American Artist Magazine

American Artist: Everything You Need to Know About Plein Air Painting

Brian Riley — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Deb Painting Spring Creek (detail)
by Edward Martinez, 2006, oil, 22 x 14.
Collection the artist.

Jim Wilcox: Western Landscapes

Using Plein Air Sketches, Photographs,
Research, & Imagination to Create
Studio Paintings

Plein Air Past: From Europe to America

The History of the Plein Air Movement
by Allison Malafronte

Plein Air Pioneers
by John A. Parks

The Arrival of French Impressionism in America: California’s Golden Years
by Jean Stern

Plein Air Present: American Artists & Their Regional Subject Matter

Lynn Gertenbach: California Landscapes & Seascapes
 by Molly Siple

Kevin Macpherson: A New Mexico Series
by Allison Malafronte

Jim Wilcox: Western Landscapes
by Bob Bahr

Calvin Liang: California Harbor Scenes
by Molly Siple

Jacob Collins, Nicolas Hiltner, Edward Minoff, & Travis Schlaht: Hudson Valley Landscapes
by M. Stephen Doherty

American Plein Air Painters Abroad: Educational Excursions

Gerald F. Brommer: Capture a Sense of Place With On-Site Travel Sketches
by Gerald F. Brommer

Rob Liberace: Learning From the Masters in Ireland
by M. Stephen Doherty

Ross Merrill: In the Steps of Winslow Homer
by M. Stephen Doherty

Andy Evansen: Plein Air in China
by Andy Evansen

Timeless Plein Air Approaches: Using On-Site Studies & Sketches for Studio Work

From the Site to the Studio With PAPA Members
by Bob Bahr

Using Plein Air Sketches, Photographs, Research, & Imagination to Create Studio Paintings
by Steve Armes

Take the Outdoors Into the Studio
by M. Stephen Doherty

American Artist, April 2010

Brian Riley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:27:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Turquoise Eyes (detail)
by Kenneth Cadwallader, 2009, oil on linen,
18 x 24. Collection the artist.

Maintain a Beginner’s Sense of Adventure

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
What’s New at ArtistDaily.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

Painting in Oil With Spontaneity and Insight
by Collin Fry
Michigan artist Kenneth Cadwallader seeks to reveal the individual character of his subjects through a fresh alla prima technique and by emphasizing the essentials—composition, values, edges, and color.

Maintain a Beginner’s Sense of Adventure
by M. Stephen Doherty
Madeleine Kelly had to postpone her art career while she earned a living, but now that she is a full-time artist, she remains open to exploring new materials and techniques, including painting pastels over textured acrylic paint.

Watercolors as Drawings Brought to Life
by M. Stephen Doherty
In his personal work and architectural presentations, Thomas W. Schaller treats watercolor as an extension of the drawing process in that the painting medium brings vibrancy, energy, and expressiveness to  accurate representations of what he observes.

Approaching Art With the Intensity of an Athelete
by Linda S. Price
Oil painter Sonya Sklaroff considers herself an artistic athlete and works hard to keep her skills up by constantly drawing and painting.

Control Means Freedom
by John A. Parks
Virginia artist Elizabeth Geiger understands that successful open brushwork and direct handling are the result of careful preparation.

The Challenges & Triumphs of Creating a Large-Scale Mural
by Allison Malafronte
California artist Ron DiCianni used his many years of experience as an illustrator and painter to imbue a recently completed mural with larger-than-life impact.

American Artist, March 2010

Brian Riley — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

On the Cover:
The Painter (detail, reversed)
by Nancy Guzik, 1990, oil, 36 x 20.
Private collection.

Interpreting Reality Through Colored-Pencil
Paintings

Finding Inspiration in a Diverse Range of
Master Artists

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
What’s New at artistdaily.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

Combine & Enhance Images in Acrylic Paintings
by M. Stephen Doherty
Misty Martin works from photographs in developing her detailed acrylic paintings, but she combines images and adjusts the intensity and balance of the colors to make stronger compositions and more interesting pictures.

