Artist Interviews

The Role of an Artist
John Crowther has a background in both the visual and performing arts. In this philosphical and thought-provoking interview he talks about what it means to be an artist, in general and for himself personally.

Finding the Universal
Through the Personal

Primarily known as a sculptor, Kelly Borsheim is also a madonnara in Florence, Italy. She explores autobiographical themes in order to express the universal through the personal.

Art is the Truth
Larkin is a surreal artist whose works are rich in symbolism and allegory. His compositions are sometimes humorous, sometimes scary, and very often thought-provoking. In this interview, Larkin shares his perspective, giving us a deeper understanding of his art.
Patterns of Déjà Vu
Felix Eddy speaks of capturing déjà vu moments, and she explains the interesting background patterns which are a frequent element of her paintings. Her passion is realism, and she discusses her struggle with the emphasis on abstraction and deep meaning that she encountered from some university art teachers.

Vision of a Colorblind Artist
Royce Deans is an accomplished artist whose work has appeared in American Artist magazine. His paintings grace the walls of McDonald's restaurants around the world, but his passion is painting the human figure. This interview includes a crime drama, music, and plenty of food. What more could one ask for?

The Process is the Art
Douglas Pexa is a prolific artist with a mix of figurative and abstract styles. He talks about art as a process, and offers us an insider's perspective on how an artist views art, giving us the means to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artwork and artists we admire.
Every Day is Like Christmas
Art Krummel has described his career as a newspaper illustrator and art director as being "like Christmas morning" every day. Having taken early retirement, he is now pursuing his life-long dream of being an oil painter. One might reasonably conclude that Norman Rockwell has been a major inspiration; he's mentioned six times in the interview.
To Thyself Be True
Dee Overly is an artist with many creative outlets. Her current emphasis is pen and ink figure drawings with watercolor wash, but her talents also include whittling and making neon signs.

Inner Searching

Aletheia Rio lives in The Philippines. Much of her art has a surrealist flavor, and often includes human figures. In this interview she tells about a collaborative surrealist art form called Exquisite Corpse, in addition to sharing her perspective on art.

So Much to Draw

When describing Philip Kinzli's style, the term photorealism comes to mind, although his hand drawn artwork has so much more soul than a photograph. Whether he is rendering the fine details of a still life, or the likeness of a person, he is the kind of artist who makes you wonder, "how does he do that?"

Mystical Clouds
Martin Jonsson is an artist from Sweden. He paints surrealism, often featuring clouds and human figures.

Unleashing Her Dreams

I.T. Hammar is a 17-year old Norwegian artist whose vision and skill are way beyond her years. She's a prolific painter, overflowing with ideas for figurative and surrealist works. Learn how she got started and what makes her tick as she shares her perspective in this interview.

The Perpetual Student
A self-described perpetual student, Virginia Tupper is a portrait artist who is currently specializing in a style called Circulism using colored pencil. She has also studied animation and has had her work broadcast on Canadian television.
The more I paint, the more I leave unpainted
Antoine de Villiers grew up in South Africa, spent some time living in the United Kingdom, and subsequently moved the USA. She is a prolific painter with an elegant style.
The Beauty and Pleasures of Life
Dorothy Wagner designed products for Frigidaire and Buick during her career at General Motors. She is now directing her creative talents toward watercolor and oil painting.
Fastest Draw in the East
If a master of his craft is one who can make a complex task look simple, then Brian Bednarek is a master of figure drawing. His style is scribbly, but far from sloppy. His drawings demonstrate enviable skills in rendering anatomy and blending color, and he has a looseness that many artists strive for. Most impressively, he can do all that in five to ten minutes.
Body Language
In her career as a nurse Terry Rafferty has frequently seen people in physical and emotional crisis, giving her an appreciation for the expressiveness of the human body. Bringing this perspective to her artwork, she strives to capture the body language and emotion of her subjects.

Creative Spirit
Stephanie Forbes is a talented oil painter. She has done many portrait commissions, and her floral paintings are sold in art galleries. In this interview, Stephanie tells us about her spiritual paintings, and the satisfaction she feels when her work connects with a viewer's soul.

Articles

Impressionism: More Than Meets the Eye
By John Crowther, Contributing Editor
We've all heard of Impressionism, and maybe associate it with the works of Monet and Renoir. But most people use the term without a solid understanding of the movement. In this informative article, John Crowther explains that the Impressionists were the equivalent of indie filmmakers today struggling against the studio system.
Hidden Miniatures and Faces in Renaissance and Impressionist Paintings
by Svend Erik Hendriksen
Greenland Art Research (GLAR)
Svend Erik Hendriksen, has discovered something new about the old masters. In his research, he has identfied hidden images within the works of such artists as Cézanne, Gaugin and Titian. Hendriksen theorizes that the purpose of these hidden objects is a form of copy protection.
Featured Books

The Value of Art

by Michael Findlay. This book considers the financial value, social value, and intrinsic value of art.

What Art Is

by Arthur C. Danto. "A work of art is always defined by two essential criteria: meaning and embodiment, as well as one additional criterion contributed by the viewer: interpretation."

Classical Figure Drawing

by Juliette Aristides. In this elegant and inspiring primer, master contemporary artist Juliette Aristides breaks down the drawing process into small, manageable lessons; introduces time-tested principles and techniques that are easily accessible; and shares the language and context necessary to understand the artistic process and create superior, well-crafted drawings. Includes companion DVD with drawing demonstrations by the author.

Art and Courage, Stories to Inspire the Artist-Warrior Within

John Paul Thornton challenges readers to trust in their creative dreams even in the face of adversity. He reveals how real artists, dancers, musicians, writers and others successfully faced their fears and found their true calling.

My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy

American artist Kelly Borsheim traveled to Florence, fell in love with the city, and found herself immersed in the old art of painting directly on the street. The book focuses mainly on the large temporary pastel and chalk reproductions of famous art masterpieces by Kelly and her colleagues. This visual journey includes over 330 color photos.

The Art Spirit

Robert Henri taught at the Art Students League from 1915 to 1928. He is best known for his leadership of the group of realist painters known as The Eight, later known as the Ashcan School. Henri writes about art technique and the role of artists in American society. "Paint what you feel. Paint what you see. Paint what is real to you."

Man with a Blue Scarf:
On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud spent seven months painting art critic Martin Gayford. Through their conversations, the reader learns about Freud's choice of models, lighting, setting, pose, and colors, and how he approaches his relationship with each portrait subject. Gayford records Freud's observations on the work of various old masters and his contemporary Francis Bacon, as well as anecdotes about Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, George Orwell, Greta Garbo, and his grandfather Sigmund Freud. 50 color and 14 black-and-white illustrations.

The Naked Truth About Posing for Art Classes and Fine Artists The Art Model’s Handbook
The Naked Truth about Posing for Art Classes and Fine Artists

The Art Model’s Handbook explains how to model for figure drawing classes, professional artists, and fine art photographers. Written for models, figurative artists, and anyone curious about the creative collaboration between artists and models. Topics include why artists draw nude figures and how to select interesting poses. Includes quotes and interviews with artists, fine art photographers, male and female art models, and model coordinators.

More books recommnended by artists interviewed on this site.


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