Innholdsfortegnelse for February-March 2024/No. 155 i International Artist

Welcome to Issue #155 of International Artist magazine! As I sit writing this at the end of 2023, I am in awe of our coverage of this issue, particularly our inaugural guide to Artist Groups & Societies starting on Page 43. In alignment with our own core values, we believe that we all create with more enjoyment when we’re working side by side with like-minded artists, which is why we have gathered the top groups and societies to join for 2024. If you are not a member of a society or group and you are trying to grow your career, consider these benefits. Think about the opportunities that societies present and the many benefits you will receive, including collaborative opportunities as well as increasing your overall confidence as an artist.…

Second Prize is a two page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration The inspiration for this painting arose during the pandemic. I was seeing all the conflict regarding vaccinations and safety measures and felt I was in the middle of a large storm. I thought back to my youth when I experienced being in the eye of a hurricane and seeing the sun shining down while dark storm clouds were swirling around me. In this painting, the turmoil is represented by the dark space above the figure weighing down on him. The light hitting him represents the inner peace and tranquility experienced through closing out the world, even temporarily. My Design Strategy I tend to lean toward non-traditional composition in my work. In this instance, I intentionally…

Finalist My Inspiration I am a portrait painter in oils, valuing the traditional painting skills developed by European masters. My artworks are greatly informed by the master painters Raphael and Caravaggio, particularly their religious works, which are inspirational as a Christian. In this painting my inspiration came from Old Master Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. I am creating a new connection between history and contemporary art theory and melting Chinese culture with African-Americans. My Design Strategy I researched contemporary painters examining and crossing cultures and painting methods such as Kehinde Wiley and Kurt Kauper. My paintings are tied with traditional painting techniques to explore Christian icons, symbolism and culturalism, but replace the historical landscape with contemporary components such as a pink makeup table and makeup products. I used…

Finalist My Inspiration I love the experience of quiet contentment. I look for it, appreciate it and am generally intrigued when I see people sitting quietly, alone with their thoughts. I like to explore peaceful, introspective moments, as in this painting, using soft edges and neutral tones. My Design Strategy My paintings start with a river of dark value running through the shadows and out to the sides for structure. After finding a focal area, I tend to melt the subject into the atmosphere, without a lot of detail. In order to solve the problem of filling the background, I divide it into three horizontal bands of different values. This provides an intuitive game of choices and edge-play, completing the work with a variety of lost and found edges. I…

Medium Any painting or drawing media Entries Close Last mail received on March 13, 2024 Entry Fee US $9 / £5 / €8 / AUS $10 (See overleaf) Send Entries To See page 20 of Official Entry Form Winners Featured Issue No. 157 June/July 2024 The winners and a selection of highly commended works will be published in our International Artist magazine Art Prize report. NOTE: The winners and finalists in Challenge No. 140 – Wildlife will be featured in International Artist issue No. 156, which comes out in April/May 2024 Every winner and finalist will receive an Award Certificate authenticating their prize.…

SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS’ SCHOOL: Can you recall the moment you realized that you wanted to be an artist? JOSEPH LORUSSO: From my earliest memories in grade school, around the third or fourth grade, I had a strong desire to become an artist. The initial spark came from the recognition I received for my drawing skills, particularly in creating cartoon characters and superheroes. The positive feedback and attention I received at that time fueled my determination to delve deeper into the world of drawing, pushing me to consistently refine my craft. As I continued to receive reinforcement and experience success in my artistic pursuits, my passion for drawing evolved into a lifelong endeavor. The journey of improvement became a self-sustaining cycle, where each achievement motivated me to seek further growth. Today, my passion…

Need to work on your drawing skills? How about learning how to create strong compositions, discovering the crucial first steps in composing paintings, capturing a person’s likeness, creating expressive portraits in charcoal, exploring the diversity of skin tones, or how about observing John Coleman as he takes us through three distinctive life stages in his sculpture demonstration? This is just a small taste of our program being offered on April 25 to 28, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, providing the largest event in America today featured solely on portraiture and figurative work. Whether you’re a fulltime professional artist or looking to take your art to the next level, we have a program to benefit every artist. Twenty-six internationally known faculty artists who will be…

Art clubs and societies have been around for centuries—manifested through a natural love for art itself and for its continued growth and preservation within society. Art groups are a place where artists, both seasoned and new, can band together in support and encouragement. They foster robust connections amongst fellow creators, and they offer incredible opportunities for artist members to showcase their work through annual exhibitions, competitions, events, workshops, conferences and more. These artist societies exist across the world, and each is wholly unique. Some focus on medium, like the UK Colour Pencil Society or the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, while others shine a spotlight on subject matter, like the Society of Botanical Artists or Artists for Conservation (which highlights wildlife and nature art with an emphasis on ecological conservation…

