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 Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Develop film using coffee and vitamin C
 No, seriously. The blog Photojojo explains in great detail how you can develop black-and-white film using instant coffee and vitamin C powder to create a MacGyver-style photo studio. The results are grainy and artsy—isn't that what you were going for? There's even a home-developer group on Flickr where you can see other people's results. Learn more:
By Grace Dobush | Photography | Projects
4/14/2009 10:31:53 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Monday, April 13, 2009
The Quang Ho Show
Blue Monday by Thomas William Jones. Below right, Yellow Tulips and Daffodils (oil, 30x24) by Laura Robb.If you live in the Denver area and paint or collect art, you've heard the name Quang Ho. The respected teacher and painter extraordinaire seems to be one of those people whom everyone knows or claims few degrees of separation from.  Well now Ho, the master artist (and everyone's BFF), has assembled a blockbuster show that features 50 of the top representational artists in America with styles ranging from traditional to highly expressive. Art America 2009 is on view April 24-26 at Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art in Tuscaloosa, AL, a hidden gem of a museum with works by John Singer Sargent, Albert Bierstadt, and Winslow Homer. But Ho's hand-picked A-list spotlights living legends such as Burton Silverman, Kevin Macpherson, Laura Robb, Thomas William Jones, Richard Schmid, Clyde Aspevig, C.W. Mundy, Dan Gerhartz, and David Leffel. Tuscaloosa may not be the first city that springs to mind as an art destination, but Quang Ho hopes to bring some attention to the museum, which is home to the collection of Jack Warner, who has been quietly amassing what's considered one of the world's largest cache of historical American art. —Bonnie Gangelhoff
Dispatches from the West | Notable Artists | Shows and Events
4/13/2009 10:32:43 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, April 10, 2009
Kevin Macpherson at Middletown Art Center
In recent years, many artist-poets (such as David Lehman) and painters (such as Duane Keiser) alike—have taken a stab at writing or painting every day and collecting the unpredictable and often stunning results in either a book or an exhibition. Several years ago The Artist's Magazine's contributing editor Kevin Macpherson resolved to paint the landscape outside his home in Taos, NM, every day for a year; the 368 paintings that followed have never been exhibited east of the Mississippi until now. From May 15 to June 15, the Middletown (Ohio) Arts Center will host "Reflections on a Pond," a show of Macpherson's expressive, painting-a-day landscapes. Adding to the excitement of the show will be a series of events that include a Children's Paint-Out (May 12) and a concert by the Middletown Symphony Orchestra (May 16). Kevin will give a lecture (May 16) and conduct a painting demonstration (May 17). Eric Camper of ArtistsNetwork.TV and I plan to go to
Middletown to see the show and to film an interview with Kevin next month, so stay
tuned. Kevin is the author of the best-selling Landscape Painting Inside & Out and Fill Your Paintings with Light and Color, both from North Light Books. To sign up for the lecture and/or demonstration, download a schedule here. Learn more:
By Maureen Bloomfield | Shows and Events
4/10/2009 10:01:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
Tip file: Getting down to business
From Sally Prince Davis, in the March 1992 issue of The Artist's Magazine: For every hour devoted to painting, set aside an hour for business. Unrealistic? No, because "business" includes stops at the art store, phone calls to a gallery, research trips to new outlets, days spent at booth shows and trips to the printer for new business cards. Business hours don't have to equal painting hours on a daily basis, but you should pay some attention to business every day.
Learn more:
By Grace Dobush | Tips
4/9/2009 10:08:34 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
80 artists at the seder table
Beth Grossman, We were once slaves in Egypt (wood burning on wooden turntable, leather, matzah, gold leaf).
"The suitcase symbolizes the historical baggage that holds both memories of our Exodus and hopes for a better future. Into each suitcase on the seder plate, I have tucked a piece of matzah lettered with a word representing some of the essentials we truly need to carry with us—intelligence, memories, courage, relationships, fertility, and faith."
The traditional seder ceremony centers around a plate that holds food that symbolizes the holiday, one of the most important in the Jewish calendar, which begins tonight. The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco called on artists from around the country to create seder plates in its Dorothy Saxe Invitational. The results range from the utilitarian to the utterly fanciful. The plates are on view through June 2. 
Grace Hawthorne and Phoebe Streblow of ReadyMade magazine, Seder-Made (mixed media).
