Greece painting travels

This month, I will be in Greece to paint and conduct research for my "the light, the shade" painting series. If you'd like to come along, follow me on facebook or instagram. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University. I wrote about how poet Robert Lax was the inspiration for this series here.

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Zecchi's Titanium White Pigment (the light, the shade) (+ Vasari Classic Artists' Oil Colors)

Zecchi's Titanium White Pigment (the light, the shade), 2017, oil on linen on panel, 6" x 5"

I am heading to Greece soon, and I realized last week that I was almost out of my favorite ultramarine blue paint. Thankfully, the amazing folks at Vasari were magically able to ship me some ultramarine, as well as cobalt and Prussian blues. (I posted a photo on instagram and facebook.)

If you're interested, a few years ago, I shared just a few of my thoughts on paint. Included in there are some thoughts on Vasari's paint; I'm a huge fan of it because of its purity and handling and consistency. If you contact Vasari, you can purchase a set of my palette of 11 colors. I hope you'll take a moment to check them out; they are an inspiration:

"Like the painter’s apprentice, we still carefully handcraft our colors in small amounts and even fill every tube by hand." [from Vasari's website]

About this painting
This painting is part of my the "light, the shade series" that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for this series here. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series from June 2016-June 2018 is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of paint tubes or paint pigment. I brought those pigments back with me from Florence, Italy in 2008 (you can see a snapshot I took of the pigments at Zecchi's Art Store here).

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Powdered Donuts (magic is still possible) (+ "art-friendly auctions")

I am considering trying out the DailyPaintworks art auction system for some of my painting auctions. The details are here; I would be open to hearing your feedback once you read about them. Their auctions are just like eBay, except their system eliminates last second bidding. I have been using eBay auctions for 10 years, so thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.

About this painting
This is my fourth painting in my "Magic is still possible" series. Since March 2015, I've been working on a series of paintings to celebrate "Magic is still possible," the quote on my July 2014 free poster that comes from a great slideshow narrated by Marco Leona, chief scientist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In it, Leona shares his perspective on the role of magic in the creation of art.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see Still Life with Three Truffles or a bunch of my paintings of donuts.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Peeled Tangerine and Handmade Korean Bowl (+ Exhibition near Austin, TX)

If you are interested, five of my paintings will be on view near Austin, TX, in the Georgetown Art Center exhibition, Fresh Voices of Realism, from June 9 - July 16. It's an honor to be showing with the other artists in the exhibition, including Andrew Ameral, Todd Casey, Joseph Daily, Gabriella Dellosso, Hollis Dunlap, Danny Grant, Bryan Larsen, Graydon Parrish, and Scott Waddell. If you live near Austin, the opening reception is on June 10th, and here are the details: 816 South Main Street, Georgetown, TX 78626, georgetownartcentertx.org.

This show represents the work of contemporary realist painters who have been guests on the podcast, The Studio. I invite you to check them out; each podcast episode is an artist interview, providing a glimpse and insights into the daily life of a professional artist. The recording of the interview with me is here.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see some of my other paintings of tangerines or pottery from South Korea.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Pecorino Busti al Pistaccio and Bosc Pear from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #3)

Click to view auction

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Lemons and Cherries from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #2)

Click to view auction

Most of my time in Rome was spent studying Baroque art and architecture, but I also did three still life paintings and a few drawings. These lemons and cherries were from a market in the Testaccio neighborhood in Rome. It is known as one of the best "classic Roman" markets. You can see some of my photos on facebook or instagram.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Strawberries from Testaccio Market, Rome (Italy 2017 painting #1)

Click to view auction

I just got back from Italy and am getting ready to leave next week for Greece, and I'll be posting more about my travels here soon. As I am adding more photos, you can see a glimpse of my time in Italy here on facebook or instagram.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings completed in Italy over the years.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Larger painting: Still Life with Three Satsumas and Handmade Cup, 8x10 (+ Italy travels)

Still Life with Three Satsumas and Handmade Cup
Oil on linen on panel, 8x10 inches, 2017
AVAILABLE - Contact me at abbeyryan@gmail.com for purchase information

This week, I will be in Rome to travel and paint and study Baroque art. If you'd like to come along, join me on facebook or instagram.

