art&beyond Vol. 11 • July/August 2013
from artist to artist - market, promote, succeed
Edvard Ghazaryan
Naturmort Rose
oil • acrylic • watercolor • mixed media • photography • digital art sculpture • glass • ceramic • jewelry
Pomm Hepner
Madelana~Born to Live in Paris. Oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
Vol. 11 • July/August • 2013
art&beyond Art & Beyond Magazine is the bridge between artists and the art world. It is an essential marketing and promotional tool every artist needs to have when exhibiting their work, whether at art shows, art expos, or small exhibitions. Art & Beyond Magazine is proud to present the incredible artists featured on the pages of this issue. Each possessing their own style, unique ideas and vision of the world around us. From scratch they are able to create things that inspire and enhance our lives. For this issue Art & Beyond held a Cover Competition for 2 covers, the amount of talent presented to us made it very difficult to choose two winners, so at the end staring this issue we decided to add two more Publisher choice award for a Back Cover and Inside Back Cover as well. Congratulations to Edvard Ghazaryan, his work “Naturmort Rose” was chosen as this months Art and Beyond Front Cover Competition winner. The Inside Front Cover was awarded to Pomm Hepner for a beautiful artwork “Madelana~Born to Live in Paris”.
CONTENTS
From Artist to Artist Paint and learn by Debbi Cham 4
Globalization ICAS News
Exclusive Interview with Mona Youssef by Sunil Vilas 6
Fine Art Olivia Boa Debbi Chan Ione Citrin Lizzy Forrester Joachim Gerschler Edvard Ghazaryan Kevin Harris Pomm Hepner Jack Jasper Jamal de Jong Darlene Kaplan Diane Langeveld Valerie Leri Tony Luciani Mike Menius
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Victor Madero 23 Dave Simcik 24 Sara Swan 25
Mixed Media • Jewelry
Keri Colestock 26 Sandy Den Hartog 27
Photography Digital Art Marti Belcher Deb Drew Brown Laura Collins Charles Fletcher Vered Galor Melvin Harris Arthur Jacob Julie Lenoch Satoshi Matsuyama Keith Parks Natalya Parris Paula Rucket Yasmene Samiry Lynn Zubal
Cover
Back Cover
Edvard Ghazaryan
Tony Luciani
Inside Front Cover
Inside Back Cover
Pomm Hepner
Lizzy Forrester
28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
The Back Cover was awarded to Tony Luciani for work “Wonder Woman” and the Inside Back Cover has been awarded to Lizzy Forrester for work “My Love of Trees VII” as a Publisher Choice. We would also like to congratulate those artists who bave been chosen as Publishers Choice Award winners in this issue for their outstanding artwork: Kevin Harris, Diane Langeveld, Valerie Leri, Ione Citrin, Dave Simcik, Jamal de Jong, Victor Madero, Keri Colestock, Satoshi Matsuyama, Natalya Parris, Julie Lenoch, Deb Brown, Laura Collins, Marti Belcher, Charles Fletcher, Lynn Zubal. We thank all of the amazing and talented artists who participated in this competition. Art & Beyond would like to send a special congratulations to one of our featured artists, Paula Rucket, for winning the Best In Competition award for Nature Gifts competition held by Exhibitions Without Walls for her work “Two Pelicans” (p. 39).
Publisher
Mila Ryk
Art Director
Mila Ryk
Editor
Alina Lampert
Art & Beyond published 8 times a year. Six (6) Online issues and Two (2) printed issues. Distributed to the galleries, museumes and other
Entry Form to apply to be published in the Art & Beyond Online magazine is available at http://www.artandbeyondpublications.com/ab-online-entry/ Membership Program application is available at http://www.artandbeyondpublications.com/membership/ For any additional information please contact Mila Ryk at mryk@art-beyond.com
www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 3
from artist to artist
by Debbi Chan
Paint
and
learn
A
wonderful thing happens when an artist sets out to create a work of art and during the creative act many positive side effects occur which are unexpected. This happened to me quite by surprise on a project I took on almost two years ago. The project was completed but because of all I experienced during the time I was involved with it, I have continued working on similar ones. Do I have anyone’s curiosity aroused yet? Good. Now I will fill in the blanks.
Not being a sketchbook lover it took a bit of doing on my part to pick up one I had laying around and get up the energy to go to work in it. The book I speak of was a folding album like used in ancient Asian art. In more modern times it has but disappeared in its true form and now shines as the “IN PHOTO ALBUM” for craft people in the current century. Made to open accordian style the actual uses were many. It was for one, a sketchbook. It also became a book to give already painted pictures on silk or rice paper a permanent home. It was a travel journal. But perhaps the true purpose and least known to us today was a storybook. I have seen it used like this only a few times in my life and I was intrigued. Not near as intrigued as I am now that I have found this new road for my painting passion. Traditionally, the folding albums were to be viewed by one individual who sat with album between his hands and the story unfolding before him with each turn of the leaf. They were painted as one continuous picture with or without text. I have not yet added text to mine. I back track. Finally having found the size album I liked, I chose a subject. It was to be a landscape study of the area in Idaho that I know and love, and that I had taken hundreds of photos of. It was a challenging project because of the large size for one. These albums are generally uniform in number of pages. Somewhere between 23 and 27 leaves per album. They can be painted on both sides but not always. Math brings the length of my favorite size albums to 70 feet plus or, 35 feet plus per album side. I have done some larger paintings but a continuous painting in story form of that magnitude was calling to me. If you are not familiar with my art I paint in both traditional Chinese styles using Chinese pigment watercolor and ink sticks made with soot and glue that I grind on an inkstone. With this medium, mistakes cannot happen because they cannot be erased or hidden. Okay. Now I have before be this growing challenge and it us becoming daunting. So how did it get from daunting to desire? I begin the albums at the beginning and go forth leaf-to-leaf with a more spontaneous than planned attack. I do only enough sketching to place objects and that is on separate sheets of rice paper. I then lay them on the album leaves usually working 4 to 6 feet at a time. Usually daily. But now I get in to unfamiliar ground. Over the years even my Gong Bi or fine line painting is not planned out.. And sumi should be very spontaneous. The albums are done in a sumi style but I do use lots of detail and hidden subjects. So the paintbrush loaded with ink begins to tell a story. It finishes the first two visible leaves. Then the painting is done. And here is where the learning and my own adventure begin. I found that one of the more difficult parts of this was connecting one leaf to the next as a story unfolds. The point of writing this essay was because of what I discovered in the painting of each album. They required me to ask much if myself. Every day I cross one confront zone after another taking me in to very unfamiliar territories .it is in those unfamiliar territories that I found not only a teacher of grand proportion but a teaching method that rivaled that teacher. (To be contenued in the September/October 2013 issue)
4 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
Summer in Paris Lilianne Milgrom solo portraiture show
July 3 - August 30, 2013 Crossroads Gallery Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads 3440 Jefferson St., Falls Church VA Opening reception July 13th 6:45pm http://e2.ma/message/kicwe/wv2i4g
news
Sunil Vilas exclusive Interview’s http://globalizationicas.com/
Mona Youssef – Canadian fine realism artist I am proud to Welcome Canadian fine realism artist’s Mona Youssef - landscape painter showing the change of light and colours of the seasons. I am pleased that you could join us in our VIP Creative lounge for an exclusive interview. artist that you are today renowned for your realism landscape art. I can happily say that you where born to be an artist. Mona - Thank you Sunil for seeing that is me.
Serenity.
