ATIM ANNIVERSARY ISSUE by ArtTour International Magazine

Happy birthday to us and many thanks to you! ArtTour International Magazine is now two years old!. Conceived with an idea, brought to life with passion . . . and it is continuously growing thanks to the support of a great community of artists, art lovers and friends worldwide. Something different has been going on, and it’s been . . . pretty fantastic! In only two years, ATIM has become one of the most iconic art magazines in the international market. Here’s what we’ve done: • 12 Magazine Issues Published, including a Special Issue in Spanish on October 2013. • Over 365 articles published since our magazine’s launch in December 2011. • Published Works by over 2,000 artists in the pages of our magazine. • We’ve reached 2.1 million readers worldwide in over 120 countries. • We’ve visited 25 cities in 9 countries and attended over 34 International Art Events. The brand has expanded to include the ATIM Web TV Channel, which was born on July 1, 2012. Since its launch this is what ATIM Web TV has done: • We’ve broadcast 66 videos including 46 “Art 2 Heart” interviews with artists and personalities. • We’ve reached 475,732 views. • Gained the condence of 3,947 loyal subscribers. • Reached 300,000 households. • Touches 30 million people with its social network platforms. ArtTour International Magazine has produced and published many photographic documentaries featuring stunning locations such as: • Yellowstone National Park in the USA. • The city of Tbilisi in Georgia. • The River of Five Colors in Colombia. • The Vatican Museums. • The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille, France. • The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand. • Casa-Museu Teixeira Lopes in Porto, Portugal. • The beautiful city of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. • Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí in Cadaqués, Spain. • The Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. • St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral and the Crypt Museum in Beirut, Lebanon. (On this issue) While we are still learning, evolving and continuously growing, we thank you for your support and fully appreciate the trust you place in us. “Art is a powerful tool. Sharing your energy through artistic expression allows you to connect, move and inspire people around the world. I strongly believe in art as a vehicle to spread healing and love.” Viviana Puello - Founder

As we approach the holiday season and the beginning of a new year, we at ArtTour International Magazine remember with appreciation the continued support of our readers, partners, collaborators, and our worldwide family of artists and friends. We wish you all a joy-filled holiday season and all the best in the coming year! May all your dreams come true and your goals be attained. May you and your loved ones be blessed with laughter, joy, love and peace. Happy 2014!

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN CHIEF Viviana Puello

RESIDENT WRITER Cody LaVada

Viviana Puello is the founder & Art Director of the ATIM and also the creator of the ATIM Web TV Channel and the "ART 2 HEART" Interviews. She directs the operations together with Executive Director Alan Grimandi and with the help of our team. Viviana is the person who supervises the content of our magazine to make sure we meet our standards. She also directs all marketing strategies with the help of our publicists, marketing managers, advertisers and social media managers. Contact via email: vp@arttourinternational.com. Phone: (800) 807-1167 Ext 107. To learn more about Viviana visit her blog: www.vivianapuello.blogspot.it

Performance artist, writer & designer from Upstate New York. Inspired by the dark side of life, Cody’s unique creations are often a macabre amalgam of fashion, passion & theatricality, interwoven with intensely-personal experiences, such as body modiﬁcation & mental illness. Cody's amazing articles include some of our reader's favorites like the "Yayoi Kusama, Between a Dot and an Art Place" and "The Phantom Phenomenon".

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / VIDEO GRAPHIC DIRECTOR Alan Grimandi As our Executive Director, Alan is the person to approve all negotiations with partners and collaborators. Alan makes sure everything looks its best and keeps on top of the latest technology for our videos to ensure the best quality. Responsible for ATIM Web TV Alan travels with our video team to produce our "Art 2 Heart" Interviews to artists and personalities and for all our event coverage. Contact: grimandi@arttourinternational.com Phone: (800) 807-1167 Ext 108. To learn more about Alan visit his blog: www.alangrimandi.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN/WEB DEVELOPMENT Humberto José Orozco CEO at Humberto Orozco Advertising

Beto as we call him is the brain behind all of the ATIM websites! He makes sure it is up to date, it looks phenomenal and gets lots of exposure. He also handles the graphic design for the magazine and marketing department. He's being with ATIM from day one. His company Humberto Orozco Advertising handles Web Designs for VIP clients. Info: horozco@outlook.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Marco Zanotti Photographer.

Marco is the person behind the wonderful images in all of our events! Marco is part of our team and travels with us for important events when we want the best of the best. You can see his portfolio at: www.behance.net/marcozanotti and you may contact him at: marcozanotti.fe@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS: Alison Hart Kevin Durant Daniel Pabian Eduardo Bloom Kacy Amburn Peter Davis CAREERS We have the best, and most creative talent in the media industry — a team of young creators who produce our world-class content, design our state of the art magazine and produce amazing videos for our ATIM WEB T.V. using the latest technologies. If you are interested in getting involved with ATIM, working with us or becoming our partner please contact: info@arttourinternational.com Cover Design by: Alan Grimandi Front Cover Art: "Tea Time” Photography by Cristobal Valecillos © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

Back Cover Art: “Tenderness of a Genuine Heart” Oil on Canvas by Budour AlAli © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. The copyrights of all published artwork are retained by the artists. Reproduction of any published material without the written permission of the authors is prohibited by law.

Published by Arttour International Publications Inc. Tel: 800 807-1167 * Fax +1 (347) 704-1648 601 W. 174th Street S 4C, New York, NY 10033 © Copyright 2013 Arttour International Magazine. All copyrights are reserved by the authors. The copyrights of all published artwork are retained by the artists. Reproduction of any published material without the written permission of the magazine's publisher is prohibited by law.

“A Cardboard Life”

by Viviana Puello.

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

On his photography series, “A Cardboard Life”, Cristobal Valecillos' images are mesmerizing, providing an environmental narrative. His art goes beyond the lens, as ordinary items are transformed into things that are glamorous and appealing, and recycled materials become the subject of his shoots. Models dressed in newspaper garments and full-scale interior designs are recreated entirely from paper and objects that otherwise would have been disposed of. With the exception of the models, everything you see in these photos has been made out of paper or cardboard. The end result offers viewers a glimpse into an imaginative and surreal world, a reflection of an eco-improved reality.

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January 2014

Venezuelan native, photographer Cristóbal Valecillos, has two decades of artistic experience in directing television commercials and music videos, creating works for some of the greatest talent in the world. He began his advertising career collaborating with companies such as Coca Cola, McDonald's, and Microsoft. Based in Miami, Valecillos has worked for a decade with Veneno, Inc. producing the visuals for world tour concerts of top artists, like Justin Bieber, Madonna, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez. He has also done the production design for music videos for many recording artists, including Ludacris' “My Chick Bad,” “I'm On A Boat” by The Lonely Island featuring T-Pain, “Bedtime Stories” by Madonna, “Million Dollar Girl” by Trina featuring Diddy, as well as Ricky Martin's Musica Aime World Tour. Valecillos is the production designer for ads such as HTC's Here's To Change, Microsoft's Surface Pro, and Finlandia Financial Group's Pedro. On his photography series, “A Cardboard Life”, Cristobal Valecillos' images are mesmerizing, providing an environmental narrative. His art goes beyond the lens, as ordinary items are transformed into things that are glamorous and appealing, and recycled materials become the subject of his shoots. Models dressed in newspaper garments and fullscale interior designs are recreated entirely from paper and objects that otherwise would have been disposed of. With the exception of the models, everything you see in these photos has been made out of paper or cardboard. The end result offers viewers a glimpse into an imaginative and surreal world, a reﬂection of an eco-improved reality. Tell us a little bit about your background. At what age did you realize that art was something you wanted to do professionally? I think I was seven. I realized early—not because at home I had any support or because my family was into it; I just loved www.arttourinternational.com

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“I work with some very strong and successful personalities, and so far, every experience has been pleasant and positive. From the young Rihanna to Jennifer Lopez, I find the warm and humble side of each artist I work with, and I stick to it during the job.”

painting, music, ﬁlm, and art, in general. I took part in every play during my school years. I don't do acting now, but growing up, it was something we had to do at school, and I enjoyed it very much. During high school, all I wanted to do was go away, to do something different from what my family had planned for me. My mother decided for me to be a lawyer—crazy but true. I moved from my town to the capital, Caracas, and started doing advertising and marketing, which was the one thing I could do instead of going to law school. I started working at the same time I went to school, and that was hard but fun. I was doing something creative and different every day. At this point, I needed a job to pay for school, and advertising was paying very well. I learned a lot during those years—marketing and advertising are very useful instruments, especially if you are in the creative ﬁeld. I met fantastic people and learned from them and from the challenges I was exposed to in my career. I had the chance to be creative, and sometimes, it felt like I was doing art—at least, I like to think that. While I was working, I started making collages. I called them “family boxes,” and they were where I kept my family memories. I would mix all of the www.arttourinternational.com

special objects from my family with different elements, including cardboard, wood, etc. I have one somewhere back home. After four years in advertising, I needed a break. I was going crazy in this big and fantastic city, Caracas—France and art were the solution to my crisis. I moved to Paris and discovered the magic of the city, the walls, the history. I used to walk for miles every day just to feel more connected to the city and the vibe. Sorbonne open its doors for me, and I enjoyed every minute I spent there. So you emigrated to the US, and you went to New York, the Big Apple. How was that experience? I moved to New York in the early '90s. I lived in Manhattan; it was unforgettable. At the time, Soho was full of art and underground life, and for some reason, that fascinated me. The city was too intense—it was easy to get lost and lose track. The experiences I have from my days in the Big Apple are with me and have put a mark on my life in a very deep and special way. Only New York City gets into your DNA that way. The everyday was hard, especially during the winter. I started going to Florida, and I soon fell in love with the heat and the beach, so I decided to January 2014

move there. I grew up far away from the beach and only had the opportunity to see the ocean once a year. This new access all year long was the number-one reason for me to stay, and I enjoy it. You have collaborated for over ten years with Veneno, Inc., creating visuals for world tour concerts of top artists like Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, and Christina Aguilera. You've also given color and shape to the visions of notorious fellow artists like David LaChapelle, Bruce Weber, Albert Watson, Wayne Isham, Dave Meyers, Nigel Dick, and Jon Chu. This is a great achievement. Tell us more about that. I work in production for TV commercials, music videos, photography, performance shows, and anything you can put a camera in front of and get media exposure for. I love my job. Sometimes, it can be crazy—ﬁlled with a lot of stress, egos, deadlines, travels, and very long days without much sleep—but it is always a creative process, and every job is different. No matter how simple the job is, I put my heart into it. I think of every detail, and I never accept anything I'm not one hundred percent happy about. When working with other artists, you not only need to go with your instincts, but you also need to try to feel what a singer or actor is bringing to the picture, put it all together, and manage the egos that are riding along. When you love what you do and put your heart and soul into it, no one will make you feel wrong or insecure. The clients will ask for changes, as their egos are demanding, but most likely, if you follow www.arttourinternational.com

your instincts, people will follow them, too. I work with some very strong and successful personalities, and so far, every experience has been pleasant and positive. From the young Rihanna to Jennifer Lopez, I find the warm and humble side of each artist I work with, and I stick to it during the job. Sometimes I direct a piece. Other times, I do production design, or I'm just a creative director. For the past three years, my focus and attention has been my photography. In my 20s, I had the opportunity to work with some fantastic photographers and learn something from every job. Sometimes, I feel bad if I lose the essence of my art, but I go back up next time. Commercial work can take you down, so you need to stay strong to your beliefs and get up quickly every time if you want to survive. There's a deep message from you in each photograph. Please tell us more about the recycling concept because it is fascinating. My photography has given me so much pleasure—not only from being accepted in the fine arts field, but also because I use my pictures as tools to teach young artists about finding beauty in very common and simple materials, like cardboard and paper. To take a picture, I start with a concept, usually inspired by the moment and place I'm in. I design and build a whole installation out of recycled cardboard, dress people with recycled paper, and try to make something beautiful with the materials I have found in a garbage can. January 2014

“I design and build a whole installation out of recycled cardboard, dress people with recycled paper, and try to make something beautiful with the materials I have found in a garbage can.” Sometimes, the installation starts from the shape of one simple box or some packaging paper. After a few days, this becomes a modern or romantic house. Sometimes, I use models; other times, I use real people. Either way, I talk to the talent the same way and try to create a story around the place for them to perform and place the part. We talk about motivations and what's happening around them. This can help me ﬁnd the facial expressions I'm looking for. With all that, my pictures are set, and after this long process, the party starts. Were there speciﬁc artists whom you looked to for inspiration? The artists I follow or the ones who I feel inspired by are many, and every couple of years, I change. The respect stays always, but sometimes, I put one or two on top just to change a bit. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the work of Yousuf Karsh. His iconic portraits are perfection in every way. What he captures through his lenses is very unique and special. My second idol is Gregory Crewdson. Every picture of his tells a story and has so much soul. I would put myself inside one of his American neighborhoods any time of the year.

