Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2021 i Artists Magazine

While on a visit to the Getty Museum, in Los Angeles, I came across a remarkable painting by a 21-year old artist. Despite its small size, the painted figure it depicted drew me in with its carefree expression of youthful optimism. The masterful work from 1628 was free from the fine craquelure typical of old paintings; it looked as if it had been painted yesterday. When I read the label I understood why. Rembrandt Laughing, a self portrait, was painted on an 8x6 copper sheet. Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–69) painted several other works on copper substrates at that time, including Old Woman Praying, for which the artist gilded the copper panel before adding paint. It seems that Rembrandt was searching for exotic painting supports to showcase his skillful brushwork. Throughout Europe,…

My dogs love the snow and will do anything to go with me whenever I head out to paint, but even dogs with the thickest fur can get cold during a long outdoor painting session. If you decide to bring your furry friend along on your next cold-weather plein air session, try to find a patch of bare, dry ground for your setup—you’ll both stay a lot warmer and dryer. Bring a blanket for your companion to lie on, but also make sure to take time out for periodic breaks in the car with the heater turned on. Consider outfitting your dog with a dog jacket and booties for extra layers of warmth and protection. Be sure to keep your pet hydrated with plenty of water, and bring treats to…

Gallery K Art Dedicates Its Space to Top Contemporary Native American Artists Opening an art gallery takes commitment, energy, vision and resources. A new venue focusing on marginalized Native American art faces additional challenges, especially when the launch occurs in the midst of a pandemic. Entrepreneur Dave Kimelberg, a Seneca Nation of Indians (Bear Clan) member, has the necessary enterprising spirit. He believes that the art world needs a dedicated space to showcase and promote the rich variety of Native art being created today. To address this art-market void, he has founded K Art—the first Native-owned gallery to promote cutting-edge Native artists who’ve received nationwide museum recognition but lack a commercial platform. What generally comes to mind when the term “Native art” is mentioned are Santa Fe galleries showing traditional…

Edmund Tarbell (1862–1938), was one of the best painters of the Boston School. He first earned a reputation for painting scenes of women in sunlit landscapes in a manner reminiscent of French Impressionism. He proved equally proficient painting women and children, often members of his own family, within the subtly lit interiors of his home. These canvases evoke Vermeer’s influence. Tarbell was also a gifted portraitist, good enough to be considered a worthy successor to John Singer Sargent. Among his subjects were three U.S. presidents and one of the most powerful industrialists of the era, Henry Clay Frick. “The colors—especially the skin tones, which glow nicely against neutral surroundings—attest to Tarbell’s skill as a figure painter.” Frick was a steel tycoon, a ruthless businessman with culpability in two notorious American…

“I’d enjoy a week of daily visits to the Prado.” JIMMY WRIGHT ARTIST AND PRESIDENT, PASTEL SOCIETY OF AMERICA “A long road trip through the countryside of France, Italy and Switzerland. Driving is the only way to get a real feel for a region, its people and the amazing food.” MICHAEL SKALKA CHAIRMAN, ASTM D01.57, ARTISTS’ MATERIALS STANDARDS “Nowhere. I’m happiest painting close to home, which for me is the Hudson Valley of New York State. The pandemic has made me appreciate more than ever the prosaic subjects of my familiar world. Traveling is fine, but the subjects I pick when I’m away from home don’t resonate with me as much as the vistas around here that others may overlook.” JAMES GURNEY ARTIST AND AUTHOR OF THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK SERIES…

The contents of my plein air painting pack, from top to bottom, left to right are: tripod, GPS tracker, extra food, water bottle, glasses, marker, sketchbook, sunscreen, bug repellent, solvent containers, mirror, Easy-L umbrella, MSR bottle for extra solvent, dog treats, leash, fingerless gloves, paper towels, Open Box M easel, oil paints, brushes, palette knife and panels in wet panel carriers. More Online!  See my advice for honing your gear down to the essentials at artistsnetwork.com/go/dunphy-toolkit.…

For those artists who feel driven to depict the splendor of the plant kingdom, the fractals of nature are an alluring and infinite source of inspiration. Colorado native Heidi Jung brings these patterns into her art with a method of her own devising. The results are a striking ode to botanicals. Jung keeps nature close at hand on the property of her home in Denver. Warmer weather reveals her passion in the most demonstrable way—with a backyard garden that’s as surprising as it is lush. Small olive trees occupy the same space as hostas, and summer vegetables keep company with creeping Jenny and rare lilies. Wisteria hangs in graceful suspense on the outside of her small studio, which boasts a garage door with glass panels. Nature is always within Jung’s…