STAGE 1 VIEWFINDER The viewfinder is constructed of powder coated steel, and the view through the frame measures 9 by 12". That is the size I usually use to paint on location as it allows me to record enough information before the conditions change too drastically. There is a tab on one side that hooks onto the panel, and the two clips are used to attach it to the side or top of the panel. STAGE 2 GRID The viewfinder is attached to the panel with clips. I position myself so the scene I am painting is visible through the viewfinder with the panel right next to it. A grid is drawn on the panel corresponding to the one on the viewfinder. I can then draw square by square, which…

I always believe that anything can be the subject for a painting. We just need an eye for catching the hidden beauty around us. With this sentiment in mind, I started depicting the beauty of my surroundings. My work is a collection of the things I’ve seen and experienced out in the world. During the lockdown period, I explored my freedom through painting numerous indoor and household subjects, and I realized there is no need to go far in search of a subject. Art can be the reflection of our day to day activities. Holding the same thread, I started working on simple routine subjects. Such subjects started offering me a new way of looking at typical objects around us. Along with focusing on technical aspects like lighting, angles, harmony…

I specialize in creating enchanting nature scenery with a touch of fantasy, using a combination of gouache and poster color paints. Gouache, with its opaque and vibrant colors, creates solid areas of color, while poster color is commonly used for commercial artwork, posters and illustrations. The versatility of these paints allows me to experiment with different techniques, creating bright and bold colors. Since I was a child, I’ve been inspired by the background designs of animated movies. My paintings often feature natural landscapes such as forests, mountains and rivers, with added elements of fantasy. This combination creates a new world atmosphere, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the painting. I have developed several techniques to achieve different effects. Wet-on-wet painting involves applying a layer of clean water on the…

For artists, inspiration can strike anywhere at any time. In this section, we’ll present a different photo prompt in each issue for artists to use as inspiration for their next piece. Rather than a reference, this photo is meant to be interpretive. It’s a jumping off point—a means to spark creativity and get the imagination going. Capture the image exactly as you see it, or take elements of it to create something entirely new. Submissions can be fully completed artwork or rough sketches. Every approach is the right approach. In the following issue of International Artist, we’ll highlight several Editor’s favorites (including your Instagram username), along with the next photo prompt. Chosen submissions also receive a free six-month digital subscription to International Artist. Happy painting/drawing/sketching! A SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT…

As creative minds, I’m sure none of you are strangers to the endless churn of ideas—of continuously searching for new ways to learn and grow within your art practice. Even when things might be feeling a bit stagnant, artists can never truly hold still for long. No matter what’s going on, there’s a drive deep in your soul that tells you to keep moving forward, and to see what else you might be capable of. There are so many incredible ways to grow as an artist, from workshops and apprenticeships to formal classes and online programs. There are art conferences and events happening in cities everywhere across the world that help individuals gain more exposure. Another wonderful way to elevate your career could come through the support of joining an…

Third Prize is a one-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration I received a phone call with a request to paint a portrait for the 50th birthday of a businessman. I was told he was a man who had everything and collected art. Tõnis called me, we and our spouses met, had some tea and biscuits and had a discussion. Out of this grew the idea to paint a portrait of the men of this family. Since Tõnis’ father Vello held several important positions in politics and culture, he wanted him in the picture too, out of respect for his father. For example, Vello was a member of the Parliament of Estonia and the editor-in-chief of the Sirp cultural weekly. And naturally, the picture would include all…

FULL COLOR DIGITAL PRINT-OUTS Use the Official Entry Form over the page ONLINE Visit our website to upload digital files of the images you want to enter and pay for them using our secure server. www.internationalartist.com To upload your entries you need to prepare your image files to be at least 400 pixels at the shortest edge. Once you are in the Official Online Entry page simply select which challenge you wish to enter then follow the prompts and finally pay the entry fee via our secure server. There you can also see other entries received along with past winners of our competitions. CHALLENGE ENTRY FORM SCHEDULE AND CLOSING DATES HINTS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ARTWORK • Set your camera to the highest quality available. • Shoot your paintings dead square on…