Egyptian born in the capital city of Cairo, known as daughter of the Nile, but prefer to be called daughter of Nature knowing what was going to be her life long passion for painting scenes of nature and landscapes, a gift that she discovered from early age to be able to express through the medium of pencil drawings and later into oil paintings on canvas. To date completed over hundred’s of major collection some owned by private and corporate collectors’ world wide… Q. Sunil – What’s the first thing you can remember painting? A. Mona – Thank you Sunil and I am honoured to be interviewed by you. Though my paintings have happy colors but Sunil, you’ve asked me a searchable question that might change the image of these happy paintings! My first pencil drawing, at the age of seven, was a scene of a car that crashed someone and crowd gathering around and crying. I still don’t know why I drew that but was driven into it! As for my first oil painting, was done at age of 12, of a farmer woman holding water pottery on her head, clay house with trees and chickens in the background. This painting was sold immediately, to a gallery/framer, when my dear Mother took it for framing, but came back happily announced that the owner fell in love with it and purchased it. Sunil - Thank you for sharing your early childhood memories, the beginning of your career as an artist, you describe the experiences as it was fresh in your mind today! Q. Sunil - When did you first realize you wanted to be an artist? A. Mona –Being an artist means more than the ability to draw or paint and is not about making living. There are many good artists yet, can’t make living for different reasons. It is the nature of oneself and its sensitivity to the surroundings, the unique perception of matters and how interacting with others creatively and lovingly. One thing I’m certain of is that since I opened my eyes, knew that couldn’t/can’t still live without art, not only painting, but also listening to music and writing. I breathe from art where I get amazing energy. Some days I paint for 13 hours straight and only grab little snacks yet, still feel very energetic and happy; then I get a strong desire to share these feelings with others and help them in different ways. While painting, I find my love, affection, compassion and understanding for others and for nature increases. This process, I’ve realized in myself from very early age, when cared very much for family, friends and school mates. So, I’m not sure if that made me an artist or the title was pronounced by others because they liked my art!! Sunil – Mona, Very interesting how your success is attributed to the total trust you put on your natural instinct from a very young age which has helped you shape your life and made you a complete
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Q. Sunil – How would you describe your art to someone who has never seen your work? A. Mona –Sunil, it is hard to describe my art as I only feel it, visualize it, and then paint it. I always wanted to paint in realism and never looked back. First watercolor painting was done in school had caused me tears because I could not get the fine details I wished. Persisting and improving, I received many comments that my realism is like thumb print that couldn’t be duplicated and can replaces a personal signature. Here are some comments received from art critics, art historians, journalists and viewers which loudly, describe my art. These are few of the comments: 1-From a Canadian Journalist: “Viewing her work has given me a different perspective in which to view life. The blazing color and intricate detail’s expresses how life is to be enjoyed. Pride makes us do things well, but its love that brings them to perfection. Mona has great love to create feelings as optimism and hope, to all who view her work.” Your presentation of light and shadows is awe-inspiring. The detail form of every object portrays their natural beauty, which human’s fail to appreciate every day. Through your work one can find hope and purpose in life. There is truly beauty unimagined as we observe these scenes. Knowledge is limited, but imagination covers the world. Yes, you have created imagination from reality.” 2-From a German Art Historian: “The works are living and are literally animated obviously because of an aesthetically and hysterically character (themed: how inside of you how in front of you). Mona Youssef´s is creating in her works a substrate of poetical hysterically singleness and timeless beauty. In her visionary realism her works seem to be a happy exception in our western society and our civilization!” 3-From an Italian Art Journalist and critic: ”Mona Youssef is a high quality fine artist. I had the opportunity to see her paintings at the Florence Biennale, Italy where she was exhibiting last December, 2007- and I must say they are awesome! A combination of a high standard techniques plus a refined poetry permeate her oeuvre, which a true gift of light and delicacy. Mrs. Youssef is also a caring person, devoted not only to her work but also to the benefits of others. Mona; the hidden secret of your art is reflecting like a mirror, the inner side of the artist”
Canadian Constitution Acts.
4- From Italian art critic: “Dr. Josephine Scotti; Mona has been known in Chianciano and these are my brief notes on er painting “ Blue shadows” is presented to the public of International collective Art Museum of Chianciano Terme (SI) – Italy, where the same, discover the works of Mona Youssef. Her research reveals an intense form of expression elegant, yet casual, surrounded by those “cracks” deep, those that illuminate the light blue sky and the artist uses light an shadow, causing games apparently cols environment only, because button interior life. Her is a thin cover, in equilibrium between mind and spirit. is faithfully as an inspiration that seems to oscillate between mind and spirit, is faithfully as an inspiration that seems to oscillate between sensitivity and a dramatic swirl of meditative dimension. Truly a pleasant and interest hat with the art of Youssef. 5- From a German art collector: Besides Carl Barks and Don Rosa I Worship the brilliant paintress Mona Youssef – her paintings are fantastic!. 6- From one of the admirers: ”We could all remain children forever by mere looking at your splendid arts. Your creations are memoirs of beautiful times and passion for life. This is so amazing painting depicting summer as reflected in the vibrancy of a child. Colourful and exhilarating laughter of a child is the essence of summer. Your imagination to create such masterpiece is truly incomparable. My congratulations!!” Another note from admirer described my art as “Pure, reflects spirit of love, has vibes, spiritual. Looks like the golden Age – all Luminous and joyful, vivid as if there was no pollution, you are a true Renaissance woman.“ I would quote “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” Pablo Picasso (October 1881 – April 1973). I’m not Raphael; neither am I Picasso but would love to paint as that child who innocently sees only, the purity of nature as is with all its richness of simplicity and its sophistication. What is more beautiful than nature itself? To read more testimonials please visit this link: www.monayoussef.com/ biography/testimonials.html Sunil - A truly impressive list of comments from a cross section of International followers and admirers talking highly of your achievement to-date. I too applaud you and within a short time of getting to know you I have discovered that your drive and ambition are meant for greater placement for your art to be recognised amongst the list realism painters – Congratulation!! Mona - Thank you Sunil, coming from you as an art expert and dealer, means much to me. Q. Sunil – This therefore naturally leads me to our next question, you don’t get ask everyday but for the benefit of our records, is your work on any famous persons wall? A. Mona – Yes Sunil, one of my oil paintings had been owned by the previous Prime Ministry of Canada, Mr. Pierre Elite Trudeau which I was commissioned to create and capture the Canadian Constitution Acts event in 1982 when the Queen of England, Elizabeth came to Canada to sign up the new constitution. And it was a thrill for me to receive in 1999 a thank you letter from him, expressing how proud he was to hang the painting in his home. Sunil – a symbolic painting that recorded history of Canada in the making. I am sure this painting will be remembered as the new era and also a turning point. I could see copies of these painting reproduced in all government offices including schools and Universities as a patriotic and pride for the citizens of Canada. Q. Sunil - If you had the opportunity to change something in the art industry what would it be? A. Mona – I’d love to see international Union for artists to protect their rights and set rational roles defining relations between artists, art organizers, galleries, Museums, dealers, buyers and art collectors. I’ve been working on this for a while and would love to see the day when the reputation of “Starving artists” changes to” Professional Self-employed artists” who do not ask any one for charity rather they contribute their art while struggling to make living whereas all others are making the big buck! No wonder why
Purple Iris.
