International Artist April-May 2024/No. 156

Welcome to the April/May issue of International Artist magazine! Our 2024 commitment is to bring you more demonstrations from across the globe, more opportunities to be part of juried events, and more fairs and shows to sell your art. We hope you find IA your artists’ tool to the art world from concept, to show, and finally to the collector. We will jump right into our demonstrations this month and the unique artists that bring our pages to life. For oil demonstrations we have Polish artist Kesja Tabaczuk who currently resides in Norway (her work is on the cover of this issue). Next, we have Todd M. Casey and Hillary Scott, both from the USA, providing comprehensive oil techniques in their demonstrations. We also have two talented watercolor artists featured…

As I’m writing this letter, the morning sunlight is pouring through the trees surrounding my home in the Pacific Northwest—golden beams shining through massive sequoia and mossy branches of boxelder maples. Even though it’s winter here in the United States, there’s beauty everywhere, from the way the sun feels on a cold morning to the way the moss grows in deep green, abundant swaths nearly everywhere you turn. I eagerly await spring, just around the corner, when flowers will be in bloom everywhere—in bursts of wildflowers, on cherry blossom trees, in the hydrangeas, rhododendrons and rose bushes. The changing of the seasons is always wondrous, and as artists, you’re even more tuned-in to these snapshots of beauty. The lens through which you see and capture the world around you is…

Pamela Mangelsdorf Arizona, USA, Leonardo, oil, 24 x 36" (60 x 91 cm) Grand Prize is a four-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine Intrigue in the Details Arizona artist Pamela Mangelsdorf works in photorealism, making changes to her reference photos when necessary for the composition she has in mind. Primarily a wildlife artist, Mangelsdorf says photographs are almost mandatory, as most animals rarely pause long enough to capture from life. “Wildlife is so complex and each species offers its own unique character. My goal is to capture that uniqueness with my paintings,” she says. “My inspiration comes from nature. I’m fortunate to live in the Southwest desert surrounded by wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, javelina, quail, owls and many other beautiful species. My studio windows look out on these…

Second Prize is a two-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration To me birds are one of nature’s gifts. I have always been fascinated by them. It’s not just their sheer beauty, but their personalities and freedom that I love. Rainbow lorikeets are stunningly colorful birds, extremely social, raucous and the providers of entertainment. When I saw David C. Simon’s beautiful photograph of this pair sharing the nectar of a waratah flower, I just had to paint it. I named the piece after the state floral emblem of New South Wales (Australia), the waratah flower. This image captures the sociability and playfulness of these beautiful birds. My Design Strategy Through my paintings I endeavor to capture the unique characteristics and magnificence of my chosen subjects. My goal…

Third Prize is a one-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration I am a compulsive painter. What inspires me is the power of the human mind and the ability to create magic on canvas. It transcends mere replication of the physical world; it becomes a soulful journey of bringing dreams to reality and playing with the strings of nostalgia. Inspired by the Polish master Beksinski, my heart yearns for something deeper, something that resonates with the very essence of my being. Each stroke of paint becomes a vessel through which I pour my feelings about life, nature, love and friendship. The result is a wonderland, a dreamy landscape that invites viewers to immerse themselves in its enchanting embrace. I believe that art should not only captivate the…

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 The Center for Great Apes is a non-profit rescue center providing permanent sanctuary to dozens of chimpanzees and orangutans retired from the entertainment industry, research and exotic pet trade. I’m one of several artists who have worked to help support the center. I’ve been painting portraits of the apes for about a decade. On one visit, Stryker’s outgoing personality caught my attention. My Design Strategy I try to convey each ape’s personality in his or her portrait. Generally, this requires exacting attention to the ape’s eyes and expression. My Working Process Unfortunately, I live many hours from the center, so…