Vincent Miller, founder of International Artist magazine, is our Chief Judge for our challenges. He has judged art for more than 40 years worldwide, including in the USA, Singapore, Australia, Canada and the U.K., to name just a few countries. In addition, he is an artist and sculptor himself. Mr. Miller works with many of the greatest living artists and art schools. He supports great art by judging our challenge program. If your art is selected you are among the elite in the world to be selected by Vincent Miller. We welcome you to submit your entries for the next challenge judging. SUBMIT YOUR DIGITAL ENTRIES ONLINE; IT’S SO EASY!…

Did you know that up to 50 percent Dof recent purchases of artwork by collectors have come from online selling channels and e-marketplaces? A recent survey reported this high percentage of sales coming from art sales platforms and social media sites. It used to be that clients were hesitant to purchase fine art from a website, not being able to trust the artist who is selling, nor having the technology to properly view the work. Today’s art market has come a long way, with over 200 successful online platforms through which to shop and purchase art. A few months ago, I wrote an overview on selling your own work and the different online channels one can use. In this Art Industry Insider, I will offer more information on a few…

The Portrait Society of America is thrilled Tto celebrate another exciting year of portraiture during our 26th annual The Art of the Portrait conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 25 to 28. Our program this year features many new and returning faculty artists who will participate in crowd favorite events, such as the opening night Face-Off demonstration, Portfolio Critique sessions, Open Drawing Studios and the 6x9 Mystery Art Sale. Over the weekend, the top 20 finalists of The International, the world’s premier portrait competition, will exhibit their outstanding works in hopes of winning the Draper Grand Prize and a cash award of $50,000. In preparation for our grand event, I had a chance to sit down and talk with a few of our new and returning faculty…

We have access to hundreds of pigments that the Old Masters did not have access to. However, not all pigments are created equally. Even two identical pigments to the eye have a lot more going on than we think. Pigments come from many different sources, and some have rich histories. The earliest pigments—ochres, umbers and siennas—are natural iron oxides mined from the earth. These colors remain some of the most permanent we have. Human beings have also derived pigments from animals, including crimson, purple lake and carmine (all from insects), as well as sepia (from cuttlefish ink). From the vegetable world, we’ve derived indigo, gamboge and madders. As new pigments are discovered or developed in laboratories, the range of colors we can access has become broader and broader. Organic (Modern)…

The method of creation an artist Tchooses often gets overshadowed by their creations. While the finished piece is where the artist’s pride lays, the tools that birthed that piece carry a part of the story. The paintbrush is so iconic an artist’s tool that it evokes less curiosity from an audience about its use. The same cannot be said for the sight of a painting knife. This tool has a short but rich history, only having gained traction since the 1800s. The palette knife was once reserved simply for mixing paint, but artists like Rembrandt and Matisse saw its value for adding to their art what the brush could not. Though the traditional palette knife is still used for mixing paint today, the artist now has a range of painting…

One of my favorite subjects is a puffy cloud reflected in a wet beach with a sprinkling of sunlight. Easy to paint and a great result every time (except when it isn’t). There’s always a built-in color harmony here because the sky is reflected in the water, and it’s kind of like painting an abstract painting since it’s mainly just big areas of color with a few sprinkles of detail that tell you what’s going on. 1 Elena Sokolova Wow, you’re always the first to post up your painting Elena! It never fails to impress. Great work, again. Strong color and an interesting variety of brushwork combining both impasto and glazing. My only suggestion would be to have another go at the birds, taking a little more time with them. You’ll…

In the beginning of my art career, there were things I couldn’t avoid: having food and a place to live. I did art for myself but was also “happy to please buyers.” Most importantly, I was determined not to “work” for a living. At the same time, each art piece slowly helped me. I was always learning, building more confidence and steadily bringing out Harley Brown—who eventually was more confident in doing things for himself. Yes, we finally evolve into our own actual selves. For many years at the easel, I’ve wanted to make myself fully creative. Every minute while working on my art, my mind is enraptured between me and my subject. No time nor inclination to wonder if others will be excited with the end result. Our hard-earned…

Nadia Ferrante Lazio, Italy, Tides of Inner Struggle, oil on paper, 18 x 18" (46 x 46 cm) Grand Prize is a four-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine Emotionally Engaging The style of Nadia Ferrante’s artwork is that of figurative and imaginative realism, in which the artist aims to depict reality from her own personal perspective through the use of symbolism, lights and colors. “It’s important for me, especially in the use of oil colors, to convey a sense of delicacy and softness in the strokes, avoiding visible brushstroke marks,” she says. “To achieve this, I employ several layers of color, often thin glazes, before defining the details.” Another technique she deeply loves is soft pastel, which she considers equally impactful in its rendering capabilities compared to oil.…