Autumn Golden Light.
so many artists have given up. This must change for the fact that art is not simply a fun job to have or a luxury thing to own but carries much more than that and this is another subject. Sunil – Mona, I would not expect any less from you, you already got my full attention and I hope with our strong followers and our newly formed organisation in Globalization ICAS we could bring about these changes. And also our interview today will help to send a strong message to all the relevant parties. Mona - My gratitude and appreciation Sunil for all you do in the art market. It will be my pleasure to collaborate with you. Q. Sunil – Do you have any other interests or talents that you’d like to share? A. Mona – Yes Sunil,I also love to write in particular poem and you are welcome to read some of them on my YouTube channel: http:// www.youtube.com/1monayoussef I do have others talents where I received awards, but do not wish to make my list long, let readers discover more if they wish. Q. Sunil – This my favourite question, describe yourself in 3 words; one has to be a colour? A. Mona – Royally.., love …, art Sunil - Yes these are truly your trade mark as a symbol Mona Youssef realism painter but in the following order .., Art.., Love.., Royally. Q. Sunil – Tell us your perfect scenario for painting? A. Mona – Sunil – I’d love to have the perfect scenario but perfection has no end. What is perfect for one might not be so for the other as perception of art/beauty is different. For the fact that I’ve been able to exhibit my paintings in many countries and received numerous awards, invited as a guest honour/guest artist, have sold original paintings to prominent individuals and some of my paintings are/will be in some museums for good, proves that I’ve admirers who see perfection in my art somehow! Q. Sunil – Do you have any advice for artists who are just starting out? A. Mona – Yes Sunil, I’ve many and few of them are; keep your passion alive and don’t compare your work with others to the point of feeling inferior or superior. Being an artist is not about a rosy road and fame but hard work that requires sleepless nights, patience and persistence. Be inspiring to be inspired and be happy for other artists’ success even if you are not yet, sooner or later you will too enjoy such success if you do not give up. Sunil - Mona thank you for your valuable words of advise, this will help all new and emerging artists to guide them during their testing times to come through and continue to become successful professional artists. To read full Interview please go to http://globalizationicas.com/
www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 7
fine art
Sunset on buldings. Acrylic on canvas 80 cm X 100 cm
Olivia Boa Olivia Boa was born in 1981 in Yvelines in France. At a young age Boa was attracted to the world of the art and in particular, painting.
couple representing the same landscape and being entitled: the first generation.
Boa began her formation into an artist at the age of 10 with the help of Yves Armani, an artist who taught her the basiscs. From the age of her 14, Boa pursued her work and her research in painting in a self-taught way.
In addition to her work as an artist, Olivia is also a therapist and in 2012 she proposed a subtle mixture of her work in therapy mixed with her work in abstract art.
In 1998, Boa decided to release hersefl from conventional structures of the academic painting, by turning on the abstract art. In 2011, she worked the concept of “generations” in art, namely to paint a subject on various energy perceptions. For example of a landscape, Olivia Boa is going to draw all the energy yin and to transmit it on a work, while realizing simultaneously another work of the same landscape but in an energy yang, so forming a linen
8 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
Olivia Boa declines us a whole pallet of feelings, sensations, observations and makes in consultation and retranscribes it in the form of colors, of movement, of textures and of forms on a painting. A French/English bilingual catalog of its work: « psychological works » will be available from the end of this summer. For any order please get in touch directly with the artist who will dedicate it to you personally. www.oliviaboa.sitew.com • oliviaboa@hotmail.fr
So many pandas together. Watercolor/ink, silk, 20” x 21”.
Debbi Chan On the cusp of two creative signs, the tiger and the rabbit, I was born in Houston, Texas. With a creative push from day one, I took up the brush by age ten. In my early years as a budding artist I decided that oil painting was not my thing but watercolor and ink were. That really never changed but the style vacillated from realism to fantasy throughout those formative years. It was not until a bit of aging wisdom came to me that I sought out a teacher and found Frank Chiu, a master artist in traditional Chinese painting. He mentored me for over a decade and was later joined by his wife, Judy. They showed me that just taking Sumi lessons was not enough. I involved myself in Chinese culture, philosophy, and art until it coursed through my veins and I saw the world through different eyes. My teacher gave me an artist name – Sosum. He said I always do what I say I will do and SOSUM was the He chose. What He did not know is that the main reason I got in to traditional Chinese art was to paint on silk. Sosum also means, through the root character, threads of silk. I learned much from this wise teacher. then I took an invitation to visit Idaho for a three weeks vacation. Four days before my departure for home, I decided to live here and when I went back home it was only to pack my apartment and say two goodbyes: one to the Buddhist Temple where I was an ordained nun; the other, to the Chiu’s, my mentors and teachers who had become family. Frank Chiu threw the IChing without my knowledge and four days later in my new home he told me what the sticks had said..... GO TO TH E WESTERN MOUNTAINS...so now a decade has passed. I own a farm on ten acres of paradise, and my heart and art are reaching heights not reached by many... I can truly say that I am rich – rich with no money. And art is still as exciting as it was when I picked up that paintbrush fifty years ago.
the Sound of Silence. watercolor/ink on rice paper, 15” x 27”.
http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/sosum
www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 9
fine art
The Knitter. Acrylic and steel mesh, oil on canvas, 24” x 16”.
Ione Citrin “I dream, therefore, I am” I create art because I must. It is a necessary extension of my life. It identifies and substantiates my existence. It is my profile and my legacy. I want to intrigue and entertain. I want to initiate wonder and questions. I want to communicate my thoughts, dreams and desires. most of all, I want to be! “MY ART IS MY VOICE”
Ione’s art has shown nationally since 1998 when, after years of world travel, a successful television, radio, theatre and film
10 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
The Rose. bronze sculpture, 23” high x 15” wide x 13” deep.
career in the performing arts, she decided to focus her richly diverse talents on the visual arts. Ione’s artistic expression, creativity, and passion for communication have resulted in numerous awards for her painting, sculpture, mixed media, and assemblage. Ione is an avant garde artist whose artistic expression takes fantastic shape through her diverse oil and watercolor paintings, bronze sculptures, found object collages and mixed media assemblages. Her contemporary paintings and sculptures range from abstract to realistic to impressionistic - all visionary interpretations from her imaginative soul. Ione uses only one name but a variety of styles to soothe her wild imagination. A native of Chicago, she is a former television star and commercial voice-over artist. Now she wins awards and sells her creativity through her hands instead of through her larynx. Her art is as original as she is - bold, colorful and highly decorative. 310.556.4382 http://www.artbyione.com ICitrin@aol.com
My Love of Trees VII. Oil on canvas, 53 cm X 65 cm. 2013
Lizzy Forrester Nature and all in nature provides me with a constant source of inspiration which I am acutely aware of spiritually. Ever since I was a child it has been what excited me about life itself, filling my world with light and love. I am compelled to paint. Whenever I paint I find complete peace, which I hope is what connects, reaches out to others. I believe creative works, through images and colour (as happens with music and other creative works) have the power to heal, nurture & harmonize our surrounding space, rebalancing energy. I believe some paintings can provide an individual with a key to allow ‘self- healing’, giving him or her access to somewhere deep inside where healing can take place...I often work in this way with an individual, with ‘spiritualism’ and FengShui. I paint from my heart, allowing my spirituality to guide me, not really ‘seeing’, or using my mind to interpret or analyze, but rather sensing or perceiving the ‘unseen’ in nature, so painting for me is a meditation, through which I try to make visible the beauty and
Forrester Bambu Triptych. Oil on canvas, 60 cm X 30 cm. 2013
perfection I sense everywhere in the underlying energies that are around us and surround us all” Painting has become a need, like breathing, or eating... I am driven from a sacred space within, It is as though it is what I was born to do. I have found a purpose in life, and I am most grateful and at peace. lizzyforrester474@hotmail.com www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 11
fine art
W1509. Oil on Canvas, 160 cm x 120 cm
Joachim Gerschler Joachim Gerschler is 67 years old. He has been working for a few decades as the top restorer on historical buildings in Berlin doing analysis of the building`s history, the technical requirements of restoring them in the original sense and doing the restoration work himself and with his staff. Since 2010 he has begun to paint oil on canvas in rakel (spatula) technique and has produced up to now more than 100 such paintings, mostly in sizes of one to two m2,
12 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
some in smaller sizes and some up to 10 m2. In this field of art he is up to now completely unknown. He is still most busily producing new paintings. Now it seems to be time to get known internationally and he is looking for a competent party which is best suited to promote his works. Representing him is Dr. Hergen Heinemann who may be contacted under Hergen. hergen.heinemann@alumni.insead.edu
Waiting. Oil on Canvas, 12” x 16”
Naturmort Rose. Oil on Canvas, 11” x 15”
Edvard Ghazaryan is an Armenian professional fine artist. Edvard’s first teacher, Ara Sargsian was a tremendously talented and famous sculptor. He established the Yerevan State Institute of Fine Art (now Fine Art Academy). In 1966, with Sargasian’s highest recommendation Edvard entered the Yerevan State Institute of Fine art and graduated with a degree as a painter and designer in 1971. Edvard Ghazaryan won the former USSR Inter-republican Art Exhibition in 1979 and worked as a painter and designer in many factories and Institutes of the Former Soviet Union, since 1972 he worked at the Institute of Technical Aesthetics of USSR, Center of Young Engineers at Technical Institute of Machines, Yerevan Factory of Clocks, Yerevan Designer Bureau and the Armenian National Survey of Seismic Protection. Ghazaryan worked very hard to create his original painting style which reflects the motion of life through people, gardens, flowers, villages, mountains and seas. Today, he is immensely grateful to the fans of his work for understanding and supporting his art.
