Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2025 i Artists Magazine

THE ART OF SHARING In October, I visited Fort Worth, Texas, to attend the U.S. debut of Fabriano in Watercolor (Fabriano InAcquarello), an event that was born 15 years ago in the historic town of Fabriano, Italy, a site known for its revolutionary contribution to the manufacturing of paper back in 1264. The event’s mission—the promotion of watermedia artists and of painting techniques on paper—has always featured an international focus, continually building up participation to include artists from more than 80 different countries. A massive exhibition of paintings along with demonstrations by many of the world’s foremost watermedia artists are central to the experience, but a highlight of any gathering of this kind rests simply in the opportunity to meet other people who have the same passion for art. “Art…

Accuracy Above All Painting as a realist offers the opportunity to capture the lives of those around you and the times in which you live, making you—the artist—the expert. Your aim as a realist is to depict your surroundings in the most honest way possible. Don’t pine for extraordinary scenes or bombastic occasions. • To paint with a realist sensibility, close observation is key. Your goal should be to portray what’s real—not what you wish was real—which requires a keen eye and sense of discipline. Spend time with your subject. Let your overall impressions sink in—and try to avoid making them more than what they actually are. • A great way to complement your observations is to jot down the words that come to mind as you consider your subject.…

Scott Fraser began creating art when he was between 2 and 3 years old. “I still have my first painting. It’s a watercolor of roses, and it hangs on a wall I walk past every day,” he says. “It’s abstract, but I remember painting it and thinking, ‘This is a rose.’ I was very proud of that.” A significant early influence and inspiration for Fraser came through the Art Institute of Chicago, near his hometown. When his parents realized his aptitude for painting, they began frequenting the museum with the young artist, who took an early interest in works by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910) and pointillist painters such as Georges Seurat (French, 1859–91). Fraser’s passion for art continued to develop and evolve throughout his childhood and…

Every so often, a significant career opportunity presents itself to an artist. In my case, I received an invitation from an art source agency in Virginia asking if I’d consider creating an original large-format colored pencil drawing. The scene of interest was part of my portfolio and the source for the artwork. McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation wanted to have a similar piece created for the lobby of its new hospital addition. I must admit to having second thoughts initially about working on Falling Water XX (above), which—at 42x40 inches—would be more than three times larger than anything I had drawn in my career. I decided to accept the commission with the understanding that there would be days of uncertainty and many challenges ahead. GETTING STARTED My first order of…

Like quite a few teens planning to go to college, Jacob Saphier couldn’t make up his mind about which subject would be his major course of study. Torn between pursing a degree in engineering or enrolling in art school, in the end, he decided to do both, completing a five-year, dual-degree program at the University of Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering and a bachelor’s in fine art from the Stamps School of Art & Design, in 2016. That’s nothing out of the ordinary for the Stamps School, where between 10 and 15 percent of students in any given art class are participating in a dual-degree program of some kind. Besides engineering, there are dual-degree students at the university pursuing second…

“My painting series, “Contemplating Vermeer,” focuses on the 2023 blockbuster exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam—the largest collection of Vermeer’s paintings ever assembled. In response, I decided to focus on 18 of the Dutch master’s works and the visitors standing before them, in contemplation. While the emphasis is on Vermeer’s works, the spark for each painting is in the composition. Beyond replicating these scenes, I was also studying the artist’s techniques and process. As a painter growing up in New York, I was lucky to have had access to eight Vermeers—five at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and three at The Frick Collection. Vermeer, who lived from 1632 to 1675, left a remarkably small oeuvre with little documentation; his process has been a mystery and subject of much speculation. Famously,…

Spanish-born painter Alberto Ortega brings a sharp and alien eye to the sprawling conformity of American suburban life. In a continuing series of panoramic scenes set in what appears to be some idyllic 1950s suburb, he uses the drama of deep twilight and a kind of disquieting simplification to create a sense of unease and foreboding. It’s as though an episode of “The Twilight Zone” was painted by Edward Hopper. “Painting the suburbs allows me to explore themes of conformity, loneliness and the hidden dramas of everyday life,” Ortega says. “The 1950s setting—often considered the golden era of the suburbs—provides a nostalgic, yet eerie, backdrop that amplifies these themes.” A MODEL NEIGHBORHOOD The sense of alienation in the scenes—the feeling of something familiar suddenly becoming strange—is powered, in part, by…

For many artists, the studio is a place of sanctuary. Often shrouded in mystery, these spaces—which offer a safe place for exploration and experimentation—become shaped by the artists who occupy them. The location and size; the amount and direction of light; the tools and materials; the surrounding objects and personal effects—these are things that may never be seen by or known to the public, but they’re among the many ingredients that play a role in inspiration. All around the world, there are historic sites that offer public access to the homes, studios and settings that were significant to the lives of artistic luminaries. Visiting these places feels akin to pulling back the curtain in The Wizard of Oz, evoking a sense of awe, surprise or revelation. Picking up on the…

Massachusetts SAINTS, SINNERS, LOVERS AND FOOLS THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM THROUGH MAY 4, 2025 PEM.ORG “Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks” is a unique presentation of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculptures, and other objects from the Southern Netherlands. Better known today as Flanders, this region was home to an array of visionary artists who explored new ways to depict reality, portray humanity and tell stories that continue to resonate with viewers today. Masterpieces on display include works by Jan van Hemessen, Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Frans Snyders and Anthony van Dyck, among many others. The exhibition, which runs through May 4 at the Peabody Essex Museum, in Salem, Mass., offers a look into the specific subjects and styles adopted by Flemish artists between the…