Fast Facts:
* Modern/Contemporary Art with natural feel
* Benefits a variety of charities. 
Photo credit - saatchi-gallery.co.uk, atelier estee *
Photo credit - saatchi-gallery.co.uk, atelier estee * Personally, I am not a large fan of modern art. I find collections that depict nothing but stripes uninspiring and I fail to see the point of one splatter of paint across a blank canvas. These images do not speak to me. Unfortunately, as an artist, I have my preferences, and they usually don't include contemporary or modern-style art. There are, of course, exceptions. One of these exceptions happens to be the Atelier Estee * Collection online at the Saatchi Gallery (http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile//92621.html).
I came across this artist by pure chance. The paintings shown have a variety of range and color. For the most part they seem to juxtapose the fluidity of splatter paint and the rigidness of modern art shapes. There is a rawness in this work that is missing from even some of the master painters.
One of my favorite paintings available in the online collection is 'Chaos Theory, two.' If you read the description it says it was layered multiple times with objects such as leaves, coins, and even a grapefruit. It was partially inspired by Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains." I liked this piece just by looking at it, mostly because although very modern it has a natural softness to it that is very beautiful. I liked the fact that the artist included their inspiration and medium in the description because oftentimes artists fail to do so. It was refreshing to see a peace that was inspired by a work of literature that could also be interpreted by anyone viewing it.
What touched me the most about this gallery, and the primary reason it is in a blog entry, is that 50% of all proceeds got to charity. These charities include Autism Speaks, American Red Cross Disaster Relief, Hinds Hospice Angel Babies, Mercy Corps, World Vision, One Percent For The Planet, and Native Energy Wind Farms.
For those who cannot afford an actual one-of-a-kind painting, many of the selections are available in digital prints. This is a wonderful cause and an excellent demonstration of artful charity.
