Joe Stavec
Debra Keirce
This publication was put together by the International Gallery of the Arts (IGOA) as a means to further promote the works of talented individuals from across the globe. Exquisite Arts Magazine not only aims to showcase extraordinary talent, but to also explore various topics relative to the arts industry. As you read this magazine, we invite you to get to know these exceptional individuals through their interviews, their words and more importantly, their work. As we have stated on numerous occasions, creativity is more than an expression, it is the fundamental ingredient of life. Join us in celebrating creativity in its many forms, as we bring you this publication filled with artistry from some of the world’s most exquisite talent.
EXQUISITE ARTS MAGAZINE Publisher: International Gallery of the Arts (Canada) Editor in Chief: Monique Jackson
Assistant & Editor: Lisa Chang
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Contributing Writers: Liz West
Featured Artists: Shanna Stott, Anca Stefanescu, Diann Trotman, Joe Stavec Kate Rocks, Jim Resnick, Debra Keirce, Viktoriya Pattison Eu Oy Chun, David Tinsley, Francesca Busca, Juca Maximo
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Shanna Stott Diann Trotman Anca Stefanescu
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Impressionism vs Expressionism. Which Era left the greatest Impression? By Liz West Pg. 19 Joe Stavec Kate Rocks Jim Resnick
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David Tinsley Francesca Busca Juca Maximo
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Digital vs Traditional Marketing. Which is Better for Promoting your Art? By Liz West Pg. 49 Debra Keirce Viktoriya Pattison Eu Oy Chun
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“I spent my childhood digging in school shoe boxes full of broken and naked Crayons seeking out the Crayola brand crayons by sniffing and huffing them. That's how I knew I was an artist - coloring with any other crayon brand just wouldn't do! For the last 8 years I have been learning and self-teaching Contemporary Acrylic methods ... I feel that I have finally reached my desired category and seek to constantly improve and learn. Wildlife, Pet Portraits, Horses and Native American themes attract me the most, but I keep a healthy appetite for learning new mediums and techniques.�
Your style of artistry is very bold and creative. What is your artistic background? I am mainly self-taught (no formal Art Education) with a lot of determination, selfcritical attention to details and thousands of hours of practice. I am a perfectionist, so everything I do I try to make the next one better. After 30 years of this behavior I have figured out what does and does not work for methere is always room to learn more. I study numerous favorite artists and have hundreds of tutorials and “How To” books I have collected since childhood. I have carried a backpack with art supplies and a few favorite Art Books since I was about 10, it doesn’t matter where I am, I feel comfortable doodling in any environment. I am notorious for drawing and sketching ideas down on scrap papers in the middle of family gatherings or parties. You have a great passion for painting animal and wildlife portraits. Where does this fascination come from? When I was 8 years old my mother moved my sister and I to a huge cattle ranch with no running water or electricity. The basic amenities that most people enjoy were not available to us; no TV, no plumbing, no radio, no video games ... if we got bored mom told us “go read a book” or “find something to do outside!”. I spent hours sneaking up on wild animals and observing them in their environment, at some point during this time I began actively drawing what I saw from memory in my second and third grade journals. During the summer on the ranch we rescued a yearling Mule Deer fawn after it got caught up in a barbed wire fence. Sadly, the deer didn’t survive. To cope with my feelings of loss at this time, I would draw the deer with angel wings bounding in the clouds with other animal Pg. 7
friends. From there blossomed other fantastical animal drawings which, over time, led to 27+ years of practice into what I am now. What is it about Crayola Crayons that you love so much? As a kid I noticed that the Crayola Crayons didn’t slide, slip or smudge across the paper like the cheap greasy crayons did - instead they created an even and predictable layer of color. I could use other colors over one another for a blended effect. If I tried using more than one color of the cheap crayon brands they always streaked and smudged like a grease slick, which made my colored image look messy - that bothered me terribly as a child. Crayola crayons are still my favorite when I color. I’ve been known to doodle epic scenes on those butcher paper table covers they have at some restaurants. Some people even have me do timed drawings to challenge me while we wait for our food. The finished sketches are quite impressive for using simple crayons - haha. Artistically speaking, where do you see yourself in the next five years? What are your goals? I see myself standing among other artists I admire for the Jackson Hole Quick Draw Art Sale and Auction and attending other prestigious Wildlife Art events. Some of my current favorite artists are Amy Ringholz, Amy Lay, Virginie Baude, John Nieto, Jeff Ham, Peggy Judy and Ke'vin Bowers. I see my art adorning Gallery walls and being admired by thousands of people. I see myself constantly evolving and improving. I plan to make sure my livelihood is made with my love of art and for my talents to be seen and loved by many; hopefully my art will evoke emotions that connect people back to nature. I’m happily already three years into this plan, so I may see some of these other goals manifest sooner than 5 Pg. 8
Years. I’ll cross my fingers and continue the hard work. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? I would want to impart some wisdom to aspiring professional artists: You *can* make your way in life with your art. BUT, it doesn’t happen overnight (that's a rarity, not a norm). Remember, you can’t please everyone and you must do the art for you first. A career in the art world only manifests into success if you hustle harder than you’ve ever hustled anything before. You must be your biggest promoter, you must be prolific, you must learn to ask for and appreciate critiques and criticism (at least if you plan to improve) and you must work hard. Anyone who thinks being a [successful] artist is “lazy” work, has never done it before. I’m currently available for custom commission and I have price ranges for most budgets! If you are interested contact me - please like, follow and share! Thank you in advance!
