AFG - THE NEW ART BOOK - 2019

2019

art freaksglobal

the new

ART BOOK issue 1

for the love of Art

Canvas Painting Art Watercolours Oil on Canvas A crylic M ixed M edium Charcoals Conte Pencils rendering Oil Pastels A crylic o n Boards B ronze Casting Clay M arble Bust Canvas Painting Art Watercolours Oil on Canvas Acrylic M ixed M edium Charcoals Conte Pencils rendering Oil Pastels Acrylic on Boards Bronze Casting Clay Marble Bust Canvas Painting Art Watercolours Oil on Canvas Acrylic Mixed Medium Charcoals Conte Pencils rendering Oil Pastels Acrylic on Boards Bronze Casting Clay Marble Bust Canvas Canvas Painting Art Watercolours Oil on Canvas Acrylic Mixed Medium Charcoals Conte Pencils rendering Oil Pastels Acrylic on Boards Bronze Casting Clay Marble Bust Canvas Painting Art Watercolours Oil on

art freaksglobal

for the love of Art

2

We would like to thank all our AFG Artists, for having faith in us and being with us since we started out.

conceived by Shajee Mathew editor Anjum Siddiqui design and text by Simplyblack Design Copyright Š 2019 Art Freaks Global Inc., Mississauga, ON, L5B 4B1 All right reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-9990928-0-1 Printed and bound in India by United Offset

Art Freaks Global Inc.

#1804 - 135 Hillcrest Avenue, Mississauga, ON, L5B 4B1

w w w.artfreaksglobal.com

the new

ART BOOK issue 1

2019

Art Freaks Global Inc.

CONTENTS

THE NEW

ART BOOK

INTRODUCTION 9

Preface

About Art Freaks Global

Issue 1 - 2019

4

ARTISTS PROFILES 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 36 38 40 42 44

A

62

Abdurahaman B Ahmad

66

Adhiletchumy Natarajan

68

Adou Jean

70

Adri Barnard Amita Goswami Andafe André Farnier Angela Kalovyrna Anita Radulescu Anjum Siddiqui Ann Couture Stray

Aranka Székely Ashima Kumar

B

46

Babu Xavier

54 56 58

74 76 78 80 82 86

Bea Danckaert Bernd Hau Bharat Talsania Binoy Varghese

88 90 92 96 98

104 Esa Victorios

106 Errick Freeman

Bobby Bautista Brian Kutz Brigitta Beyer

Chang Kai-Yung Chang Kuo-erh Cheryl M. Navarro Chozenon-Bourras Monik Christopher Gunkel Christopher Pollari

D

Anna Marinova Anthony Gray

Black Céleste

C

Adris Frety

50

64

Birgit Schweimler

Dana Diamond Dario Guion David John Hilditch

F

108 Farhad-Baloch 110 Farid Loukia

112 Fotini Pappa

G 114 Gayle Miller

116 George Clayson

118 Grazyna Federico

H 120 Harsha Lakhani

122 Haungkwon Ryu

124 Heather Grisham 126 Heidi Planke

David Norocos Dolors Castells

100 Dorothea Engelhardt

E

102 Eka Rukhadze

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

I 130 Ida bagus Alit

132 Ignacio De Mattos 134 Ilona Jetmar 136 Ioana Moca

J 138 James L Hall 140 Joe Lambert

142 John Vic Borg

K 144 Kamol Chowbangngam 146 Karen Brockbank 148 Katerina Kaloumenou 150 Khassal Zohra

190 Mrudula Bapatt

N 192 Naeem Sachedina 196 Nandita Richie

152 Kouakeu

198 Nandita Sharma

L

202 Nenita L Zohren

154 Langer Reiner

156 Loredana Bradaschia 158 Louis Degni

M 160 Madhavi Srivastava 162 Magdalena S Wozniak 166 Mahmoud Alkaaki 168 Manuela Barbosa 170 Maria Ivans 172 Marika Csajรกghy 174 Marissa Dickey 176 Marites Esperon-Micabalo 178 Merima Popara 180 Michael Kaphengst 182 Minaaz Khera 184 Minaxi Adeshara

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186 Monika Wisberger

200 Natre

204 Nick Amon

206 Nimisha Rao

208 Nupur Nigam

O 210 Olivier Pringal

P 212 Pascal Russi

214 Patrizia Gallo

216 Paul Henderson

220 Paula Haapalahti 222 Payal Pihu

224 Per Ole Gmelok 226 Poho

228 Priya Yabaluri

230 Priyanka Parhi

R 232 Raghu Vyas 236 Rajasekharan Parameswaran 238 Riky van Deursen 240 Robina Del Mar 244 Rodica Pungea 246 Roger Perrier 248 Roswitha Eisenbock 250 Rukshana Hooda 252 Rupal Buch 254 Rupali Srivastava

S 256 Sahar Zaman

258 Sanjukta Barik

262 Satwant Sayan 264 Sergey Zorov

266 Simret Nebrin Rylander 268 Siu Yau Chung

272 Skya

274 Sofia Murvanidze 276 Sonaly Gandhi

314 Toyoko Nishihara 316 Tülin Kaynak

U

278 Spiros Gelekas 282 Stenka

284 Subhadra Sarkar

15

V

286 Sudip Chatterjee

288 Sumitra Kshirsagar 290 Susan Uccelletti

292 Svetlana Grecova

T 294 Tamali Das 296 Taznin Mannan

Ursula Glatzs

15 35 35 35

Valentina Butnarciuc Vanessa Newton Vijay Kumar Upadhyay Violette Le Gallou

W

298 Tejal Patel

330 Władysława M Fedasz

300 Teresa Martins

332 Wu Peng Huang

302 Tetka Rhu 304 Tetka Rhu & Dieter Hanf

Y

308 Thor Magnus Kapor

336 Yulia Altas

312 TinaThakkar

338 Yulianus Yaps

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INTRODUCTION Good art does not need interpretation... it only needs representation. finally, we present to you that garland in

critiques should have the one voice, one

the form of this Book of true community

tone. The language be simple, lucid and

spirit.

coherent. The text be brief and concise

from all over the world. ‘For the love

Putting together an Art Book of this

and yet be enough to give a backstory

of art’ being its driving ideology, it is

stature was not an easy task! Keeping

aimed at creating a platform for a free-

in mind the obvious cultural and

flowing creative exchange between the

geographical barriers, ‘language’ was

PREFACE Art Freaks Global is an online Art Gallery, showcasing works of artists

artists and his audience. Here gallery owners and art buyers can get in touch with the artists directly and commission works. Its a buzzing hangout for artists

another spiky barrier. Thankfully, in this age of online translation apps, we were able to communicate this project to the artists and get them to submit their

to connect with other fellow artists

works.

around the world, exchange ideas and

Then came the back-breaking task

collaborate on projects.

We have managed to create a truly Global Art Community. This AFG Art

of cataloguing, sorting the 2,000+ photographs and making sure all the 143 artists’ submissions were complete.

Book, a testament to this endeavour,

This was only half the battle won!

was an idea that came about after

Handling the more complex challenge

seeing some fabulous artworks done by our artists.

AFG Art Book is colourful and varied, where each artist is like a unique flower, handpicked, and lovingly strung

of giving it a structure and putting it in the form of a book, was carried out by our in-house artist and designer, Anjum Siddiqui, who managed this part with ease... thanks to her extensive

on each artist - his vision, and his work. There has always been an air of mystique that surrounds all artists. They let us only but peep into their creative head through their paintings. Although it may not be so important for us to understand the working of their inner minds, it is important to understand what shapes an artist’s persona.

Understand his angst, his passion, and most importantly, be insightful of the journey he undertook to reach here to create this wonderful, mesmerizing art for us.

This first edition of AFG Art Book is a labour of love. Our in-house designer and writer burnt a lot of midnight oil and in the process almost burnt themselves out to bring this special inaugural issue.

We hope you enjoy leafing through this

together, one by one, in this garland...

professional experience!

wherein each flower brings with it its

A large part of the book is written in-

provided in the special index at the end

own uniqueness and fragrance. And

house. The Editor kept in mind that all

of the book.

book and connect with artists via emails

For any comments, inquiries, appreciation or just light banter write to us: editorials@artfreaksglobal.com 9

AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Artists 10

“Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the author’s imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power..”

- Wikipedia

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Sudan

Abdurahaman B Ahmad “I always try to represent my culture and my people in my paintings.”

Abdulrahman Babeker Ahmed Mohammed Al–Takinah

street, a girl with braided hair, or a folk dance - all

is a fine artist living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He

telling the story of his home city, Riyadh. His style

graduated from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts,

morphs from one to another, but his canvases remain

in Industrial Design. He has worked as a building

figurative and his subject matter endures.

designer at Beirut and at Al Othaim Investment & Development Real Estate Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he did many designs for the Al Othaim Market and Halley.

sun-filled landscapes of Saudi Arabia. Working mostly in watercolour, a medium which he has a remarkable mastery over, his design sensibilities guide him to

Abdulrahman has also done a specialization of

create compositions on paper – what to reveal and

Cinema 4D (Maxon C4D), 3D modelling, animation,

what to keep hidden or leave to the imagination. He

motion graphic and rendering application developed

is able to amke his own compelling story with this,

by MAXON Computer. Although he works as a

the nuances of his brushwork lending more personal

graphic designer, creating many rich designs for

energy.

various brands, he continues to follow his passion for painting and has participated in several workshops and exhibitions.

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Abdulrahman instinctively finds a reverence in the

In the ‘Girl with Light Falling on her Face’, colours meld into one another, and while its a very lit image, there is a shadow that falls on her face. This shadow

His works are unapologetically seeped in his

is cast by her own face because of the direction in

Arab culture, with his imagery showing the local

which she is looking... with her back to the light. This

marketplace, the hustle and bustle of the cars on the

is a highly suggestive work. The vacant and forlorn

look in her eyes, which continues to haunt the viewer even in the aftermath of the inspection. One wonders if this is a true representation of his subject, or the artist intentionally throws off his viewer by creating this illusionary empathy. Either way, it’s an intriguing work, fabulous and inwardly luminescent.

Abdulrahman instinctively finds a reverence in the sun-filled landscapes of Saudi Arabia.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

SKA SLBOKH LANDSCAPE - watercolour on paper - 70 x 50 cm POOR GIRL - watercolour on paper- 61 x 76 cm

RAIN LANDSCAPE - watercolour on paper - 56 x 38 cm VAN STATION - watercolour on paper - 70 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE -RIGHT TO LEFT:

KAMBALA DANCE - watercolour on paper - 80 x 60 cm CITY STREET- watercolour on paper- 56 x 38 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Malaysia

Adhiletchumy Natarajan “My work is a search for spiritualism in the Modern World context... this is what inspires me to paint.”

The conceptual art of the Malaysain artist

of its own personal hues, shades and intensities of

Adhiletchumy Natarajan, a Master of Alternative

spirit and character traits. We all have our own path

Medicine, an Art Collector, and the founder of Laksagi Art Gallery, is highly spiritual. Each of her painting, pictorial and a coherent whole, and constructed with individualistic and fearless application colours, is multi-hued and multitextural in nature. It comes across typically as lyrical abstractions on a canvas, where the subject follows the form and is a departure from reality independent of any visual reference.

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and course in life. Every life has it’s more substantial or ethereal elements and each is balanced between the boldness of our corporeal existence and the brighter light of our inward spiritual domain. Our path is streaked with ordinal steps as it is never entirely clear whether or not the physical or the spiritual aspects of self are most influential to us. Our inner life and our outward more superficial life work together best when in balance, that’s when our physical and

As seen in her work, ‘Chakra Within’, each and

spiritual influences find resolute harmony together.

every one of her paintings is different and has many

It is then when we are greater together as a whole,

Adhiletchumy’s works comes across typically as lyrical abstractions on a canvas, where the subject follows the form and is a departure from reality, independent of any visual reference.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

GOAL SETTING acrylic on canvas - 76 x 101 cm GAJAMADA acrylic on canvas - 76 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

CHAKRA WITHIN acrylic on canvas - 76 x 101 cm

RACE OF LIFE acrylic on canvas - 76 x 101 cm BEYOND UNIVERSE acrylic on canvas - 76 x 101 cm

while our Chakras are in agreement with our

physicality and intertwined with our spiritual essence unblocked and unhindered.

something with haste. Perhaps seeking to vigorously scratch and claw it’s way ahead. Or perhaps frightened or terribly worried of falling behind - in

The fiery-red canvas, ‘Race of Life’, fully-ablaze with

reality, it could be any one of us. Her works remind us

a passionate urgency, in which we see the abstract

to have faith, hope, and love, that which shall dispel

and spectre-like phantasm of an eager spirit that is

all fear and unite us all in harmony with one another.

striving to get ahead of or keep ahead of someone or

In this, we are at peace.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Adou Jean “My art and my

Adou Jean, born in Bettie, Ivory Coast, has always

reproducing on his canvases. In the process

canvases are a

loved art since his childhood. He was inspired to

developing his own individualistic style.

‘torch of defender ’ of humanity”

paint after seeing the paintings of his brother. Adou started with small sketches, copying whatever he saw. This led him to enter the Technical Arts Center Bingerville Appliques (CTAA), Ivory Coast. From there on he went to obtain a degree from Brevet Technique des Arts Appliqués (BTA). By now he was very sure of what he wanted to do, and was following his passion.

Saddened and disillusioned by the unhealthy

very intense and sombre. It is a visual vocabulary of man’s atrocities - an aching portrayal of the loss of humanity, of war and other acts of terror. His firmly inscribed outlines act as guides to the shapes on his canvas, and filled in with his impromptu high-volume coloured multi-directions strokes, creating a sort of three dimensional effect, where his figures almost

behaviour of man in face of nature and destruction

seem to be projecting out of the canvas.

of the planet, Adou’s mind started conjuring these

Although the subject is dark, his canvas is far from

agonizing and edgy images, which he began

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Adou’s art is expressionist and his subject matter

it. His varied palette has colours ranging from

Adou’s art is expressionist and his subject matter very intense and sombre. blazing reds to prussian blue to cadmium yellow, all

unable to remain detached and dispassionate. Adou’s

coming together to make a vibrant picture. There is

painterly language reveals the artist’s inner angst and

a palpable agony in his paintings, which is unsettling

lone sensibilities, that which makes you shudder and

to view, as is intended by the artist. The viewer is

take notice.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

South Africa

Adri Barnard “I want to share my love for art and my artwork with people with the same passion for art.

I am still chasing my dream and passion for my art.”

South African artist Adri Barnard was born in Western Cape, South Africa. She did not get a formal art

training but has been painting since her schooldays.

It was her love to paint that made her pursue her

dream and which has made her a full-time artist for more than two decades.

Adri is not your typical trained artist. She paints

what she feels and puts a part of her soul in every

painting. Being completely self-tutored in painting

technique and medium, her works don’t follow any particular genre nor does it follow any ism or any

form of dogma belief. She is a true artist at heart.

“There is no story or deeply-layered meaning behind my paintings. My passion for art is my inspiration”, says Adri, with a twinkle in her eye. She paints

because it gives her joy, and hopes to evoke the same pleasurable sensations in the viewer. That is all the inspiration she needs!

Her works are beautifully and richly executed. Most of her paintings are done on canvas board and in oil paint. She has done a whole lot of seascapes, landscapes, and recently, some street scenes, but her first choice has always remained still-life.

Beautiful fresh bouquet of flowers with drapery, shiny vases with exotic flowers set against old books and artefacts on a table, bowls of fruits and conch and seashells are some of her favourite and preferred subject.

She lives to paint. Apparently not interested in making

Adri paints because it gives her joy, and hopes to evoke the same pleasurable sensations in the viewer.

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any powerful statements, she creates works that are quite minimalistic and understated. Her colour palette stays warm or she keeps it to cool tones, with occasional bursts of the opposite. On the whole, her colour is close to nature, calming and free of any sharp contrast or flashy-hues. She keeps her colour choice as close as possible to the related tints of the same hue. Moving up-close to the artwork holds the key to enjoy each one of her paintings.Â

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: PROTEAS IN BASKET AND SHELLS SUNFLOWERS AND APPLES OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: ST JOSEPH LILIES AND CERAMIC POT PROTEAS EN HOUTKRAT ROSES SHELLS AND DRAPERY

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Australia

Adris Frety “It is the canvas that becomes a key to decipher my ideas, experiences, feelings and moments as they are translated into the language of painting.”

Australian visual artist Adris Frety is a graduate of the

from cave art to emoticons. We clearly see how

as Managing Director of a company and is also a

of cryptography. Religious symbolism in written

University of Sydney, Australia. He currently works founding member of CASS Australian Academic Society. A canvas gives Adris the only true and

authentic sense of complete freedom to express

himself - the key to deciphering his most creative

ideas, experiences, feelings and moments as they get translated into the language of painting.

Mainly an abstract painter, he experiments with many techniques and forms using various materials and

mediums such as pastels, watercolors, acrylics and oils. He is inspired by his Babylonian heritage with

its mythological stories and legends, influencing his art and providing it with rich symbolism. His main inspiration though comes from Mother Nature in Australia, where he currently lives.

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stenography can be considered an extension

language was often a way to reflect an individual’s

ethnic group, and in this type of artwork, the bird or

dove is a universally acknowledged symbol of peace,

placed at the very top in any visual representations to indicate a desire for peace between all peoples and all ethnicities.

‘Behind my Mind’ is another brilliant piece, the artist’s interpretation of what goes on in that moment when there is a spark of inspiration. Thought patterns emerge as brilliant flashes of light. This is the moment when clarity streaks across like a lightning through darkened muddled thoughts, and burst forth in radiantly brilliant sparks. A moment of sheer inspiration for the enlightened; be it an artist or an

His artwork ‘Stenography’ is an exploration of the

inventor, they all have these moments of sheer genius

throughout history from the very beginnings of

This moment surely happens almost every time an

changing styles of language and communication

when all the dots connect and a true picture emerges.

civilization to the present day, a journey traced

artist stands before a blank canvas.

Mainly an abstract painter, Adris experiments with many techniques and forms using various materials and mediums such as pastels, watercolours, acrylics and oils.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: GUGLIELMO MARCONI - acrylic on canvas - 70 x 100 cm OUR QUILT - acrylic on canvas - 27 x 35 cm STENOGRAPHY - acrylic on canvas - 200 x 200 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: ISL STAMP - acrylic on paper - 70 x 100 cm BEHIND MY MIND- acrylic on paper - 48 x 58 cm CONTINENTS CONVERSATION - acrylic on canvas installation (pentaptych) - 120 x 80 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Amita Goswami “In Art, I have found a true companion, someone who has no expectations and yet bestows upon me a complete freedom to share my feelings with honesty and purity.”

Indian artist Amita Goswami’s work is very meaningful, and richly and beautifully executed. Her paintings are the result of a deep thought process.

Each of her work starts with an ‘idea’. She conceives of each idea before its creation.... reflects on it, going over the semantics of its expression... and only when she is completely convinced, the ‘idea’ find its way onto her canvas.

Amita believes that life is a wonderfully complex journey, and so full of surprises. She says that man is extremely unique and the most celebrated creation of God. Humans are gifted with something very special called the mind or, ‘mann’ in Hindi. The mind, or the ‘mann’ of every sensitive person is on a roller-coaster ride throughout the journey of their life, with a mix

Amita admits, the initial inception gives her many

of emotions, expressions, delight, disappointments,

sleepless nights and restless moments, but she finds

hope... the list goes on.

a release once it takes its own form. It is a purging experience, offering a cathartic release.

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for this expression.”

Her work, ‘Taking Turns’, portrays a complexity of human nature as we see the King of Clubs, at odds

In art, she has found a true ‘companion’, one with

with the Queen of Hearts as there begins a great

no expectations and one that bestows upon her

dichotomy of the two... yet they are connected in

unbridled freedom to share her feelings in honesty

mystical bond. We see between them an energy

and purity. She states that “a strong urge to express

that, if given the chance, would grow. The great

my thoughts and feelings have introduced me to this

background imagery of the converging tiles symbolize

companion and I truly thank my selfless companion

choices... a game of chance! The thumbs-up and

thumbs-down vary, depending upon the way you look, and way you play your cards when given a chance!

Her work ‘Paathshala’, meaning the classroom in Hindi, is very powerful and symbolic. Three heads peeping from the window, in each a different curiosity for the outer world. As the young minds gaze out, their eyes are widened with awe or... is it with cynical disillusion? A disappointment felt with the world outside the classroom, with the misguided sea of humanity?

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: MIRAGE - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 61 cm TAKING TURNS - mix media on handmade paper - 61 x 76 cm CREATE, NURTURE, SET FREE - mix media on canvas -61 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: UNTITLED - acrylic on handmade paper - 76 x 61 cm PAATHSHAALA - acrylic on fabriano paper - 76 x 61 cm

Amita Goswami’s work is very meaningful, and so richly and beautifully executed. As it would be, for she paints as she feels in her heart and mind.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Andafe ”My paintings are a way of paying homage to the African culture

Born in Egoukro, Ivory Coast, Andafe studied at the

of dualism.

Higher Institute of Arts and Cultural Action (INSAAC).

Spiritually it represents our passions, creativity,

He also studied at the National School of Fine Arts (ENBA) (now known as ESAPAD).

Andafe uses a peculair medium to create his art pieces. He uses Fire! Fire has always fascinated humans. It is the energy of heat, action, emotion and passion - of ideas, of concepts, and sex. Its intrinsic nature of life-giving properties also becomes its

and motivation. And perhaps this is what intriqued Andafe to start experimenting with this mercurial element. It was while exploring and trying out various techiniques and art mediums, Andafe started getting fixated with this unconventional medium. And after ceaselessly consorting with this volatile medium, he completely understood the technique and soon

destructive qualities. In some religions and cultures,

gained mastery over it.

like Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, fire is associated

Andafe has perfected a technique called Fumage,

with a purification processes; in Christianity, it is our inner light and a living symbol of the divine fire that burns in every soul. On the other hand, in Buddhism, it is seen as the thing that causes all suffering and needs to be extinguished. It has come to be a symbol

a surrealist art technique popularised by Wolfgang Paalen and first presented 1936 in the International Surrealist Exhibition in London, in which impressions were made by the smoke of a candle or kerosene lamp on a piece of paper or canvas. Andafe calls his

Andafe has perfected a technique which he now calls, ‘fumage on sponge’, that translates to ‘smoke on sponge’, which allows him to create jaw-dropping paintings using flame and smoke.

24

technique ‘Fumage on sponge’, that translates to ‘smoke on sponge’, which allows him to create jawdropping paintings using a flame instead of pencils, watercolours or paints. He uses fire as his tool and with its smoke, creates images onto a piece of sponge, burning more for darker tones.

“The main challenge of painting with fire is the preservation of the work,” the artist explains. “I am always holding my breath when i am working on a

piece because anything that fire touches leaves a

trace, but in over-doing this technique there is always an underlying danger of setting my artwork on fire, and completely destroying it.” And its perhaps this very nature of fire that excites him to work with it.

Andafe will be the youngest artist to ever showcase his work at the 3rd edition of FAYA EXPO 2018, (the first collective exhibition was held at Afrique Art gallery and Museum of civilizations Ivory Coast in Abidjan).

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

France

”The essence of life can only be captured by a quick gesture of hand, a few instinctive brisk strokes with the brush, as the scene of nature before you changes very fast!”

André Farnier Frenchman André Farnier, a watercolor painter and self-taught pastelist. He always carried with him

to his class a rough sheet, next to his notebook to scribble any drawings that went through his head.

After studying Advanced Industrial Design, he worked in Paris for 15 years, at the Place du Tertre, where he learnt to better his drawing and achieve proficiency

by observing different local artists who worked there.

Always in search of new discoveries, André paints

in watercolor with instinctive brisk strokes, inspired from his natural surroundings, like an old wall or

a disheveled hovel. André best captures shadow

and light in vivid, living color with his supple hand, from his enlightened soul and from the innermost expression of his spirit.

Moving to Sarlat, a commune in the southwestern

‘Chat Fantastique 3’ (Fantastic Cat 3), Here is an a

perfecting his skill. He then enrolled at the Cultural

Cat, the master of stealth and illusion with a devilish

France, he enrolled in watercolour classes, further

Center of Ribéracois, then finally at LEP Chardeuil

which pushed him to stand on his own and develop

26

his own painterly style.

typically mischievous, contented, happy Cheshire

gleam in his eye, as he travels the road to mayhem on a daily, even moment-to-moment basis.

In his painting titled ‘Échappée belle’ (The

Escape), we see a powerful image of a group of

wild mustangs and mares, racing across the face of the earth, the beat on every hoof, reflective of the amazingly syncopated rhythm of life in the Badlands.

The ochre, amber, orange tones of a twilight desert domain mute and merge with the color cast by the setting sun. This Great Escape is perhaps from boredom, mediocrity, and the mundane. Every

single step is adrenaline-charged, full of heart-

pounding excitement day and night, and in the twain!

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: CHATEAU DES BORIES - watercolor on paper - 50 x 50 cm LE RU D’ABBY - watercolor on paper - 40 x 50 cm ÉCHAPPÉE BELLE - pastels on paper - 60 x 45 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: FLEUR DE PRUNUS - watercolor on paper - 40 x 50 cm FIERTÉ DE L’OIE DU PÉRIGORD - watercolor on paper - 40 x 50 cm CHAT FANTASTIQUE 3 - watercolor on paper - 40 x 50 cm

André best captures shadow and light in vivid, living color with his supple hand, from his enlightened soul and from the innermost expression of his spirit.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Greece

”Whenever I paint, I like to experiment with a new technique or media. I never take the safe or the obvious route.”

Angela Kalovyrna Angela Kalovyrna is a visual artist born in Athens,

Greece. She studied Conservation of Antiquities and

That is the most rewarding thing for her in her

Works of Art at the School of Graphic Arts, and Art

painting.

Studies at the Technological Institute of Athens.

When painting a new piece, she does not play safe

It is painting that gives her the ability to see, interpret and represent reality from several different perspectives and vantage points. Academic studies helped her learn drawing, figure painting and drawing, using new materials and techniques, but above all, it taught her a new way of expressing herself, how to channelise her expression and communicate it visually through her art.

Angela paints by day and by night, listening to music, experimental or classical genre, but music must always accompany her every time and everywhere.

Alongside the painting, she has been working with photography, mosaic, sculpture and ceramics.

It is the element of surprise emerging in her works that excites Angela. When one is not focussed on the

28

outcome, a new element appears on the canvas...

or follow a predictable path with an acceptable

and predetermined outcome. “That is when you

stopping exploring”, she says, “and things follow a conventional, stereotypical order to be likeable to

a broader audience”. She likes to experiment with

new materials, techniques in order to invent a new form or contrive a new style to communicate with her audience. Inspired by the Impressionists and

Expressionists, she especially likes artists like Klein and Rothko.

In the latest series of works, she captures memories, some emotions or life scenarios, through an

exploration of the scriptures, textures, shapes and colours. She has exhibited and participated in

multiple art events and art galleries exhibitions in Greece and abroad.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: INTERIORS - oil on canvas - 30 x 20 cm FINGERPRINT - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cm OBSIDIAN CUT I & II (diptych) - oil on canvas - 20 x 20 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: - RIGHT TO LEFT LANDSCAPE - mixed media on paper - 100 x 70 cm SEASCAPE - acrylic on paper - 100 x 70 cm

It is the element of surpise emerging in her work that excites Angela. When one is not focussed on the outcome.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Romania

Anita Rădulescu “As a whole, my present body of work can be regarded as an artist’s noble confessions of the beauty of man and nature.”

Veteran artist Anita Rădulescu of Bucharest,

a personal experience, captured and immortalised in

Romania, graduated from the Library of Bucharest,

true chromatic harmonies. By combining the pallet

The National University of Arts in Bucharest (then

knife with the pen, the artist starts most of the time

known as Nicolae. Grigorescu Institute of Art) and studied under professors Marin Predescu and Ion Bitzan, Romanian stalwart artists. She also did a specialization in Fashion Design and worked as a designer at Parachute and Flight Equipment Factory, Bucharest (1982-2000).

A Member of the Union of Visual Artists, she has been exhibiting since 1975 and has had many group

principles, which is a rigorous articulation of the plans, to which color gives them an identity. Her ease and freedom in handling chromatic harmonies is based on a very good knowledge and a sure control over the syntax of colors that Anita as an artist demonstrates in all her works, especially in the representation of the nature. Her floral compositions

and solo exhibitions at Norway, Germany and Italy, to

are natural, although curiously scholastic.

name a few. She has several times participated in the

A special mentions must be made of her portraits,

International Biennale in Ruse and Bulgaria.

A sensual colourist, this artist is especially attached to the surroundings of Bucharest, the Lebada Complex, which is reflected in a vision of its own,

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in the landscape of Cézannian composition-building

which indicate a certain endowment of the artist for this genre. It reveals through these works the ability to make faces impress not so much by the precision of physically customising them, but also by the

impregnated by the exuberance of its character, each

quality of drawing which is telling, and defining in a

landscape being a direct and intense expression of

human physiognomy.

The artist proves a power of observation and sensible receptiveness to the rich, complex soul structure of the chosen models. Here we watch quietly as the observer, who walks up to canvas and gazes onto the painting ‘Anita on the canvas’, she silently sizes up this viewer with a needlelike precision! The observer is watched by the observee! Nothing escapes the virtually calibrated and discerning eye of an artist who has begun a monumental work but seems to have stopped short and left it, to give us an impression of a-work-in-progress.

Just as any great baker must precisely weigh the proportion of their ingredients so as not to ruin the batch... a great artist like our angel-friend Anita here, must get the precise and perfect blend of line, form, shape, color, and hue to achieve the blue-ribbon-winning final production result.

A sensual colourist, Anita is especially attached to the surroundings of Bucharest which is reflected in a vision of its own by the artist.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: COMPLEX LEBĂDĂ PANTELIMON - oil on canvas - 55 x 65 cm AUTOPORTRET - oil on cardboard - 55 x 70 cm BISERICA SF.MERCURIE - oil on canvas - 40 x 49 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: COMPLEX LEBĂDĂ PANTELIMON - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cm METEORA - oil on canvas - 80 x 60 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

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Canada

Anjum Siddiqui “Symbolism is what my work strives towards, where a single leaf could convey the whole nature in its totality.”

Anjum Siddiqui, is an artist originally from India, but now works and lives in Toronto, Canada. She has been painting for more than two decades. After finishing her school from The Lawrence School,

Sanawar, she went on to study at the College of Art – a leading Art School in New Delhi, India, from where she graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Applied Arts.

Although she has been working as a graphic designer and a visualiser, she has always had a passion and a keen eye for the fine arts and has continued to paint in various mediums. She had the rare opportunity of

working with and learning from one of India’s leading contemporary artists, the late M F Husain, dubbed as ‘Picasso of India’ by the Time magazine. Husain had been Anjum’s mentor and guru since the tender age

of 10 and from him she has learnt the usage of colour, form, balance, and painting techniques. She has had the privilege of being his only pupil.

Anjum’s ‘Earth Series’, is about global warming and its effects. Her painting ‘Second Deluge’, draws comparisons between a modern times deluge-like scenario predicted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with its findings and

Anjum’s ‘Tea Series’ explores the strong tea culture of her roots with unabashed joy and bonhomie.

Being a tea lover she decided to integrate its mystique into her art.

THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT TEA READINGS - oil sticks and pen ink on paper - 23 x 30 cm TEA READINGS - oil sticks and pen ink on paper - 23 x 30 cm TEA READINGS - oil sticks and pen ink on paper - 30 x 23 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: WAH USTAD! - oil on canvas - 110 x 96 cm INFUSION SERIES - inks on paper - 65 x 50 cm THE NARCISSIST TEA 1, 2 and 3 - oil on canvas - 81 x 96 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Anjum had the rare opportunity of working with and learning from one of India’s leading contemporary artists, the Late M F Husain, dubbed as ‘Picasso of India’ by the Time magazine.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: 2035 acrylic on canvas - 76 x 114 cm TEMPERATURE ANOMALY 1 colour pencils and pen ink on paper 50 x 65 cm TEMPERATURE ANOMALY 1 colour pencils and pen ink on paper 50 x 65 cm

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projections, and the several mentions of the Great Flood in the ancient scriptures - like in the story of Noah’s Ark in the Bible and the Quran; in the Hindu

seen in the Greek mythology. With the world weather changing, the sea levels rising and the polar ice caps melting rapidly, she asks “are we headed for a

mythology, where Manu is warned of upcoming

‘Second Deluge’?”

flood by a mysterious fish; and similar such story

Anjum’s ‘Tea Series’ explores the strong tea culture

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: ESSENCE OF A WOMAN acrylic on canvas - 76 x 114 cm STOREHOUSES 1 & 2 acrylic on canvas - 61 x 91 cm CHAI GARAM (HOT TEA) oil sticks on paper - 65 x 50 cm LU CHAI (GREEN TEA) oil sticks on paper - 65 x 50 cm

of her roots with unabashed joy and bonhomie. Being

own interpretation of ‘tea readings’, not to do with the

cultures. “This is my ‘Ode to Tea’”, says the artist.

Anjum works in acrylic, watercolour, conté and charcoal. She also paints with silk acid dyes on 100% Silk cloth. She has had several Group and Solo Shows and her works feature in many private collections.

a tea lover she decided to integrate its mystique into her art. Her large canvases, water colours, and drawings are compelling and present well researched concepts about tea in the socio-cultural fabric of South Asia and how it has influenced many other

Her small drawings titled ‘Tea Readings”, are based on ‘tea-leaf readers’, who gaze into a teacup of residual leaves and tell your future. These are Anjum’s

future but more to do with the past - English aristocrats, doctors who have over the years written poems proses and sonnets on tea. And many such scribed by the Chinese and the Korean monks, for whom tea is sacred and a drink to be revered while being savoured.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

USA

Ann Couture Stray “I think my art is a direct reflection of my soul reaching to be seen.”

Ann Francine Couture-Stray is a self-taught artist, a wife and a mother, born in Tacoma Washington, USA. Her mother, being an artist herself, inspired Ann from a very young age. Ann is now a full-time Master Mold-Maker, Sculptor and begun her art career sculpting Artisan Porcelain Dolls under the name Ann Francine.

She has worked in Stained-Glass, Watercolor, Gouache, Acrylic, Oil, Clay, Ceramic, Porcelain, Welding, Alcohol-Inks, Woodworking and Drywall Sculptures. She has tried almost every medium and continues to explore all avenues of art in keeping with her eclectic manner.

Ann’s art is a reflection of her soul. She began

sculpting and making dolls in her early career and

now finds her interests shifting between Bas-Relief Drywall Sculptures, Kiln-Formed Glassworks and Alcohol Inks on Ceramic Tile.

Ann’s work is very whimsical. There is a certain gaiety... a great sense of joie de vivre that comes

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through in all of her current works, choice of media,

and also from her highly-developed, extra-unique and fabulous style.

‘Dragonfly’ is lovely, serene and beautiful - all of a

sudden we see the entry of a dragonfly to the upper left, and although it has only recently arrived, it is

the true star of great composure... the real scene-

stealer in this precisely planned and well thought out piece. A very talented artist, she has used a perfect

balance of complementary colours here in her most

delightful and vividly-imagined garden setting. Even

the dragonfly is complementary to the environment in colour, but gives much contrast by the patterning of his markings in a diversifying touch.

Artists instinctively know how to make things strongly similar in ways, and yet quite different with but a

simple handful of colours on their pallet. Ann also

uses the surrounding foliage to cast shadows behind the flowers at a more oblique angle to give her painting much depth and dimensional appeal.

By combining the pallet knife with the pen, the artist starts most of the time in the landscape of Cézannian composition-building principles.

THIS PAGE: VICTORIA”S IRIS - alcohol ink on ceramic tile - 40 x 40 cms OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: DRAGON FLY - alcohol ink on ceramic tile - 30 x 30 cms SPRING BOUQUET - alcohol ink on ceramic tile - 40 x 40 cms BLISS - alcohol ink on ceramic tile - 30 x 30 cms

Ann’s work is very whimsical. There is a certain gaiety... a great sense of joie de vivre that comes through in all of her current works.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Russia

Anna Marinova “Art helps me to express an idea, an emotion or, more generally, my world view through colors, shapes, light, without any words.”

Anna Marinova graduated from Saint Petersburg Roerich College of Art in her home city, Russia, and went on to do workshops at the Repin Art Institute/ Russian Academy of Arts, under the tutelage of V.V.

Sokolov. She started exhibiting her works in 2005, and in 2008 was awarded the gold medal of the Russian Academy of Arts for academic excellence.

it seem translucent, giving it a glow!

Anna has come to be highly-acclaimed for her female nudes, for their realistic portrayals and sensitivity.

She once stated, “my art helps me to express

In her painting titled, ‘Light from the Window’, we see a portrait of a spritely-young, archetypical, sleeping beauty... one who is taking a catnap on her well situated daybed, right before a generously sunny large window. Who knows how long this beautiful Tsarina has been sleeping? It matters not. We enjoy

by the chiaroscuro techniques of many great art masters like Titian, Velasquez, and Rembrandt, and infusing it with the realism of some of the best Russian realists, Levitsky, Venetsianov, Bryullov,

blissful, candid rest, and admire her naturally radiant, youthful, stylish appearance. Observing her peaceful slumber relaxes us too, and causes us to slow down and be quiet. Just do nothing. Simply watch... as she

emotion all without uttering a single word”. Inspired

Serov and Fechin, she succeeded in creating her own realistic style. Her tenderly-executed and quite masterful paintings are in many private collections in Russia, London, and the USA.

Her alluring female figures are often caught in reflective moments, as you get a glimpse into

their private world through her eyes. Their beauty and innocence truly mesmerizing, is accented

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by the artist’s perfection in optimal techniques of realism. The sunlight falling on their sleeping bodies gives their skin an ethereal peach-tone tinge, making

the peace and comfort as we observe her in deep,

sleeps.

Anna gives us a deliberate hint at the suppleness and firmness of her subject’s young, very lithe and

lovely body here. Glory be to the sunshine which has brought our attention to her. We shall let this striking lovely rest peacefully as we close the door silently behind, taking care not to disturb her gracious, most tender, blissful slumber.

Anna has come to be highly-acclaimed for her female nudes, for the realistic portrayals and sensitivity.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: SUNRAY - oil on canvas - 50 x 100 cm A QUIET DAY - oil on canvas - 50 x 100 cm THE GIRL BY THE WINDOW - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: CALMNESS - oil on canvas - 60 x 90 cm LIGHT FROM THE WINDOW - oil on canvas - 60 x 105 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

USA

“I paint whatever catches my fancy and inspires me enough to capture it on my canvas.”

Anthony C. Gray American artist Anthony C. Gray, began his art career

painting and watched all video-episodes of Bob

as a child, and it all started by him drawing Orcas

Ross’ painting instructions. Anthony learned from any

on a brown paper bag on his kitchen floor after a

painter catching his interest, refining his techniques

recent visit to Sea World... and it never stopped.

to paint landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, portraiture in

Anthony crafted his art during class-time, doodling on

the process finding his passion for doing florals.

textbooks, or any paper he could find. He often got chalk and literally drew on the sidewalk, all around the school!

to teach others in oil and acrylic painting. He now has his own Facebook Page and YouTube channel!

Natural progression saw him sitting in fine art school

Anthony’s work has sold globally, and occasionally,

doing figure drawing and perspective, which he

during his live shows, he picks a viewer and gives

pretty much disliked! His passion was to be a comic

away a painting that was done on his show - free of

book artist. So he switched to Commercial Art and

charge! He is also a performer.

Advertising, where he became proficient in drawing comic book figures, and stylized buildings in pen and ink. Still wanting more, he joined small press clubs to hone on his craft.

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As he continued to paint and learn, he has begun

In his work titled ‘Who Are You Looking At?’, our friend a red cardinal appears to be forgetting to be shy of us, in a questioning stance, appearing confident and even a little cocky in attitude! This

Fearing rejection, sadly, he never sent his works

tough guy of his neighborhood and an egalitarian

to publications. Instead he got fascinated with oil

enforcer type, by nature is no ordinary Cardinal but is

the King of the Cardinal in his aviary kingdom home.

Dare not tread too near his well-protected kingdom, lest he summons his raven guard to deal with us!

We can never win if we try to stare him down or get the better of him. This king is the ruler of his own domain, and so he literally dominates the frame.

This fine-feathered monarch dares to inquire of us “Who are you looking at?” with head, body, and loudly-outspoken body-language. “Be GONE!”, he commands with his glaring gaze! “This is my turf...

FLY AWAY! For I shall not!”

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: AORTIC FALL - acrylic on canvas - 45 x 40 cm EXPLODING POPPY - acrylic on watercolor paper - 28 x 38 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: BLUTO AND PRECIOUS - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 45 cm WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT? - acrylic on watercolor paper - 38 x 28 cm VIOLET COUPLE - acrylic on canvas - 28 x35 cm

Anthony often got chalk and literally drew on the sidewalk, all around the school!

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Hungary

“It gives me great joy to be able to express my feelings on a canvas.”

Aranka Székely Dr Aranka Székely was born in Unirea, Transylvania (Romania). Having graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, she relocated to Hungary.

Aranka is a doctor by profession and an artist by her passion and creative mind. She currently runs her private medical practice in Alsózsolca and Miskolc, Hungary.

Aranka had a very inquisitive, imaginative and innovative mind as a child. She experimented with a number of creative craft techniques and after trying her hand in many such creative pursuits, she came across an online tutorial teaching painting, which kindled her interest in fine arts. Ever since painting has become her life, giving her unfathomable joy and

42

relieving the every-day stresses.

Her works do not follow any particular genre nor can be slotted into any isms. She tried her hand in different styles of painting, from realistic to abstract.

“I enjoy working with colours. It gives me great joy and to be able to express my feelings on a canvas”, says Aranka. Its the sheer joy of working towards creating an art piece that is rejuvenating and gratification enough for her.