FINALISTS Each receives an Award Certificate and a one-year subscription to International Artist magazine PLUS having their work seen worldwide by international galleries looking for new talent. Finalist My Inspiration Solitude is creativity’s best friend and a refreshment to our souls, giving you space to think about your feelings, ideas, hopes, problems and experiences. Past mistakes and traumas that never got to be answered creep in and leave you restless, stuck in a body that wants to go on but with a mind that’s tired of living as a human. Drawing is my source of happiness and the only act that calms and brings me inner peace. My Design Strategy Art can be used as a way of emotional and psychological therapy; it helps individuals in managing intense emotions and…

A continuing series of art competitions designed to encourage the best talent working in the world today open to any painting or drawing medium. ENTER OUR NEW ART COMPETITION CHALLENGE No. 141 Landscapes See your work published in International Artist magazine and also receive a 4-page Editorial Feature in American Art Collector, the prestigious magazine read by collectors and galleries looking for new art work in the world’s biggest art market. Winners and Finalists in our competitions don’t just win awards to hang on their walls. The real value of entering and being one of the winners is that your work will not only be seen by hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide but also by leading galleries and collectors in America, the biggest art market of all. Our Grand…

Subscribe today to get the most comprehensive magazine filled with demonstrations, workshops and creative inspiration from the best international artists working today. International Artist is the only educational magazine by artists for artists devoted to sharing voices from across the world, along with special features, columns and more. In every issue, you’ll find: » 6 issues a year, each one featuring a diverse range of work from artists around the globe! » 8+ artist demonstrations and workshops, featuring mediums, styles and subject matter that will inspire you. » Special features that dive deeper into the world of art and the artists. » Regular columns from famous artists such as James Gurney and Harley Brown. » Enjoy features from esteemed organizations including the Portrait Society of America every month. Join our…

STAGE 1 PRIMING THE CANVAS I have primed the canvas with gesso mixed with acrylic paint and completed my drawing based on a photo reference. The canvas size is 48 by 36". STAGE 2 CREATING A REFERENCE POINT I chose to start with the window edge and planned to do the main window first. With so much detail, I wanted to start with a significant line to use as a reference point. STAGE 3 DISTANT DETAILS I continue to fill in the window, focusing on the items further back such as the vehicles. Since the “open” sign is closer to the viewer, I am waiting to paint that part and I am circling towards it. STAGE 4 THE DINER SIGN With the window complete, I wanted to paint an important…

This painting is inspired by the Botanical Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. STAGE 1 LAYER OF PINK I start with a thin layer of fluorescent pink mixed with a little yellow to cover the white canvas. This enables the light pink to shine through the subsequent layers of paint. During this stage, I also loosely sketch out the composition. STAGE 2 STARTING ON BACKGROUND Then I begin painting the background. I can always do changes later, but now I focus on general colors and shapes. STAGE 3 MID-GROUND Now I’m moving onto the middle ground and some parts of the foreground. Again no details, just basic shapes and colors. STAGE 4 DETAILS I slowly work on the details such as the foliage on the trees. STAGE 5 FOREGROUND After finishing the…

Chama is a small town in Northern New Mexico known for its old trains and natural beauty. STAGE 1 VALUE STUDY I begin the piece with a pen and ink value study. STAGE 2 DRAWING I then create a detailed drawing of the train and tape it down. STAGE 3 MIXING DARKS Next up, I’m mixing the darkest dark, which is a combination of ultramarine deep and burnt sienna, until it reaches a thick honey consistency. STAGE 4 APPLYING DARKS I’m now beginning to apply my darkest darks to the locomotive. STAGE 5 CONTINUING ON Here, I am simply continuing to add the darkest darks, steadily building form in the overall piece. This is where you really begin to see its shape and three-dimensionality come together. STAGE 6 ADDING COLOR…

Many years ago, Harley and I were very fortunate in meeting with Bettie Page. Right from the first few minutes together, she radiated charisma. We immediately started talking about our interests and hopes. She had thoughts and queries about our art and historic artworks, and she had great insights as well—memorable in so many ways. While working on this portrayal of Bettie, I was going through a series of stages both upwards and sideways. I felt this was right, and that was unusual. It was all good, and none of it slowed me down. I kept moving forward, trusting my years of “making art.” You can see my strokes emotionally going every which way. This is because Bettie’s spirit totally guided me into her world. Her presence here was a…