HuffingtonPost Arts & Culture blog feature by John Seed

2014 came to a close with the wonderful news that my most recent piece, Cornerstone, was selected by artist and writer John Seed for "Ten Memorable Paintings of 2014," his ongoing HuffingtonPost Arts & Culture blog.  It was a delight to be featured alongside some of my personal favorites, like portrait artist David Kassan, and to read John's thoughts on each of the selected paintings.  Happy 2015 everyone!

"Love It, Locket, Leave It" curated by Diana Corvelle for Island Weiss Gallery

"Translate emotion into object.  Broadcast the personal.  Distill love and loss.  Much and more is asked of artists, and they deliver in spades.  Their innermost workings are made flesh through their hands, presented as an extension of themselves, and the viewer is transported.  For this exhibition, emerging and established artists step outside of their regular studio practice to investigate the space where large emotional content meets a small container – the locket.

Love It, Locket, Leave It pays homage to the centuries-old custom of devotional and mourning jewelry by inviting contemporary artists to condense their most overwhelming experiences – those of love and loss – into poignant mementos of adoration or lament.  By sealing the relics of personal relationships and powerful emotions into a locket, this exhibition gives artists a rare opportunity for both creative expression and release – a chance to love it, locket and leave it."

Participating artists: Steven Assael, Melissa Basham, Julie Elizabeth Brady, Heidi Brant, Dina Brodsky, Diana Corvelle, Mark Dassoulas, Cara DeAngelis, Michelle Doll, Peter Drake, Heidi Elbers, Steve Forster, Stephen Hannock, Katie Hemmer, John Jacobsmeyer & Katrina Balling, Zoe Sua Kay, James Linkous, Benjamin Martins, Elizabeth Misitano, Alyssa Monks, Tun Myaing, Guno Park, Lauren Amalia Redding, Nicolas V. Sanchez, Jesse Stern, Maud Taber-Thomas, Maria Teicher, Greg Tomezsko and Patricia Watwood

Open House: Saturday, December 13th 2014 from 12-5pm at Island Weiss Gallery in New York

"Lucid Visions" curated by Diana Corvelle, Cara DeAngelis and Tun Myaing

Often when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream.  – Aristotle, “On Dreams”

The territory between wakefulness and the dream state is one widely traversed by artists.  Lucid dreaming, a phenomenon in which an individual is aware of their own dream state enough to attempt control within it, is a cannily apt comparison to the creation of art.  Possessing the ability to give form to fleeting memories and semi-lucid moments, artists can call into question the very perception of reality at will and offer up alternatives of their own.

Curators Diana Corvelle, Cara DeAngelis and Tun Myaing have collected the works of twenty-four New York Academy of Art alumni whose work challenges, unhinges and altogether shifts perception of what should be called a “real” experience.  From the elegantly surreal to the deftly tactile, these selected works speak to the endless possible deviations from reality as envisioned by an unfettered mind. 

The playfulness and confidence of these works show how completely at home the artists are in their alternate reality.  The life-size newspaper sculptures of Will Kurtz manage to be unnervingly lifelike in gesture and form, despite the constant and unapologetic reminders of his artistic process splashed in newsprint across the surface of each piece.  Gregory Tomezsko’s paintings whip the viewer between flatness and volume, realism and stylization, all within the same composition.  Shangkai Kevin Yu picks and chooses which painted subjects will be subordinate to the laws of gravity.  Megan Ewart and Amanda Scuglia hint at the disarming possibility of concurrent realities playing out through overlapping movements and tumbling figures.

Many of the artists vacillate easily between levels of abstraction and realism.  Even the technical feat of Angela Gram’s The Herd creates a camouflage pattern of sorts out of the detailed bodies of man and beast alike.  Ilsa Brittain allows delicately wrought marks to emerge from a field of texture in her piece Long Ago.  Yungsung Jang’s masterful portraits are comprised of a veritable topographical map of layered oil paint, giving a physical depth to mirror the emotional depth the portraits evoke, just as Michelle Doll’s soft brushstrokes both reveal and veil the connection of a couple’s embrace.  Nicolas Sanchez’s depictions of remembered experiences vibrate with layered colors, mark-making and personal landmarks.

Like the lucid dreamers of Aristotle, these artists have found a way to wrest control from their unruly subconscious to create works of unnatural beauty and depth from within it.  Releasing themselves from the laws of nature and reason, their work touches something closer to reality than simply reality itself.

Join us for the opening on October 16th from 6-9pm at Panepinto Galleries located at 371 Warren Street in Jersey City, NJ.  The gallery is easily accessible by public transportation using your Metrocard: Take the NJ PATH train to Journal Square and exit at the Grove Street stop.  The gallery is a few blocks from Grove Street.

Participating artists: Charis C. Braun, Ilsa Brittain, Michelle Doll, Samuel Evensen, Megan Ewert, Shauna Finn, Steve Forster, Angela Gram, Brett F. Harvey, Caitlin Hurd, Yun Sung Jang, Evan Kitson, Will Kurtz, James Linkous, Guno Park, David Pettibone, Martin Saar, Nicolas V. Sanchez, Amanda Scuglia, Jesse Stern, Gregory Tomezsko, Tyler Vouros, Melanie Vote and Shangkai Kevin Yu.