www.facebook.com/wildthingstreasures
Diann Trotman
“Photography makes you take a step back from the whirlwind of thoughts always racing in your head, and places you directly in the moment. You are focused on a single object that is meaningful to you, and everything else just falls away from your mind. Your only thought is to capture that single image, in that single moment. You share the image in hopes that it will make others just as amazed and enchanted as you felt at the click of the shutter.� Diann Trotman lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband, Harvey. She is a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the microbiology lab at Lancaster General Hospital, and teaches microbiology at HACC. Pg. 11
You are a very talented photographer. What inspired you to become a photographer? In 2006, three of my friends and I visited an old, abandoned hotel in our hometown. Dressed in black and armed with a tiny point and shoot camera, I explored with my friends. I was struck by the history of the decaying buildings and the wild, overrun grounds. Inside, there were hand-painted murals peering out from under peeling, moldy wallpaper and ivy growing in the windows and over old televisions and dirty furniture. The natural beauty of the place captivated me, yet I was so sad to see the ruination of such a historically important, wonderful old hotel. It was then that my obsession with photographing abandoned places began. I believe it is important to document beautiful historic architecture, no matter how run-down, before it is demolished and gone forever. As I began to take more pictures, I realized that the whole world is full of wondrous things to see, both big and small, if you look closely.
What do you enjoy most about photography? First, I love how it has made me see the world differently. I pay much more attention to textures and light. Instead of leaving the house and heading straight to my car with my head down, I stop and look at the flowers by the door, the neighbor’s tree, the clouds in the sky… things like that. I have a greater appreciation for what is around me. Photography forces me to live in (and treasure) the moment, and keeps me from constantly thinking ahead about everything. Second, my husband and I plan our vacations around offbeat, unusual places to visit and photograph, such as Foamhenge in Virginia (a life-size replica of Stonehenge, made of Styrofoam), the abandoned WV State Penitentiary, and the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital, to name a few. We have very interesting and fun vacations!
For those who feel that photography is not “art” what do you have to say to them?
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I believe that some don’t consider photography “art” because they believe the photographer is a passive documenter, not actually creating anything. I don’t think that is true. Take a creepy old house. An abstract artist will recreate the house as he or she interprets. An oil painter may darken the color of the house, change its structural outlines, or add black, swirling clouds to convey menace. Photographers, however, cannot change the physicality of their subjects. We can’t just slap a coat of black paint on the shingles or summon low, dark clouds from nowhere (although that would be really cool if we could). Photographers must use light, and shadows, and angles to create their artistic interpretation. A photograph can show you the history of people and places that can never be visited again. A single image may touch your heart and sear itself on your brain for life, never to
be forgotten. If an image, on any medium, can accomplish that, how can it not be art?
What are your artistic goals for the near future? I would like to explore night photography, both sky and landscape. I’ve always been fascinated with the beautiful night photos I see online. I also want to try animal/pet photography. I think that would be so fun! Most of all, I want to continue our road trips to find new places and subjects to photograph.
Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? I’ve just started up my website. I’m on Facebook too. If you get to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you can see some of my work on display at Building Character and at the Hotel Lancaster. You can also contact me at diann@dianntrotmanphotography.com. I’d love to hear from you!
www.dianntrotmanphotography.com
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“I was always in searching for something... was it identity?... And it is not only my quest. The need for belonging? We belong to a country, a culture, a family, a child… a man or a woman? We belong to a God…? To somewhat or someone. Races, religions, countries and their boundaries. I don’t believe in boundaries they are only in our minds. I believe in people. In what connects us and puts us apart from each other. In what we learn from each encounter, from each illusive separation. But always in searching for meeting the higher self, to be yourself and yet to discover and recognize you are one with all the others. I’ve drawn and painted my whole life, it’s what kept me into alignment, dreaming or feeling… more into the now. I was born in Bucharest and I grew up in Vădastra (Olt county) in the air of middle Neolithic, in between pieces of ceramics that were thousands of years old. I treasured each piece of painted pottery as if it was the keeper of my ancient memory and also a reminder that the time is just a concept. I felt connected my entire life to the nature but also to the invisible world of our souls, that world where is no separation between life and us. I believe love never ends because I believe in oneness. I feel a part of me breathing in every plant, animal or sound. I sense the subtle energy of the water as if it is mine. I paint what I meet, what I feel, see, embrace and what I love. When I am drawing everything runs like a confirmation of Awareness. I fell myself stepping into alignment. I want to give to someone else the power to enhance the higher vibration, the pulsation of our true nature… the vision to abandon all past and future and reveal the nature of consciousness. I want to inspire people to see the beauty in every detail, to discover the secret message in every tinny flower, tree, animal or bird. Every detail of the nature matters like every step we made. I dream to bring colour into people lives. Every colour has its magnificent energy that helps us to stay connected to our Divine Source. It helps us to love and appreciate ourselves and all that surround us... and to remain connected to everything in our world through love...So I said to myself: I shall paint all that helps us to let go and love the moment, all that gives the strength to open ourselves to the presence of love and joy within us. We are all flamingos or hummingbirds, we are all elephants and rhinos we are all flowers and trees... we are water and wind...”