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What's your perfect day? My perfect day involves taking pictures of Sara and Mateo, my most precious inspirations. Are you an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist, and why? I consider myself very optimistic, with a big percentage of me as a dreamer. I've always been a big dreamer. I always expect good things to happen, and I ask the universe for it—so far, so good. My ups are a big part of my life, and my downs are necessary to learn how to do better next time. What projects do you have coming up that we should know about? My next big thing is that I'm part of a show in Paris, France called Unique Dialogue. I'm one of four American artists exhibiting in Paris as part of this fantastic event. Last month, four French artists did a show in San Francisco at the McLoughlin Gallery. For a month, we are showing at Mondapart Galerie. I'm very excited and happy to be able to bring my work to this magical city after twenty years.

January 2014

Anything else we should know about you? I've always been attracted to architecture. My obsession to see the world is, in part, motivated by the architecture in every town—its buildings, bridges, towers, homes, and stadiums. The elements they use to create these structures, the shapes—I have a passion for it. These are big inspirations in my life and career. “A Cardboard Life” Photography series by Cristobal Valecillos Photography: Cristobal Valecillos Stylist: Irma Martinez

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January 2014

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

ArtTour International Magazine is always looking for exciting locations to share with our readers. So when we visited Lebanon a couple of months ago, we were thrilled to ﬁnd a cathedral, an underground museum and an archaeological site; all worth sharing with you. The Cathedral of Saint George is the seat of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan bishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut and its dependencies. It is the city's oldest extant church. The ancient structure, which holds remains from the Hellenistic period, dates back to the second and third centuries BC, and includes work all the way up to the Ottoman period, before the construction of the modern-day Greek Orthodox cathedral in 1772.

History According to the Greek Orthodox tradition, the Archdiocese of Beirut was established by the Apostle Quartus of Berytus, one of the seventy disciples, who was Beirut's ﬁrst bishop. Byzantine emperor Theodosius II issued a decree c. 449 – c. 450 AD elevating the bishop of Beirut, Efstathius, to the rank of metropolitan bishop. The city had been until then a diocese of the Metropolis of Tyre.

The Anastasis Cathedral was the first church to be built on the site of the St George Cathedral. It was built by Efstathius in the fifth century AD and bordered the auditoria of Beirut's Roman law school. The church influenced the teachings of the school as law scholars worked to reconcile the texts of Roman law and the teachings of Christianity as attested by Severus of Antioch, who visited the city in the fifth century AD. In 551 AD a massive earthquake destroyed the whole of Beirut including the Anastasis Cathedral. In the 12th century a cathedral was built on the site. This medieval church survived countless upheavals, including the Ottoman invasion. It was badly damaged by a 1759 earthquake and was pulled down to be built anew. Reconstruction started in 1764 and the new, larger structure, with one nave and a vaulted ceiling, was completed in 1767. However, the ceiling collapsed killing 90 people, due to the lack of supporting pillars. Construction of the modern church began in 1772 and lasted until 1783, at which point the Cathedral housed three famous altars, those of St George, St Elie and St Nicolas. It was rebuilt on a cruciform plan with three naves, a new portico was added to the north facade, the main western facade was enlarged and a new bell tower was built on the north-west corner.

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In 1783 the Cathedral underwent a series of modiﬁcations, including the addition of the narthex to the western facade and the enlargement of the apse to ﬁt the central axis of the cathedral's main altar. That same year Younes al-Jbeily donated an ornate gilded wooden iconostasis to the church. January 2014

Modern Building The Cathedral of St George was built by Monsignor Joseph Debs, the Archbishop of Beirut, on the site of the earlier church dedicated to the saint. Work began in 1884 using Roman columns from the temple of Deir El Qalaa in Beit Mery. It was designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Maggiore and the interior and plan were inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Built as a basilica with the nave and two lateral aisles separated by two rows of columns, the cathedral has a neoclassical facade. The nave is covered by a coffer roof with gilding and a double wood frame covered with golden leaves on beige-colored fond. The walls are decorated with stucco and marble. Above the main altar there is a baldachin with four cable columns. Behind it, in the heart of the choir, is the cathedral of the archbishop of Beirut, which holds the armchair that Pope John Paul II used during his visit to Lebanon in May 1997. The ediﬁce was completed and consecrated on Palm Sunday in 1894.

Cont. Next Page

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The brightly colored fresco ceilings were added in 1901. The most recent modiﬁcations to the cathedral were made in 1910, with the addition of a vaulted portico to the south facade. The Cathedral was further enlarged to the east and the bell tower was moved to the south-east corner. The interior of the Cathedral was decorated with ornate frescoes donated by Ibrahim Youssef Saad. In 1975, following the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war, the cathedral was heavily shelled and vandalized and its elaborate frescoes were left to decay. The church was plundered and defaced. Most of the icons and part of the 18th-century iconostasis were stolen and parts of the iconostasis were set on ﬁre.

The Crypt Museum During 17 months in 1994–1995, archaeological excavations were undertaken within and in the vicinity of the St George Cathedral before the initiation of restoration works. Work was conducted by the Archaelogical Museum of the American University of Beirut. A committee was formed under the patronage of the Orthodox archdiocese of Beirut to oversee the excavations and the creation of the St George Archaeological Crypt Museum. The founding committee was headed by archaeologist Leila Bader, who was the director of the Archaeological Museum, and included Nabil Azar, Yasmine Macaron Bou Assaf, Katia Neeman Salha and Rita Kalenjian. The excavations covered 316 square meters (3,400 sq ft). The aim was to locate the Byzantine Anastasis Cathedral in relation to the standing cathedral and ultimately triangulate the location of the ancient Law School of Beirut. Crypt mosaics Photography by ArtTour International Magazine Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.

Eight layers of occupation from the Hellenistic period to the present, including the remains of ﬁve, possibly six, successive churches were found. Many artifacts and vestiges spanning the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman eras were uncovered, showing the sequence of continuous religious use of the site. The artifacts are preserved in the Crypt Museum. The archaeological layers allowed a historical timeline of the church and its surroundings to be constructed. The museum was funded by the Orthodox archdiocese of Beirut with a donation from the Jacques and Naila Saadé foundation. The museum was inaugurated on 3 December 2011. The museum is a crypt that runs under part of the cathedral. There are 12 stops showcasing the different archaeological and historical layers [2,7]. The museum has an area of 250 square meters (2,700 sq ft). It is accessible through a breach in the cathedral's foundation wall and a stairwell built in front of the church's northern side [9]. Towards the end of the circuit, the crypt opens up to a glass partition with views of the cathedral's altar. On display are ﬁnds such as oil lamps, smoking pipes, pottery, statuettes and Christian vessels and ornaments. Also in the museum are parts of the older churches' altars and apse, mosaics, stone engravings, tombstones and columns, some of which belong to the old city's Cardo Maximus. www.arttourinternational.com

The excavated area also includes a necropolis where 25 burials were opened. The tombs were oriented on an east-west axis, with the head facing west. These graves consist of a single sandstone course overlaid by large stone slabs. A large quantity of iron nails was uncovered in the necropolis suggesting wooden cofﬁns. Among the uncovered tombs was one containing the skeleton of a man wearing a bronze tiara, with an iron arrowhead and three bronze amulets placed over his chest. Cont. Next Page

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

A view at the Crypt Museum

Crypt Mosaics

Restoration On 10 October 1995, Metropolitan Elias Audi announced plans to restore the war-torn Cathedral. The ﬁrst phase of restoration began in 1998, under the supervision of a committee headed by Ghassan Tueni. The Cathedral was re-inaugurated by the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir on 24 April 2000 and it reopened on 15 December 2003.

A number of works of art that were looted have since been recovered, including the famous painting by Delacroix representing St George, the patron saint of the Cathedral and of the Archdiocese of Beirut. For more information visit: www.stgeorgebeirut.org

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

WILLIAM H. THIELEN Thielen is a native of Pierre, South Dakota, with both a B.S. and M.F.A. in Art. For over 30 years, he has been a full-time studio artist, living and working in Carbondale, Illinois. His abstract work runs the gamut: painting, drawing, sculpture, print and installations. Since 1976 his work has been shown in 53 one-person or invitational, 34 national or international and 29 regional shows throughout the United States and Canada. His work can be seen in Practical MixedMedia Printmaking by Sarah A. Riley (A&C Black, London) and Soft Sculpture by Carolyn Vosburg Hall (Davis Publications). The pieces seen here are from a series of over ﬁfty 4’x5’ paintings produced in 2013. More examples of the artist’s work can be seen at www.williamhthielen.com

“Untitled No 575 (Moral Compass)” 2013, Acrylic on Canvas, 60x48 in.

“Untitled No 567 (Under The Big Top)” 2013. Acrylic on Canvas, 60x48 in.

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

ALDO BASILI www.aldobasili.eu He took his ﬁrst steps into photography in 1958 at the early age of fourteen, practicing and printing on his own in black and white and attending for a year a course on professional photography. He worked for eight years as graphic designer in an advertising company. During that period he focused his attention on urban landscapes, concentrating for some years mainly on his home-town Turin, catching many uncommon views.

During the years 80ties and 90ties he worked hard on reportage photography, collecting and selecting a vast archive of images. Since 1995 he exhibited in many national and international collective and personal art exhibitions. As a result of an attentive and long lasting research, he started to create the so called “Photo-Paint”, works which were acclaimed by the public and the critics alike: “Turin's Fantasies” and “ Venetian Follies” have been his ﬁrst productions and are still in progress. He is actually realizing new series of thematic works of art.

“Banco blu 3” Analog ﬁlm Fuji Velvia Fine art print on paper 47x31 in.

Researching and experimenting the creative processes and elaborating the photographic images are the trade mark of his artistic trial and he is recently much involved in planning new activities as well in the editorial field. His photographs are shown in private and public collections in Italy and abroad, in museum's exhibitions and in national and international galleries. Moreover they have been published on catalogues, yearbooks and on photographic national and international websites. CRITICAL NOTE Until today he has gone through various and different photographic fields, from black and white to colour, from reportage shots to artistic photography, always looking in each image for their artistic potentiality and creative contents. Thus proceeding it happened that photographs of common people captured in the flow of their everyday life revealed to be ironic or even funny; that the urban landscape through elaboration of successive shots revealed to be a perfect cubist picture; that colours in nature through digital elaboration took a definite shape. I believe this to be the unique feature of his works and what he intends to pursue; the quest of what each image can became through the artistic vision, the looking for art that can be revealed in each image and in the elaboration of successive shots or post production, the search for photographic interpretation of abstract concepts. www.arttourinternational.com

“Pesci Rossi, Gialli1” Analog Film Fuji Velvia, with modification in Postproduction Fine art print on paper 47x31 in. EXHIBITIONS Since 1995 Fourteen personal exhibitions and he joined more than a hundred international collective exhibitions, in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Latvia, France, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Italy, Luxembourg, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Dominica, Spain and USA and numerous national collective exhibitions, as, for example, the event of the year exhibition “ River Shrimps, a collection as another one…” both in Turin and in Milan (12.10/11.11.2005), and the exhibition “Landscapes” at the Estense Castle in Ferrara; he joined Ugo Locatelli at the Turin's exhibition “Aquarius” (25.09/25.10.2008), Gallery AV and at the international exhibition sponsored by UNESCO “The world at night” at the FIAT Motor Village in Turin and from 04.04 to 06.09.2009 at the Einaudi Palace in Chivasso (Turin) and at Villa Gualino in Turin. In 2012 he exhibited at an exhibition in Nice (F), during the Festival of Photography Mediterranean Photography, one in Lisbon, one in New York and one in Florence. During the first ten months of 2013, he participated in three exhibitions in Piedmont, five in Nice, one in Pordenone, one inFlorence, one in New York, one in Toronto and two in Spoleto.

