Here's what's currently shown as the number one search result for "Chicago painting" on Google Images.
"The Bean...Chicago Painting" Karen Margulis
7 in X 5 in (17.8 cm X 12.7 cm), dry pastel
$95 USD
Firstly, I have to say that calling a dry pastel drawing a "painting" is quite a stretch. Though I've fallen victim to using the term "painting" for my oil pastel drawings. I have to say that oil pastels do have more paint-like qualities when compared to dry pastel. But I really shouldn't talk. While in high school, I tried convincing my art teacher that I should be able to submit a marker drawing for a painting class assignment. I still argue that I used the markers in a very painterly fashion. So I'll give Karen a pass on this one.
My whole point is that it's kinda cool that you can buy the #1 Google Image for "chicago painting" for $95. I only wish it was larger to really give a sense of scale for Cloudgate (aka The Chicago Bean). 5x7 is quite small. But speaking in terms of the industry, $95 for a quality drawing/painting is a great deal. Then again, interpreting the Bean in a 5x7 surface gives the Bean a more natural comparison to being a bean (lower-case "b") while at the same time distinguishing the scale of human form to Bean (upper case "B").
I've never been a big fan of dry pastel drawings. Artists of this medium generally tend to obsess over being detail-nazis or color freaks. Karen avoids falling victim to this plague here. The color palette is crisp and simple. The soft textures on the Bean are enough to give definition while also providing a somewhat organic feel to this great icon.
My favorite part of this painting is the interaction of the Bean with the background. The soft haze in the skyline doesn't exactly contrast the Bean. It uses the same color palette and both are relatively soft even if the background is much softer. It's an analogous relationship resulting in a inquisitive dynamism.
I can understand the desire to not confuse people by calling it a painting when no actual paints were used to create it. However, it needs to be described as something.
Would one call this a sketch, a drawing, or maybe just a piece, or work of art?
I don't really have any strong feelings one way or the other, but I am curious.
Posted by: Mark R on Jun 22, 09 | 10:11 am
When you make the option for size be "extra-large" the results are EXTREMELY disappointing.
@Spudart, google's search results seems to be a bit organic at times. When I first came across this pastel drawing, it was number one in my search results. Then right after I wrote the post (maybe an hour later), it was second. I checked it just now and it's back to first.
specifying extra-large is sad. Lots of face painting, room painting and snapshot-like photos.
@Unlikelymoose: Google also customizes their results based on what you have clicked on in the past with Google.
I imagine the extra-large results are bad, because most artists don't put extra-large images of their work online, so people don't steal them. Part of me wants to post extra-large images of Chicago to see what happens in Google images. But then I don't think many people search google imges for chicago painting AND select extra-large images.