Ghazaryan hopes that one day his painting style will inspire young artists. “European painters were created the painting styles and directions regarding to impressionist, post-impressionist and abstract painters. I am 66 years old painter and so many years did work as a painterdesigner in different institutes and factories of former Soviet Union where communist oppressive system required to paint only limited topics of socialism. But I did choose to paint free and painted nature, sea, flowers, landscapes, churches, villages, mountains. The main focus in my art to show a motion of life and, if someone can feel a motion in my paintings at least 3 minutes, I do think that I did paint correctly. I am very glad to see so many talented painters opening doors for 21 century painting styles and techniques in “Art and Beyond“ magazine.” http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/edvard-ghazaryan.html
www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 13
fine art
Badu. Pastel, 24” x 19”
Kevin Harris is a professional portrait painter and the moderator of the Artiztherapy group in Charlotte, NC. After graduating high school in Washington, DC, Kevin Harris joined the US Army and began drawing portraits for all the members of his unit. Upon re-entering civilian life, Kevin began his portrait painting business, primarily through word of mouth and marketing to co-workers. Kevin has attended many art classes and groups meet ups, but considerers himself a self-taught artist. He has lived in Charlotte, NC for 2 years after spending most of his life in Washington, DC and New York. 14 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
Kevin’s first art show titled “Eyes toward our hero’s” in Baltimore, MD, was met with great support from the community. His pastel portraits of prominent community leaders gained him rave reviews and a solid following in the Washington, DC and Baltimore region. kevinharrisportraits@gmail.com
True Integrity~ The Contemporary Mona Lisa., Oil on canvas, 24” x 24”
Pomm Hepner Pomm has been an exhibiting artist for the past 30 years. Born in Los Angeles, Pomm was raised by her French mother and grandmother, both of whom were established artists in their own right. Her Parisborn mother fell in love with the name of a little girl’s character in a novel she was reading by French authoress Colette. The character’s name was Pomme, which means “apple” in French. Pomm’s mother dropped the “e” to assist pronunciation and honored her daughter with the uniquely elegant moniker. And so became Pomm. When Pomm moved to France to attend college, studying art in Aix-en-Provence, she fell in love with the Old World architecture, a passion she indelibly and beautifully incorporates into her signature watercolor compositions. Post college, Pomm returned to America and studied with the internationally renowned artist Scoot Moore in Laguna Beach, California during which time she created and perfected a unique style using translucent watercolors applied in many layers, allowing her to create the powerful colors, light and shadows found in her signature European-feeling work.
Not unlike her predecessors, Realism masters Monet and Renoir who revolted against traditional academia by painting what they saw from within, Pomm made a similar and compelling transition in her work by painting what she “viewed from the outside and felt within” to express herself “from the inside out.” This engaging transition can be felt and understood in Pomm’s expressive and moving oil paintings. And although there are artists who can cross up mediums and styles, few make the transition successfully. Pomm, however, has not only achieved it, but brilliantly excels at it. The Expressionist style presented in her oil work transcends the viewer into an emotionally heightened “outer world.” Pomm’s watercolor painting “Unspoken Courage” brought her national acclaim after September 11, 2001. Most recently, Pomm became part of Artists for Human Rights International, a group formed with the purpose of bringing artists together with the common cause of raised awareness and education of Human Rights. www.pommfineart.com • gail@pommfineart.com
www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 15
fine art
labryrinthinea. Acrylic on canvas.
While he was in Montana, he completed three years of course work in Medical Technology, pursuing a combined degree in chemistry and biology at Carroll College in Helena. He maintained his interest in the time arts by studying percussion. After twelve years in Montana, he decided to return to a more urban environment. In 1988 he moved back to Chicago to further his joint careers in graphic design and painting.
Jack Jasper studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He received a BFA in painting in 1970 and an MFA in 1975. He concentrated on painting in graduate school, but he also studied performance. His work in the time arts led him to explore the use of the body in conjunction with other media such as sound and film. After receiving his MFA, he moved to Helena, Montana to pursue freelance design work with his brother. He eventually joined the staff of the Printers, Inc., as a designer. He continued painting and exhibited locally and regionally. In 1982 he received a grant from the Helena Film Society Grant to Artists Program. He collaborated with Montana poet, Rick Newby to design and produce the book, The Man in the Green Loden Overcoat, a juxtaposition of words and images.
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He worked as a book designer at a small Chicago press for four years, working extensively with the Macintosh. After completion of a kindergarten through eighth grade series of books for the press, he pursued freelance graphic design work. At one point he worked for a company creating medical illustrations for doctors, nurses and hospitals. Currently, he is freelancing. He continues to paint and periodically pursued courses in electronic design and imaging at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is represented by Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York city and shows his work in group shows. His work has been sold to various collectors. From the experience of being surrounded by the powerful presence of nature in Montana, coupled with the study of life sciences and the Australian aborigines, he is drawn to experimenting with combinations of elements, sometimes alluding to air, earth, fire and water. He strives to represent nature’s electron dance that presupposes an ambient underlying sexuality, unfolding as a shimmering becoming, a synchronicity between disparate elements. http://www.jackjasperart.com/
Under the Spotlight. Oil on canvass, 76.2 cm X 76.2 cm
Jamal de Jong is half dutch/afro american born Canadian from Edmonton, Alberta. He was raised in Nova Scotia from a family of four including his mother, stepfather and twin sister who is also an artistic talent as a singer. He now lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he acquired a major in painting and drawing from Concordia University in 2008. Psychology is his first degree which he earned in 1998 from Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia and has experience working in that field on the study of autism in children with professors from Dalhousie University. A combination of psychology and a fine arts degree gave him a fair insight of both worlds. From then until now with a breadth of experience, which includes teaching English to South Koreans from children to adults, and Arts to children with disabilities he maintained consistency in exploration and development with a few international group shows including Tomorrow Stars, the Verge Art Miami Beach Annual Open Call Exhibition in Miami, Florida; the Rob McNamara Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia, and Emanation, a Collective Art Exhibition in Los Angeles, California. As a deaf artist, his goal is to share experiences with others in hopes of a common understanding and make awareness the importance of deafness in our daily lives. www.jamaldejong.com • jamal_d@hotmail.com
I’m here. Oil on canvass, 76.2 cm X 76.2 cm
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fine art meet-me-at-the-top. Oriental Brush Painting.