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

CHRISTINA LAPPA Painter Christina Lappa, draws on her relationships with her natural surroundings and her personal life in her native homeland of Venezuela. Bright colors and ﬁgures that appear to be mobile are predominant characteristics of her work. Lanky female ﬁgures in colored dresses casting shadows in daily life are often the subject of her images. Village markets like, El Mercado, mirror the life she experienced and draws on in her paintings. While vivid colored parrots, toucans and plants captivate the viewer who feels her joyful sense of life, one senses the subtleties each painting offers and recognized each as a unique creation. www.christinalappa.com/en

“Life is a game” Oil on Canvas 0,90x0,80 Inch.

“Selva Amazonica” Oil on Canvas 110x0,90 Inch.

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“Selva Amazonica II” Oil on Canvas 110x0,90 Inch.

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

KURT STEINLE I was born in Aachen, Germany in 1954. Since 1985 I live in Belgium on a small farm and raise horses. Since 2009 I have been photographing extensively, hold me not always necessarily on photographic rules. Sometimes I ﬁnd noisy or blurred images really well. I prefer "from the gut" and try to capture moods or emotions. www.fotograe.kurt-steinle.de

Left: “Begegnungen in Paris” Photography. Right: “Herbstkälte” Photography.

“Gegensätze” Photography.

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January 2014

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

IGOR NELUBOVICH Bold colors pervade the works of Russianborn painter Igor Nelubovich, startling us with their ethereal beauty. Artistic since early childhood, Nelubovich creates rich, vibrant parallel realities that come alive through his startlingly luscious use of whimsical realism. Using his extensive professional experience as an architect, the artist dexterously builds structured, precise compositions in nuanced, textured brushstrokes. Tempting the edge of abstraction, he blends the marvels of his imagination with the tactile wonders of the tangible world. Through his works, Nelubovich seeks to illuminate otherworldly sensations that are imbedded in the everyday, banal moments of our lives. “I create compositions which bear in themselves an inexplicable sense or are simply decoratively beautiful - laconic, as graphics sometimes turn into a sign, a symbol,” he says, describing how his works transform the prosaic into the deeply poetic and poignant. Born in Gorky, Russia, Igor Nelubovich studied at the Gorky Art School, and has been a professional artist for more than twenty years. He has exhibited his paintings worldwide. “Kalinkin Bridge” Acrylic on Canvas.

“Kalinkin Bridge”Acrylic on Canvas.

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“Fortress” Acrylic on Canvas.

January 2014

“Untitled” Acrylic on Canvas.

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

DAVID WHITFIELD The modern world is a complex place of global diversity, of hi-tech, money, politics,religious beliefs, consumerism, global conglomerates, individualism, etc., all vying to be acknowledged, to have a place, to have status, to succeed. Many conďŹ&#x201A;icts and ideologies are old and longstanding, many are also new and contemporary. Where may the artist lie in all this human endeavour, all this striving for , .... For what ? It is left to the individual to assume their role and state their intent. Not easy. Since the beginning of the twentieth century art has changed dramatically and quickly, in style , content, meaning, role, and even it's own deďŹ nition. For myself I attempt to relate my interpretation of human behavior via visual means, using the medium of water colour; to reveal the human psyche often hidden from public gaze. This is an exploratory journey, mentally, through observation of behavior, and physically through terms of colour, shape and composition to create a painting rather than a picture.

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January 2014

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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ULLA WOBST My paintings show that “reality” is inﬁnite. It consists of everything revealed to us by our senses, lived and experienced, and also includes everything imagined, dreamed and thought of. But it is not limited to all this. In the realms of mind, spirit and soul there are no boundaries... www.atelier-ulla-wobst.de

Left: “Rainmagic” 2009, Oil on Canvas, 55x47 in (Series "Spirits of the Rainforest")

Right: “Song of a broken Doll” 2013, Oil on Canvas, 55x39 in (winner 1st Prize / Biennale of Chianciano/ Italy / Sept. 2013)

MAE JEON

Digital Fine Art

WWW.MAEJEON.COM maejeon@gmail.com

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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MARTHA GREINER www.martharosedesigns.com Raised on a Pennsylvania farm, Martha began doing art work at a young age. As a teenager she obtained a scholarship to the Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa. and trained as an oil painter. She studied ﬁne art at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. She has exhibited and sold her work throughout the U.S. Currently, she was sponsored for the back cover and a two page layout for the coffee table book, International Contemporary Masters, Volume V; Power of Perception Exhibit by Creative Concepts, Park Ave., N.Y.C., N.Y. with a scheduled SOHO exhibit in March, 2013; she was chosen as a ﬁnalist in the Blossoms II-Art of Flowers national touring exhibition to museums throughout the U.S. In March 2012 she exhibited, her work at the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine art in Las Vegas Nevada. November 2012: 37 the Annual Disney's Festival of the Masters ( master artist from the US), May 20-26, 2013: Vivid Arts Network: Florence, Italy Design Week June 2013: Vivid Arts Network: Toronto, Canada. Her body of art work is multi media with a wide range of subject matter. Including the lost drawing method the Old Masters used by drawing with metals. Art critics have described her work as “There is an understated incandescence to the images that is both contemporary and classic all at once. Her works related so strongly to the very concept of perception; your style places you in an artistic realm that is somehow dream-like, almost surreal, yet not quite there, as if some ghostly memory from a far-away place; yet somehow entirely familiar a vision that resonates with the viewer long after viewing”.

Left: “Out of the Darkness” Oil on gesso board 24x18 in. Right: “Women Hard as Nails, Soft as Water” Oil on gesso board 24x18 in.

Left: “The Birds” Indian Ink on tissue paper & board 24x18 in. Right: “Magnolia Critters” Indian Ink on tissue paper & board 24x18 in.

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January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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OVIDIU LEBEJOARA Art in general is suppose to be a sum of ideas based on human emotions and state of mind. It was the idea at the beginning... Art is opposite to NOTHING. In the Universe, nothing does not exist. This nothing (nihil) is a conventional false value, the same like money. Both have been cultivated in human mind, special in modern era, both very effective tools of oppression. Art should enlighten our spirit not break. For the modern man, philosophy is religion and art is an attempt to express a mystery, which who do not have to call the truth. Selﬁsh humans replaced faith in God with faith in them-self : "God is in Heaven, and I am God on the Earth" (Joseph Stalin). There is, in modern art an element of protest transformed in a period of transition. Transition to what? Some of us would say that we are going somewhere, not that we are going from bad to worse. The extreme forms of Dada movement, which was a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy at the beginning of World War I, and worse followed: World war II and so on... Dada made cynicism, anarchy, and rebellion into core values. "Today, the subject of art seems to have suffered a decisive alteration, or looks to be as it is disappearing. The art still talks around us, often with a ﬁrm decision of talking about nothing". (Gaetan Picon).

“Beauty's Nightmare” Oil con Canvas.

So, looks like the modernism is building an incredible monument to GOD NIHIL. Our world is rich and diverse in form of art, culture and colors. Why reduce art to a cold abstract, nihilistic, deformed and monochrome? If religion unites people, modern art isolates them. "The third millennium will be religious, or won't be at all" (Andre Malraux).

“The Game of Life” Oil con Canvas. “Artemis and Us” Oil con Canvas.

www.ovidiulebejoara.com

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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SIRENES Biographical Information: Sirenes was born in 1966, live and work outside Oslo, Norway. In 2011 Sirenes had her first solo exhibitions. In 2013 Sirenes has participated in 8 exhibitions in Italy, Spain, Norway, Canada and New York. She has been represented by Agora Gallery, NYC in 2012 and 2013, and will be represented by galleries in NYC US, Spain and Italy in 2014, Three companies in Norway exhibits her artwork on an on-going basis. Sirenes has been presented in several Art Magazines and publications in Italy: “Effetto Arte” and “I Segnalati” and in United States: “Contemporary Masters Vol VII”, “Artslant Collectors Catalogue” and “Artispectrum”. She has received several special awards for her artwork. Artist Statement: I have always been fascinated by colors, even as a child, and as an adult I have found that flowers, clothes and cosmetics all provide me with regular sources of intriguing or delightful color combinations. I become inspired to paint through silence and peace, by performing yoga, through meditation and by being in nature. I am trying to express my inner feelings from my soul in my work, but also relationships and emotions in and between human beings. I am very sensitive to the feelings of others, and that sensitivity forms an important part of my artwork. I am painting directly onto the canvas, always barefoot, often through finger-painting with the consequence that each painting becomes absolutely unique. Contact Information: e-mail: post@sirenes.no Phone: (+47) 47 88 98 41 www.sirenes.no

Below: “Water is Alive” Acrylic on Canvas.

“Blue Waterlillies” Acrylic on Canvas.

“White Waterlillies” Acrylic on Canvas.

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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SHARON ROSS After a 30 year career as a Nurse, my life has taken a new path, as an Artist. I continue to work as a nurse and I am lucky to find that happy balance between my art and my work as a nurse. My long career as a nurse, coupled with the death of my mother in my childhood has had a profound influence on me. Not only as growing up from a child to a woman, but also spiritually as part of my life journey. I believe things happen for a reason, and I feel strongly that I am meant to be an artist. My work tends to be in two mediums, Oil, and Pen and ink. I am an expressive artist and I use my art to portray my feelings and emotions. My Pen and Ink works are a form of Zen Meditation using the circle in a repetitive manner as a means of shading and providing form and “With Rings on her Fingers” 2013. tone to the piece. My work is an expressive abstract form Oil on Canvas, 39x39 in. mainly figurative, but I am also exploring landscape. My figurative works are literal and abstract. They concern dissimulation, and how true feelings can be hidden behind a mask. The masks hide any form of identity. Who is behind the mask? The masks enable the wearer to act more freely. I can relate the concept of the masks to everyday life, as everyone wears a mask of some description to hide their feelings and emotions. They wear a mask in a professional capacity or to interact with different people and family. My work deals with the spirituality of both the artist and the subject, containing both a calming influence and emotive feeling through the atmospheric nature of the subject. www.sharonross.co.uk

“Behind the velvet” 2013. Oil on Canvas, 31x39 in.

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“Isabelle” 2013. Oil on Canvas, 20x24 in.

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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ROULA CHREIM Internationally- acclaimed Lebanese artist and curator Roula Chreim explains that between extensive traveling in her previous career, and being displaced after her house was destroyed, ''home'' has become a crucial place and idea in her life and work. As a young artist, she began painting small houses and meadows from her former inspiring town, Salhieh. She started panting at the age of four, strongly supported by her parents and art teachers. Roula graduated in fashion design, and worked as a senior flight attendant for ten years. Throughout her life, Roula has visited more than 138 cities and communities in 37 different countries. This gave her the opportunity to blend with the local cultures and explore the origins of the ART they produce. Accordingly, many of her mixed-media canvas, which frequently incorporate objects found during her extensive travels, portray homes, or inhabitants of other cultures. She paints her figures, interior scenes and cityscapes with a aesthetic that evokes both Symbolism and German Expressionism with hints of Abstraction, and retains many unique characteristics, such as a preference for abstract human figures, buildings and balanced compositions.

“Falling Away With You” Acrylic on Canvas.

Roula's passion for colors is reﬂected in her art. Each of her Abstract works has a sublime quality and exudes sensuous, romantic composure along with compelling passion. Collectively, her contemporary works are vivid, expressionist paintings that communicate profound feelings to the viewer. Roula paints on wood, canvas, murals and metal, using oil, acrylic paint and mixed media.She has exhibited in Lebanon, New York, Canada, Italy, Portugal, in solo and group exhibitions. www.roulachreim.com

“Café de la Tarde” Acrylic on Canvas

“Every Time You Turn Around” Acrylic on canvas, 2012, 100x75 cm.

