David Hockney

David Hockney was born in Bradford, England, on July 9, 1937. He loved books and was interested in art from an early age, admiring Picasso, Matisse and Fragonard.

In 1959, he entered graduate school at the Royal College of Art in London alongside other young artists such as Peter Blake and Allen Jones, and he experimented with different forms, including abstract expressionism. He did well as a student, and his paintings won prizes and were purchased for private collections. In 1963 he visited Los Angeles. He officially moved there in 1966.

His expressionistic style evolved, and by the 1970s, he was considered more of a realist.

While working on a painting of a Los Angeles living room, he took a series of photos for his own reference, and fixed them together so he could paint from the image. When he finished, however, he recognized the collage as an art form unto itself, and began to create more.

He also began incorporating technology in his art, creating his first homemade prints on a photocopier in 1986.

Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time. He continues to paint and exhibit, and advocates for funding for the arts.

Red Pots In The Garden, 2000

Bigger Trees Nearer Warter, Winter 2007

Merced River,Yosemite Valley, Sept. 1982

Madame Tussauds

London

There are so many museums around the world. People go to museums to study history or simply enjoy the beautiful works of art. I have visited not many museums and usually I felt bored there. But I would gladly visited the British Museum or the Louvre.

And now I want to tell you about Madame Tussauds.

Madam Tussaud's is the most popular and talked about wax museum in the world. Today's wax figures at Tussauds include historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars and famous murderers.

Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monro, Michael Jackson, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin, the British Royal family, Bill Clinton, Jack the Ripper ... There is no other place where you can see all the celebrities at once, even if they are only wax figures. 

The museum is situated in Marylebone Road, not far from the street which is famous as the home of the first great detective in fiction, Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

There are several halls at Madam Tussaud's. Highlights include the Grand Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and "The Spirit of London" exhibition.

The wax figures are standing and sitting, and sometimes even moving and talking. It is are extremely realistic. 

Of course, this museum is not only in London but also in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Berlin, Blackpool, Dubai, Hamburg, Hollywood, Hong Kong, Hot Springs, AR, Las Vegas, Manchester, Moscow, New York City, Shanghai, Vienna and Washington.

So maybe when I grow up I will be able to visit this museum.