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A Chip Off the Old Block

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The Denver Art Museum is poised to open its doors to a groundbreaking exhibition featuring father-son tandem Andrew and Jamie Wyeth.
 
Although Andrew Wyeth and his son Jamie displayed two individualistic styles, they are known for sharing artistic habits of mind that make the tandem a truly unique combination for a museum exhibition. Opening on November 8 at the Denver Art Museum, “Wyeth: Andrew and Jamie in the Studio” will feature more than 100 works that will, says the museum, “allow you to see their art converge and diverge over the years. The common thread that runs through their works as well as the distinctive practices of each will be apparent.”
 


Jamie Wyeth, “Kleberg,” 1984, oil on canvas, 30 1/2 x 42 1/2 in. (c) Jamie Wyeth 2015

 
Continuing, the museum states, “This exhibition explores the connection between two American artists who shared artistic habits of mind while maintaining their own unique artistic voices. Never before has an exhibition displayed Andrew Wyeth’s and Jamie Wyeth’s work on this scale and in the shared context of their autobiographies, studio practices, and imaginations.”
 


Andrew Wyeth, “Trodden Weed,” 1951, tempera on panel, 20 x 18 1/4 in. (c) Andrew Wyeth 2015

 
“Wyeth: Andrew and Jamie in the Studio” opens on November 8 and will hang through February 7 before traveling to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, Spain.
 


Jamie Wyeth, “Portrait of a Lady,” 1968, oil on canvas, 36 x 63 1/2 in. (c) Jamie Wyeth 2015

 
To learn more, visit the Denver Art Museum.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
 

The Greats

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Botticelli, Cézanne, Gauguin, Leonardo, Monet, Titian, Turner, Velázquez, and Vermeer? Yes, one of the most significant collections of European Old Master paintings ever assembled is now on view at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia.
 
Seventy masterful paintings and drawings spanning four centuries will feature during a can’t-miss exhibition in Sydney, Australia. “The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland” opened on October 24 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and includes some of the biggest names in the history of art. Some of the masterpieces, including Georges Seurat’s “La Luzerne” and Rembrandt van Rijn’s “A Woman in Bed” have never been seen in Australia before. Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant said, “An exhibition of this caliber is a real coup for the state and builds on our standing as the cultural capital of Australia.”
 


Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), “Venus Rising from the Sea (Venus Anadyomene),” ca. 1520-1525, oil on canvas, 74 x 56.2 cm. (c) Scottish National Gallery 2015

 
The gallery describes the exhibition as “unfolding in rooms devoted to the art of the Italian Renaissance, the Baroque in Southern and Northern Europe, the French and British Enlightenment, 19th-century Scotland, and Impressionism. The exhibition has been carefully designed and installed to accentuate the grandeur of the paintings and foster an intimate experience with each of the artworks.”
 


Sandro Botticelli, “The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child,” 1485, tempera, oil, and gold on canvas, 122 x 80.5 cm. (c) Scottish National Gallery 2015

 
Sandro Botticelli’s masterpiece “The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child” from 1485 has not been shown outside of the United Kingdom in 169 years and is truly a sight to behold. A graceful Virgin in canonical blue kneels over the resting child, eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer. Tightly cropped, the two subjects form a harmonious triangular composition, alluding to the Holy Trinity and providing stability for the painting. This triangular arrangement was common in Renaissance religious painting and underscores how artists of 15th-century Italy preferred the structure and idealism of classical art. The gallery offers, “Like many Renaissance paintings, the picture is rich in symbolism. The enclosed garden is a reference to the purity of the Virgin, who was often called ‘a rose without thorns.’ Some symbols are more ominous. The sleeping child with his pallid complexion is presumably a reference to Christ’s eventual death. The red strawberry plant in the lower right corner symbolizes the blood he will shed on the cross.”
 


John Singer Sargent, “Lady Agnew of Lochnaw,” 1892, oil on canvas, 125.7 x 100.3 cm.
(c) Scottish National Gallery 2015

 
“The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland” opened on October 24 and will be on view through February 14.
 