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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SANSAN SanSan, Art as a way of expression... From childhood I had concerns about drawing, painting and drama. My early studies were performed in the Colegio La Presentation in Cartagena, Colombia, which pushed the art institution among its students. There, my passion for the arts flourished, and I studied architecture for one years. When I immigrated to the United States, I put aside all ties to the artistic and dramatic, but not my passion for painting, which was always latent, and after a short slumber, took the brush and started painting. My career began after forty years of age, due to health problems I had to change my lifestyle. Then I asked myself what do I really like to do? What is my passion? And the answer was ... "Art" in every sense of the word; painting, acting, singing ... and why not? It's my time. So I started to paint on everything... fabric, wood, glass, and of course it was time to paint on a canvas using different techniques, I felt short on time and wanted to make up for it. Viewing the “Forest” results of what I painted my friends asked if I ever Oil on Canvas, 16x20 in. considered teaching art. Then I knew in my heart what to do, I know that my children are also artists in different branches and I have a strong desire to support them in what they are, what they want to be in the future. Theses began the classes and I opened Arte SanSan Casa de la Cultura. It started with simple painting classes but is designed for all branches of art, photography, dancing, and acting. Besides teaching techniques in their desired areas, we also teach them to develop and follow their dreams, to express themselves through art, so that tomorrow if they decide that this is their career, to move along with pride, discipline, just as they would in a traditional career. In my works you find Sandra at my best, tender, romantic, sensitive but also hard and strong as Earth. The colors I uses in my works reflect my connection to the earth and their roots to what it is. In my work, I express all that my words cannot.

“Autumn” Oil on Canvas, 24x20 in.

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“Isabelle” 2013. Oil on Canvas, 20x24 in.

January 2014

“Where should I go?” Oil on Canvas, 40x24 in.

“Beauty spirals” Oil on Canvas, 40x24 in.

WWW.ARTESANSAN.COM

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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MARYAM DEYHIM This talented 27 year-old Iranian-born artist continously explores new techniques with the use of oil and acrylic colours. expressing her unique vision of nature in all its forms, including human nature. An Artist with a unique vision, Maryam Deyhim's brush strokes sweep across the canvas, dynamic and ﬂowing, in an uninhibited and free-spirited fashion, summoning-up romantic images of a vibrant and harmonious world. After taking classes in animation, caricature and graphic design in Iran, Maryam became disillusioned with art in general and did not paint again seriously until about three years ago when she was inspired to try to reproduce images that she had seen in her dreams. “Provider” Oil and Acrylic Colours on Canvas, 19,69x19,69 in.

For Maryam the creative process starts with lines, sketched loosely and spontaneously, followed by the mixing and free application of colours. She has found that by using oil and acrylic colours together different techniques can be used to get closer to the feeling, mood and movement that she wants to reﬂect. Her work has been variously described and categorized as art deco, expressionist, naive and art brut but in spite of the differences of opinion there can be no doubt that Maryam's paintings are instantly recognizable and it was in the “art brut” and “naive” classiﬁcations that two paintings received recognition in the 2013 American Art Awards with 1st and 3rd placings. Following her recent success in the American Art Awards, Maryam is looking forward to another year of progression both in terms of her artistic development and the wider appreciation and exposure of her painting.

“Flutterby” Oil and Acrylic Colours on Canvas, 19,69x19,69 in.

“Idyll” Oil and Acrylic Colours on Canvas, 19,69x27,56 in.

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Since her ﬁrst exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland in March 2012, Maryam has exhibited in the Centro Hotel in Dubai and at the Espacio Gallery in London, of which she is a member. Further news and information can be found on her website www.artendency.com together with more images of her paintings.

“Nature’s Bounty” Oil and Acrylic Colours on Canvas, 39,37x27,56 in.

January 2014

“Bar” Oil and Acrylic Colours on Canvas, “Beauty spirals” 19,69x27,56 in.in. Oil on Canvas, 40x24

WWW.ARTENDENCY.COM

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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GISELA ZIMMERMANN I like to experiment and I love strong colours. I ﬁnd the dialogue with materials, possibilities and subjects fascinating. In the search for different ideas, new avenues always open up and the excitement continues. I get my inspiration from memories of my childhood and youth in Germany and of my life in Morocco. I also draw a great deal of inspiration from the shapes and colours of nature. I use the impressions gained from many trips to the Arab world and to Asian countries in my work. Represented in numerous exhibitions, nationally and internationally. “Vision VI” Acrylic / Mixed, 40x31in.

“Vision II” Acrylic / Mixed, 40x28 in.

“Vision I” Acrylic / Mixed, 40x28 in.

www.gisela-zimmermann.com www.artoffer.com/gisela

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January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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VINCENT MESSELIER

“Impressive Venice” Digital Mix (Photograps projected and blended on original details of Painting). Original (only one piece) Print on Acrylic (Plexi), 180x240 cm.

“Top of Dubai” Digital Mix (photograps projected and blended on original details of Painting). Original (only one piece) Print on Acrylic (Plexi), 141x211 cm.

Vincent Messelier is born in Kortrijk, Belgium on the 6th of October 1967. He started painting in May 2006. He is a completely self-taught artist who's very passionate about his art. Vincent paints from his heart and soul with some jazzy music on the background. Depending on the moment or his mood, some other music can also inspire his work. In March 2011, he decided to sell his cashcollecting ofﬁce, he had started up in 1992 and chose to live his real passion... Art!

“First impression of Russia” Digital Mix (photograps projected and blended on original details of Painting). Original (only one piece) Print on Acrylic (Plexi) 160x220 cm.

In November 2011, he became a member of “Dubai Art Center” where he exhibited his works and also kept his own art studio. In April that year, he exhibited in New York City, at the Broadway Gallery. He developped his own style, called “Meridianism”. Vincent uses palletknives and in his artwork, vertical and horizontal stripes and lines refer to the worlds' meridians. He uses acrylics, sometimes combined with wood, foam or other materials. The artist also started a second line for hospitality and business, a concept, blending his own photographs, while projecting on details of his own paintings. Horses, historical buildings, birds, cars, sports... They all inspire him! He exhibited in New York, Dubai, Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Den Haag, Amsterdam, Bari, Barcelona, and has also been asked in Berlin, Los Angeles, Palermo, Milan, Las Vegas, Toronto, Firenze, Lisbon and Casablanca. The artist also appeared in several books, as there are 'Contemporary Masters 2012', 'Important World Artists 2013', 'I segnalati', 'Artisti', and 'International Contemporary Artists'. He also works on customer demand. See www.ateliermattisse.be and www.vincentmesselier.be or ﬁnd him on Google, Linkedin and Facebook. vincent@messelier.eu www.vincentmesselier.be www.ateliermattisse.be

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MAYA VINOKUROV Latvian born artist Maya Vinokurov developed a passion for art at an early age, discovering the inherent beauty in everyday objects and nature. Her Art Deco and Surrealist works draw on various techniques and media—oil, acrylic, encaustic, pastels and watercolor—to portray uplifting emotions and tranquility. Her colors move fluidly, conveying a harmony between nature and humanity that is at once organic and aesthetic. She is accomplished and gifted in creating thought provoking expressions, uniting contemporary techniques with those of the old masters. Vinokurov's works reflect an optimism and serenity that is contemplative, drawing the viewer to lingering introspection. Her use of color is starkly intuitive, exuding a brilliance and contrast that compels study and excites the senses. Her humanistic images are metaphorical and expository, revealing emotional insights that are often elusive. In depicting nature, Vinokurov clearly has an affinity for the world around us, combining talent and insight to create expressions that are overtly palpable. Through movement and balance, through delineation of form, the artist achieves what viewers hope to see—works that are uniquely revelatory and profoundly inspirational. A review by Agora Gallery. Magazine ARTisSpectrum #30

www.artfor-life.com “Defoliation” Oil on Canvas, 20x30 in.

“Journey” Oil on Canvas, 16x12x1 in.

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January 2014

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ROSAE NOVICHENKO

“Flowers in Blue” Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

“Warrior” Painting, Acrylic on Canvas.

Rosae Novichenko was born in Brazil in 1960, lives and works in Curitiba. She is an internationally renowned artist, international master of painting and photography. She is also a musician, composer, poet and actress. She has received numerous awards, has made exhibitions, publications and her works are worldwide. As a multiple artist Rosae aims to reveal, in many ways, life and unity in all things; the interrelationship between all universes, parallel and multidimensional worlds, inside and outside of man. According to Rosae, the search for the true essence is the Art of the Light Era, which snatches us for extra physical plans - and reveals our human nature in its entirety.

“The Flight of the Spirits of the Stones” - Photography

“Alchemist” Photography

www.rosaenovichenko.com

“The Dance of Spirits of the Stones”- Photography

VIVID ARTS NETWORK “Creating art to inspire lives”

Call us in USA +1 (917) 289-1007, in Italy +39 (345) 1677704

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by Viviana Puello.

“Mohammed bin Zayed. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces” Oil on Canvas 150 x105 cm.

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Sensitive and full of human emotion, the heartfelt work of Budour AlAli takes us to inner depths. Budour AlAli is a an artist native from Abu Dhabi. She began painting at an early age. Even though creating art comes instinctively for Budour AlAli, she still strives to remain faithful to the likeness of her subjects and imagery. As a result, her realistic approach to painting portraits, nature scenes, and animals comes across as quietly simplistic and emotionally inspiring. I can't help but admire Budour's realistic approach to her paintings, which are almost indistinguishable from photographs. At the same time, there is a heartfelt innocence to them, bringing her artworks from being technically excellent to truly artistic. Beautiful images of animals running wild in the dessert capture the viewers attention for the intricacy and detail found in her works, which depict so closely the moments, landscapes, and traditions of her culture, making it possible for the viewer to appreciate the simplicity, warmth, and joy of the Middle Eastern lifestyle. On the other hand, her abstract works are full of vibrant colors, vivid compositions, a blast of energy, and almost city-like scenes! It is easy to see the wonderful merging of Eastern and Western cultures in this artist, reﬂecting with her artworks the richness of her personality and her artistic experiences. I'm so thrilled to bring you this fun but very heartfelt interview with artist Budour AlAli. It is a delight to interview someone whose artwork is so emotionally powerful that it leaves the viewer stunned and looking for more. Tell us a little bit about your upbringing. You come from a very rich culture. How was it growing up? We have a culture and history that is appreciated at all times, which I am sure the country and the people are proud of. It is unique in its very own way. Our manners, ways of communicating with one another, etc. are some of the important components of our culture. Even though we have accepted modern means of living and improved our lifestyle, our values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A person can change his way of clothing, his way of eating and living, but the rich values in a person always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted within our heart, mind, body, and soul which we receive from our grandparents and culture. Emirati culture treats guests and takes care of them as if they are a part and parcel of the family itself. Respect for elders is a major component of Emirati culture. Elders are the driving force for any family; hence, the love and respect for elders comes from within and is not artiﬁcial. An individual takes blessings from his elders by kissing their forehead, www.arttourinternational.com

“Tenderness of a Genuine Heart” Oil on Canvass 105x150 cm.

nose, right shoulder, and hand. Elders drill into and pass on the Emirati culture within us as we grow. Respect one another is another lesson that is taught in our culture. All people are alike, and respecting one another is one's duty. In foreign countries, the relation between the boss and the employee is like a master and slave and is purely monetary, whereas in Emirati culture, the relation between the boss and the employee is more like that of family. Helpful nature is another striking feature in our Emirati culture. Right from our early days of childhood, we are taught to help one another, especially those in need of help and in distress. If we cannot help in monetary ways, then at least we can in kind or nonmonetary ways. Emirati culture tells us to multiply and distribute joy and happiness and share sadness and pain. I learned a lot from the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, who served as President of the United Arab Emirates since the formation of the Federation. I have great values and manners because I'm just keeping in mind the advice and the things that he used to tell us about. I guess I had what you could call a very normal life, which is always exciting. My upbringing in the United Arab Emirates made me the person I am. I will always be proud to be Emirati. I was constantly moving to different countries and January 2014

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“There is no Charm Equal to his Tenderness of Heart” Oil on Canvass 150x105 cm.

adjusting to new things. It was tough; I made some bad choices myself. I didn't grow up in a regular upbringing. I ended up at my grandmother's house past a certain age, so I took care of things myself. I was independent when I was 16. It made me more accepting of who I am. If I didn't already sense that I was different, I certainly was reminded, whether by my grandmother or by the other school kids. I was trained to think that what you do has to have a purpose, and I should be contributing to the world. So, it's definitely shaped me as an artist. Your practice is informed by many different stylistic and cultural traditions. How would you define your artistic style? I have an identifiable style—that special something that makes someone to look at a painting and know that it's by me, regardless of what the subject of the painting is. People say it could be my positive energy, which they can immediately sense from the colors I use in my paintings or my simplicity and originality, being myself always. I develop my artistic styles as I go through my life as an artist. I have many different styles, and those are likely to change as I grow as an artist. I used to love abstraction. Right now, I think I'm a semi-impressionistic realist. Who knows where I'll be next. I paint what I like, but because I am making a living out of painting, I balance what I want to do against what others want to see and own. There are so many different styles I'd like to paint. I just paint whatever I want and choose the style that I am best at to sell. I always feel that I am a part of what I create and that a part of me stays and lives in my paintings.