Nancy Guzik: Finding an Authentic Voice in Today’s Art World
by Allison Malafronte
Through a lot of soul searching and introspection, this New Hampshire painter found her own unique artistic voice and uses her subject matter to shed light on the beauty all around us.

Finding Inspiration in a Diverse Range of Master Artists
by Dean Dalfonzo
Michael Peery combines influences from a wide-ranging group of historical and contemporary artists to create small oil portraits that use scale, repetition, and chroma to make powerful, painterly impacts.

Interpreting Reality Through Colored-Pencil Paintings
by Alyona Nickelsen
By following an exacting but creative process, simple reference photographs can be transformed into beautiful still lifes.

A Professional Portraitist Offers Her Best Advice
Interview by Allison Malafronte
In the span of seven years Michele Rushworth has gone from having little to no commission work to being one of the most reputable professional portraitists today. Here she offers readers advice on the steps she took to improve her skills, market her work, and increase visibility among important clients.

2010 Workshop & Art School Directory
Our annual compilation of domestic and foreign workshops and art schools.

American Artist, February 2010

Brian Riley — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Winter Glow (detail)
by Neal Hughes, 2008, oil, 16 x 20.
Collection Dr. Pat White.

Blending Traditions of Still Life Painting

Representation & Invention in Watercolor

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at artistdaily.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

The Spiritual Side of Painting
by M. Stephen Doherty
New Jersey artist Neal Hughes uses his considerable artistic skills as an act of celebration and testament, and he is rewarded with inspiration that helps him make creative decisions that elevate his oil landscapes.

Blending Traditions of Still Life Painting
by M. Stephen Doherty
Arturo García was influenced by great Spanish masters and trained in academic styles of drawing and painting. He now paints still lifes as celebrations of the beauty, sentiment, and function of the objects he selects.

Representation & Invention in Watercolor
by James A. Metcalfe
New Mexico artist Tom Perkinson has an approach to painting that he calls “romantic realism,” whereby he uses both representation and invention to capture the dramatic, emotive beauty of his beloved local landscape.

Joseph Bonomo: The Journey to Becoming a Better Artist
by Allison Malafronte
Primarily a self-taught artist who had to chart his own course through the mercurial world of fine art, this Colorado painter has encouraging advice to offer other artists who are equally passionate about growing in skill and understanding.

Accessing Universal Patterns With Acrylic Paintings
by M. Stephen Doherty
As Michigan artist Paul Nehring moves thick mixtures of acrylic paint and gel medium over stretched canvases, he accesses forms and colors that are common in many cultures.

6 Top Pastel Painters Share Materials & Techniques
by Molly Siple
The choice of firmness and range of colors of pastels, as well as the surfaces on which they are applied, will influence the style and appearance of one’s finished paintings. Here’s what top professional artists use in creating their work.

American Artist, January 2010

Brian Riley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:21:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Sunflowers I (detail)
by Patricia Tribastone, 2007, pastel on
prepared board, 24 x 18. Collection the artist.

Drawing Upon Local Community & Landscape

Painting My Hometown From Photographs

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at artistdaily.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

Weekend With the Masters Review

Imagination, Atmosphere, & Design: Winslow Homer at Houghton Farm
by John A. Parks
A recent exhibition showed that when he reached a creative crossroads, the great American artist achieved new heights in sketching and painting.

Compose & Paint: Varied Landscapes With Acrylics
by M. Stephen Doherty
When Jeanette Chupack moved from Vermont to Florida and became an avid kayaker, she had to adapt her acrylic-painting procedures to respond to the complicated, repetitive patterns she observed along the waterways of the Sunshine State.

Draw the Ephemeral Qualities of Real Phenomena
by M. Stephen Doherty
Katina Huston responded to her fascination with cast shadows by creating a series of drawings on Mylar using mixtures of ink and acrylic medium.