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You have a very creative and beautiful artistic style. What is your artistic background?
painting. And as I paint I feel like I am channeling emotions.
Thank you for your appreciation. I was twelve when my parents accepted to move me into the only art school in Bucharest. It was during the communist regime and in winter sometime took me 2 hours to be at school on time. It was hard in a way but the best school in the world for me. After I graduated the Art High School I went into the Art University in Bucharest were I graduated painting even if the work presented as a Diploma was conceptual art not a painting :). It was an academic mentality and I didn’t felt quite integrated, but I was able to experience other art movements and styles such as Installation art and Performance. The closest I felt to Performance and I had the opportunity to be selected in some Art Festivals since University. The experience as a performer made me to reject myself as an artist for some years even if the success was real. I don’t consider that a “bad” thing it was just a phase. I started to work as a Flame Artist, Compositing & VFX Supervisor and ID Colorist for commercials and movies. This period helped me to learn and develop my computer skills. I am grateful for each experience in my life. My art today is a mixture of digital painting and oil painting. I like the possibility of going into the smallest perfect details by working in computer, the clarity of line, colour and shape but I like it in contrast with the “real” painting, where you can see the texture and feel the energy of the color brush stroke. You mentioned that you were “always searching for something” how has this “searching” influenced the art that you create? Searching…yes…always in search for something…but aren’t we all? I think that behind this searching is the unconscious need of experience emotions…New emotions! Is about exploring and finding what exalts you…the life, the pulsation of life in animals, plants, us…in the human connectivity, in other creations such as poetry. As Virginia Wolfe wrote in her letter: “always the years between us, always the years. Always, the love. Always, the hours.” But what is happening in those years in all the millions of hours…always the happiness, the joy, the sadness, the guilt, and the awareness…the excitement we feel…and in this inspiration I am
How important is the use of colour in your work? In colour there is life. I believe in the energy of each color. Based on yogic traditions each color reflects a type of vibration or frequency radiating through the chakras. The colors are natural healers for the body. During a meditation most guru are teaching us to imagine colours spinning. Each specter color for each of the seventh chakras. I love the idea that my painting could heal.
Artistically, what do you hope to accomplish within the next few years? A solo exhibition in New York, my paintings on the walls on many house and a big studio in London, were I plan to move soon! :)
Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? I am preparing myself for World Art Dubai 2018 and in Julie I am participating in a group exhibition in Florence. I am so excited! Wouldn’t be nice to meet in Florence?
saatchiart.com/AncaStefanescu
Impressionism
vs
Which era left the
Many artists are influenced by the various movements of art, be it the Renaissance, Classical, Deco, Cubism or other infamous periods in art history. But the two that are often compared are the Impressionism and Expressionism movements as the primary intention of each style opposes the other. Impressionism Impressionism developed after the birth of the camera, and it relieved artists from the strictures of realism by asking an artist to bring an impression of something. It applies to various images of people and landscapes. The primary objective is to distill something beyond the mere picture and get deeper qualities that may be available if an individual can be more sensitive to them such as the vibrations of the light etc. The impressionists shifted from the traditional painting methods of their day and applied paint in small touches of pure color instead of mixing the paint and applying it in broad strokes by either using a knife or brush. For this method, it enabled artists to emphasize the impression of their subject matter instead of painting the object more realistically. Juca Maximo- Expressionism Portrait (Man)
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The impressionist movement originated from France in the 19th Century and lasted from 1867 to 1886.
expressionism greatest impression?