“There is no one like Mohammed. The Man of Justice” Oil on Canvass 80x60 cm.

Cont. Next Page

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January 2014

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“Joy Resides Here” Oil on Canvas 125x145 cm.

“A Connection to What Matters” Oil on Canvas 125x145 cm.

“I develop my artistic styles as I go through my life as an artist. I have many different styles, and those are likely to change as I grow as an artist. I used to love abstraction. Right now, I think I'm a semi-impressionistic realist. Who knows where I'll be next.” You combine cultural motifs from the East and the West. To what extent is this fusion intentional, or is it a natural result of your upbringing? Like emotions, colors are a reflection of my life. No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of sensation when painting. I foresee the style I want to paint in, yet I hardly ever carry it out as I foresee it. It transforms itself by the actual paint. I don't, in fact, know very often what the paint will do, and it does many things that are much better than I could make it do. Painting, to me, is just another way of keeping a diary. The world of reality has its limits, and the world of imagination is boundless, so I learn from the West and filter my ideas to suit the region I live in and my culture. I deeply love the East and the West. To me, each region has its own beauty and uniqueness and has influenced my artistic style and inspired me. But also seeing the similarities we all hold no matter where we are from, was priceless. Because I love history, I self-studied the history of art, which was initially developed in the Renaissance, with its limited scope being the artistic production of Western civilization. However, as time has passed, it has imposed a broader view of artistic history, seeking a comprehensive overview of all the civilizations and analysis of their artistic production in terms of their own cultural values, cultural relativism, and not just Western www.arttourinternational.com

art history. There was never an Arabic name mentioned among the top painters of all time. In the Middle East, we lack a fine arts industry. We are now creating such an industry in the UAE with the objective of supporting the great efforts of the government in bringing the arts to the UAE and the artists of the UAE to the world. Through what I do as an artist and through my artwork, I am coming up with ideas to support innovative ways to capture and teach our rich cultural heritage and language to the next generation on a global scale. I am trying to shed a very positive light on the thriving art and culture scene in the UAE. Tell us about the development of your style. How did you start out as a painter, and what were your original inspirations and motivations? My scribbles, marks, and paintings on plain paper were my own creative expression at each developmental stage and were also the beginning of writing. My grandmother gave me the tools and her warm encouragement. She was very wise and had a vision. It was fun for her to watch how I, as a child, freely used art materials as I grew. She (who passed away already) used to look for free rolls of newsprint from our local newspaper office, paper sacks cut apart to lie flat, computer printouts, butcher paper, or inexpensive paper pads from discount stores, and she gave me jumbo crayons, washable markers, and washable paints with large brushes to paint. She spend time sitting close by, quietly smiling and watching me, saying things like, “Wow, I like those neat purple lines,” “Hmmm...that's really interesting,” “I like the way you are working hard on your drawing,” “Would you like to tell me about your drawing?” Because I loved her a lot, I always wanted to impress her with a new painting. Her love motivated me. That's how it all started. I am motivated by challenges. I feel happy when I am challenged by, with, or for anything. I try to win at all costs, and then I get happy and want to do more. I am motivated when I achieve something different, especially when others fail to achieve. History had always inspired me. Because I was constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things, I got the chance to visit many international museums. I noticed that art told

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empires and knights. Great stories were documented through art and portraits of the great and memorable people. I felt in love with realism or naturalism as the depiction of ordinary, everyday subjects as well as the realist movement. And I always wanted to reflect our rich culture in my artwork to show it to the world. Everything around me inspires me, and to me, each moment is special. I thrive on accomplishment, and I am a forward-motion type of person. There's something on the inside of me that keeps pushing to expand myself by working harder, smarter, stronger, and more efficiently. If there's an extra mile to go, the strength inside me draws out the willingness and ability to go that extra mile. I am an art collector, besides being an artist. My love of arts includes jewelry and interior designing, too. I tried sculpting, and I loved it, but I find it hard to keep working on sculptures. I find the canvas, brushes, and colors more convenient than jewelry, interiors, and sculptures. I would not be who I am without my parents who are the big influencers in my life.

What themes do you focus on the most and why? This depends on how I'm feeling and the vision in my mind. I usually express the emotion awakened in me by the subject I want to paint. To me, every painting is a new adventure. So, I am always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back. Mostly, I focus on scenes of everyday life and people's expressions at work and play. Because I cannot say it in words, that's the reason I paint it. My works of art look as though they were done in joy. I paint the spirit and soul of what I see. I was able to bring light to these things which are invaluable”. Besides Abu Dhabi, you have lived in Los Angeles and London, where you also went to school. You have traveled to many countries and seen many cultures. How have your experiences, both in the Middle East and the West, shaped your perspective as an artist? As an Arab artist living in the West, I have been granted an extraordinary perspective from which to observe both cultures, and I have also been imprinted by these cultures. In a sense, I feel I inhabit (and perhaps even embody) a crossroads, where the cultures come together and merge, interweave, and sometimes clash. As an artist, I am inhabiting not only a geocultural terrain, but also an imaginative one. This space Cont. Next Page

“The Power Within” Oil on Canvas 80x100 cm.

“There's something on the inside of me that keeps pushing to expand myself by working harder, smarter, stronger, and more efﬁciently. If there's an extra mile to go, the strength inside me draws out the willingness and ability to go that extra mile.” www.arttourinternational.com

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continues to define itself, to unfold and evolve, and as an artist, I feel it is my job (and my passion) to try and understand it, and to make work that flows from this continuing exploration. The different space I inhabit in the West is a space of independence and mobility. It is from there that I can return to the landscape of my childhood in the United Arab Emirates and consider these spaces with detachment and new understanding. When I look at these spaces now, I see the two cultures that have shaped me, which are distorted when looked at through the “Orientalist” lens of the West. Is it fundamental that your audience sees what you want them to see in your works? How important is interpretation to you? Or misinterpretation, even? I do not have a problem with people not seeing what I want them to see in my art work. Because if they are ready to receive the messages I am sending through my artwork, they will see what I want them to see, and if they are not ready, it would not be the right moment and the right people. I will immediately figure out that I am with the wrong people at the wrong time. After all, we all vibrate differently. If a person cannot sense and see what I am trying to show in my artwork and cannot understand it, it means they are on a different frequency than mine and in a different state of mind. I totally understand that and accept it because it doesn't affect me. But, again, because I am making a living out of painting, I balance what I want to do against what others want to see and own. So, my audience is always pleased and happy, and they appreciate my art pieces. I am very confident, and I have strong faith in myself and what I do, so I care less about others' interpretation and misinterpretation. Because I love and respect myself, I care only about my thoughts and feelings and the inner conversations of my being. What is your creative process like? Ideas never come when I'm trying to come up with ideas. They happen when I'm driving, or when I'm at the beach, or when I'm trying to fall asleep. My best art work comes when I'm having fun, and usually, the work will show that. I don't have a special structure for working. I read a romantic book or poems or listen to jazz music, and then I start to draw. I don't think so much; I like to compose the scenes from some abstract thinking. Sometimes, it's the opposite of rational. I do an enormous amount of sketches. Sketches take up most of my time, but once I am satisfied with the sketches, coloring is just a formality. www.arttourinternational.com

You have excellence skills both as a representational portrait artist and as an expressionist. By seeing your works, I can see the commitment to the artistic expression, which only comes from hours of practice and dedication. How is a day in your life? Do you spend many hours in your studio painting? My day starts at 5 a.m. I start the day by praying, and I take a 40-minute walk either at my home garden or at the beach, since I live close to the ocean. Instead of the walk, sometimes I water my plants. I love nature, and I have planted different types of flowers in my garden. I observe the sunrise, have a light breakfast, and go to my studio since it is at my home. I got a license to start my business from home. At 8 a.m., I head to work. I work at a semi-government company as an auditor in the morning. I do that for 8 hours every day. I then leave work and head to the gym. I usually stay an hour at the gym, to release any tension I had from work. If, at times, I cannot go to the gym, I go for a walk in our neighborhood in the evening or at night. At 7 p.m., I head home. I do laundry, then cook dinner and spend at least 5 hours in my studio planning and painting. I then read a page or two of a book, pray, and sleep. I am the type of person who likes to stay at home most of the time. I don't like to go to a shopping center or a mall just to roam. I go if I need to get something. I also do not like to talk a lot, so on weekends, I meet my friends, talk over the phone, watch movies, and do the things I need to do and finish. I don't like crowded places. So, my art studio is a peaceful place to stay at, and it is filled with joy and love. My happiness comes from life's simplest things. I do not paint every day for 5 hours. I do that when I have an upcoming exhibition or a project I am working on. Every week, I select one day during the week and do nothing after work. I just enjoy myself and take the day as it comes so I can re-energize myself to paint the next day. Practicing and keeping up the momentum is very important, even for a few minutes, to excel as an artist. What are your conditions for painting? Your studio? The light? Without atmosphere, a painting is nothing. I have my workspace set up properly, which helps me to get the best out of myself as an artist. I don't wait until my moment of inspiration to set my studio up. I have it all ready so that when I get the urge to paint, I don't cut corners in my haste to get painting. I don't always stand to paint, so I keep moving and taking a few steps backward and keep looking at my painting in its entirety to gauge the whole experience that my viewer is going to see as they walk toward it. This way, I can catch errors in form before it is too late to correct them. I located my studio specifically in a room where the light could only enter through windows to the north, so the direct sunlight never enters the studio. Regardless of the weather conditions outside, the lighting conditions in the studio remain relatively constant. For evenings and dark days, I use special daylight light bulbs in my studio because I prefer to work in a slightly January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTS 2013

“Biggest & Warmest Heart of the United Arab Emirates” Oil on Canvas 80x60 cm.