Painting My Hometown From Photographs
by Stephan Hoffpauir
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, I returned to a series of paintings of the unexpected aspects of the city’s urban spaces. It was an act of devotion and remembrance and a way of celebrating what survived but may soon be lost.

Drama and Sensitivity in Pastel
by James A. Metcalfe
Patricia Tribastone explores the properties of pastel to create pieces that are both powerfully dramatic and quietly sensitive.

Drawing Upon Local Community & Landscape
by Molly Siple
Fellowship with other artists and strong ties to the land and sea in his area have strengthened the artwork of Southern California artist Stephen Eugene Mirich.

Mood Over Minutia
by Bob Bahr
Oil painter Kim Cogan captures the atmosphere and mystery of atypical scenes through careful treatment of light and color.

American Artist, December 2009

Brian Riley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:01:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Still Life With Box of Jellied Fruit, Bread,
Silver Salver, Glass, and Wine Cooler
(detail)
by Luis Meléndez, 1770, oil, 19 1⁄2 x 14 1⁄2.
Collection the Prado, Madrid, Spain.

Love at First Touch: The Pastel Paintings
of Linda Gross Brown

24 Watercolor Portraits
(One for Each Year of a Child’s Life)

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of ArtTechnical Q+A
2009 Editorial Index
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

A Very Spanish Appetite: The Paintings of Luis Meléndez
by John A. Parks
The greatest master of the Spanish still life came to artistic triumph through professional failure.

The Perfect Gifts for Artists
by M. Stephen Doherty
Find holiday gift ideas for the artists in your life.

Painting Landscapes in Exact Scale
by Marc Dalessio
Marc Dalessio explains how he paints landscapes using an adaptation of the sight-size method normally associated with studio work. His method is to paint what he observes in such a way that the subject and painted image are exactly the same scale when viewed from a constant position.

Building Rich and Full Layers (Available Online)
by John A. Parks
By subtly layering pastel, Marlene Wiedenbaum creates a luscious and convincing sense of the world.

The Benefits and Limitations of Painting Personal Imagery
by M. Stephen Doherty
George Towne first painted portraits of friends and members of his community as a way of instilling meaningful content in his artwork and motivating himself through long hours of painting. He now applies what he learned to creating drawings and paintings of models that are only acquaintances but whose appearance and personality appeal to him.

24 Watercolor Portraits (One for Each Year of a Child’s Life)
by M. Stephen Doherty
Carol Carter began a series of annual portraits of her son shortly after he was born, and she continues to add to her Growth Portraits series now that he is 24 years old.

Love at First Touch: The Pastel Paintings of Linda Gross Brown
by James A. Metcalfe
Ohio artist Linda Gross Brown loves the freedom of working with her fingers, creating pathways through her peaceful scenes with light and shadow.

American Artist, November 2009

Brian Riley — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:01:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Self-Portrait (detail)
by Lea Colie Wight, 2008, oil, 24 x 18.
Collection the artist.

Using Layers to Create a
Sense of Place

Portrait Sketches That Guide Artists
and Their Clients

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

The Arrival of French Impressionism in America: California’s Golden Years
by Jean Stern
Around the turn of the 20th century, Impressionism had become the style of choice among most American painters. Turning from academic modes and styles, the public slowly embraced these bright, colorful paintings and looked to the California artists to adapt the French-inspired way of painting light in the landscape.

Paint What You See at a Glance
by M. Stephen Doherty
Lea Colie Wight spent years learning to paint fleeting images that captivated her attention. “I’m now helping students understand what took me years to learn—that painting is about recording what you see and feel at a moment in time,” she says.

Capturing Atmosphere in Oil Landscapes
by M. Stephen Doherty
Maryland artist Gavin Brooks instills landscape paintings with a sense of air, saturated light, time, and distance. She accomplishes that by managing the subtlety of values, establishing hard and soft edges, controlling the intensity of color, and creating a layering of paint qualities.