Darlene Kaplan Darlene Kaplan is an award-winning artist who has been captivating art lovers worldwide with her energetic Oriental Brush Paintings using Chinese watercolors for more than 40 years. Her many awards include First place at the Campagna Center, Alexandria, VA, First place at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale, VA, and Finalist at the 27th Annual Arts Competitions-Artist Magazine. She grew up in the country in Tennessee and states, "All of my spare time was spent walking in the woods searching out bugs, plants and anything else that was alive. Those childhood days spent with nature is brought alive every time I put a brush stroke down on paper. All of my paintings are derived from nature." Darlene paints in the Lingnan style of Oriental Brush Painting which is a combination of
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Western and East Asian art. She has been studying with Henry Wo Yue-Kee from 1994 till present. Mr. Wo paints and teaches this freestyle of ink and color on rice paper that originated in China centuries ago. "For many years I painted realism in oils before making the change to oriental brush painting. Studying martial arts/Tai Chi’ for years inspired me to try this medium, which I fell in love with right away. The calming effect of grinding the ink before painting, the energy that is put into throwing ink on paper is just the greatest of pleasures that only this style of art allows me to feel." In her paintings Darlene attempts “to show purity in painting the snow, brightness in the moon, fragrance in the flower, sounds in the waterfall and spirit in people.” Before beginning, she has a vision in mind. "The mind has the plan and the hand follows. Once started, the brush and ink require full attention. Without the mood, brush and ink do not have anything to attach to; without brush and ink, the mood cannot be expressed. These are inseparable elements.” The artist has had many solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States including an exhibition of over 100 paintings representing Oriental Brush Painting during the Cherry Blossom Festival 2012 in Washington, DC. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries and museums including Charles Sumner School Museum in Washington, DC, SoHo District in NY City, and many, many more locations. Her art may be viewed at Soft Brush Studio in Alexandria, VA and The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, and on her on-line at www.darlenekaplan.com.
The Windmill. Acrylic on canvas, 26” x 22”
Diane Langeveld At age five I was mad about embroidery (big needle..big holes, lol) And soon after age five I got my colored chalks..There went the neighborhood sidewalks. Growing up I was always visually engaged. (Just don’t ask me names.} To jump ahead, in high school I painted my room at home, then weird colors. I worked on the drama club, building sets and painting them. Finally, I went off to Syracuse University and majored in Art. Until my parents convinced me that I couldn’t make a living at that, so I switched my major-minor to English and History and got a masters degree in both. Finally, freed up, and painting canvases for all my friends and relatives. I took a huge number of courses at Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT had a large number of the special stones for printmaking, so I took every course they had in that milieu. The university chose me to do a special print for the Board of Directors, and about that time I won third place in a huge judged show in Albany. It was won by a mixed media print, with additional painting on it. I went to teach English in Europe. Took a gazillion photos which I use for material to this day. One such is a rather large canvas called the Windmill. I have always been mad about lighthouses as well, and have painted many of them. So, meantime, I have two wonderful husbands, and three fantastic grown up kids. I have done portraits for most all the family.
The Dutch ship. Acrylic on canvas, 14” x 18”
Meanwhile studying cleaning and restoration of antique paintings. Here is one, for example, which is over 200 years old, oil…and was mostly black, when I worked on it. So, here I am and there you are. Life is a never-ending surprise and I think I should mention, I am not a writer. Follow your dream and enjoy. lakelily@roadrunner.com
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fine art
Morning in Tuscany. Acrylics,18” x 24”
VALERIE LERI I grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in 1982. I have always wanted to live on Cape Cod, taking frequent vacations here and to Martha’s Vineyard during the summers. I finally decided to move here, in part to be closer to my parents who live on the Vineyard. I have been living in Mashpee for 10 years now. When I’m not painting or promoting my work out there, I love spending time with my three kids, three dogs and two cats.
A strong element throughout my work is light – both physically and spiritually – through a combination of realism and abstraction. I’m drawn to capturing a sense of spontaneity and tranquility or movement, energy and exhilaration through the interaction of colors and shapes. I prefer to work more by feeling than technique, letting the painting in a sense “create itself” with myself as the conduit to the visual message. So it is therefore more about flow than form.
My mission is to create paintings that are uplifting, both to me and hopefully that of the viewer. To this end, I am drawn to working with bright, bold colors or soft pastels. My favorite medium is acrylic paints and the majority of my paintings are with that medium.
vgleri@yahoo.com
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There is no right way to interpret my art. My hope is that it is uplifting for the viewer. Ultimately my art is an invitation “to dream.”
Wonder Woman. Oil on canvas, 24” x 14”
Contemplation. Oil on canvas, 32” x 48”
Tony Luciani was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1956. The artist, growing up in Toronto, was able to partake in the best possible creative education. After Central Technical High School (4 year art program), Sheridan Community College (1 year art program), and the Ontario College of Art from 1975 to 1978, Tony received his degree along with post graduate study in OCA’s off-campus program in Florence, Italy. Luciani’s work is an investigation into the impact of uneasiness and distortion inherent in the painted image: as it is received by the viewer and in his own relationship to the image. Luciani has been working as an artist fulltime for thirty-five years, and his work has been described as “interpretive realism” and as “unconventionally surreal.” This may be because Tony is precise in
the manipulation of the medium and many of his compositional paintings are drawn directly from life, although his painting is always a response to the subject, rather than simply its re-presentation. In Luciani’s overarching project of experiencing and communicating the unease of the everyday, his work is in dialogue with, for example, the paintings of Christiane Pflug, Lucian Freud and Antonio Lopez Garcia. Tony Luciani is represented by Loch Gallery in Toronto/Winnipeg/ Calgary and found in important public, private and corporate collections throughout Canada and internationally. www.tonyluciani.ca
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fine art
Golden Stairways. Oil on wood panel, 30” x 30”
Mike Menius lives in the wine country of Northern California. He is a plein air painter of the entire California coastal area. As a member of the "Monday Morning Painters" group, he goes outdoors to paint ocean side vistas, vineyard settings, the lagoon of Santa Rosa, etc. He also paints architectural interiors, as well as abstract work. Art training has included the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC the Torpedo Factory School in Alexandria, VA; the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, in Sebastopol, CA
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He is a member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Southern California Plein Air Painters Association Sonoma Plein Air Foundation Former President, San Francisco Chapter, Colored Pencil Society of America http://www.mikemenius.com/index.html
Toucan Birds of Paradise.
Victor Madero The groundbreaking innovative work of Victor Madero is vibrant and alive. He has set out three-dimensional art that combines influences from several art forms that have a resemblance to mosaic work with much cleaner lines. His fresh new method is bold, tasteful and pleasant to the eye. His work takes your spirit to a tropical island surrounded by exotic birds, striking floral plants and the stunning hues of the ocean. With one look at his work you can easily hear the sound of the crashing waves and the cry of the singing birds.
the celebration of colors. This maintain me to a relentless pursuit of insight into the very core of the Latin American culture. A devotion that originated in my childhood drawings took me a voyage in search of beauty, and the savoir faire of how to interpret it and put it down on canvas. In 1967 I went to New York and spent 15 years working in publication and news agencies as an artist, then I moved to South Florida and open a printing shop in 1982, in 1998 I dedicated all my time to Art.
Victor Madero was born in Caracas, Venezuela, I devoted my life to
vigraphic@aol.com
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fine art The Couple. Oil on canvas, 28”x38”
The Girls. Oil on canvas, 28”x38”
DAVID JOHN SIMCIK I think I have always been an artist. I loved to draw as a child. While I have worked in the applied arts for over thirty-five years as a draftsman, cartographer, graphic and web designer and photographer, it was always my unfulfilled desire to be an artist in the fine arts. In 2002 my long awaited journey began when, for the first time, I began to paint with oils. Perhaps it was because I waited so long, or possibly it was the seductive power of oil paint, that I experienced a flood tide, an explosion of creative ideas that swept me up in its arms and carries me forward still. My paintings have been described as calm, reflective, and intimate while others are vibrant, powerful, edgy and fun. Viewers of my paintings often ask, ‘What is the story behind this painting?’ Then I
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know I have captured their curiosity, interest, and sense of wonder. The great masters saw beauty in every face. It so eloquently expresses the broad landscape of human feelings. A portrait should be more than a representation of the outward appearance. It should attempt to capture the spirit, and spark of life. In my portraits, I explore the emotional vocabulary of the face. I endeavor to paint a face from the inside out, to build a face in an attempt to capture the inner person on the canvas. While this is not always achieved by an artist, it is my ultimate goal in portraiture. To participate in and witness the magical moment when marks of color become a person. davesebay@hotmail.com
Dress #3. Pastel on paper, 28” x 38”.