"ReadyMade magazine borrows Marcel Duchamp's 'Jedi mind trip' of recontextualizing ordinary objects into extraordinary design. In an effort to create familiar and comfortable access points within the context of such a celebrated formal holiday, we constructed a seder plate out of common everyday objects that one could find around home or office."
By Grace Dobush | Exhibits
4/8/2009 9:35:03 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Digital camera buying guide
Occasionally, we get questions from artists wondering what digital camera is best to photograph artwork with. Over at pica + pixel, Ana posted a layman's guide to buying a digital camera that I think will be useful for any non-photographer trying to find the right camera. Here's a quick rundown of her tips: - Photography is both a craft and a tool.
- Start small—physically and/or financially.
- Stick with the big brands.
- Fight the urge to think bigger.
- Do your homework.
- Hold it in your hand.
- Buy from reliable sources.
- Learn how to use it.
Read the full descriptions on pica + pixel.
Advice | By Grace Dobush | Cool Web sites | Photography
4/7/2009 12:18:05 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, April 06, 2009
Edward Hopper Meets T. Boone Pickins
 Above: Wind Engines on Horizon (acrylic, 12x30). Below: Farm House with Wind Engine (acrylic, 24x24)Check out these paintings of wind turbines in California. I think they're pretty cool. A few days ago California artist Melissa Chandon sent them along as examples of her recent work. To me, the images are a great reflection of the evolving American landscape.  About the "new energy" in her art, Chandon says: "Recently, I have been thinking about the opportunities that exist in a changing economy. We have the ability of seeing the possibilities of change in new and creative ways. I think there is a bit of inventor in all of us. As for me, I have started working on a series of paintings exploring the unseen beauty that lies in the addition of alternative energy sources in the landscape. Consider Edward Hopper in conversation with Melissa Chandon." Or T. Boone Pickins. Chandon's got a point. When seen from afar these elegant, kinetic structures resemble giant white birds reminiscent of Alexander Calder's mobiles. In painting this new American scene, Chandon says she is tossing around some questions. For example, what will happen to gas stations when all we need is an electric plug? How will our landscape change visually? What do you think? —Bonnie Gangelhoff
Dispatches from the West | Notable Artists
4/6/2009 9:44:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The Artist's Magazine goes MTV!
PRESS RELEASE NEW YORK—MTV said it is preparing to air "Edit Review," a new reality series conceptualized and produced by The Artist's Magazine editor Maureen Bloomfield. The 10-episode series will follow the lives of staffers at The Artist's Magazine in Cincinnati, Ohio, as they produce an issue of the leading fine art magazine. It's
set to debut April 1, 2010. MTV
described the show as a combination of "The Real World" and "Devil Wears Prada," with a touch of "American Idol" for additional drama.
"Magazines around the country are slashing budgets," Tony DiSanto, head of MTV
programming, said in a statement. "In 'Edit Review,' that financial component will be used to our advantage. Editors who don't meet their budget quotas will be put on the chopping block—we expect the call-in voting to blow 'Idol' out of the water." "We are so excited to get in on the reality TV craze," added Bloomfield, the show's
co-creator and executive producer. "'Edit Review' is sure to join the ranks of great reality shows such as 'Kid Nation' and 'I Love New York.'"
By Grace Dobush | News
4/1/2009 10:05:36 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Santa Fe happenings
 The Rail Runner Express makes it easy to speed between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
A lot is happening in this southwestern art mecca in the coming months. - For the first time, the renowned SOFA (Sculptural Objects & Functional Art) show comes to town June 11-14. The prestigious
 expo, also held in New York and Chicago, features wood, glass, ceramic, metal and fiber art. Eye-popping works by artists like Californian Latchezar Boyadjiev (whose Torso IV is at right) are on view. SOFA WEST is a real coup for the City Different.
- Under construction since 2006, the New Mexico History Museum is finally set to open May 24. Among the presentations are displays on the state's art communities.
- In a show opening May 22, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum features a selection of seldom-seen O'Keeffe works inspired by her travels outside the United States.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff
Dispatches from the West | Exhibits | Notable Artists | Shows and Events
3/30/2009 9:23:09 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, March 27, 2009
See art book previews online
By Grace Dobush | Free Stuff | News
3/27/2009 3:48:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Human graffiti
Some folks I know here in Cincinnati created this piece in which they take downtown by storm in colorful jumpsuits. They call it body tagging; I call it live-action graffiti.