Portrait Sketches That Guide Artists and Their Clients
by M. Stephen Doherty
Brian Neher paints two small oil sketches of his portrait subjects to help set a direction for the finished portrait that satisfies him and his clients.

10 Steps to Determine Values in Watercolor (Available Online)
by David R. Daniels
Although I am known for using vibrant colors to create what appear to be playful, spontaneous images in my watercolor paintings, the key to the success of these paintings is the value structure of the compositions. Here’s how I teach others to use studies to plan effective compositions.

Using Layers to Create a Sense of Place
by John A. Parks
John Evans’ evocative and compelling oil paintings emerge from a long process of struggle, overpainting, layering, sanding, and soul-searching.

American Artist Studios

Brian Riley — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:01:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Dianne Bernhard in her National Arts
Club studio.
Photo: Nathan Kraxberger

Domestic Conversions

A Studio Worthy of Rockwell

FEATURES

Studio Vignettes
by M. Stephen Doherty
Step inside these private studios, and see how the artists organize and furnish their creative work environments.

Russell and Cynthia Gordon: Sharing Space With a Spouse, Family, and Pets
Stacey Peterson: Setting the Right Mood
Will Wilson: Enough Space for Work, Storage, and Relaxation
Woodstock: Historic Studios in an Artists’ Community
Dianne B. and A. Van H. Bernhard: Dream Studios, Practical Function
Robert Gamblin and Catherine Kumlin: Shared Industrial Space
Sheila Delimont: Combining a Studio and a Gallery
Margaret E. Millard: Stretching the Budget for Furniture
Jeff Allen: Building Your Own Dream Space
Dava Dahlgran: Making Room for Drawing and Teaching
Veronica Winters: Storing Reference Material in a Small Studio
Richard Oversmith: Painting Walls to Match Paul Cézanne’s Studio
Lydia Piper: Moving a Studio From Room to Room
Susan Blackwood and Howard Friedland: Easy on the Knees, Warm on the Feet, Ideal for Creating Paintings

Domestic Conversions
by John A. Parks
The perfect studio may already be available in your home.

Daniel Pinkham: A Major Conversion
Dennis Doheny: A Simple Garage Makeover
Kathy Caudill: Using a “Bonus” Room
Gail Descouers: Insulating a Garage
Amy Mann: Using Living Space

6 Historic Studios You Can Visit
by Stephen May
Dozens of artists’ studios have been preserved, so you can study the working methods, local inspirations, and personal habits of artists such as Grant Wood, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thomas Hart Benton, Frederic Remington, Charles Demuth, and J. Alden Weir.

Keeping You and Your Studio Safe
by Molly Siple
A variety of safety equipment can help artists reduce the risks present when working with hazardous materials.

Getting the Right Light in Your Studio
by Bob Bahr
Most artists agree that diffused natural light is the best light in which to paint, but sometimes artificial light is unavoidable. Here's what you should consider when designing the lighting in your studio.

A Studio Worthy of Rockwell (Available Online)
by Austin R. Williams
When building his studio, Christopher Pierce looked nearby for inspiration from an American master.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, October 2009

Brian Riley — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:01:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Meandering River (detail)
by Scott Christensen, 2009, oil,
48 x 48. Private collection.

Intuitive Painting

Arranging & Painting Meaningful
Still Lifes

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: PLEIN AIR
This special section on plein air painting features an article on the history of the plein air movement, interviews with two top landscape artists, tools and tips, and a resource list of plein air organizations and retailers. Download the PDF here.

Arranging & Painting Meaningful Still Lifes
by James A. Metcalfe
Delaware artist Frank Trefny chooses to paint objects rich in aesthetic appeal to emphasize the frailty of beauty surrounding us.

Intuitive Painting
by M. Stephen Doherty
Colorado artist Dan Beck doesn’t spend time planning his oil paintings because he prefers to dive into the creative process and react to what is happening. “I’m interested in responding emotionally to the subject, not in executing a detailed plan,” he says. “And if that approach forces me to deal with unexpected challenges, then it is more like everyday living.”

