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 Thursday, May 06, 2010
Rudolf Stussi at the Blue Dot Gallery
Raking Light (oil, 40x50) by Rudolf Stussi
If I lived anywhere near Toronto, I'd drive straight to the Blue Dot Gallery
to see Rudolf Stussi's one-man show, opening today and on display until
May 15. Actually, as Stussi well knows, I couldn't drive straight to Toronto. Our world, including our roads, is much too curvaceous to allow a straight drive.
Curves are what Stussi brings out—and downright celebrates—with his "fifth" or "perverse" perspective. Take a look at Raking Light,
above, and note how the horizontals rise and fall, how the verticals
"bend and bob like fishing line in a swell." In Stussi's world, even
inanimate objects are dynamic, fluid, arbitrary. They radiate energy.
And if there's an underlying music to the universe, one can well
imagine the elements of Stussi's world swaying to the beat.
Okay, I'm a fan. I became acquainted with Stussi's artwork when I edited his feature "The Fifth Perspective" for the June issue of The Artist's Magazine. So if you just can't make it to Toronto, do these next best things. Check out Stussi's online gallery on The Artist's Magazine's website. And read all about the fifth perspective in our June issue, available at www.NorthLightShop.com.
Click here for the print issue of The Artist's Magazine, June 2010.
Click here for the digital issue of The Artist's Magazine, June 2010.
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | Notable Artists
Thursday, May 06, 2010 5:14:40 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Tip file: Still life perspective
First View of Florence (oil, 24x30) by Jonathan Queen
From artist Jonathan Queen, featured in the March 2009 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
"[Jonathan] Queen uses classical techniques to compose his paintings. He first looks through a sliding viewfinder to determine the best composition. After setting up the still life, he places a plumb line through the center of it. He ensures his perspective does not change between painting sessions by marking where the line overlaps the objects, taping off the position of his chair on the floor, and always keeping the chair the same height."
Read the entire article "Toy Tableaux," a feature on artist Jonathan Queen by Tamera Lenz Muente in the March 2009 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
Click here for the print issue of The Artist's Magazine, March 2009.
Click here for the digital issue of The Artist's Magazine, March 2009.
MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV
• Online seminars for fine artists
By Holly Davis | Notable Artists | Tips
Thursday, April 15, 2010 3:50:18 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, April 08, 2010
Tip file: Plein air sketch vs. camera
From Jeremy Lipking, feature artist in the November 2008 issue of The Artist's Magazine.
"Mountain Stream (below; oil, 6x8) is one of my small plein air works.
While painting it, the shadows were changing quickly, so I just tried
to record what I saw as fast as I could. Why not take a photograph?
That wouldn’t capture the grass blowing in the wind or the movement of
the water. Why not take a high-definition video? Neither videos nor
photos would convey what I felt when I sat before my easel for a couple
of hours on this quiet river bank. This image will be in my mental
rolodex forever, accompanied with the memory of mosquitoes buzzing in
my ear and the sun burning the back of my neck."
Learn more:
By Holly Davis | Notable Artists | Tips
Thursday, April 08, 2010 8:00:52 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, April 01, 2010
Tip file: Edges of cast shadows
From Jane Jones in the May 2008 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
"Your reference material may show hard edges all the way around a shadow's perimeter, but that shadow will be more believable if you soften those edges. I recommend three edge transitions from hard to soft, but if the shadow is very large or long, you might want more than three."
Circle of Life (oil, 24x15) by Jane Jones
Read the entire article, "Shadowy Secrets," by Jane Jones in the May 2008 issue of The Artist's Magazine, available in print and as a digital download.
By Holly Davis | Tips
Thursday, April 01, 2010 3:25:33 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Tip file: Design trumps subject
From Ian Roberts in the September 2009 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
"You're not really painting the world 'out there.' You're painting a design that you impose on the world. Without that design concept, you can get caught up cataloging what's in front of you. ... Begin your painting with a design idea firmly in mind. Then you have a road map—a good idea of where you're going and, just as important, an indicator of when you've arrived."
"Tuscan scenery, the subject depicted in Road to Asciano (above; oil, 36x36) is undeniably beautiful," explains Ian Roberts of his work, "but the effectiveness of the painting arises from an asymmetrical design, strong shapes and masses, and dramatic value contrasts."
Read the entire article, Design Rules!, by Ian Roberts in the September 2009 issue of The Artist's Magazine, available in print and as a digital download.