To learn more, visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

Painting Set Free

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Famously known for continuing to work on his canvases even as they hung on gallery walls, British giant Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) produced some of the most radical and expressive paintings of the Romantic period. More than 50 of the artist’s works in paint and paper are being featured in a hypnotic exhibition in Ontario.
 
Although the entire career of British Romantic painter Joseph Mallord William Turner is worthy of respectful consideration, the painter is famously known for the final 15 years of his life, in which he radically experimented with painting’s ability to capture energy, vigor, expression, and the sublime. On loan from the Tate Britain, more than 50 paintings and works on paper from this phase in Turner’s oeuvre will be on view in “J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free” at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
 


Joseph Mallord William Turner, “Ancient Rome; Agrippina Landing with the Ashes of Germanicus,” 1839, oil,
(c) Tate, London 2015

 
The exhibition “reveals a painter whose breadth of knowledge and romantic imagination were matched only by his innovative spirit,” the gallery asserts. “Turner’s late works, with their emphasis on atmosphere, are famous for their rich color, textures, and evocative use of light. Challenging the myths, assumptions, and interpretations that have grown around Turner’s later work, this exhibition sets out to show how his final years were a time of exceptional drive and vigor, during which he continued traveling, confronting, and painting the dramatic landscapes of Europe.”
 


Joseph Mallord William Turner, “Peace — Burial at Sea,” 1842, oil (c) Tate, London 2015

 
Organized thematically, the exhibition follows Turner’s travels across Europe, focusing on the artist’s interest in religion, mythology, classical history, and the sea. “Light and Colour (Goethe’s Theory) — The Morning after the Deluge — Moses Writing the Book of Genesis,” of 1843 is a mouthful and an eyeful. In a brilliant swirling of circular oranges, reds, browns, and blues, the work is bursting with creative enthusiasm and energy. Characteristic of this late phase in Turner’s career, the image is nearly completely abstracted, with few forms surfacing as recognizable. The gallery writes, “In this depiction of the aftermath of the Biblical flood, Turner tests Goethe’s theory that color arises from the interaction of light and shade. The ‘Moses’ referred to in the title is probably not only the biblical figure but also Moses Harris, the author of a treatise on color. Turner’s spinning vortex-like compositions convey the eternal rotation of night and day, light and dark, and also the cyclical nature of life.”
 


Joseph Mallord William Turner, “Snow Storm — Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth,” 1842, oil,
(c) Tate, London 2015

 

“J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free” opened on October 31 and will be on view through January 31.
 
To learn more, visit the Art Gallery of Ontario.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
 

Investing in the Future

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Since 1983, the Scottsdale Artists’ School (SAS) has been an important venue for supporting aspiring artists of all ages and skill levels. The school offers classes and workshops that focus on the fundamentals of fine art production, and many in the local art community hope the non-profit continues to flourish for years to come. On November 14, SAS will host its annual Beaux Arts fundraiser.
 
A host of fun events will characterize the 2015 annual Beaux Arts Fundraiser at the Scottsdale Artists’ School on November 14 at 6 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase artworks from over 100 artists from all across the country during the event’s silent auction. Bidding on trips and other treasures will be available as well. The school reports, “The evening will honor California artist and Scottsdale Artists’ School instructor Daniel J. Keys as the 2015 Signature Artist. Arizona Sculptor and Cowboy Artist of America John Coleman, along with Honorary Chair Joshua Rose, will also be recognized during the event.”
 


Sherri Aldawood, “Sewing in Pearls,” oil, 16 x 12 in. (c) Scottsdale Artists’ School 2015

 
An online catalogue of available works can be found here. Also exciting is the fact that absentee bids can be placed as well, giving anyone the chance to not only own a magnificent work of art, but to support an important Southwestern fine art institution. Tickets to the event can be found here.
 