Sara Swan Sara Swan is a Los Angeles based artist. Her education includes fine art at Whitman College, design at UC Davis, and illustration at Art Center College of Design.
drawings to create paintings and drawings that celebrate not only fashion and glamour, but the human figure, body language and emotion as well.
Sara primarily paints with oils on canvas, but she also uses chalk pastels on paper. Saturated and intense colors, unusual color combinations and textures characterize her work.
Sara participates in the monthly Art Walk in downtown Los Angeles. She and other artists who have studios at Spring Arts Tower show their work in the mezzanine level gallery on the 2nd Thursday night to each month. “There is a wonderful synergy among us”, Sara says of this monthly exhibition.
Her career began in illustration where she created pieces for books, magazines and newspapers that were humorous and highly stylized. Her fine art was derivative of her illustration style until a few years ago. More recently, Sara has been looking at fashion from the 1940’s and 50’s for inspiration. Using vintage images of both swimwear and formal evening gowns, Sara combines these with her own figure
In the coming months, Sara plans to further her examination of the human form, incorporating elements from nature, and using religious icon paintings as a stylistic influence. www.saraswan.com • sara@saraswan.com
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sculpture • mixed media • jewelry
What The Hell Was She Smokin’. Recycycled found object, 21” x 21” x 11”.
Keri Joy Colestock I have been a contemporary artist since 2003. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease where I was told "doing much of anything creative moving forward would be "impossible" from damage to my brain. Since then, I have sold 1500+ original pieces starting with my "Wall Dancers" I now am recycling found objects. My work now can be seen at 4 Art Inc Gallery where my work & I have found a wonderful new 'home' in the well known Zhou Bros. Art Center. My goal is to continue to create beautiful works of art fueled by passion, whimsy and imagination.
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Six of my pieces are now published in the Contemporary Sculptor table book. I won Martha Stewarts American Made Audience Choice Artist & an Emerging Artist On Art Jury. In May I am being published in International Contemporary Artist. Keri’s work was published on the cover of the Russian magazine “The Doll Master” in Spring 2013 issue. http://www.walldancers.com/
Best of Africa. They are hand painted clay beads from Kenya. They mold them by hand and set in the sun to dry. then fire them, then paint them and fire again. This one is painted with 14kt gold pain. The African Metal Beads are 14kt Gold as well.
This piece is very unique in that the pendant is thousands of years old. I found up in Canada. It is set in Sterling Silver. Surrounding Gemstones are Turquoise and Red Tiger Eye. Unusual but very versatile.
Sandy Den Hartog Sandy has had an interest in stones since childhood. Wherever she went, even as a young person, whether it was picnics, vacations, or field trips; she always made sure she had a cup along to collect rocks which were precious to her at the time. Once in high school she took numerous classes in gemology and geology. Then she graduated, got married, and had children. Rocks and gems had to be put on hold for a while. However, she was still able to attend gem shows and art shows when she had the opportunity. She was looking and learning and eventually was able to travel the globe and reignite her interest in gems and minerals. She was struck by how much stones, rocks,
gems, and minerals change from country to country. In bringing back Ethiopian Crosses from Africa, she made her daughters and granddaughters necklaces with the crosses. She was once again hooked with a creative passion for what she could now do with these artifacts. Sandy’s work has been exhibited at Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the James Ratliff Gallery in Sedona, Arizona. She has also been a part of several juried shows winning a first place medal in 2010 and 2012 with a Award of Merit in 2012. http://www.sandzibarjewelry.com/ www.artandbeyondpublications.com • 27
photography • digital art Tattooed Woman. Photography
Life is a journey, a continuum of everyday events and ordinary people, all of which make for an extraordinary lifetime of experiences. My photography is simple and straightforward. I have a passionate interest and curiosity about people, world cultures and ideas. These are the forces that dominate my personal life and my photography. Actually I draw no distinction between my work and my personal life; they are one and the same. Paying attention to the environment and the humans who live in it, is critical for me. I allow myself to become involved with the individuals I photograph. I strive to celebrate their human spirit with dignity and respect. It matters to me.
Marti Belcher I was born on my grandfather’s dairy farm in upstate New York. My parents, Eleanor and Percy, made TV antennas for a living. The tranquility of agrarian life, the nitty-gritty of the factory environment and now, the speed and sterility of the age of technology, have each provided me with an uncommon vantage point from which to observe and record the human condition. Curious by nature, I remain always a student. In 1981, I moved to Virginia to complete my education at Georgetown University. My time at Georgetown afforded me an opportunity to question my basic beliefs, examine new philosophies and to grow into a fuller human being. After working for many years in the federal government, I went back to school to study interior design, art history and graphic design. In 2003, this led me to the study of photography. From the moment I picked up a camera, I knew that I had found my creative outlet. 28 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
My journey has taken me to Asia, particularly India and Myanmar. These exotic places are a long way from a dairy farm in New York State but the dairy farm was a good place to start the journey. I learned to appreciate the every day events and the emotions that make us human. Today I photograph ordinary people and ordinary situations on the other side of earth; their lives are much like the life my family lived on the dairy farm. Through my photography, I explore the spectrum of human emotion: passion, tenderness, fear, anxiety, joy, aloofness, love, anger, etc. Many times my emotions are transmitted to the images, rather like a self-portrait. These moments can be intense, maybe disturbing and always powerful. The commonplaceness of the people, the situations and the objects found along my journey, become the elements that evoke calm, bring comfort, and furnish a sense of connectedness for me. www.martibelcher.com • www.moodsofindiajourney.com
Hollywood: This is the Life Photography. 8” x 10”
Deb Drew Brown I have enjoyed photography since I used my Brownie camera when I was seven years old. Seven years ago I shot eighty shots of a beautiful bald eagle, our national bird. While getting it framed, I formed a friendship with the owner of a framing store [Framer’s Edge] in Okemos, Michigan who became my mentor and encouraged me to share my art with others. I began to join some art groups and participate in exhibitions. I live near Michigan State University so there is quite an artist community available. Until I took my wings-up eagle picture, I had no idea that there was this other artistic world adjacent to my own world! I have been a Radiologic Technologist for 40 years and now I am an instructor at Lansing Community College. I loved my career of taking black and white x-rays of patients but I considered myself to be a more “colorful” person, so my colorful photos are my favorites. I have worked with filters and black and white, but color will always have a place in my red heart.