Aranka’s colour palette is very vivid and at the same time, very feminine. Her paintings carry in them the imagery of spring, blossoms and everything happy! She is able to infuse these scenes of nature

and foliage with tantalising narrative detail, making everything that is ordinary and commonplace come alive like a lyrical poem Dry pastels, oil pastels, acrylic and watercolours are some of the mediums she takes delight in working with. Aranka creative endeavours are supported and influenced by her family members and friends.

Aranka’s colour palette is very vivid and, at the same time, very feminine.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: FIELD BOUQUET - acrylic with knife on canvas - 40 x 50 cm PEACOCKS IN LOVE - acrylic with knife on canvas - 40 x 50 cm BOUQUET IN BASKKET - acrylic with knife on canvas - 40 x 50 cm THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: TRANSYLVANIAN LANDSCAPE - acrylic with knife on canvas - 24 x 29 cm ORCHIDS - acrylic with knife on canvas - 40 x 40 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

“Art can penetrate the very deepest part of us, where no words exist.”

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Ashima Kumar Indian artist Ashima Kumar, after completing

Her efforts showcase a bold, rule-breaking, visual

a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from the College

language style to inspire a vital element in business

of Art, Delhi, India, went on to set up her own

growth so as to nudge public perceptions in

eponymous design studio to successfully

desirable ways. Her art has been widely exhibited

conceptualize, design, and execute many prestigious

and strikes a chord with organizations in building

corporate campaigns and social projects. She is on

brand recognition. An absolute sensory and tactile

the cutting-edge of Graphic and Visual Arts with her

delight, her therapeutic art sessions lead to the free

work being an exploration of the world around her.

expression of self, happiness, and rejuvenation.

Inspired by Kalamkari and Zentangle art, she has

In the ‘City Girl’, we see a very stylish, young, hip,

developed her own contemporary style with pen, ink,

and beautiful city girl in all her downtown glory within

and technology to render great mixed-media artworks

the concrete and glass urban jungle that she calls

which are considered fine examples of pairing clean,

home, with myriad inhabitants and endless streams of

strong forms with powerful messages. Ashima states:

passersby. For literally having the whole city behind

“I am inspired by Indian traditional Kalamkari art.

her, this woman seems woefully alone and quite

All the forms and patterns created are related to the

lonely as everybody continues to pass by. All appear

message being conveyed through the art.”

not to notice her, no matter how many hairstyles she

tries on or how many trendy outfits she uses to get noticed.

Its not all about the concrete city with Ashima. The lotus flower of her painting titled ‘Compassion’, represents an awakening spiritual growth and enlightenment within. Like a lotus flower emerging clean from muddy water reflective of purity of speech and mind. This thought continues to her painting ‘Walking for Peace’, where a Buddhist monk walking on his path reminds us to be present in the here and and now. To be mindfull and live better.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: STORY OF EVERY WOMEN hand-illustrated with digital rendering, 37 x 51 cm AFFECTION hand-illustrated with digital rendering, 37 x 51 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: CITY GIRL hand-illustrated with digital rendering, 37 x 51 cm COMPASSION hand-illustrated with digital rendering, 37 x 51 cm WALKING FOR PEACE hand-illustrated with digital rendering, 40 x 40 cm

Ashima’s efforts showcase a bold, rulebreaking, visual language style to inspire a vital element in business growth so as to nudge public perceptions in desirable ways.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

46

INDIA

Babu Xavier “There`s a lot of contradiction in my paintings, which can be very disturbing. If I talk about sexuality, there`s also death on the same canvas.

Not everyone will like or understand my artwork”

Based in Kerala, India, Babu Xavier is an artist whose

palpable enough to move him and take a tangible

fantastic creatures. His brushes paint full-blooded

paintings always have a hint of sexual undertones,

canvases are brought alive with vivid colours and

reds, vibrant yellows and sparkling blues and greens, reminiscenct of his home, a bright lush green town.

Babu Xavier chooses to paint only at night when his imagination is allowed to come to life. His paintings stimulate the senses with their awry shapes and

vibrant colour palettes causing contradiction and

confusion with a person’s mind. But when it comes to his work, he is quite firm about his intentions. “I don`t make art to decorate houses or try to match it to people`s walls or furniture or the colour of

the upholstery.” As a true artist, he paints what

his mind tells him, what his heart feels, thoughts

shape on his canvas. The nearly human figures in his especially seen in his watercolours. “There`s a lot of contradiction in my paintings, which can be

very disturbing. If I talk about sexuality, there`s also death on the same canvas. Not everyone

will like or understand my artwork”. He is right as it’s all dependant on the perspective of the

viewer. Elephants, lizard-like creatures and blobs that

could just as well be an amoeba, inhabit his canvases.

“All my paintings have animal motifs. Perhaps that is my zoology background making itself felt on the canvas,” laughs the self-taught artist.

His earlier works, when Babu had just started out

Babu Xavier chooses only to paint only at night when his imagination is allowed to come to life.

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: THE ELEPHANT SERIES - acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm THE ELEPHANT SERIES - acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm OPPOSITE THE ELEPHANT SERIES THE ELEPHANT SERIES THE ELEPHANT SERIES -

PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: ELEPHANT SERIES acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm CHRIST SERIES acrylic on canvas - 91 x a122 cm LANDSCAPE SERIES acrylic on canvas - 152 x 91 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - ANTI-CLOCKWISE: St. FRANCIS OF ASSISSI SERIES acrylic on canvas - 122 x 152 cm THE ELEPHANT SERIES acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm

as a painter, were smaller and postcard-sized. It is

deeper meaning. There is an underlying turbulence,

artist, suggested to him to paint in a larger format

fantastic figures. Tucked in one of the corners, one

only when the late Mr M.F. Husain, a veteran Indian that he changed the dynamics of his paintings! Now, these fantastic creatures, sometimes recognizable, sometimes in the abstract, spring out to life from his canvas. Sometimes they take a Kathakali

dance stance, shocking the viewer to take a step backwards; and at times they take on the more

sensual Mohiniyattam dance stance, inviting you to move just a bit closer to the canvas in an allconsuming trance, wanting to be a part of the painting itself.

In his work today, we see, as the artist intends, a 48

beneath tranquillity projected by his carefree and

notices a small set of vertical lines - a barcode!

Almost on every painting, he chooses to add a subtle barcode, which according to him reflects the consumerist trends and contemporary lifestyle we have to live with, where everything is market dependent. The age-old economics of supply and demand is subtly indicated here, as everything now is a ‘commodity’. This is perhaps Babu’s silent protest by an artist pushing that the creative process is far superior to the end result... ‘Experience’ surmounts ‘Possession’. This also reveals the two are always present side by side.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

As Bea’s work progressed, she eliminated shapes and figures from her work and a pure emotion reflected back from her canvas which was vivid in colors and fervent in brushwork!

THIS PAGE - ANTI-CLOCKWISE: GOLDEN GATE TO THE LIGHT II - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 100 cm THE RED VEI - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm COLOUR FLAME IV - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: TORNADO - acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm

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Belgium

Bea Danckaert “Spontaneity inspires me. It is through the emotion of the moment, I create, through my love for God, man and life.�

Belgian artist Bea Danckaert an experienced meisterpinter who quickly earned name and recognition.

Born and raised in Leuven, Belgium, she studied

painting at the Art Academy Lei in her home town.

She then went on to study under the veteran artist, Joost Laroy for the next 5 years. And for the next 8 years, she continued her apprenticeship under

masters painters Paul Marien, Frank De Wael, and

niche in abstraction. Working abstractly was the only way she was fully able to express her emotions, in full technicolor, on her canvas. As her work progressed, she eliminated shapes and figures from her work and a pure emotion reflected back from her canvas which was vivid in colors and fervent in brushwork!

A very passionate painter, she prefers working with

Hilde Overberg.

acrylics on canvas and frequently does collage

Bea started out as a figurative artist, and did many

light interplay, and it springs forth from emotion,

portraiture and landscapes in Fauvist colors and

brushwork. Later in Brussels, under the guidance of

Charlotte Vindevoghel, her work evolved and became more non-figural.

Bea had a strong leniency and interest in modern architectural forms, but she eventually found her

works. Bea’s art features some unique color and coming straight from her heart and her love for God, her fellow men, and for life itself. As an artist, she exhibits no restraints in her choice of colors. Her palette, at times, is cool and soft; and the motifs a haze. And other times it is searing hot, with burnt reds and yellow ochres at sharp angles to each other.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Nevertheless, they all have one thing in common –

featured artist of the P.BE gallery in Linden and the

emotion.

permanent exhibit at Merlino Galleries in Florence.

they show tremendous powers of expression and Bea uses the impasto technique in her painting,

In her work titled ‘Tornado’, the artist truly captures

layers so we can clearly see the brush or the

Here, of course, are water and foliage in the mix, with

where the paint applied on the surface is in thick

painting-knife strokes. She makes a deliberate

effort to create a chiselled texture and the effect is

quite dramatic. The deep grooves of the vivid paint stands out as a sculptural relief, raised above the

background plane on the canvas, creating its own shadow and light planes.

A much exhibited artist, Bea has had several

exhibitions in Belgium, some in Leuven, Hoegaarden, Maasmechelen and Oud-Heverlee. She is also a 52

Pro Gallery in Vaalbeek and Toulouse. She also has a

the strong elements of a killer tornado for us to view. dirt, sand, soil, silt, and a lot of detritus and debris,

perhaps a favoured lawn chair, limb of the shade tree from our yard or shingles from our roof.

Contrasting to this chaos is the work titled ‘My

Roots’, where the straight lines and cubist like planes intersect and ethereal white paint glows from afar.

Each work of hers is unique in essence, energy

and emotion. The power each holds, a deep secret embedded within, it is for the viewer to discover.

Bea uses the impasto technique in her painting, where the paint applied on the surface is in thick layers so we can clearly see the brush or the painting-knife strokes.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: THE POWER INSIDE - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm THE AWAKENING - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: MY ROOTS - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Germany

“I believe everything has potential to

Bernd Hau Bernd Hau is an artist, digital artist compositor and

experience, and he sincerely hopes that we love

amateur photographer living in Cologne, Germany.

what we see. It is his desire that his unique creations

become beautiful and

Bernd is fabulously proud to share his work with

magical, you just have

the world, and has an enthusiastic passion for the

to look for it.”

us a sense of wonderment.

arts of painting and photography... and transforming

This well framed, scenic vista-view work, titled

his photography into very unique artworks. This

‘Mountain View’, shows the majestic glory of a

groundbreaking, trendsetter artist fell in love with

snow-capped, glacially-carved mountain range in a

photography years ago, and it has gone on to

hazy blue mist. The artist’s inclusion of the delicate

become a peaceful, tranquil escape for him.

pink roses frame our view nicely to give us a really

His art reflects his very soul. Recently discovering the magic of digital aspects, he explores creating

54

should put a smile on our faces and that they bring to

profound sense of depth of the entire scene and a more magnificent sense of those distant mountains.

interesting variations with certain photographs by

Bernd’s blue hills though are light, sweet, serene,

applying many intuitive special effects. He believes

surreal, and accompanied by green-blue coastal

that everything has the potential to become beautiful

waters and colored by the reflection of a light blue,

and magical... we just have to look for the charm in

cloudy sky. It’s late spring/early summer in the artist’s

it all. He also finds that art is a never-ending learning

world seen here, except high up in the mountains

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: WINTERLAKE - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm TRANQUILITY - digital art - 3264 x 2248 pp THE STORM - digital art - 3264 x 2248 pp OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: MOUNTAIN VIEW - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm HE ART OF LIFE - digital art - 3264 x 2248 pp

where it’s always some degree of bitter winter Whether this entire scene is real or imagined, we do not know... we cannot know... only Herr Hau knows for sure. The tree-lined shore is full of bright green, leafy deciduous trees reflecting on the surface edge of the shoreline’s glassy-smooth waters in this beautiful picture. Like most great artists, they’d rather keep us guessing and wondering where such place is located on the globe, or if it even really exists outside of the space between their own ears... it adds drama and tension to the mix, as we try to recall if we may have ever seen such a place before.

All that we can really be sure of is that the entire scene makes us joyous, peaceful, and happy... “and Hau!”

Bernd’s art reflects his very soul. Recently discovering the digital aspect of it, he so enjoys creating interesting variations with certain photographs by applying many intuitive special effects.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: BEACH - watercolour on paper - 36 x 25 cm HERITAGE - watercolour on paper - 41 x 28 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: VILLAGE GRACE - watercolour on paper - 28 x 41 cm PM’S TOWN - watercolour on paper - 25 x 36 cm DEVOTIONAL INDIAN CARVING - watercolour on paper - 25 x 36 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

“While realism is what I prefer, I believe that an artist should have a free reign on imagination, with no restrictions over the work he does.”

Bharat Talsania Indian artist/engineer Bharat Talsania has exhibited

In the painting ‘Heritage’, we see a rather large

all over India. Good perspective and form have

mosque with towering minarets pointing heavenward

always inspired him so as to cause him to capture

with a mighty, extended reach. The green trees seem

these elements masterfully in his realistic works;

to be filled with sand as if a dust storm merged in

and creating portraits of various models in different

its branches. In this sand-strewn and seemingly

mediums is something that he truly enjoys. He

barren landscape, we see not much else. While the

believes that an artist should be free to use

building dominates the view, it is not the subject

seemingly-endless imagination, having no restrictions

of this well-titled image... neither is the swollen,

or limitations for the work that they do.

sandy drive approaching the front facade and grand

Bharat has exhibited extensively in India and has also had participated in many art camps. He has won several awards and accolades within his home country, India.

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entry door. If we look more closely, we can see that none of the major elements in this picture are the intended subjects... it is the presence of a few human elements that are the true artist’s subject. Here, in

Bharat believes that an artist should be free to use seemingly-endless imagination, having no restrictions or limitations for the work that they do. miniature, along the dusty pathway approaching the great door we see two very tiny figures, and perhaps another by the rectangular door nearer the foreground.

The mosque for many is a big part of their lives, but the most precious heritage is exhibited by the people depicted in the paintings, as adults bring their children for prayer. This is the key of the great heritage and tradition... that of passing on the faith to the next generation... bringing sons and daughters to this grand and stylish mosque.

In ‘Village Grace’, we see a nondescript village, just an arched portal door. Probably one of many at the market, bazaar, or another marketplace where many such fine ladies shop. We see the graceful strides of the women. The same grace that is found in friendship... in love and respect... in the sharing between them. And these are not the only friends that have enjoyed togetherness at this great place.

There are perhaps many others in the same village and same marketplace. They are only a part of a much larger scene that we cannot see here through the portal of the artist’s third-eye of imagination. We must be content with what is corralled here for us by the four edges of his canvas.

There are so many gracious elements in this great painting, but we only see them as we observe critically and ponder them while utilizing our own third-eye of interpretation.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: BEACH - watercolour on paper - 36 x 25 cm HERITAGE - watercolour on paper - 41 x 28 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: VILLAGE GRACE - watercolour on paper - 28 x 41 cm PM’S TOWN - watercolour on paper - 25 x 36 cm DEVOTIONAL INDIAN CARVING - watercolour on paper - 25 x 36 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Binoy Varghese’s vibrant and colouful palette successfully seeps into the desolate subjects translating them into metaphors of hope.

THIS PAGE - TOP TO BOTTOM: BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL - acrylic on canvas - 183 x 122 cm UNTITLED - acrylic on canvas - 152 x 152 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL - acrylic on canvas - 183 x 122 cm UNTITLED - acrylic on canvas - 152 x 122 cm

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India

Binoy Varghese “I work labouring in meticulous detail to reformulate and represent hard reality of life guised with fantasy in an appealing demure using pigment to play with emotions.”

Binoy Varghese is an unassuming, talented artist

who hails from Kerala, India. After taking his National Diploma in Fine Arts from the R. L. V. College of

Fine Arts in Kerala, India, he has gone on to move

would depict the torments of the society. His current body of work is a clear distinct departure from this.

In his latest series ‘Let Hundred Flowers Bloom’, he attempts to address the universal diaspora issue.

mountains in the art world ever since. He worked as

Displace and supplant. People who have moved from their birthplace to another land and the issues faced.

India; then at the Kanoria Art Centre (India); and then

He paints with fervent hypersensitivity to the world he inhabits. Social issues which are close to the artist’s heart are recurrent in his colorful and picturesque canvases. He works mostly in large-scale format

artist-in-residence at the Madhavan Nair Foundation at the Apparao Galleries in New Delhi, India. From

there he went to North America and worked a while at the Banff Centre for Arts, Canada, and then the Aicon Gallery, New York, to finally settling in Delhi, India, where he now currently works and lives.

Binoy is strongly influenced by photography and

digital media. The starkness of a detailed photo-

finished protagonist set against a surreal, almost

unrealistic foliage background montage, gives his

work a strikingly powerful narrative. His earlier works were images of saints, churches, familiar scenes

of his native Kerala, and many self-portraits, which

that shocks and awes his viewer at the same time imparting a distinct humane and compassionate oeuvre.

Binoy’s palette is a very colorful, and his exceptional

ability to paint photo-realistically clearly shows the truly masterful artist that he is. His compositions are carefully and meticulously planned with fine imagery.

Although his themes revolve around the same subject matter, very rarely departing from it, he is still able to

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make each canvas tell a distinct separate narrative and a different story; depicting the lives of ordinary people... their struggles and jubilations. Perhaps fundamentally the same concerns, but experienced by a different set of people, all the time.

with their backs to us, as though anticipating a

The vibrant palette successfully seeps into the desolate subjects, translating them into metaphors of hope. In one painting, we see a group of people

the viewer questioningly “why?”. The background,

curtain call! In another work of his, we see a line-up of children, posing, against the backdrop of what seems to be Taj Mahal - the monument glorified. The children are the main protagonist here. They gaze at reveals their heritage and gives a reassuring answer, “because you are grand too”.

Binoy is not one to stand still. He has been part of many international artist-in-residence programs, artists camps, as well as solo and group shows. He has done many commissioned works, including a postal stamp design for the government of India. He has already dotted and peppered the world with his presence and his great works of art. He will surely link the whole world together with his tenacious reach and his global dominance in the art world!Â

THIS PAGE - TOP TO BOTTOM:: LET HUNDRED FLOWERS BLOOM - acrylic on canvas - 183 x 122 cm UNTITLED - acrylic on canvas - 183 x 122 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT PORTRAIT OF MY NIECE - acrylic on canvas - 183 x 122 cm EXODUS - A TRAVELOGUE- acrylic on canvas - 152 x 152 cm EXODUS - A TRAVELOGUE - acrylic on canvas - 152 x 152 cm EXODUS - A TRAVELOGUE - acrylic on canvas - 152 x 152 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Germany

Birgit Schweimler “My works centre around chromatic textural compositions speckled with the occasional, more vivid optical element.”

German abstractionist Birgit Schweimler has

abstracts incorporate many materials, textures, and

iterative forms of art therapy artworks that one is sure

and emotion - mostly with acrylics - in a therapeutic,

developed her own unique, very complex, layered,

are very therapeutic for the artist herself as well as her many art admirers.

This gifted artist didn’t start out with an art career.

She began with a degree in Social Work from the University of Bamberg, Germany, and managed various social projects for the city of Munich,

mainly relating to securing the interests of female adolescents. She then took special training and branched out on her own as an artist.

Her very expressive and emotional art was a

hobby when she was younger, but it continuously

progressed and developed when she took up theatre and painting as a youthful student. She continued

dabbling with painting ever since that tender pre-teen age.

The art that she has developed is a fusion and extension of social work, in that her signature

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a distinct optical sense as she paints from chaos comforting, and stress-relieving manner.

Having completed formal training in Therapeutic Art

at the A. K. T. Centre in Munich in 2012 she became a full-time painter in 2016. She is a vibrant and talented upcoming name in the art world, whose works are considered very stimulating.

Her work ‘Indian Summer’ is a pure reflection of a

warm summer day’s colors and tones, with a superb, aural quality of a late day’s ambient mood. In this

fantastic work, she brings forth some form and order from the chaos of color on her palette, as she gives

the viewer hints of forms like trees, grasses, and the likes, as well as the golden sunshine reflecting the

photo-vitality of the abundant greenery that is evident in this stunning rendition.

It is a most wonderful abstract that stimulates our

mind to reflect upon our own, late-summer/early-fall

Birgit paints from chaos and emotion, mostly with acrylics, in a therapeutic, comforting, and stress-relieving manner. days of additional respite from the coming winter. It

to give the feeling of rushing water, calming trickles,

the still-green foliage and the abundance of nature all

The elements of her art have an appeal of depth and

has a golden glow that we feel inside as we observe

around us, with the waning warmth of the sun making

a reprise visit in our own mind’s eye. There is a similar vibrant radiance of our own past experiences. We

have all relished days like this that her canvas causes us to recall.

Birgit has long had a fascination with water at the

lake very near to her home, so through the texturizing of her paint with sand and other materials she is able

or giving an almighty turbulence to her paintings. fluidity at times.

One needs to look at Birgit’s art in small groupings; a piece-at-a-time, as slowly each painting pulls us in...

absorbing us. As the infinite veils of colour part ways,

we are one with the painting. She continues to amaze us with her glorious, inspirational compositions of

such unrivaled beauty and the quiet speculativeness of the ethereal abstraction.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: TRIORA - acrylic, oil, mixed media on wood - 70 x 70 cm INDIAN SUMMER - acrylic & div. materials on canvas - 120 x 160 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: SAILING OVER GOLD - oil, mixed media on canvas - 40 x 40 cm KLINGENWALZER / WALTZ OF THE BLADES- acryl, ink & div. materials on canvas - 80 x 100 cm WRATH OF THE FOREST - acrylic, oil & div. materials on canvas - 120 x 100 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Black Céleste “My paintings aspire

Black Céleste is a young Ivorian artist, with an equal

suffusing the nature in his artwork, while giving it

to be an instrument

passion for his craft as his love for his African culture

contouring of sculptural quality. His paintings are

to convey joy and love. And especially to elevate and exalt the African culture.”

and heritage. His ancestors came from Ghana but settled themselves in Ivory Coast many decades ago.

Black studied at the Fine Arts of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in the 80s, and demonstrated an anew passion for vibrant colours and thought-provoking imagery.

Black is a passionately committed multi-dimensional

semi-abstracts; with complex imagery that meshes together to create a bright edgy look. As you view the canvas, one tends to tilt the head to the side - to get a better, perhaps enhanced, perspective, in order to understand the lyrical language of his work. Bright colours - deep indigos, with splashes of reds, yellows

artist. He is a painter, sculptor and a musician, and

and greens, are his signature style.

tries to incorporate all three disciplines in his artwork.

He has also held exhibitions of his works at Afrique

He has moved ahead in his exploration of materials

Art Gallery in Ivory Coast. His paintings are now

and subject matter. We often see a relief of foundobjects on his canvas, a twig, or a piece of cloth,

owned by major art galleries and private art collectors around the world.

We often see a relief of found-objects on his canvas, a twig, or a piece of cloth, suffusing the nature in his artwork, while giving it contouring of sculptural quality.

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THIS PAGE: UNTITLED - acrylic and mixed media - 70 x 90 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: UNTITLED - acrylic - 85 x 85 cm UNTITLED - acrylic - 75 x 117 cm UNTITLED - mixed media - 75 x 110 cm UNTITLED - acrylic - 65 x 105 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Philippine

Bobby Bautista “I am involved

Philippine artist Roberto “Bobby” Basco Bautista,

animals, abstracted nudes, and many cubist art

with arts since

a.k.a. Bobby Baut, has lived a full and very busy

forms. His skill in architecture lends itself very well to

life as an Artist, an Architect, an Interior Designer, a

his neo-realist, cubist, Picassian style on canvas.

childhood, I enjoy working with colours and mesmerizing combinations of people, animals, abstracted nudes and simulation of cubism artforms.”

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Television Creative Director, a Set Designer and has many admirable art credentials, awards and exhibits to his credit. Bobby was a Creative Director for a major television station for over two decades. His interest in the arts was there since childhood, when he began drawing, painting, sketching and designing and he has never stopped.

Bobby has seriously studied his subject’s life, times, works, and passions to compose a fine and fitting tribute for us to enjoy. In ‘Tributa di Salvador Dali’, the very spirit and likeness of artistic great Salvador Dali has been captured for us here on Bobby Bautista’s uncommon canvas. Dali’s slender face, his long jaw, his waxen moustache and gaping eyes... all are here.

His work comes from the heart and he enjoys working

As is same in ‘La Tributa di Frida Kahlo’, the spirit of

with colors and mesmerizing combinations of people,

Frida Kahlo is captured in this canvas.

Bobby’s style is bold and his palette is colourful. His works usually project his version of expressive neorealist cubist art.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: LA FEMINA DI PABLO acrylic on canvas - 122 x 81.5 cm TRIBUTA DI SALVADOR DALI acrylic on canvas - 51 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: THE MYSTERIOUS LADY LURKS IN A DARK CORNER acrylic on canvas - 79 x 122 cm THE MYSTERIOUS LADY LURKS IN A DARK CORNER acrylic on canvas - 46 x 61 cm La Tributa di Frida Kahlo acrylic on canvas - 61 x 92 cm

And how can we miss the grandmaster Pablo Picasso

Bobby’s style is bold and his palette is colourful. In it

in his continuing series, ‘La Femina Di Pablo’;

we see his strong Phillipine roots. Its the spontaineity

Clutching his head, contemplating his subject in front,

in his brush and the way he handles the strong

both artist and the subject are actively united. In the

primary colours is what makes him different from his

subject’s eyes, the world has seamlessly become

peers. The images on his artworks burst forth with

much more colorful... much brighter and joyous,

tremendous force, as the strong black lines has a tight

indeed!

hold in an attempt to contain their energy and spirit.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

USA

“I love to paint subjects that show the wear and tear and decay that occurs over time, to me this reflects the reality of life.”

Brian Kutz American artist Brian Kutz from Howell Township,

loves to paint subjects that show the wear and tear

New Jersey, USA, has been a graphic artist/illustrator

and burgeoning decay that occurs over time. To him it

since age 19. After Studying Fine Art at the Brookdale

reflects the reality of life. The bright orange car having

Community College for two years he began working

lived its years is now rusting and abandoned. Looks

as a graphic artist for a small printing company which

like it is lazily languishing in the field, living a retired

presented an opportunity to do conceptual art design

life... only the orange colour reveals its previous wild

and illustration for publications and promotional firms.

lifestyle! Someone once said to Brian “you see beauty

Brian has illustrated a children’s book and had

in the most simple subjects”... so true!

various commissioned portraits of pets, people, and

‘Henry’s Birdhouse’ too is a very special and durable

homes. But in the last decade Brian has committed

home for a family of avian residents. This sturdy

more of his time for personal painting. While he

home has weathered the years quite well. While the

paints with other local artists, he dreams of someday

paint has chipped away and the wood is decayed, it

pursuing a full time career as an artist.

still looks cofortably sealed for the cold winter ahead

He says, “The joy of painting for me is in the imperfection, the happy accidents that occur.” He

as fall is fast overtaking the forest. It’s surely a simple and quite humble home... a basic birdie bungalow.

Brian is quite a story teller. Perhaps its the illustrator

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

in him that makes his every painting narrate a tale.

COUNTRY VIEW - watercolour on paper - 40.5 x 24.7 cm

We begin to read the tale he weaves with his every

THE DOCKS AT MANASQUAN INLET - watercolour on paper - 38 x 25.4 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

PENNY’S LOST SHOE - watercolour on paper - 24 x 34 cm

HENRY’S BIRDHOUSE - watercolour on paper - 35.5 x 50.8 cm ABANDONED TRUCK - watercolour on paper - 35.5 x 43 cm

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brush stroke and get caught up in the story... our imagination getting a free rein.

Brian loves to paint subjects that show the wear and tear and burgeoning decay that occurs over time. To him it reflects the reality of life.

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Austria

Brigitta Beyer “An impulse from

Brigitta Beyer is an Austrian artist living in the artistic

inside is what drives

city, Vienna, whose legacy was shaped by its master

me to paint. I look, I see and I paint!”

residents, Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud; a city, known for its imperial palaces and thriving museums; its contemporary buildings displaying works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt amongst other great artists. This is the city where our Viennese violet of the art world was born.

them brightly with her crayons!

Taking her passion seriously she started step by step tutorials on the various painting and drawing techniques, watercolours, oils and acrylics along with an understanding of aesthetics, and at an early age, was able to reproduce her ideas into colourful fine imagery. Oskar Kokoschka, an Austrian artist, poet and playwright, best known for his intense

She was fascinated with painting as a little girl,

expressionistic portraits and landscapes inspires her.

and much to her parents dread, she wouldn’t make

From his art, she learnt that a unique surface doesn’t

unnecessary distinction between her colouring books

come from a single colour, but from many colours,

and her parent’s expensive books and would colour

laid, layer upon layer. Her canvases are multilayered

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE EARTH acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm DREAMLAND acrylic on canvas - 24 x 25 cm VAMP acrylic on canvas - 24 x 25 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOW acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm

Brigitta’s canvases are multilayered and multihued, erupting and crackling with a synergy of her iridescent colours.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

This is Brigitta’s world. A world, undiscovered and comes alive only in the artist’s imagination.

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and multihued, erupting and crackling with a synergy of her iridescent colours.

This gifted artist has rendered for us this fascinating THIS PAGE -CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: SPRING EVENING acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm

FIREBLOSSOM - watercolours - 18 x 25 cm

painting, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’.

Perhaps she had been dreaming of such an

MY CASTLE - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 60 cm

adventure seeing the stalactites and stalagmites that

OPPOSITE PAGE:

one may find on the way, deep into the caverns of the

BLUE NIGHT acrylic on canvas - 45 x 45 cm

earth. Molten magma graces her art in shades of red,

faint orange highlights, and yellow sulfur, and with many highly-iridescent, luminescence elements shine forth from rock walls as we spiral inwards to the centre. This is Brigitta’s world. A world, undiscovered and comes alive only in the artist’s imagination. It is not so much that the artist has painted it for us, but its almost as if she has personally experienced it before hand and so inwardly we are drawn into her mesmerising artwork. It has us under its alchemical spell.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Taiwan

Chang Kai-Yung “My works represents

Award-winning Taiwanese artist/painter Chang Kai-

our senses and which speaks for itself. The surreal

an individual style,

Yung has exhibited widely in Taiwan and abroad. A

characters and objects created with his techniques

Classical/Realist painter, he is fascinated by classic

project a sense of loneliness and mystical illusion.

with creative strokes that make reality blend with illusion.”

techniques and his works are deeply affected by the classic Western masters. Using diverse materials, he manages to integrate the classical and contemporary.

The artist combines tempera and oils to illustrate his subjects with a classical appeal, yet creates an air of surrealism, thereby creating a fresh perspective of wonder.

His works represent an individual style of creative strokes as he makes reality blend with illusion. His unusual works are often described as absurd and desolate, like montage photos, trying to express his extractions from within the realm of dreams.

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In ‘Ocean Dream’, we see a lovely young maiden quietly and gently enjoying the sea and the sand. This beauty is as much a part of the elements of sand and sea as the water and the grains could ever be, and she is virtually embedded in them both, because she is, in fact, a product of the ocean and the shore, just as we are all products of our mother and our father.

As sweet and dreamy this painting is, on the other hand ‘The Needle Rain’ takes us by surprise. The sharp needles, make us want to cringe back with a pain sensation. The contrast between this and the vulnerable young woman is stark. The way they fall

This unique visual language that can only be

on this nubile, young, ethereal woman, who has no

understood by absorbing the painting with all of

way to protect herself. We want to tell her “watch

THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: THE NEEDLE RAIN - oil & tempera on panel - 145 x 112 cm LIFE IS LIKE A DREAM - oil & tempera on canvas - 103 x 103 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: OCEAN DREAM - oil & tempera on canvas - 72 x 60 cm FLOATING - oil on canvas - 91 x 72 cm

out... move away”. Its an uncontrollable urge. If this is her dream, it is not hers alone... it is the dream that inevitably includes us.

In the same vein, we get the same sensation of weightlessness and release which is illustrated in his painting ‘Floating’, seeing, perhaps the same woman, defying gravity, on the verge of floating out of the window, freeing herself.

Chang has an uncanny knack of making the viewer a part of his paintings, compelling us to interact with it, engage with his subjects, and feel the same sensations as they do.

Chang uses diverse materials, he integrates the classical and contemporary. He combines tempera with oils to endow his subjects with a classical appeal.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Taiwan

Chang Kuo-erh “I search for themes from daily life. And I like using realistic ways to express the soul of painting.”

Taiwanese great Chang Kuo-erh typically searches

reveals to him, and experienced by him during the

daily life for artistic themes. He likes realism as a

ongoing chain of his years. Seeking themes from

regular mode of painting and is a full-time painter

daily life offers a realistic approach to express the

since graduating from the Tokyo Design College. He

very soul of each and every painting, and so he

has won several awards, coming always in the top

promises his many admirers to continue with these

three position in The Republic of China’s international

ideas and pursuits on his creative path.

Art Association Exhibition, Da Dun Arts Exhibition, Taiwan National Oil Painting Competition, Mantou Yushan Fine Arts Exhibit and so on.

to be in no rush at all, even as the sun is going down on the darkening, deep, navy-azure waters, and even

Chang is a painter who specializes only in oil

as the waters meander along leisurely too, with just

painting, excelling in impasto technique and likes the

a few ripples on the surface here and there but no

thick touch of oil-paint and the expressiveness that it

main, streaming current.

affords him. He knows this medium is most suitable for the presentation of his superb images.

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These mother and baby geese in ‘Leisurely’, seem

The water in this narrow channel is unhurried as well.

Perhaps all that is alive and attuned to nature, even

Most of his subjects are nature, as natural and as

the elements themselves get weary too, as the sun

scenic, because he adores the color changes caused

takes away its’ once radiantly-glowing, invigorating,

by each season. He also loves the vital life that nature

revealing energy from the Earth. The green shrubbery

THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: THE MORNING OF JOY - oil on canvas - 91 x 72 cm WATER MOVEMENT - oil on canvas - 53 x 45 cm WATER MOVEMENT - oil on canvas - 53 x 45 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: WATER MOVEMENT - oil on canvas - 53 x 45 cm LEISURELY - oil on canvas - 91 x 72 cm

and grasses along the banks too are now cast in twilight darkness, muting our view of even their defining leaves, branches, reeds, and stems.

This is a very perceptive and strongly observant artist. His palette of such a scene is deliberately restrained, black, white, and blue hues and the viewer is entranced by his expert mixing of them. Only a hint of brownish tones on the feathers of the mama-goose give us any other reference to brightness or color, except, of course, for the remaining sun that still glistens on the trailing end of the sleepy waterway here before us.

Mama and baby have taken this trip before, without a doubt...

Most of Chang’s subjects are nature, as natural and as scenic, because he adores the color-changes caused by each season.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Korea

“Art for me is more like a therapy than a job. Its my ‘me-time’ and an opportunity to reconnect to myself.”

Cheryl M. Navarro Ambitious, lovely, and talented Filipina Cheryl

The artist in her does not actively offer her work

M. Navarro of Seoul, Korea, is self-taught as an

for sale but she has sold some pieces. She says

artist and clearly remembers the exact date when

“Painting for me is more of a relaxation therapy than

she made her first complete artwork! She has a

a job. Its time I take out for myself... an opportunity to

Baccalaureate of Laws degree from the Arellano

reconnect to myself.”

University School of Law, Philippines and now works at the Philippine Embassy in South Korea.

black and white acrylics on canvas for all her portrait

Cheryl started her art journey by learning the

works. Her study of a woman titled ‘Only You Know

techniques from online art videos and started out as a

You’, interestingly when completed, resembled her!

hobby with pencil sketches. Gaining confidence, she

She donned a hat and glasses to recreate the look

started painting royalty-free images as her models

just to humour her friends who first pointed out the

after her office hours from 6 P.M. until midnight. This

uncanny resemblance. And they were right!

is when she realised, realism is what appealed to her the most. Friends affectionately call her a ‘painting machine’, believing it will take her a lifetime to conclude this newfound passion.

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Cheryl started loving portraiture and began using

Cheryl recently started painting food as subjects and wanted them to be as realistic as possible.

Her ‘Tangerine’ not only looks realistic and skillfully rendered, it is perfectly composed on her canvas.

What inspired her to paint the ‘Egg’ was the egg’s imperfections – the shape of it with its burnt edges, shine and the bubbles. She has magnificently achieved the effect of the egg sizzling away in a well buttered pan that could not look more realistic or tastier than this! Everything about it is perfectly believable and true-to-life, from the random shape of the egg white, to the full and layered, 3-dimensional appearance of the golden-yellow yolk and jiggly layers of the whites... right down to the perfect minced green herbs sprinkled. It is sure to make our mouths water and our bellies groan for such a perfectly cooked, day-starter breakfast treat.

Cheryl started loving portraiture and began using black and white acrylics on canvas for all her portrait works.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: EGG - acrylic on canvas - 28 x 23 cm SWING WITH ME - acrylic on canvas - 25 x 20 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: TANGERINE - acrylic on canvas - 28 x 23 cm ONLY YOU KNOW YOU - acrylic on canvas - 28 x 23 cm NEXT TO YOU - acrylic on canvas - 28 x 23 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

France

“Art has become a necessity for me... a passion... and painting for me, is a journey filled with pictorial horizons, constantly renewing, setting me free.”

Chozenon-B Monik French Artist Monik Chozenon-Bourras, a self-taught painter realises how mastery of art technique takes long and is fraught with many pitfalls. Inspired by

Toffoli’s translucent compositions and Kandinsky opulent embellished canvases, she tried to emulate the same in her artwork. Modigliani, Renoir, and other impressionists too attracted her for a long time.

Armed with an understanding of the works of these Great Masters, Monik worked step by step with colors and perspectives. She fervently studied the many application techniques in oils, watercolors and finally, in acrylics; never stopping to count the criticisms or encouragements of admirers. Soon enough she had started participating in group

exhibitions, and that became her only motivation –

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her works to be seen by the world.

Monik’s creativity draws from many sources and feeds on the colors of the world around her. The magnificent nature which is sometimes tender, and sometimes violent, or loaded with derision; and the human emotions, which is ever changing, touch her immensely. Explaining her need to paint she says, “Art has become a necessity for me, a passion... and painting for me, is a journey filled with pictorial horizons, constantly renewing, setting me free.”

In her painting, ‘Sham’ , the title of this stunning work is one clue about its implied meaning. A stark contrast and a sense of tension is evident in the overall view... a glimpse of both good and evil in

Monik’s creativity draws from many sources and feeds on the colors of the world around her. living colour. One cannot exist without the other. The opposing forces, each important in itself, borrowing from the other to accentuate its own existence.

The same is seen in her painting ‘The Blue Dream’. It is calming as we gaze into the blue limpid pool, and then, all of a sudden, we see this black stroke! What lies in

these parts that the artist has censored? The artist here has left the observer questioning the validity of what is obvious. What we ‘see’ is almost never what it is.

Just as in her busy, overpowering frame, ‘Orion’, she shows us that somewhere in between the stars is where the truth lies. We must receive it or renounce it for what it is.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: ORION - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm LA TOUR - acrylic on canvas - 100 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: SHAM - acrylic on canvas - 92 x 73 cm BLUE DREAM - acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

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MOON CHILD acrylic on board 51 x 61 cm OPPOSITE PAGE

MARY D pen and ink on reeves stock 20 x 25 cm

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USA

Christopher A Gunkel “I present the world

Christopher A Gunkel is an American artist, living

He certainly had a lot of inspiration and

solely from my own

in downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. He trained as a

encouragement from his immediate and extended

commercial graphic designer and worked as a visual

family, being born into a family who for two

artist for many years. Christopher obtained a degree

generations been rooted in commercial printing,

in art, with a major in Graphic Arts and did a course

adverting and fine arts. Which is why he was lucky

in photography. His professional career started in

to have received informal art training from his family

commercial graphics studios and retail advertising, a

in his formative years before he went on to pursue his

work that he enjoys immensely.

formal education in the arts.

Parallel to commercial art, his fine art background

Christopher’s works are purely expressionistic,

continued as well. He has an extended education

abstract at places where he presents the world solely

at Birmingham Art Association, Alabama; ArtCenter

from his own perspective, distorting it radically for

College of Design, Los Angeles; and Glassell School

an emotional effect. The result is always subjective,

of Art, Houston MFAH.

where the viewers are encouraged to take in their

perspective, distorting it radically for an emotional effect.”

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: WOMAN ON 2nd STREET acrylic on board - 61 x 91 cm

SEASIDE SERENITY acrylic on canvas - 61 x 81 cm

PORT SALERNO LAUNCH acrylic on heavy canvas - 45 x 45 cm THE AUDITION acrylic on canvas - 45 x 51 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE- RIGHT TO LEFT: CAUGHT IN THE CAGE intaglio print & inks - 35 x 91 cm REBBECA’S DOORWAY acrylic on board - 61 x 91 cm

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Christopher first engages the viewer with a high-frequency palette, that pretty much has all the colours possible in one space, and then he covers it with a smoky veil, the result is dreamy and mesmerising. own experiences by soaking in the visual spectacle

omnipresent spark of a thousand suns, the intensity

of his art piece. He first engages the viewer with a

of which difficult to bear, will be blinding.

high-frequency palette, that pretty much has all the colours possible in one space, and then he covers it with a smoky veil, the result being dreamy and mesmerising. Consider his painting “Moon Child”, it has its fair share of the warm and cool tones, but the multicolours don’t jar the eyes. Its like we are seeing this scene through a thin, white, ethereal curtain.