Carol McSweeney, “Mask,” watercolor, 10 x 7 in. (c) Scottsdale Artists’ School 2015

 
To learn more, visit the Scottsdale Artists’ School.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.

A Colorful Touch

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Devoid of color, the rich impasto surfaces of John Stockwell’s paintings could easily stand alone as magnetic and engaging. The addition of hue only takes them to a new level of magnificence.
 
Using his hands and fingertips to paint, artist John Stockwell creates an unbelievable surface on his canvases that continually arrests his viewers. Stockwell, largely a landscape painter, creates panoramas with a rich array of peaks, clusters, mounds, troughs, and ridges in thick paint. Reminiscent of the vivid work of Vincent van Gogh, Stockwell’s images emit life, exuberance, and energy from the surface and via his brilliant use of color.
 


John Stockwell, “The Bend in the Bay,” 2015, oil on canvas, 36 x 51 in. (c) Arden Gallery 2015

 
Stockwell’s newest works feature in a solo exhibition at the Arden Gallery in Boston, Massachusetts.
 


John Stockwell, “Glaze,” 2015, oil on canvas, 40 x 65 in. (c) Arden Gallery 2015

 
Large in scale, Stockwell’s paintings often show deep, expansive views with fields of flowers in a patterned arrangement of luminous yellows, crimsons, whites, and cobalts. The gallery writes, “John Stockwell lives in Sweden with his wife and two children. He draws inspiration from the lush fields of flowers, scenic lakes, and plowed farm fields just outside his windows.”
 
Continuing, the gallery offers, “Stockwell’s dynamic creations are at once tempestuous and still. Skies smattered with soft wisps of white cause the viewer to pause momentarily amidst luminous azure distances, while picturesque indigo and sapphire expanses are threatened by hints of rolling gray storm clouds. The works reflect on the omnipotent beauty of time spent with a nature untouched by human presence. John Stockwell’s paintings offer a precious gift, a divine reminder of what is most pure, magnetic, and real about the enchanted world in which we live.”
 


John Stockwell, “Red One,” 2015, oil on canvas, 40 x 65 in. (c) Arden Gallery 2015

 
Stockwell’s “Red Rest” is absolutely stunning and powerful. It is in a large vertical format, and the viewer stands amid a plowed field of red flowers. A dark horizontal band of silhouetted trees separates the flowers from an expansive landscape at distance. In fact, most of the canvas has been given to the soft sky above, which displays large wisps of clouds angling toward the left edge. While details of individual forms are scarce, the power lies in Stockwell’s color and surface, which create a captivating visual pattern. There exists in this work a lovely juxtaposition between the thickly applied reds of the flowers and the smoothed texture of the sky. The effect is to enhance our perception of the visual textures.
 
“John Stockwell: New Works” opened on November 3 and will be on view through November 28.
 
To learn more, visit the Arden Gallery.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
 

Women Artists of the West

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Founded in 1971, Women Artists of the West is a remarkable organization dedicated to uniting women artists, elevating awareness of their art, and promoting technical excellence. With over 270 juried members, the organization’s annual national exhibition just opened in Tucson, Arizona.
 
Since 1971 in Norco, California, Women Artists of the West (WAOW) has continuously evolved as more artists seek to become a part of the organization’s legacy. The success of the group, originally capped at 35 members, has brought a broadening of not only membership — now over 270 — but also an embracing of new genres, subject matter, and styles.
 


Betty Gates, “Surf Fishing,” oil, 16 x 20 in. (c) Women Artists of the West 2015

 
This year’s national exhibition, held at the Tucson Desert Art Museum, will be WAOW’s 45th show, with a seven-member blind jury choosing the works included. Wyoming artist Carol Swinney, a nationally known painter, graciously served as the exhibition’s juror of awards.
 
This year’s exhibition will feature 200 amazing works in a full spectrum of styles and media, and many will be available for purchase. Also included in the show are the works of five Master Signature Members: Betty J. Billups, Betty Gates, Cecy Turner, Kim Shaklee, and Mary Ann Cherry, each of whom was specifically invited to participate.
 