My latest news is that I will be exhibiting in Grand Rapids, Michigan during ArtPrize, the biggest art competition in the world; ArtPrize began in 2009 and this will be my 3rd time participating. I entered four aluminum prints of the Grand Canyon. I was invited to exhibit my collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum! This is such an honor to me. Hundreds of thousands of people come to see 1400 artists whose work is placed all over downtown Grand Rapids. The winner is chosen by public vote; first place is $200,000, so wish me luck! http://debdrewbrown.com/blog http://artprize.org/deb-drew-brown
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photography • digital art Don’t Repeat This. Collage,10” x 8”
Drop. Collage,10” x 7”
Laura Collins is a Chicago based artist working primarily in collage. She received a Bachelors of Fine and Applied Arts degree in painting from the University of Illinois and is in pursuit of a Master’s of Arts degree in New Media Studies from DePaul University. “I work intuitively, often alluding to moments of personal discomfort and alienation, proposing them to be in fact universal. While generally a simple pairing of two images, my collages combine to form complex relationships. These pieces are often assembled to share an unbroken seam that connects two otherwise disjointed images, creating waning moments where they appear as one. There is a tension between the images where they work together, yet constantly reject one another. It is my hope that this guides a cyclical involvement for the viewer”. www.lauracollinsart.com
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Welcome to Akihabara. Tokyo. Monochrome digital image on gloss-aluminum, 11” x 14”
Play Ball. Manila. Monochrome digital image satin-aluminum, 8” x 10”
Chuck Fletcher uses a camera to engage and to relate with people. His work focuses on street photography and contemporary sociocultural themes exposed in candid portraits of people. His early influences include volunteer work taking pictures of children waiting for adoption and a wide variety of street encounters during international travel. An experienced geologist, teacher, and technical analyst, his pictures reflect his professional acumen for the graphic arts. His street-style shots are taken on the move, with no rehearsals or second chances. The photographs are moments of opportunity, which means that nothing is staged – nothing is controlled – the environment, subject, lighting, movement and timing are all fluid at the same time. These blended challenges make street photography
exciting and a unique way to convert daily life into art. Chuck is a member of the Photographic Society of America, League of Reston Artists, the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and supporter of the Arts Council of Fairfax County. He grew up in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia, but now resides in northern Virginia with his wife and three kids. “Photography is more about access and composition and less about the camera or technology used to take the picture. It’s the photographer’s job to creatively see the unusual in the everyday by balancing scale, light and luck. The right photo can have lifetimes of impact”. http://tiopuravida.wix.com/bystander
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photography • digital art
Mesada. Photography.
“My photographic collages are layers of my reflections and observations, being personal, political or historical.
Vered Galor has been involved with the fine art world as an artist, curator and educator for over thirty years. She received her BA and MA in Fine Art from California State University in Northridge in 1975 and 1978.
Like our life experiences, these thoughts accumulate on top of each other, to create my feelings and emotions that get expressed in the artwork. The layering process coincides with the synthesis of creating visual pieces that invites one to investigate and explore the given information.
Mrs. Galor started her career as glass sculptor. In 1981 she established a business doing curatorial projects and consulting in Contemporary Fine Art. She lectured, participated in discussions and wrote art programs to encourage the collaboration of Art and Architecture.
Like in previous works of mine, made on glass, the technique and the transparencies, of the digital process are an important part of the art, they emphasis the build-up process and the blending which creates the images.
Since 1989 Mrs. Galor has been concentrating on photography. She has been creating her own work, teaching photography and showing with galleries.
When photographing in Israel, the amount of history, archaeology, culture, faith and natural beauty of the country overwhelms you.
http://www.veredgalor.com
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In my Israel portfolio/gallery I combine the Archeological, Historical, political and my Emotional relation to the subject”.
Robins Nest. Digital Print , 18” x 24”.
Melvin Harris I became interested in art at an early age. I remember looking at the ‘Draw Me’ ads in comic books and various other publications. I started by taking one of their correspondence courses. I took art classes in Junior High School and was a frequent visitor to the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City after school hours. I intensively studied Water Color and Acrylic painting, Life Drawing, Graphic Art and Design, Technical Illustration and Airbrush Photo Retouching during several decades that I lived in California. I gave no thought to ‘being in the arts’ when I was young. I find creating art to be an outlet for my thoughts and experiences. In my work one may perceive a facet of my dream life, catch a glimpse of a thought, experience or wish that I have had during my life. I intend for every image to be not only thought provoking but also appealing to the eye. Because I spent many years as a graphic artist and illustrator, I started using a computer to complete some of my work. After a time, I began using the computer exclusively for all of my art creations.
My preferred medium of expression is digital landscape and modeling software. I use these programs to create one-of-a-kind images from photo-realistic landscapes to ‘other-worldly’ abstracts. Fantasy may be a term that describes one of several themes I depict. Sometimes it is a word concept and other times I may follow a more esoteric route. Surreal landscapes and scenes are ‘products’ of my dream-life. Artists are the ‘visual journalists’ of their time. Through their work they tell the story of the world in which we find ourselves. As an artist, I feel it is important to express, through art, my story of the world’s impact on me. All my prints are on Somerset Velvet paper using Epson Archival inks. The prints Robins Nest, Gift Wrapped and Stained Glass will be on display at the Raw Art Space NYC March 1 - 15. mel841@comcast.net
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photography • digital art
Water Show. Digital art.
Arthur Jacob Recognition of my work has greatly expanded with participation in several solos and many juried and group exhibitions. Among them is my most recent solo exhibition at the Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, California and hosted by Gallery ArtLA. I have also been the recipient of several awards and have been featured in or as part of several print media articles, among them Professional Artist and Art & Beyond Magazine, that are both national print and electronic magazines. I have also recently been juried in to the winning on-line gallery hosted by Manhattan Arts International, New York, New York. My work is a process of discovery, strongly influenced by a very strong visual sense of the world. My work offers an infinite variety of visual perceptions and interpretations for the viewer. The viewer is first told what the “real Life” image is in the title of the piece, but through abstraction and reconstruction of that image, they are then asked to undertake an adventure of discovery and challenged to explore the shapes, colors, movements and forms, which the abstraction and
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reconstruction present. Colors and shapes become emotion, while form and movement become attitude. Even when a work is easily recognized there is still a predominate thread of color, movement, shape and form. My creative process is a thoughtful and purposeful digital manipulation. Using a mouse rather than a brush to achieve a powerful medium of expression and communication, creates this style of fine art. After leaving the work-a-day world, it was in Las Vegas that I began to discover my creative abilities and focus on the mediums of photography and digital art. In 2008 I decided to move to the Portland area where I presently reside, after a short stay in Coos Bay, Oregon. Believing that it is important to stay connected with one’s community, I have actively served on several community boards and committees, most recently, the Contemporary Arts Collective in Las Vegas and the Coos Bay Art Museum in Oregon. aj@arthur-jacob.com • www.arthur-jacob.com
Trio of Electric Strings. Photography. 11” x 16”
Shadows of the Ancient Weaver – Peru. Photography. 11” x 16”
Julie Lenoch I’m an artist that tells a story through my images. I’m a trained journalist but decided to use photography as my way of communicating my story. I take an image and shoot it many different ways, but look for detail, color and design. I’ve been blessed with trips to Mongolia, Peru and the American Southwest to pursue my stories. I graduated from The University of Iowa, a BA in Fine Arts in Journalism and Political
Science, working for a Political Consultant, Barack Obama, and landed in a family business-an American dream in the Hospitality industry. Indigenous Vision Fine Art was formed, and I hope you enjoy the detail, color and story of my works. jlenoch639@aol.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indigenous-Vision-Fine-Art/119132221444299
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photography • digital art
Breath Of Heaven. Photography
Looking through all things in the world, the intention of the only Creator, is that love be felt everywhere. The existence and character of our one God is to be known through his creatures.
Satoshi Matsuyama “My greatest desire is to offer my whole heart, soul, mind and strength to honor and worship God and to be mightily used to declare his glory through my Pixel Painting.” ROMANS 1:20 “For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even His eternal power and Godship, so............” 36 • Art & Beyond • July/August 2013
Although humans are now able to change the colors and the forms of nature quite freely by the use of a tool called the computer, I would like to utilize this technology in CONFORMITY to the will and the intentions of the Creator, to show Nature in its truest and most beautiful forms. As long as I continue to do my work within this limit and at the same time, show my appreciation, thanks, respects and admirations to the Creator, God, who made this excellent Star, called Earth, according to his will, purpose and goal, I believe The Creator will allot me the energy to continue my work forever. http://www.love-peace-happiness.com/top.php
Sploutsch. Photography.