And as our gaze hovers over the haze of whites, blues and oranges, we recall the debatable dilemma of the science-based technology of the digital media and the evolution of pure art and creative aesthetic. Christopher very cleverly uses the two to his advantage, balancing the technical with the painterly, by creating the very visually staged and

Divinity cannot be seen with the naked eyes of

choreographed scene with an energy which is

the mortals. The Empyrean, that carries within the

spontaneous and compelling.

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Canada

“Painting allows me create fantasy worlds... an outlet to express myself as I do not function well in the outside world.”

Christopher Pollari Christopher Pollari is a Canadian artist living in Sault

He suffers from severe bouts of debilitating

Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. A self-taught and highly

depression, and painting is therapy for him. “Painting

sensitive artist, he has been painting now for over 5

allows me the outlet to express myself as I do not

decades.

function well in the outside world”. He is fighting

Christopher’s art is fairly biographical. “I mainly record my life in my art. My own experiences... the ups and downs...and the people in my life”, he says with a wide smile.

THIS PAGE: DUSK AT THE DRIVE IN - oil on canvas - 112 x 50 cm OPPOSIT PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT GRAFFITI ANGEL - oil on canvas - 68 x 96 cm THE GATHERING - oil on canvas - 91 x 61 cm ARTIST PAINTING ‘GIRLS NIGHT OUT’ - oil on canvas - 122 x 76 cm ‘SHASTA DAISIES’ - oil on canvas - 144 x 76 cm

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this depression by creating a world of romantic fantasy. His works too are surreal and are set in an imaginative and fantastic domain. He paints on canvas or masonite, using oils.

Christopher’s works are mainly biographical in subject. They are surreal and are set in an imaginative and fantastic domain.

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USA

Dana Diamond “I like a suggestion of what it is I am painting rather than the exact copy of my subject.”

American artist Dana Diamond, born in Ohio, USA,

As an artist she tends to favor the Impressionist style.

is an internationally exhibited artist with followers

It is apparent in much of the characters that she

across the globe. In her early years she was recognized as an accomplished hair and makeup designer and soon developed an affluent clientele who commissioned her to create one-of-a-kind couture fashions.

In 2003, she began to apply her artistic skills to marketing and computer graphics. At the request of friends and family she began creating greeting cards which lead to developing a following of clients looking to digitally restore cherished family photos.

Now living in Florida and a self taught graphic digital artist, she creates original Fine Digital Art pieces ranging from landscapes and fantasy to portraiture and continues to take on new clients for commissioned pieces.

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creates are from imagination and that includes the portraits she does.

Dana finds realism to be too confining to represent the true artistic self, and brings an element of fantasy in all her works. “I like a suggestion of what it is I am painting rather than the exact copy of my subject,” she states. Her subjects come to her as fleeting images. An image that is only revealed once she starts to paint.

Dana does not create preliminary sketches. She has a general idea in her head and she just starts to paint as soon as the inspiration hits her and an image appears. She is an instictive artist looking to stretch the boundaries of her creative endeavours.

Dana finds realism to be too confining to represent the true artistic self and brings an element of fantasy in all her works.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PRINCESS LOUISE DUCHESS OF ARGYLL - digital and oil on canvas - 40 x 50 cm LADY WITH LONG FINGERS - digital and oil on canvas - 76 x 101 cm KANG YU-WEI - digital and oil on canvas - 50 x 61 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: BABY MONKEY - digital and oil on canvas - 35 x 28 cm GYPSY MAN - digital and oil on canvas - 40 x 50 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Italy

Dario Guion “There is always an

Dario Guion is an Italian born expressionist, who

form or action or even the colour combination, that

element of surprise

now lives and works in Germany. He graduated

makes the viewer pause in admiration.

in my pictures that makes the viewer pause.”

from V.H.S. (Volkshocschule) in Remscheid, Germany with a three years course in Acquatinta (Radierung) or Aquatint Etching. Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching that only produces areas of tone rather than lines. The starting material for an aquatint etching is a metal plate made of zinc or copper, and its mostly used conjunction with etching, to give outlines. He then went on to do a one year course in learning Watercolours techniques.

Although he works mostly in oil on canvas, Dario’s medium has traces of a marriage of the two techniques - his strong printmaking skills and watercolour prowess. He uses bright colours and doesn’t shy from experimenting. Having a steady hand at drawing, his forms are very lucid and expressive. There is always an element of surprise, a

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The ‘Golden Oktober’ is one such work that takes your breath away with the fearless application of cobalt blue. The wide spaces he covers in this rich hue are powerful and encompassing. One would expect October landscape to be predominately in colours of the fall, but Dario surprises us. He peppers the painting with a dash of red and orange, it makes the warm tones just burst out of the artwork, creating more of an impact with the contrasting cool tones, and making us feel the chill in the air as we sense the autumn winds of October, preparing us for the approaching snow.

Then on the other hand, ‘I Am Watching You’, is expressive in so many ways, and kind of makes us smile. There is humour definitely, at the same time there an underlying tongue-in-the-cheek suggestion

of who is watching whom? The lady is being watched a lot more than what she is trying to zoom in with that magnifying glass!

Dario is one artist who does displays spontaneity in his landscapes and a well thought out theme in the treatment of figures. He has a clear preference for portraits and landscape.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: UNTITLED - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm CEFALU´ - oil on canvas - 80 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: ASIA - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm I AM WATCHING YOU - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm GOLDEN OKTOBER - oil on canvas - 100 x 80 cm

Dario’s medium is primarily a marriage of these two techniques, his strong printmaking skills and watercolour prowess.

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England

David John Hilditch “Initial underlying

David John Hilditch is a British abstract artist, born

David has a very interesting work methodology.

structures are

in Wolverhampton, a city in central England. David

He allows the paint to have a life of its own, as it

completed his schooling and early education from

blends and separates, balancing the intricate lines

Birmingham, a culturally rich city, after which he

in swirling motion, laced upon pools of multicolour

went on to do a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from

hues. Most of his works is non-representational and

Camberwell, near London, England. He had a full

non-imposing. Thus freeing the creator as well as

career in Art and Design for many years, and now,

the viewer from any visual restrictions, and leaving it

is a keen student of Philosophy and paints full-time

open to the viewer’s own interpretation.

derived from natural phenomena, layers of colour and brushwork are then superimposed instinctively until complex subliminal forms emerge.”

OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: ELEMENTS 2 - oil on canvas - 155 x 120 cm MEDIUM 8 - oil on canvas - 125 x 95 cm UNTITLED - watercolour - 70 x 50 cm THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: MEDIUM 14 - oil on canvas - 125 x 95 cm UNTITLED - watercolour - 70 x 50 cm

from studios in London and Shropshire.

David’s artworks while being fairly dense, are not

David’s art is complex and evokes an almost divine

heavy. The energy is slow-flowing and light... almost

sensation. His interest in Philosophy, and particularly

like skimming seamlessly over heavy clouds, feeling

the writings of Spinoza, Kant and Hume, inspires

weightless and buoyant. He is creating complex and

him to create these large dream-like canvases.

abstract environments where ideas of reality can

His watercolours and large scale oils reflect on

emerge and transform free from the moorings of

perception, impermanence and identity in a way that

time, space and causality. This freedom is explored

is deep, engaging and open to endless interpretation.

through the language of clouds in flux, hints of facial

David’s interest in Philosophy, and particularly the writings of Spinoza, Kant and Hume, inspires him to create these large dream-like canvases.

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structures, abstract textures and forms from nature.

There is a consistency to his works, especially where it comes to his colours and the paint application. The forms mostly stay like big cottony mass, translucent, curvaceous, throbbing, and endlessly various. There is an inherent need to look beyond the this cloudy mass, eyes strain to peep between the cracks, waiting for something to be revealed. Just when you see a faint outline of a form, the very next second it is

THIS PAGE - TOP TO BOTTOM: UNTITLED - watercolour - 70 x 50 cm HAUNTED 2 - oil on canvas - 186 x 130 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - TOP TO BOTTOM: REBIRTH 8 - oil on canvas - 186 x 130 cm UNTITLED - watercolour - 70 x 50 cm

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gone, and you are left peering into the coloured abyss, following another lead.

There are multiple perspectives, as intended by the artist for sure, keeping the viewer engaged in this game-like looped replay. This visual interplay is dreamy, unfathomable, and mystical. Nostalgic of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, it puts the viewer under its spell and transports one to a phantom world of the supernatural and the mystical.

David’s watercolours and large scale oils reflect on perception, impermanence and identity in a way that is deep, engaging and open to endless interpretation.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

David Norocos “I am insired by the traditional narrative of African art, where the human figure always becomes the primary subject matter.”

David Norocos, A.K.A N’guessan Yao David, was

figures in an expressive style. His studies of textiles

born in Bonoua, a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast.

designs are apparent in the background rendering

David knew from the age of 8 that he wanted to be an

of different fabric prints - multi-coloured and bright.

artist. It was his passion. He comes from a family who

His canvasses are full of vigour and vitality and tell a

put a lot of emphasis on education. David completed

story while conveying an uplifting emotion,.

his Technical studies and then joined the College of Decorative Arts, where he obtained a degree in Textile Designing. He also joined the Nation School of Fine Arts in Abidjan.

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David labels himself as an Abstract and Expressionist artist, who works on a wide range of media from sculpture to textiles, and themes range from everyday life and of the women and children of his

Practicing the traditional narrative of African art,

hometown that he represents with great pageantry

where the human figure always becomes the primary

and theatricality. Along with a strong design sense

subject matter, David loves drawing faces and

and formal figural qualities, he manages to portray

David’s studies of textiles designs are apparent in the background rendering of different fabric prints, multi-coloured and bright. varied emotions onto the canvas, creating balance and harmony. His lyrical abstraction is commendable as he takes his cue from the great pottery of the African Arts. The intricate and decorative ceremonial vessel, is seen wrapped in a blue fabric, the colour of which cuts across the canvas like a meandering river, in tones of azure and cerulean, flowing around this ornate pitcher suggestive of the beauty of his THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: MÈE-ENFANT acrylic on canvas - 98 x 150 cm

hometown.

While his pottery and sculpture inspired pieces are

LA GRANDE-MÈRE acrylic on canvas - 90 x 90 cm

airy in earthy tones and cool blues, his human figures

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colours. The steadiness and the unfailing seriousness

LE TAM-TAM PARLEUR acrylic on canvas - 100 x 160 cm LES ENFANTS S’AMUSENT acrylic on canvas - 150 x 80 cm

representations are vivid in bright almost primary of his works is admirable.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Spain

“My paintings are meant to remind us that while there is no escaping the fact that there has been sadness in the past and it is difficult to endure a loss, the future is still ours to seize.”

Dolors Castells Casals Spanish artist Dolors Castells Casals is an extremely

In her paintings ‘Joy’ and ‘Le Bouquet’, we get a

accomplished practitioner of the art world, even while

rush of pleasure seeing the pink lilacs, and almost

she is a long-time Professora of English. Her painting

immediately, feel a sense of horror at the way from

studies began with the art director and painter, Marta

within the bunch, the paint drips down. Explaining

Argentina at the Association ‘Pinzell Trempat’ in Reus.

why, she says, “My father had always told us that

She later became a member of the group ‘Art 21’ of

he didn’t want us to bring him flowers to his grave

Vilafortuny.

because he wouldn’t be there.” Which explains

Dolors works are mainly oil on canvas, and her favourite subjects are bunches of flowers and peaceful landscapes. She started painting these flower bunches after her beloved father’s death.

perhaps why her flowers are tinged with grief. The way the paint drips is like the process of its demise has already started and its lamenting for its beauty that is fading even as we are beginning to applaud it!

In ‘La Cala’, the tranquil scene could be set among the rushes and sands of the Atlantic, or it could be in the rough even there and the divide between the golf course and an isolated strip of a beach. It matters not. The artist has reproduced for us the great beauty that she saw near the sand, by the sea, amidst the thicket of robust fauna growing very near, by that vast Atlantean realm. Opportunity knocks, as she tickles our imaginations with every stroke of her brush, and as she shares the joy, peace, tranquility, and harmony of the nature of her homeland with us.

There is immense passion in her work. Her every brush stroke instinctive and intuitive. For Dolors, art is subjective and must always evoke an emotion in the viewer, like a rejoinder to the artwork. It should move you. “And if it fails to do so”, she says, “then you are just not looking at it the right way. You need to go back and take another look!”

THIA PAGE : SHAMELESS - mixed technique - 100 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: LA CALA - mixed technique - 100 x 100 cm JONCS - mixed technique - 100 x 100 cm JOY - mixed technique - 100 x 100 cm LE BOUQUET - mixed technique - 100 x 100 cm

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For Dolors art is subjective and must always evoke an emotion in the viewer, like a rejoinder to the artwork. It should move you.

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Switzerland

Dorothea Engelhardt “My paintings are insightful realisation and reactions of my inner most feelings.”

Dorothea Engelhardt is a Swiss living in Kaiserstuhl, Germany. She studied at Städelschule, a school of art in Frankfurt, Germany. She has been working for many years as a fine artist and founded the Studio KORA.

Dorothea’s brush strokes are crackling lines of vivid hues, sometimes applied in deep gnashes - agonizing and excruciation, and at times tender strokes of thick paint - healing and soothing. A multitude of forms with an abstraction of familiar shapes piled up high in a frenzied and chaotic multidimensional space,

her art is abstract expressionism. Her works at times remind us of early 1940’s works of the American artist, Jackson Pollock. It has the same intensity and

angst of spontaneous action and reaction.

Her canvases seem to emerge from one profound emotion to another, through paint slathered straight

on to the canvas. Her thoughts churn out one after another, unfiltered and escaping out even before the artist has fully grasped it meaning - an immediate reaction, without any preconceived, or contrived formulated process. The demystifying of which happens right on to the canvas space – the conflict, the argument and the submission, all of it evident in her paintings as she applies layers upon layers of

paint, fastidiously. Her artwork is a true narrative of self-introspection.

Dorothea now spends more time working and exhibiting in Italy and Germany. She has had

numerous solo and group exhibitions in her hometown in Switzerland and many cities abroad.

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: PHONESHORTS - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm CONSOLATION - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCWISE TOP LEFT: PROTECTION CHILD - acrylic on canvas - 90 x 70 cm KNOWLEDGE - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 80 cm PURSUIT OF TRUTH - acrylic on canvas - 80 x 60 cm

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Dorothea’s brush strokes are crackling lines of vivid hues, sometimes applied in deep gnashes - agonising and excruciation, and at times tender strokes of thick paint healing and soothing.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Georgia

Eka Rukhadze “I discovered myself in illusory contiguity with eternal fight between fits and endured feelings; the series of my works depict miraculous world tinged with peculiar controversial inspirations.”

Georgian surrealist, Eka Rukhdze has an M.Sc. degree in Biology and Chemistry. Living a saturated life near Caucasus mountain villages and Black Sea beaches, she discovered the pop surrealistic world which greatly stimulated her creativity. Her compositions are an amalgam of materials and techniques based on realism but have a dreamlike flavor, often created with enchanted fairy/nymph/ ogre-like characters.

Eka has a myriad of influences – the Renaissance, the Medieval culture, French Impressionism, Aztec, African, Greek and Roman art and history. She is

inspired by flashes of images arising in her productive

mind and frames her compositions sublimely from her beautiful locale.

Discovering an illusory contiguity in an eternal struggle, she creates art from fits of enduring feeling.

She has exhibited Internationally and her works depict a miraculous world of peculiar controversy.

Her personal metamorphosis went in many directions

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but finally took shape in her current surrealistic works done in ink, watercolor, acrylic, and tempera. She

also uses pastels, oil and various objects, such as

feathers, wood, stones, crystals, polymeric clay, lace, etc.

In ‘Chameleon’s Essence’, we know how a

chameleon is able to change color, visibility, and mood in a moment. We all have our moods and periods of happiness/sadness, stress/strain,

stubborness/grace, weeping, joy, or jest. Our brow

has signs of worry... and moods get quite blue. Like

the sad jester, we put on a happy face when actually sad and weary. Our protagonist hangs onto a limb, a symbol of our fleeting life, attempting to maintain a

balance, just as we all try to hold onto life as we seek more of it. Here are the naked womb and birth canal from where we all entered life. The sow and woman are not one-and-the-same, but different modes of existence. All who come through birth inevitably

change, mature, grow and develop. Therefore she is

Eka’s compositions are an amalgam of materials and techniques based on realism but have a dreamlike flavor, often created with enchanted fairy/nymph/ogre-like characters. the mother of all such chameleons.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: DREAM CATCHERS watercolor on paper CHILDHOOD GUARDS oil on canvas - 100 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: CHAMELEON’S ESSENCE WRESTLERS FOR YOUTH SHELTER FALSE SIN

In ‘The Childhood Guards’, we see a beauteous damsel suspended from a great tree branch, symbolic of someone straddling between childhood and adulthood, and she, like the branch, is budding... reaching the flower of her age, a vulnerable time for young women. Around her we

see adults who keep watch over her as she matures and a sharp eye out for trouble, while some some are very upright and hang in there for life with her.

This colorful world looks so appealing to foster growth, maturity, education, development and socialization... but maybe evil, hideous things lurk all around, and in places that we would never imagine.

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USA

Elsa Victorios “There is no strict

Elsa Victorios is an internationally acclaimed artist

suggestive forms, to convey a meaning behind the

compulsion in art

with over 30 years of experience teaching art to

obvious and the seen.

because art is free.”

children and adults. Her artwork has been featured in museums and galleries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Besides teaching academic classes at Victorios Art Studio, she is constantly commissioned for portraits and murals.

sees as a metaphor of balance and movement.

“Bicycles, like all forms of transportation, represent a type of freedom. When we bring this symbol into a work of art, we are met at the intersection of

Based in South Florida, Elsa Victorios began her

our personal histories and the vast possibilities of

career in her native Colombia where she represented

the journeys that lay before us”. While not entirely

Colombia at the Tokyo and Paris Biennials of 1984.

abstract, her bicycles travel through her paintings

She studied at the National University and in the

with a musical exuberance, traversing through fields

late 80s, she moved to the United States, where she

of colours across an imagined landscape. By air, by

currently lives and also teaches art.

sea, by land; these bicycles are not confined by the

“It is never too late to be what you have always wanted to be,” says this versatile artist. She mostly

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In her paintings, we often see a bicycle, which she

laws of physics, but instead exist in a magical world that she creates for them.

works with oil and acrylic on canvas and her current

Elsa’s works are very personal and are in the realm

work mixes abstract and figurative art techniques

of somewhere between reality and fantasy. They

to depict individual struggles for well-being. She

live in a subliminal space, just waking up and yet

focuses on symbolism, where she uses forms, or

not fully awake and not sleeping. A state where the

Elsa’s works are very personal and are in the realm of somewhere between reality and fantasy.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: ELEVATED acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm

OPENING acrylic on canvas - 102 x 102 cm PERCEPTION acrylic on canvas - 56 x 72 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: HAPPY PARTY IN THE SKY acrylic on canvas - 162 x 162 cm TIRAVELER OF TIME acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm

TRAVEL OF LOVE AND LIFE acrylic on canvas - 101 x 132 cm

subconscious is highly active and attentive, inviting us to reflect on our universe.

Her brilliantly coloured and masterfully executed dream-like landscapes are wildly liberating, at the same time giving off a sensation of vertigo. The ladders show you the way up, to touch the sky, or you can fly to away to freedom on the red balloons

that fly into the horizon. Leave behind all your troubles and afflictions. Or you can just take the bicycle up there to the edge of the world and peer over, to see a whole humanity stretched out below you with its moral, geographical, and religious boundaries dividing, warring and segregating. How very petty and insignificant it all looks from way up here...

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USA

Errick Freeman “I find the people around me intriguing but I necessarily do not need inspiration to create. I just create... It is like breathing for me.”

USA native, artist, and father to six wonderful

cultural image of wildly African inspiration and

children, Errick Freeman, A.K.A. Pach Atomz, creates

therefore African-American tradition, custom, craft,

extraordinary mixed-media works. He creates

and color. The bright face, as bright as a bold bolt of

colored images on wood, using fire(!), a technique he

Kente cloth, with coffee-bean eyes, woven straw hair,

developed for years, now known as Pyro-chromatic

and with a watery blue face has great transparency.

Art. Growing up in a low income family, Freeman

The mouth resembles a rocky cave or perhaps even a

started creating and inventing at an early age.

hot spring, geothermal pool.

Experimental in his youth, he made creative things by repurposing toys and jewellery to entertain himself!

African-American spirit is burning brightly. The blue

Aside from a full-time job he explores new ideas

waters of mighty rivers and lakes are like many in

and creative techniques. He hopes to showcase in

Africa and from the artist’s native state. Among the

galleries in Harlem, New York and the National Art

bristled white hair are many characters, like birds.

Museum. Errick Freeman currently resides in Canton,

One may be a white bird, but also resembles a

Ohio with his children.

Klansman. Many others are nondescript characters.

Errick’s first subject was a childhood hero, Voltron,

Nothing fulfills us like real and genuine love...

and by age 10 he was featured in his first art show.

love that’s true and lasting, not just a momentary,

Although he attended Kent State University, Freeman

sexually-charged adrenaline rush. No matter how

is a self taught artist. He finds people intriguing, but

close we feel when we indulge only to go our ways,

he doesn’t need them to inspire him to create – he

there’s always a sinking feeling. With no genuine,

just creates seamlessly! It’s like breathing to him.

lasting caring, all sexual antics are spiritually

‘Maphriqah’, seems like a clever play on words, like a Morph-Map-Afrique contraction. It’s a resourceful,

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Within the water is a fiery flame, the fire on the

unfulfilling, which we may never admit to ourselves.

Outside of our sensual and sexual life, there’s a

Errick creates colored images using fire(!!), a technique he developed for years, now known as pyrography.

rainbow of emotions and love in a universe filled with rich and lasting love; but our hearts sheathed in their shields, maybe filled with as many holes as we see before us. Between real love and erotic love, there is

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MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER - Birch Plywood, Acrylics, Inks, Oils and Pigments - 45 x 130 cm

such a great divide and a problem-laden paradox.

THE WISE OWLS - Up-Cycled Pine Plywood, Acrylics, Inks, Oils and Pigments - 61 x 61 cm

Art can become very personal to us. We view it and

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imagine the profound depth of its meaning. We can

AMINAH THE TAURUS - Birchwood Panel (24pcs), Acrylics, Inks, Oils, Gold Leaf, Hemp and Cotton Cord, Glass Embellishments - 38 x 66 cm EXOTIC WOODS - Birchwood Panel, Acrylics, Inks, Oils and Pigments - 30 x 30 cm EXOTIC WOODS - Birchwood Panel, Acrylics, Inks, Oils and Pigments - 30 x 30 cm MAPHRIQAH (A.K.A. The Bridge Mask) Birchwood Panel, Acrylics, Inks, Oils, Leather and Straw - 57 x 68 cm

become participants in the art itself. We take part in the art as we are fused with it, absorbed into it, and even become lost in it for a time.

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Pakistan

Farhad Hameed Baloch “Art is not only my profession, it is my passion.”

Farhad Hameed Baloch, as the name suggests, is from the Baloch community who live in the Balochistan region of the Iranian plateau in Pakistan.

Although he is now settled near Karachi, along with

his family, his art is distinctly reminiscent of his roots.

Circumstances did not allow Farhad to finish his high school, nor did he have the opportunity of studying at a fancy art school, but who can say that looking at his genteel painting that it lacks a luxurious ethos!

His style is distinctive and his brush technique certainly masterful. With chest pounding authority and conviction he proclaims, “Art is not only my profession, it is my passion.”

Farhad’s works are direct reflection of his Baloch heritage and his style is a curious amalgamation of two popular art movements, Cubism and Fauvism.

The overall structure and composition is on first glance like that of a Cubist painter but the fervour of his paint application is that of a Fauvist. His use of pure, brilliant colour applied with passion, and sometimes even straight from the paint tubes, create

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a sense of three-dimensional prism on the canvas.

His palette, color-rich with marigolds, deep reds and earthy terracottas, meticulously embellish the ornaments on the tribal woman with great finery in his painting ‘Mir Jafar and Baloch Girl’. And then we shift our gaze past her to the serene and somber burnt umbers and charcoal greys, which he uses for the maulivi or the wise man. Stroke upon stroke, we see the ‘woman in green’ emerge, holding her steady gaze at us, scrutinising the viewer.

Farhad’s paint application is thick the impasto technique, providing a texture to the canvas, as he applies it meticulously - one stroke at a time! Almost no blending happens on his canvas. Each paint stroke is independent of the one next to it - selfreliant and proud of its positioning. Painstakingly Farhad keeps applying these long and short strokes, all in one direction, till we see a form taking shape... a man then a woman. These shapes coming out of the brick wall, where each brush stroke is like a brick and Farhad is the master mason, telling his story, brick upon brick; slowly building a chronicle of his life.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: WOMAN - acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm: WOMAN PLAYING SAROOZ - acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm MIR JAKHAR AND BALOCH GIRL - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: WOMAN 1 - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm WOMAN 2 - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm WOMAN 3 - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm WOMAN 4 - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 86 cm

Farhad uses pure, brilliant colour applied with passion, sometimes straight from the paint tubes, creating a sense of three-dimensional prism on the canvas. His style is distinctive and his brush technique masterful.

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France

Farid L “Work your art one day so that it always lives.”

Farid L is a self-taught French Métis artist who

who loves nature, people and has an envious zest

expresses his emotions and what his reason dictates

for life. For him, nothing is more important than

to him about the world we live in.

people coming together and sharing and caring

Farid was born in France and after teaching himself the finer techniques of painting and drawing, he realised that it was not enough, he needed to do more. “I always wanted to become someone who leaves a trace of his passage in this lifetime through my work. I would like to make a mark, to support those who have no hope, and make them happy.

staggering range of contemporary abstraction which provides a creative digression from the mundane.

His viewpoints, distinctive and individualistic, are a dialogue of the unspoken, as he reveals this world we live through his art. “I wanted the world to feel the depth of my soul through my works”, explains Farid.

To be remembered for all this and more”, says this

A prolific artist and an unswerving worker, Farid never

idealistic and utopian artist, striving to do something

tires of experimenting with reality. His art pieces

out of the ordinary. His artistic name, which he

transport us out of our temporal life and into a realm

prefers to be known as, is XXII OAR or XXII Outsider

of the mythic.

Art Revolution. This being his true identity and a testament of his uniqueness.

Farid as a person is a passionate human being

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for each other. As an artist, he demonstrates a

Farid’s paintings, insightful and impressive, demand attention. The sheer optical power of ‘At the Eye’,

with its bright yellows and blacks criss-cross lines, is

A prolific artist and an unswerving worker, Farid never tires of experimenting with reality. His art pieces transport us out of our temporal life and into a realm of the mythic.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: AT THE EYE drawing and painting with acrylic on A4 paper reworked in digital format FIRE FLOWER drawing on A4 paper reworked in digital format OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: COURAGE drawing and painting with acrylic on A4 paper reworked in digital format DON’T CRY SPACE MAN drawing and painting with acrylic on A4 paper reworked in digital format LE GILET JAUNE (The yellow vest) drawing on paper and digital finishes

emblazoned by the sheer power of the drawing.

As is his painting ‘Courage’, which gives a glimpse of a profound moment. A moment that gives a feeling of being connected to life, of becoming conscious that in some ways we all are sharing the same

experiences – a common feeling of becoming aware of something new and eternal within us. Its a moment of special splendour; a moment of dignity. These divine moments of truth truly set us free.

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Greece

“Painting for me is like poetry, a need of expression, a way to share my feelings.”

Fotini Pappa Greek artist Fotini Pappa is a fabulous artist with

naturally in-born artistic talent. She is completely selftaught artist and it’s hard to believe that when you

see the prime quality and sensitivity of her masterful artworks.

numerous group shows, the Kefalonia International

Art Festival in the Municipal Picture Gallery of Kefalos Greece and the International Women’s Art Exhibition at the Vithika Art facility in India, (2017). Many of her

Painting for her is like poetry. Many of which are

works have won online art competition awards too,

the covers of the great poetic tomes. Her subjects

richly-talented modern masters.

inspired by poems, her art has frequently graced

often trumping the works of many greatly-studied and

are mainly flowers and women, and with almost

Her chosen art mediums are acrylics, watercolors,

all flowers representative of women, both are so

beautiful, sweet, and oh so delicate upon her canvas.

The women in her great renderings all fight for love, tenderness, interest, and compassion.

Fotini’s inaugural exhibit was at the European Center for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies

organised by Energy Athens where she won the

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competition (2013). Since then she participated in

and all kinds of pencils. She has a deep fondness for lead pencils, particularly for its infinite tonal values and subtle shades of metallic grey. In the painting ‘Love Flowers’, a lusciously rich scene rendered

within very surreal bi-tonal limits. The tender young beauty, so anatomically correct, symmetric, and

well-ordered, strolls through a rose garden in full and

glorious bloom. Her shyness and sweetness are surely evident as she admires the soft, velvety suppleness of those deep, beautiful, crimson-maroon roses as she sets one gently in her long flowing hair. Perhaps she planted and nurtured these flowers herself. The flowers love and care for her too, as they reach upward to greet her.

Fotini particularly loves using lead pencil for its infinite tonal values and subtle shades of grey.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: HUG ME - lead pencil and watercolor - 76 x 56 cm THE LILIES - lead pencil and watercolor - 76 x 56 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: FLOWERS OF FEAST - lead pencil and watercolor - 56 x 76 cm LOVE FLOWERS - lead pencil and watercolor - 50 x 76 cm RED STEPS - lead pencil and watercolor - 72 x 92 cm

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USA

Gayle Miller “Music and color grab most of us and bring a sway to our spirit.

The use of strong color enhances the mood, the movement and the flow.”

American artist Gayle Miller received her

Apparel Arts of San Francisco. At AASF, Gayle delved

and Management from the University of Maryland,

sketching patterns and and models wearing her

undergraduate degree in Business Administration

USA. It was while studying the nuances of business

management, she realized her favorite classes were her past-time classes of drawing and graphic arts.

Growing up, her professional education did take preeminence and took her to Washington DC,

Maryland, where she worked for many years. But

soon her true creative spirit took over and she went to California where her love of art drew her to the

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into clothing design and patterning. Soon she was

designs and patterns. This opened a whole new world of drawing to Gayle, and soon she found her second creative outlet – watercolour painting! Wanting to

excel in this newfound medium, she took watercolor classes in San Mateo, CA and Bloomington, IL. She

also practiced plein air painting with Myna Wacknov in Brugge, Belgium, and went on to work with many other talented teachers in Bloomington where she

Music being her underlying theme, Gayle’s figures are always in action, doing a high octave dance of colors, style, movement and feeling. was also involved in two art salons at the Eaton Gallery.

Here, Gayle really came into her own and co-founded ‘Inside Out: Accessible Art’, a Co-Op Gallery in

Bloomington, IL, USA, a not-for-profit cooperative which

supports the arts, and members supports one another in their individual artistic pursuits. Her works have won her several awards and was included in the Telfair Museum F3A Show.

Gayle tickles our imaginations with her fun and unique

takes. Her works are bursting with energy. Music being the underlying theme, her figures are always in action, doing a high octave dance of colors, style, movement

and feeling. She not afraid to experiment and does so with confident brushstrokes! About Gayle’s paintings,

one of her admirers points out, “Life would be that much

more dull for the rest of us without Gayle’s art. There’s so much joy in watching the playful dance with style, color and emotion.” We couldn’t agree more.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: ONE WITH HIS MUSIC - watercolor on paper - 51 x 51 cm HE’S GOT THE MOVES - mixed media on paper - 45 x 61 cm RED eMotion - watercolor on paperr - 61 x 61 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: CELLIST - watercolor on paper - 45 x 61 cm BURSTING WITH SONG - watercolor on paper - 51 x 51 cm

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USA

George Clayson “My work is about using introspective concepts in arts to interpret ideas and bring them to a visual conclusion with watercolour, giving it a deeper meaning.”

George Clayson is a contemporary American artist.

the medium is deft, and combining it with his creative

He studied art while in college, and received his

vision he raises the art of watercolour to a superlative

Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from California State University in Fullerton, California. LIke all born artists, George knew that art was his calling and passion, and has been painting since the tender age of 12.

His works are introspective, speculative and an abstraction of the empirical visual, giving it a deeper meaning. As an artist who specialises in watercolour, George says. “You are born with a vision of creation

The process of layering his work with compositional elements, colour glazing, colour contrast and sheer intensity of colour combinations, makes his art achieve a transcendental level. “Some try to change your vision to line up with their own, others try to own yours,” says the artist. Struggling in his quest to find a way to mitigate this, he has evolved his own visions

and the need to bring it into existence in one form

that are manifested onto his canvases.

or another. After it is created sharing this vision

George is able to strike a balance between

is usually the next step and finding those who share the same vision becomes a journey.” He has continued to concentrate his creative talents into using watercolour as his preferred medium, a perfect choice to project his visual concepts. His skill over

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level.

traditional techniques and practices, and bring to this a profound idea, coalescing it into a successful painting. Fantasy themes and personal experiences run parallels in his choice of subject, and as an interpretive vehicle. His dramatic landscapes, with its

George is able to strike a balance between traditional techniques and practices, and bring to this mix a profound idea, coalescing it into a successful painting.

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cascading seas and stunning vistas of tall mountains,

usually lurks behind the beauty and the grandeur.

OPPOSITE PAGE- RIGHT TO LEFT:

THE JOURNEY watercolor monoprint - 81 x 56 cm

THE DOCKS watercolor monoprint - 76 x 56 cm

alongside the metal giant bridge and huge excavation

Making us aware that there are always two sides to

LAST VOYAGE OF THE REVENGE watercolor monoprint - 81 x 56 cm

machinery is a surprising contrast. While a true

a coin and it works both ways. Not to lose faith if

representation of the stark reality of life, taming of

happiness comes with a package of grief, there is

COASTAL FUN watercolor monoprint - 81 x 56 cm

nature by man is always a reminder that the ominous

always a silver lining to a black cloud.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Germany

Grazyna Federico “Perhaps it is the deep desire for more depth in life that drives me to do what I do best - paint!”

Grazyna Federico is a Poland born artist currently living in Germany. For the past 30 years she has been touring together with her husband across various countries of the world. One can see it in her works that these trips have inspired and fuelled her creativity to a higher pitch than her College Diploma of Darmstadt or her Creative Painting course from ABC School of Art Paris in Hamburg, ever could.

She paints the beliefs, the everyday lives, and the fascinating traditions of the people she encounters.

“These experiences and the memories stay with me long after the journey is over,” says Grazyna. “I rarely do on-the-spot paintings or plein-air paintings.

I absorb and assimilate all the images, sounds and smells of the different cultures I come across and

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that manifests itself onto my canvases, as a true emotional visualisation of that experience.” Her works combine many aspects of her life - the woman she is, the nature she loves and the symbolic hidden meanings behind the realistic and the obvious… they all open the floodgates to a creative outpouring.

Grazyna’s style ranges between the fantastic, the very realistic, and the surrealistic depending upon the sentiment she is attempting to portray. There is mysticism in almost all her paintings. A big part of her oeuvre is portraits. “The realistic portraits come to me during my travels. I’m fascinated by people of other cultures - and I love faces.” She likes to look at them, capture their expressions and, ‘freeze them in her paintings’. Her portraits not only reflect

Grazyna’s style ranges between the fantastic, the very realistic, and the surrealistic depending upon the sentiment she is attempting to portray. the personality behind the face, but encompasses a whole culture that is represented by the face in the painting.

In her paintings we see the undertones of surrealism, THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

DANCE OF THE SAMBURU acrylic and oil on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

THE MAASAI air-hardening clay / painted with acrylic - 33 (h) x 15 (w) x 19 (d) cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

expressionism and fulsome mannerisms in her hyperrealistic portraiture. Perhaps it is the deep desire for more depth in life that drives her, as she encourages the viewer to go a few levels deeper into her artwork,

SPRING - acrylic and silver leaf on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

to see beyond the ostensible and superficial and

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT`S DREAM - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm

grasp the true essence of her works.

WINTER - acrylic on canvas - 70 x 70 cm

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India

Harsha Lakhani “Painting is an important part of my day, I feel alive when I create my artworks. It is as important to me as oxygen for life.”

Indian artist Harsha Lakhani not only has a creative

undoubtedly resemble a barbed wire fence. This is

she lives in. A passion for art and a penchant for

poppies on a burnt ravaged field. Or maybe the

artist’s soul, but is very sensitive to the environment learning drove this hobby artist to seek guidance

from the already established artists and learn the finer nuances of painting to get a better understanding

of art. Painstakingly, she learnt brushwork, handling of paint, and along with her unique perspective of viewing the world and approaching an artwork, it

didn’t take her much time to reach a professional level. Very soon she was exhibiting her works!

countless wounds of fallen soldiers on a darkest night ever, when humanity lamented. The blood

and gore are evident in this painting. And then, as we lift our gaze, we see a new day dawning. Yes, there is still hope as the white dove flies over all

the mayhem, declaring and beseeching peace. A

new day is dawning with a promise of wisdom and enlightenment.

A peace-loving, happy and contented artist, Harsha

There is a lot of symbolism in Harsha’s work.

painting, ‘Dawn of Peace’, forces us to look at the

date. What goes up one day has to come down

holds strong views on war which she despises. Her artificial boundaries created by humans. The thin, swirly, jagged, white lines on black background

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a war-torn territory. And those red blotches perhaps

‘Perishable’, shows us that everything has an expiry someday. Empires rise, only to come crashing

down, paving way for the anew. Every creation gets

Harsha has a close connection and respect for her tools of the trade – her brushes and paints. Her heritage teaches that success comes to those who respect their trade paraphernalia.

THIS PAGE:

DAWN OF PEACE mixed medium- 68 x 78 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: BEHIND THE MASK acrylic on canvas - 66 x 81 cm MOOD mixed media - 66 x 81 cm

PERISHABLE acrylic on canvas - 83 x 122 cm

destroyed. Every life ends in death. A simple thought, very skillfully and prudently executed in a painting.

Everyday objects lay scattered, almost falling out of the canvas. At first glance, they look like a building falling: The demise and breaking down of inanimate objects within a span of time.

Harsha has a close connection and respect for her

tools of trade - her brushes and paints. It is her heritage which teaches that success comes to those who respect their trade paraphernalia and revere the hand that feeds.

Painting is an essential part of Harsha’s life. It is no longer a hobby or a profession but a necessity. Like breathing is to life, painting is to her soul.

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South Korea

Heungkwon Ryu “I paint so that I may

Heungkwon Ryu is a figurative Korean artist. He

in this beautiful blue planet until I return to many

tell you a story.”

is also the invited artist of the province and the

particles in the universe,” explains the artist who sees

President of Kimje City Environment Art Association.

his life akin to that of a hummingbird. The artist wants

Heungkwon’s works is an exploration of his cultural

us to know even though a hummingbird is a small

identity and his individuality as an artist. His paintings

creature, it is capable of achieving the impossible.

are richly coloured and poignant, taking inspiration

Essentially, showing us that it’s not always a

from regular people going about their lives doing

sledgehammer that does all jobs, sometimes a small

everyday tasks. His tireless experimenting has taken

pin can accomplish a whole lot more. It reminds us

his realistic rendering to a new level of technical skill

about the importance of small things. It reminds us

and conceptual depth.

to take a step back to question - are we expending

He paints hummingbirds along with beautiful women, using these tiny birds as a metaphor for many of his initiatives for various reasons. These tiny Hummingbirds expend Herculean amounts of energy and can flap their wings at 100 beats per second or more. “My living in this world is to use my physical and mental energy passionately and flutter endlessly

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too much energy on pointless endeavours? It reminds us not to get caught in a rut while encouraging us to self reflect. A hummingbird is also symbolic of Joy, Vitality, Fertility, Survival, Conservation and Maneuverability. The Aztecs revered this bird and thought it to be ’carriers of the soul’.

Heungkwon works reflect many social themes and

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: SELFIE-NARCISSISM oil on canvas - 53 x 72 cm

Heungkwon’s works is an exploration of his cultural identity and his individuality as an artist. His tireless experimenting has taken his realistic rendering to a new level of technical skill and conceptual depth.

THE MEMORY OF SUBJICOJI IN JEJU oil on canvas - 72 x 91 cm THE NIGHT oil on canvas - 72 x 91 cm

reveal facets of human life and psychology especially

eternal, imperishable, continuous and perpetual. And

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

in his hometown in South Korea. They solicit empathy

sometimes finite and ephemeral. Either way, it’s an

and understanding from his viewers. He creates striking

evolving and ever-changing world, and Heugkwon is

images of fleeting beauty; in some cases this beauty is

able to represent it on his canvas rather effectively.

THE GIRL AND HUMMING BIRD oil on canvas - 45 x 38 cm

THE MEMORY OF HAPPY MOMENT oil on canvas - 130 x 90 cm

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USA

Heather Grisham “I create because I love the challenge of being able to re-create something that is in reality tangible, out of a medium that in its beginning state, has no structure at all.”

Although American artist Heather Grisham has had

to scream in fear, is what seems to fascinate her. It

a formal training at Union University in Jackson,

is that moment when you are clueless about what

Tn., as well as William Carey College in Gulfport,

is in front of you; where all rational thoughts take a

Mississippi, she is, by and large, a self-taught artist.

back-seat; a sheer disbelief grips you; that’s when

It was very early in life she realised the painting was

you experience the unadulterated emotion of pure

her true calling, and encouraged by her grandmother,

fear. This is perhaps what inspired Heather to paint

who too was an artist, she took the brush in her hand

‘Betty-screaming lady’. This Betty too is screaming

and hasn’t left it since! As a child, Heather would be

– with fear not unlike the figure in the Edvard Munch

constantly drawing and painting in her scrapbook.

painting ‘Scream’. Her face too is devoid of colour.

Being a keen observer of trends she sought her inspiration from films, as movies are a reflection of society. Horror films are of particular interest to

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It makes us wonder what is it that she has seen? To know the answer to that, we would have to see the movie which is Heather’s inspiration for this painting!