Find the Best Format for Acrylic Landscapes
by M. Stephen Doherty
Bruce Peeso uses either long horizontal or tall vertical formats when he is painting acrylic on panel. “The unusual dimensions serve to emphasize the peacefulness of the landscape,” the artist explains. “The space is really the subject, not the man-made structures that often appear. Collectors respond to the feeling of the landscapes and the connections to their memories.”

A Different Kind Of Portrait
by Linda S. Price
Sandra Bloodworth turns an artist’s eye toward creating visually inspiring meals and table settings, then capturing the essence of those meals on canvas. To her, these paintings are portraits.

3 Proven Ways to Start Watercolors Outdoors (Available Online)
by Collin Fry
Michigan artist Jim Johnson offers valuable hints for successful watercolor painting outdoors.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, September 2009

Brian Riley — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:02:00 GMT

On the Cover:
An Autumn Obi (detail)
by Claudia Seymour, 2004, oil on linen,
20 x 16. Collection the artist.

Still Lifes That Connect Memories

Attract More Attention to Your
Landscapes

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

New Papers for Printmaking, Drawing, and Watermedia Painting (Downloadable PDF Available)
by M. Stephen Doherty
Several new lines of papers have recently been made available to artists who are finding that the colors, surfaces, qualities, and versatility of those new products offer new possibilities and resolve challenges.

The Sublime and the Beautiful: Painting the Hudson Valley (Available Online)
by John A. Parks
In honor of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage, the art community prepares to celebrate the extraordinary history of painting along the Hudson River.

Still Lifes That Connect Memories
by M. Stephen Doherty
New Hampshire artist Robin Frisella uses pastels to create paintings of cherished objects. The stories of the still life objects’ roles in the family histories of her collectors inspire the artist and establish emotional links between the paintings and collectors.

Asking & Answering Questions to Direct the Painting Process
by M. Stephen Doherty
Mary Britten Lynch refers to her creative process as one of “due process,” by which she means there are steps she must pursue in order to finish a painting to her satisfaction, including asking questions and responding to the answers

Attract More Attention to Your Landscapes
by M. Stephen Doherty
After spending years listening to people who visit his booth in outdoor shows, Scott Coulter has developed a clear understanding of how potential buyers respond to his acrylic landscape paintings—and what motivates them to purchase his woodland scenes.

Creating Movement in a Still Life (Available Online)
by Linda S. Price
Whether painting in oil or pastel, Connecticut artist Claudia Seymour avoids static compositions by using line, color, and design to move the viewer’s eye through the painting.

Telling a Story with Casein: The Paintings of Michael Ananian
by John A. Parks
This artist has developed a rich and lively figurative style to weave together complex and highly entertaining narratives.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, July/August 2009

Brian Riley — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:01:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Tea Still Life (detail)
by Daniel James Keys, 2008,
oil, 24 x 30. Collection the artist.

Self-Portraits:
A Visual Journey of Insight

Best Professional Practices for
Dynamic Still Lifes

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

3 Exercises & 20 Steps to Painting Rhythmic Figures in Watercolor
by M. Stephen Doherty
Janet Rogers is one of the most popular watercolor instructors because she demonstrates ways to effectively capture the personality, vibrancy, and attractiveness of people and flowers. In her workshops and DVDs, she shows students how to relax, have fun, work intuitively, and still get satisfying results.

Creating Large-Scale Studio Landscapes
by Edward Minoff
I recently completed a large-scale seascape in the style of the Hudson River School artists. Here is a look at the inspiration, preparatory work, and approach that brought the project to fruition.

Best Professional Practices for Dynamic Still Lifes
by Bob Bahr
New Jersey oil painter Joe Gyurcsak helps students understand how using a limited palette and keeping things simple makes for a painting that looks unified and convincing.

How to Triumph in Spite of the Odds (Available Online)
by M. Stephen Doherty
Emerging artist Daniel James Keys couldn’t enroll at an art school, but he used every other available means to educate himself as an artist, to connect with other painters, and to promote his artwork. His experience proves that with determination, support, and computer savvy, artists can make significant progress.