Poster design by Tun Myaing, featuring Gregory Tomezsko's The Beach, oil on canvas 30" x 40"

Books, blogs and virtual exhibitions

My work has been included in some very interesting projects this month!  My friend Patty Wongpakdee has authored a beautiful new book, Art Without Waste: 500 Upcycled & Earth-Friendly Designs, which features three of my Metrocard paintings.  The spirit of good design and creative reuse that defines Art Without Waste perfectly aligns with Jean-Pierre Roy and Michael Kagan's vision for their ongoing Single Fare exhibitions of art on Metrocards.  To see more of the artwork Patty included, check out her book's Facebook page.

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Earlier this month, the weekly online magazine The New York Optimist ran a wonderfully comprehensive feature of my paintings, drawings and early work.  (Other New York Optimist features include the work of lovely artist pals Julie Elizabeth Brady, Peter Drake, Alia El-Bermani, Nanci France-Vaz, Eddi Flemming and Kristy Gordon.)  I am also excited that my piece Besotted was chosen to be featured in The Museum of Realist Art's themed virtual exhibition of self-portraits on the museum's Facebook page, curated by the tireless artist and curator Pamela Sienna. 

... And although the inspiring blog Women Painting Women featured my painting Protective Shell back in July, I couldn't resist mentioning this remarkable online resource of and for female artists.  I am honored to be a part of the WPW family!

New miniature brushes, new portrait miniature

Portrait miniature shown beside a quarter for scale, along with some of my favorite brushes (Silver Ultra Mini 20/0 liner brush and Reaper Pro 40/0 sable brush) and Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache paints. 

My ongoing obsession with lockets reached new heights with the purchase of Reaper Pro Paint 30/0 and 40/0 sable brushes, along with a minuscule brush by The Army Painter (whose size is appropriately labeled only as "Insane Detail").  While nothing can ever replace my favorite Silver Ultra Mini 20/0 liner brushes, I really loved using the teenier brushes!  I finished this portrait of my handsome sweetheart just in time to wear it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's In Miniature exhibition, on view from August 29th through December 31st in their 624 gallery.

Steven Assael portrait workshop

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of assisting the remarkable artist Steven Assael with a portrait workshop held at his midtown Manhattan studio.  In past workshops I chose to draw in color, but for this workshop I decided to paint instead.  Anyone familiar with my work knows that I seldom use oil paint.  On the other hand, anyone familiar with Steven's work knows that he is a master of the medium.  I am happy to report that this 6-hour study was a surprisingly wonderful experience, even for a gouache devotee like myself.

During the workshop, an idea was hatched to share some of the workshop highlights on a student-centered blog.  Check out my contribution, that of fellow assistant Adam Carnes, and many others at the new Assael Students tumblr. 

"Works on Paper" exhibition, juried by Noah Buchanan

Honored to be chosen as the 2nd place winner of this exhibition by the wonderful artist and juror, Noah Buchanan.  West coast friends, be sure to swing by the Santa Cruz Art League and check out this lovely exhibition, featuring three of my own pieces and works by my talented artist buddies Emily Slapin, Lauren Amalia Redding and Daniel Maidman.

Paper-cut tradition: the Ketubah

My exploration into cut-paper traditions took a happy turn this summer when I was asked to create a custom Ketubah, or Jewish marriage contract, for a friend's wedding.  Once a purely legal document that outlined the financial responsibilities of a husband to his wife, the tradition has since evolved to symbolize mutual love and equal commitment.  The modern Ketubah is an heirloom-quality work of art, cherished by couples regardless of faith.  It has been a wonderful experience to create such a meaningful piece.  Congratulations, S&K!

Check out photos of their wedding, and the signed Ketubah, featured on Offbeat Bride's popular blog!

VOYEUR: a group exhibiton curated by Dina Brodsky at Lyons Wier Gallery

Join me for the opening of my dear Dina Brodsky's latest curatorial adventure, Voyeur, on Thursday, June 19th from 6-8pm at Lyons Wier Gallery located at 542 West 24th Street in Chelsea.  I am honored to join my talented buddies Dina, Tun Myaing, Bonnie DeWitt, Michelle Doll and Amber Lia-Kloppel in this beautiful roster of artists.  Save the date!

TBT: Working with Liu Bolin on Bon Jovi's "What About Now" album cover project

A "Throwback Thursday" first!  This time lapse video shows me and my New York Academy of Art pals working with artist Liu Bolin to execute his vision for Bon Jovi's What About Now album cover.  Thanks to my awesome artist buddy Elizabeth Misitano of Klein Sun Gallery, Emily Slapin Lufkin, Nicolas V. Sanchez, Dave Wagner, Mitchell Martinez, Tina Ryan-Kleid, Mei Ge, Sarah Crumlich and I had a blast camouflaging the Bon Jovi band members into the background design using a little acrylic paint and a lot of color-matching skills.  Tina and I teamed up to make drummer Tico Torres "disappear" into the background...  See if you can spot him in the finished album cover below! 