Heather and a lot of her work is based on horror film

Heather begins her artwork in a fairly disciplined

characters. That moment right before you are about

manner. First, she studies the photography stills of a

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: JACK POE, mash up of Edgar Allan Poe and Jack Torrance acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm BETTY, screaming lady - acrylic on canvas - 51 x 51 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: SHE, posing lady - acrylic and silver leaf on canvas - 51 x 61 cm CAROL-BAKING LADY - acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm PA BROWN- the old man - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 101 cm

Being a keen observer of trends she sought her inspiration from films as movies are a reflection of society. Horror films are of a particular interest to Heather and a lot of her work is based on horror film characters. particular scene. Then she proceeds to make a rough sketch with simple lines. The details of these lines are mostly lost once the painting begins to take shape.

Then she moves on to apply paint, and here is where a new set of details come out. This last process is the most crucial and final act of her method. Sometimes she just starts out with the paint application - totally skipping the sketch and the referenced photographs.

“It just depends on how anxious I am to get started,”

she states.

Hailing from Tennessee, Heather’s works raises many eyebrows. “As where I am from, ‘girls’ don’t paint these things”, she laughs and tells us. Looking at Heather one can see why! She has the air of the sweet girl-next-door, and one would expect her to paint ‘pretty pictures’, which perhaps go more with her than the shocking and the macabre she splashes on her canvases.

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Germany

Heidi Planke “As an artist, I try to create a picture that shows me and the viewer the beauty of nature. I try to recreate the calm, serene and sometimes even magical ambience of nature with color and carefully applied brushstrokes.”

German artist Heidi Planke was born in Greifswald, a

and with graphite pencils for many years and has

town on the Baltic Sea. Three of Germany’s fourteen

since found that acrylic on canvas is best suited to

national parks can be reached by car in one hour or less from Greifswald. In this wonderful scenery she lived many years, the impressions of which were to influence her later in her landscape paintings.

In the 90s she moved to Berlin and worked for a while there as a veterinarian engineer at the HumboldtUniversity. By this time she was already sure about her artistic inclination. Heidi is a self-taught artist and has experimented extensively with different mediums.

When she stopped working at her day job, Heidi was able to spend more time on her first passion painting. She has dabbled in watercolor, oils, pastels

her painting style and expression. She then coats her canvas with a special varnish that adds a shine to the artwork and is hardly distinguishable from an oil painting!

Many of her pictures reflect the love of the landscape, where she was born. She also finds inspirations for her paintings during the long walks with her German Shepherd through fields and forests in Brandenburg where she currently lives.

Heidi inspiration is also strongly drawn from Impressionism with its dreamy vistas of landscape,

OPPOSITE PAGE - ANTICLOCKWISE:

BOATHOUSES - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm

BRIDGE OVER THE LITTLE RIVER- acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm LIGHTHOUSE- acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

LITTLE RIVER IN BRANDENBURG FOREST - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm

Many of Heidi’s pictures reflect the love of the landscape, where she was born.

OLD COTTAGE ON BODDEN - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm

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Heidi’s artworks reflect the artist’s surroundings it also makes the audience nostalgic for a time in one’s life when the world was a happy and magical place. her play of light and shadows creating an ideal,

landscape in a completely new light. She makes

perfect world so favoured by the Impressionists.

the ordinary into something fresh and remarkable.

Her paintings invite the viewer gently into the manifestations of nature’s bountiful perfection. While her works reflect the artist’s surroundings it also THIS PAGE:

MOONSHINE BY THE BALTIC SEA acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: MAGIC IN FOREST acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm

LONELY PLACE ON THE BEACH acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm PARK IN POTSDAM acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm

makes the audience nostalgic for a time in one’s life when the world was a happy and magical place. She captures the changing moods and colours of the European landscape skillfully and imbues her deep love for it within her works.

From the perspective of a painter she discovers the

Her images always appear as a colored poem. The peaceful idylls of the motives catch the viewer and make them forget their worries.

She has exhibited quite a few times and is well known in her own town and local regions around.

“A big honor was the successful participation with several works in an international exhibition in Calcutta, India, in 2016,” she says. She is now preparing for another international show soon.

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Indonesia

“Always strive to create your own works. To be a real artist you must first free yourself from conventional thinking.”

Ida Bagus Alit Balinese artist Ida Bagus Alit or Gus Alit, as he is affectionately known, is a painter, sculptor, photographer, event organizer and art collective

leader. President of the Bali Indonesian Sculptures Association (BISA) founded in 2002, Ida is also a keen collector of beautiful sculptures and carvings which he proudly displays throughout his home.

A self-taught artist, his initial inspiration came from studying his artist father, Ida Bagus Agung. Beneath his eccentric persona, there is an aristocratic air about him, especially when he adorns his traditional costume and reading glasses.

Alit’s passion for photography has led him to documenting Balinese religious ceremonies in their unique traditional costumes. He happily points and shoots with his portable camera, his iPhone, photos of young Balinese women clad in traditional dress,

glamorous and alluring – the iconic image of Balinese feminine beauty. These images he prints on canvas and paints over.

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“One must not copy,” says Alit. “True art must come from the heart.” And it’s clear his heart is where his art comes from! Alit’s canvases are like looking at Bali through a kaleidoscope. He mostly works in acrylic on canvas and creates lyrical, dreamlike scenes. As a viewer, one can hear music emanating from his paintings. A drum roll here and flute strain there.

Especially as we look at his ‘Blue Harmony’. It is a celebration! A surrealistic dance festival, where the animals, fishes and human all celebrate, fused as one, living in harmony.

As we see in his painting ‘Wonderful Day’, we see

the strong influence of Wayang Kulit, a traditional performing art of puppet-shadow play. A story is weaved as his characters adorn fancy headgears, and fishes for feet, an elephant, a serpent and a

quiver full of arrows! Not unlike this performing art, Alit’s paintings are a narrative which is a unique combination of the ritualistic, the imaginative and the surrealistic. The protagonists in his artworks are not

from real life but are a creation of his imagination.

“To be a real artist you must first free yourself from the conventional thinking,” he says while experimenting with applying vibrant colours to traditional temple statues.

Some of his complex and finely-detailed compositions bring a smile to our lips, accentuating that art, like life, should be fun and an enjoyable experience.

Alit’s paintings are a narrative which is a unique combination of the ritualistic, the imaginative and the surrealistic.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: FRIENDSHIP - acrylic on canvas - 150 x 100 cm ANOTHER WORLD - acrylic on canvas - 110 x 150 cm WONDERFUL DAY - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: BLUE HARMONY - acrylic on canvas - 150 x 110 cm SUMMIT MEETING - acrylic on canvas - 150 x 100 cm

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Uruguay

Ignacio De Mattos “My paintings have an important connection with nature and a spiritual inner world without abandoning the aesthetic language.”

Ignacio De Mattos is an Uruguayan abstract, independent painter. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, and raised in Tacuarembó, he was very interested in art history and attended workshops such as those developed by painter Nelson Ramos (19971998), sculptor Guillermo Fernández (2002-2003), both Uruguay’s veteran fine artists.

His first early works are based on a variety of experimentation with various techniques (acrylic, oil, oil pastel, mixed media, always on paper or cardboard) and giving great importance to colour as being the prime motivation and compositional element. He says, “Colour is very important for me and the reaction it can cause in other people.” These experimentations helped develop a very personal and unique language.

The patterns he developed are far from being reticent or constraint. They seize an unusual variety of formal ambiguity, falling in two conflicting

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categories. One set of works, he applies layers upon layers of paints – with a brush, with a knife, and even dripping it on to his panel, letting his inside Pollock spring out into action. And the other set, he frenzied and painstakingly scrapes the paint, in thatch-like patterns, removing the top layers to reveal the colours beneath. His works appear very tactile and sculpted. Almost designed to be touched to appreciate - you feel an impulse to trace your

fingers along its contours to perceive it genuinely and accurately. It’s no longer the colours that seem to be the driving force, it’s the process that invigorates his method.

Analysis of the abstract and looking beyond the visual idiosyncratically, we find Ignacio’s paintings have an important connection with nature and a spiritual inner world, which without abandoning the

aesthetic language, gives off a feeling that something or a space is deliberately covered up, and in parts

The patterns Ignacio developed are far from being reticent or constraint.

They seize an unusual variety of formal ambiguity, falling in two conflicting categories excavated in haste; the vagaries of which leave the viewers in wonderment. They are like action paintings. As he moves about creating his art pieces, he affects the canvas by marking it, either THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: UNTITLED - mixed medium- 50 x 35 cm UNTITLED - mixed medium- 48 x 36 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: UNTITLED - mixed medium- 49 x 35 cm UNTITLED - mixed medium- 45 x 35 cm

making incisions or patching it up with colours, and those markings, in turn, affects the artist and determines the trajectory of the next mark. Based on this premise, it is a dialogue between the artist and the canvas.

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Australia

Ilona Jetmar “Through my painting practice I attempt to reconcile and connect with a lost heritage whilst revealing the dislocated cultural practices of the Hungarian diaspora.”

Ilona Jetmar was born in Vienna and immigrated to Australia with her family in 1970. She began painting at the age of 16 taking lessons from Rosemary Todman-Parrant, a student of the Meldrum

existing literature and artistic concerns of cultural identity in a multicultural world and how a sense of home and belonging can be attained for the

School lineage. After completing her Bachelor

individual.

Degree in Visual Arts from Deakin University

Ilona teaches Contemporary Art, including painting

in Victoria, Australia, she went on to complete her Honours Degree. Her exhibition of series named ‘Light Chasing’, was awarded the Deakin University Vice-Chancellor’s Award in 2008.

Ilona Jetmar is an artist currently undertaking her PhD at Deakin University. Her thesis is on exploring ideas of home and belonging through the art-making process within the context of her own immigration from Eastern Europe to Australia. These are important elements in the current cultural and political climate

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both globally and nationally. These ideas link in with

and drawing, at Deakin University in the School of

Communication and Creative Arts. She has exhibited at numerous galleries around Melbourne including Walker Street Gallery in Dandenong where she

explored themes of art and spirituality, identity and

culture. Her works are held in private and institutional collections.

Her art is an exploration of her own spiritual journey.

“Wassily Kandinsky’s book, ‘Concerning the Spiritual in Art’, sparked my interest. I have been looking

Ilona’s paintings are autobiographical and realistically rendered. It is an exploration of her own spiritual journey.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: ESZTER M - oil on canvas - 45 x 101 cm SZÜLI APÓ & ME - oil on canvas - 45 x 61 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: MLADEN & ME - oil on canvas - 45 x 61 cm ESZTER R & ME - oil on canvas - 45 x 61 cm DEDO - oil on canvas - 101 x 122 cm

at the philosophy of the Romantics, particularly in

story that are transformed by a creative process,

the field of literature, that deals with the sublime,”

become re-purposed and re-contextualised”, says

explains Ilona. Her paintings use light as one of the

Ilona. These works are part of a growing body of

main tools to create the mood.

enquiry into ideas of home and belonging.

Ilona’s paintings are autobiographical and

Through her painting practice she attempts to

realistically rendered. “Family archives provide a

reconcile and connect with a forgotten heritage whilst

rich trove of source material - photographs and

revealing the dislocated cultural practices of the

physical objects depict a memory or a family

Hungarian diaspora.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Romania

Ioana Moca “I am always inspired

Ioana Moca is a Romanian artist, whose love for

Ioana mostly paints flowers, trees, faces, birds and

by the colors and the

drawing and calligraphy as a kid led her to a full-

everything else in nature that catches her fancy.

fledged art career. She graduated from Centres

But here’s the twist... she paints an abstraction and

Foreign Languages, Babes-Bolyai University in

some very interesting perspectives of the above.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and worked as a translator/

The suggestive foliage in translucent hues is not

interpreter for several years, including 17 years at the

what the eyes actually see, but an abstraction of

French Institute, where she was involved in organizing

nature. Her forms outlined in gold, paying a tribute to

and managing the cultural activity.

blackberries, ripe and juicy.

As a child, she would draw nature and everything

The modulated layering of incandescent reds and

that she saw around her. When in high school, she

golden yellows, with crisp edges and having the

discovered a course of graphics and decided to take

layering displays an encaustic like depth to ‘Mr

it and followed her teacher’s instructions with great

Butterfly’. The repetitive patterns and the dots,

sensitivity. “I always loved the drawing and painting

abandon any semblance of perspective and like

but never had the real time for it. Now retired, I have

the cubist, lets space flow through the forms and

the opportunity to dedicate considerable time to this

figures. Different flat planes of colours intersect, like

passion,” says Ioana. Since then she has painting

a fluttering action of the butterfly shown from various

relentlessly, and her works have been selected for

angles. Ioana’s canvases sparkle, with all the foliage

many group exhibitions in Italy and Romania.

bursting forwards like spring.

beauty surrounding me.”

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Ioana’s suggestive foliage in translucent hues, are not what the eyes actually see, but a perceived abstraction of nature.

Her canvases sparkle, with all the foliage bursting forwards like spring.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: FROZEN - mixed media on cardboard - 17 x 22 cm DANCING - mixed media on cardboard - 23 x 27 cm WILD BLACKBERRY - mixed media on cardboard - 19 x 20 cm PRINCESS - mixed media on cardboard - 22 x 26 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: MR BUTTERFLY - mixed media on cardboard - 23 x 24 cm MASK - mixed media on cardboard - 30 x 40 cm WISDOM - mixed media on cardboard - 19 x 44 cm ABSTRACT - mixed media on cardboard - 19 x 44 cm

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USA

James L Hall “I love painting nature

James Hall is an American artist who while studying

and particularly water;

at Waterford High School in Connecticut, fell in

studio. He has been painting ever since.

love with art. This was the time he started doing

In his early stages, James was inspired by paintings

I include it in many of the landscapes I chose to paint.”

sculptures of animals in stained glass and plaster of Paris. He simply loved working on them and spent more and more time pottering in his art studio. And then came the surprise statement from the artist.

“My first paintings were done at the St. Gregory’s Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA. Yes, I was studying to become a monk”. Realising his first calling to be a monk, he also responded to the second calling - Art. James started taking art classes at the Abbey, and then later at Oklahoma Baptist University.

The death of his mother in the early 90s was a tragedy that James couldn’t handle and it put him into depression. During those depression years, he stopped painting for almost 20 years! He started painting again after he moved into a large apartment

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and was able to dedicate a whole room to his art

of Claude Monet. The Impressionist style and

the waterlilies paintings of Monet made quite an

impact on him. Later, while he was studying to be a monk at the Abbey, the Late Rev. Gregory Gerrer, a

Benedictine monk who was part of the Abbey in early 1900s, made quite an impact on young James. Late Rev. Gregory Gerrer was an artist and art historian who later became the Founder and Director, of St.

Gregory’s Museum and Art Gallery. James says, “while at St Gregory’s Abbey, I was struck with

admiration for the late Father Gregory Gerrer and his works, which included a commissioned painting of a portrait of Pope Pius X. The Abbey introduced me to paintings from all over the world.”

James loves water, so it’s no mystery that many of his landscapes are focused around water. These

James landscapes are shimmering and dramatic. Every stroke is put down with a lot of passion, every colour applied with reverence of his spiritual years. are reflective of places he is able to escape from the brick and mortar world and lose himself in their natural beauty. Flowers too attract him and he enjoys painting floral decorations.

His landscapes are shimmery and dramatic. Every stroke is put down with a lot of passion, every colour applied with reverence of his spiritual background.

There is also a fair amount of restlessness and THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA - oil on linen - 183 x 122 cm PALE GREEN VASE - oil on canvas - 61 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: MONETS GARDEN (Inspired by photo taken by relative, late Lynn Berube Hall on visit to Monets Garden) - oil on canvas - 101 x 76 cm OGUNGUIL, MAINE - oil on canvas - 101 x 76 cm

sparkle, along with an almost perfect rendering of nature and its creations. The landscaped vistas of jagged mountainous seashores, the sea, the waterlilies and all of nature’s creations are lovingly illustrated by the artist onto his canvas.

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USA

Joe Lambert “I hope my focus on

Joe Lambert is an American artist, living in Ohio,

and the endless cloud formations in the sky.” The

showing that beauty

USA. He studied art at Ohio State University and

loss of green patches is worrisome to this eco-activist

received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1973. He

and he hopes by showing that beauty up-close in the

up-close in the form of paintings will inspire people to work to preserve what we have.”

was employed by The Ohio State University IT Group for more than three decades and is now pursuing a full-time artist life.

Joe is also a musician, with a considerable fan following he performs guitar and vocal duets with his wife and other local area musicians. His music, like his painting, relates to love, nature, and the creative power at work in the Universe. “The wonder and awe of a pond on a warm, still summer day, or chords or lyrics to a piece of music that has the ability to deliver us to a higher place, things that are stimulating and soul stirring and help us seek our higher calling,” explains the artist.

Joe mainly works on oil and acrylic on canvas. And being an environmentalist, who is always in awe of the natural world we inhabit, his choice of subjects is no secret. He makes landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife paintings. “I find immense peace in viewing a large open landscape, the movement of the ocean,

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form of paintings will inspire people to work towards preserving the planet’s natural resources they have inherited from their ancestors.

His work ‘Cow on top of the World’ is a formidable and prominent work. Compositionally too it is very intriguing. The vast patch of green is so compelling and inviting. And the cow being the sole creature who is enjoying this verdure.

Perhaps an idealist, Joe’s serene painting continue to enthrall us. Like in the movie ‘The Sound of Music’ those rolling hills and landscapes with their unique perspectives are equivalent to swinging musical paintings, like a duet of flawless guitar strumming to a sweet smooth voice.

Having retired now Joe is able to devote more time to his art. Joe also belongs to two local art leagues, contributing works to various galleries and other venues to exhibit along with these groups.

Joe mainly works in oil and acrylic on canvas. And being an environmentalist, who is always in awe of the natural world we inhabit, his choice of subjects is no secret.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: COW ON TOP OF THE WORLD - oil on canvas - 61 x 45 cm SURF #3 - acrylic on canvas - 91 x 61 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: EXPECTATION - acrylic on canvas - 101 x 76 cm VIEW FROM THE RUINS - acrylic on canvas - 15 x 20 cm GREEN HILLS, IRELAND - oil on canvas - 101 x 76 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Malta

“I enjoy days out in the Maltese countryside, painting the breathtaking landscape in an array of colours.”

John Vic Borg John Vic Borg was born in Mellieha, Malta, a nation rich in history and known for many historic sites, numerous fortresses and megalithic temples. His

and with his parent’s permission, arranged private art lessons for him. At the tender age of 10, for the first time, John started using oils on canvas and being a

Returning back to Malta with his family, a young John initially found it difficult to adjust. His birthplace was an alien country to him. He found respite in art – he could escape to another world through drawing and

John chose to return to his hometown Mellieha, once he turned 18, and this homecoming has been very beneficial to him. His birthplace has given John back tenfold. He has taken part in a number of collective and solo exhibitions. “Once at a collective exhibition, my painting was selected from several other

imagination on paper. It was his primary teacher Mr Alfred Vella, who encouraged him to take art seriously

in Valletta for their 150th Anniversary. It was exhibited in the Malta Museum of Fine Arts. That was a proud

family immigrated to Australia when he was just 9 months old. There, as soon as he could hold a pencil in his hand, he was always found drawing whatever he could see around him or whatever came to his mind.

every free moment he was sketching, rendering his

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versatile medium, he quickly fell in love with it. Going to Australia once again, he furthered his art studies under the guidance of a host of artists.

established artists works, by the Malta Society of Arts

John started using oils on canvas and quickly fell in love with the medium and it continues to be his medium of choice for the very fact that oils are extremely versatile. moment for me and one of my fondest memories.”

John is now settled in Mellieha, Malta with his wife and two children and he enjoys days out in the beautiful countryside painting the breathtaking Maltese landscape in an array of colours.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY - oil on canvas - 90 x 60 cm MONUMENTAL STAIRS - oil on canvas - 60 x 70 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

DAY BY THE LAKE - oil on canvas - 70 x 90 cm

WAITING FOR PAPA - oil on canvas - 70 x 90 cm VILLAGE LIFE - oil on canvas - 70 x 90 cm

John has recently started painting with chocolate, an unconventional and peculiar medium, which doesn’t stop this zany artist! And as he continues these experiments, he gets better with every new delicious, saucy stroke.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Thailand

Kamol Chowbangngam “My work is inspired

Kamol Chowbangngam was born in Thailand, and

of his brush, in a calm and composed manner. As

by the influences that

like all biologically gifted artists, he knew he loved

though the turbulence has came to rest; the heated

surround me - the people I meet, the places I go to, all are

drawing and prepared to learn and excel at it. As a young man, Kamol graduated from Saovapha Art College, Bangkok, and went on to Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, Bangkok, to further his art

a sigh of relief, gazing at the central tranquillity surrounded by the chaos. This combination of chaos and tranquillity has become tantamount to the

excellent ingredients

studies.

evolution of his narrative.

that go into my work.”

Kamol started exhibiting his works at an early age.

He keeps adding more and more drama in his work,

As an artist, abstraction is a sound technique of his art narrative. It’s the open-ended thought process that he prefers, which leaves ample room for multiple interpretations of his work. His art is an expression of the self, born out of profound emotions and internal emotional unrest, expressed through suggestive brushwork, lines, textures, and compositions.

Nature provokes and inspires him to paint these action paintings. There are sections of his canvas, where the busy brushwork conveys chaos, a frustration of some sort that keeps him going around in circles, as if unable to find a solution. And then, you look beyond it, in the horizon, there is serenity. Expressed by the artist with broad sweeps

144

contention gets resolved, and the viewer heaves

the chaos builds up and at times just keeps going.

Paint is removed, scraped and applied and reapplied multiple times, without deliberation or purpose; driven by the sheer momentum of the impulse. He continues to work until the painting becomes this frenzied pile-up of imagery. The resulting piece has no clear spaces, no way to disentangle from the dense chaos... Realising that he can’t go on anymore, the artist here closes the work, marks it with a big X - a no-entry sign and names it ‘Hypothetical’.

This experiment leads to perhaps a serendipitous conclusion of letting chaos prevail. Sometimes there is no way back from it, and this is the artist’s way of telling us to let it go, release it, disentangle and extricate, and in the process, be purged.

Kamol’s art is an expression of the self, born out of profound emotions and internal emotional unrest, expressed through suggestive brushwork, lines, textures, and compositions.

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POWER OF NATURE - oil in canvas - 100 x 80 cm

THIS IS THE KARMA - oil in canvas - 120 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

ABSTRACT OF NATURE - oil in canvas - 100 x 80 cm ILLUSION - oil in canvas - 100 x 120 cm

HYPOTHETICAL - oil in canvas - 120 x 100 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

USA

Karen Brockbank “I am drawn to painting the face.

I like capturing the essence of the subject, getting to the personality behind the visage.”

THIS PAGE- LEFT TO RIGHT:

BLUE EYED INNOCENCE acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm PORTRAIT OF BRITNEY acrylic on canvas - 45 x 50 cm EARLY BOB DYLAN acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm DIGNITY AND GRACE acrylic on canvas - 56 x 71 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

REFLECTIONS acrylic on canvas - 81 x 81 cm

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Karen Brockbank is an American artist living in Southern California. Family ideologies and obligations led her to be pushed into getting a regular career.

Karen got herself a real estate license and worked for developers selling subdivisions and new homes for the past three decades.

Creativity didn’t suddenly come to Karen. Her interest in painting developed gradually when she was in her late 20’s. It served as a hobby to her for many years, and slowly she started spending more and more time painting. This is when she realised her calling. She educated herself in the finer points of painting, learnt some new techniques and has been painting since.

Her paintings of cityscapes not only portray the character, but also the time of the days. In ‘Reflections’, the view is perhaps painted as the day is breaking, the sky is still dusky without the hustle bustle of nightlife. The water is too calm and

serene to be like this at the end of a chaotic day with not a ripple. Lights are switched on in the rooms in the buildings far behind, clearly an early riser. It’s a soothing scene with soft brushwork and contrasting colours.

Portraits are the mainstay of Karen’s art. Most frequently it’s only a solitary figure, set in everyday usual situations. Sometimes even her compositions have a portrait-like appeal to them. Dramatic poses that are intense and surreal at times, conveying the whiff of a personal world. Aside from just catching the likeness of the model, Karen manages to catch a ‘perfect moment’, an atmosphere of languor and

relaxation, with the figures being very real, rather than ideal. ‘Blue Eyed Innocence’ is one such work. It shows a girl with white flowers in her hair, gazing into the distance, with a questioning look in her eyes, all making for a doll-like ambience.

Portraits are the mainstay of Karen’s art. Most frequently it’s only a solitary figure, set in everyday usual situations.

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Greece

“My painting arouse differing emotions in each person depending on what they experienced in their life.”

Katerina Kaloumenou Katerina Kaloumenou was born in Athens, Greece.

She graduated from the School of Fine Arts in Painting and has studied Hagiography, Mosaic and Scenography. She is also a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts in Greece.

Katerina started her creative journey working for a publishing house and did many book covers and illustrations designs for them. She has a great experience with mosaic and worked at creating mosaics artworks for churches and did several individual commissioned works. She also engaged in the art of making portable Byzantine Icons and did that for many years. She has taught art to children

in Athens while participating in many exhibitions in

Greece and around the world. This vast experience in varied fields has strengthened her artistic prowess and she aspires to make a difference in people’s lives through her practice of art. She believes in ‘Healing

through Art’ and with her landscapes of the Greek vistas, aims to arouse a calm and tranquil feeling in her viewers.

While an effort to portray landscapes can produce beautiful images, Katerina’s landscapes are an abstraction of the feelings they evoke in her. These paintings spring to life and through her dark and light theatrical renderings, manifest a full range of emotions. Being her own interpretations of Greek

landscapes, these are, at times, bursting forth with

Katerina’s landscapes are an abstraction of the feelings they evoke in her and manifest a full range of emotions, through her dark and light theatrical renderings.

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electrifying energy and at times, are calm and peaceful.

“Occasionally, the inspiration may come through listening to a song or a religious hymn, or just by seeing a beautiful scenery in front of me,” says Katerina.

In her paintings colours emerge from a white bright light, as though this light is what churning them out and casting them forth, in a circular pattern, or emanating sideways, rolling, swirling, billowing in a large undulating mass. It’s the unrest of the artist that is manifesting here in these landscapes, the artist’s experience that they narrate, her discord and discontent. Each moment rippling and heaving as a wave in the sea, and then crashing on the shore, drenching the rocks, each splatter is a rapid brush stroke, applied with fluidity, matching the energy of the scene.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

BETWEEN THE WAVES - collage with paper - 100 x 70 cm JOURNEY - collage with paper - 70 x 100 cm

DEW DROPS - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

STREAM - acrylic on canvas - 80 x 60 cm

FEELINGS - collage with paper - 150 x 100 cm

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Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Morocco

“Nothing fascinates me more than taking my brushes and directing my energy onto a canvas.�

Khassal Zohra Of Moroccan origin, Fatima Khassal Zohra is recognised for her bright coloured works. These highly creative and artistic works emphasise structure, depth, movement and texture. Nothing fascinates her more than taking her brushes and directing her energy onto a canvas.

A businesswoman, she has been a Director of a company for more than two decades. This, however, has not altered her love for art. On the contrary, over the years, her relationships with arts and her artistic talents have strengthened and made her Khassal Zohra, a painter of abstract art.

After Morocco, her home country, and England where

she has lived since the age of 7, her adventure for the Ivory Coast really began during a trip on the Lagoon EbriĂŠ in 1990. She fell under the charming spell of African hospitality and fascinated by this incredible country, with its dreamy landscapes and captivating beauty, this vivacious and dynamic Anglo-Moroccan, decided to abandon everything including her prestigious career in London, to settle on the edge of the lagoon.

Khassal is a manager and a permanent artist at Afrique Art Gallery on Ivory Coast, Her paintings

are now owned by major galleries and private art collectors around the world

Fatima Khassal Zohra is recognized for her bright coloured works that emphasize structure, depth, movement and texture.

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VISITEURS mixed media - 110 x 110 cm DEMANDE AU MARIAGE mixed media - 50 x 50 cm

LA VIERGE acrylic on canvas - 40 x 40 cm

LA FEMME CHERCHE collage with paper - 60 x 70 cm

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Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Kouakeu Messon Fabrice “My paintings are a

Born in Ivory Coast, Kouakeu Messon Fabrice is a

and being surrounded with paints and other art

tribute to African Art

young artist who knew from an early age that it was

paraphernalia. Kouakeu too started painting and soon

painting he wanted to devote his life to. He continued

began to develop his own unique and personal style.

and Culture.”

his formal studies until the 5th grade but from thereon he made a formal decision - to chose to paint above all other hobbies and career choices. Soon this passion of his developed into a full-fledged career.

Kouakeu’s father is a painter and mother a housewife; he grew up seeing his father paint

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Kouakeu started to create a collage of sculptural images, which were inspired by his own cultural heritage and showed the influences of African Tribal Art. African art has primarily four major forms.

The first being the human figure, which represents chiefs, dead ancestors, and more. The second form

Kouakeu started to create a collage of sculptural images, which were inspired by his own cultural heritage and showed influences of African Tribal Art THIS PAGE:

MIXED MEDIA OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: CULTURE DE CHEZ NOUS MIXED MEDIA 2

VALEUR AFRICAINE

which is abstraction and stylisation, which was preferred over realistic representations. The third form was sculpture. Kouakeu’s style resembles an amalgamation of the second and third form.

It was Mother’s Day when for the first time Kouakeu gained his first audience. He produced a painting

of a mother with her children, demonstrating to the viewers that he had mastered a great standard of his own, a painter and sculpture with his own standing.

After that fateful day, he began to hold his exhibitions at Afrique Art Gallery in Ivory Coast.

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Germany

“My works are inspired by European masters with their hyper-real images, and heavily detailed rendering.”

Langer Reiner German-born artist Langer Reiner is an outstanding international artist. In the art scene for 35 years, he

is a powder-keg of a dynamic, phantasmic, spectral, surrealistic style all his own – a fusion-melded art-

form, which he studied under Professor Lajos Sebök at Düsseldorf/Neuss.

His premier solo exhibition was at Galerie am

Mühlenbusch, Neuss Germany in 1979. From then on, between 1987-1998, he had many exhibitions

worldwide. From 2013-2014 he started working on many installations.

Langer draws his inspiration from the European

olde-world masters Albrecht Dürer and Michelangelo, with their hyper-real images and heavily detailed

rendering. The theatrical stance of his subjects in an ethereal and illusory surrounding gives his works a

dreamlike manifestation, passing through the many stages of reality takes us into an alternate world.

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Langer’s work is deeply cerebral and highly symbolic.

In his works, the fish symbolises that life on earth began in the sea. The bird with wings signifies a release, ready to fly towards freedom. And together it shows the infinite circle of life, meaning that when something dies it gives new life to another existence.

His artworks are the concoction of a surprising, deeply moving technique and skill with an etch-like quality and painstakingly fine and minute strokes. He combines collage, with his drawing and watercolours.

The result is a unique texture, which is reminiscent of old masters prints The main theme of his work is Freedom. His side projects are what he calls “performance works” of world legends. He has oft-partaken of Land Art Installation with the elemental use of Fire, as in “Light of an Angel“ (2017 - Khomdara, India).

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: LOVE mixed media collage on paper, drawing, Oldmaster Colloration 20 x 28 cm DEEP IN FOREST mixed media collage on paper, drawing, Oldmaster Colloration 20 x 24 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: ANGEL 1 mixed media collage on paper, drawing, Oldmaster Colloration 20 x 25 cm DIE GÖTTER / GODS mixed media collage on paper, drawing, Oldmaster Colloration 15 x 22 cm FLY mixed media collage on paper, drawing, Oldmaster Colloration 20 x 25 cm

Langer Reiner’s artworks are the concoction of a surprising, deeply moving technique and skill with an etch-like quality and painstakingly fine and minute strokes.

Reiner began a worldwide ‘Mail Art Project’, its

atrocities, senselessness and futility of war. He

theme, ‘Against War’, is an ongoing and very personal

believes that all sides lose so much in the end. This

mission that he has upheld for almost 30 years now.

personal conviction results in a visual mantra often

His art is united with his stance against the horrors,

foreshadowing his art.

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Croatia

“Painting is a reflection of my inner world.”

Loredana Bradaschia Loredana Bradaschia was born in Rijeka, Croatia.

She graduated from the Faculty of the Tourist and

Hotel Management in Opatija, a modern tourist city

located in the Kvarner Bay with the longest tradition

of Croatian tourism, where she was working for many years. She has learnt the basic art techniques in

‘Romolo Vennuci’, an art group of the Italian Society in her hometown Rijeka. She was a member of this group for 14 years.

Loredana’s work is a reflection of her inner world.

Given that her emotions, memories and music

play such an integral part of her life, she has found painting to be the best way to express herself.

Curiosity and playfulness are important elements in each of her creations. Loredana has had many solo

exhibitions and participated in numerous art collective

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juried exhibitions both in Croatia and abroad. She has won numerous awards and has received extensive recognition for her artistic work. When Loredana starts to paint, she doesn’t have any preconceived idea or composition in mind. She approaches her work simply based on instinct. Her current sentiment and emotion becomes the stimulus. This process allows her to paint freely, unburdened with the sense of already knowing the outcome.

Loredana’s works are in strong and contrasting colours, and while they attract deep fascination they also conjure up a mesmerising sensation of visually abstract engaging moments and demand attention Her canvases are an abstraction of a thought - linear in design, bright in colour, open in composition, with indeterminate nebulous forms, giving them a performance-like appeal.

Loredana’s works are in strong and contrasting colours, and while they attract deep fascination they also conjure up a mesmerising sensation of visually abstract engaging moments.

THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: THE BUTTERFLY”S DREAM - acrylic on paper - 7.5 x 10 cm AMONG OTHER PEOPLE - acrylic on paper - 9 x 14 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: WISE MEN - acrylic on paper - 8 x 11 cm NIGHT AND DAY - acrylic on paper - 10 x 11 cm PATH TO HAPPINESS - acrylic on paper - 8 x 11 cm

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USA

“For me painting is both a meditative process and a way to express what I cannot say with words.”

Louis Degni Born in 1952 in central New York State, Louis Degni started painting and drawing at an early age. And being really ahead of his peers in the art class, his teachers advised Louis’s parents that he should

skilled brushwork, and an unparalleled mastery of the classical art training in the linear perspective, proportionate human figures and trompe l’oeil effects rendering. He also manages to convey the

Although Louis majored in Studio Art at college, he was unable to continue this as a profession any further due to family and home circumstances.

Louis’s landscapes show varied plants and trees, painted in varying tones of green and texture, the rainwater puddles on the muddy path eading up to the chateau, lined with Italian Cypress. Some trees are not visible in the painting, their presence revealed

murals, Loius put his painting passion on the back burner for several decades. Only in the recent years has he returned to his passion for oil painting.

Louis’s works show a very sound art foundation and

path. Its a morning after a storm scene somewhere in Tuscany, Italy. These subtle hints contribute to the work’s realistic effect of a particular moment captured with much finesse and skill by the artist.

receive some formal training beyond regular school.

The expense of private lessons was too much of a financial strain on his family, so instead, at the age of 16, he apprenticed with an Italian master artist who was involved in church art murals and art restoration.

Barring a few commissioned artworks and charity THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

AT THE PUDDLE oil on canvas board - 51 x 35 cm THE GONDOLIER oil on canvas - 40 x 30 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE: AFTER THE SPRING RAIN oil on panel - 51 x 35 cm THE PEACH BLOSSOMS oil on panel - 13 x 18 cm

THE RUSTY SHED AND THE ROOSTER oil on panel - 25 x 20 cm

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atmospheric effects of a particular moment. “I spend hours looking at water, clouds and flowers before actually putting brush to canvas,” says the artist.

only by the long morning shadows they cast on this

Louis also manages to convey the atmospheric effects of a particular moment.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Madhavi Srivastava “Painting is where I find most happiness and creative fulfilment.”

Madhavi Srivastava is a self-taught artist, who now lives in Mumbai, India. She completed her High school in Jharkhand and then after her graduation,

did her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious Manipal University in Karnataka, India.

Madhavi is inspired by nature and considers herself fortunate to have lived in two of the most beautiful states - Jharkhand, a state known as ‘The Land of Forests’, rich in its flora and fauna; and Karnataka, known for its seashores and lush green nature. She is artistically motivated by majestic hills, scenic

waterfalls, rich greenery and India’s vibrant and colourful culture. Her passion for painting flowers and lush green landscapes is comparable with Monet’s passion for painting water lilies in his pond, at Giverny. In the ‘Serene Abode’, the changing light of the day offset by her field of vision in limitless shades of green, make for a pretty picture!

“Painting is where I find most happiness and creative fulfilment,” says Madhavi. Her paintings express her

wide range of interests; nature, greenery, landscapes,

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architectural renderings, flora and fauna.

Madhavi’s painting of ‘Hibiscus’, is like a botanical illustration, created with scientific precision and artistic sensibility, much like Dürer’s watercolours plants study, where each leaf and each petal has been meticulously and painstakingly rendered.

Like a page straight out of a botanical manuscript, this painting has a ‘flatness’ and abstraction of the famous Japanese woodblock prints of the Edo Period, quite unlike the trompe-l’œil technique often used in creating realistic imagery.

As seen in her painting, ‘The Bench at my residential complex’, which is a combination of architectural rendering and green landscape. The flatness takes the hard edge off the paintings and creates a softer environment. While its a busy artwork and every inch of paper is covered with shapes and patterns and textures of varying types, the overall effect is fairly muted, heralding a zen-like calmness. The colours she uses are not in sharp contrast and harmonise rather well together.

Like a page out of a botanical manuscript, this painting has a ‘flatness’ and abstraction of the famous Japanese woodblock prints of the Edo Period, quite unlike the trompe-l’œil technique often used in creating realistic imagery.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

A HOLIDAY RESORT AT COORG - acylic on canvas board - 56 x 38 cm

THE BENCH AT MY RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX - watercolour on paper - 38 x 30 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

FIVE LITTLE SPARROWS - acrylic on canvas - 56 x 61 cm

SOOTHING HIBISCUS - watercolour on paper - 55 x 35 cm

SERENE ABODE (Kerala Backwaters) - acylic on canvas - 91 x 61 cm

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Greece

Magdalena Wozniak-Melissourgaki “I am passionate about drawing portraits cause I believe that its the eyes that truly show who we are.”

Magdalena Wozniak-Melissourgaki, was born in

covers, art installation and animation. Her new works

Warsaw and now lives and works in Crete, Greece.

are a ‘Celebration of Woman’ - a theme that is most

She studied Fine Art at the Warsaw School of Art and then went on to get another degree in Multimedia Graphics. A self-motivated and passionate artist, she paints in a variety of mediums - oils, pastels, charcoals, and works on various creative projects.

She loves doing portraits and pays special attention to get a true likeness of the eyes as she firmly believes that our “eyes are the windows to our souls.”

Aside to painting, Magdalena also makes copies of artefacts and images from the Minoan Civilisation

OPPOSITE PAGE: WOMAN MOODS I acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: BLUE DREAM acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm WOMAN MOODS 2 acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 cm WOMAN MOODS 3 acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm

at The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, located in Heraklion on Crete, having the best collection in the world for Minoan art.

Trained in graphics art, she does illustrations, book

close to her heart, is extremely challenging and at the same time, expressive and liberating. Being a woman herself, she is able to experience a myriad of different feelings and emulate it in an artwork. Unlike her other portraiture works, these series have spontaneity and vibrance, at the same time an unleashing and unshackling propensity.

Magdalena combines the classical with modernity, as she takes a timeless subject or topic and presents a modern rendition of it. She redefines and recreates a traditional idea, by imparting expression through brush strokes. Her paintings combine images from the Pop Culture and nature along with a generous dash of surrealism, where the resulting piece is born

Magdalena fills her canvas with fields of colour and abstract forms of visceral expressionism.

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Magdalena combines the classical with modernity, as she takes a timeless subject or topic and presents a modern rendition of it.

out of a profound emotion having its base on many universal themes. She fills her canvas with fields of colour and abstract forms of visceral expressionism. Her figures are in an ecstatic, dreamy and languorous mood, and are depicted frequently as though caught in the middle of an action. Lost in their reverberating stupor and high on their celebration of self.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SANTORINI charcoal on paper - 50 x 65 cm THE FIRST RAY OF THE SPRING SUN charcoal on paper - 50 x 65 cm RED FLOWER soft pastels on paperr - 30 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GRANDFATHER cahrcoal on paper - 70 x 50 cm PORTRAIT OF MARINA soft pastels on paper - 30 x 40 cm SOUL OF DANCE PASSION acrylic on paper - 30 x 40 cm LOVE FLOWER soft pastel on paper - 50 x 35 cm V acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm WARM SMILE acrylic on canvas - 30 x 30 cm

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Lebanon

Mahmoud Alkaaki “My paintings are a means to unlock the power of the imagination.”

Lebanese artist Mahmoud Alkaaki is a Fine Art graduate and has been professionally painting since 1985. He has a tight grip on his colour spectrum,

and like a master lion trainer, he makes sure that the colours on his artwork follow the brush directions and respond to the textural interactions of the canvases he uses.

As an abstract artist, Mahmoud’s colour palette rally around vivid greens, blazing reds and countless hues of light blues and bluish greys. The movement he creates on his canvas just with his shapes and forms is quite admirable. One sees a multitude of

recognisable shapes. And just when you are sure of what you see, it blends to form another shape or becomes a part of a larger form. The choppy sea becomes morphs into sailboats, with the crest peaks, taking the form of tall spars of the masts. The view in front is no longer that of the crest and trough of a sea wave, but has morphed into a flotilla of sailboats!

