven: The Esoteric.

Steven Kenny is also one of 50 Artists featured in our first publication: Metamorphosis. 

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Since I mentioned the Czech surrealist animator Jan Švankmajer in my last post It makes sense to introduce his work properly with one of my favorite animated short films: tma/svetlo/tma (Darkness, Light, Darkness). Švankmajer has gained a legendary reputation over several decades for his distinctive use of stop-motion technique, and his ability to make surreal, nightmarish and yet somehow funny pictures. He is still making films in Prague to this day. His movies utilise exaggerated sounds & sped-up sequences and often involve inanimate objects being brought to life through stop-motion to perform perverse and often violent acts. While many of Jan Švankmajer's films depict destructive aspects of the human psyche, 'Darkness, Light, Darkness' is a depiction of Man building himself.

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I discovered Bruce Bickford's psychedelic clay animation a few years ago on the Frank Zappa movie 'Baby Snakes' and have been addicted to his work to this day. Bruce Bickford is an under rated (and relatively unknown) Visionary Artist. I was overwhelmed with excitement when I heard that a documentary had been made on the man himself. I ordered it online as soon as I heard 'Monster Road' was available and was not disapointed. Monster Road not only documents the life of an artist who I believe is one of the greatest living Clay animators (who's name I would only utter in the same sentence with greats like Jan Svankmajer), but it is also a fine cinematic masterpiece itself (winner of many awards inc. Slamdance Film Festival Best Documentary Jury Prize 2004). I strongly recomend Monster Road to all Stop animation and Documentary enthusiasts alike. Anyway, enough of my subjective rambling, please check out the YouTube trailer in the top right hand side of this post and see for yourself.

Here is an exerpt from an article on Bickford (sourced from the brighteyepictures website)

Bickford’s films can transport us back to a state of early childhood, where everything is new, and where we are suspended in a state of amused awe. A blade of grass, a tree, a sword, an eerily smiling face are all wonders of great mystery in this state. Things appear and disappear, and events happen inexplicably. Danger and splendor are both just around the corner. Everything is at once beautiful and frightening.

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