The following famous artists were associated with this movement;
Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) Edgar Degas (1834-1917) Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) Claude Monet (1840-1926) Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)
Expressionism Expressionism gives precisely what the word indicates. Its primary intention is the expression of feelings or spirits. It ultimately provides an artist with permission to distort images or even dispense with drawings altogether in a way to better convey both moods and emotions. Many people perceive expressionism to have taken art too far while others consider it a pure form of art. The paintings from this era were full of vivid imagery and emotion and were often described as displaying a touch of the dark side of the human nature. Artists painting in such a style might combine fantasy and violence in their subject matter in the way of showing the extremes of emotion. This movement existed in both Germany and France from 1905 to 1925, and the following artists were involved with the Movement;
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) Edvard Munch (1863-1944) Henri Matisse (1869-1964) Paul Klee (1879-1940) Franz Marc (1880-1916) August Macke (1887-1914) Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Which era left the greatest impression on our society today? The expressionism era has definitely solidified its presence in our modern world with many artists creating expressive pieces that touch us on a deep level. Our society is hungry for selfexpression and eager to explore territories that may be dark, forbidden or even loathed by many. On the flip side, humanity also loves and adores the “lighter” side of our existence and truly appreciates the pleasant sceneries that leave a soft impression on our minds and vision; the type of art that artists of the impressionism movement so excellently portrayed in their artistic pieces. In conclusion, both artistic movements have left a distinct mark on both the past and present states of our world and their legacy will continue to live on and inspire us for many generations to come. ________________________________________ Authors: Liz West/ Closing- Monique Jackson
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“Art is not an end in itself. It is a method of creating awareness of the marvelous. Surrealist art reveals invisible secrets and exposes hidden surprises. Surrealism is based on a fascination with the strange and imaginary. There are treasures hidden in the human mind, an ability to bathe everyday reality in a magic light.�
Joe Stavec is an American born in 1957 and resides in Northeast Ohio. Art is his passion beginning as a young man. He graduated with a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, 1980 and works daily in his studio with his African Grey parrot, Sherlock, by his side. His paintings have been displayed in solo and group exhibitions, both curated and juried. His creativity has been recognized as channeling the best elements of the surrealism movement without merely imitating them; rather, he interprets surrealism in light of his own lived experience.
You have a unique and intriguing artistic style. Where does your inspiration come from? In 1973, I was just starting to think seriously about being a painter. At that time, the Salvador Dali Museum, which housed the A. Reynolds Morse Collection, was located near my home in Ohio. I visited the museum and it blew my mind. I was introduced to a surrealist point of view of the world. This affected me in a profound way and led me to discover other great surrealists such as René Magritte and Max Ernst, to the socalled precursors, such as Odilon Redon and Félicien Rops. I take my inspiration from many things not least of which is the written word. Authors such as Neil Gaiman and Jorge Luis Borges put me in a mindset to create images of a world that exists just behind the veil of what we perceive as our reality. Of things previously known but forgotten, glimpses of which we see in our dreams and desires waiting to be discovered again. World mythology is a rich source of inspiration with its tales of fantastic and heroic deeds. My painting “Circe’s World” was inspired by the tale of Ulysses’ encounter with Circe in the “Odyssey” as a case in point. What fascinates you the most about surreal art? Why is this your preferred artistic style? I am fascinated by how surreal art can weave dream fantasies and assorted incongruities into images that enable one to glimpse a different reality behind our everyday world. I love the irreverence and humor to be found in surrealist art, how it blends the line between waking and sleeping states, the believable and unbelievable, and the reverie of dreams. In my images I want to evoke a sense of mystery and magic. Surrealism allows one
to see the world with a childlike wonder again. This to me is priceless. What message do you hope the viewers will gain from your artwork? I want the viewer to be able to create their own unique narrative of the image they see. A way of seeing that opens unconscious connections and desires to a strange, hidden, magical world. I want them to be put into a state of mind where fragments of childhood fantasies and dreams are remembered. A place where cats can sing, fish can fly, toys come to life and where unusual creatures mingle amongst us. I want the viewer to experience the same sense of mystery and wonder that I do when I am painting. What are your artistic goals for the near future? I plan to continue to pursue my surrealist vision working with the mediums of sumi inks, oils and watercolors. From my black and white inks, to the bold and distinctive colors of my oil paintings and to the palette of my watercolors, I find that each medium enables a unique means of expression. This choice allows me to vary my approach to express the images I have in my head and continue to grow as an artist. I hope to gain more exposure and pursue opportunities to display, publish and sell my artwork. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? My artwork is available for sale on my website: joestavec.com My contact email is: stavecpark@earthlink.net. Please reach out with questions or comments. I am receptive to commissioned artwork. I have an upcoming two-person exhibition at The Article Gallery, Cleveland Ohio, June30, 2018, curated by Mary Urbas
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My artwork reflects my fascination with nature and anatomy. The decomposition and regrowth of life is the strongest force in nature. My work is about the regrowth of life through death.
Your art pieces are very original and creative. What is your background as an artist? Thank you! That is kind to say. Well, I have been drawing as long as I can remember; specifically flowers. It wasn’t until I worked at a florist that I started making them out of clay. There I was able to study so many different types of flowers, watch them bloom, slowly die, and fall apart. During this time I immersed myself in making art. These sculptures are an extension of my drawings, life studies, and floral arrangements. Why are you fascinated with nature and anatomy? Our world is complex and beautiful, I find it impossible not to be intrigued by the way it works and is structured. I am genuinely curious as to how things grow and operate as well as their purpose in the natural world. My interest in the fragility and wonder of life is all for the sake of knowledge.