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Mahmoud’s painting takes the viewer on a hunt for visuals. Looking at the painting ‘Knowledge’, with its menhir shaped forms – perhaps a representation

of a Stonehenge like circular rocks formation. But after gazing at it a while, begins to take a shape of an assemblage of people, with three human figures standing forward, quite distinctly from the crowd. The three wise men, who like all notable and the illustrious men shine out from the crowd. These men appear to have a prominent place in society, never to blend in with the crowd. Their ‘noor’ or the divine light glows.

It is not always this easy to interpret the meaning of

his works. Sometimes these billowing hues don’t take

on any identifiable form, relying predominantly on the astute viewer’s perception - open to a subjective interpretation. These works just draw you in with them, as the gaze follows the rapid, purposeful strokes emulating the thrill of a rollercoaster experience, leave the viewer breathless and enthralled.

Mahmoud’s painting takes the viewer on a hunt for visuals.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

INFINITY - acrylic on canvas- 60 x 50 cm TRADE - acrylic on canvas- 50 x 50 cm SAIL - acrylic on canvas- 70 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

MATING - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm

KNOWLEDGE - acrylic on canvas - 30 x 40 cm

INNER CHAOS - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 90 cm

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Germany

Manuela Barbosa “My inspiration

Manuela Barbosa is a Portugal born artist who,

appears in the

after having been living in Hamburg, Germany,

moment of painting and its transferred directly onto the canvas.”

for over three decades, has now settled herself in Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, just off the south coast of Sweden. Bornholm is also known as solskinsøen (Sunshine Island) because of its sunny weather and klippeøen (Rock Island) because of its geology. This beautiful Island country is where Manuela paints and does photography.

Interestingly, her art career started out as an actor performing in the Hamburg Theatre scene.

Simultaneously she was also writing stories for children books and many poems and essays.

Manuela says “my inspiration arises in the present and is transferred directly to the subject.” This inspiration, for the most part, comes from a mixture

of characters and symbols. A vivid narrative of perplexing and mysterious stories that arise from the life of these characters. A range of mythical characters finds their expression in a multitude of colours on her canvas.

Painting mostly with acrylic on canvas, a medium that goes well with her spontaneous and instinctive art-making process, Manuela loosens the rein of her imagination on the artwork. Her work style resembles that of a softened and a more ‘open’ Norval Morrisseau, a native Canadian artist, known to have put Ojibwe art form in mainstream art. This spiritual imagery connection puts Manuela’s art in a metaphysical realm.

Close relationships with animals, spirits and supernatural are well represented in many of her works. The mystique behind her painting, the ‘Bird of

Manuela keeps her forms open, loose and pliable, giving them an ethereal and unearthly feel.

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THIS PAGE:

COSMOS DANCE acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: MEDITATION acrylic on canvas - 70 x 100 cm

THE BODY, SPIRIT AND SOUL acrylic on canvas - 70 x 90 cm

THE BIRD AND THE EGG acrylic on canvas - 70 x 100 cm BIRDS PARADISE acrylic on canvas - 70 x 100 cm

Paradise’, and other such stories are passed down to us through her artworks.

and unearthly feel. Like wisps of smoke, the colours

Unlike the traditional native art, Manuela’s works do not always have thick black outlines which tightly bound the coloured forms. She keeps her forms

space into another space. A slow dignified dance of

open, loose and pliable, giving them an ethereal

characters and breathing life into them.

travel around on her canvas, morphing from one colours moves across her artwork, gently swaying to the notes of a largo musical piece, shaping her 169

AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Ukraine

Maria Ivan “My paintings are an immediate response to nature.”

Maria Ivan is a Ukrainian artist, born in Kiev, Ukraine, a city known for its religious architecture, Catacombs, monasteries and museums. She graduated from the Kiev National University of Culture and Arts, and has been paintings for many years since. She has held several successful exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad.

Maria’s paints in the Fauvist style, using intense and vibrant colour on her canvas, much like the Post Impressionist artists, Cézanne and Gauguin.

Its pure colour and form communicate the artist’s emotional state and her individualistic expression.

She repurposes the use of colours, allowing it to exist on the canvas as an independent element in

order to project a mood. Like all other Fauvist artists, simplified forms and saturated colours is what that draws the viewer’s attention to the inherent flatness of her canvas or paper, making a powerful visual impact.

Maria uses acrylic on canvas, as her preferred

medium. Her paintings of a bunch of flowers, titled

‘Still life with kettle’ and another one of a river

overlooking a colourful flowers bed, titled ‘Ukrainian Landscape’ are perfect examples of an immediate emotional response to nature. She uses colour as

a tool to express her passion sentiment, not merely to record or copy nature. Thick daubs of vibrant

intense acrylic colour are applied onto her canvas, sometimes applied directly from the tube, and

brushed on in short strokes definitive strokes, which create movement and brings a stirring liveliness to her paintings.

Her colours are indeed non-representational and not what one would traditionally find in nature. In one of her paintings, where she shows street lamps on the garden, titled ‘The Brightness of Lights’, the entire

landscape is abstracted and coloured in patches of cobalt blue, pink and golden yellows. By rejecting the traditional chiaroscuro she keeps the viewer’s attention on the life force that seems to undulate through in her landscape.

Maria’s paints in the Fauvist style, using intense and vibrant colour on her canvas.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

EVENING AT HOME acrylic on canvas - 40 x 60 cm THE TABLE IN THE APPLES acrylic on canvas - 80 x 60 cm

UKRAINIAN LANDSCAPE acrylic on canvas - 100 x 80 cm STILL LIFE WITH KETTLE acrylic on canvas - 70 x 50 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: THE BRIGHTNESS OF LIGHTS acrylic on canvas - 100 x 70 cm APPLES acrylic on canvas - 40 x 60 cm

BLUE GRAPES acrylic on canvas - 120 x 80 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Hungary

Marika Csajághy “Through my pantings, I want to give a message of peace, tranquility, and harmony.”

Marika Csajághy was born in Enying city in Hungary.

She is a painter and a writer of fiction and fantasy stories. She currently lives in Balatonvilágos,

Hungary, near Lake Balaton, and now has more time

to paint as she is actively not working on any day job these days.

Marika loves nature and the outdoors. “The colours and forms and moods of nature are enchanting”,

says the artist. Many of her paintings are of parks

around her hometown and of sail boats on the Lake

Balaton where she now lives. The rendering of water,

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artist with the use of simple slight tonal modulations.

Marika’s works, in essence are in the Luminist style, which advocates that one must immerse oneself in nature in order to experience the true divinity. Her works are marked by a certain rendering of light, a uniform glow that infuses and spreads through her entire canvas. Her paintings realistically rendered, reveal no or very little markings of brushstrokes. This smooth mixing of colours and the subtle chiaroscuro thus helps maintain a silent and a hushed ambience.

is remarkably still and reflective, as shimmering

This clarity of the picture plane facilitates the viewer’s

reflect the setting sun. These landscapes are not

lending to this scene a certain silence. The resulting

they are supposed to evoke a quiet spirituality and

quality - a message that Marika is striving to get out

quiet radiance is very effectively recreated by the

peace and harmony.

horizontal lines depict the hidden currents as they

communion with the natural scene presented whilst

meant to be domineering or awe-inspiring. Instead,

artwork emulates a peaceful and almost meditative

create a contemplative and luminous effect. This

into the world through her paintings, a message of

Marika’s works, in essence are in the Luminist style, which advocates that one must immerse oneself in nature in order to experience the true divinity.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

DOLCE VITA - oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm SUNSET - oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm

WAVELACE - oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

LAVENDAR - oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm MIRROR - oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm

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USA

“Art is what gives this world a personality and I’ve found my own personality through art.”

Marissa Dickey Marissa Yvinskas is an American artist who has been drawing pretty much all of her life. As a teenager, she started winning awards and accolades for her artworks. Including being chosen to participate in the Krasl Art Fair for the emerging artist; and winning the Reserved Grand Champion and two Artist Showcase Awards at the Berrien County Youth Fair out of hundreds of submissions.

Marissa uses many drawing mediums - graphite, markers, coloured pencil, acrylics etc. Her artwork

technique is a curious combination of the Superflat, (a term coined by Takashi Murakami in 2001), and

the Surreal. She represents the fantastical, grotesque

and dark universe in her non-linear drawings, lacking the 3D of the traditional western-styled perspective and chiaroscuro type of shading. Her Surrealist and the sometimes dark cult-like works see her frequently being commissioned to design personal tattoos by many art enthusiasts. Also being commissioned to make a set of historically morbid trading cards based out of England, and many albums and books covers.

She loves working on pieces from pop culture that

she connects with, drawing her inspiration from Film, television, video games, music, etc.

“I’m a perfect example that being a self-taught artist”, says Marissa. “Without any professional guidance

Marissa represents the fantastical, grotesque and dark universe in non-linear drawings, lacking the 3D of the traditional western-styled perspective and chiaroscuro type of shading.

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or lessons, anyone can learn to express themselves through art with practice and trial and error.� She has inspired many to shed their inhibitions and start their own art practice!

THIS PAGE:

CAGED HEART - Mixed Media (ink, graphite, and colored pencils) on paper - 28 x 35 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

BUBBLES - prismacolor colored pencils on paper - 23 x 30 cm

WOOD DUCK - prismacolor colored pencils on paper - 23 x 30 cm

COME CLOSER - mixed media (graphite and ink) on paper - 28 x 35 cm

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Philippines

Marites Esperon Micabalo “I want to use my art practice in building communities and especially help children and youth express their emotions and be in touch with themselves.”

Marites Esperon Micabalo was born in a peaceful barangay (village) of Magugpo, West of Tagum City, Davao del Norte in the Philippines. As early as her parents can remember, Marites or Etes, as she is

providing the expensive art materials. Luckily, one of her professors seeing her potential, stepped in to provide her with all the art materials she needed just so she could continue pursuing her artistic passion.

talent.

Etes enrolled at the Tagum National Trade School, a specialised institution that harnesses students talents

She draws ‘Geishas’, a traditional Japanese female entertainer, which has become her individual personal style stamp. Her artistic journey has been tough.

Family obligations forced her to take a break from painting. And after many years of not painting, she chanced upon her brushes and paints while cleaning

she gained more experience and knowledge and soon mastered the basics of drawing and painting.

Unfortunately, her parents were not able to financially support her needs, especially where it came

stop again. She wants to become the gateway for arts in her community and especially for children. She has co-founded an artists’ guild which helps a lot of youth to open up through arts.

lovingly called, showed exemplary interest and dedication in drawing and sketching when she was a three year old child. Knowing their daughter is gifted delighted her parents, and they offered her all the necessary resources needed for her to further this

and skills, where she took Drafting and Arts. Slowly

Etes soon became what she always wanted to be - a painter!

her home. This time she took it on painting, never to

Marites draws ‘Geishas’, a traditional Japanese female entertainer, which has become her individual personal style stamp.

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THIS PAGE: PRECIOSA -oil on canvas - 61 x 71 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: HAPPY - oil on canvas - 61 x 76 cm THE SISTERS - oil on canvas - 30 x 40 cm ILUSYONADA - oil on canvas - 40 x 50 cm FAN - oil on canvas - 61 x 71 cm

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Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Merima Popara “Painting has always been my passion.”

Merima Popara is a seasoned artist born in Sanski

seriously started experimenting in various different

Most, a town situated on the banks of the Sana

mediums.

River in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. After finishing high school, she enrolled herself into the Faculty of Technology in Zagreb, Croatia. She made a permanent shift of residence to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she now lives and works.

Merima, now proficient in using quite a few mediums, is able to express herself best in oils, a medium that sits well with her personality and her systematic work process. Her art, heavily influenced by the Expressionists, relies on a customised distortion

Merima has been travelling and making her home

of forms and deployment of strong colours to

in various places, her passion for art has been

convey a variety of feelings. Her art comes forth

unwavering. It was while living in Dublin in 1994,

from within her, where a work of art is judged by

in her early youth years, when she start painting

the feelings it evokes and is representative of the

professionally. Which really means, that for the most

artist’s feelings, rather than being a real depiction

part, this was when she started using oil colours and

of the external visual world around her. To express THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: DAWN OF PEACE - mixed medium- 68 x 78 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: BEHIND THE MASK - acrylic on canvas - 66 x 81 cm MOOD - mixed media - 66 x 81 cm PERISHABLE -acrylic on canvas - 83 x 122 cm

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her subject and mood, she often utilises an exaggerated swirling and swaying of her brushstrokes. This has become representative of her emotional state, a reaction to the subject she paints. Unlike the genteelness of the ‘Blue Horses’ painting of the German expressionist painter and printmaker Franz Marc, Merima’s ‘Horses’ rendered in red and black, are charging in full fury; seething and hurtling forth, kicking up a dust storm as they gallop forward. One can hear the thudding of their hooves and whinny huffing of their high-pitched neigh. All this Merima expresses rather skillfully with her brushstrokes and choice of colours.

Merima’ heavily influenced by the Expressionists, relies on a customised distortion of forms and deployment of strong colours to convey a variety of feelings.

THIS PAGE:

HORSE - acrylic on canvas - 30 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

RED CHERRIES - watercolours on paper - 24 x 32 cm WILD EYED - oil on canvas - 30 x 30 cm

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Germany

Michael Kaphengst “The white colour of a canvas or paper is the purest hue and when I apply colour on this white and force my motifs upon it, this purity is destroyed.

Consequently I am not an artist but a destroyer.”

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

PRAYING FEET biro pin on paper - 34 x 47 cm

SUNSET oil on paperboard - 36 x 58 cm CANDELIGHT oil on canvas - 100 x 100 cm

GITTER LINES acrylic, glitterpowder on hardboard 83 x 122 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

SORROW oil on hardboard - 80 x 90 cm

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Michael Kaphengst is an actor and an artist currently living in Lindhorst, Germany. He trained as a media designer for sound and image at Procon in Hanover,

in his habitus certain rituals which he consciously or on a subconscious level pursues, and applies again and again, and It is impossible to escape this

Michael’s says “my every painting start with a brush stroke and each brush stroke is a line”, a dot for him

is also a shortened line or the beginning of a line.

This is why he labels his art is linear and names his

Michael calls himself a Linearist, and his style of ‘Extreme Linearism’ is characterized by circling lines. “It starts with circular movements of the pen to shape the motif, I compress or enlarge these motions

coin the term Absolute or Extreme Linearism. This idea of Linearism is based on the fact that all our lives are determined and guided by rules, regulations, laws and ordinances. These requirements must go

the linear overstimulation of consumer goods with my ‘Consumptive Surrealism’, where the goods consumed are a metaphor for human emotions and experiences. In tangent with the Pop Art, he creates

after which he went on to intern at the Stadttheater in Wilhelmshaven in stage design. Michael is also an actor and has a diploma from the ‘Drama school Bühnensudio’ in Hamburg in 2008. He has done many short roles in movies and theatre.

art practice a new Linear Process and goes on to

through each individual. Basing his ideology on Pierre Bourdieu’s Habitus Theory that every person has

linear process, Michael has made it his mission to process this linearity in his art. He represents this Linearism in different ways because, in his words, “linear processes determine our lives, and there is no escaping it or opting out of it”.

and draw the subject in this manner”. He counteracts

surreal visual worlds with his consumer goods and assigns them a new artistic task.

Michael calls himself a Linearist, and his style of ‘Extreme Linearism’ is characterised by circling lines that he draws across the sheet.

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India

Minaaz P. Khera “Being an artist at

Minaaz P. Khera is an Indian artist who has been

heart, I endeavour

painting for over 25 years. A graduate from the

to bring radiant and vibrant colours to my life and onto my paintings.”

Rajasthan University, India, she went on to do a course in Commercial Arts, and then a Diploma in Multimedia for 2D & 3D Animation.

With a sound art education under her belt, Minaaz practices a delightful combination of the two disciplines - the commercial art and the fine art. She paints in different mediums (water colour, charcoal, pencils, pastels, oils on canvas and oils on porcelain) and each medium has a unique experience for her.

She also participated in various exhibitions showcasing her work to a varied audience.

“I paint because I love the magic colours create”, says Minaaz. Her works are very figurative and

her drawing skills very versatile and fluid. Portraits being her speciality, she loves to bring out the natural character of her subject models and portray that on her canvas, either by showing expressions and emotions on their face, or portraying it using the suggestive powers of colourful and vivid paint palette.

Along with human figures, one often sees writings on her paintings. This is where her graphic art sensibilities come in play, as she draws inspiration from both human and textual forms, imbibing both in her painting titled ‘Pause’. Here we see a man

dressed stylishly in casual modern clothing, sporting a man-bun hairstyle, sitting on a stool. Perhaps a dancer himself, as around him are names of various dance styles.

Portraits being her speciality, she loves to bring out the natural character of her subject models and depict that on her canvas.

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THIS PAGE: A PAUSE acrylic inks on linen canvas- 76 x 107 cm OPPOSITE PAGE RIGHT TO LEFT: REGRETS (one of diptych) acrylic Ink on canvas - 30 x 30 cm HUMAN FIGURES oil on canvas - 91 x 122 cm UNTITLED watercolour on paper - 53 x 71 cm UNTITLED acylics inks on linen - 50 x 112 cm

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India

“Painting is what gives my world a deeper meaning.”

Minaxi Adeshara Minaxi Adeshara is an Indian artist living in the city of Vadodara, India. She is a Commerce graduate from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and is currently working as an Accounting Officer.

A self-taught artist, with high regard for the fine

experience this world, rather than approaching it with strict reasoning and logic.

Her artistic imagery using religion as her inspiration and motifs, uplifts the mind to the spiritual. These

images include depiction of Buddhas, bodhisattvas

arts, she explains the link between her accounts

and sometimes narrative scenes from their lives. The

“Money comes and goes, but Art stays on even after

feeling of piety and sanctity.

background and art, “Art is timeless”, she says.

this body dies. Art lives on”. With this metaphysical attitude towards her craft, it is no wonder her art

practice is subliminal and her art very spiritual. She celebrates her intuition by letting her imagination endure the burden of creation.

Minaxi teaches art to physically & mentally challenged non-institutionalized children, and is able to create

a healthy and creative environment around her with

her art. Everyday through her art she emphasis that

sensitivity and emotions are enough to perceive and

painting of Buddha in a meditative pose, invokes a Minaxi’s abstract works are meditative and, in

many ways, reminiscent of a Buddhist Mandala;

the dynamics of which seems to be in the process of undergoing a change. The smeared paint is an attempt on altering one’s destiny, which is in our hands to do. Her strokes have unerring energy

with only few retouched, and one can clearly see

the tracks made by her brush hairs, displaying the decisiveness of her each stroke. These are the

gestures of an inspired artist with an unfettered spirit.

Minaxi’s artistic imagery using religion as her inspiration and motifs, uplifts the mind to the spiritual.

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THIS PAGE: BUDDHA 2 mixed meium on mount board 27 x 34 cm OPPOSITE PAGE RIGHT TO LEFT: BUDDHA 1 acrylic on GMS paper 86 x 73 cm UNTITLED acrylic on mountboard 15 x 15 cm UNTITLED acrylic on mountboard 15 x 15 cm

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USA

Monika Wisberger “I paint the life that surrounds me, the mountains and the ocean.”

Monika Wisberger, is a German-born artist who

grew up with a passion for designing and painting.

She came to the United States in 1988 where she met and married her husband and later shifted to

California, where she currently lives. Her move to the

mountains at Lake Arrowhead, California, made quite

an impact on her creativity. She used this opportunity to become involved with glass paintings and got very

formal art practice, Monika took lessons from Helga Batman, a local senior fine artist having her own art gallery around Lake Arrowhead. Working under her teacher’s guidance, Monika gradually started working with oil paints, which slowly became her preferred medium of choice.

interested in doing home decor. Infused with a brand-

Her interest in painting which started out as a hobby

to back to school and took up a course in interior

exhibiting her works and receiving positive critiques

new hankering for designing interiors, she went

soon became a full-fledged profession. She was now

designing and soon opened her own business.

from her friends, curators and art gallery owners.

It was this dabbling in colours and coming up with THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

understand the techniques and the finer points of

colour schemes for her interior design projects that

Monika now exhibits her artwork at local art shows and at San Clemente gallery, Laguna Beach and Carlsbad Gallery.

PEACEFULLY oil on bevelled canvas - 51 x 40 x 6 cm

eventually made her interested in painting. More specifically towards acrylic painting on canvas.

Monika’s paintings mainly depict the life that

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After experimenting for a while on her own, to better

surrounds her – the sea, waterscapes, still-life and

FEELING FREE oil on bevelled canvas - 51 x 40 cm THE POINT, DANA POINT oil on canvas - 40 x 51 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

flowers. Her art is a complex mixture of Naïve art and Expressionism. Like the painting of a white sailboat in the sea, one sees a strong influence of Naïve art, particularly in the simplistic way she has drawn the boat, a painting style known for its childlike THIS PAGE: DON’T YOU LIKE SUNFLOWERS oil on canvas - 61 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE: Flowers of Paradise oil on canvas - 51 x 61 cm

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simplicity, typical flat rendering and a rudimentary expression of perspective. Her colour usage, like the Expressionists, is more symbolic rather than descriptive, where the emotive qualities of her colour

palette are used to convey her vision.

Monika’s paintings have minimalist shapes and have a stark quality, especially so in her flower paintings.

Here she uses the blur effect to create an illusion of depth of field by making the background out-of-focus and hazy, whilst keeping the flower sharply in focus.

In this work, one even gets a sensation of movement.

The horizontal, smooth strokes in the background give off a feeling of watching the landscape whizzing

past from a window of a high-speed train.

Monika’s paintings have minimalist shapes and have a stark quality, especially so in her flower paintings

Her seascapes display violent brushstrokes and contorted lines communicate an almost unnerving tension of the choppy sea. As if this torment comes from within the artist, rather than from a depiction of the external visual world. Her swirling, swaying, and exaggeratedly executed brushstrokes depict overstated angst, a technique used to convey the inner turmoil and emotional state of the artist.

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India

Mrudula Ninad Bapat “I always try to illuminate positivity and happiness to the viewers through my paintings.”

Mrudula Ninad Bapat was born in Nagpur, India,

different realm, and like meditation, gives her inner

She completed her high school in Mumbai and was

peace and satisfaction. Painting nature appeals to

a bright and intelligent student of her school. After

her the most. Rather than mere representations of

completing her graduation from Mumbai University, she completed her Chartered Accountancy course and took up a job of an Audit Officer with a company

her surroundings, she paints subjects that touch her heart and relies upon the interrelations of colour and shape to describe her world on her canvas. The

which had several high profile clients.

artists who have inspired her are John Fernandes,

Mrudula used to draw a lot of pencil sketches

Milind Mullick, Prafull Sawant, Bijay Biswal and

in her youth. It was an article in a newspaper on

Morten E Solberg (sr).

artist John Fernandes, a Karnataka based senior

Learning to paint, for Mrudula, is a continuous

watercolorist, that incited her interest in painting and in this medium. Watercolours, a challenging, unpredictable and unforgiving pigment-laden art material, gradually became her favourite medium. The most unique thing about watercolours is that there is no margin for error! Once you place that brush on the paper and make that stroke, one cannot go back to make any alterations or corrections. The beauty of a watercolour painting lies in the light and shadow play, delicate strokes and luminous washes.

Mrudula enjoys painting, it transports her to a

process. She believes that one must be true to his art. This sincerity directly reflects in the work produced. “If the artist is pure at heart, ‘pure art’ will flow from within. Its all about having the right attitude.

A true artist should always respect another artist’s work. He should work towards achieving perfection in his craft; let his art speak for him... publicity and fame will invariably follow”, she says. For only when the artist sets aside all prejudices and preconceptions can he reach a stage where he merges with his artwork and becomes one.

Mrudula believes that one must be true to his art.

This sincerity directly reflects in the work produced.

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Rather than mere representations of her surroundings, Mrudula paints subjects that touch her heart and relies upon the interrelations of colour and shape to describe her world on her canvas.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

ANOTHER DAY - watercolour on paper - 53 x 35 cm

GOLDEN DAYS - watercolour on paper - 40 x 35 cm OPPOSITE PAGE- RIGHT TO LEFT:

PADDY FIELDS - watercolour on paper - 35 x 30 cm

KONKAN HOUSE - watercolour on paper - 76 x 55 cm BEACH HOUSE - watercolour on paper - 76 x 55 cm

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Canada

Naeem Sachedina “My paintings are inpspired by nature and its elements.”

Naeem Sachedina is an Indo-Canadian artist

currently living in Toronto, Ontario. Born in the vibrant and bustling city of Mumbai, Naeem immigrated with his family to Canada. He has spent most of his adult life in Canada with his wife and also his business partner, Maheen.

Naeem began his forays into the art world in

2009 when he began experimenting with abstract expressionism and drip art. As his passion

grew, it attracted the attention of his friends and other art lovers, who began appreciating his THIS PAGE - RIGH TO LEFT: RARE EARTH acrylic and inks - 150 x 100 cm MOODY BLUES acrylic and inks - 150 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: SPRING FEVER multimedia dip art - 150 x 100 cm THE WILDERNESS acrylic on canvas - 120 x 150 cm THE RUSTIC TRAIL acrylic on canvas - 90 x 120 cm LAVA FLOW acrylic and inks - 100 x 150 cm

abstract expressionist style and vigorous gestural

expressionism. This appreciation led him to consider exhibiting his artworks and finally getting recognised by his peers.

Since his first formal exhibition in 2013, Naeem’s work has grown by leaps and bounds. He continues to experiment with colours, textures and various mediums constantly, challenging himself by engaging in new and exciting methods to create one-of-a-kind canvas artworks.

Naeem’s work process of pouring, splattering, and applying paint in an extremely physical fashion perhaps is an expression of an internal emotional turbulence, which comes through clearly in every gesture of line, texture, and the composition represented.

His work typifies that of the “action painters”. But no matter how energetic and urgent his pictures

Naeem’s canvases are an outpouring of his emotions and boisterous expression of his passion.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Naeem’s represents a non-objective painter, solely interested in juxtapositions of different colours and surfaces, driven purely by his own unique sensibilities.

194

seem to be, they are not created with complete

a boat out on the choppy waters; Naeem pilots and

abandonment, nor carefully considered and planned

executes the creative process of his painting. At

in their execution. Its a prudent mixture of the two

times, letting it ride the waves, and at times, making

- a balanced game of chance and control; of letting

deliberate efforts to expertly manoeuvring it to its

loose and then pulling back at the reins. He doesn’t

destination. The end result is a balance of angst and

hegemonise the outcome of his art piece, nor does

solutions, both in the same space, marked by him

he ever let it get out of his control. Similar to steering

and his own shift in gears as and when inspiration

Naeem doesn’t hegemonise the outcome of his art piece, nor does he ever let it get out of his control. Similar to steering a boat out on the choppy waters; Naeem pilots and executes the creative process of his painting. came to him. Naeem’s represents a non-objective painter, solely interested in juxtapositions of different colours and THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

surfaces, driven purely by his own unique sensibilities. His

ILLUSION - mix media on canvas - 90 x 120 cm

canvases are an outpouring of his emotions and boisterous

UNTITLED - mix media on canvas - 90 x 120 cm

expression of his passion. Covered in multicoloured hues

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in varied brushstrokes, they make a tempestuous, vivid

ROYAL HERITAGE - mix media on canvas - 90 x 120 cm

and contrasting compositional art pieces.

PERFECT STORM - acrylic and inks - 150 x 100 cm TRANQUILITY - Acrylic & Inks - 90 x 120 cm

WILD RAINBOW - acrylic on canvas - 90 x 120 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Nandita Richie “I paint what I ‘want’ to be seen, not what I see.”

Nandita Richie, a visual artist from India, after

graduating from the prestigious College of Art,

New Delhi, went on to pursue career in Multimedia

Designing. She has worked with several multinational companies as their chief designer.

Nandita’s artistic talent was nurtured by her father

and her grandfather. She is inspired by the gardens

and the natural beauty of her hometown Jaipur, and

it is the Impressionists and Post Impressionists who

have influenced her work. She has studied the works

of stalwarts like Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.

an attempt to convey the message on the importance of conserving the natural resources of our planet.

A non-conformist, Nandita believes that art should not only be viewed in the confines of art galleries and be accessible only to the elite. “Art should be affordable and should reach the masses”, she says.

With this in mind, she joined hands with a few of her Art School friends, who had started a Not-forProfit Organisation, where they invited their Gurus (Mentors) to showcase their works alongside the

Her work is a result of her vivid imagination, her love

young and upcoming artists. They did the first edition

palette knife. Her paintings depicting joy, romance,

was followed by a series of panel discussions further

of nature and years of experience painting with a

of a series of exhibition titled “Yes Art Can 2017’. This

and sheer beauty, are highly textured with an almost

delving in creativity and expression.

three dimensional effect. She uses colours for their vibrancy in her impasto wet-on-wet technique.

Nandita is extremerly passionate about conserving

the natural resources of our planet. A large part of her

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oeuvre is themed “To the next generation”, which is

Nandita taking her creativity to the next level, has introduced a whole line of ‘wearable art’ based on her paintings. These silk scarves and the pocket squares created are a subtle and a class of their own.

Nandita’s paintings depicting joy, romance, and sheer beauty, are highly textured with an almost three dimensional effect. She uses colours for their vibrancy in her impasto wet-on-wet technique.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

PASSION LILIES - acrylic on canvas - size 91 x 122 cms

BREATHING BLOOMS - acrylic on canvas - size 91 x 91 cms OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

RED FLOWERS - acrylic on canvas - size 61 x 61 cms

PINK BOUGAINVILLEA - acrylic on canvas - size 61 x 61 cms BLUE TRANQUIL - acrylic on canvas - size 91 x 91 cms

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Nandita Sharma “Painting for me is like playing with colours. It spreads happiness and so its

198

Nandita Sharma is an Indian artist born in Karnataka,

of my feelings”, says the artist. Nandita has since

a state South of India. Her family shifted to Delhi

participated in many solo and group shows in her

while she was a young child and they have been

home country.

living there since. She completed her High School from Holy Child Convent, New Delhi, where she had

Her experiments with colour and her love for of gemstones, led her to paint a series on Zodiac

an important part of

Commercial Graphic Art as one of her subjects.

my life.”

She continued her career in Graphic Design and

and gemstones such as rubies, pearls, emeralds,

Advertising for many years, as well as worked in

sapphires etc. in their raw form. Also depicted in

did Public Relations for many clients. Always being

these series are other precious metals like gold, silver

interested in in art, she started dabbling with colours

and copper, all in their natural form. These large

and experimenting with different shapes and forms.

acrylic on canvas series are colourful contrasting

This tinkering colours helped dissolve her inhibitions

abstracts. They having a raw and almost unfinished

and soon she was making artworks with a fervent

sensibilities, guided solely by the gemstone or metal

conviction.

‘muse’ they represent, as part of the ideology.

Currently, she is a housewife and pursues a full-time

Nandita, following her creative instincts, is constantly

painting career. Being from a traditional family, she

innovating, trying to bring something unique to her

is happy that her two sons and her husband support

oeuvre. She mostly works with acrylics, inks and

her painting career and have been a constant source

watercolours and experiments with abstract graphical

of strength to her. “Painting for me is a sense of

compositions with a variety of different art materials

fulfilment of my creativity. Its a colourful expression

and surfaces.

Gemstones, where she depicts semi-precious stones

Following her creative instincts, Nandita is constantly innovating, trying to bring something unique to her oeuvre.

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ZODIAC GEMSTONE RUBY - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 50 cm ZODIAC METAL GOLD - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

GANESHA - acrylic and inks on canvas - 50 x 76 cm COLOURS - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 76 cm

ZODIAC GEMSTONE PEARL - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 50 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Hungary

Natre “My painter ’s world is continually in a state of formation, and sometimes it is surprising even to me to see what is unfolding on the canvas.”

Natre, as she prefers to be called, is a painter living

sensations. She also believes that this urge to paint

in Budapest, Hungary. A librarian and a theologist

is a gift in itself, as well as a blessing bestowed upon

by profession, she had dedicated herself to her

her to share her experiences, and inspire others by

profession until a big turning point in her life. “It was

sending out positive messages to them whenever

in 2008 when I got influenced by a very powerful

possible. And letting her viewers share and partake

compelling inspiration. I had a dream that my name

with her this unseen gift, with unprecedented

is Natre and that I was a code painter!” explains the

possibilities of inspirations, regardless of their cultural

artist. “Then onwards, I decided to become one with

roots or bearings is the most obvious and natural

this name”. The depth of the meaning of this name

thing to do.

and the tasks that accompany it are continuously unfolding for her. “My painter’s world is continually in a state of formation, and sometimes it is surprising even to me to see what is unfolding on the canvas.”

200

Surprised and bewildered by her own creations and the way these inspirations come to her, Natre keeps a mental record of what and how she expresses this creative instinct. “Intuitively I give way to the

She believes that her paintings - apart from their

messages of the invisible world. My painter’s world

visible compositional forms – have hidden energetic

is continually undergoing a gradual process of

codes embedded in them, which gradually connect

transformation, and sometimes that inspiration taking

with the recipient, influences them in the most natural

a life of it own surprises me by letting itself unfold on

way and opens a channel to experience extraordinary

the canvas in front of me.”

Natre believes that her paintings - apart from their visible compositional forms – have hidden energetic codes embedded in them, which gradually connect with the recipient, influences them in the most natural way and opens a channel to experience extraordinary sensations.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SECRET OF THE CALM CLOUD oil on canvas - 46 x 27 cm

TIME GATES sand and oil on canvas -24 x 30 cm

Natre feels she is on a journey and its interesting for herself to observe the way she reshapes the unexpected outcome of the painting. Ultimately it’s

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her goal is to bring to life these divine inspirations,

OMAH Enamel on wood - 119 x 87 cm

a part of a larger puzzle, which may or may not get

GATEWAYS oil on canvas - 50 x 70 cm

without thinking or judging, and somehow they form

EAGLES WEDDING paper, sand and oil on canvas - 33 x 41 cm

solved in this lifetime.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Germany

“Have fun, the journey is more important than the destination. The

Nenita Lactao Zohren Nenita Lactao Zohren is a Philippines born artists,

the only living creature in this desolate landscape,

currently residing in Germany. She graduated from

casting long dark shadows on the quiet, sparse

the Angeles University Foundation, Philippines, in Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. A self-starter, Nenita starting painting much later in her life, but ever since

painting process

she did, it has been her first love.

is more important

Nenita very cleverly and instinctively creates her

than the finished

canvases with a simple handful of colours. In her

product.”

painting, ‘The lost girl’, we see the girl in a boat sailing out into the open sea. All is quiet, as she watches the quiet sea for a passing sail... a ripple... something. Anything... that will break this silence. As we see in ‘The remains of a distracted forest’, which was, as suggested by its title, once lush green, but now a picture of muted browns. In the foreground what looks like a butterfly or a moth, carrying the last of the fallen green leaf, stands out as perhaps being

compositions. Dark tree trunks with tapering ends and bent broken branches that mark the horizon and endow this winter landscape with an unearthly inner life, more than it portrays the effects of natural geological processes.

Nenita enjoys painting. She does not obsess on her drawing and painting goals, she just enjoys her practice for its own sake. She rarely makes a sketch before starting out with a new canvas. “Have fun”, she says. “The journey is more important than the destination. The painting process is more important than the finished product.” And she is right! Cause once completed, any painting becomes a commodity, to bought and resold in the market.

Nenita does not obsess on her drawing and painting goals, she just enjoys her practice for its own sake.

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THIS PAGE: REMAINS OF A DISTRACTED FOREST acrylic on canvas - 50 x 60 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: AUTUMN HEART acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm LITTLE HUMMING BIRD acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm THE LOST GIRL acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast

Nick Amon “I express my state of mind and allow the viewer to continue the contemplation of works from which forms emerge following spontaneous brushstrokes.”

Nick Amon is an Ivorian, who has managed to

of Art Plastics in 1998, at the National Day of Spain,

make an International reputation for himself with his

organized by the Spanish Embassy in Ivory Coast,

abstract and figurative works. This is evident from his

and all many such events that benefit from his

numerous group and solo exhibitions all around the

collaboration.

world, and many accolades he received, including a third prize in the Contemporary Arts Festival of Vouvant in Vendée, in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

by the Center of the Trades of Culture, an evening organised by the Association Uomini Affari Italiani in Costa d’Avorio (a business association Italian in Ivory

Nick did not go to through any formal training in art

Coast) where he won the best painting prize to a jury

or go to any Art School. A self-starter and a self-

comprising of Monné Bouth for painting and Maurice

taught artist, he took the brush in his hand in 1980, to

Bandama for Literature.

never let go of it, much to the great delight of his fan following, buyers and collectors alike.

He has participated in events such as the Caravan

204

He also participated in The Music on Canvas in 2011,

Nick has held several exhibitions at Afrique Art Gallery in Ivory Coast and his paintings are now in major galleries and private art collections around the world.

Nick Amon is an Ivorian, who has managed to make for himself an International reputation with his abstract and figurative works

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: LES HOMMES JOYEUX acrylic on canvas - 103 x 120 cm L’UNIVERS DES COULEURS acrylic on canvas - 173 x 120 cm UNTITLED acrylic on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: LE PEUPLE D’ISRAEL acrylic on canvas - 80 x 114 cm

LE BALLET acrylic on canvas - 114 x 114 cm THIS PAGE: REMAINS OF A DISTRACTED FOREST acrylic on canvas - 50 x 60 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: AUTUMN HEART acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm LITTLE HUMMING BIRD acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm THE LOST GIRL acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Nimisha Rao “My paintings

Nimisha Rao is an Indian artist, who digs deep

aimed at invoking in the viewer a particular emotion.

encourage your

into her palette and lets the colours define the

There is rarely is there ever a main protagonist, or a

reactions of the viewers. Her paintings are like

focal point. It is just a quintessence of sensations,

millions of fragments, coming together to tell a story.

like a web spread across her canvas. A flurry of a

Like viewing through a stained glass window in a

different shapes and strokes. Her paintings makes

cathedral, through layers of brightly coloured glass,

us restless... forcing us to peer in and search for an

which all come together to tell a story. Each tiny

organised pattern in the splatter. Fingers twitching

stroke of her brush, reveals but just a bit of the story.

to straighten the entangled mess. “My paintings

She uses the dynamic and carefully controlled colour

encourage your mind to dive into the sea of

relationships to make for a richer visual experience.

imagination, letting it swim in the metaphysics of life”,

mind to dive into the sea of imagination, letting it swim in the metaphysics of life”

Nimisha’s style is wrought with suggestive

says Nimisha.

undertones which is all put together with a broad

Then there is the other side of the coin – her semi-

brush sweep of symbolism. A larger part of her works

realistic works which narrate stories! Characters from

are abstract, inspired from different moods and

the Indian mythology, come alive on her canvas. Like

Nimisha’s style is wrought with suggestive undertones which is all put together with a broad brush sweep of symbolism.

206

Nimisha’s paintings are a modern parallel of Indian mythological stories, which she very tactfully presents, rendered in her characteristic brushwork of multicoloured hues.

THIS PAGE:

WHITE NOISE - acrylic on canvas - 55 x 83 cm

in the painting titled ‘Urvashi’, where we see Urvashi, a character in the Sanskrit play Vikramorvasiyam

BLISS - watercolour on paper - 23 x 28 cm

written by ancient playwright, Kalidas, levitating towards sky leaving her lover Pururavas.

CATHARSIS - acrylic on canvas - 55 x 83 cm

Nimisha relies heavily on mythological stories to bring

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URVASHI - watercolour on paper - 61 x 61 cm

to focus many issues and similar emotional phases which are relevant to us even today. Her paintings are a modern parallel of Indian mythological stories, which she very tactfully presents, rendered in her characteristic brushwork of multicoloured hues.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Nupur Nigam “The process of making a painting takes me into a meditative state where I am away from all the worries in the world .”

Indian artist Nupur Nigam is a delightfully contradictory personality. An engineer by her profession, she is an absolute artist at heart!

Having completed her Engineering Degree from the prestigious NIIT Raipur, India, she went on to do Executive Management from IIM Lucknow, India.

But creativity is something she always had, right through from her childhood. She has been painting

marriage of the two disciplines on her artwork.

Nupur does not have a standard creative process that she follows while painting. Her inspiration arises purely from the current moment, dependant on which theme tugs her heartstrings on a given day, and which topic moves her enough to find its way on to her canvas. Her subject selection and treatment is quite instinctive as is her representational proficiency

since she was 3 years old and that love and passion

quite exceptional.

for arts has only grown with time. Her engineering

Nupur’s works have a lightness to them. Her ability to

background gives her structured thinking and logic, and the artist in her applies colours to that structure with abandonment. The end result is a successful

see charm and appeal in the simplest of things and to be able to capture that, with a picturesque elegance is quite remarkable. Weather-beaten door, with paint

Nupur’s ability to see charm and appeal in the simplest of things and to be able to capture that, with a picturesque elegance is quite remarkable.

208

Nupur does not have a set standard creative process that she follows while painting. Her inspiration arises purely from the current moment, dependant on which theme tugs her heartstrings on a given day, and which topic moves her enough to find its way on to her canvas.

THIS PAGE:

SERENE watercolour on paper - 30 x 42 cm

curling at edges and a rusted lock hanging on that

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door, captured in this painting titled ‘Life’, all tell a

LIFE watercolour on paper - 66 x 81 cm MOOD watercolour on paper - 81 x 66 cm

PERISHABLE watercolour on paper - 83 x 122 cm

remarkable story. Even though the blue paint has

She loves to travel, and her keen eyes never miss

to observe the tiniest detail, however fleetingly may

the gaze be. These visual remain in photo-box of her

chipped away, there is a proud elegance in this visual. mind and she is able to recall it remarkable clarity and reproduce it as artwork with skill unparalleled.