Also by Ian Roberts: Mastering Composition
By Holly Davis | North Light Books | Tips
Friday, March 26, 2010 4:13:23 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tip file: Relationship of size and distance in perspective
From Anthony Waichulis, in the April 2009 issue of The Artist's Magazine:
To get a good idea of how quickly size diminishes with distance, gather a small piece of acrylic glass (or other safe, clear material) and a marker. Place two identical objects at a fair distance apart. Looking through the acrylic at the objects, mark the width or length of each of them on the clear surface and note the size difference. Do this at several varying distances will help you understand how quickly receding objects will "shrink."
Give your work the illusion of spatial depth. Anthony Waichulis explains five simple effects of perspective in the April 2009 issue, available in print and as a digital download.
Learn more:
By Holly Davis | Tips
Thursday, March 18, 2010 9:47:32 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
2010 Online Competition Winners
The results are in for The Artist's Magazine's 2010 All-Media Online Competition! Congratulatons to Adam Miller, who won the grand prize with his painting Role Play (below; oil, 24x18).
And congratulations to all the first-place winners and honorable mentions in each of the medium categories. Click here to check out this stunning group of artwork.
MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | News | Notable Artists
Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:13:05 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
International Scratchboard Show
 Rarely, perhaps never before now, does one have the opportunity to view in person the work of 25 international artists in a show exclusively featuring scratchboard works. Scratching the Surface is running now until March 26 at the Dean Johnson Gallery in Indianapolis, Indiana. Members of the WetCanvas scratchboard art forum helped bring the show together, with works submitted from the United States, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. Worth a visit, I’d say, but if you just can’t make it to Indianapolis this month, check out the pics on the WetCanvas scratchboard forum.
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | News | Shows and Events
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:28:21 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Go Figure!
If you think you don't have time for the drawing-a-day regimen, check out Kyle T. Webster's blog, www.TheDailyFigure.com. Webster says that his "figurative doodles" are "meant to inspire people to loosen up and appreciate the beauty that is possible with a few well chosen strokes of a brush or pen." 'Nuf said—I'm off to grab a pen.    left to right: Thursday (August 21, 2008) The Weight of Wednesday (September 17, 2008) Friday Fun (August 29, 2008)
By Holly Davis | Cool Web sites
Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:09:09 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, September 19, 2008
Looks Punny
 Shoe Horns (ball point pen) by Donald Stewart Donald Stewart, trained surgeon who gave up the medical profession
because he preferred art over scalpels for helping people feel better, dropped
us a line at The Artist's Magazine the other day to let us know about his interview with his local Fox affiliate. Do watch it—it'll only take a few minutes and you'll come away smiling and—feeling better.
That's what happened to me, anyway. Stewart creates what he calls composite
drawings—renderings of objects made up of other objects. Some works, like
Shoe Horns (above), are single visual puns, and some pile one
visual pun on top of another so thickly that Stewart provides a list of
"ingredients," for those who want to be sure they don't miss anything.
I was so intrigued, I did a some deep investigating (at least 10 minutes worth) and discovered that The Artist's Magazine ran a piece on Stewart in our column, The Artist's Life,
back in January 1988. Sorry, that issue isn't available for sale
anymore, but all you longtime loyal subscribers can look it up. (You knew there was a reason you kept those old issues!)
If your old issues don't go back that far (or even if they do) you can see more of Stewart's art on his website at www.dsart.com.
By Holly Davis | Cool Web sites | Notable Artists | Videos
Friday, September 19, 2008 9:06:41 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sharon Sprung: Solo Show
 Judging from the enthusiastic response we've had to our April cover artist, Sharon Sprung, those of you who live in the New York City area will want to be sure to catch her solo show at Gallery Henoch, starting today, Thursday, September 11.  Can't make the show? Then visit her website. Better yet, get some personal instruction from her video workshops, Understanding Values in Skin Tones with Sharon Sprung and Painting Facial Features with Sharon Sprung, produced for ArtistsNetwork.TV at top: Harlequin (oil on panel, 36x50) at right: Bowls (oil on panel, 34x36) Photos courtesy of Sharon Sprung
By Holly Davis | Notable Artists | Shows and Events
Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:25:14 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, September 04, 2008
