Roberto Benavidez’s Art-Historical Piñatas Are Beyond Cool

What could possibly make piñatas even more fun? According to artist Roberto Benavidez, creating piñatas that reference art historical works. Benavidez, a Los-Angeles-based artist, started work on his Piñatas of Earthly Delights series in 2013. Each piñata in the series references a creature … Continued

5 Artists’ Gardens That Are Still Thriving Today

Ahh, springtime…when the world is fresh and blooming, and there’s nothing else quite like it! Many artists, we’re sure, have felt the same way, especially when they’re painting en plein air or from life. After spotting an article in Sunset mentioning Frida … Continued

Explore Whimsy, Warts, & More at Toadtopia, the Crocker’s Latest Art Spot

Has your little one dreamed of hopping along an enchanted forest floor, or shrinking down to the size of a fairy or forest creature? If so, you’re in luck: the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento’s latest Art Spot is made … Continued

Take A Look at These Strange, Art Historical Holiday Cards

Sending holiday cards is, for many people, a time-honored tradition that warms the heart and lets friends and family both near and far know you’re thinking of them. It’s also a great way to keep in touch and show those … Continued

Dog Days of Summer: 5 Paintings Featuring Pups!

What are the dog days of summer? Generally speaking, they’re the hottest days of the season. But here at the Art Docent Program, we’re taking that phrase to a whole new level today, and choosing to celebrate a few paintings … Continued

Exploring Color in Matisse’s Artwork

With his vivid hues and bold brushstrokes, Henri Matisse’s artwork seems especially enjoyable in the summer. Not that any artist’s work can be nailed down to one season, but it’s something about bright colors in particular that can bring to … Continued

This Larger-Than-Life Balloon Art by Huge is a Fun Optical Illusion

It’s graduation season, which means celebrations are in order. However, any well-picked graduation balloons pale in comparison to the gigantic pieces created by street artist Huge. At first blush, Huge’s spray paintings don’t even look like paint. They’re so lifelike … Continued

Our Blogger’s Favorite Works at SFMOMA

We can hardly believe that it’s been two years since SFMOMA reopened its doors after a several-year expansion. And with that in mind, we figured it was high time we stopped by. The museum houses tons of works, many by … Continued

#FancyFriday: Fancy Fabrics in Hals’ Portrait of Catharina Hooft

We’re bringing back an oldie but a goodie this Friday with a #FancyFriday themed post! In these posts, we look at portraits that are undeniably fancy in order to see what they have to say about their subject, their artist, … Continued

Exploring Laguna Beach’s Festival of the Arts

We’ve explored the Pageant of the Masters here at the Art Docent Program blog, but we’ve never dove into its sister event, the Festival of the Arts. The two events occur at the same complex in Laguna Beach, with the … Continued