It has weathered many storms.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

France

Olivier Pringal “While completing

Olivier Pringal, a self-taught Parisian artist, when

I liked the fee chalky material on my fingers, and

a drawing at brisk

confronted with a series of recurring health problems,

found it more efficient to work with.” Incorporating

got back to his artistic pursuit which he had

this chalk into his toolset he was able to achieve the

abandoned when he was in his teen years. And we

desired texture easier and faster.

pace, I deliberately leave in the errors or imperfections. These act as an hallmark of my emotions embedded into each piece.”

are certainly glad he did!

Olivier always had a creative streak in him and was

heavy and dark contrast of modern photography,

impressed with the Flemish and Dutch painters

Olivier created his own individualistic stylised

chiaroscuro techniques. A technique, also used by

monochromatic paintings, a style that has come to

a lot of modern black and white photographers,

define his artworks. He captures an emotion, a look

eventually helped him kick-start his artistic career.

or a movement and is able to create powerful imagery

One day, inspired by one of his old pencil drawing,

with shades of white on a black canvas, that looks

and on advice of his well-wishers, he decided to

like its been struck by a brilliant white light - a flash of

immerse himself into the world of drawing and

fire-bolt lightning on the pitch black canvas!

sketching. This creative outlet became a big stress relinquisher of his hectic life, helping him regain his flailing health!

210

Combining the old chiaroscuro techniques, and the

From music legends like the Rolling Stones to cinematic icons like Clint Eastwood, Olivier has drawn them all with expert clarity and phenomenal

Starting out with a simple graphite pencil, he

photorealism. Olivier now lives near the beautiful and

gradually moved on to conté, chalk, dry and oil

picturesque Alpine city, Annecy, northern France.

pastels on black paper. “The idea and desire to work

With a revived sense of well-being and purpose, his

with pastel chalk came gradually,” he explains, “When

evolution has led him to a much more peaceful and

drawing and using my hands to smooth the shadows,

fulfilling life.

Combining the old chiaroscuro techniques, and the heavy and dark contrast of modern photography, Olivier created his own individualistic stylised monochromatic paintings, a style that has come to define his artworks.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

DAWN OF PEACE - mixed medium- 68 x 78 cm DAWN OF PEACE - mixed medium- 68 x 78 cm DAWN OF PEACE - mixed medium- 68 x 78 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

BEHIND THE MASK - acrylic on canvas - 66 x 81 cm MOOD - mixed media - 66 x 81 cm

PERISHABLE -acrylic on canvas - 83 x 122 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Switzerland

Pascal Russi “Painting is like a

Swiss artist Pascal Russi, A.K.A. “Prussi”, is a

drunkenness and addiction. He is in a holy war, of

refuge, a raft that

great Alpine painter. In spite of going through nine

sorts, in an affront to the evils of all such vices, and

debilitating brain operations, and suffering severe

the ruination and havoc it creates in many otherwise

chronic headaches regularly, Pascal is a magnificent

good, stable, productive, responsible lives. Here is a

and truly gifted artist. He attended normal schools

reminder of many downed bottles consumed, piled-

up to age 15, then apprenticed as a pastry chef,

up high, discarded shards in a trash heap.

takes you where your spirit guides you: Let it wander and will come only satisfactions and joys.”

confectioner, ice cream maker, and caterer. He has been painting now for over 30 years. Starting with gouache colours and then to oil and acrylic painting, he now experiments with ‘Tar’, a unique medium he discovered.

voir de Toutes Les Couleurs (“Addiction - Show all colours”). It is the artist’s fervent hope to enlighten us and warn us of the untold costs of such wasted and non-productive lives. He is on a mission, to caution

Monotony and routine are not part of his pictorial

us from falling into the bottomless, unending Hell of

vocabulary! He has the freedom to go in many

addictive behaviours. Dissuade to ever trying the first

innumerable directions, all while using new

drink. A lonely vigil, but if it spares even a handful of

techniques and a fresh set of inspirations. “My

souls from a tortured drunken existence, its all well

painting is in constant evolution”, says the artist,

worth keeping that vigil.

hardly ever making the same thing twice.

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In the same vein is the painting “Addiction - En faire

Pascal has exhibited quite often beyond Switzerland,

“La Valse des Carafes” (“The Waltz of Carafes/Dance

including the Museum of Modern Art - New York

of Bottles”) is a testimonial of alcohol addiction.

USA (2017) and the Prix International Talent et

This highly perceptive artist is fixated on the evils of

Professionnels 2017 au Ritz de Madrid, Spain.

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ADDICTION - EN FAIRE VOIR DE TOUTES LES COULEURS (Addiction - Show all colors) - acrylic on canvas - 80 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

LES CHARMANTES CARAFES (The charming carafes) - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 50 cm

LA VALSE DES CARAFES (The Waltz of Carafes) - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

ADDICTION, QUAND ELLE VOUS RONGE DE L’INTÉRIEUR (Addiction, when it eats you from the inside - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 40 cm

Monotony and routine are not part of Pascal’s pictorial vocabulary! He hardly ever making the same thing twice.

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Costa Rica

“I want my cat creations to give off the impression like they could have lived or grown somewhere.

I want to express feelings rather than illustrate them.”

Patrizia Gallo Uruguay born Costa Rican artist Patrizia Gallo comes from a family of musicians. She graduated in Classical Realistic drawing from Atelier del Sol, San José, Costa Rica, and now teaches realistic drawing and painting.

Patrizia’s paints in an extremely Expressionist style, which allows the artist in her to express her mastery of a perfect drawing and colour application.

Patrizia has stood out for her feline theme. She loves cats and represents the cat as a mystical and independent character. A bobtail cat, the main protagonist of Patrizia’s creative encounter, is the preferred type of cat she loves to paint.

Using a non-conventional colour palette Patrizia manages to create that feeling of realism. Even as she boldly uses bright violet for painting in her cat’s ears or reddish orange for its nose, Patrizia is able

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to bring out the playfulness of these and inquisitive curiosity of these feline delights. Her brush moves skillfully and deftly. With swift and confident short

strokes, she shapes the minute expressive nuances and details of the cat’s features very beautifully.

The bright big eyes that invite us to enter the frame, inadvertently compelling us to reach out the stroke

that fuzzy soft fur and hear that purring of pleasure.

The most captivating and characteristic thing in

her work is the contrast she creates between the

central figure and the negative space around that

her painting begins to looks like a 3D work. These

feline delights stand out looking like they are literally emerging out of the canvas.

Her artworks are displayed around the world

in galleries and private collections in Uruguay,

Argentina, Switzerland, USA, Spain, Germany, India, Brazil, México, Hungary and UAE Dubai.

Patrizia’s paints in an extremely Expressionist style, which allows the artist in her to express her mastery of a perfect drawing and colour application.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

WE ARE NOT HERE - oil on canvas - 60 x 80 cm

ORANGE NOSE - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 80 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

BARQUITOS DE KENNETH - oil on canvas - 28 x 35 cm DIVERSE CAT - oil on canvas - 50 x 50 cm PEACE - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm

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USA

Paul Henderson “I love to experiment

Living in the Northwest, USA, Paul Henderson has

artists and gained some invaluable experience in the

with different

always been inspired by wildlife. From a very young

process. Don Crook, a realistic painter of wildlife,

age, observing wildlife in its natural environment

took Paul under his wing and taught him the finer

during the fishing, hunting and camping trips with his

points of composition, colour shading and detailing.

family, was his favourite past time.

Further inspired to improve his art, Paul attended the

It was these outings that inspired Paul to start

greatly sought out workshops conducted by Daniel E.

mediums and try out various creative methods. It keeps me fresh and invigorated.”

sketching and drawing. Soon these drawings became more refined and detailed and after graduating, he

pastel artist.

began to seriously study art and attended several

Paul has taught art to high school students and other

college-level courses in art. While working at a

young artists. He works in a variety of medium -

full-time job, Paul spent most of his leisure time

acrylic, oil, watercolour and, recently, even coffee!.

experimenting and improving his art skills and later,

Paul’s style varies from the abstract to hyper-realistic;

even took a course in taxidermy, in order to study muscle movements and body anatomy.

THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

MYSTIC WARRIOR acrylic on canvas - 122 x 91 cm SNOW MELT III acrylic on canvas - 91 x 61 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCWISE TOP LEFT: CHAMPION TEAMWORK acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm CITY LIGHTS II acrylic on canvas - 61 x 45 cm DESERT CITY acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm

Green, one of America’s leading portrait painters and

from wispy landscapes to fantasy almost surreal compositions; from the Western cowboy images

Paul has always been drawn to both abstract

to Iconic American Indian images. Paul also prints

and surrealistic art. He dedicated his evening and

limited editions of his original art, which have been a

weekends to study under several accomplished

big success.

Paul has always been drawn to both abstract and surrealistic art.

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Paul’s style varies from the abstract to hyper-realistic; from wispy landscapes to fantasy almost surreal compositions.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

MISTY FLIGHT - acrylic on panel - 71 x 56 cm

TWILIGHT TEXTURES - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 45 cm COLOUR STORM - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm

DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 45 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

MAKE IT SO - acrylic on canvas - 71 x 56 cm

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Finland

Paula Haapalahti “I try to connect my inner thoughts visually into my work and to catch the things as they are in the moment. No more, no less...”

Paula Haapalahti is an artist based in Vantaa, Finland.

but there is evidence of the sunshine mixing with

She studied art and photography while mentoring at

the foliage creates the wonder photosynthesis to

Open Art School in Helsinki.

Paula tries to capture and observe her surroundings through photography. She takes unplanned and candid pictures of nature and busy urban cities and uses it as her inspiration to create her art piece. It is through her eyes we see a palpable world, which is shimmering and wondrous.

In her painting, ‘Meeting in the Flower Field’, there is more than what meets the eye. In this great rendition

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make them all flourish. This artwork done in many colours and tonal shades represent a dazzling field of God’s own brilliance. It has depth and subtle dreamy beauty. Perhaps the mighty eye and hand of Paula have come the closest in bringing us the sheer and startling beauty found in all of nature, second only to her Creator’s masterful touch. She, like her Creator, has masterfully created as well bestowed with the gift to create.

of the most beautiful field of purple flowers, not

The colour palette of ‘Memory of a Woman’ reminds

only are the flowers meeting on this glorious field

us that all women gravitate towards the reddish

Paula takes unplanned and candid pictures and uses it as her inspiration to create her art piece. It is through her eyes we see a palpable world, which is shimmering and wondrous.

passions and the pinkish comforts. The thin stripes THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: SQUARE #65-OTHERSPACE photography THE MEMORY OF A WOMAN acrylic on canvas - 60 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY acrylic on canvas - 60 x 40 cm MEETING IN THE FLOWERFIELD acrylic on canvas - 116 x 89 cm EYES SHUT WIDE OPEN acrylic on canvas - 56 x 38 cm

are perhaps verbal and physical marks of when society lashes out, physically and often emotionally.

The woman portrayed here is strong, and passionate in her intensity to love. And glowing like a red ember, grounded in her love and nurturing. Here also seen are some of her darker moods, lingering pains, unfortunate personal and physical sufferings and hardships, all rolled into one.

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Malaysia

Payal Pihu “As an artist, it brings me a lot of joy and confidence when I reflect the essence of womanhood through my art.”

Payal Pihu, is a self-taught, freelance, contemporary,

figurative artist. Based in Penang, Malaysia, she loves to capture emotion and expression in her paintings to evoke and reflect her admiration for the beauty and

strength of a woman. She completed her Bachelors

maybe as bleak and colourless as suggested by the tone of her face, but her hopes and dreams are quite alive and colourful. If she can only make the connection between the two somehow.

of Arts degree, and starting with basic oils, diversified

The artist perhaps states in her artwork ‘Traces of

after having discovered her natural creative strengths

all know, the universe does not revolve around just

In her more recent collections, she has tried to create

may seem to. In fact, many who thought it did, learn

into using mixed media and charcoal. Over the years,

You’, “I have been telling the stars about you”. As we

and style inclinations, Payal leaned toward Realism.

one single person for very long, although, at times, it

a sense of peace, and calm within one’s soul.

that the world spins without them, and we all one day

As an artist, it brings her great joy and confidence as

go away to take a long, never ending dirt-nap. In this

her works portray what is the real essence of women.

great and highly-imaginative work, we see a young

as is evident from her soiled face, matted hair, and

unseen. Her love that is still and forevermore seems

and lack of adequate parental care. While her future,

tears of her reality rain down in yellow all around.

In her painting ‘Tulsi’, we see perhaps a street girl,

woman, with her head in the clouds, experiencing the

a general unkempt demeanour. All signs of neglect

to totally captivate her, as the flood of the unending

After having discovered her natural creative strengths and style inclinations, Payal leaned toward Realism.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

ROSE soft pastels, charcoal on paper 50 x61 cm

BEING A WOMAN (Freckles and all)Â soft pastels on Canson sheet 61 x 89 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: VOICES charcoal on Canson matt board 81 x 122 cm TULSI oil on canvas - 81 x 81 cm TRACES OF YOU oil on canvas - 81 x 81 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Germany

Per Ole Gmelok “My inspiration

Abstractionist Per Ole Gmelok of Berlin, Germany, is

basis for life, seen here in the orange-red, iron-like

is to make good

a self-taught visual artist and a digital artist. He learnt

outer compartments, and also in the inner core of the

to enhance some of his bold works, and also the

well-fixed, gun-metal blue circles.

pictures. Whenever I see something that inspires me, be it my own art or others, I always have this strong urge to make something new of it.”

works of others, creating a new identity with which end result.

It Is and How It Should Be”, of his work, as he calls

Speaking on his painting process he says, “While

it is a stunning and colourful work of art which is less

painting in oil and acrylics on canvas, I wanted to

about the subject and more subjective, as it evokes

simultaneously see several other different outcomes

a different set of emotions in each of its viewers.

of the same artwork. This desire led me to do

It is in every stroke of the brush, every movement

experimenting with digital art”. He certainly does not

of a digitizer pen on an electronic tablet; in his

wish to tamper with his art, but only see the many-

forms, and techniques, all along its wavy, curvy and

worlds scenarios at play right before him.

serpentine lines, many different scenarios playing out,

‘Deine Welt’ (Your World) is a busy and elaborately colourful piece, but with optimal balance, symmetry,

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He first creates a basic outline in his head. The “What

the aesthetics of which are poignant, like stirring a melody of a forgotten song.

and control. Herein lie its’ secrets. It is organized and

Gmelok likes to collaborate with other artists, to do

compartmentalised with many segmented chambers

some remixes of their works to create a new kind

and closed core circles overlapping and bound

of work which is an amalgamation of two artists

solidly together, not unlike the concentric links of a

styles. An interesting idea, which while keeping two

chain, cast in one complimentary and solidified piece.

identities intact and distinct, creates a third which is

Drawing comparisons, making it a solid and stable

brand new!

Gmelok’s stunning and colourful work of art is less about the subject and more subjective, as it evokes a different set of emotions in each of its viewers.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT SHOULD BE - digital - 1080 x 810 px

OFF YOUR FACE - mixed media on wood with digital enhancement 1440 x 1440 px OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

DEINE WELT - mixed media acrylic on canvas with digital enhancement - 1728 x 1728 px HÄNKD - mixed media acrylic on canvas with digital enhancement - 1728 x 1728 px FERTIG. LOS. - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 60 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

POHO “I draw my inspiration from my dreams and thoughts.”

Poho was born in 1994 in Cocody, a suburb of and one of the 10 urban communes of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Poho is second from a family of four siblings.

He spent his childhood in Yopougon Sideci cited Coprime. He did his primary classes at IGES and Sory School Group. In CM1 class, feeling the need to pursue his passion for art, he joined the village Kiyi as an actor at the theatre for many years. Village Kiyi a unique project in the centre of the city Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. It brings together artists and performers and gives training to local youth. Poho became a part

(INSAAC) Art School in Abidjan, where he learnt the

finer points of paintings. A few years later, he joined the workshop of Maitre STENKA in Bingerville.

Poho’s diverse and rich cultural heritage is one of

his many treasure trove of inspirations. As he delved

deeper into his creative side, his mother continued to encourage him to pursue his artistic talents. One of

his many dreams was to face the world on his own.

His dreams soon became his muse and he started

painting what he was dreaming! A method he made

of this local regular dinner performances of theatre

his own.

and music, which includes a meal of traditional

Poho is became the youngest artist to ever showcase

Ivory Coast foods. Village Kiyi is the brainchild of Cameroon artist Werewere Liking, and the name Kiyi means ‘ultimate knowledge’ in his native language.

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Poho then moved on to register at the conservatory

his work at the 3rd edition of FAYA Expo. The first

collective exhibition was held at Afrique Art gallery

and Museum of civilizations Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

THIS PAGEE: FANTÔME OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

Poho’s diverse and rich cultural heritage is one of his many treasure trove of inspirations.

RELIGION ARCHITECTURE PLATEAU

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Priya Yabaluri “My work is an

Indian contemporary artist, Priya Yabaluri is self-

observation of

taught and works and lives in Mumbai. She graduated

different forms, shapes and the thoughts behind it.

I use environmental objects as the common denominators of different perceptions in my works.”

as a Science major and then went on to do a Diploma in Interior and Multimedia Designing. She started painting early, and it was around the beginning of 2000, that she started exhibiting her works various national arts festivals, group and solo shows within her home country and in International galleries.

Priya’s works are reflections of her nonobjective memory, taking shapes of geometrical expressions.

She experiments with the dynamics of movements within the plane and the viewer’s vision. The lines are strong and the colours range from soft hues of analogous to bright complementaries.

In her painting titled ‘the Endless river’, we see a lady in a boat, with very little possessions, as she rows on amidst the glitter and glamour of the outer world. Floating to the top of society is a tough and very isolating experience. Some never rise above the surface of the deluge of expenses, trials, academic and personal challenges, setbacks and commitments.

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same, but we have today.

Priya explores life and relates philosophy to geometrical compositions, while surprising us with her love for botanical works! We see in her ‘Orange Tree’ series, a multi-faceted and surprisingly shrewd perception of the urban life represented in geometric, angular planes.

Sometimes music becomes a source of her inspiration to explore different mediums, techniques, and subjects. In ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ is that a turntable we see, perhaps playing the Pink Floyd’s ‘the wall’? This painting leaps to life with a relentless lyrical calmness that is clearly genuine and, in its painstaking particularity, ultimately earthy. It is a stunning synthesis of the familiar - a multilayered vision.

Priya is also the Managing Editor of contemporary women art magazines which actively promote the art culture in India. Additionally, she organises children’s art workshops, group exhibition and other art projects

Perhaps those who finally do, go out at the end of the

which give her all the direction and inspiration that

day and party hearty. For they know, tomorrow is the

she needs.

Priya explores life and relates philosophy to geometrical compositions, while surprising us with her love for botanical works!

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: THE ENDLESS RIVER acrylic on canvas - 122 x 122 cms ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL acrylic on canvas - 91 x 183 cms ECHOES acrylic on canvas - 91 x 91 cms OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: ORANGE TREE SERIES acrylic on canvas - 122 x 122 cms ORANGE TREE SERIES acrylic on canvas - 122 x 122 cms TIME acrylic on canvas - 91 x 183 cms

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India

Priyanka Parhi “Creating a piece of art purely from my imagination or from my life experiences is a way for me to convey my thoughts and express myself”

Indian artist Priyanka Parhi is a paradox of sorts. A

art world that’s new to me. Most of my work is related

science graduate and currently pursuing a doctorate

to how I perceive the world around me”, she explains

degree, she continues to fuel her creative side and

quite frankly. “My painting ‘Webb’, represents my

paints with equal zeal. Fascinated by the emotions

struggle during my early College application process

they evoke, she started painting at an early age.

days. While my work ‘Trapped’, is representative of

And after winning a few art competitions at the high

the tantrums of a relationship that I have been in.”

school level, Priyanka gained confidence to continue her passion. Getting strong encouragement from her parents, she soon was trying her hand in different art materials.

instance perhaps where she can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a lover or a very persuasive acquaintance. She can still stem the tide and halt the flow of a relationship

Priyanka creates her art piece from what she

proceeding further. Perhaps stop the hearts that oft

observes. It isn’t a mere copy of the world around

bleed for lasting love.

her, but a reflection of it, which has been purified by her senses and has emerged on her canvas as an uncluttered expression of her experiences. She soon started her own blog to post her works and received a deluge of positive response and compliments.

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Here, in her poignant painting, ‘Single Moment’, is an

Priyanka, as a true artist continues to paint from her such experiences, and posts it on her Instagram or her blog. Hers is a very unique blend of artistic merit and academic genius... a quite rare, doublyperceptive, and an outstanding combination in the

“I am constantly learning new techniques”, says

world of art. Her art speaks volumes to art admirers

Priyanka in all honesty. “There is still a lot about the

and serious critics alike.

Priyanka’s is a very unique blend of artistic merit and academic genius... a quite rare, doublyperceptive, and an outstanding combination in the world of art.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: DRUNKEN LUMINESCENCE acrylic on paper - 1080 x 810 px WEBB acrylic and watercolor on paper - 1440 x 1440 px OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: EXPRESS (CHAOTIC BUT CALM) acrylic and watercolor on paper - 1728 x 1728 px SINGLE MOMENT acrylic on paper - 1728 x 1728 px TRAPPED acrylic on paper - 1728 x 1728 px

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Raghu is a true Renaissance master. His works are lodged in a much different time period and truly displaced in space.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE:

COURT OF MAHARAJAH RANJIT SINGH - oil on canvas - 86 x 142 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

DANCING MONK - oil on canvas - 91 x 137 cm

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India

“There are two kinds of light. One thats in our head and one that lights the room. I paint with the first one… the spiritual light.”

Raghu Vyas Indian artist Raghu Vyas is a modern Renaissance

separate from the world, and worldly cares, senses,

master. His works are lodged in a much different time

and motivations. In time, they will all mature so much

period and truly displaced in space. His is an artform

more, as they become more and more like their

recreated from the minds and hearts of the old

golden-robed master, as he in turn, becomes more

masters, reincarnated in him to complete his oeuvre

and more like the great Buddha himself. They all must

of unfinished spiritual works, and by some chance of

get serious to follow the path of righteousness that

fate, delivered here with us... in our modern, present

will bare eternal fruits of the spirit on the shining path

age, all through his precise, talented, and deliberate

they have embarked on.

hands.

In his other series, he pays homage to the legends of

His ‘Dancing Monk’ sees stages and generational

the Sikh Dynasty, by painting portrait of Banda Singh

levels of maturation of Budhhist Monks, from young

Bahadur sitting valiantly in his chair, resplendent in

novitiate ones to an elevated master teacher, to

his armoured uniform. We see in ‘Court of Maharajah

an eternal ascended one, who appears as rigid

Ranjit Singh’, a wise, courageous and generous

as concrete but as relaxed as a peace dove and

Maharajah Ranjit Singh in his Court, giving alms.

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Raghu’s paintings are intuitive and may not always be a narrative of any known story or legend. Sometimes an image comes to him completed, and he tries to replicate it onto the canvas before it fades in his memory.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: KRISHNA RADHA oil on canvas - 76 x 122 cm BANDA SINGH BAHADUR oil on canvas - 127 x 203 cm

He was the remarkable founder and leader of the

an image comes to him completed, and he tries to

first unified Sikh Empire Kingdom that at its peak

replicate it onto the canvas before it fades in his

included parts of modern-day India, Pakistan, and

KRISHNA RADHA UNDER PRIJAT TREE oil on canvas - 76 x 122 cm

Afghanistan.

OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: THE OCHRE ROBE oil on canvas - 91 x 137 cm

“The forms and the model I have used in my work

KRISHNA AND PRINCESS oil on canvas - 76 x 122 cm BUDDHA oil on canvas - 61 x 100 cm

are a product of my dreams”, says this master-artist.

memory. When asked about his creative process he says, “I don’t like to ask too many questions. I listen to the still voice within”. This is what gives his paintings a fervent, meditative, wisdom like quality.

His paintings are intuitive and may not always be a

The humbled embers of the illumined and the very

narrative of any known story or legend. Sometimes

quieted soul that affect their spirits ever radiantly.

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India

Rajasekharan Parameswaran “I like to portray the dramatic, the spectacular and the riveting in my paintings.”

Indian artist Rajasekharan Parameswaran, A.K.A. Marthandam is a self-taught painter and a Film Director from Tamil Nadu, India. A talented director of art films, he won the best Director State Award for his debut into films, Naalu Pennungal (2007).

He holds two Guinness World Records - One for the largest easel painting (2008). The second is for The Largest Devil’s Knot (Edakoodam), a traditional difficult puzzle, a curious toy similar to the Rubik’s cube, made up of six wooden blocks, that once dismantled, can be assembled to its original position only with proper mathematical skills. This puzzle’s each piece measures 7.30 m long, 0.60 m wide, and 0.60 m high.

Rajasekharan worked as a statistics compiler, a receptionist, a medical representative and a teacher before he finally realised his creative potential and decided to become an artist. Having no formal

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training in art, he started out with pencil sketching and soon moved to paint with oil. Unabashed and fearless he experimented with various styles and techniques and soon developed his own distinct style. Rajasekharan is inspired by the works of masters like Rubens and Rembrandt. His portraiture styles show strong impressions of these masters and has helped to shape his own world of realist portraits.

His recurring ‘Woman and Mask’ theme is most intriguing. She is seen in monochromatic tones behind a string of colourful masks. As though there is one for each day of the week, she is accustomed to hiding her real self behind things - behind the outer mask. Sometimes she hides her feelings behind a smile. One wonders what is going on in that mind of her’s? What sordid secret is she hiding deep within?

While the masks seem to always change, the woman featured in the paintings does not. This lovely beauty

Rajasekharan stays away from the harsh tendency to create strong contrasts of light and shadow and uses total frontal lighting, and larger and more saturated areas of painting are well lit.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: MELANCHOLIC MASKS oil on canvas - 152 x 86 cm

BLISS oil on canvas - 111 x 172 cm DESIRE 2 oil on canvas - 45 x 61 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: BHAYANAKAM (TERRIFYING) oil on canvas - 61 x 45 cm DESIRE oil on canvas - 162 x 111 cm

is completely at rest in one painting. She has cleared her mind and after a very hectic and arduous day, she has taking off her mask and is finally resting. Only to be awakened with a nightmare in the subsequent painting, ‘the Bhayanakam’, meaning the Terrifying.

The doe-like eyes, brimming with tears, on the verge crying, look straight at us, and we can sense the palpable terror in them. No one comforts her. She is just simply waiting it out. Waiting for the panic to pass. This is quite a powerful work. It speaks volumes about the sensitivity of the artist Rajasekharan.

The treatment of the elements of perspective and

light in his painting is of particular concern to the artist. He stays away from the harsh tendency to create strong contrasts of light and shadow and uses total frontal lighting, and larger and more saturated areas of painting are well lit.

Rajasekharan possesses an exceptional ability to render people in their various moods and dramatic guises. And together with his skill to draw the viewer’s eye to a general focal point before moving in to observe the details within, proves to us that he is grand master of his times and an artist par excellence.

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Netherlands

Riky Van Deursen “Painting for me is a journey in which my feelings and the exploration of various techniques are the key elements.”

Dutch artist Riky van Deursen is a self-taught painter

who claims, “Painting for me is a journey in where my

feelings and the exploration of various techniques are the key elements.”

Her art is quite colourful, to say the least. It is alive

with warmth, colour, tone, and with a playful sense

of whimsy. Her subjects are quite diverse and all very calm, peaceful, happy, beautiful, and pleasant. Hers

are works of a light-hearted and beautiful spirit and a satisfied soul.

When she begins to paint, she rarely has a specific

image in mind. She focuses on the colours and the

painting develops as her brush moves. “By painting, I can let go of everyday things and come back to myself”, she says. It is her solace.

Her painting “Festival of Colors”, is truly a festival of brilliant colours. Not only are a few of the pom-pom like tree projections here sweet and calming, but

are painted in very interdependent shades of a more

diverse palette-blend of radiant blue-white cohesions.

With their circus of other colors, they may as well

be cotton candy on a stick! They have the texture of

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colour-infused snow-cones, a flavoured summertime slushy treat. Whatever they are, and whatever we imagine them to be, they look gleefully cool and refreshing, and sweet enough to try to eat!

The painting ‘2018-03’, is like an eventful gathering of people, a great social and spiritual lift to mind, emotions, body, soul, and spirit. It is in communing with others at all sorts of gatherings that seem to even telepathically connect us, whether a word is spoken or not at these events, somehow it connects us all on a more spiritual and humane plane. Like a Woodstock Music Fest, that seemed to cement an entire generation, this painting, is a big unifying event in the annals of humankind. Perhaps it is the artist quietly sensing the need, presented all of us here, ahead of time, like little dots of our more personalized, individualized, self-entities.

Paintings often have the power to draw us in, join us in ways, and unite us as art admirers, and artists like Riky have the ability to captivate us with but a few fractions of an ounce of paints here and there, making this profoundly great and remarkably colourful painting.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: 2016-13 acrylic on canvas - 80 x 60 cm 2018-03 acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

FIELD OF FLOWERS acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm FESTIVAL OF COLORS acrylic on canvas - 40 x 30 cm BIRDS acrylic on canvas - 20 x 20 cm

Riky’s subjects are quite diverse and all very calm, peaceful, happy, beautiful, and pleasant. Hers are works of a light-hearted and beautiful spirit and a satisfied soul.

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THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: BAT IN THE NET - mixed medium - 30 x 21 cm MOVE - wax on cardboard - 24 x 16 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: SOUL DANCE - oil on canvas - 41 x 56 cm

PLAYING DOLPHIN - oil on canvas - 56 x 42 cm

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Germany

Robina Del Mar “My creative work is

German artist Robina Del Mar had a tough artistic life.

Unfortunately, in 2006 Robina suffered a tragic

a way to let my soul

She had severely injured her right wrist in her youth,

accident and a further decline in health has since

speak.”

making training in artistic fields all but impossible.

After many years though, she found a way to put her creativity on paper. At age 8 she learned to sew

made her wheelchair dependent. But this never stopped this gutsy and daring artist to stop creating!

“The passion for art is for me like the air I breathe or

from her grandmother, a seamstress, and by age 12

the food I eat to live”, she states.

her grandfather, a master Goldsmith introduced her

Experimenting with colors and materials always

to jewelry design. With a Polytechnic High School Diploma education, majoring in Communication, she designed and fabricated costumes for variety shows.

Even as a fashion designer, she found her creative fulfillment in the development and design.

fascinated her as it elevates her to a fresh, new, expansive level. Her work captures various characters and changes in people. A distinctive description of the material technologies she employs are in the coating of special fissile materials, processed by

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Experimenting with colors and materials always fascinated Robina, as it elevates her to a fresh, new, expansive level. Her work captures various characters and changes in people.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: CHINESE DANCER - special split on cardboard - 68 x 48 cm RELAXATION DANCE - special split on cardboard - 48 x 34 cm SAME LOVE - special split on cardboard - 48 x 34 cm THE EAR - mixed medium - 42 x 30 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

THINK - mixed medium - 42 x 30 cm

THE CAT - mixed medium - 48 x 34 cm

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hand. The white dots in her original works of art shine like diamonds, even in the smallest amounts of light.

‘The Cat’ is a master of twists, turns and contortions.

No matter how the cat falls, it always manages to swiftly right themselves and land safely on all fours. This one, like many of his feline phantom cousins, may have spikes of long, matted fur, or raised fur, in an aggressive posture, meant solely to intimidate and frighten its’ foe, be it animal or man, follows the same rules.

‘Think’, is a daily moment-to-moment process of thousands of thoughts every day, week, year, and a

lifetime as human beings. It truly boggles the brain

even to try to grasp our reason for reasoning. We can

be literally weighed-down by our thoughts - burdened and enslaved to our sense for critical thinking and our

undying quest for rationale. We can suffer from career

burnout, relational inability to cope and deal anymore, and even a complete nervous shutdown of such

coping abilities, especially if we don’t give it all a rest now and then.

Artists like Robina leave us pondering such things.

They create art for itself, and not to please us... only to stimulate our own perceptions.

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Romania

Rodica Pungea “I paint flowers because is a pleasure to paint something so beautiful. It is almost a challenge where it comes to form and coloration.�

Rodica Pungea is a visual artist from Alba County, Romania. She studied painting under Professor Horhat and made her art debut in 1983. Since then

she has participated in numerous personal and collective exhibitions in the country and abroad (France, Morocco, Haiti, India, New York). Rodica, now a prominent figure in the Romanian art world is also a respected member of the Union of Fine Artists.

Her works are very feminine, a mix of floral and figurative. And while gender plays no role in the capacity to create a compelling painting, today, a critical mass of female painters are embracing figuration, diversifying it, and pushing the

conversation around it forward. Not only is there a strong commercial market for her works, but it is also a current time that’s ripe with the debate over what it means to be a woman.

Rodica is able to represent a symbiosis between

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woman and flower, associating the eternal essence of femininity with the eternal fragrance. This has become her signature style. The woman on her

canvas is sometimes portrayed as a seductress and at times a carefree village belle, who is oblivious

of her charms, and is carrying on her daily chores absorbed in the task at hand, with an air calm

pensiveness. Flowers in her hair and her tresses

carelessly trailing on her shoulders or tucked under

her a hair-tie as she quietly arranges a bowl of fruits.

Rodica primarily remains a painter of an artistic arrangement of flowers, which she is able to

showcase in a variety of ways and techniques. More recently, some of the works seem to be inspired by a stained-glass like technique. The thickening and accentuation of the contour lines and the forms

within coloured lively in bright, translucent colours are reminiscent of a serene cathedral window with light

Rodica is able to represent a symbiosis between woman and flower, associating the eternal essence of femininity with the eternal fragrance. falling on it. This awe inspiring picture is very theatrical, like a succinct dialogue between the environment and the flower.

Rodica’s flowers, whether captured in the natural environment or in a natural manner, when represented pictorially create an impact and some would say their freshness manages to fill the air with their beautiful fragrance. We certainly hope the fragrance of these wonderful bouquets continues to spritz their magic far and wide.

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France

Roger Perrier “I paint every day and my painting is always spontaneous and impulsive.”

Living in the beautiful Martigues region, French artist Roger Perrier is passionate about sports as he is about his art. A self-taught artist, he was a late bloomer at art. “It was at the age of fifty that the drive to paint like an eruptive frenzy overwhelmed me”, discloses this ingenious and prolific artist.

Roger draws inspiration from various sources. It was the nineteenth-century artist Felix Ziem that influenced him the most. “I had the opportunity to caress his skies and his reflections in the water of the lagoons, to touch with the end of my fingers the structure of the paint on his paintings”, says Roger, explaining his the experience upon viewing Felix’s work in person. It is also the impressionists who greatly influenced Roger. Later, when he discovered the English artist Turner, he was mesmerised his imagery, which was, in his words, “mere suggestions... just a blurry image, and yet gave a complete feeling of the subject painted.”

It was the dreamy landscapes of the Chinese-French artist, Zao Wou-ki’s that too fascinated Roger to study this master’s painting style. Roger’s colour

application of deep indigos and burnt reds alongside earthy terracotta and subject matter is distinctly closely relatable to this artist.

Roger’s favourite subjects are in and around Martigues, a commune which has since the 70s come to be his hometown. Because of the charm of its canals, docks and bridges, it has come to be known as ‘The Venice of Provence.’ Roger loves the way light falls on this beautiful town, accentuating the reflections of the houses in the water of the canals and mirroring the birds flying the clear blue skies. This region is also famous for its nightlife of the refineries; for the Camargue, a natural region with lagoons; the Alpilles mountain range with its olive and almond trees; the blue coast and the hills of La Nerthe; all feature in his paintings.

Roger paints in acrylics and paints every day. He always starts out with a subject, and gradually the sharp forms fade and heading towards a lyrical abstraction, a post-impressionist style emerges. His art has been received positive criticism and with this encouragement, he continues to pursue his passion.

Roger’s favourite subjects are around Martigues, which has since the 70s come to be his hometown.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: MARTIGUES, AU BORD DE L’ÉTANG 1 acrylic on canvas - 73 x 92 cm MARTIGUES, AU BORD DE L’ÉTANG 3 acrylic on canvas - 60 x 81 cm MARTIGUES, AU BORD DE L’ÉTANG 4 acrylic on canvas - 60 x 60 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: MARTIGUES, AU BORD DE L’ÉTANG 2 acrylic on canvas - 60 x 60 cm MARTIGUES, COLLINES AU BORD DE L’ÉTANG acrylic on canvas - 100 x 65 cm MARTIGUES, CÔTE BLEUE acrylic on canvas - 61 x 50 cm

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Austria

Roswitha Eisenbock “Art is the most magnificent way to create something new”

Austrian artist, Roswitha Eisenbock was born in

Korneuburg in Lower Austria. She graduated from

the Leonardo Art Academy, Salzburg, and then did am studio-study for painting under Prof. Christian

Ludwig Attersee. Her versatility is also reflected in

her professional background. She did many Diploma programmes - in Marketing & Sales, in Business

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From her childhood days, Roswitha would sketch with pencils, and ever since lead pencil has come to be her favourite medium. She combines it with Indian inks for her portraits and other animal drawings.

Quite frequently, her pencils merge with her acrylics, gouache, watercolours and oil paint.

Trainer and Business Coach and in Mental and

Roswitha’s work is primarily figurative and influenced

to the Academy of Fine Arts, Germany where she

exist, once I immerse myself in my paintings”, says

2018.

Notre Dame Paris to painting a stylised portrait of the

Consciousness. Her penchant for learning took her

and inspired by her travels. “Time and space seize to

started studying realistic drawing and painting in

this raven-haired beauty. From painting Cathedral

Roswitha’s work is primarily figurative and influenced and inspired by her travels. famous actress, Liz Taylor, her subjects are varied and diverse. Her artworks are designed to convey lightness and joy which influences her creative process. She has held many International exhibitions in France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: CATHEDRAL NOTRE DAME PARIS graphite, gouache and pastel - 70 x 100 cm RUMPELSTILTSKIN graphite and oil - 70 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: IN LOVE acrylics and oil pastels - 50 x 50 cm LIZ TAYLOR graphite, coal, oil and oil pastels - 70 x 100 cm DANUBE, SO BLUE acrylics and graphite - 50 x 100 cm

and America.

Committed to art and inspired by new challenges, In 2011, Roswitha founded the Mal-Akademie NÖ, a training school where her participants enjoy ever new artistic themes and sophisticated techniques. They can attend each course individually and thus freely select or repeat their desired topics.

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India

Rukshana Hooda “I believe that art is the communication of knowledge and our experiences.”

Rukshana Hooda is an Indian artist who has been a

Finally getting recognition for it and receiving awards

homemaker for many years. Although she started out

was an added bonus and a sure sign of being

her artistic journey with a degree from the prestigious

recognised as a professional painter. “For me, this

J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, and a Diploma in Textile

was a journey of self-discovery.” One of the big

Design from Sophia College, Mumbai, she did not

challenges she faced was was to find her own studio

pursue painting for many years. It was only after her

space and get back her creativity, all whilst being

health problems cropped up, she decided to revisit

a full-time homemaker. She finally overcame that

her core and was happy to discover she had not lost

hurdle, and now successfully manages a full-fledged

her creative abilities!

art career.

Rukshana uses charcoal as her preferred medium

Her paintings, almost always figurative, see highly

and says “this is where we all come from. We all

stylised female forms set in a surreal surrounding,

eventually return to where we have emerged from”.

where they are sometimes seen playing a musical

She believes that we all are in control of our destiny,

instrument or at times going about their everyday

and can eventually get whatever we desire if we work

chores, like carrying a pitcher of water.

towards it. Her return to art and doing art shows is a blessing she is forever grateful for. It motivated her and helped her with the healing process.

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Whether intentional or purely coincidental, the background setting in her paintings is strangely reminiscent of an African village and have a

“As as my health got better, my resolve to continue

celebratory theme. Her works are highly sought after

to paint became stronger”, says this graceful artist.

for their fluidity and their pictorial brilliance.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

ORANGE ABSTRACT RHYTHM 1 acrylics, charcoals on canvas - 61 x 76 cm WINSOME acrylics, charcoals on canvas - 76 x 76 cm

STORYTELLER acrylics, charcoals on canvas - 76 x 106 cm MUSICAL WONDER acrylics, charcoals on canvas- 40 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

CONCORD acrylics, charcoals on canvas - 61 x 91 cm ORANGE ABSTRACT RHYTHM 2 acrylics, charcoals on canvas - 61 x 76 cm FIRE N ICE graphite, gouache and pastel - 61 x 91 cm

Rukshana’s paintings have a celebratory theme and are highly sought after for their fluidity and their pictorial brilliance 251

AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Rupal Buch “I use colour and form to portray the conscious experiences.”

Rupal Buch is an Indian artist who is self-taught and started her artistic journey as a hobby. A Science

Graduate, she took to painting after getting interested in the practice of meditation and mindfulness and

started painting to express her thoughts and visions.

colours and hues showcase the vivid facets of the human mindset which also reflect the inner self.

Over a period of time, this got converted into an allconsuming passion.

Her paintings are like ‘thought-graphs’, and are meticulously planned and drafted like a neuroscientist

Rupal’s works, yogic, meditative and introspective, are an expression of her creative skill and

imagination, produced primarily for their aesthetic value and the emotional power invoked. This

cerebral and figurative artist is able to establish a

dialogue between the artist and spectator through

her creations. Her artworks explore consciousnesses and the awareness of our own mental processes,

such as our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. These

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conscious experiences, that are constantly shifting and changing, are what she tries to capture on her canvas through colour and complex form. The varied

- with carefully measured lines and traced angles. It is a synthesis of the senses, neurons, consciousness, mindfulness, spirituality, education, politics, and more.

This eye-gazing painting “Impulse’, provides an almost automatic way to engage empathetically.