Why do you feel that it is important to use your art to explore the concept of regrowth of life through death? In the wild, the bodies of animals begin to decompose shortly after death. This decomposition recycles nutrients and deposits them into the soil, which in turn helps new plant life to grow. In my work, I recreate these nutrient cycles, freezing a specific moment in nature. The new plants that emerged are in full bloom in the shape of floral crowns on sun-bleached skulls, free from decay. To me, it’s about celebrating life; similar to decorating the graves of the people we love and lost. Tell us more about the materials used in your artistry and why you chose to work with them. I make my sculptures out of porcelain. This type of clay has malleability properties that allow me to mimic different textures and densities. I love how the fired clay looks raw, without a glaze, the matte white finish gives it a natural look.
I do have a new series coming out soon. I have been exploring the anatomy of the human body in these sculptures. And I’m always updating my website and Instagram, @hyacinth_witch with new sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and drawings.
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“I
am interested in putting the flow of energy onto paper. I never plan my drawings. I just let the ink flow with the music I am listening to.� Pg. 32
Your art pieces are beautiful and very detailed. What is your background as an artist? I first started getting into art as a freshman at the U. of Colorado in 1972. I then transferred to the University of Maryland where I got a degree in Fine Arts, Art Studio, in 1977. I tried all forms of artwork in school but was especially interested in pen and ink drawing and stone sculpture. I was OK at realism but abstract artwork is what really excited me. I had a few small art shows with mild success selling my artwork until the mid-80s which is the last time I did any stone carving. Stone carving was very valuable to me because it taught me to make the sculpture work from all angles. I still spin my drawings at different angles when I draw to make it flow well from different perspectives. I hardly did any artwork from the mid-80s until 2005 when I starting drawing again. I have had some gallery shows in Maryland, where I live, and had some success with national and international juried art shows in recent years. I had a drawing, Butterfly, published in the World’s Greatest Erotic Art of Today, Vol. 4 in 2011. My current goal is to have a show in the Washington, D.C. area. Your artwork is significantly composed of texture, lines, shapes and fine details. Why do you prefer this artistic style? I prefer this style because it excites me. Sometimes I just let it go freehand and sometimes I like to use templates to make designs or patterns that tempt me. I try not to have too much of a preconceived idea when I use the templates so I can be creative with them and create new visual experiences. I think I have a unique style and I’m sort of proud of that. My artwork seems to go through phases. A few years ago I was in an erotic phase. More recently my works tend toward an astronomy motif. I’m not sure where I’m headed next, but I will just let it flow. It’s all about the journey.
How important is it to not plan your next art piece but instead, allow the flow of energy to find its way to the paper? I find that when I plan out my artwork ahead of time it tends to look static and doesn’t flow well. I usually have headphones on with my favorite music and just let the ink flow wherever my head takes me. When I see something, I accentuate the feeling until it starts to work. I get my creative energy from nature. I get energized from walking in the forest or a wildflower field in the mountains, sitting next to a waterfall or a mountain lake, snorkeling a reef, or body surfing in the ocean. I love being in and around water. I absorb the energy and natural flows and rhythms and try to let them flow through me onto the paper. What do you hope the viewers will gather from seeing your art? I hope they will see something that maybe they have never seen before that excites them. I hope maybe they have some sort of emotional reaction to my artwork that takes them somewhere new and interesting. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? My artwork is currently available for purchase on my website: JimResnickArt.com. Many of the originals are available for purchase as well.
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American Artist
David Tinsley is best known for his ability to create thought invoking three dimensional sculptures from unaltered driftwood found in the Pacific Northwest. David says that working as an artist helped him find his place in the world, a way to connect on the deepest level with those who have been moved by his work, and the realization that he was capable of far more than he could have ever imagined! David who was born and lived 44 years in Florida moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2013 where he discovered the gorgeous driftwood found along it’s coast line and was absolutely in awe of the raw beauty of mother nature’s gift. Pg. 36
Self-taught, David began to create incredible pieces shortly after he arrived and after countless hours of determination he has been able to develop the technique that he uses today leaving the viewer asking; “how does he do it?” His inspirations come from the Life Source itself.; “I feel that the objects that make up our environment can have a profound effect on our soul.” That is exactly what David’s work has done as well. “Their roles should be evocative and provocative, they should allow us to relax with them, they should challenge us.”
“I approach my designs with enthusiasm and wonder, always taking it a little further and asking ... What If?”
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Her goal? To provoke! To Francesca, art has the same importance as philosophy: its ultimate purpose is to provoke something in the viewer of its time. She feels a compelling urge to convey a message to the viewer, whether a thought or a pure emotion, as strongly as her technical and creative capabilities will allow.
