Fine Art Instruction, Articles, Art Videos & Art Resources | Artist's Network » The Artist’s Magazine Blog

WetCanvas Members Achieve Recognition for Scratchboard Art

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:31:27 +0000

Featured art by Cathy (Crias).

A special congratulations goes out to the scratchboard forum on WetCanvas! Four members have had work selected as finalists for the BBC International Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition. The contest had 1,120 entries and they narrowed it down to 127.

Cathy (Crias) had five works make the finals, Katy Rewston (rewston) had four works selected, Allan Adams (aaces) had two selected (out of two), and Karen Neal (Kaz in NZ) had one work selected.

Extend your congratulations and see more from these artists!

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Get unlimited access to over 100 art instruction ebooks

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Learn how to paint & how to draw with downloads, books, videos & more from North Light Shop

• Subscribe to The Artist’s Magazine

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & download a FREE issue of The Artist’s Magazine

Art Tip File: Study Art of the Past

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:49:46 +0000

Art Tip:
“Study art of the far and recent past. I probably have been most influenced by Paul Klee, Jasper Johns, M. C. Escher and Richard Diebenkorn.” ~ Mark Bratovich, from the July/August 2011 issue of The Artist’s Magazine (Layer Upon Layer: Versatile and various, acrylic astonishes with the range of effects artists can configure. Five masters of the medium share tips).

Glyphics No. 2 (acrylic, 24x24) by Mark Bratovich

Art Tip File: Draw, Draw, Draw

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:50:58 +0000

Draw, Draw, Draw

“You need extensive drawing knowledge to work with pastel or else you’ll make a mess. Draw with graphite, charcoal or Conté crayon, from life if possible, every morning or every evening. Carry a sketchbook wherever you go.” ~ Sam Goodsell

The Cactus Dome | Artistic Make-Over

Emily Dydo — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:55 +0000

The Bikini Lines Production Team is an artistic venture inspired by the lack of standardized nuclear disaster reporting. Founded in early 2011 by Christian Forestell, Chad Parrish and Patrick McWilliams, the team proposed an ambition plan to create and produce unique CC-licensed media based on the core tenets of art, adventure, collaboration and documentation. Bikini Lines will embark on the mission of creating the world’s largest painting, one that surpasses the grandiose record holder of 86,000 square feet. Once completed, the proposed 96,600 square foot masterpiece will be viewable via Google Earth.

The canvas for this painting is the Cactus Dome, located on the sublimely-remote Runit Island in the Pacific Ocean. Erected by the United States Military between 1977-1980, the dome shelters roughly 111,000 cubic yards of radio active debris from the Bikini and surrounding Atoll islands, which was contaminated during the U.S. Military’s nuclear testing period from 1942 to 1962. The debris resets in a nuclear-blast crater created by the test-explosion of the Cactus Bomb.

The Cactus dome (right) on Runit Islant

Largely forgotten, the Cactus Dome has long been declared safe, but was off limits until now. With special permission from the Marshallese government, Bikini Lines has adopted a crowd-sourced approach to the design, painting and documentation of this project. All artists, photographers, writers, filmmakers, financial backers, producers and corporate sponsors are invited to become involved. Current design submissions for the Cactus Dome project can be viewed here.

Cactus Dome (ground view)

Additionally, the Bikini Lines Production Team will produce a feature-length documentary about the design and painting process for the Cactus Dome. Donations are accepted; all proceeds from the documentary will go to the Ashinaga Foundation, a non-governmental organization that cares for orphans of natural disasters. Founders hope to raise a substantial amount of money for benefit of the Japanese children orphaned in the earthquake and tsunamis of March 2011.

Artists, photographers and writer/bloggers, who are interested in becoming involved with the Bikini Lines Production Team can submit their designs/proposals here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bikini-Lines/306849166003511.

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Get unlimited access to over 100 art instruction ebooks

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Learn how to paint & how to draw with downloads, books, videos & more from North Light Shop

• Subscribe to The Artist’s Magazine

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & download a FREE issue of The Artist’s Magazine

Last Weekend to Enter Strokes of Genius 5! Deadline May 16, 2012

Sarah Laichas, Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

The deadline for the Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing competition has been extended through May 16, 2012. The theme of this year’s contest is “composition.” Artwork can be in any dry medium, or wet medium applied in a linear fashion that would be traditionally considered drawing. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, pencil, charcoal, Conte, pen and ink, scratchboard and silverpoint. Colored pencil, pastel and even some paint mediums are acceptable if used in a drawing-like manner. Visit our competitions page to enter your art today!

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Get unlimited access to over 100 art instruction ebooks

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Instantly download fine art magazines, books, videos & more

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & receive a FREE ebook

Art Tip File: Use Patience to Achieve Smooth Gradations

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:50:29 +0000

“Some might be surprised that I don’t use an airbrush, but my smooth gradations are achieved by patient layering of washes to eliminate brushstrokes.” ~ Mark Workman, from the June 2011 issue of The Artist’s Magazine (Running Water: Four artists reveal their methods for conjuring wondrous landscapes with fluid acrylic and freeflowing watercolor).