Posing with the band after wrapping up the photos.  Top row (from left): Diana Corvelle, Nicolas V. Sanchez, Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, Mitchell Martinez, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Emily Slapin Lufkin and Mei Ge.  Bottom row (from left): Dave Wagner, Elizabeth Misitano, Tina Ryan-Kleid and Sarah Crumlich.

Finished!  Can you spot (from left) Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and David Bryan?

New "Lover's Locket" Miniature Painting

Inspired by the incredible "Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection" exhibit I caught with my sweetheart at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, this locket is the third lover's eye miniature piece I have painted; the first to include both my partner's eye and my own.  Happy to have spent the Memorial Day weekend working on this teeny piece for an upcoming group exhibition at Lyons Wier Gallery.  Details to come soon!

"Loved and Observed" co-curated by Diana Corvelle & Manu Saluja

Hersh Fine Art is pleased to announce the upcoming Loved and Observed, a group exhibition of portraits by twenty-three artists co-curated by Diana Corvelle and Manu Saluja.  In the sprawling genre of female portrait artists, the one place to find commonality is in the choice of subject itself.  Whether her subject is a family member, friend, or the artist herself, that person has been singled out among many.  They have been conferred a special status by virtue of the time and energy given over to observing and documenting their distinct presence.  Artists Corvelle and Saluja bring together a dynamic collection of classically trained women whose approach to portraiture ranges from delicate to bold, traditional to nonconformist.

Portrait artists offer a rare opportunity to see someone as they themselves do.  We become familiar with perfect strangers.  We are allowed into intimate spaces we might never have seen.  We are treated to narratives that make us question the very notion of individuality.  We are invited to love and observe.

Loved and Observed will be on view from June 21 through August 12, 2014 at Hersh Fine Art, located at 14A Glen Street in Glen Cove, NY.  An opening will be held on Saturday, June 28 from 6-8pm.  For more information, please contact Steve Forster at info@hershfineart.com.

Participating artists: Elizabeth Adams-Jones, Erin Anderson, Juliette Aristides, Julie Elizabeth Brady, Aleah Chapin, Diana Corvelle, Michelle Doll, Alia El-Bermani, Alexandra Evans, Shauna Finn, Nanette Fluhr, Nanci France-Vaz, Kristy Gordon, Clarity Haynes, Leah Lopez, Gaetanne Lavoie, Lauren Amalia Redding, Kay Ruane, Manu Saluja, Holly Ann Scoggins, Rabecca Signoriello, Emily Slapin and Maria Teicher.

30 Rooms SoHo

Getting ready to co-host Six Summit Gallery's 30 Rooms Soho event with my friend Cara DeAngelis this Thursday!  We will be transforming the entire 8th floor of 101 6th Ave into a cluster of galleries for one night only.  RSVP to this event by emailing 30rooms@sixsummitgallery.com or through their Facebook event.  Hope to see you there!

27th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition

Pleased that my piece "Fall" was selected by Juror Louis Grachos, director of The Contemporary Austin, for the 27th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition.  The exhibition will be on view at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana until May 15th.

2014 TriBeca Ball

Thailand September 12, gouache on cut paper, 3x5" 2013

Sold this little painting at the TriBeca Ball Alumni Pop-Up Exhibition last week!  The annual event at the New York Academy of Art raises money for the school and students. 

MANIFEST international drawing annual 8

Getting excited for the upcoming publication of Manifest's INDA 8 exhibition-in-print that includes a detail of my piece "Engagement" on the back cover!  My work will be featured on pages 59-62, and also includes pieces by my talented buddies Guno Park, Evan Kitson and James Linkous. 

(MANIFEST is offering a 15% discount on all pre-orders before May 16th here.)

"The New Romantics" co-curated by Diana Corvelle & Cara DeAngelis

Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor in exact truth, but in a way of feeling. – Charles Baudelaire, 1846

The Romantics of nearly two centuries ago created works of such considerable diversity that the only clear similarities lay in their emphasis on originality, imagination and deep emotional content.   Ranging from expressive portraits to epic landscapes and vivid depictions of nature, these artists sought to push back against the reasoned order of the Enlightenment by producing emotionally charged works that spoke to their intensely individual perspectives. 

Today a new Romanticism is emerging among artists who prize individual expression and authentic emotion over Postmodern sterility.  These new Romantics are as varied in subject and style as their predecessors, and as equally unapologetic in their pursuit of emotional truth.  Their work implicitly asserts a restoration of the Romantic ideal that artists are gifted and singular purveyors of original thought.  Inspired and informed by the spirit of Romanticism, the artists of The New Romantics comprise an expansive visual trove of emotion and awe, each one both individually conspicuous and collectively harmonious.   

Flawed Beings - A 5 Person Group Show: Opening 1/11/14

"Humans suck. Their narcissism knows no bounds, their moral sense is hazy at best, their physical prowess is a joke, and to top it all off, they're all paradoxically too stupid to handle their vast intelligence." - unknown

And despite all of that, they create such beauty.

Artists:

Jimmie Arroyo
Sofia Bachvarova
Diana Corvelle
Michael Meadors
Isaac Pelepko
 

Curated by Joe Velez