Torn
between optimism and surrender, Francesca is haunted by the idea of mankind’s imminent self-destruction. Yet, she believes in a future for humanity of resourceful innovation through reusing, recycling and upcycling. She is fascinated by colours and textures of both artificial and natural elements, which she hunts for in everyday life and plays with in new combinations, pairing and contrasting noble material with rubbish. Her aim is to prove how rubbish is a relative definition and how it can be turned into something useful, fun and even beautiful. She thoroughly enjoys working within the ethical and material limitations which this choice entails. She has a true passion for mosaic, as it allows the use materials of all sorts: she strives to show the beauty and significance of each material uses, in each tiny piece. She never stops learning and experimenting, eagerly crisscrossing the boundary between Mosaic and Mixed Media. She is on a mission to show the incredible - yet still quite unknown potential of modern mosaic, as a fine art in its own right. In her early life Francesca challenged herself by focusing on things that did not come naturally to her (e.g. going into Law after Classics). Yet, she tried for years to placate her internal restlessness by living in different countries and cultures (Pordenone, Padua, Denver, London, Paris, New York...). When she reached 40, with the responsibility of a mother, she settled between London and Trieste and found her outlet in what she liked and did best, namely using her hands to create. Art exhibitions, painting, sculpting and modelling clay were regular hobbies which never satiated her inherent creative nature. Finally, one day, she entered the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, in Spilimbergo (Italy): a whole new world of WONDERS opened up.
She found a delightful place in London, Southbank Mosaics, where she did a first Award course and a Level 2 Certificate. She also attends various courses per year in Spilimbergo (Roman, Bizantine and mainly Modern mosaic) and elsewhere. She has recently joined the Governing Body of the London School of Mosaic, (where she has also been asked to teach short courses from February 2018), the BAMM Committee (British Association of Modern Mosaic) as Exhibition Coordinator, and The Artists’ Pool as a member. She is also in the process of forming a collective with the fellow Artists in Residence at the Canary Wharf New District 2017 Residency in London (22 Aug - 29 Sept 2017).
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" I seek with my art to bring some uncomfortable interior, a feeling, something that the person looks and feels that there is something else in there."
Plastic
Artist, Art Director, Illustrator, Designer and Musician. His work consists of various techniques: oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, engraving, ink, pencil, digital art, clay sculpture and digital sculpture. Known for his work in illustration and publicity, he has gained a great deal of notoriety in the artistic world, mainly abroad, being published in large portals, magazines and winning prizes in international art shows, illustration and drawing. The artist can be defined as a "contemporary expressionist": his work is dramatic, depicting an explosion of strong feelings and colors. His works usually consist of fine pencil or pen traits, complete with vigorous strokes and intense use of the impasto, on which he implants shocks of color and aggressiveness, contrasting with the delicacy of his portraits. They are feelings, secret traits and aggression on the screen. EXHIBITIONS 11/12 | 2017 “MaisArte Colective” MaisArte Galeria, Fortaleza – Brasil 12 | 2017 “Art Of Humanity” International Gallery of the Arts, Toronto – Canadá AWARDS 12 | 2017 (Portrait Man) Bronze in “Art Of Humanity” International Gallery of the Arts, Toronto – Canadá Pg. 45
PUBLICATIONS 01 | 2018 “Ads of The World | Adeevee | Best Ads on TV″ (Advertising Being an Artist) “Archive Lürzer’s edição 1.18″ 12 | 2017 “Archive Lürzer’s edição 6.17″ (Advertising– Violence leave traces that never fade) 12 | 2017 “Best Week – Best Ads on TV” (Advertising Ink your skin) 12 | 2017 “Advertising Most Liked World – Ads of The World” (Advertising Ink your skin) 08 | 2017 “Top 1 Month August – Ads of The World” (Advertising No Connection) 09 | 2017 “Ads of The World | Best Ads on TV | Adeevee” (Advertising– Violence leave traces that never fade) 08 | 2017 “Ads of The World | Best Ads on TV | Adeevee” (Advertising Don’t horry, go play) 07 | 2017 “Ads of The World | Best Ads on TV” (Advertising We never know the time of a crisis)
Which is the better Digital or The decisions that have to be made are not easy: which method of marketing will give me the most value for my buck? How do you know the concept of selling is working? Who should I trust with my marketing? The answers to these burning questions may surprise you. Examples of traditional marketing include flyers that are put in mailboxes, the use of print ads in newspapers and magazines. While on the other hand, when a business invests in creating a website, advertising their brand name through different social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, it is known as digital marketing. Advantages of Traditional Marketing
Diana Gubbay
Should I choose digital or traditional marketing? Most professionals & small businesses struggle with deciding what kind of marketing strategy to choose considering that their budget will only be based on one or the other, or both.
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You can quickly reach your target audience – For instance, a radio advertisement may play in just one location, i.e., your region or city. The use of mailbox flyers will go to households in a selected number of environs.
It’s quite easy to understand- the type of marketing is easily understood by the majority of people because they are already exposed to such a strategy.
The ability to store the materials –The audience can keep the hard copy of the documents and retrieve to them or browse through over and over again.