23 Tons and Whadya Get?
 … a place to rest the body and the eyes. Sculptor S. Gallina Simpson has just begun carving The Stones at Atlas Park, three sculpted limestone benches at The Shops of Atlas Park in Glendale, New York. She plans to hammer, chisel, saw, sand and grind seven days a week until the project is complete in late September. (My arms ache just thinking about it.) Although now in their permanent home, the 23 tons of limestone that will make up the benches/sculptures are remarkably well traveled, having been quarried a year ago in Bloomington, Indiana, and then shipped to a sculpture fabricator in New Jersey. After having the blocks hewed to the necessary basic shapes, Simpson further shaped the stones with handheld tools. Simpson will allow final design details to evolve during her carving, as nearby architecture, landscape, history and the play of light and shadow weigh in their influences.  If you live in the Glendale area, you can stop by periodically this month to see the sculpted benches taking shape. Otherwise, I’d suggest visiting Simpson’s website to see a slide show of her Atlas Park sculpture plus pictures of her previous work—both benches and figurative pieces. Photos used by permission; at top: aerial view of blocks at right: sculptor S. Gallina Simpson carving with a cutsaw
By Holly Davis | News | Notable Artists
Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:55:07 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, August 29, 2008
The Race Goes On
 The China Olympics are over, but sports themselves seem to be as old as civilization—or the human race, if you’ll pardon the pun. I’m fascinated by the series of works by Australian aboriginal artist, Wingla Dada (also known as Brian Fisher), depicting the legend-based origins of various sports. In The Origin of Swimming (above), the Rainbow Serpent is seen carving out the canals that became rivers and streams. In the center is an early aboriginal swimmer, attempting to imitate the superior swimming technique of fish. I recommend taking a look at Wingla Dada’s entire series, An Aboriginal Version of the Olympic Games and reading about the legends behind the works. And if you like that series, you’ll also want to check out the artist's Dreamtime series.
By Holly Davis | Notable Artists
Friday, August 29, 2008 4:41:12 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, August 22, 2008
Just the Facts—on Artists
Ever wonder how many working artists there are in the United States? Answer: Almost two million (as of 2005). That number includes all types of artists—painters, designers, writers, dancers, etc. If you’re only talking about people like fine artists, art directors and animators, the number slips to about 217,000—still a hefty representation. Ever wonder how much money the average artist earns in a year? Or what percentage of artists are male or female or members of a minority? Or what the average level of education is for artists? Ever wonder what city boasts the highest number of artists? (Hint: If you’re talking about fine artists, art directors and animators, the answer isn’t New York— nor Los Angeles.) You can find answers to all these questions and more in the newly released report, Artists in the Workforce: 1990-2005, created by the National Endowment for the Arts. Download a free PDF of this surprisingly readable and easy-to-navigate 148-page report (or the eight-page summary) and get the facts—on artists.
By Holly Davis | Downloads | Free Stuff
Friday, August 22, 2008 3:57:21 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
See the Light
 “Leave a light in the window” has taken on a whole new scope of meaning at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, since last Friday. That’s the day artist James Turrell’s permanent installation of a light show first lit up Palm House, the conservatory’s Victorian-style greenhouse. Seven thousand inconspicuously strung, low-voltage, light-emitting (LED) bulbs now emit a glowing display of changing jewel-like hues from dusk-to-dawn. Click here for the Columbus Dispatch article about the Palm House installation. Turrell, the artistic mastermind of the Palm House installation, is no neophyte when it comes to light shows, having put on 140 solo exhibitions worldwide since 1967—utilizing many types of artificial light, including neon, fiber optics, fluorescents and lasers. He’s best known for his 35-year project at the Roden Crater, a natural cinder volcano in Arizona’s Painted Desert. Click here for a PBS biography of Turrell plus multimedia links about his work.   Photography © Brad Feinknopf 2008
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | Notable Artists
Thursday, August 14, 2008 11:19:24 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Watercolorist Paul Jackson competes in China
 Watercolorist Paul Jackson is "Team America" in The International Watercolor Masters Invitational Exhibition at Lu Mountain in China, billed as featuring the "top 20 watercolorists from around the world." Not only is he one of a mere three Americans invited (and the only one to make the trip) but also, tonight he addresses 2000 Chinese and 20 international artists at the opening dinner. To the left is The Cardinal (National Cathedral in Washington D.C.)—one of the three architectural paintings Jackson will have on view during the exhibition. And Jackson will be creating more art as he competes in a sort of plein air paint-off with acclaimed Chinese watercolorists. Some of the resulting artwork will be donated to help those affected by earthquakes in southwest China. Wish you were there? Check out Jackson's travel blog at www.pauljackson.com/blog/. Want to see more of Jackson's work? Go to his website (www.pauljackson.com) and check out his feature article in the April 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist.
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | Notable Artists
Friday, August 08, 2008 5:50:59 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Save Your Junk Mail!