Late Crossing (acrylic, 19¼x29¾) by Mark Workman

Fine Art Contest – $25,000 in Cash Prizes

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:38:38 +0000

See your work in The Artist’s Magazine!
Final Deadline: Today! May 4, 2012

PRIZES:
5 First Place Awards: $2,500 each
5 Second Place Awards: $1,250 each
5 Third Place Awards: $750 each
15 Honorable Mentions: $100 each

Winners will be featured and finalists’ names will be published in the December 2012 issue of The Artist’s Magazine. Nine finalists will be featured in the “Competition Spotlight” in The Artist’s Magazine, 12 finalists will be featured as “Artist of the Month” on our website and the works of twelve finalists will be offered on our website as desktop wallpaper.

Plus, the Student/Beginner Division (for artists age 16 or over who (1) have been enrolled in a post-high school art program for no more than four years OR (2) have pursued art on their own or in workshops/lessons for no more than four years):

5 First Place Awards: $150 each
5 Second Place Awards: $75 each
5 Third Place Awards: $50 each

Award Winners in the Student/Beginner division will be featured in the January/February 2013 issue of The Artist’s Magazine.

PLUS all Award Winners and Honorable Mentions receive a 1-year membership to the NorthLight VIP Program.

CATEGORIES:

Portrait/Figure
Portrait and figure entries can be individuals or groups, and will be judged on expressiveness, personality and draftsmanship.
Portrait/Figure Juror: David Jon Kassan

Still Life/Floral
Entries will be judged on overall design, unique arrangement of subject matter, handling of medium, lighting and mood.
Still Life/Floral Juror: Sadie Valeri

Landscape/Interior
Any landscape, from city scenes to imaginary horizons, will be judged on the creative use of form, space, lighting and mood.
Landscape/Interior Juror: M. Katherine Hurley

Abstract/Experimental
With unlimited subject matter, entries will be judged on creative use of design, texture, media, lighting or special techniques.
Abstract/Experimental Art Juror: Donna Watson

Animal/Wildlife
Any animal in any setting is fair game for this category. Entries will be judged on the innovative handling of the subject, the expression and rendering.
Animal/Wildlife Art Juror: Koo Schadler

Enter your best works today for your share of $25,000 in cash prizes for our fine art contest!

Art Tip File: Using Sandpaper

Cherie Haas, Associate Editor — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:59:38 +0000

“Much of my process is deciding what to leave out instead of what to put in. I often use very fine sandpaper to remove paint, shape a passage or manipulate the pigment. The process then becomes one of refinement.” ~ T. Allen Lawson from the January/February 2012 issue of The Artist’s Magazine (Let It Snow! When the weather outside is frightful, painting snow is just delightful. William Hosner, T. Allen Lawson, Colleen Howe, Bill Teitsworth and Stephen Quiller share tips for depicting the quintessential winter landscape.).

Winger Interior (oil, 26x18) by T. Allen Lawson

Vincent’s Gardens by Ralph Skea

Emily Dydo — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:05 +0000

In his new book Vincent’s Gardens, author Ralph Skea surveys the gardens that were most revered by Van Gogh—from the parsonage gardens in the Netherlands to the romance of Parisian city parks; from the blazing flower beds of Provence to the asylum gardens that provided Van Gogh with peace and seclusion during his final months. The book is structured geographically, and gives readers a refreshing glimpse of the verdant and vibrant gardens loved by Van Gogh.

Vincent's Gardens by Ralph Skea

Whether joyous paintings of plants in bloom or the intensely beautiful studies of lilacs, roses, irises, and pine trees that he produced in the asylum at Saint-Rémy, all the oils and sketches included in the book are monuments to Van Gogh’s originality and poetic sensibility.

For more information, please visit www.thamesandhudsonusa.com or contact Tiffany Alvarado McKenna at: 212. 391.4609 or tamckenna@thames.wwnorton.com

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Get unlimited access to over 100 art instruction ebooks

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Learn how to paint & how to draw with downloads, books, videos & more from North Light Shop

• Subscribe to The Artist’s Magazine

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & download a FREE issue of The Artist’s Magazine

Chuck McLachlan’s Dedication to Art Education

Emily Dydo — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:55 +0000

At 78 years of age, fine artist Chuck McLachlan continues to teach workshops in assisted living homes to encourage others. “Painting stimulates the brain. I like to help the residents, to help keep their minds going,” he says.

Chuck McLachlan's Art Demo

Knowing that there’s always something new to learn, McLachlan continues to take workshops as well. “There were times when I thought I knew everything, only to realize that I didn’t know anything,” he humbly said.

The Shepherdress by Chuck McLachlan

McLachlan grew up during the Depression and worked in a sign shop where he swept floors until his mentors began teaching him how to paint the backs of signs, then the fronts, how to do lettering and then how to creature portraits. Eventually he was on his own and was hired to paint the first Marlboro man. “I was in heaven. It was a thrill to see my work on billboards all over the place,” he recalls.

In addition to watercolor, McLachlan also works in oil, pastel and graphite. See his work at www.chuckmclachlan.com. —C.H.