Cape Cod Crusader

The art of Ned Sonntag captures a unique energy and mystery within each fine detail while a story is told. It can be fun, whimsical, and sexy as in the illustrations of Betty Boop, one which she rides a seven headed flesh red dragon while sipping a cosmo in Dante's Inferno (my favorite) or the controversial and moody War of Winds depicting an angry Poseidon who wages his pitchfork at the raging seas,  while bug eyed Cape residents flee toppling shacks, clutching to dolphins, lobsters and babies. 

How exciting to see myself as a tooning sleuth adorned in canary yellow as a femme version, of Dick Tracy as captured in the Cape Cod Crusader poster. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, well my wish is that Ned's illustration will speak to you in ways my blogs cannot. It was created as an instrument of information and reflection, not one of malice or ridicule. 

Ned and I met at a business art class through the Lower Cape Cod Development Corporation, several years ago.   http://www.lowercape.org/pages/about_us/success_stories/ I can still remember Ned walking in the door at the Orleans Inn,  in his uniquely stylish hipster attire topped with a hat from Panama Jack.  I was taken by this curious fellow and thought, "Wow, who is this guy! So there is a time warp art culture on Cape Cod, after all!" 

Thanks to Ned, I've been reacquainted with the world of art once more.

My one acrylic art class of broken chairs, and a Cape beach landscape was my very first romance of capturing a desired imagine and laying it onto canvas. But it was the study of the German expressionists at Tufts that took me by hurricane.  Gustav Klimt's, "The Kiss", one of my favorites and Oscar Kokoschka's, "The Temptest", another.

When you gaze at a masterpiece, what do you see? For me, art is a world of its own time and space. It can be obvious, or can be hidden in the layers of its maze. Have you ever felt the energy from art?

Ned is one talented man and I'm happy to call him my friend. He has done several illustrations for me that can be viewed at The Studio on Slough Road in Brewster, owned and operated by the great artist herself, fellow bloggette and hostess extraordinaire, Kathleen Sidwell.

The evening was enchanting, as we sipped wine and nibbled hor’ dourves, shared our interests with friends and fellow artists. It was a perfect evening full of stories and laughter. I was happy to meet Ned's friends and  Rob and Tracey Logan who's work is also at the studio. They have a connection to one of my favorite spots, Red Bones in Davis Square, Somerville, where the larger than life surfers wave, as seen behind the band above will soon be on display.

We brainstormed and discussed the possibilities of Ned's illustrations venturing over the bridge to a local coffee shop where others can enjoy his zany one of a kind drawings. Those of us, who know Ned, realize there is no one else like him, or his work. He is a treasure to Cape Cod and his work is a fantasy worth experiencing.

Make an appointment at the studio before Sept. 30th to see Ned and Rob and Tracey's originals.  Sending a big hug to Ned and Kathleen for a memorable evening of warm smiles and "busting out of the frame" spectacular art! 

Kathleen Sidwell

Art vs. Life Blog

http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/ArtLife

Works of Ned Sonntag

http://www.sonntag.hipsterfag.com/

Works of Rob and Tracey Logan

http://www.quanya.com/samples.html