“I am very conﬁdent, and I have strong faith in myself and what I do, so I care less about others' interpretation and misinterpretation. Because I love and respect myself, I care only about my thoughts and feelings and the inner conversations of my being.” cooler, bluish light, which is more akin to that of the natural outdoor light. I also have many candleholders with candles, which I light every evening in there. I have plenty of rags cut. I am right-handed, so I have my easel to the right-hand side of my subject as I look at them so that I don't cross my arm over my chest to paint, and I have my palette to my right-hand side, too. I try having the center of my canvas slightly higher than eye level. I have portraits of the Mona Lisa, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, and portraits of knights and kings whom I love painted by me, all hanging on the walls of my studio. But sometimes it's the smaller things that made my day. What do you think are the biggest challenges for artists in the Middle East? The Middle East doesn't have art schools, so all artists have professional jobs. At some point, we have to travel to make or study art. Not everything is perfect, in the sense of reﬁnement and materials. We, as artists, learn on the job. Middle Eastern Art is still underrepresented in the international art world, and an understanding of the www.arttourinternational.com

history and depth of art in the region is still poor, particularly in America. While international attention on Middle Eastern artists has definitely increased, they need to exhibit more widely in the West—especially in the USA. This helps artists build a wider following for their work and also helps to expand the understanding of the diversity of art from the region. I also strongly feel that Middle Eastern artists should be presented without a “from the region” label; we want the artists to be seen for the value of the work. This is why I own a gallery that has an international focus. What exhibition has had the most significant impact on you? There have been many memorable moments. My years are all about priceless experiences. Most of the international exhibitions I have participated in. Each has its own beautiful, unique story and has had a significant positive impact on me. From each experience, I learn a lesson. The audience, whom I meet internationally, and the art collectors think that I am a great ambassador to represent my Cont. Next Page

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

“I am very empathetic, calm, condent, collected, lovable, bold, understanding and very original and simple. I am the best possible version of myself inside and out while embodying those qualities.” country at such events and that I am a great role model to inspire people. They think I have the most beautiful smile and giggles…. How do you describe yourself? I am very empathetic, calm, confident, collected, lovable, bold, understanding and very original and simple. I am the best possible version of myself inside and out while embodying those qualities. I flow with the universe and I simply take things easy because I believe everything always has a solution. I would never trade in the satisfaction and gratification I feel from knowing that I've helped improve someone's life. We are aware of your philanthropic efforts to help needy and sick children in the world. You donate 50% of all proceeds from the sales of your works. This is really generous. What inspired you take that initiative, and how do you feel about it? I was involved in charity work for approximately 10 years. I supported causes that revolved around children's education, children's health and wellbeing, children's human rights and medical research. As a painter, I am putting my creative mind, talent, and passion for painting and fine arts to good use. I give back to society through the many personal initiatives I have initiated and taken to provide support in the humanitarian fields by helping to secure and educate sick and needy children all over the world. I was trained to think that what you do has to have a purpose, and I should be contributing to the world. I donate 50% of the money I collect from each painting to charity associations that are working in humanitarian fields and are providing services like childcare, health, and the delivery of clean and fresh water to rural areas and needy communities. I did not live an easy life. I ended up at my grandmother's house past a certain age, so I took care of things myself. I was independent when I was 16. At times, especially after my grandmother's loss, no one supported me, and I had to support myself. It was not easy, and I discovered that a person needs no one but his god, health, and good education. If a person is healthy and educated, he can support himself and accept life's challenges. I also learned that a person learns from giving. I learned that when you give, life gives back to you, and that life is about giving and receiving. You get what you plant. When I started to give, my whole life changed. I became happier, and I automatically manifested everything I dreamed of. I lived in abundance in everything ever since. So, I took this initiative because I know how it feels when a person cannot find support for his basic needs. I experienced this hard feeling, and I decided to help

“The Path Seems Beautiful, let us not ask Where it Leads” Oil on Canvas 145x125 cm.

the ones who are going through what I went through. And I discovered that I become happy when I supported people and I saw that they were happy. The moment that I see happiness in a needy person's eyes or that I see their smile, my heart aches and melts, and I love this feeling. I feel on top of the world. There are no words that can describe what I feel at those moments. I receive a lot of messages from young girls and women who are inspired by what I do and for me that is the greatest experience I can take from this. Knowing that I have enough inﬂuence to impact someone's life in a positive way is something I will never forget What current artwork or art project are you working on? I am preparing for my upcoming solo exhibition that will be in December. I will do it at the BMW show room, the biggest car show room in the Middle East. I will be participating with 18 paintings. They are sceneries from my country and portraits of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, who served as President of the United Arab Emirates since the formation of the Federation. I have been working on this project for the past 8 months, and I have completed 16 paintings so far. At the same time, I am also working on one painting, which is about camels in UAE's desert. It is for one of the new hotels in Abu Dhabi. This painting is a request I received from the hotel management, and it will hang on one of the hotel lobby's main walls. In addition, I am planning my 2014 art events and awards/competitions. www.budouralali.ae email: budour.alali@gmail.com twitter: @budouralali Owner of Budour Art Gallery Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

For your Events in Florence: Palazzo Coppini In the ancient Palazzo Coppini, a new international meeting and study center was recently inaugurated. Its strategic location is only a stone’s throw from the Santa Maria Novella railway station, which undoubtedly leads to the possibility of fast connections with the leading cities of Italy and Europe (in max. 2h 30’). In fact, its proximity to other structures of the Centro Congressi al Duomo—particularly the Auditorium al Duomo and its “Anfiteatro Andrzej Tomaszewski”—makes Palazzo Coppini the ideal venue for committee meetings, side events, workshops, conference sub-sessions, exhibits, master classes, and special scientific and cultural events. The Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco®—Life Beyond Tourism® successfully managed to ensure that this historical space was deliberately provided for public use, halting a project designed to turn it into a hotel. Rather, it was transformed, instead, into an international meeting and study center. Each room is dedicated to the name of an expert of the Fondazione’s who has earned particular distinction in the development of the Fondazione’s international network by fostering important interpersonal relations. The rooms house collections of items and books donated to the Fondazione over the years as tokens of cultural diversity. The seven rooms vary both in size and in their potential arrangements—for example, as a theatre, boardroom, or classroom—and they have an overall seating capacity of 150 people. They are fitted with a full range of state-of-the-art equipment (such as LCD screens, wi-fi systems, and electronic device-friendly environments), together with other convenient facilities, particularly beneficial for personal and professional use. Palazzo Coppini also has a number of pleasant reception and refreshment areas for breaks, such as the foyer, with its pietra serena stone columns, the veranda on the first floor, and the elegant courtyard with its Renaissance fountain. All of these atmospheric venues can be used to host refreshments, coffee breaks, cocktails, and light lunches.

P a l a z z o C o p p i n i ’s strategic location, only a stone’s throw from the Santa Maria Novella railway station, leads to the possibility of fast connections with the main cities of Italy and Europe.

Palazzo Coppini International Meeting and Study Centre Via del Giglio 10 - 50123 Florence, Italy info@palazzocoppini.org www.palazzocoppini.org

FRANCISCO CERON The Art of Creativity An Interview by Viviana Puello

City Icons Collection, Photography by Leo Di Tomaso

ceronart.com www.arttourinternational.com

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Describe your childhood for us. Were you always artistic and interested in a career as an artist? If so, was your family supportive, and how did your education in the ﬁeld begin?

ARTIST BY BIRTH Art has always been present in my life. Since I was a child I have painted and drawn in a natural way, so I believe that I'm an artist from birth. I come from a traditional family in southern Colombia of six brothers. Five have studied science: I am the only one to get passionate about art. Despite this, my family took care to help me each step along the way and support me in every decision I took. With their support I studied at the Conservatory of Fine Arts Antonio Maria Valencia in Cali, Colombia, where I learned to love all forms of art, such as music, dance, theater, plastic arts and graphic design. How did you ﬁrst begin to develop an interest in art? Were you perhaps inspired by particular artists you admire? Since childhood I have been passionate about drawing and of course I grew up watching the Walt Disney characters, so I began creating characters and became a comic illustrator. When I was a child, I created my own line of characters, and then I studied artists like Roy Linchester who brought the comic to an artistic level. I loved the idea, so I began to study the possibility of doing the same in my own work. Later during my time at the School of Fine Art, I came across the life and works of classic and contemporary artists who left a strong imprint and inﬂuence in my art work. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Miro, Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt and Mondrian among others. Later my career in marketing and advertising led me to connect immediately with Pop Art. So, I learned of artists like Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Richard Hamilton among other contemporary artists. My career, my style and my vision helped me to locate this trend in an appropriate space to feel comfortable and to begin exploring new possibilities.

“Guitar and Flowers” Ceramic Mug. Created by Ceron.

“Blue Gold”

Your work has been described as spanning many genres and combining many different techniques. Is there a particular movement or artistic technique that you are especially fond of, and why? How do you describe your style?

NEO-POP CUBISM In 2009 the national education encyclopedias from Brazil included a new word for a new kind of art called “Neo - Pop Cubism" and used one of my works to illustrate this style. Beyond this new word my work is a mixture of experiences and trends – starting with pop art, cubism, urban art, comics and the use of pre Columbian symbolism – that are present in many of my works. All these trends are oriented under my Graphic Designer vision as a ﬁrst step, then as an artist. The work must be good, attractive, balanced and harmonious with a solid concept and also must carry the appropriate message.

“Love is in the air”

“Serenade”

www.arttourinternational.com

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Your works are so unique, with such singular designs and aesthetics, with bold colors and fresh shapes. Is this a style you have always had, or did it develop over time.

“Red Roses” BELLA, Leather Handbag Created by Ceron

POP CULTURE The work I do today is the result of evolution. The artist improves with time through learning and experience. The artist learns with each work and his expertise comes with years. My work is influenced by contemporary trends and classical trends too, like the use of brushes and spatulas. The whole mixture was combined in my work naturally and I eventually found that all these influences were present in all my art works. Today this mixture also happens in society and is a global trend that is part of the evolution of large metropolises that are cultural centers with influence worldwide. These concepts are present in the mass consumption and advertising in society. The influence of all these factors is present today in a culture that lives and moves around a lifestyle. This includes music, fashion, consumption, education and of course contemporary art, which is where I am currently focused and where I found an ideal space to develop as an artist: "Pop Culture”. Your work has been featured with numerous companies. How did this project start?

ARTEFACTS Some time ago I started a project called Artefacts. This is a different way to bring art to the people using everyday objects. It is a way to make art more friendly and affordable because the art is included indirectly in daily life. In addition, everyday objects become special and unique. This is also a new way to promote art as these items appear spontaneously, decorating unexpected environments such as streets, airports, ofﬁces, and schools, as well as home and personal presentation. This initiative has been echoed in different companies that are interested not only in promoting their items but in supporting art. For me, my role is promoting Latin American art around the world.

www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

“Roses” Sterling Silver Necklace Created by Ceron.

I am very disciplined and faithfully believe that art is to be considered as a business. This is the only way to give it the seriousness it deserves.

CANVASES IN MOTION Together with a company called HEYS I created a collection of luggage that became canvases in motion that attract attention and decorate airports with spontaneous art. A Toyota company car was also decorated and exhibited as a sculpture at The Miami River Art Fair. In Central America I successfully launched a line of school supplies including notebooks. This ﬁlls me with great joy as we are touching the lives of children who are the next generation of potential artists and art lovers.

On a day of inspiration I do sketches of ideas of new works, sculptures, painting or accessories. I save these sketches in my bank of ideas, so the rest of the time I have no excuse for not painting or working on new projects, because I can simply choose one of the sketches to start a new project. What is your art intended to convey? Is there a message that you would like to express with your creations?

ART THERAPY My work is a celebration of life; my sources of inspiration are love, music, nature, women and the land.

Now I am creating under my own brand and am always working on special projects with collaborative companies.

I wish to convey joy and positive energy to those who see my work; art is a source of energy. If every day we see and feel something that motivates us, this helps make our day and our life more pleasant.

What does a day in your life look like? When you are creating, what is your artistic process within your studio like?

There is an invisible connection between the artwork, the color and energy contained in each work, and the viewer. I personally use art as a life therapy.

LIVING CREATIVELY

Most of my works are full of color and invite the viewer to get lost in that window of colorful characters and shapes that dissipate the sadness and awaken the sleeping child in each viewer.

Creating is my nature, is my passion and what I enjoy doing.

I paint gardens that have energetic symbols like mandalas that help to maintain harmonious environments and help those who contemplate them. This concept is based in a very ancient philosophy, but applied to modern life in a collection that I created which I call Power Gardens.

Creativity is implicit in everything I do; in my professional work and personal life. I move easily between the digital world and the classic, as is easy to see in my studio, where technology equipment is mixed with brushes, acrylics and pencils.

www.arttourinternational.com

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

“Power Garden”

Are there any projects that you are working on and can tell us about?

U FINE ART My new project is Uﬁneart.com and is an ambitious idea that aims to help other artists to further develop their commercial potential. It will be a source of art thanks to the collaboration of artists from all over the world. It is a tool created to help the artist that includes counseling, promotion, marketing and the opportunity to make revenue through sales of their artwork and the creation of artifacts for artists who wish it. This platform has the point of view of an artist so it's easy to understand the needs that each new artist continually seeks. It is also a business proposition. All the best technology and business acumen have been put into this project and it is already working as a Beta stage.