Marketing Strategy? Traditional? Disadvantages of Traditional Marketing
Limited or no interaction at all between the channel used and the clients – This kind of marketing is more of providing information to the general public that the brand exists with the hope of people treating the brand with kindness.
It can be expensive- print or radio advertisements can be costly and you, need the help of other people to distribute these materials.
The success of this kind of strategy cannot be easily measured.
Advantages of Digital Marketing
You can opt to target both a local and international audience – There is the flexibility of targeting specific audience demographics like location, gender, age, and interests. It merely means your campaign will be effective
Natural interaction with your audience – In the case of social media, it is easy to interact with your audience through live chats. Traditional marketing does not encourage your clients to visit your website.
It's cost efficient compared to the traditional approach
The easy recording of data and results – With the presence of Google analytics and the insights tools provided by most social media channels, you can check on your campaign status anytime. With technological advancement, the use of digital marketing is convenient compared to traditional selling due to the existence of various social media platforms. However, a multi-channel approach incorporating both of the market strategies can produce the best results. ____________________________________ Authored By: Liz West
Your audience can choose how to receive the content – With digital marketing, there is the flexibility of selecting from a blog post, YouTube or the various social media platforms.
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“I am an award winning, internationally collected contemporary realist painter. I live in Northern Virginia and am living proof that dreams come true. I paint what I fancy, mostly still life, and I specialize in true miniature fine art paintings that are small enough to hold in your palm. Part of my process involves magnifying glasses and I enjoy demonstrating my techniques.� Pg. 52
You are very talented and your paintings are amazing. What is your artistic background? Thank you. I actually turned down a scholarship to the Cranbrook Art Institute in 1979 to pursue a career in Biochemical Engineering. I knew then that I wanted to paint like the Dutch masters, not like Rothko or Pollock. Art schools weren’t teaching classical realism in the 1970’s. So, I made money as an engineer and over the decades I hand-picked mentors and instructors who could teach me what I wanted to learn about art. I built a respectable commission painting business during that time. In 2010, I began painting full time and in 2012 I was offered gallery representation. So, I sidestepped the whole starving artist thing. It took me awhile longer, but I got here, and I’m loving it. Your paintings are very realistic. Why did you choose to pursue realism as your preferred artistic style? As a teen, living masters like M.C. Escher, Norman Rockwell, Salvador Dali, and Richard Estes inspired me. So I was drawn to high realism at an early age. I don’t think I ever had a choice. You mentioned that you specialize in miniature fine art paintings. What inspired you to create palm sized paintings? As an adult, I had access to the artists who were no longer living, in museums. I noticed I always spent the most time looking at paintings from the Golden Age. Many of these pieces are very small. They were hung in cases or behind curtains originally. Interacting with them was a much more intimate experience. When I came across the European pocket portrait miniatures at the National Portrait Gallery and other museums, I was hooked. I researched online, and was delighted to discover an entire genre of true miniature fine art in the spirit of the old masters. There are shows in the USA and around the world with hundreds of true miniature artists. Many of these talented people I now call friends. As an award winning artist, what advice do you have for artists emerging into this industry?
Be persistent! Don’t give up! It’s a numbers game. The more you paint and the more shows you enter, the more you win. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? DebKArt.com is my website where you can see upcoming shows and also the workshops I am hosting for today’s master artists. My YouTube channel, Debra Keirce Art Journey Instagram @DebraKeirce
I am in a 5-person museum show at Customs House in Clarksville, TN with a reception August 4, 2018. I have solo shows in 2018 at Ellis Nicholson Gallery in Charleston in April, and at Northern Virginia College Manassas Campus in September. I hope to see you there!
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legacy. I aim to use this on silk and wool in art school at an early age, so they are part of my artistic legacy. I aim to use this traditional art form in a contemporary way, introducing it to new audiences through my own design aesthetic. I enjoy the process of creating modern designs with traditional materials. I believe my design and painting background gives my work a contemporary twist.
Your art pieces are very beautiful. What is your background as an artist? As a young child growing up in Vladivostok, Russia, I drew, painted, sewed and knitted. At age nine I was enrolled in a specialized art school (similar to a “running start� program in the United States), where I studied oil painting, dyeing, batik and silk painting. By age ten, I had created my first tapestry. After this strenuous early art training I earned the equivalent of a four-year college degree in art, majoring in oil painting, by age nineteen. I worked as a children’s art teacher for fifteen years. In 2007 I moved to the United States, where I have continued to create art in a variety of mediums. Wool painting is a unique style of artistry. What inspired you to pursue wool painting? Tapestries and felted wool wall coverings have been a traditional art form throughout Europe, Russia and Central Asia for many centuries. Textile hangings decorate palaces and churches while keeping their large interior spaces warm. In Russia, the study of these traditional wool hangings is part of art history courses. I learned how to make tapestries and paint on silk and wool in art school at an early age, so they are part of my artistic
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Briefly, what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of working with wool? Working with wool is extremely labor intensive and requires a great deal of patience. To create each painting, I lay out strands of wool in layer after layer. I can make changes to a design only in the very early stages because the fibers stick together as they are worked. It is necessary to think ahead several steps in the process. I plan for shrinkage, since the final work will shrink 30% after it is felted. As the composition evolves I have to stay very open to my intuition and the sometimes unexpected results of my color and placement choices. The results of long hours of work are unpredictable-- I won’t know the final outcome until the layers of wool are felted by rolling it with soapy water and shaping it into its final shape. The disadvantages are also advantages, because I absolutely love working with wool. You really have to love the materials and processes as much as I do to work in this medium. The unpredictability and intuitive dialogue with the materials inspires me. I enjoy the sense of discovery when choosing from my hundreds of hand dyed colors. Wool has warmth, softness and an earthy natural smell. When I work with it I feel that I can experience the beauty of the plants, grasses and blossoms, even the air breathed, by the humble but beautiful goats, sheep and llamas.