One can really connect with people through their eyes to see who is tired, who is sad, and who is

determined. Similarly, our ability to think, feel and

Rupal’s works yogic, meditative and introspective, are an expression of her creative skill and imagination, produces primarily for their aesthetic value and the emotional power invoked.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: COMBINATION mixed media on canvas - 51 x 41 cm

behave comes not only from the structure of specific brain areas but from the activity between neurons within and across the brain areas. In her painting

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

‘Combination’, this scientist-turned-artist tries to represent how thought develops in the brain, and the active processes of how these neurons connect and communicate.

IMPULSE mixed medium on canvas - 51 x 41 cm

Rupal’s work is very distinctive. Colour is the dominant aspect and synchronising well with forms

WEIGHTED mixed medium on canvas - 76 x 61 cm THOUGHT mixed medium on canvas - 30 x 30 cm GROWTH mixed medium on canvas - 76 x 61 cm

UNTITLED mixed medium on canvas - 51 x 41 cm

in the given space.

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India

Rupali Srivastava “I like to paint the spritual and the traditional.”

Rupali Srivastava, an Indian artist and a mother of two, started painting as a hobby. As her passion for painting grew, she went on to get herself a degree in Fine Arts.

Rupali loves doing portraits and landscapes. Her art represents the Indian culture, society, lifestyles and other traditional Indian ceremonies at its best.

A whole lot of her paintings are religious as they are traditional. The painting ‘Ganesha’, is of one of the most popular and beloved of the deities in Hindu Mythology, identified with his elephant head. He is the Lord of beginnings and as the remover of all obstacles.

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The dramatic and striking painting ‘Kathakali’, with his colourful make-up, costume and facemask is a classical Indian dancer. ‘Kathakali’ is a story-play art genre, of performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of India (Kerala). Similarly, ‘Kathputli’, a string puppet folk theatre of Rajasthan is believed to be more than thousands of years old. No village fair, religious festival or social gathering in the Indian State of Rajasthan can be complete without the ‘Kathputli show’ (Puppet show).

With her paintings, Rupali gives us a peek into the life of a village in India. In ‘Kids Joy’, we see a happy group of kids crossing a water-logged road on a

With her paintings, Rupali gives us a peek into the life of a village in India. narrow pavement in an Indian village - a routine occurrence during the rainy season. Interestingly, THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: GANESHA - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm ABANDONED - acrylic on canvas - 46 x 56 cm KATHPUTLI - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: KID’S JOY - acrylic on canvas - 56 x 46 cm KATHAKALI - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 76 cm

what is seen as a drawback to the adults, is a source of joy for kids.

Her choice of subject is popular, colourful and in-demand internationally. She has exhibited her paintings in India and the United Kingdom.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

Sahar Zaman “There is enough pain and stress in everyday lives, I want my work to bring a smile to my viewer.”

Indian artist Sahar Zaman is a prime time political

work is inspired by radium stickers that are used

in the news industry. Sahar has shot many video

the dark, making it the highlight of her artwork. She

newscaster and a well-known face on television capsules and documentaries on art and artists and her best learning in art has been through

interactions with these master artists in their studios.

Long conversations with stalwarts about their lives

struggles and inspirations gave her valuable insights into the creative process of a master artist. While Indian born British artist Anish Kapoor told her

creating big art is as important and respectable as

earning big; Marcel Wanders, the Dutch designer told her sharing an artwork which has been part of the

artist’s life for months is philanthropy, and giving it as a public art display sheer charity and generosity

Sahar’s art is accessible, relatable and a source of

happiness. “It should bring good cheer”, is what she desires it to be. In her role as a creator of art, Sahar ensures her each work has a functional value. Her

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on trucks and road signages. The stickers glow in creates under the name of ‘Chamak Patti with

Sahar Zaman’. Chamak Patti is a range of functional art accessories and home products. This also

includes specially commissioned artworks such as installations and wall art.

Sahar works with sheets of reflective sticker which are hand-cut by her and applied in patterns of

her design - floral or geometric. She has home

furniture, kitchenware and fashion accessories. She has table-tops and storage trunks that double-up

as coffee tables; along with a range of brass wine

glasses, aluminium bowls, copper goblets and glass bottles. Not only is each metal surface polished and

lacquered, but it is also made waterproof before it is

embellished. She also makes earrings, necklaces and wristbands as fashion accessories.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: JEWELRY SET earrings, wristband, necklace brass, golden paint, hand-cut reflective sticker TRUCKERS OF DESTINY Metal shutter, black paint, hand-cut reflective sticker - 670 x 609 cm WEDIING TRUNKS aluminum, acrylic paint, hand-cut reflective sticker - 61 x 30 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: LABORIOUS FLUORESCENCE Aluminum, acrylic paint, hand-cut reflective sticker - 45 x 45 cm WINE GLASSES Brass, lacquer and hand-cut reflective sticker - 15 cm (height) WINE GLASSES Brass, lacquer and hand-cut reflective sticker - 15 cm (height)

In her role as a creator of art, Sahar ensures her each work has a functional value. Her work is inspired by radium stickers that are used on trucks and road signages.

Chamak Patti’s large scale installations are usually

is an art installation made using circular trays such as

where you get to see alchemy of Sahar’s journalism

those used by construction workers to carry cement

and art on one platform. Her work on a steel shutter is permanently showcased at India’s first transport museum, the HTT. Her work ‘Laborious fluorescence’ a show stopper,

and other materials on construction site. These are turned over and the convex surface is embellished as her canvas, making a statement on the transient and perfunctory lives of labourers.

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Sanjukta is primarily known for her landscapes and seascapes. Her ability to use strong primary colours effectively is her core strength.

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India

Sanjukta Barik “I am a painter and a

Indian artist Sanjukta Barik is a Mumbai based self-

and powerful landscapes perhaps portray her own

dreamer, who cannot

taught artist, who has been painting for over twenty

feelings. Its this inner turmoil that flows out onto

years. “I am a painter, a dreamer, who cannot but

her canvas; sometimes taking the form of a wave,

yearn to create something new every moment of my

crashing on a rocky coast or at times seen as a

life”, says this vibrant artist. She has the advantage

brilliant and dazzling sun, setting over a choppy sea.

but yearn to create something new every moment of my life!”

of an MBA under her belt, and this helps her in representing her works to the audience in a more effective manner.

Sanjukta uses art as a medium for expressing her life’s journey, emotions and conflicts. Her thoughts wandering, as though in a dream sequence, get

Sanjukta is primarily known for her landscapes,

transformed into complex imagery on her canvases.

and seascapes. Her ability to use strong primary

Her heart and mind expressed ever so explicitly

colours effectively is her core strength. These torrid

and uncensored, portrayed as an unrestrained swell

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Sanjukta uses art as a medium for expressing her life’s journey, emotions and conflicts. Her thoughts wandering like in a dream sequence, get transformed into complex imagery on her canvases.

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of the sea, as a tide, leaping high as it slaps the

paintings are a representational of her own energy

mountainous rock formations as though throwing it a

and personality - bold and vivaciousness.

challenge..

“My art is my worship�, confesses this diva. Blessed

Sanjukta is a prolific artist who paints everyday. Her

with a keen sense of aesthetic dexterity and a firm

quest to do more, and to push her own boundaries

grip on the medium of her choice, this incredibly

of creativity just a little bit more everyday has helped

expressive and motivated artist has been able to

her experiment with different mediums. Her brush strokes are as bold as is her choice of colours. These

carve a niche for herself in the present Contemporary Art scenario.

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India

Satwant Sayan “Art is my tool to experience the Divine.”

Satwant Sayan is an Indian artist who is also trained

consciousness. Her painting ‘Dual Power’, shows

as a professional fashion designer and a fashion

two powerful symbols, the Shiva and the Shakti -

coordinator. Born in Jalandhar city, she did schooling

Shiva the masculine, symbolises consciousness and

from Delhi and after her graduating from Delhi

Shakti the feminine, symbolises power. Two principles

University, went on to pursue her creative dreams.

behind the creation of the whole Universe, and

She completed a 2yrs Diploma course in Fashion

incomplete without each other.

Designing from Women’s Polytechnic, Delhi, after which she has worked as a Chief Designer in the garment export industry. Simultaneously, she was sketching, paintings and illustrating. Her works got noticed by art galleries and soon Satwant was exhibiting her works nationwide in India.

Her works are manifestations of the all-in-one divine

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The pen and ink work, ‘Sangam’, highlights the confluence of love and bond between Radha and Krishna. Satwant’s works, contradictory to their outward appearance, are more spiritual than they are of a religious genre.

She also paints Buddha, his life stories and ideology.

Her painting, ‘Letter to God’ is Buddha’s gratitude

towards God for enlightenment and salvation.

And ‘Birth of Sacrificer’ (Buddha) where the colour yellow symbolising wealth, success and status, inspires knowledge, spirituality and deep understanding of self and soul.

Her paintings are an expression of energy, a response to what she feels and is a harmony between the consciousness and the cosmos. They have depth and subtlety of expression that enables to transmit the artists’ experience of the sublime and the divine to the viewer.

Satwant’s works are manifestations of the all-inone divine consciousness.

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

SANGAM - pen and ink - 32 x 61 cm

WE - mixed medium on canvas - 38 x 55 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

BIRTH OF A SACRIFICER (Buddha) - pen and ink, and acrylic on canvas - 45 x 61 cm A LETTER TO GOD - pen and ink, and acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm

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Kazakhstan

Sergey Vasilyevich Zorov “Each of my painting is an independent musical note, and when viewed together makes a symphony.”

Sergey Vasilyevich Zorov was born in the city of Tejen, Turkmenistan. Born to be a painter he never had any other occupation in mind nor even considered one. After graduating from the Art College in Kazan, his family moved to Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, where he studied in the Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute and he graduated in Art and Graphic.

Sergey worked for a long time with Kazmuzei (Museum) Restoration, Ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan. Where he did a lot of work in designing at the local history museums in Kazakhstan. He sometimes works in the Public Fund Branch ‘Education Fund of Nursultan Nazarbayev’, specialized Lyceum ‘Arystan’ as a teacher of art

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history and painting. A ‘Lyceum’ is where young men from all regions of Kazakhstan, are trained. Sergey also teaches painting, sculpture and gives lectures in art history to young arists in his studio. And even organises exhibitionsof their artworks, to give them a complete professional artist’s experience.

Sergey’s landscapes are a conversation with nature.

He approaches them with passion and care. Unlike photography, he captures a feeling and transfers that sentiment on to the canvas, not just a still moment

as seen by the eyes. This artist shows himself as a wonderful colourist, captivating the viewer with a bright saturated colour canvas. “The fiery sun, hot sands, blue mirages - it’s all in the artist’s heart, this is the place where the dreams are born”, remarks Sergey.

Sergey captures a feeling and transfers that sentiment on canvas, not just a still moment as seen by the eyes.

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE:

DANCE OF THE SPRING - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm THE TIEN-SHAN PASS - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm KALS - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

POLYANA - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm

MOON LIGHT - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm

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Sweden

Simret Nebrin Rylander “I paint intuitively, like a child, as many children do.”

Simret Nebrin Rylander is an Ethiopian artist,

‘Behind the Cave’ reveals deeper levels of a resonant,

currently living in Stockholm, Sweden. Unlike most

lyrical emotional aesthetic of music and culture.

other artists, Simret started her fine art journey with

Simret does not use too many colours tones. And the

her digital creations, and then, gaining confidence

way she uses colours helps her to sculpt the shapes

moved to oil and acrylics. Although she has had no

of the picture elements in her works.

formal training in art, she was always interested in it. Particularly in glass art, ceramics and also sewing and crocheting. Simret does some watercolours too, but very seldom and at leisure.

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Her paintings are her own imagination, her own fantasies. The painting ‘In another Dimension’, bears a strong Marc Chagall’s influence, having both similarity of the form used and the handling of brush.

Born in Ethiopia, her subjects are inspired by the

The poetic and at times the figurative style of her

natural beauty of her original hometown. The images

paintings borrow ideas from Fauvism and Cubism.

she creates on her canvases are memories of those

But the end result is a unique style that is entirely

childhood days – of high mountains, exotic plants

own - a blend of the modern and the figurative, with

and animals. Her works like ‘Flying Giant’ and

whimsical undertones.

Simret does not use too many colours tones. And the way she uses colours helps her to sculpt the shapes of the picture elements in her works.

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE:

IN ANOTHER DIMENSION - oil on canvas - 100 x 87 cm THE TOWN I MISS - oil on canvas - 65 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

FEELING OF SPACE - oil on canvas - 81 x 100 cm FLYING GIANT - oil on canvas - 73 x 92 cm

BEHIND THE CAVE- oil on canvas - 65 x 81 cm

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Hong Kong

Siu Yau Chung “My painting is

Artist Chung Siu Yau lives in Hong Kong. He studied

with organic forms; undulating spirals or faceted

a fusion of my

music and painting in Philadelphia, USA. Chung’s

planes.

Chinese heritage and the tools and techniques of the Western World.”

work is very thematic. He employs a specific subject matter to deliver his artistic expression, creating a combined style of painting, using his Chinese heritage with the tools and techniques of the Western World, where he studied.

On the one hand his works are detailed, highly ornate, bright, multicoloured and figurative, on the other hand are his other contrasting series, dark with just a suggestion of forms in black strokes on black.

A prolific artist, he held a solo exhibition of one hundred works on the theme of the ‘Tiger’. From 1992 to 1996, he held several exhibitions on the themes of ‘The Extravaganza of Guan-yin’ and ‘Sail of Mercy’ in Mainland China, Hong Kong and parts of Southeast Asia. Over the past few years, he extended his exploration of visual beauty by changing both the subject matter and the techniques.

His paintings that are lacking human figures are more

This was the beginning of his series of paintings on

like landscapes or abstract friezes. They are filled

the feminine beauty, featuring the gold foil taping

THIS PAGE: SOUND ASLEEP acrylic and mix media Japan gold seal paper 102 x 135 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - TOP LEFT: MORNING MAKEUP acrylic and oil mix media Japan gold seal paper 101 x 173 cm THE VARIATION acrylic and Ink mix media Japan hemp paper 95 x 186 cm

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: DEEP ILLUMINATED acrylic and Ink mix media Japan hemp paper - 79 x 171 cm SHAPE AND HUE (1) acrylic and color mix media Japan gold seal paper - 103 x 106 cm SUITE SYMPHONIC POEM (2) acrylic and color mix media Japan gold seal paper - 98 x 122 cm

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Chung’s interest in the female form mingled with psychological inquiry and a preoccupation with sexuality, took precedence and he began to take more risks in his depictions of women.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: LADIES IN GLAMOUR acrylic color mix media Japan gold seal paper 85 x 135 cm SONG WITHOUT THE WORD (9) acrylic and Ink mix media with paper 78 x 141 cm SONG WITHOUT THE WORD (2) acrylic and Ink mix media Japan hemp paper 77 x 141 cm

technique. ‘Sound Asleep’ and “Morning Makeup’ are

depictions of women. His women are increasingly

examples of this style. One can clearly see the strong

expressive of their personalities, desires and of

influence of the Austrian painter, Gustav Klimt, with

human emotions in general. He has made a group of

its gold foil and decorative motifs characteristic to his

society women, rife with expressive features and in

works. Like his predecessor, Chung’s interest too in

bright costumes that looked as if they’d been woven

the female form is mingled with psychological inquiry

from freshly bloomed flowers. Chung successfully

and a preoccupation with sexuality, which soon took

premiered these works in 2002 in Hong Kong; and

precedence and he began to take more risks in his

then again under the title, ‘The Golden Age’ in 2015.

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Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

Skya “My inspiration comes from the family of my Master Stenka.”

Skya was born in 1995 in Bingerville, a town situated in south-eastern Ivory Coast. Originally a market town, it grew as the capital of the French colony.

motifs and imagery from his own African heritage.

Skya graduated from the Technical Center of Applied Arts. There is a strong graphic and geometrical influence in his work. His painting style is highly

receive his inspiration from the family of his Master,

Skya manages to blend these two and creates a psychedelic and eclectic artwork. Skya claims to Stenka. He medium of choice is acrylic and he uses vibrant and primary colours with non or rarely any

symbolic and inspired by ancient Egypt hieroglyphics, a writing system used by ancient Egyptians to represent their language.

shading or blending on his canvas.

He uses many signs and forms, some motifs identifiable as hieroglyphics and stylised; and some

exhibition was held at Afrique Art gallery and Museum

Skya is one of the youngest artist showcase his work at the 3rd edition of FAYA EXPO 2018, first collective of civilizations Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

Skya’s painting style is symbolic and inspired by ancient Egypt hieroglyphics.

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Spain

Sofia Murvanidze “My art is an exploration of life’s many ups and downs. The straight and curved lines

Sofia Murvanidze is an artist from Georgia and is

a solo show at the Press Cafe in her hometown.

currently living in Barcelona, Spain. Like all artists,

She then moved to Barcelona, where she currently

Sofia was always interested in art from her childhood days but was unable to pursue this passion until she was in her 20s. Not having a formal art training, Sofia decided to get some private lessons for a few months

show my perception

to study art techniques, colour mixing, a composition

of the its radical

etc. This was in Thessaloniki, Greece where she was

and unexpected changeability.”

then pursuing an MBA.

Sofia started out with pencil sketches. These were just some quick sketches she made, just to get the feel of the subjects. Encouraged by the outcome, she started using gel pens, which were handy and available to her almost everywhere. From the first time she held a gel pen, she knew that this would

Once she returned to her hometown in Georgia, she

forever be her preferred medium of choice.

continued her artistic endeavours and also started

Sofia uses just basic three colours – black, blue

participating in local art collectives and exhibitions.

This gave her the confidence to go ahead and have

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resides.

and red, and with that is able to create a myriad of forms, textures and planes. “It gives me a unique

Sofia uses just basic three colours – black, blue and red, and with that is able to create a myriad of forms, textures and planes.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

THE LIPS OF TRUTH colored gel pens on paper - 65 x 50 cm THE TREE OF LIFE colored gel pens on paper - 25 x 33 cm YOUTH ADVENTURES colored gel pens on paper - 25 x 33 cm

opportunity to work on very small details endlessly and express myself”, says this young promising

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

artist. “I feel absolutely free, very inspired and

ALIENATION colored gel pens on paper - 25 x 33 cm

drawing-adventures.”

WINGS UP colored gel pens on paper - 65 x 50 cm

motivated to put my inner world into the gel-pen-

Sofia’s paintings aren’t just pretty pictures. Her ‘Lips of Truth’ is her protest against not being able to say the truth and restricted rights of speech for girls everywhere. Her ‘Youth Adventures’, is symbolic of solidarity of all youth representatives worldwide.

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India

“I try to portray the relationships of the 21st-century men and women, their emotions and the chemistry between them.”

Sonaly Gandhi Indian artist Sonaly Gandhi was born in Kolkata, India. A Commerce graduate from Kolkata University, Sonaly decided to formally pursue her creative passion and went on to do a Bachelor of Fine Arts

her story. Like a page from her diary, the subjects in her paintings are representational portraits of her everyday experiences; chance encounters; stories heard from friends, acquaintances and

Her style has always been figurative, and her figures over time have evolved into a powerful imagery. When words are not enough for expressing our thoughts and feelings, Sonaly gives feminism a new meaning

Sonaly’s artwork does not solely fuel voyeurism; this is an artwork which is powered by the artist’s strength and conviction. Like her predecessor artist,

from Gwalior University, India.

with her work using the female form to convey her social statements and representing issues of women today. These women figures in her work aim to play a dual role in her painting - as a work of art and also a tool contributing to women’s empowerment and global problems faced by women every day as victims of discrimination.

Yoko Ono, Sonaly too is critical of fact that the female body has been objectified over the years. Used in commercials to sell products, for entertainment, and as tools in a power-play, her identity obscured. The popular common refrains ‘my body, my business’, manifests in her works like complete freedom exercised by both genders, in the present times.

“My paintings portray the relationships of the 21st-century men and women, their emotions and

Her human figures are covered with geometrically perfect squares, rectangles, and also, sometimes

a composition she is satisfied with and conveys

societal pressures to look magnificent and flawless.

chemistry”, says this artist. Each of her works starts out as a sketch on a whiteboard. And after a lot of iterations, deletions and additions, she arrives at

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even strangers; and generally her view of societal undercurrents as she perceives them.

butterflies. These perfect symmetrical forms are symbolic of the irksome need of humans to be flawless. A persistent desire perhaps arising from

The popular common refrains ‘my body, my business’, manifests in Sonaly’s works like complete freedom exercised by both genders, in the present times.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: STONE ELEPHANT - acrylic on canvas - 40 x 50 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: A SECRET PLACE - acrylic on canvas - 45 x 35 cm AFTER THE RAIN - acrylic on hard drawing pad - 27 x 38 cm

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Greece

Spiros Gelekas “The driving force in my art is my personal journey for the creation of a new fantasy world.”

Spiros Gelekas is a professionally trained interior designer. Born and raised in Corfu, Greece, his

first stimuli to art was the comics, especially ‘The Thundercats’ and Marvel’s heroes. His painting

journey started when he was very young, by copying drawings of stories he read which he continued with composing and illustrating his own narrations using the same heroes.

He experiments mainly with classical themes, and

represents them in an altered reality along with surreal landscapes and compositions. As time passed, his inspiration came from the 90s fantastic literature,

like Alan Poe, Tom Robbins, Carlos Castaneda also helped shape Spiros artistic oeuvre.

Spiros work embraces the artistic movements of surrealism and realism. Through his art practice he aims to seek their union. He specialises in fantasy art, modern art and the abstract. Anxiety, joy and ecstasy are the three words which describe what he feels every time he stands in front of an empty canvas to start a new piece. A ritual follows - gently by preparing the canvas, the colours, the brushes. “I never make a sketch or a rough draft. I always start

like ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Silmarillion’ and Science

directly with a brush or knife on the canvas.” He is

especially Rock Operas and Progressive Rock. All

canvas, and those times when he isn’t sure, he takes

Fiction movies such as ‘Star Wars’, and rock music,

always clear very about what he plans to make on the

these together, compose his artistic amalgam which

it as a challenge and is anxious till he gets to a point

makes him able to produce his purely personal art

he is satisfied with. “The smell from the fresh box-

which is very visual and conceptually finite. Writers

canvas is so pleasurable”, says the artist.

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Artists like Salvador Dali, who give realism within

the sphere of surrealism; and Roger Dean, whose technique for the creation of a world very similar to Spiros’ world, are a great inspiration to him.

An emotional artist, Spiros gets attached to his works and once finished, It is a feeling of a bitter joy, as he

knows it will soon be picked up by a discerning buyer. He worked for many years as an interior designer all 280

over Greece, but inside him, he always dreamt of painting and in 2014 decided devote all his time to it. He has had a successful life then on having sold artworks all over the world. In less than three years Spiros has made more than 600 paintings and sold over 400 worldwide. A member of Corfu Art Gallery, and a member of The International Artists Exchange Association (IAE), Spiros is exclusively represented by MO2art (micro-oxygenated art) in China.

THIS PAGE: ΤHE SACRED PATH acrylic on canvas - 50 x 70 cm OPPOSITE PAGE:

Spiros work embraces the artistic movements of surrealism and realism. Through his art practice he aims to seek their union.

THERE’S BEAUTY SOMEWHERE acrylic on canvas - 50 x 60 cm.

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Afrique Art Gallery - Ivory Coast

“The driving force in my art is my personal journey for the creation of a new fantasy world.”

Stenka Jacques Samir Stenka, born in November of 1945 in the picturesque and historic town Bingerville, is an artist with magical fingers. His first days were

spent in this building, the orphanage of Bingerville, formerly reserved only for children of families more or less noble, today a receptacle of children of various horizons. It is here that this great artist’s emerging talent began to take shape. The entire work of this artist whose enigmatic and mysterious creative energy plunges us into ancient Egypt, is preserved in his museum in this area of Bingerville, a place where he lived since the first hours of his glory.

Even as a child, Stenka showed real aptitude for drawing. He distinguished himself by his qualities

as a great draftsman, that attracted the awe and empathy of his trainers. He was always engrossed in drawing and sketching, not caring much for his own welfare, barely having any time for it. At the age of

13, he won laurel at the contest of the sessions of the countries French-speaking Community.

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After his primary and secondary studies, he headed to France for higher education. “A day of great

sun”, he says, remembering that auspicious day. He became the youngest painter and the first painter of an African descent to access the Ecole des Beaux-

Arts in Paris. A proud day for all Ivorians. Under the tutelage of the eminent professor Maitre Yankel,

Stenka received the French National Diploma and the Higher Diploma of Fine Arts.

Stenka is a Founding Member of the Ivorian Art

Group TRACE. He lives, breathes and sings art every moment of his life. Now divorced and a father of 5

children, Stenka’s life is entirely devoted to his artistic activity. Although he studied in western schools, he managed to maintain the purity of his artistic style

and attachment to his motherland, Africa, as being the origin of his creations.

His paintings are now owned by major museums,

galleries and private art collections around the world.

Although Stenka studied in western schools, he managed to maintain the purity of his artistic style and attachment to his motherland, Africa, as being the origin of his creations.

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India

Subhadra Sarkar “I feel painting is

Subhadra Sarkar is an Indian artist who was born in

wherever she goes and whatever she sees. Her

like a poetry that

Kolkata, India. Subhadra’s art journey began much

favourite cityscapes are of her hometown, Kolkata.

has lovely melody and I love to paint that poetry in the form of flowers and landscapes.”

later in her life, when she visited Montreal, Canada, and read on the wall a saying of Pablo Picasso “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”.

Something stirred in her and she felt a sweeping surge inside her to paint. From then on she has been painting every day. “I dream my painting and the next morning I paint my dream”, says this artist, her eyes sparkling like a thousand diamonds.

Most of Subhadra paintings are urban cityscapes, which have been a significant part of the recent art history. Attracted by the innovative elements of the modern city, impressionists created impressive cityscapes. “I love to paint flowers and landscapes in Water, Oil and Acrylic Paint”, she says.

Her works are like personal travelogues. She paints

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Like the turn of the 21st Century Impressionist, she too practices placing pure colours on the canvas for the spectator’s eye to fuse them from a distance. The reflection of people with umbrellas and of cars on the rain-drenched streets; the overly crowded traffic signal; the whole scene comes alive with her brush!

Subhadra’s working style is spontaneous, rather than preconceived. There is a ‘hurried’, almost ‘unfinished’ feeling in her works, quite like the Impressionist masterpieces, which makes it even more appealing and adds to the flurry of the busy street scene she recreates. She renders not just the scene in front of

her, but also the thrilling sensation produced by that panoramic view. Subhadra now lives and works in one of her favourite cities, Kolkata, and continues to render its quaint and busy streets in her atwork.

Subhadra renders not just the scene in front of her, but also the thrilling sensation produced by that panoramic view.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

THE LAST SUMMER @ GHENT watercolour on Arches Paper - 31 x 56 cm ROME watercolour on Arches Paper - 73 x 56 cm MY CITY OF JOY watercolour on Arches Paper - 73 x 56 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

THE PLACE OF MY GENESIS..COLLEGE STREET, KOLKATA watercolour on Arches Paper - 73 x 56 cm LUXURIOUS LUXEMBOURG watercolour on Arches Paper - 38 x 28 cm

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India

“I usually enjoy the compositional challenges offered by the given space of my canvas.”

Sudip Chatterjee Indian artist Sudip Chatterjee graduated in Science from the University of Kolkata, but preferred to

choosing a career in art instead of in medicine. He went on to do Fine Arts from Indian College of Art

& Draftsmanship. Sudip is also a research scholar

in painting from Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. And has been an artist-in-residence at Kunsteminar Hochschule, Germany.

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not revealed to the viewer overtly. Like the layers have to be lifted to reveal the truth! It shows his penchant for the modern and a skill mixed with intellect. The numinous beauty of his forms on the canvas is a result of his sensitive application of subtle colour tints and shades of white. He applies several layers of paint, producing a peculiar quintessential tonal quality of the sacred. His canvases possess a sense of mystery and

Sudip’s paintings, are stark, bare, reclusive and

awe; a mixture of the impenetrable and the obscure,

breaks. HIs recent works are not absolute abstracts.

Emanating a strong déjà vu like aura while reinforcing

minimalistic with intermittent spells of non-figurative

which is premeditated, deliberate and conscious.

Although we do see figural imagery it is hidden and

the sense of the evocation of the quiet.

The numinous beauty in the forms on the canvas is a result of his sensitive application of slight colour tints and shades white.

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My views x - embossment & oil on canvas - 80 x100 cm CONCEPT II - mixed media on paper - 56 x 76 cm

UNTITLED V - mixed media & combustion on acrylic & canvas - 18 x 23 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

CONCEPT I - embossment & oil on canvas - 80 x100 cm THE JOURNEY - mixed media on paper - 56 x 76 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

India

“I like to capture moods of nature in every season”

Sumitra Kshirsagar Sumitra Kshirsagar is an Indian artist, living in the

In her series of watercolour landscapes, she

city of Pune, near Mumbai. Although armed with a

experiments with different views, colour palettes, and

Masters in Economics, she was always attracted

perspectives, to produce a comprehensive look of

to painting since childhood. And it is nature and landscapes that take this artist’s fancy.

Sumitra loves portraying nature and chooses to paint landscapes for a variety of reasons. In addition to wanting to represent or replicate their obvious beauty, she also opts to create these depictions to study and explore various aesthetic elements, like light, colour, and texture. Additionally, she uses scenes of nature to tell a story, illustrate an idea, or conceptualise a

not obviously apparent. They have a ‘quiet’ feel to them that seems to draw in the viewer. Marked by a muted rendering of light with a uniform glow infusing the entire scene, her paintings can be placed in the Luminist style. The muted brushstrokes maintain a silent, serene and an almost impersonal surface. The viewer is not required to stay at a specific distance from the paintings or view it from a standard vantage

metaphor

point.

She does at times use a photograph for a reference,

Her snow mountains have blues, and earthy greens.

but that only helps her as an outline, the rest of the work is purely her own inspiration and imagination.

“I like to capture moods of nature in every season”, says Sumitra.

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the mountains, trees and sky. These landscapes are

The topography here appears to be in a geological flux. A volcanic glow of yellow mist drizzles gently from the sky. Horizon lines appear on mountain lake or sea, that dominates the lower half of the canvas.

Marked by a muted rendering of light with a uniform glow infusing the entire scene, Sumitra’s paintings can be placed in the Luminist style.

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USA

Susan Cantor-Uccelletti “When I paint, I think of colours, movement and balance. Then I just let the passion take over.”

American born artist Susan Cantor-Uccelletti, is a an abstract painter living in Philadelphia, USA. Always

been an artist at heart, she has pursued her passion with utmost sincerity.

A series of unfortunate events not only changed her feelings and outlook towards life but also

brought about a change in her art and her painting style and subject matter. After being diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2009 and losing a beloved

granddaughter, she turned to meditation and yoga.

This brought about a change in her colours of nature and helped bring in radiance and light into her art.

Susan started painting in abstract-expressionism, which gave her the freedom to express herself

better. “When I paint, I think of colours, movement

and balance. Then I just let the passion take over”, says the artist. The subject matter of her works is

steeped in a personal vision that is very intimate and preoccupied with explorations of form and space.

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Her preferred medium has always been acrylics on canvas, although she has also been using oil and oil sticks quite a bit in the recent years. Her tools are large, broad brushes and palette knives, with which

she vigorously applies paint strokes on her canvas.

To accomplish movement and texture, she is able to deftly use oil sticks to her advantage.

Susan calls herself a ‘Spiritual Painter’. And rightly so, as the paint seems to simply flow from the depths of her soul on to her canvas, as a true identity of her psyche. The ‘Woman’ painting is a challenge to the claim felt only by its title. One sees hints of a figure, but to verify it being in any recognisable form is nearly impossible. Yet there something feminine in the painting. Something endearingly graceful and

girlish in the curves that flow made by her brush movements. This expressive brushwork and the depth

of paint layering allows the viewer to travel through the artpiece, challenging rationality while adding to its impish sense of mystery.

The subject matter of Susan’s works is steeped in a personal vision that is very intimate and preoccupied with explorations of form and space.

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WOMAN - oil and oil sticks on canvas - 91 x 91 cm TERMINAL - acrylic on canvas - 122 x 183 cm EDDY - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 91 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: WHILE THE EARTH FLIES PAST oil sticks on canvas - 91 x 91 cm

PEACOCK’S SONG oil and acrylics on canvas - 30 x 61 cm

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Taiwan

Svetlana Grecova “My painting is a mix

Svetlana Grecova is a professional artist, who was

of what is close to my

born in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova and graduated

heart and what I see around me.”

from A. Sciusev Arts School with excellence and another graduation from A. Plamadeala Republican College of Arts. It was while she was pursuing her

and myth. Her painting is liquid fields of blue and

overlaid bands of pink, violet and gold tones, that set

her works apart. She sometimes using stories of myth and fantasy as an allegory, which can be interpreted

art studies, her talent was recognised and she began

any which way we want.

participating in many group exhibitions. Additionally,

The women featured in Svetlana’s art are a refreshing

Svetlana took private lessons from V.Z. Kuzmenko, a famous artist in Moldova, Russia. Currently, she is working and living in Taiwan.

Svetlana tries not to limit herself to what she thinks she can do. She is forever experimenting with various techniques and brushwork and constantly reinventing herself and trying to go beyond what is possible. This is why her works vary from one piece to another, not only in the colours used but also in form and in the subject matter.

Her style is characterized by bright, life-affirming colours steeped in personal vision that is intimate

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and preoccupied with explorations of form, space

break from the realist and the classical. It is a

disruptor - a time when her art ceases to pay heed to ancient modules, dispenses with archaic ideas,

and above, all the ideal of verisimilitude or likeness to life. Set in a fantasy space, it is not without form and does bear a likeness to the world around us. There are identifiable forms and regular objects from our

lives. And the women look like any women we see on a daily basis – in cafes, on street – but are not of this time. There is something inherently different about them.

Her artworks are in private collections in Moldova,

Ukraine, USA, Indonesia, Taiwan and New Zealand.

Svetlana’s style is characterized by bright, life-affirming colours steeped in personal vision that is intimate and preoccupied with explorations of form, space and myth.

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On the balcony - oil on canvas - 117 x 91 cm Euphoria - oil on canvas - 80 x 117 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

black coffee & cappuccino - oil on canvas - 91 x 60 cm I love coffee, I love tea - oil on canvas - 91 x 60 cm

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India

“My art is an expression of my thoughts, of what I feel the most.”

Tamali Das

Tamali Das is a self-taught artist who lives and works

other large spaces she leaves bare. She paints her

in Kolkata, India. She started painting when she was

forms boldly, defying perspective, with only slight

very young and apprenticed with a master artist, from

colour variations, while certain parts appear to be on

whom she learnt all about form, colour modulation,

a single plane.

and other nuances painting. This was when she started to observe everything around her carefully.

Paying extra attention to minute details like how the light falls on an object, what colours variations are there in a skin tone, how the muscles react to body movement, how to approach painting a landscape or a portrait.

paintings rarely depict any distressing subjects.

They are not made in a hurry, nor are the result of a spontaneous inspirational urge. They are deliberate, well thought-out and carefully executed. Like an architect’s blueprint of a community housing project- Tamali plans her canvases with the same

Tamali studied drawing the female form for many

mathematical precision, making clear demarcations

years, and it formed the basis of her paintings. From

wherein each element gets its own separate space

this came her ‘Woman’ series, in her cubist-like

and importance. Black and ruler-straight outlines, that

style. She paints women, sometimes in groups, other

criss-cross to create depth, and filled in colours with

times as the main singular form on canvas.

no or very little blending.

Her painting subject varies from mythology to social

Her popular series on Krishna, one of the most

issues. She has an all-around approach to the

popular and widely revered among Indian divinities,

canvas, where some sections quite detailed, and

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Brightly coloured and emotionally charged, Tamali’s

she shows him as the destroyer of all evil.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: GANESHJANONI - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 91 cm DIVINE LOVE 3 - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 71 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: NEOMODERNISM 2 - SELFIE acrylic on canvas - 106 x 91 cm GIRL WITH CAT - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 61 cm DIVINE LOVE 2I - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 91 cm

Brightly coloured and emotionally charged, Tamali’s paintings rarely depict any distressing subjects.

They are not made in a hurry, nor are the result of a spontaneous inspirational urge.

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India

“I am a passionate artist and I paint everything which seems interesting to me.”

Taznin Rahman Taznin Rahman is a self-taught Indian artist hailing from Kolkata, India. Although she has done a Diploma in Fashion and Textile Designing, painting has always taken precedence in her life.

Taznin portrays India’s cultural and traditional vibrancy through her folk style paintings. The Indian folk painting tradition is as old and diverse as the country itself. Folk art is a rich legacy which is passed on from one generation to another, and urbanisation moved this rich traditional art form into the contemporary art market, thus gaining worldwide

and amalgamated her own unique style.

Her paintings feature animals and nature in the

traditional Gond style, with lines of coloured dots to

make shapes and forms. Using simple lines, colours, as well as geometrical figures, as in traditional

Madhubani paintings, she leaves no gaps between

her forms, filling them with animal, birds and foliage motifs. Madhubani paintings traditionally are drawn on the plastered walls of huts for special events, Taznin makes her paintings using modern and

recognition. Her work is steeped in India’s rich

contemporary mediums - acrylic and oil on canvas.

cultural heritage.

Having won a few awards and accolades, Taznin has

Amongst the various traditional folk style paintings, Taznin practices Madhubani, Pattachitra, Warli and

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Gond, inspired by which, she seems to have evolved

started exhibiting her works fairly in the recent past, and ever since they have done international rounds.

Using simple lines, colours, as well as geometrical figures, as in traditional Madhubani paintings, Taznin leaves no gaps between her forms, filling them with animal, birds and foliage motifs.

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: TRADITIONAL GOND PAINTING (FOLK ART) acrylic, pen on paper - 30 x 42 cm TRADITIONAL GOND PAINTING (FOLK ART) acrylic, pen on paper - 30 x 42 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: TRADITIONAL GOND PAINTING (FOLK ART) acrylic, pen on paper - 30 x 42 cm TRADITIONAL GOND PAINTING (FOLK ART) acrylic, pen on paper - 30 x 42 cm TRADITIONAL GOND PAINTING (FOLK ART) acrylic, pen on paper - 30 x 42 cm

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India

Tejal Patel “I love playing with

Tejal Patel is an Indian artist who started paintings

strictly controlled and often controversial in many

different colours on

very recently as a creative outlet. A hobby that soon

religions, it has influenced and affected many through

canvas and create different texture.”

became a passion for her. Under the expert guidance and tutelage of some well-known local artists, Vinod Shah, Ramesh Pandya and Amar Sharma, Tejal explored this passion and was soon exhibiting her works at many prominent venues.

Tejal loves to paint in a variety of mediums- oil, acrylic, watercolour and dry pastels. The works featured here are from her religious and sacred series. A religious image, sometimes called a ‘votive image’, is a work of visual art that has a religious purpose, subject or

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the ages.

Earlier artists, 2nd to 1st century BCE, were reluctant to depict the Buddha anthropomorphically, but that seems to have changed now drastically. Tejal’s religion-inspired, visual mythology images derived from various Buddhist communities uplift the mind to the spiritual. Many believe all of our senses can be used in coming to God, and that includes the use of sight to experience religious art. It doesn’t necessarily mean all art will bring someone to God, but it definitely calms

connection. All major historical religions have made

the mind and reminds the viewer to have faith.

some use of religious images, although their use is

Religious art depicts the spiritual feelings of its creator.

Even when religious overtones may not be apparent in the art, some viewers might pick up on it. While Tejal may not share the same belief she depicts in the work, she acknowledges a sense of belief or faith in this work. She always manages to brings something spiritual to her paintings.

Tejal’s religion inspired, visual mythology images derived from various Buddhist communities around the world uplift the mind to the spiritual.

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CHANTING - acrylic on canvas - 91 x 122 cm

SATVA PADMA - acrylic on canvas - 122 x 154 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

EARLY MORNINGS - acrylic on canvas - 91 x 122 cm MEDITATION - acrylic on canvas - 76 x 61 cm

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Portugal

Teresa Martins “My painting may

Artist Teresa Martins of Almada, Portugal, chooses

be described in two

to work in a very uncommon media. She works on

words: colour and movement.”

canvas with stained glass resins as her dynamic medium of choice. The mixture of colours resulting from the movement of the medium used gives spontaneity to her paintings, where there are no safety-nets but rather an ever echoing element of surprise. “With this very fluid technique there is no absolute control over the results”, she explains, “and I receive that final surprise gratefully”.

With each painting, Teresa dives deeper into her

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canvas and flow right out, carving out its own path.

Her creations have stunning, light-illumined, highly-reflective qualities that evoke a very strong emotional response and exude great energy and spontaneity. In her work ‘Veils’, we see many layers of gold and plum purple in great multitude. Perhaps it is representational of the biblical Salome, as she performs her Dance of the Seven Veils; where the layers get thinner and sheerer to entice any drunken King to lose his mind over her supple, youthful form.

The dance is interpreted through colours. Twirling,

imagination vortex. With each painting she gains

dizzying form as it moves to an unheard beat.

a sense of freedom, moving away from imagery

This is perhaps just one interpretation of an incredibly

and forms. Relying not on soft abstraction, but on

moving artwork. It’s also indicative that nothing ever

forceful movement, the creative energy and most of

stands still. Life itself is in a constant state of flux.

all gravity, her works have an urgency to them. As

She addresses this perpetual movement through the

though the colours will break through the sides of the

fluidity of the colour stains that allows her to create

Teresa interplay of light upon brilliant glass is an important quality in each of he paintings. So is creating the right mood and atmosphere through her compositions that are abstracts and accidental by her creative process.