“Sunﬂower”

The result is a self-sufﬁcient art platform that allows and will help to facilitate different artists to show their art online, and bring it to art lovers and potential buyers. This project has brought together not only artists but art galleries, art promoters, companies that support this movement and especially art lovers, who ﬁnd variety and are willing to take home an art work that captivates them. .

“Vivi”

January 2014

Red D

t Art Fair Miami

A World-Class Exhibition with Exciting, Unique Art by Kevin Durant The city is gearing up for another amazing Red Dot Art Fair in the Wynwood Art District in Miami. The art show will showcase artists from many different art galleries and provide a wide variety of amazing art. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to the fair every year and are pleased with the diverse selection of art available by newly emerging artists, experienced artists, and well established, influential galleries. Enjoy beautiful paintings, breathtaking sculptures, fine-art objects, and impressive photographs when you travel to the Red Dot Art Fair. The Miami art scene has become an art Mecca for all types of artists from every genre. The Red Dot Art Fair is a world-class art exhibition with exciting, unique art. The event includes exhibitors from across the nation and the globe. Art lovers will enjoy a unique mix of trendy, sophisticated, and stunning artwork from talented artists and be inspired to make a purchase. This annual art event features talented artist and exceptional exhibits presented by noteworthy galleries. The Red Dot Art Fair will be held from December 3rd to 8th and will provide visitors with a comprehensive art experience. The opening reception will be held to support the goal of the Million Trees Miami Campaign and their nonprofit partners to plant one million trees before the year 2020. These trees will provide canopy cover for Miami Dade County. Visitors will not only be entertained with a unique selection of interesting art; from the traditional, to the contemporary, to the surreal, but will also get to contribute to a great cause. We had the opportunity to chat with George Billis, founder and Director of the Red Dot Art Fair and we’re www.arttourinternational.com

happy to share with you this interview. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. I received my masters in Arts Administration from New York University in 1990. From there I worked for several galleries in SoHo and then in 1996 I opened my own gallery in Chelsea. I was the 12th gallery to open in Chelsea which now boasts over 200 galleries in the Chelsea Art District in Manhattan. I started Red Dot Art Fair 8 years ago, the first one was a hotel based fair in NYC, the second one was in Miami on Collins Ave before we became an all booth art fair in Midtown, Miami. So I wanted to talk to you briefly about the Red Dot Art Fair Miami, which happens this coming December. Can you tell us about it? How many times has this been run before? This is our 7th edition of the Red Dot Art Fair Miami. We are happy to return to the same prime location at 3011 NE 1st Ave in Midtown, Miami across from Art Miami and Context Miami. This year Red Dot Miami will host 68 dealers from around the globe. The Red Dot Art Fair Miami started out in 2005. So first of all, can you tell me how you formed the idea of launching the Miami Red Dot Fair in that year? Painting dealers at the time did not have a venue to show at during The Armory Show in March in NYC. There was Scope and Pulse but no other fair for these dealers. So we started Red Dot Art Fair for them. The name is from selling artwork, when a gallery sells a piece of art the put a "red dot" on the price list, hence the name Red Dot Art Fair. The fair took off and we

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from Spain, South America, Japan, Korea, England, France, Germany, Russia, Canada and more. Are you satisfied with how the fair has grown over the years, in terms of the lineups and attendance? Yes, it has always grown year after year, and our attendance is always about 25,000 visitors, it is busy and fun but lots of hard work for everyone. Any big plans going forward? No thoughts yet for 2014 -- need to finish up 2013 first! Any other information you would like to share with our readers?

For the uninformed what is the idea behind the Red Dot Art Fair Miami? Red Dot Art Fair in Miami still shows tangible, accessible artwork for the beginning and seasoned art collector. Our price points vary from $1,000 to 250,000 per item and a wide assortment of painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and installation art.

Everyone should come and visit the show, it contains artwork for every buying price level and an opportunity to visit galleries from around the world bringing their international artists under one tent. It was a pleasure to speak to George and learned more about this fantastic event. Enjoy one of the best art fairs in the country when you visit the Red Dot Art Fair and view wondrous artwork in an amazing setting. The tented venue provides a great setting to view art and to be a part of Miami's electrifying art scene. Info: www.reddotfair.com

How many galleries total are participating? 68 this year in 2013. Can you guys tell us what the participating galleries are doing that you're particularly excited about? We have a great group of dealers from France which is exciting for us. We also are proud to host The Latin American Art Pavilion this year as well. Having done event planning, I know ﬁrsthand some of the frustrations that can develop in the process. What has been the biggest hurdle and/or challenge you've had to overcome in planning the Red Dot Art Fair?

Well, I guess the frustrating thing is that we start with raw land, dirt, and have to build an entire successful event from the "ground up". So all the water and electricity and ﬂoor and tent is created year after year for this event. It is a major undertaking and takes about 6 weeks to complete the 50 thousand square foot tent. Usually everything moves along smoothly without a hitch. Favorite moment of last year's Red Dot Art Fair edition? Star spotting like Beyonce, Will Smith and Jane Seymour always makes the fair fun! What part of this year's festivities are you particularly looking forward to? This year I'm looking forward to the most international of all the Red Dot Art Fairs. Galleries www.arttourinternational.com

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ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

BOOTH D109 VIVID ARTS NETWORK The International Platform for the Artists of Today! Vivid Arts Network's exhibition, held at the Red Dot Art Fair Miami 2013 from December 3 to December 8, features a selection of international artists showcasing their best works. With over 15 years of experience in the art industry in over 64 countries, Vivid Arts Network is well known for its dynamic and extensive links throughout the globe. Its staff travel across the world throughout the year, organizing exhibitions in various cities, attending events and promoting its most talented artists at international events. When it is not attending events, Vivid Arts Network organizes its own exhibitions to help its artists gain exposure. These are a platform for emerging and professional artists in the international art market. With a strong belief that art can inspire change and help good causes, the network brings artists together to explore human rights issues. ArtTour International Magazine is co-sponsoring the Vivid Arts Network exhibit at the Red Dot Art Fair Miami 2013. As one one of the most popular international art magazines and over 2.1 million readers around the world, we are excited to be able to partner with Vivid Arts Network for this event. Vivid Arts Network strives to provide new opportunities for both emerging and professional artists who need help expanding their business. The network represents and provides consultation services for artists with all levels of experience who want to gain international exposure and take their career to new heights. Vivid Arts Network helps artists to market their art both online and ofďŹ&#x201A;ine, and gives them a spotlight at international art exhibitions. In addition to the global venues, Vivid Arts Network gives its artists the opportunity to be featured at solo exhibitions in partner galleries. The network is recognized worldwide by the art industry for the positive work it does for artists who are trying to make a name for themselves. Vivid Arts Network is committed to supporting and promoting artists who use their art to help worthy causes and collectively explore human rights. Anyone with a passion and appreciation for international art is invited to visit the Vivid Arts Network exhibition at booth D109 at the Red Dot Art Fair Miami 2013. We are proud to present the great selection of Vivid Arts Network artists featured at the Red Dot Art Fair Miami exhibition: Anne D. Grandin, Cheri Mittermaier, Durga Garcia, Eduardo Rubin, Marija Tanaskovic - Papadopoulos, Mark Tomczak, Roland Behrmann, Santiago Perez, Suzanne Duncan and Tiril Benton. I f y o u ' d like more information about our Red Dot Art Fair exhibition e m a i l : info@vividartsnetwork.com or call 1 (917) 289-1007 Ext 107.

NEW YORK - FLORENCE - TORONTO WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

ANNE D. GRANDIN "Native peoples used circles, spirals and labyrinths as means of coming to an understanding of the Universe and themselves, because Nature itself was perceived as working in circles, cycles and spirals, and the Life Force itself moved in a similar way. When humans come into balance with Nature we come into harmony and rhythm, vibration and pulsation of Life itself with the result that we become, joyful and harmonious beings." Shamanic Spirit by Kenneth Meadows Anne Grandin's work is represented in many collections throughout the United States and Europe, Anne has a unique sense of color and design. Her work is inﬂuenced by Native American Spirituality and the realization that all life exists in harmony with one another. Her work is organic and she uses earthy colors that work in harmony and balance with one another. Anne's paintings are spiritual and based on the Native American Faith Circle. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Art Education from Boston University and previously was head of the Art Department at several local schools. www.grandinart.com For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com

“Living Circle” Oil on Linen, 48x48 in.

“Circle of Peace” Oil on Linen, 48x48 in.

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January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

CHERI MITTERMAIER Much of American sculptor Cheri Mittermaier's work evolves from her dreams as she fleshes out subconscious ideas and layers of hidden meaning into three-dimensional forms. Each piece embraces the deepest levels of human longing, bringing the viewer to magical spaces where double meanings exist and all is not what it appears. Figurative in nature, each sculpture is rendered inescapably complex through both her masterful use of symbolism and the infusion of emotions captured within. Mittermaier uses both oilbased and water-based clay (specifically terra cotta) to build her sculptures. By bronzing her work and adding vibrant colors into the mix, she is able to bring another dimension to her forms, adding layers of emotive expression that redefine her subject. Cheri effectively transforms recognizable figures into forms laden with meaning that are left for the viewer to interpret and comprehend. www.cherimittermaier.com

“Trophy Wife” Bronze Sculpture and Stainless Steel Stand, 18.5x10x22 in. “Hands” Bronze Sculpture,16x5x9 in.

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

DURGA GARCIA Durga Garcia, A published, Internationally shown Merited and Award winning photographer of ﬁne art images and conceptual portraits. Having images in Public and Private collections. A South Florida based freelance professional photographer of projects, art for artists and portraits. With several long term projects and books to her credit. She brings a most uncommon background to her pictures, a past that has her living in many countries and across America, working as a racehorse trainer, steeplechase jockey, equine veterinary paramedic, certiﬁed art appraiser, yoga teacher and member of the U.S. International Pistol Team. Teaching photography at the Armory Art Center, Camera Clubs, Jonathan Dickinson and MacArthur Beach State Parks, also hosting a blog of tips and tricks of the business for photographers. durga has also judged several Art and Photography shows. www.durgagarcia.com

“Banditas” Photography.

“The Allegory of the Banyon Tree” Photography.

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

EDUARDO RUBIN Photographer Eduardo D. Rubin seeks to reveal the sorrows and strengths of humanity and the cities in which we live through his work. His photographs are poignant and sensitive, capturing a wide variety of moods and emotions across a varied range of subject matter. Rubin's incredible use of composition and contrast, taken together with his deep-seated sensitivity (and an occasional hint of playfulness and humor), makes his work stand out. He is drawn to unplanned photographs, to unexpected and undisguised scenes. Rubin seeks to capture the truth, the bare essence – of people, of cities, of emotions. He stands back, unnoticed, and allows moments to present themselves to him. The photographer explains, “One of my quotes is: 'If you are in the shadows and they are in light, you are invisible.' And this is the secret, being invisible and catching the moment.” Eduardo D. Rubin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved to the United States in 2002. He is currently working on a project to capture the essence of cities through photographic moments. www.eduardorubin.com

“Ice Skating” Photography.

“Drops in Focus” Photography.

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

MARIJA TANASKOVIC I was born in Belgrade/ Serbia where I graduated at the university of Fine Arts as a sculptor in 2001. Today I am multimedia artist that uses form and color not only to express my own emotional world but to alter yours and make it better. Art is the communication, a cure, that helps you to ďŹ nd a simple truth ..we are the world we see.

www.marijaart.com

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

MARK TOMCZAK I was born and raised in Western New York into a very artistic and musically talented family. Not having a creative bone in my body, I was always amazed with my Uncle's talent both in painting and in playing music. I can remember telling my Dad, “if I could only paint and play music like him, my life would be complete!” At the age of 13, shortly after the passing of my uncle, I began to feel the urge to paint and to experiment with different media, genres and techniques. It was also around that time I began to learn to play and read music, which is now one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. My parents did everything to keep me focused on painting and in music. In the early 80's I relocated to Southern California to get away from the cold winters and pursue a career in the heavy duty engine parts business. There, between business trips, I continued to paint while concentrating on a more realistic style in my landscape, ﬂoral and wildlife pieces. By the year 2000, and I was in search of a destination to live that offered a more peaceful, and less hectic lifestyle. This I found, here in Kona, on the Island of Hawai'i. Here the slower pace of life, in a quaint country setting allows for a more conducive environment for creativity. I have recently found enjoyment in a new more abstract style of work incorporating vibrant colors with a unique ﬂow or rhythm to this newly ventured style. In the recent months I started searching for a different way or media to present my work and was able to develop a unique method for painting on crystal. These “orbs” have created a venue for me to create original beach and sunset scenes that allow the viewer to experience and enjoy their “private beach” in a truly original setting, giving locals and visitors alike something to admire. “I cannot express the feeling I get, when someone looks at my work and is captivated by something they see in it. This is, the ultimate reward to me as an artist!” Sharing my talent knowing it can create an escape of excitement or tranquility makes it all worthwhile! I welcome you to my world of art! www.marktomczak.com

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com

“Evening At Play” Acrylic on Canvas with Gold 24x30 in.