Keith Parks Born in Los Angeles, Keith Parks grew up in the lovely town of Oxnard, California, where his father converted an old shed in their backyard into a darkroom to "keep him off the streets" while he was in high school. Keith began college at California State University, Northridge as a photography major, but as graduation approached and he realized there were no "Help Wanted: Photographer" ads in the classified section, but plenty of entry-level graphics jobs, he switched his emphasis to graphic art in his final year. In 1980 he got his BA in Art.
full bloom, he felt the time was right to take a stab at some purely personal artwork. He devoted a couple of years to building up a body of work, and posted the resulting images to an online artist's community, eliciting positive reviews and valuable feedback. By 2010, with his hard drive filling up with image files, he took the advice of one of his old art professors to "enter every show you can", which lead to pieces being accepted into a variety of juried exhibitions around the country (thanks to the internet). Now, in his mid-fifties, he's looking for his "big break".
That led to a 30+ year career in graphic design. In 2008, with his daughter about to depart for college, and his midlife artistic crisis in
keith@keithparks.com • keithparks.daportfolio.com
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photography • digital art
My City - Washington DC. Photography.
Natalya Borisovna Parris was born in Moscow, Russia where she earned basic and advanced degrees in construction engineering from the Moscow State Construction University. Ms.Parris has exhibited her artworks in numerous solo and group shows at the different art galleries and museums. She displayed her artworks at the Museum of the Americas, Doral, Florida “7 Women From 7 Countries” exhibit, May 8 - May 30, 2009 and at the International Artists exhibit in Malmö, Sweden, June 6 - June 27, 2009 at Svenska Konstgalleriet (Gallery). Her artwork was on display at the “International Artists In Florence” exhibit in FYR Gallery, Borgo Albizi 23 – Florence 50122, Italy, September 4 - 30, 2009 and Barcelona Award 2009 Mallorca, 284 - 08037 Barcelona, Spain December 23, 2009 – January 10, 2010. She exhibited at the Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD USA with solo exhibition “Story of My Life in Paint” February 1 - 28, 2012 and at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, MD USA with solo exhibition “A Poem of My Soul in Paint”, June 2 – July 29, 2012. Most recently (February 28 – March 28, 2013) she exhibited at the Dennis & Phillip Ratner Museum. This is a link to Bora Mici review about this “New Vision” exhibit http://arttistsspeak.blogspot. com/2013/03/new-vision-at-ratner-museum.html
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https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.591425884219842.14 1547.111488538880248&type=3# Ms. Parris is among featured artists at the “100 Contemporary International Artists”, “Contemporary Artists of the World 2008 – 2009”, and “Contemporary Women Artists 2010”, published by European Communities Artists Library, Barcelona, Spain. Image of her artwork “Patterns in the Sky”, acrylic on canvas, was published in the International Art Expo Las Vegas catalog (September 19-21, 2008). Ms. Parris and four of her artworks were featured among international artists in the 2010 Yearbook and 2012 Yearbook of the Latino Art Museum affiliated with the Ontario Cultural Center and the Pomona Art Colony. Ms. Parris and her artworks were featured in Bora Mici articles: Ms. Parris donated her artworks, to benefit scholarship programs, for the Mobile Masterpieces fundraiser at Montgomery Collage, March 28, 2009 at Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center 930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Ms. Parris donated her mixed-media artwork “Clematis” to the Gaithersburg Police Foundation’s First Art Auction on March 6, 2011 to benefit the Gaithersburg Police Department. privatenbp@hotmail.com
Two Pelicans. Photography
Paula Rucket Paula is a self taught photographer and feels at home producing either straight out of the camera or digitally enhanced photography. As a result of the digital world, her camera is an important part of the circle of digitized creativity which gives her a wide range of innovative elements to create images that tell a story. She uses any subject and then uses photographic treatments that give emphasis to tone, shades, texture, and shapes. When on site Paula moves around her intended subject to determine the best angle and lighting. Her goals are to capture what is often not looked at. Paula’s inspiration is to deepen our connections to the world around us by digitally capturing substance, color, idea, intensity of light, or form. As an aspiring ‘avid amateur’ Paula has had numerous images exhibited in galleries ranging from Honorable Mention to Grand Prize
winner. It is competing that drives her to improve her photographic skills. One element of her approach is to study other photographers’ images - focusing primarily on composition, light, and texture then using that information she experiments on her next shoot. This is a large part of her self taught strategy. Paula prefers to photograph as a Generalist. Shooting different subjects including nature, architecture, and landscapes is always a challenge and provides a learning experience on every shoot. In addition, she enjoys street photography and is currently working on improving her technique. Ultimately, producing a beautiful image created from a blend of many different artistic approaches is her goal. paula.rucket@att.net
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photography • digital art
Emu (Australia). Photography.
YASMINE SAMIRY Fashioned by experience, feelings and vision Yasmine Samiry is an emerging photographer-artist the world should keep an eye on. Award winning, published and exhibited, she is drawing attention around her. Her life has been a journey of discoveries. Granddaughter of an archeologist-photographer, she remembers in her childhood, being drawn to the technology of the camera. She was fortunate to be surrounded by different cultures and able to see new places. At an early age, she was experimenting with her own SLR. Photography was first a form of escaping her traditional and sheltered environment; she was often characterized as a daydreamer. Drawn to “exotic” lands, her imagination would run free. In her adulthood she went to live and work in China and Asia, an
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experience that definitely changed the course of her life along with a year backpacking from Asia to America and later tour guiding in Austral-Asia. From then on she could finally fulfill a lifelong ambition: to explore the world with her camera. Curiosity and creativity have always been her guides; living in different cultures has been an experience that definitely enriched her life and that she loves to transmit. Yasmine is an art sourcer, photographer and artist, graphic designer and founder of a photographers’ collective. Yasmine will have an exhibition in London on November 30. You are of course welcome if you are going to be in the city, just send her an email. yasminesamiry@me.com • www.yasminesamiry.com
My Heroes. Digital art
Lynn Zubal Have you ever spent the summer looking at human feet? At the beach, shopping, wearing sandals is the summer time experience we all enjoy. The feet are the windows to our soul. According to massage therapists the feet control much of the human body functions. You can tell a lot about a person just by their feet. People look at their feet as art. Shoes are considered an art form for feet. People with toenail polish can create art on their toenails. Individuals have rings or piercing on their feet. Other human toenails are groomed to look like lizards feet with claws. There are web sites, “wikifeet” being one, of celebrity feet showing polish and well groomed toenails depicting a “stylish” type of person.
My most recent artwork is called “Foot Fetish Series”. I take human feet and create human situations, or portraits. The “Foot Fetish Series” are all Giclee, 8x10, computer art. “My Heroes” is a portrait of Dali and Caravaggio. Dali and Caravaggio changed the norm in the art world. Dali the surrealist composed the bizarre into his paintings and made a world we “dream” about. Caravaggio took biblical meanings and brought compassion into his art using his bar fly buddies as subjects. I like seeing things in a bizarre way with compassion. Making you aware that my study of feet has nothing to do with the erotic. www.lazgalleries.com
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publisher of
Art & Beyond Publications July 27, 2013 Deadline June Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be published in the
Living Artists of Today: Contemporary Art. vol.II
Artist owned and operated by art professionals. Our goal was to create the most affordable and highly professional publications to help artists self-promote and market their art.
Art & Beyond Publications invites all artists 18 years old and older apply to be published in a series of art books titled Living Artists of Today: Contemporary Art.
To apply please go to
www.artandbeyondpublications.com Entry Form can be found on the BOOKS page under the main menu 1.847.581.0518 • 1.224.388.0582 • mryk@art-beyond.com
Lizzy Forrester
My Love of Trees VII. Oil on canvas, 53 cm x 65 cm. 2013
Tony Luciani
Wonder Woman. Oil on canvas. 24” x 14”