Reading the New Yorker

Last night, or I should say very early this morning, in a bout of sleeplessness I reached for the New Yorker by my bed. The title of a particular article peaked my interest: What I Learned When I Learned How to Draw

In the first paragraph, a scene is set at a dinner party, where the author of the article, Adam Gopnik, is seated across the table from another guest, who after a brief conversation reluctantly agrees to teach Gopnik how to draw; this guest is none other than the man who taught ME how to draw at the Grand Central Academy - Jacob Collins.

There is now just one degree of separation between Adam Gopnik and me;)

Written from the perspective of an art critic (and one who commonly writes on the activities of the contemporary art scene, not on learning how to draw representationally) this article sheds a curious perspective on all things 'Traditional Realism Revival".

Jacob Collins tries to teach Gopnik how to draw, and many of the lessons Jacob teaches him are eerily familiar. I thought back to my own Drawing Intensive class (taken in the summer of '09), and realized just how often I draw (pun intended) on the lessons I took away from that experience. Some of these lessons are practical in application, but most just propel me further into the world of the impractical, impossible, 'old fashioned' and overlooked.

And I am endlessly thankful for these lessons...

Here's a quick video of Jacob Collins in his studio discussing his work:

And this is just a quick snapshot I took of Jacob, during my Drawing class in the summer of 2009 at the Grand Central Academy.

Please feel free to share your thoughts.

Thanks!

A

Banner Year!!

This year I had the great pleasure of being involved in a cool project with Edmonton's talented poet laureate, Rollie Pemberton and 3 other visual artists: Nikelas Johnson, Tim Rechner and Pearl Rachinsky.

Poetry meets imagery meets the streets of the city of Edmonton.

Please check out some of the Press coverage, and learn a little bit more about the project!

You can also visit Latitude's 53 Blog, where a quick post appears on my involvement with the project. This will give you a chance to catch up on some of the other art action taking place in Edmonton.

And if you are in Edmonton, and find yourself itching for a stroll through the city's Downtown core please look up at the light posts on Jasper Ave, 104th Street and Rice Howard Way and you will see some of my work, as well as the work of the other artists who collaborated with words and light posts!

Happy summer,

A

Summer Workshop Review

I just got back from Toronto and NYC, where I had the pleasure of taking two painting workshops.

First was the Portrait Painting Workshop with Juan Martinez at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. We worked on two portraits over 7 days. In the mornings Theresa sat for a couple hours, and in the afternoons Evgeny sat for 3 hours. Below, I have included a video progression of Evgeny's portrait (Day 1 - Day 5).

Painting from life was a huge treat - there is nothing like having your subject right before you, so you can obsess over creating a three-dimensional illusion on a flat surface.

Evgeny, 18x24", oil on linen

Evgeny Portrait Progression (Day 1 - Day 5)

Theresa (aka Left Eye Undone), 18x24", oil on linen

After Toronto I went on to NYC, where the world of the "gray scale" was revealed to me. This was a true academic exercise in understanding how Value creates a successful realist painting. Under the patient tutelage of Tony Curanaj at the Grand Central Academy, we first worked on meticulous mixing of the Gray Scale, according to the Munsell Colour System. Premixing our grays (please see image below), we made our own tubed paints and proceeded to paint gray cubes against the gray background, surrounded by gray shadows. I must admit that I started to go a little cross-eyed... Leaving the classroom and stepping out into the colourful bustling world of Midtown Manhattan after hours of painting nothing but grays, blew my mind nearly every time.

Mixing our 'gray mixtures', which we then put into empty paint tubes, and sealed.

Tony Curanaj demo, directly on our glass palette - showing us how to use the gray scale to model a sphere.

I am confident that all the 'cross-eyed' exactness of painting Value still-lifes of gray cubes will be worth it. I cannot wait to continue the practice of not just painting what my eye sees, but to use my mind to train the eye in actually seeing the subtleties of the world around me.

With time, I hope to persevere and be able to apply the painstaking lessons of the 'gray cubes' to the beauty of human form.

Baby steps... once again.

Thanks for looking!

To Toronto!

I am happy to report from Toronto, where I am taking a portrait painting workshop. I hope to hone my craft, and get to know this city of trams, CN towers and old trees. Here's a snapshot of my workshop 'home' at the Academy of Realist Art on the corner of Dundas West and Pacific Avenue:

In the meantime, here are few samples of the recent portraits I've completed.

Ethan, 6x8, oil on wood

Sophie, 6x8, oil on wood

Marcus, 6x8" oil on wood

Elizabeth, 6x8, oil on wood

Juliette, 8x10" oil on wood

Jack, 8x10 oil on wood

Marcus, 8x10 oil on wood

April is Here!

Hello All!

Despite the merciless freeze of winter that has dragged on and on in Edmonton, time has been flying.

Apologies for my long absence - the sun has finally found its way back to our fair city, and I am pleased to post a little preview of an auction item that will be up for grabs tonight at Splash!, the wrap up party hosted by Latitude 53 for Western Canada Fashion Week

Contributing artists were asked to create a piece using City of Edmonton uniforms, incorporated into the work in some way. The red fabric strips you see in this portrait are actually pieces of City of Edmonton Lifeguard uniform.

"Guard", 16x20" oil & fabric on canvas

Come one come all!

It's great to be back.

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who attended the "Arty Parties" this November! In spite of the weather, the ice and the cold both events were delightfully warm and festive.

It was wonderful to share the work with appreciative viewers!

"Where Beauty Goes Unregarded, oil on wood, 2010 sold

"Muscle Memory III", 2010, mixed media on wood sold

Art in Real Life

There are some great arty parties coming up in the next few weeks, and you are cordially invited to attend the openings, and see some of my work in person.

And I would be very glad to see your persons ;)

Up first is the Menagerie show at SIDESHOW GALLERY (9609-82 ave, Edmonton AB) opening next Friday November 12, 2010 from 7-9 pm. Over 20 artists will be on view, so it is shaping up to be a great event!

And on the following Thursday, November 18 2010 another art exhibit and sale is taking place at 29 Armstrong, a contemporary design and furniture store in Downtown Edmonton. Please join me and my fellow artists Erin Elizabeth Ross and Jordan Lee for an exhibit of our recent work:

29 Armstrong

10129-104 street Edmonton, AB

www.29armstrong.com

It will be a festive party, with music, refreshments and objects of wonder.

Please contact me directly for details, or to RSVP . You can also RSVP at info@29armstrong.com

Hope to see you all there!

So Long Dream, 2010 mixed media on wood