By Grace Dobush | Videos
3/26/2009 1:02:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tip file: Inspiration strikes anywhere
A double-header tip! From Jean Perry in the September 1999 issue of The Artist's Magazine: Keep a notepad in your car. Then, whenever a potential subject catches your eye, make a note of the location, the time of day and the season.
Carry a camera with you to capture more information on any scene that draws your attention.
By Grace Dobush | Tips
3/26/2009 10:08:38 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Crayon rings
By Grace Dobush | Cool Web sites | Random Thoughts
3/25/2009 4:02:31 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Fiber art happenings
The Hyperbolic Coral Reef ProjectLots of tactile art projects coming across my desk lately. Here are some fiber art events in brief! - English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580-1700: 'Twixt Art and Nature: Elegant artifacts. Through April 12. The Bard Graduate Center, New York, NY.
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Present Tense: Embroidery in Contemporary Art: A discussion "investigating the beautiful and satirical world of contemporary embroidery" and counterpoint to the Bard exhibition. Thursday, March 26. The American Craft Council, New York, NY.
- Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project: A handmade crocheted coral reef that has been on tour in Chicago, New York, and London. Opens April 11. Scottsdale Civic Center Library, Scottsdale, AZ.
- International Fiber Collective Tree Project: There's still time to contribute a leaf to add to the tree, part of a project on interdependence. Going on display in April. Huntsville, AL.
By Grace Dobush | Projects | Shows and Events
3/24/2009 11:03:01 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, March 23, 2009
Moolah for Murals
This Long Beach mural is by Art Mortimer. (Click on the image to see a larger version.) To read more about him and his murals, read the April issue of Southwest Art magazine.Earlier this month, the National Endowment for the Arts released a report stating that artists are unemployed at twice the rate of other professionals. It might be no coincidence that the art world seems a-Twitter with talk about the Works Progress Administration lately. Is it time to bring it back? During the Great Depression, artists were among the hardest hit. The government started the Federal Art Project (a division of the WPA), hiring about 5,000 unemployed artists to paint murals in schools, courthouses and post offices. In Los Angeles, some of these murals have survived and sowed the seeds of a movement that flourishes today. The city’s rich history and multicultural heritage is splashed across its buildings, storefronts and highway ramps from East Los Angeles to Long Beach. With about 1,500 murals, Los Angeles has been called the mural capital of the world. The street art adds a shot of beauty and color to the concrete metropolis. Statewide, the California Public Art and Mural Society keeps the WPA spirit alive, with its artists accepting commissions often from small towns to revitalize crumbling downtown areas where mom-and-pop businesses once thrived. So, the new stimulus package contains lots of moolah for construction and repair of roads, federal buildings and schools. Has the time come to slice off some of the pie for our nation’s struggling artists to enrich our small towns and big cities? —Bonnie Gangelhoff
Dispatches from the West
3/23/2009 8:47:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, March 20, 2009
Spring metamorphosis
Happy vernal equinox! I'm very happy that spring is here, and I was delighted to see this on the Google homepage today:  A custom Google logo by Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpilar! (And here's a little insider info—we've got a great story coming up in The Artist's Magazine about Mr. Carle. I believe it'll be in the July or September issue. Shh!)
By Grace Dobush | News | Notable Artists
3/20/2009 10:32:04 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Watch the March edition of ANN
Artists Network News for March 2009 gives you the inside scoop on The Pastel Journal's 10th anniversary, Joseph Raffael on the cover of The Artist's Magazine and a new book from Mary Todd Beam.
By Grace Dobush | News | Videos
3/19/2009 1:38:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tip file: Paint like Whistler
From Christopher Schink, in the September 1999 issue of The Artist's Magazine: To paint like James Abbott McNeill Whistler, group objects into simple silhouettes over the whole page, and avoid adding too many details. Use opaque pigments and a limited palette to create a feeling of weight and mood. But more quickly, since dry opaque pigments are difficult to work with. Focus on contrasts of intensity rather than differences of light and dark, to convey the effects of reduced light.
By Grace Dobush | Notable Artists | Tips
3/19/2009 8:53:42 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lusting after Coraline swag
By Grace Dobush | Random Thoughts
3/18/2009 4:24:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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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
3/17/2009 10:28:21 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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