Painting the Feel of Your Neighborhood, in Pastel
by Molly Siple
Los Angeles pastelist Nancy Popenoe finds fascinating architecture just by looking out her kitchen window or by painting nearby in her parked car.

Self-Portraits: A Visual Journey of Insight
by David A. Leffel
David A. Leffel’s new book Self-Portraits: A Visual Journey of Insight offers an intimate look at the artist’s approach to self-portraiture and insightful reflections on the many moods and motivations behind these personal expressions. We present an excerpt of that book here.

Emerging Artist: Lindsay Goodwin
by M. Stephen Doherty
This gifted young painter won the American Artist Emerging Artist Award in the 98th Annual California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, June 2009

Brian Riley — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Still Life With Butterfly (detail)
by Suzanne Eisler, 2007, oil, 13 x 14.
Collection the artist.
This painting was the winning entry in
the 2009 American Artist Cover
Competition.

Is Richard Schmid the Most Powerful
Influence on Painters Today?

Capture a Sense of Place With
On-Site Travel Sketches

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTION: 6 Top Pastel Painters Share Materials & Techniques

by M. Stephen Doherty
Look closely at detail photographs of paintings by top artists, and learn how the pastels are built up in layers on a variety of surfaces.
(Please visit the site to view this media) (Downloadable PDF)

Cover Competition Winners Announced (Available Online)
Artists from across the country submitted their work for consideration in the 2009 American Artist Cover Competition. After an extensive selection process, Suzanne Eisler’s Still Life With Butterfly was chosen as the winning image. It is presented here, along with artwork from the nine other finalists.

Injecting Sophisticated Drama: Painting Skies and Coasts With Delicate Brushstrokes (Available Online)
by John R. Kemp
Gulf Coast oil painter Susan Downing-White has a found a way to depict warmly illuminated skies and coastlands using light strokes and a muted palette.

Capture a Sense of Place With On-Site Travel Sketches
by Gerald F. Brommer
Without sufficient time to create full-scale paintings on location during a recent trip to Europe, I relied on graphite and ink sketches to capture the essence of the scenes we visited, adding watercolor washes once back in my studio.

Telling Stories Based on Dreams, Experiences, and Friendships
by M. Stephen Doherty
Taking advantage of the disciplined training she received in the United States and Russia, Tennessee artist Melissa Hefferlin develops drawings, pastel paintings, and oil paintings about the people and events of her life.

Making Dynamic Portraits in Acrylic
by John A. Parks
New Jersey artist Matt Cauley uses a delicate acrylic technique to build powerful form and richly varied color in his larger-than-life portraits.

Is Richard Schmid the Most Powerful Influence on Painters Today?
by M. Stephen Doherty
This month, an exhibition of paintings by Richard Schmid and 12 award-winning artists he mentored is on view in New York City. We asked several of those artists to explain how Schmid has influenced them through his teachings, friendship, and art.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, May 2009

Brian Riley — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:00:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Cupids Ascending the Silver Ark (detail)
by Peter Adams, 2009, oil, 20 x 24.
Collection the artist.
One of the more notable paintings from the
California Art Club’s 98th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition.

Four Exercises & 10 Commandments
of Watercolor Painting

Studio as Setting:
The Paintings of Scott Noel

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

The Appropriate Environment for the Display and Storage of Artwork
by Gregory D. Smith, Ph.D., and James F. Hamm
The old rules about setting the optimum levels of heat and relative humidity in a museum, gallery, or studio have been replaced. New research about the impact of those environmental conditions offers better ways to preserve works of art.

Studio as Setting: The Paintings of Scott Noel
by Ephraim Rubenstein
Through the careful orchestration of figures and still life objects, this Philadelphia oil painter uses his studio as the setting for both natural and metaphorical scenes.