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January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

ROLAND BEHRMANN ” Tr a d i t i o n i s P r o g r e s s without Denying the Roots.” The ”New Vision” of the 1920th was an act of liberation against the photographic prospects without disregarding the technical basics – even the ”Bauhäusler” used photometers. Behrmann's master craftsman in Dessau, who was taught by a BauhausPhotographer himself, gave him an idea of what objective photography can express. Based on this he left the experimental work and developed an iconology in his work to report about life. His theme is man, his life and the inﬁnite of being levels. Even if you cant see man on his pictures, he's still there. His presence is shown by absence – this is what he is working out. Roland Behrmann was born in 1954 in Dessau, Germany, in the former GDR. As a son of a merchant in a state of workers and farmers he grew up in an unfree and threatening environment. After school he started an apprenticeship. His master craftsman in Dessau, who was taught by a Bauhaus photographer himself, told him never to leave his self-idendity and never subordinate artistic standing points to political regulations.

“Die Tür des Kunstschmieds” Photography.

After phases at Halle and Leipzig he became a professional photographer with his own studio in Zerbst. Because of his attitude against the gouvernment he tried to leave the GDR in a legal way, but led to increasing conﬂict with the secret police and in 1984 he was jailed as a political opponent at Halle a.d. Saale. After one year under arrest and forced labor he was sold to the Federal Republic of Germany, FRG. There he continued his career as a photographer under new conditiones. Since 1995 he has taught at the University of Applied Sience in Mannheim. In 2010 he graduated at the University of Heidelberg with a Magister Atrium in History of Arts, History and German Philologie to write articles about the theories of photography. Now he lives with his family in Mannheim.

“Behrmann” Photography.

All prints are completely processed by the photographer himself. He only uses black-and white material. Sometimes he works with toning. The vintages are enlarged on barites-paper and put in a frame. After the print is ﬁnished, the negative will be destroyed. The edition is only limited to one print. Only a few are printed twice. If you buy the print, you will get a certiﬁcate to prove it. roland.behrmann@gmx.net For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

SANTIAGO PEREZ Every painting, every brushstroke, every triumph and every disappointment I have experienced as an artist has led me to this point in my life and career. The fact that you are reading this is a testament to perseverance, hope and my continuing artistic journey. My work focuses on combining abstract and representative elements to fuse both the literal intent that lends tangibility for my aims while allowing the viewer freedom to infuse individual meanings in the intangibilities of color, forms and shapes. The central message of my works seeks to illuminate man's indecency towards his fellow man and the emotional turmoil common to the universal human experience that ultimately bring us to an emergent experience of personal enlightenment. Ultimately, life experiences take us through journeys of stirred emotions that give us internal snapshots of memories. My end goal is to bring forth a collage of these moments of despair to ecstasy and let the viewer decide which state of consciousness they want to dwell in. www.santiagoperezart.com / saintperez@gmail.com

“LaTrinidad” Set of Two. Oil on Canvas, 40x30 in. Each One. With so many distractions in today's world and the self-serving attitude that couples go into a relationship with, we ﬁnd a point of realization that a trinity we can't do it on our own. La Trinidad is an exploration of the individualism as well as spiritual in after having gone through the trials and tribulations of life.

“Path” Oil on Canvas, 48x60 in. The journey is long and narrow but the path always brings discovery.

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

SUZANNE DUNCAN Photographer and creative director Suzanne Duncan has not only worked across the world's seven continents, but has also had her work published in leading fashion magazines such as Elle, Cosmopolitan and Vogue and is featured in a book called “International Masters of Photography”. She has exhibited in Australia and the USA and is now making her debut in Europe. www.suzanneduncan.net For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com

Above: “Emerge” Photography. Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art 2013.

Left: “Underwater Fairytale” Photography. Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art 2013.

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January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

VIVID ARTS NETWORK AT THE RED DOT ART FAIR MIAMI 2013

TIRIL I am an intuitive painter. Each canvas is approached with a feeling of excitement, wonder, and a sense of adventure, free of any preconceived ideas or sketches. Every stroke is a surprise. The concept manifests itself as the painting evolves. Each painting records an extraordinary moment of existence, a conﬁrmation ofthe reality of the spirit's journey. Always cognizant of the tenuous balance necessary for the painting's evolution, I yield to a greater force. If I think, the authenticity departs. Rather, I trust and paint; my task is to transfer the paint to the support, communicating through energy and color on the highest vibrational level. www.artbytiril.com

“Isis Unveiled” Acrylic on Canvas, 60x30 in.

“Chiron” Acrylic, 30x32 in. Limitless Expressions 2013

For info on this artist & exhibition WWW.VIVIDARTSNETWORK.COM or email: info@vividartsnetwork.com www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE A sensational discovery was recently made in Munich, Germany, reported by the local weekly periodical "Focus," which has had the art world in a buzz. Allegedly, over 1,5000 paintings - totalling over a billion euros - have been uncovered after almost half a century of being hidden away. Initially seized before and during World War II by the Nazis, massive amounts of rare paintings, antiques, tapestries and other works of art were confiscated from the Jewish populace of Europe. They were then taken into Nazi possession and suppressed, or sold for drastically-lowered prices. It is estimated that, between 1940 and 1944, the Nazis forcibly took control of over 100,000 pieces of artwork, stolen from the Jews, primarily of France, who were being stripped of their rights due to the racial profiling laws put in place by the Third Reich. Since the collapse of the Nazi regime, thousands of works have been returned to their rightful owners but innumerable pieces remain in a state of flux, possibly lost forever.

Among the works are several by many of the most prominent masters of the 20th century, including Emil Nolde, Max Liebermann, Max Beckmann, Franz Marc, Picasso and Henri Matisse. One of the Matisse paintings had initially belonged to the famed collector, Raul Rosenberg, who ﬂed Paris, leaving his extensive collection behind as fear of the War spread. Now, so many decades after the Nazi regime has fallen, more and more pieces of art are being uncovered, dusted off and shown new light after such a long period of darkness. One can only hope that, in the near future, the remaining thousands of pieces may be discovered, so that an entire generation of beauty and inspiration is not lost forever.

Recently, dozens of paintings were uncovered in a German apartment which have been deduced to be the spoils of Nazi plunder. The works belonged to the octogenarian son of an art collector who had been prominent and purchased them in the '30s and '40s. Over the years, he has sold a few and managed to live off of the proceeds - but the collection still remains vastly intact, having been hidden in an old apartment for decades. www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

As I began to adapt the many short pieces of writing into a full novella, I was taken on a deeplyintrospective journey in which I discovered much about myself, my identity, and my own psychoses. Inﬂuenced by the literary works of Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker and the morose, beautifully emotive music of Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, I churned out a brief, albeit intensely personal and transgressive, bit of creative ﬁction - which was, in fact, greatly inspired by factual slices of my own real life. Writing "Smoke & Mirrors" helped me to exorcise the demons that waged war within me, causing depression, introversion and other general crises; it became a personal conduit through which I was able to release my inner pain, in the hopes that others who may be suffering in similar ways would read it, and likewise be healed.

The story of "Smoke & Mirrors - A Grim Phantasmagoria" came to me in late 2010, in the midst of my adolescence, when emotions and selfassurance were the most turbulent. Since childhood, I had been having recurring dreams of my doppelganger, chasing me through a mirrored dreamscape, always evading me. I had written numerous fantasies centered around these dreams, but they remained fragm e n t e d a n d disconnected - until I saw the brilliantly-dark ﬁlm "Black Swan" and heard the album "Anima/Animus" by The Creatures (fronted by the goddess, Siouxsie Sioux), both of which dealt with macabre psychological and archetypal themes of duality. It was then that I formulated a solid, cohesive story for the quasiautobiographical character(s) that I had conceived, thanks to a series of vivid nightmares and a desire to write a story that centered around motifs of gender identity, mental illness and the psychological horror that can be found in the everyday mundane.

Desperate to get the novella into the world, I entered numerous publication contests and sent it to several publishers - all of which turned the manuscript down, claiming that it was "too shocking" to amass a wide readership, considering its bizarre subject matter. Determined to see my goal achieved, I opted to independently publish the work, which was accomplished in April of 2013. Nothing compares to the feeling of having a hardcopy of your own writing in your hands, and I was thrilled to ﬁnally know this sensation. I vindictively sent signed copies to each of the companies that rejected me, along with their initial letters of refusal. I have since then been advertising it on my own through social media and word-ofmouth. Thankfully, the reception has been very positive, and I am eager to get my next publication underway! "Smoke & Mirrors - A Grim Phantasmagoria" is available in paperback on Amazon.com, and through its publishing company, CreateSpace. It is also available as an eBook through Amazon.com! Both versions contain personal photographs that accompany this austere chronicle of claustrophobic mental decay. By reading, you will be transported into the surreal bowers of my mind, where you can frolic through the mirrored labyrinth, and discover your own inner demons. Kindle Edition: www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUBSSF2 Paperback Edition: www.amazon.com/Smoke-MirrorsPhantasmagoria-Cody-Vada/dp/1482781417

www.arttourinternational.com

January 2014

The most innovative concept in visual arts aiming to broadcast via webchannels and orbital satellites above the territories of Europe and America targeting a large audience. OďŹ&#x20AC;ering a global platform for artists, galleries, ďŹ lm makers and creative individuals to expose their work on our virtual gallery, and promote their events in a global artistic scene.

From classic paintings from Fabian Perez, filled with joy and motion, to Fernando Botero’s master creations, ATIM Web TV brings art and artists to the world. Contemporary art blends many different styles, including painting, photography, sculpture, installation, digital art and more. With over 3900 subscribers and nearly half a million views, ATIM Web T.V. is an excellent way to find the best in contemporary art, with works from the most renowned international artists of today’s art scene. Thought provoking, bold - whimsical and powerful, these artists blend talent and imagination in perfect proportion, and ATIM Web T.V. delivers their work to you in a uniquely modern way. No longer do we have to wonder what the best artists are doing. ATIM Web TV makes the work of these artists more accessible than ever, and provides a platform for artists who would wish to do the same. The world of art is more vibrant than ever, and now we can view art from across the world without leaving our homes. Color and form take place on canvas and in 3 dimensions, capturing scenes from real life; the hazy streets of a city, the form of a dancer shedding light like butterfly winged diamonds in the sparkling sunlight, and the powerful color works by most prestigious artists await you at ATIM Web TV.

Tune in to our channel and watch the most recent events of the international art world! www.youtube.com/user/ArtTourIntMAGAZINE

eMAIL: info@arttourinternational.com TEL: +1 800 807-1167 WWW.ARTTOURINTERNATIONAL.COM

Your window to the world! With the most popular artists and celebrities in the creative industry, "Art 2 Heart" Interviews are an innovative concept in visual arts aiming to broadcast via web channels and orbital satellites above the territories of Europe and America targeting a large audience. Conducted by Viviana Puello, ATIM's Art Director, and Director of the Vivid Arts Network International. Offering a global platform for artists, galleries, film makers and creative individuals to expose their work on our virtual gallery, and promote their events in a global artistic scene. Whether it's Art Openings or Art Breaking News Coverage, Arttour International Channels goal is to engage Art Organizations and thousands of readers each month.

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