A WINTER PLEIN AIR TOOLKIT After 20 years of painting outdoors, Kathleen Dunphy (see page 18) has honed her gear down to the essentials. Read the article: artistsnetwork.com/go/dunphy-toolkit Free Ebooks! Artists Network offers a host of no-cost art tutorials in the form of ebooks written by top artists. Choose from a wide selection of topics, including color, perspective and various genres and media. You’ll also find separate libraries of drawing and painting lessons. Check out the artistsnetwork.com/free-art-instruction. BECOMING A FULL-TIME ARTIST Two successful full-time artists share their advice on how to transition into making art as a primary source of income. Read the article: artistsnetwork.com/go/full-time-artist Make a Painter’s Resolution Put an emphasis on your painting, drawing and mixed-media art, and be inspired all year long. Read the article: artistsnetwork.com/go/resolutions…

“The island of Santorini. To be surrounded by nothing but the bluest waters while sitting at an outdoor cafe having a cappuccino is the creative boost I totally need.” —CAT CARBONE “The Isle of Skye captivates and calls to me. Rugged misty mountains and the enchanting Fairy Glen. That’s a wild and free watercolor experience that I’d love.” —WENDY WELK “Israel. The juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern is unbeatable for drawing.” —PEG ELEFANT LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @ARTISTSNETWORK TO ANSWER EACH MONTH’S QUESTION IN “THE ASK.” RESPONSES MAY BE EDITED FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY.…

Who doesn’t love the look of freshly fallen snow? A good winter storm can turn even the most mundane scene into something spectacular to paint. The first time I bundled up and hauled my gear out in winter conditions, however, I learned just how challenging painting in the snow can be. It’s always tempting to take a few photos and use those as reference while I paint in my warm, comfortable studio, but one thing’s for certain: You have to get cold to paint snow convincingly. Almost more than any other subject matter, snow requires direct observation to convey its subtle beauty onto canvas. After years of trial and error, I’ve developed a system for painting in the snow that minimizes my personal discomfort and allows me to paint outside…

1 As with all my paintings, whether working en plein air or in the studio, I started with a thumbnail sketch to plan the design and format of the composition. 2 I toned the canvas with a light wash of warm yellow paint. (The wash shows through in places throughout the finished painting, conveying a feeling of warm sunlight.) Then I transposed my thumbnail sketch to the canvas, using a small brush and thinned red paint. 3 I always start with my darkest shadow shapes to establish the structure of the design. I painted these areas with thin paint so that I could more easily apply subsequent layers over them without getting muddy colors as the painting progressed. 4 I started developing the sunlit side of some of the major…

I met Atanas Matsoureff at a beer garden in Sofia, Bulgaria, on a bright summer day in July 2020. At a time when most meetings were happening remotely, it was a privilege to talk in person, especially with an artist who cares so much about materiality. When I asked Matsoureff how he chooses his subjects, he pointed to the nondescript wall behind me where a roughly hewn stone stuck out of the thickly plastered cement. “I’ve been looking at this stone for the past 10 minutes and wondering how to paint it—what color it is and which paper I’d use for it,” he says. Matsoureff is especially mindful of the marks left on various surfaces over time. In his painting The Door (opposite) a leather jacket hangs on the back…

Every year, Artists Magazine has the happy job of showcasing the exceptional art being made today by artists who deserve time in the spotlight. With the help of five distinguished art jurors, we have awarded three prizes and 10 honorable mentions in five categories. This year’s award-winning artists have employed a variety of media and techniques to bring their visions to life. Drawing inspiration from the divine, the natural and the quotidian, these works display a range of expression from the powerful to the playful. In this 21-page competition showcase, we celebrate talent, hard work and the awesome scope of creativity. Prizewinners | ANIMAL/WILDLIFE JUROR: GREG BEECHAM gbeecham.work First Place NANCY K. BASS “I found this piece very creative, with excellent draftsmanship, humor and a great handling of light. It…

BOTANICAL BOUNTY Botanical Art Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide to Watercolor, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Vellum, Pen and Ink, Egg Tempera, Oils, Printmaking, and More (Timber Press), by the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), offers 400-plus pages of step-by-step demonstrations plus introductory material on materials and composition. The book, edited by botanical artists Robin Jess and Carol Woodin, features instruction from more than 50 ASBA artists offering expertise on specific media and techniques. The demonstrations progress from lower to higher skill levels. The website Botanical Art & Artists (botanicalartandartists.com), by artist and writer Katherine Tyrell, bills itself as “The Top Botanical Art Compendium”—a justifiable claim. Go to the site for worldwide listings of leading botanical artists—both past and present—educational opportunities, exhibitions and organizations. You’ll also find resources about botany and…