“I’m currently working on wearable fiber art including scarves & shawls, exploring unusual color combinations & new designs. I will also be creating vests, tote bags and coats. I’m entering national & international exhibitions & competitions. I look forward to continuing to expand my audience and sharing my work with new people.” VIKTORIYASART.COM
What do you hope the audience perceives when they view your paintings? I hope my viewers are impressed by my technique but that is not my most important goal. Wool is alive and brings us a sense of the beauty of being alive. I’d like for viewers to bring the warmth and coziness of wool into their home interior, so they feel a sense of snug calm, beauty and warmth. When they look at my work I want them to feel that we are all part of this amazing world and even our smallest brothers have something to share with us. I hope my joy in my work and my sense of discovery in the face of the unknown is communicated to my viewers. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our audience? Please visit my website for more details about how I make my work, to see my portfolio and read my bio and artist statement.
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Born in Hong Kong but now a Singapore citizen, Eu Oy Chun completed her higher education at the University of Singapore (now known as the National University of Singapore) with a BSc in Biology. After dabbling in photography and Chinese brush painting for many years, she felt a pressing need to explore her interest in art using other mediums. In 2008, she decided to go back to basics and went under the tutelage of an internationally renowned contemporary art teacher Master Ren Jianhui to hone her skills in sketching, charcoal drawing and painting in oil. It was during this period of training that she discovered her artistic expression in oil which is now her chosen medium. Currently, she is a member of the Artists Society of Singapore and the Singapore Art Society. Since 2012, her works have been featured in art publications and selected for exhibitions organised by Artists Society of Singapore, the Singapore Art Society and the Federation of Art Societies (Singapore). She was also invited to participate in the Ngee Ann National Day Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition 2016 and 2017, organised by the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre. In the past four years she had also been invited by 吉林 美术出 版社 in Beijing, 文化月刊编辑部 in Beijing , 炎⻩九州(北京)文化艺术交流中 心 and 南昌和美文化传播有限 公司 in China Jiangxi Province to have her works featured in their art publications and web sites.
You are very talented and your pieces are beautiful. What inspired you to become an artist? The beauty of nature in its natural habitat has always aroused deep and happy emotions in me. Even as I try to capture these scenes on camera, I felt the need to further personalise these feelings by expressing them on canvas and set out to paint from the heart. You are skilled in photography, Chinese brush painting, sketching, charcoal drawing and painting in oil. Which medium is your favourite and why? Presently my favourite medium is oil on canvas as it allows me to create texture in combination with brilliance in colours that best capture the essence of my subjects. How would you describe your artistic style? My style is still evolving. I would best describe it as a work-in-progress. Even as a discernible style is emerging, I feel the craft of an artist is a never-ending learning experience just as life itself. You’ve achieved a lot of success as an artist. What else would you like to accomplish with your art? I feel that if I can share my art with more people and, by doing so, I can perhaps bring some joy to their lives or touch their lives in some way, I would have accomplished something however small that might be. Above all I hope to stay true to being a humble artist who seeks to paint with hope, sincerity and truth.
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Three pieces of Eu Oy Chun’s Black and White (pencil / charcoal) drawings were selected for online exhibition by International Gallery of The Arts in their Black & White Contest in October 2017. Her piece “Vegetables and Spirits” won Third Place and 5 other pieces were selected for the online exhibition in the Still Life Art Contest organised by the same gallery in November 2017. Another painting “Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore “won a Special Merit Award in the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery “CityScapes “Art Exhibition - February 2018. Two of her paintings on Pulau Ubin - “Serene Pulau Ubin” and “The Red Temple” - have been collected by Dr Chua Ee Kiam and featured in his book “Footprints on an Island, Rediscovering Pulau Ubin”. The book was published in 2016 and won the Silver Prize in the Nautilus Book Award. In 2017, the National Dental Centre of Singapore commissioned her to paint “Pararenanthera NDC Singapore “in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The painting was auctioned at its Gala Dinner for charity.
Brandon Williams
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David Tinsley