Mary Ann Cherry, “Piegan Bridles,” soft pastel, 16 x 20 in. (c) Women Artists of the West 2015

 
Women Artists of the West’s “45th Annual National Exhibition” opened November 3 and will be on view through November 28. An opening reception will take place tomorrow evening, November 6, at 5:30 p.m. Demonstrations by several of the exhibition’s artists will take place on Saturday, November 7. A full online catalogue of works included can be found here.
 
To learn more, visit Women Artists of the West or the Tucson Desert Art Museum.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
 

Featured Artwork: Pete Tillack

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Pete Tillack
“Perspective”
Oil
30 x 40 in.
$9,100

http://petetillack.com/
www.celebrateart.com

Australian born artist, Pete Tillack was drawn on an adventurous seven-year trek, which took him around the world and was lead by his desire for the waves and the diverse cultures. Tillack encountered countless societies and lifestyles that lent a hand in helping him become more aware of his own self-explorations, direction and personal growth. Tillack’s work is heavily influenced from his emotions and experiences from traveling and is infused with the feelings of serenity thru ones environment.

A self taught artist, Tillack pursued many independent studies in such places as, Italy, France, Central America, South America and South Africa. As well as participating with other artist in bringing together many high profile public pieces. Pete has filled many respected roles such as, Coordinator/Moderator for the San Diego Art Institutes program “The Gathering”, to being selected to serve on the Arts Master Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee for his local city. Tillack’s technical analysis of contrast, and his regular use of monotone colors, are what is used to dramatize the silhouettes and reflections shaped by a sunrise or sunset. This gives his wonderful creations a depth that draw the viewer into each piece, and lures them into an experience, transcending them to a peaceful disposition – “their personal journey.”
 
“As I grow with my work, my focus and purpose becomes more defined, adding a greater compassion and drive to not only my art, but my life.  My subject matter focuses on the journey of our lives, and the environment that constantly affects our daily decisions and directions as our choices and judgments are swayed by our surroundings and our experiences. I enjoy placing juxtapose subject matter to symbolize my statements and represent the importance in life.  I hope you not only enjoy the artistic beauty of the piece, and are drawn into its hidden details, but ultimately understand the statement that I am trying to convey, and understand that there are many cross roads in life and we can always use the maps that those before us have written……”
Pete’s works of art are in many corporate and private collections worldwide.  Pete exhibits his work at the annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ, which draws visitors and collectors from around the globe.

The Celebration of Fine Art is a unique art experience which gives visitors the opportunity to watch 100 artists in their working studios January 16 – March 27, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ. Open daily from 10 am – 6 pm. Visitors will enjoy strolling through the 100 artist studios under the 40,000 square foot exhibit tent.  Artists are on-site creating, allowing for the visitor to watch them at work, discover what inspires them and the techniques used to create the works of art.   Pete has been participating in the Celebration of Fine Art since 2012. Come to Scottsdale to see more of his works in person and discover the stories behind each unique work of art.

http://petetillack.com/
www.celebrateart.com
 
 
 
 

Featured Artwork: Thomas Moran

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Thomas Moran
“Castle Rock, Green River, Wyoming”
1907
Oil on canvas
20 x 30 in.

http://www.cmrussell.org

The C.M. Russell Museum is pleased to announce that an oil painting by Thomas Moran has been consigned to the LiveAuction on March 19, 2016, part of “The Russell: An Exhibition and Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum,” proudly sponsored by BNSF Railway.

Thomas Moran (1837-1926) was a British-born painter and printmaker who became one of the pre-eminent artists of the American West. In 1871, as a member of the Hayden Geological Survey, he recorded the glories of the area that Congress set aside as Yellowstone National Park in 1872.  One subject Moran interpreted time and again was the Green River in Wyoming. Measuring 20 x 30 inches, Castle Rock,Green River, Wyoming (1907) is an exceptional example of his treatment of the subject, depicting the majestic butte rising above the wide and placid bends of the fog-bound river. This spectacular piece of western art has the potential to gavel at the highest value for a single work in the history of The Russell.