Those flyers, print ads, greeting cards and postcards are valuable art materials! At least they are in the hands of S.A. Schimmel Gold, who cuts them into bits and pieces for her mosaic portraits. Why use paper? As she puts it, “ink colors are far more diverse than glass or tile.”   Metallic Venus (18x24) and detail, by S.A. Schimmel Gold Turning Leaf by S.A. Schimmel GoldTo be wowed by more of Schimmel Gold’s work, visit her website at http://schimmelart.com/index.htm. Most of Schimmel Gold’s portraits have a decidedly contemporary glam about them, yet the basic method of assembling tiny pieces of color to create a picture dates back 4000 years. To see mosaics of every age and style (plus learn just about everything there is to know about the art) take a cyberspace stroll through www.thejoyofshards.co.uk. Thinking about mosaics sent me on a nostalgic journey recalling other mosaics I’ve encountered (including the candy dish my sister made in early school years). Suddenly I remembered the mosaic on the outside front wall of the church I attended through much of my childhood. The church is on Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Have any of you ever seen the mosaic? Let me know—or tell me about another mosaic that’s special to you.
By Holly Davis | Cool Web sites | Notable Artists
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:17:52 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hey, Elvis! Statue?
Another Elvis sighting, folks. This time in a 1800-year-old marble carving owned by Australian antiquities collector, Graham Geddes. The resemblance of this piece to the 1950's King of Rock is startling, and this October you have a chance to make it your own (for a pretty price) at a Bonhams auction. Or you could settle for taking a look here.
By Holly Davis | News | Shows and Events
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:38:09 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, July 17, 2008
Shape and Space
If you’ve ever driven a companion (or yourself) crazy by pacing back and forth and all around to get the best camera or easel angle for a landscape, you’ll appreciate this exercise I found about shape and space. Here’s the idea: Imagine traveling in a large circle and taking four photographs along the way. After developing the photos, you get them out of order. Could you put them back in sequence on the basis of the spatial relationship of the structures you had passed? Okay, now that you have the idea, check out “I Took a Trip on a Train” and see how you do. (Go to http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/geometry/space/train/index.html.)
By Holly Davis | Cool Web sites
Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:59:45 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Name that painting
Think you know your artists and their paintings? Artists Network forum member Terry (user name tstone) came up with this link to a great interactive Web game that tests your ability to match artists with their paintings. The game takes a minute or two to load, so be patient. Once you’re in, the game moves as quickly (or slowly) as you want. What’s more, it’s addictive. One of about 150 paintings appears on your monitor, and you choose which of the 75 or so listed artists created the work. If you get the correct artist, you get to choose the correct painting title. Then on to the next painting. This beats solitaire any day. Try it and let me know what you think.
By Holly Davis | Cool Web sites | Downloads
Thursday, July 10, 2008 8:20:29 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, July 03, 2008
Portrait Artist with a Heart
Can artists use their skills to make the world a kinder place? Portrait artist Kaziah Hancock has found a way. With her paintings, she reaches out in sympathy and love to those who have suffered one of the greatest losses possible—the death of an adult child. Using a photo reference, she paints portraits of fallen troops and sends them to the surviving parents as a gift. You can view an inspiring video about Kaziah and her work at http://www.militarytimes.com/hancock“Kaziah figured out years ago that an artist can do little to stop a war. Her gift would be a deliverance to the people left to battle at home.” –from the video
By Holly Davis | Notable Artists | Videos
Thursday, July 03, 2008 5:02:32 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, May 02, 2008
A Michelangelo's-eye view of the Sistine Chapel
 Note from Grace: This is our associate editor Holly's first post on the blog, so give her a round of applause!My fascination with Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling goes way back. I remember hearing an elementary school classmate speak of the pope's impatience with the painter to complete his masterpiece, and I envisioned the Pope rushing into the chapel and shouting up to Michelangelo, "Aren't you done yet?! How much longer?" When I heard that Michelangelo lay on his back while painting the ceiling frescoes, I imagined paint drips on his face and sore arms. The myths and methods concerning the chapel ceiling have meant as much to me, sometimes more, as the frescoes themselves. That's why I'm enthralled with the exhibition " Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard," which just happens to correspond with the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling (not to mention the building of Saint Peter's Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard). Oh, the relics, papal rings and jewels, tiaras, embroidered silk vestments, swords, armor, mosaics, sculptures and paintings are appealing—and works by Bernini, Giotto and Guercino certainly command a draw—but what really grabs me is the recreated environment of the scaffolding near the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Imagine getting a Michelangelo's-eye view of the ceiling frescoes (or copies thereof). Check out " Vatican Spendors" for yourself at one of its three US venues: • Through May 11 Florida International MuseumSt. Petersburg, Florida • May 31-Sept. 7 The Western Reserve Historical SocietyCleveland, Ohio • Opening Sept. 27 Minnesota History CenterSt. Paul, Minnesota Photo credit: Evergreen Exhibitions
By Holly Davis | Exhibits | Notable Artists
Friday, May 02, 2008 9:23:31 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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