The American Artist offices will be closed through the new year, but before we bid you farewell to prepare for our long winter’s nap, we thought we’d let you know what each member of the AA editorial staff is hoping to receive this holiday season. And in case anyone is checking…yes. We’ve all been VERY good.
Steve Doherty,
Editor-in-Chief
Christmas has once again become a magical, exciting time because I can experience it with my 3 ½-year old granddaughter. The best present I will receive is seeing her face light up when she opens her gifts from Santa Claus. By the way, I've been told that I only have to buy her one gift because she is certain that Santa will bring her everything else on her list.
Bob Bahr,
Managing Editor
I’m a man of simple taste. All I want is a solid oak, hand-made Best Abiquiu double-masted easel from Jack Richeson. A mere $2,000. Oh—and a studio that it can fit in. If for some reason that request isn’t fillable—like, say, Santa makes the preposterous claim that the 184-lb easel won’t fit down my chimney—I’ll settle for some Rembrandt oil paints and Da Vinci flats, rounds, and filberts. And another Pitt Oil-Base sanguine pencil. And a few canvas panels on Masonite.
And a candy cane.
Brian Riley,
Managing Editor
Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men, and a Nintendo Wii. It’s for my son…I promise. He’s very advanced for 18 months. I’d also love some Moleskine notebooks, but I don’t want to sound greedy.
Jamie Bogner,
Art Director
Santa delivered my Christmas present early—a beautiful baby boy born December 10. If it’s not too late to make one addition to my wish list: sleep.
Allison Malafronte,
Associate Editor
What do I want for Christmas? Here’s the response I sent to my parents and siblings when they asked me this very same question a month ago:
“Nothing. I don’t want anything. Unless you REALLY want to get me something. Then just get me a gift certificate to EMS. Oh, and if you’re already in there, there’s this pale-pink North Face fleece that I’ve had my eye on—it’s on sale until next week. If you’re already out, you might as well swing by Modell’s and get me a new pair of roller blades. And a bike. And an easel! But not just any easel, an Open Box M pochade box. I want a new guitar too. Does the name Fender mean anything to you? Someone recommended the book “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling,” by Ross King, to me, so....go get it. I really want Lynn Gertenbach’s “Illumination” Liliedahl DVD. It’s only $80. Get two. A gift certificate to my dance studio would be sweet—if you make it over $800, I can take salsa, swing, AND rumba. And this is the last thing, I promise: two weeks in Italy, first week in Florence, second week in a villa in the Tuscan countryside, weekend trip down the Amalfi Coast if there’s time. (If you want to pick me up a Vespa to make the trips up and down the coast easier, don’t hesitate.) That is all. I’m very easy.
Ha! I hope you are laughing, because my family certainly wasn’t. All kidding aside, what I really want for Christmas this year is for everyone I know and love to be happy, healthy, and safe and for everyone to dream big and reach high in 2009! Happy holidays everyone!
Austin Williams,
Assistant Editor
Drawing for Dummies (by Brenda Hoddinott, 1st ed., For Dummies Inc., Indianapolis).
Karyn Meyer,
Online Editor
More paint, more panels, more canvas, more time.
Here’s to hoping you get everything you wish for. We’ll see you all back here in 2009!
Happy Holidays from the American Artist staff!