Baroque painters (i.e. Velázquez, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer...) often depicted a dramatic moment using light & dark (chiaroscuro), and I think it is human nature to go towards (the) light. In my own work, I enjoy sharing a way of looking at the world by capturing a moment (of light) as it is happening -- however dramatic or subtle or simple it may be.

As part of my ongoing Paintings of Handmade Pottery series, the cup in this still life is by Willi Singleton, a potter from Pennsylvania.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of handmade pottery or satsuma tangerines.

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To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Zecchi's Ultramarine Blue Pigment (the light, the shade)

Zecchi's Ultramarine Blue Pigment (the light, the shade), 2017, oil on linen on panel, 6" x 5"

This week, I will be in Rome to travel and paint and study Baroque art. If you'd like to come along, join me on facebook or instagram.

I brought this pigment (and other pigments) back with me from Florence, Italy in 2008 (you can see a snapshot I took of the pigments at Zecchi's Art Store here). Also, this painting is part of my the light, the shade series that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for my "the light, the shade" series here. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series from June 2016-June 2018 is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of paint tubes or paint pigment.

To get my painting in your inbox, sign up here.
To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Best,

Bosc Pear in Last Light (+ my upcoming Workshops)

Upcoming Workshops

I have two workshops coming up in 2017. Space is limited. Each workshop will include a still life demonstration by me, as I explain my thought process, as well individualized critiques. Hope to see you there.

July 25-27, 2017 - 2 spots left
3-Day workshop: Explore “A Painting a Day” and Alla Prima Oil Painting
Tuesday-Thursday, 10-4pm
Limited to 12 students
Falmouth Art Center, Falmouth (Cape Cod), MA
LEARN MORE

October 14-15, 2017 - registration just opened
1.5-Day workshop: Explore “A Painting a Day” and Alla Prima Oil Painting
Saturday, 10-4pm
Sunday, 9-12pm
Limited to 12 students
John F. Peto Museum, Island Heights, NJ
LEARN MORE

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a my other "last light" paintings or a bunch of my paintings of pears.

To get my painting in your inbox, sign up here. To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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Still Life with Tangerine and Sugar Bowl (magic is still possible) (+ "Truth" an amazing video about artist Mario Robinson)

I shared last April about artist Mario Robinson's new book, Lessons in Realistic Watercolor. I am a huge fan of Mario's work -- he is a contemporary master in every sense of the word. Brass Brothers Films recently produced a wonderful new short film, Truth, about Mario Robinson's creative life. When the film was debuted, it was given the distinction of a "Staff Pick" by Vimeo and has been viewed almost 200,000 times. I highly recommend taking 9 minutes and 12 seconds out of your day to watch it.

Some of my favorite things that Mario shares in the film are:

"...A quiet style of art in this contemporary era is attractive to people." 

"...If someone is taking it serious, and actually devoting their life to it.... it's contagious. When a person re-discovers their artistic path, art actually enriches their soul. I can see it in their faces." 

"...It becomes bigger because of the passion that I put into it. It's infectious. When I show up, it's bigger than what I'm actually doing. It's the totality of everything. So, that's why you can't give up. Because eventually it will be a tidal wave, and it will overtake everything in its wake." [Watch film here]

About this painting
This is my third painting in my "Magic is still possible" series. (If you're interested, in the painting is a "Homer Laughlin Virginia Rose China" sugar bowl, given to me by my mom about ten years ago. This is my first time painting it.) Since March 2015, I've been working on a series of paintings to celebrate "Magic is still possible," the quote on my July 2014 free poster that comes from a great slideshow narrated by Marco Leona, chief scientist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In it, Leona shares his perspective on the role of magic in the creation of art.

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of tangerines or ceramic (not-quite-handmade-pottery) objects.

To get my painting in your inbox, sign up here.
To purchase my work, view my Current Auctions and All Available Paintings.

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P.S. I have had some questions coming in about my 3 new email lists (daily, weekly, or monthly): Be sure to sign up for only one of the email lists. If you do not want to miss my painting auctions, the daily email is your best bet (sent 3-4 times a week). The weekly and monthly email lists are likely better for folks who are not interested in purchasing my work via auctions. Click here to choose your preferred email list to get exactly what you want (or don't want). If you've already subscribed: check your email today -- you can change your preferred email list by clicking on the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of every email I send.

Live Painting Demo - Cancelled

Unfortunately, I had to cancel my live demo because I'm sick with the flu (or something). More later.

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