The Russell is the premiere fundraising event for the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, attracting artists, collectors, and patrons from around the country. The three-day schedule of events and exhibitions culminates in a black tie live auction featuring important pieces by Charles M. Russell, Thomas Moran, and other historic artists. This sale also showcases new work by the country’s most acclaimed contemporary western artists. The Russell, recognized as one of the most prestigious western art events in the country, provides critical funding through commissions and premiums that directly support the C.M. Russell Museum’s educational programs and cultural outreach to ensure the legacy of Charles M. Russell lives on for future generations.

http://www.cmrussell.org
 

Featured Artwork: Michele Byrne

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Michele Byrne
“Sunlight in the City”
Oil
40 x 40 in.
$7,000
 
www.michelebyrne.com
 
For the past 20 years the theme for Byrne’s paintings has been the art of conversation.  Capturing the movement, the body language, and the bond that we share as humans has been her intent.  For many years she concentrated on social situations – café scenes, jazz clubs or outings on the beach.
 
With her street scenes she attempts to capture that same theme as well as the energy and movement of the city.
 
Byrne lived in Manhattan for a summer in her twenty’s and continues to travel there often to paint on location.
 
“I never considered myself an overly patriotic person, but my first trip to the city after the September 11th tragedies changed that forever.  Seeing the flags furling throughout the city brought tears to my eyes.  The American flag is such a strong symbol of unity for our country.”
 
Byrne has returned to that theme with a new series of paintings that reflects that oneness of our humanity and our country.

“Manhattan Flags” shown below will be on exhibit at Eckert & Ross Fine Art for the Oil Painters of America Eastern Exhibition.

www.michelebyrne.com
 

Featured Artwork: Paul Grass

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Paul Grass
“Parable Of The Ten Virgins”
Oil
30 x 24in.

Paul Grass – Director The Religious Academy of Classical Art
[email protected]
www.paulgrass.com
720.381.7835
 
Upcoming Show:
 
LivvnArt Monthly and The Religious Academy present our first annual “Christmas Fundraiser and All Gallery Show.”   Show will be opening Saturday December 5th with a special Art Auction at 6:00 pm at the LivvnArt Gallery, 216 South Grant, Denver CO 80209.
 
The Art Auction is a first Semi-Annual Fundraiser for the “Brandy Cattoor Children’s Trust.”  Brandy Cattoor, LivvnArt’s CEO, passed away last month at the age of 27 from an unexpected two month battle with cancer.  Her husband, Adam Cattoor, has three small children all under the age of five years old including four month old, Vincent, named after Vincent Van Gogh.
 
The Art Auction will be held Saturday, Dec. 5th, from 6-9 pm.  Afterwards all artwork unsold will be available for purchase on www.livvnart.org.  Artists from around the world have donated work for this including Brandy Cattoor who left behind many great pieces.  Originals and Prints will be made available.
 
Artists include Paul Grass, Nikki Covington, J. Kirk Richards, Quang Ho, Mike Malm, Robert Barrett, Robert Kirby, Patricia Johnson, John Stadler, Corey Strange, Vera Anderson, and many more.  One hundred percent of the sales from this Artwork will go towards the Brandy Cattoor Children’s Trust.
 
LivvnArt’s All Gallery Show will also be on display Saturday Dec. 5th – Wednesday Jan. 6th at The Religious Academy.  216 South Grant, 3rd Floor, Denver CO 80209.  LivvnArt is a Classical Realism Gallery that focuses on synergyzing Classical Art with the Arts.

Please visit www.livvnart.org for more info.

Paul Grass – Director The Religious Academy of Classical Art
[email protected]
www.paulgrass.com
720.381.7835
 

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