Four Exercises & 10 Commandments of Watercolor Painting
by M. Stephen Doherty
Californian Stephen Harby learned to paint in watercolor as part of his education in architecture, but eventually his passion for painting on location consumed most of his time and creative energy. He now takes students through a series of exercises and gives them clear directions so that they can be successful in exploring the medium.

Respond to What Paintings Need (Available Online)
by M. Stephen Doherty
Mary Sipp-Green bases her oil landscapes on sketches, memories, and imagination, and she makes careful notations about color combinations that capture her feelings about a particular time and place. Nevertheless, there is a point in the creative process at which she has to “get out of the way” and let the painting suggest the best ways for it to be finished successfully.

Turn Paintings Into Heat-Transfer Prints
by James A. Metcalfe
After completing her large-scale oil paintings, Ohio artist Phyllis Seltzer creates heat-transfer prints of the images, one section at a time.

Reflections on a Pond: An Exploratory Series on Light and Atmosphere (Available Online)
by Allison Malafronte
Kevin Macpherson spent five years documenting the small pond behind his Taos, New Mexico, home to challenge himself to paint the same subject at various times of day and in different seasons. The resulting “Reflections on a Pond” exhibition and book reveal Macpherson’s artistic journey through this project, as well as his thoughts on capturing a sense of place.

Four Important Lessons Every Artist Should Learn
by Gregory Strachov
Florida artist Gregory Strachov encourages painters to find their own style through developing skills, deciding what it is they want to say, and finding their unique voice.

Expand Your Landscape Painting Horizons
by John R. Kemp
Florida artist and teacher Mark Messersmith avoids following the old rules of painting, instead opting for a wide-open, more imaginative approach to his landscapes.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.

American Artist, April 2009

Brian Riley — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:35:00 GMT

On the Cover:
Secluded Cove (detail)
by Ed Terpening, 2008, oil, 16 x 20.
Collection the artist.

Paint Figures to Represent Your
Ideas & Feelings

How Product Knowledge Improves Pastel Painting

The Only Rule You Need to Follow

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s Note
Letters
What’s New at www.myAmericanArtist.com
Art Mart
Quick Sketches
Exhibitions
Business of Art
Technical Q+A
Bulletin Board

FEATURES

Create Bold & Direct Still Life Paintings
by Al Gury
In his new book, Professor Al Gury demonstrates the materials and techniques used in direct or alla prima painting, one of the great traditions in Western art. Here he explains methods for using observation, improvisation, experimentation, and bold brushwork to record still life arrangements.

Plein Air Pioneers: Oil Sketches From the Thaw Collection
by John A. Parks
A new exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum reveals that the pleasure of oil painting en plein air started more than two centuries ago.

Modern Ways to Sell Traditional Art (Available Online)
by M. Stephen Doherty
Ed Terpening may represent the future of art education and marketing. His skills as a plein air painter and a software engineer allowed him to use social-media marketing to build a flourishing art career. Reading about his experiences could help you navigate through the new world of digital communication, instruction, promotion, and sales.

Paint Figures to Represent Your Ideas & Feelings
by M. Stephen Doherty
Zack Zdrale paints from photographs of people, sometimes using the same model in different poses so that the combined images suggest a range of conflicting emotions. That’s one of the ways the Wisconsin artist explores his thoughts and feelings.

The Only Rule You Need to Follow
by M. Stephen Doherty
For watermedia artist Penny Soto, the only question worth asking is whether a particular material or technique will help her complete a painting satisfactorily.

How Product Knowledge Improves Pastel Painting
by M. Stephen Doherty
Illinois artist Gary Wick encourages students to experiment with different types of pastels, papers, and surface preparations until they find the best means of expressing themselves.

Copying Velázquez at the Prado
by Bob Bahr
New York City artist Yuka Imata used a travel grant she won at the Art Students League of New York to travel to Madrid and copy two pieces by Diego Velázquez. Here’s what she learned from the experience.

To subscribe to American Artist magazine, click here.