THIS PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

TRANSFORMATION stained glass on canvas - 100 x 100 cm

VEILS acrylic with resin on canvas - 50 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

SOUND stained glass on acrylic - 100 x 100 cm

ELEPHANT TAKING A SHOWER stained glass on canvas - 100 x 100 cm

TOUR WITH FRIENDS stained glass on canvas - 100 x 100 cm

characters, scenes and stories designed to engage

compositions that are abstracts and accidental by her

the viewers emotionally. The end result appeals to

creative process. There is something compelling in

something deeply personal in us.

her swirling paints. She seems to be interested more

Teresa interplay of light upon brilliant glass is an

in the movement of a piece rather than traditional

creating the right mood and atmosphere through her

capture one of the many fleeting movements.

important quality in each of he paintings. So is

composition. Her flowing technique manages to

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Australia

“My paintings are an acknowledgement of power of the divine.”

Tetka Rhu

Australian artist Tetka Rhu is known for her daring to

eclectic balance between Nature and the natural

explode myths passed on by those before. Diligence

order of things, but it also honours that deep

to her truth in walking the path of a spiritual warrior,

spirituality deep within, which is Tetka’s appreciation

she has left no stone unturned in exploring the depths

of metaphysics through a deeply personal study.

of the collective consciousness psyche. Her driving influence is the absolute knowing - that it is only by acceptance of personal greatness can humanity move beyond separation from their divinity. For this, Tetka Rhu is also known as an entrepreneurial artist who is making a difference in the art world.

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It is with the blessing of her ‘LIGHT Golden Angel’, that takes your breath away with her brilliance and her affluence. She tells your story to remind you of the greatness you hold within. To listen to LIGHT Golden Angel is to be swept on an arc of delivery as she swings between heaven and earth

Her temerity in acknowledging God and Goddess

cutting through ALL darkness that may be holding

Archetypes that have formed the basis of powerful

you back. This great Angel is an Angel of Mercy,

healing as empowerment energy links for individuals

however, doesn’t tolerate ditherers, so will give you

to know and experience their inner wealth. Like

a charge to wake you up to the potential you carry

we see in ‘Diva Fusion’, that not only activates the

within.

Colour intelligence played a major factor in keying into the energy force of Tetka’s great Divas.

And it is with colour that we understand her painting, ‘Diva Presence’, as she enters your life.

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE: DIVA PRESENCE acrylics and chalk on artist cardboard - 51 x 64 cm LIGHT GOLDEN ANGEL acrylic on canvas - 100 x 100 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: THE PATH OF BEAUTY AND SUCCESS acrylic on canvas - 51 x 64 cm DIVA FUSION acrylics, oil crayons with pen and Ink on artist cardboard - 51 x 64 cm THE GODDESS PRONOUNCES HER EARTH POWER AND PRESENCE TO HUMANKIND acrylic on canvas - 89 x 120 cm

Colour intelligence played a major factor in keying into the energy force of this great Diva.

And it is with colour that we understand her painting, ‘Diva Presence’, as she enters your life. “To know this great presence is to know and accept the validity of your truth as you live your life in harmony with your spirit”, says Tetka.

Recognition of her unique artistic expressions

has opened her growing base of Art Lovers, Art Collectors and Investors to her paintings, as a global appreciation of original tetkaART value.

And this is what led her to create tetkaART ‘The Path of Beauty and Success’, which set the scene for Tetka’s desire to walk the path of beauty and success where everything happens quickly and easily.

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Australia and Germany

Tetka Rhu & Dieter Hanf a collaborative work

The power of conversation opened to the collaboration of Australian EDGIC Artist Tetka Rhu and German EDGIC Artist Dieter Hanf to forge a pathway of original art that is a unique expression of the 21st Century Golden Age of Aquarius.

Powering and empowering people from submissive behaviours

Based on metaphysical truths the power source of the creations

Rhu & Hanf original art is Statement art as each artwork is designed to wake people up from the fog of denial where they have the power to change their reality. Designing large artwork’s

begin with Tetka Rhu’s original tetkaART and are then technically

enhanced with multi layered compositions by photographic artist Dieter Hanf to form Rhu & Hanf original art.

Respect for each other’s art forms and trust in the intuitive expressions that see the completed Rhu & Hanf original art takes it’s place in the world through voicing a myriad of subjects of this millennium.

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THE GODDESS REDEFINES POWER Multi layered technique - Gallery High End photographic paper - 260 x 500 cm

The statement is sounded: No more Power over, no more control and manipulation, no more male domination, no more Guns.

The people of the earth heard the call as they embraced that aspect of themselves long denied and even hidden. The feminine consciousness claimed her right to be acknowledged as the way of the spirit charged into earth time reality.

Equality became the buzzword as male and female walked in harmony to balance the harmonic rhythm on the Earth. Spirit showed up as totems aligned to the consciousness of many.

No more bullying, No more harassment, No more. The power of NO became the operative that chanted itself into the time books of history for the Golden Age to be experienced as the transcendent reality for the masses.

BOTTOM: LIVE OUT LOUD Multi layered technique - Gallery High End photographic paper - 168 x 333 cm

The Mission defined; the form began to take shape, the pathway created with the compass pointing north. The Goddesses leaped forward showing their light, beckoning with calm reassurance to all those who hesitated.

Music sounded, the atmosphere heaving with the rhythm pulsing through the airwaves as the gathering began.

Whispers filled the air, excitement pulsed through the bodies of all those who were ready to “live out loud”. Shaking off trepidation the walk began with the Goddesses leading the Way. The time had come to know the beauty and abundance that is the natural rite of passage for all those who dared to claim it

to a space of OWNing the power of their desires to manifest with certainty the wealth of their dreams is the crucible that engages Art Collectors and Art Investors in the Primary Art Market.

is the signature of Rhu & Hanf original art as a fitting tribute to the energy force that emanates through each masterpiece, Alignment to the Power of Light through the creative crucible of

Manifesting Masters generates intuitive capabilities within both Tetka Rhu and Dieter Hanf that sets this collaborative force apart from the rest, while the effect of meditative sojourns aligns the subjects to the principles of healing for the masses.

The scene is set for a new wave of an artistic force in the 21st century of The Golden Age of Aquarius as the power of spirit where communication knows no boundaries for higher dimensional realities is now created for all who experience Rhu & Hanf original art.

Based on metaphysical truths the power source of the creations begin with Tetka Rhu’s original tetkaART and are then technically enhanced with multi layered compositions by photographic artist Dieter Hanf.

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ABOVE LEFT: LUCK IS MY LADY TONIGHT Multi layered technique - Gallery High End photographic paper - 267 x 200 cm

Designing large artwork’s is the signature of Rhu & Hanf original art as a fitting tribute to the energy force that emanates through each masterpiece.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ROSE IN HER ELEMENT Multi layered technique - Gallery High End photographic paper - 260 x 160 cm And so it comes to pass: Resplendent through the victory of travelling the path of the heart, Rose is in her element as she is gifted with powerful influences of creation to support her quest for delivery to expedite her destiny into fruition.

Scents wafted on the airwaves as the earth mother released her abundance through the spirit of love. Serene and composed Rose lifted her head and breathed in the aroma that brought up feelings that woke her body up to the awareness that beauty is the key to her success.

Replete with satisfaction, her senses alerted, Rose experienced the power of taking time to smell the roses as visions rolled before her eyes like a moving train taking a journey through places once only dreamed of. And so it happened.

Backing up the statement Rhu & Hanf original art “Luck is my Lady tonight” is the energy force of creation sourced through the Universal Law of Alleviation. Divining the magical influences within the cracks and crevices of life also took on an ambience that aligned intuitive knowing followed by meditative resources that burst onto the scene to create the powerful artistic flow into manifestation.

Tying into the cycle of rapid chemical combination with oxygen that involved the production of heat and light opened the vortex for Karmic Lords of Karma to reimburse the vibratory field with positive karmic re-distribution of what is required in any moment on the physical level of experiences.

Luck is my lady tonight is filled with generosity of spirit and takes your life into a space of “anything’s possible”.

ABOVE RIGHTWELCOME TO THE LAND OF MAGIC Multi layered technique - Gallery High End photographic paper - 160 x 120 cm Do you dare enter the Land of Magic? The Land DownUnder where the surreal becomes the real, where the dance of the ages happens in celebration of you, where your inner child feels uninhibited to imagine impossible fantasies that become real?

Do you remember the magic of being a child? Do you remember the magic of asking and it happens? Do you remember the gift of innocence of simply playing as you threw caution to the winds and explored places that grownups didn’t know about?

It’s time to remember the wonder of you, as the land of magic welcomes you into it is embrace and promises: out of the darkness everything manifests.

Empty your cup of the old as the Holy Grail has arrived to pour onto your life the magic of your inner knowing. The essence of pure fun is embedded into this Rhu & Hanf original art and so whoever partakes of the magic they absorb while gazing at this art the gift of knowing happens “that all is right in the world”

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THIS PAGE: KEYLIR REYKJANES GEOTHERMAL AREA oil pastel on canvas 170 x 150 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: THORSMÖRK oil pastel on canvas 220 x 180 cm REYKJANES GEOTHERMAL AREA I oil pastel on canvas 170 x 150 cm

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His inspiration comes from the beautiful landscapes of his adopted Icelandic homeland now. His paintings are quite large and well-detailed, rendered by his discriminating eye and creative strokes

Iceland

“My art focuses on Icelandic landscapes. I draw inspiration from

Thor Magnus Kapor Born in Croatia, artist Magnus Thor Kapor graduated

hyaloclastite mountain, created during subglacial

in Art History from the Faculty of Humanities and

eruptions during the ice age) depicts the geological

Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia. He worked for a long time specializing in art restoration and conservation in Italy during the 70s, moving

nature and paint in

between Milano and the Vatican.

oil pastel on large

It was the final shift to Iceland in the 90s when he

canvases. I like to

was able to dedicate himself to painting full time. His

walk through nature, take it in and later paint from memory.”

inspiration comes from the beautiful landscapes of his adopted Icelandic homeland now. His paintings are quite large and well-detailed, rendered by his

diversity of the glacial mountains and hot springs geothermal pools near the Icelandic capital city on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Here, Thor truly captures the glacier-scraped mountains and the mineral-rich waters of the springs. It also shows much of that nation’s rocky terrain and downhill soils settlement in every nook, cranny, and valley of the local topography, as well as the more distant North-Atlantic Ocean in paler blue tones, just over the mountain

discriminating eye and creative strokes upon those

from the more inland hot springs.

canvasses which typically take a year to complete, on

No detail escapes this master painter’s keen eye...

average. Thor has been a constantly-active painter since he began his craft at just 8 years old and simply could not imagine doing anything else.

His “Keylir Reykjanes Geothermal Area” or Keilir (the

nor his patient brush. He has recreated the natural look and visual textures of that natural rocky landbridge that connects the mountain to the lush and very plush summer greenery of the mainland in the

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forward-left foreground and which divides the pools of the hot springs too, in a duality of purpose.

Asked about the singular nature of his subject matter, he says “it was a well thought out decision”. When he first moved to Iceland, he exhibited various works on

THIS PAGE: REYKJANES GEOTHERMAL AREA I oil pastel on canvas 170 x 150 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: REYKJANES GEOTHERMAL AREA II oil pastel on canvas 170 x 150 cm

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some different subject matter in a library in Keflavik, in 1993, after which, he made a conscious decision to only paint landscapes in oil pastels, which became his preferred medium of choice. After this pivotal decision, his work took on a life of its own, growing organically thereon.

Thor’s years of studying and restoring art paid-off

for him in the intricate and detailed brushwork, as he patiently creates his masterpiece with painstaking, loving, and countless swishes of his brush.

He truly is a scribe of another kind... his narrative is seamless... unquantifiable. It records the many millions of colours and detailed perceptions of his all-seeing eye. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Thor’s grand picture of the natural Earth would then be worth exponential millions... an impossibly fine nuance of colourful shades and infinite hues. A celebration of nature. A befitting homage to the Earth, our home.

Chung’s interest in the female form mingled with psychological inquiry and preoccupation with sexuality took precedent and he began to take more risks in his depictions of women.

Thor has truly captured the glacier-scraped mountains and the hazy, blue-green, mineral-rich waters of the springs there. It also shows much of that nation’s rocky terrain and downhill soils settlement.

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India

Tina Thakkar “My thought, my emotions inspired me to opt for painting as through them I express surreal liveliness of situations.”

Tina Thakkar is an Indian artist who since childhood,

Tina’s paintings are powerful statements in

dreamed of being a painter. Born in Rafu, a village

themselves. Aside from colour dynamics, there is

in the Patan District of Gujarat, there was not much scope or any outlet for her passion. Although, while still in school, her paintings were much appreciated, but got married, painting took a backseat. Busy with family obligations, Tina somehow managed to find time in between her duties as a mother and a homemaker, to paint and pursue her passion. She worked hard on developing her skill and exploring the various aspects of painting. Slowly and gradually, Tina’a life became fuller and richer, with colours transforming her everyday mundane life. She was finally living her dream!

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what seems an intentional interaction between her and painting. “I am able to convey my thoughts through painting”, says Tina. “Painting has become a very important part of my life now’.

Commanding the viewer’s immediate attention is bright and large canvas, ‘Feel Young’. Influenced by natural modern realism and refreshingly in a vibrant yellow that dominates the painting, it exudes the positive energy of youth. A show of hope... of new beginnings. More than the medium, it’s the colour choices that can stop viewers in their tracks.

LIFE CIRCLE acrylic with mixed medium - 107 x 92 cm

Tina’s paintings are powerful statements in themselves, commanding the viewer’s immediate attention.

KITCHEN SET acrylic colour - 62 x 46 cm

The thoughtful premise of ‘Life Circle’, is compelling

Any work of art can be considered the sum of all the

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and uplifting. “One must keep moving forward to

creator’s experiences. Tina’s artworks seem to be her

achieve new paths in life”, explains Tina - a billowing

experiences, uniquely personal. It is from these that

gesture that brings a smile to the viewer.

this artist’s particular voice emerges.

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FEEL YOUNG acrylic with sand - 115 x 82 cm

BRIDE’S FEELINGS acrylic colors and gel pens - 62 x 46 cm

BURNING THE BOUNDARIES acrylic with mixed medium - 103 x 82 cm

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Japan

Toyoko Nishihara “I paint everyday to

Tohoku Nishihara is a Japanese artist born in

Toyoko’s art style is a reminiscent of a stained glass

keep peace of mind”

Miyake, a town located in Shiki District, Nara

window, with bold black lines and primary solid

Prefecture, Japan. On first glance, her black and white pen renderings look like doodles of an indifferent, and idle mind. On close inspection, we think otherwise and see an intricate web of forms, cleverly made of what seems to be a botanical and zoological paradise. A flower, a caterpillar, a butterfly and at some places, a face, peeping through the tresses tumbled about her face. This perhaps is

are very Warhol like, and her rendering of forms in black outline like that of Lichtenstein, and similar to his comic strips paintings, tell a story. The faces, and colourful patterns, interspersed with human faces, and urban landscapes. Faces that merge together to form a larger shape, manifesting and making up a fabric of society. An intimate and sensual close-up

as much dialogue about climate change as it is

view of the life that goes on around us.

about the ecological impact of development and

She shows the viewer to the finality and fragility of

the balance between the man and nature. Its very possible that a cautionary tale being told, maybe a plea to stay aware and to remember to protect the things that are cherished and co-dependant to one another and to their physical surroundings.

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colours filled in, with almost no blending. Her colours

life, ephemeral and transitory, while in turn get him to contemplate on his own mortality. In the same painting, in stark contrast, she shows the non-living an urban jungle of concrete buildings, inanimate and ageless.

Toyoko paints and draws every day. “To keep the peace of mind”, says the artist. One of the most intriguing compositional devices is the human face, both frontal views and side profiles. And the viewer’s eyes, trained to find symmetry in whatever it sees, is always able to locate that face, however simplistic and discreetly she places it.

With her pen effortlessly floating on the artwork, tracing the outlines of many faces - with which she creates the portrait of urban life. Faces teaming together, in a busy and colourful setting. Happy faces, smiling, alluring, comical and sensual alongside the disfigured, and the terrifying. Even though these faces rise up in a towering totem pole like a vertical monolith, intimidating and sinister, they remind us of the duality of life. The two sides of the same coin - the beautiful alongside the unsightly. The sinister alongside the divine.

Toyoko’s art style is a reminiscence of a stained glass window, with bold black lines and primary solid colours filled in, with almost no blending.

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Turkey

“I express myself in art when ı am unable to find right words for my feelings. ı am free when I create.”

Tülin Kaynak Tülin Kaynak is a Turkish artist living in Istanbul. She graduated from Management and Administration Academy of Public Administration Institute of Middle East and has a Post Graduate degree from Hospital

Management of Social Sciences Institute of Istanbul University. After working as a manager in various health institutions she decided to study painting from master artists as Nilgün Sabar, Berna Kılıçoğlu, Selahattin Yıldırım and then apprenticed with Mehmet Güleryüz for four years.

Tülin removes all known and recognisable forms from her canvas and has the ability to make the

viewer see the abstract narrative more clearly. Its a

simpler expression that comes through to the viewer, expressed only with colour, the intensity of strokes and layers of paint, and it is more powerful than what any visual shape or form could convey. The high-volume chromaticism is a reminder that colour itself is vibratory energy and has its impact on our minds beyond wavelengths at assorted degrees of variation. The effects of colour interact on the level

of energy fields on both sides of the viewer’s lenses.

This is what makes this kind of chromaticism the

most powerful of all the effects in the repertoire of the painter. “I want to make unseen feelings to be seen”, says Tülin, and this is the one most likely

technique which is adequate enough to the immense

task she has set for herself here, the unveiling of the concealed.

There is a subtle hint of foliage abound in her painting ‘From Nature’ but prove nearly impossible to verify. one can decipher stems and leaves, crisscrossing

on the canvas, and the pattern repeats all through the canvas, obstructing open space, creating an environment of gritty confusion. Its effect on the

viewer is the same, relatable to life itself, like nature, life too is beautiful, yet its messy and grim when viewed up-close.

Tülin currently continues her art at her art studios

located at İstanbul-Fenerbahçe and İzmir-Çesme, Turkey.

Tülin removes all known and recognisable forms from her canvas and has the ability to make the viewer see the abstract narrative more clearly.

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: UNSEEN - oil on canvas - 50 x 75 cm FROM NATURE - oil on canvas - 40 x 40 cm ONE - oil on canvas - 50 x 75 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: UNTITLED - oil on canvas - 50 x 100 cm ANSWER - oil on canvas - 50 x 100 cm

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Switzerland

“In my intuitive working phase, I learned to let go and accept it. My works express this again. And when the viewer gets involved, goes deep into my pictures and takes his time, he sees and senses the little things that are just great in nature.”

Ursula Glatz Swiss artist Ursula Glatz began painting late in her life. Her search for the original sojourned her into the past when the colours were made from pigments and natural binders. Books about painting techniques of

well to her life, acting prudently, then spontaneously in experiments with colour and material. The result is always a surprise! Her direct confrontation with the canvas, materials, and expressive procedure are a

For her, painting is a means to express and implement a non-tangible emotion in special ways,

Despite the first inspection, her works are not true abstracts. They speak of potentials in nature... luscious landscapes, mountains, rivers, and their destruction and rebirth. Inspirations for her are little, unobtrusive things, like a piece of rotten wood,

stalwarts like Wehlte and Dörner, which exposed her to the old world charm of traditional materials and processes. She uses modern materials and combines that with traditional techniques.

“To let go, and to emerge” is true art. Her inspiration

is mood-dependent and her works intuitive in process, design, colour and structure. They are created, superimposed, taken away, added to, or scraped away and painted over again until perfected.

Handling pigments, paints, and materials correspond

release-valve for her and give her paintings a soul.

withered mushrooms, mossy stones, lichens, resins on tree bark, icy puddles, or a crumbling facade processed by fire, wind, or weather.

Ursula’s art-making is comparable to natural processes as she primes, paints, and structures her canvasses, uses pigments, stains, oils and

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT SALZSEE-WÜSTE II (SALT LAKE DESERT II) pigments and dry paints on canvas 60 x 50 cm SALZSEE-WÜSTE II (SALT LAKE DESERT II) (Details) OPPOSITE PAGE: ERDANZIEHUNG (GRAVITY) pigments and dry paints on canvas 60 x 80 cm

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THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT FLECHTEN & HARZE VII pigments and dry paints on canvas 30 x 30 cm VOM EIS GEFORMT II (SHAPED BY ICE) pigments and dry paints on canvas 50 x 50 cm FOSSIL pigments and dry paints on canvas 60 x 60 cm FOSSIL (Detailed view) OPPSITE PAGE: Playa de Janubio (Janobio Beach) pigments and dry paints on canvas 70 x 50 cm

much more in her work. Needing prolonged drying, the oxidation and escape of moisture are more reminiscent of the slow processes found in nature, as the image changes arbitrarily. It breaks up in places, while in others the mass contracts and shrinks until blunt in some places, strong in others.

She enjoys experiencing the tactile tension present as she works the picture which finally gives her 320

something back to further fuse together, often scraping away, sanding, and applying again in some places.

“Salzsee-Wüste II” (“Salt Lake Desert II”), was

created by a passion for natural landscapes from a bird’s eye view. Ursula has truly captured the deeply-layered landscape of the Great Salt Lake here, with its crackled, dehydrated, formerly muddy

For Ursula, painting is a means to express and implement a non-tangible emotion in special ways, “To let go, and to emerge” is true art.

surface. It could very well be mistaken for a satellite photographic image, dotted with fresh pools of rainfall and its’ deeper main lake centre, mimicking

nature’s cycles of destruction and rebirth. The scene before us is dappled and dusted with the great airborne salts wafting across the terrain.

The view in ‘Fossil’, we know not what it is... only that it is very old, very dry, extremely parched, and quite

fragile and well-preserved.

Art is always about illusion, whether decidedly so, with subtility, or very convincingly an imagined recreation of reality. This art is so well executed as to

move our spirit in ways that only the beauty of nature can, usually. It is rare for any artist to so closely depict nature’s spirit for us as this great master has done.

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USA

“My philosophy is the study of the inner and spiritual world of man..”

Valentina Butnarciuc American artist Valentina Butnariciuc has been

emotions, which undergo the transformation of the

creating beautiful artworks for more than 20 years.

perception of the Artist, acquire a new form and life in

Her works are in the collections of many private

Valentina’s art. She continues her quest to study the

and corporate collectors from such countries as

inner and spiritual world of man.

Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Israel, Switzerland, France and Germany, and the USA. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, from Creangă Pedagogical State University, Chişinău, Moldova.

Valentina’s work immediately indefinable. Her paintings are instantly recognizable by pure and bright colours and nuances, which create a

She learnt paintings from her uncle P. Chakir - who

kaleidoscope of harmony, energy, and optimism.

was an honoured artist of the SSR and Ukraine. He

“One of my favourite and the most used colour is

was her first art teacher and the one who inspired her

red”, says Valentina.

to take the brush in her hands.

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Colour is one of the mannerisms that renders

Valentina’s canvases are generally large scale,

Valentina’s philosophy is, in essence, knowledge

mostly painted in wide expressive and generous

of one’s inner and spiritual world: the feelings and

brushstrokes in a vast space. Her fervent assertive

Valentina’s canvases are generally large scale, mostly painted in wide expressive and generous brushstrokes in a vast space. paintings give an illusion of depth, whereas there is no depth. Not to the canvases, and not to her concept. “It is the most vivid, controversial and ambiguous colour, which plays a major role in almost every single of my work. It is the colour of passion, THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT:

love and blood all mixed up as in life and turned into

LADY DESIRE (close - up) - oil on canvas

this mixture, which attracts the attention of the viewer

FOREIGN BLOOD oil on canvas OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

and leaves no one indifferent”.

REVEAL - oil on Canvas

Valentina Butnarciuc now works in her Art Studios

FEELING - oil on canvas

located in Miami, Florida.

ARROW - oil on Canvas

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Austria

“My inspiration is to express myself and immerse others in my artistic world.”

Vanessa Newton Austrian born Vanessa Newton is a self-taught artist, who pursued her passion for painting relentlessly.

She taught herself to paint in mostly all techniques and virtually uses all media - graphite and coloured

pencils, pastels, watercolours, acrylics, oils, and inks and with a wide array of mixed techniques.

Not every artist thinks outside of the realm of traditional art media, like Vanessa does. This makes her quite special in the art world. She strives as an understudy with only highly-credentialed and very masterful English and Greek, grand-champion art mentors.

She has abandoned the human figure for a more rigorous and abstract expressionist style. Her canvases appear remarkably fresh and vibrant,

imparting the singular vision of an artist who was able to portray her feelings and emotions in eclectic, multifaceted ways. Her work ‘emotions’, is so cleverly compartmentalized into sections. Quite like our own

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emotions box, with each feeling slotted into its own

space, to reach out, when needed. Pull out the right emotion as and when required.

The ‘Horse’ puts us in a tizzy! Completely takes us

by surprise, as we gaze into this billowing red cloud, fused together with green. Vanessa paints regularly and has few exhibitions, including monthly fixed exhibitions in Italy.

The meaning and purpose of her art are to promote a positive message for a better world to bring hope

for a more peaceful world without violence or killings, and for an ultimate quality of life. She seeks to

alleviate the stresses of a modern life with her art.

Even if its for only a few precious moments.

Art is a way for her to express herself and to pass

along the message that, in these difficult times, we

can still thrive as individuals and nations if we really believe in ourselves... and the good in others, too.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP RIGHT: EMOTIONS - acrylic on canvas - 70 x 50 cm HORSE - acrylic on canvas - 70 x 50 cm VULCANO - acrylic on canvas - 50 x 40 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: FLUID LOVE - acrylic on canvas - 70 x 50 cm FEELINGS - acrylic on canvas - 60 x 50 cm

Vanessa’s canvases appear remarkably fresh and vibrant, imparting the singular vision of an artist who was able to portray her feelings and emotions in eclectic, multifaceted ways.

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India

Vijay Kumar Upadhyay “My art is a

Vijay Kumar Upadhyay is an Indian artist who has

life is – transient and ever-changing. This abstract

narrative of

done his graduation and post graduation in Creative

thought he is able to project with his imagery, with

my subjective experience of my surroundings and situations.”

Painting from the prestigious Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda. He has been awarded several Scholarships and Fellowships within his home country. He has also been invited to be part of several Artists’ Camps and Workshops in India and abroad.

The vast pulsating pictorial terrains of Vijay’s work are not a mere depiction of nature but a representation of his inner chaos of existence. The environment of confusion and disorientation, very apparent in his works, has now become his signature style.

Growth is a quintessential element in most of his paintings, giving it a sort of lyricism and enigma. In a given visual space, he conveys how ephemeral

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utmost ease, showing a tree growing out from solid rock, proclaiming its rightful place in a beautiful phenomenal world. His visual vocabulary is both complex and surreal. The mysterious protagonists are often shown in a dialogue with their counterparts creating a dramatic symphony of real and surreal.

However, for him, the figures are embodiments of nature but in an atypical manner, they are his pure aesthetic emotions which are translated into twodimensional visual forms.

The enigmatic landscapes confirm his adroit sense and understanding of typical cosmic traits. A product of spontaneity and inspiration of the deep subliminal level of consciousness, its a visual treat to senses.

Vijay’s work are not a mere depiction of nature but a representation of his inner chaos of existence THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: REFLECTION - oil on canvas - 84 x 104 cm ACHIEVEMENT - oil on canvas - 91 x 122 cm DREAM - oil on canvas - 56 x 76 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT: HOPE-1 - oil on canvas - 50 x 60 cm VISHWA BHRAMARI-2 - oil on canvas - 122 x 152 cm

The fantasy figures come alive in his artwork. He has the ability to make his viewer draw in his breath in wonderment at the spectacular view he beholds on the canvas. The subdued colours, highly distorted

figurines and ambiguous forms all manifest creating these meta-scapes, where he cleverly organizes space between forms and void openings, suggesting a kind of movement.

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France

Violette Le Gallou

“I am inspired by the

Violette Le Gallou is a Parisienne artist living in

of reds – applied with her confident and masterful

nature that surrounds

Bretagne, France. Painting for her has always been a

brushwork. Looking closely at her painting ‘Vague’, we

great part of her life and she has been painting and

see fervent dabs, strong colours strokes and multitude

exhibiting for over two decades in Paris, Brittany and

tones of reds oranges and pinks alongside the blues

in Côtes d’Armor, where she now lives.

and whites, blending together, giving the feeling of a

Violette’s works have always been figurative and

choppy sea at the sun sets. The same sea now pensive

me and the beauty of coastal landscapes”

realistic. What could be a more inviting sight... exotic flowers in a beautiful arrangement, window overlooking

THIS PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT: LORSQUE LE CIEL FLAMBOIE oil on canvas - 40 x 40 cm BOUQUET À L’OISEAU oil on canvas - 55 x 46 cms ANNÉE RÉTRO, MOIS DE JUIN oil on canvas - 54 x 65 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: CÔTE BRETONNE oil on canvas - 55 x 46 cm VAGUE oil and acrylic on canvas - 70 x 90 cm INSPIRATION ROMAINE oil and acrylic on canvas - 70 x 90 cm

328

and calm in ‘Lorsque le ciel flamboie’, refecting the sky, ablaze in orange and red, as the yellow sun melts into

a sun-drenched garden, visions of a beautiful damsel

the water. The whole natural world is present in this art!

gathering pink roses under light blue skies, waterfall,

The unique composition that emerges on her canvas is

landscapes, seascapes... these are some of the

a product of her intuitive method. It may seem at first

subjects of Violette’s canvases. The picture postcard

that its an overworked and overly guarded process,

beauty of her home town Côtes d’Armor, manifests

on careful inspection one sees she has given free rein

onto her canvases, creating a thrilling sensation for the

to her imagination, and always manages to deliver a

eye to behold.

feeling of enthusiastic celebration to the viewer.

“I am inspired by the nature that surrounds me and the beauty of coastal landscapes, boats along our shores, wrecks, sumptuous sunsets, and bouquets of flowers”, says Violette. The beauty of her saturated colours – the vibrant mauves, hot blues, the staggering range

Violette’s works have always been figurative and realistic

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Poland

Władysława M Fedasz

“My paintings are mainly my emotions and feelings dressed in colors.”

Władysława Marcinkowska Fedasz of Nowogardek,

artist materials. She has taken part in many individual

Poland, was literally born an artist. It is surely in

and joint exhibitions, as well as outdoor displays of

her genes, coming from a line of virtuous artists

her very colourful, ‘blooming’ artworks. She once

and musical talents. She has been merrily painting

stated that “paintings are mainly my emotions and

delicate florals, natural scenic meadows, and fields

feelings dressed in colours”. She herself is a colourful

teaming with life that often include some avian wildlife

woman and her daily attire and personal style is very

in her beautiful creations which she has skillfully

artistic and distinctive. Her ultimate joy is in creating;

accomplished for over 20 years.

turning her visions into outstandingly passionate and

Her artist mentor, Elżbieta Polak of Kołobrzeg,

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lasting works.

introduced her to many special painting techniques

Her keen eye and steady, treasured hands work to

and media, giving her the ability to paint on any

bring aesthetically pleasing art to us to feast our eyes

substrate materials, including on silk fabric and glass,

upon. Her palate abounds with classically rich and

using a variety of oils and dry pastels, and of course

extremely robust colours. The form of her flowers and

acrylic on canvas amongst a variety of other standard

settings are flawless, and quite literally unmatched.

Władysława has been merrily painting delicate florals, natural scenic meadows, and fields teaming with life that often include some avian wildlife in her beautiful creations She is an artist par excellence. Come to her garden canvasses and run among the life of the meadows!

Her subject of ‘Dandelions’, is a slice of manifold seasonal joys. In it, we see the budding Spring, the THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE TOP: SIELANKA - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cms

full-bloom of Summer, the starkness of the Fall, and the approaching of cold, desolate Winter. It is a time-capsule

RODODENDRON - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cms

sense of decay and regeneration that she has lovingly

OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT:

and masterfully portrayed in a stunningly beautiful and

RAJSKIE JABŁÓSZKA - oil on canvas - 80 x 50 cms SIELANKA - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cms RODODENDRON - oil on canvas - 70 x 50 cms

florally correct masterwork. This work is a true classic in the world of art... and the reality of nature!

331

AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

THIS PAGE: ALL THINGS ARE CREATED UNEQUAL - mixed media - 68 x 60 cms OPPOSITE PAGE - LEFT TO RIGHT:

BU ZHU REVERSAL - ink, oil painting and collage - 161 x 116 cms

HOW COULD THINGS DISOBEY THEIR OWN NATURE OR NOT, LEAVE THEY OWN RESTRICTION OR NOT - mixed media - 92 x 89 cms ONLY THE CHAOTIC AROUND THINGS, ONLY THE DISORDERLY DOMINATES THE PHENOMENON - mixed media - 105 x 92 cms

332

Taiwan

Wu-Peng Huang “My art is based in “Di Theory”, a philosophical approach toward classification, that grows with each new story being derived from mythological and cognitive roots.”

Taiwanese painter Wu-Peng Huang, is both a poet and an artist. His narrative poems combine Chinese and Japanese literature with ease. A graduate of Graphic Arts Communication Technique from Taipei Municipal

Daan Vocational High School and a Student at College of Fine Arts at the National Taiwan University of Art, he was selected to join an enrichment program by National Taiwan Normal University for young artists with Asperger’s Syndrome in fall 2012. Here is where he discarded the structural and systematic approach and showed great aptitude and independent creative

mythological and cognitive roots. ‘Di’, to him, is the symbolism of power and ‘bù zhǔ’ is the concept of opposition to it, a phenomenon borrowed from ancient and combined with current events and converted realities. He states that “by learning and understanding this complex ‘Di Theory’, we may be able to change our understanding of everyday life”. He goes deep into ‘Dahuang’, a semi-independent space within reality, which symbolizes the essence of being hidden beneath the world, a world of pureness.

thoughts.

His technique is an appreciation for the traditional

Wu Peng’s art is multi-dimensional. It combines several sheer layers of cognitive realities and recreates

Chinese painting of the North and South from antiquity.

one which is pure. His art is based in “Di Theory”, a philosophical approach toward classification, that grows with each new story being derived from

He prefers the Northern style more, which pays more attention to color and ink in the “Tsai-Mo” style.

The artist recycles various techniques of expression culminating in his own unique style.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: WE FOLLOW CLOSELY THE SUN AND THE MOON, THEY ARE A CIRCLE DIVIDED INTO THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, BUT ALWAYS RULED BY CHAOS mixed media - 114 x 96 cms THE POWERS ARE SAME, THE STRENGTH ARE DIFFERENT ink, oil painting and collage - 84 x 66 cms THE DAO MAKE ITSELF THE ONE mixed media - 105 x 78 CMS

334

In the painting, ‘The Three Immortal’, three souls are

it simply for memorial representations? “No”, he

immortalised and remembered by this truly masterful

says. “By understanding death, we recognize the

Taiwanese artist. One wonders, who could these

preciousness of life and thus understand how

immortals be, and whatever came to immortalize

powerful the source of life is. Death consists of a

them... all together yet, too? Making us question our

positive and negative energy, and when we grasp

own mortality and ponder on existence of souls.

it, we can comprehend the analogy and know the

In “The Dao Make Itself The One’, the artist tries to

existence of “The Wholeness”.

grapples with the idea of death. Almost in all cultures,

As both an artist and an author, he blends reality

the death has its own many elaborate rituals. Is

into his creations and his art often critiques societal

Anticlockwise from left

Wu Peng’s art is multi-dimensional. It combines several sheer layers of cognitive realities and recreates one which is pure.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE: TRADITIONAL DEVIL ink, crayon and collage - 71 x 61 cm THE THREE IMMORTAL mixed media - 119 x 101 cm THE SPACE-TIME OF DI LIVING SI YOU ink, oil painting and collage - 160 x 126 cm

issues currently prevalent in his native Taiwan. He

and myth which states: “A miraculous world can be

hopes to create a link to a modern version of “Shan

where we stand.” Wu Peng links myth and reality;

Hai Jing” with his art. Shan-hai Ching, is a Chinese

ancient form to the modern context. By doing this he

classic text and a compilation of mythic geography

believes to establish a ‘modern myth’ of Taiwan.

335

AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

USA

“Even in my gloomiest mood, I try to find in the natural creations from God the raw

Yulia Altas Yulia Mosolova Mironova Altas was born in 1974 in Tula

or on canvas. The result has an appeal of spontaneity

City, Russian Federation, and now lives in USA. Her

and is an intimate personal expression. Yulia has an

first serious artistic foray was when she was 10 years of age, in the Tula art school. Afterwhich she went on to do an Honors Diploma in Art & Design at Orel Art

material, the magic

College and a Master’s degree later from the Tula City

of life, colours and

University.

shapes needed to

For over 20 years, Yulia was studying new art styles

come up with a work of art.”

and trends. Her works are a burst of colorful mixmedia paintings depicting elements of nature. Using her design sensibilities, her range of work using oil,

acrylic, watercolors, ink and tempera paints is quite staggering. One of her is favourite techniques is where she uses water and oil and lets the two non-mixing elements create its own patterned-forms, on paper

unshakable faith in spontaneity and an unassuming and optimistic attitude toward the unplanned mark.

She has had several solo exhibitions and group participation in the USA, Italy, Russia, UK, France, German, Brazil, Japan and Switzerland. Her works belong to private and public collections in many countries. Yulia was one of a handful of international artists chosen to exhibit her name and work on 25-story-tall video billboard above the American Eagle right in the heart of Times Square, Broadway, New York City, exhibition titled “See Me take over Times Square” art show endorsed by See|Me Group, Inc.

Her works are a burst of colorful mix-media paintings depicting elements of nature.

336

Yulia favourite techinique is where she uses water and oil and lets the two non-mixing elements create its own patterned-forms, on paper or on canvas.

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: FALL IN LOVE - mixed media on paper - 35 x 61 cm FULL OF ENERGY - acrylic on canvas - 61 x 91 cm OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT : COSMIC FEELINGS - acrylic on canvas - 35 x 61 cm ALL DREAMS COME TRUE - mixed media on paper - 35 x 61 cm

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Indonesia

Yulianus Yaps “Abstract art gives me freedom to express and to explores indepth the nature inside of my soul.”

Indonesian artist Yulianus Yaps was born at Bangka

lead him to experiment with creating a waterproof

island, Indonesia. As young boy he liked drawing very

medium. And after trying various techniques, he

much and dreamt of being a painter one day. But as

finally he found silicon rubber as a media and mixed it

he grew older, responsibilities also grew, and he never

with pigment for all his paintings. It was a devastating

got a chance to go pursue this dream or attend any

incident which changed him and his art. And one

art school. But his love for the fine arts stayed with

can say, in some ways worked to his benefit as

him and finally, after his got married and had children,

this unique medium made it possible for him to be

he spent many years to learning painting and various

noticed by art critics and art promoters. Since then,

fine art techniques. He made as many 3000 artworks

Yulianus has been exhibiting solos and groups shows

- sketches, watercolours and oil paintings.

in his home country as well as in Italy, Belgium, and

In 1995 there were a calamity he experienced, his

338

Monte Carlo to name a few.

house got hit by floods and destroyed all his artworks

“I love abstract art”, says this prolific and talented

that he had made for more than 25 years. This is what

artist. Inspired by lines, shapes, colours and

Yulianus’ monochromes in black and white are an extravaganza to behold – compelling and yet holding out, as though concealing something from the viewer.

multi-layered textures, he works energetically on

You see a shape and then it is gone. Keeping the

THIS PAGE - CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

large to huge canvases and, at times, on multiple

viewer guessing. Like trying to see an event unfolding

MELODY OF LIFE (5 Panels) oil modification on cotton - 210 x 5000 cms

panels, despite his age. His paintings are strong,

but from a far distance. An experience that can be

DK Oil mixed silicon rubber on cotton - 122 x 85 cms

spontaneous and powerful personal expression,

frustrating, is, on the contrary, quite remarkable and

emanating from the “depths of my soul”, as he puts

mesmerizing.

THE SPIRIT OF OCTOBER Oil mixed silicon rubber on cotton 122 x 85 cms SEPTEMBER 11 Oil mixed silicon rubber on cotton - 122 x 85 cms OPPOSITE PAGE - RIGHT TO LEFT : YULIANUS IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS WORKS A 13 Oil mixed silicon rubber on cotton - 100 x 80 cms

it. They are colourful and vibrant.

He paints every day and never tires of pursuing

His monochromes in black and white are an

his lifelong ambition of being a fine artist and hopes

extravaganza to behold – compelling and yet holding

to leave behind a large collection in an even larger

out, as though concealing something from the viewer.

format as part of his legacy.

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019

Artists’ Index

A

Dolors Castells

dolo.castells62@gmail.com

Abdurahaman B Ahmad comy3275@gmail.com

Dorothea Engelhard

DorotheaEngelhardt@gmx.de

Adhiletchumy Natarajan laksagiartgallery@gmail.com

E

Adou Jean

stephankra21@gmail.com

Adri Barnard

barnard.adri@gmail.com

Adris Frety

frety@hotmail.com

Amita Goswami

meamita0505@gmail.com

Andafe

stephankra21@gmail.com

André Farnier

dedefarnier@gmx.fr

Angela Kalovyrna

akalovirna@yahoo.com

Anita Radulescu

gabados379@yahoo.com

Elsa Victorios

evictorios@gmail.com

Errick Freeman

pachdatomz@yahoo.com

F Farhad Baloch

artfarhadbaloch@gmail.com

Farid L

flou83@hotmail.fr

radulescuanita@yahoo.com

Fotini Pappa

tklonis@otenet.gr

Anjum Siddiqui

artist@anjum.ca

Ann Couture Stray

anniegirl360@gmail.com

G

Anna Marinova

marinova@yandex.ru

Anthony Gray

zillakong3@gmail.com

Aranka Székely

arankadr@gmail.com

Ashima Kumar

ashimagraphics@gmail.com

B

Gayle Miller

gayle.miller1024@gmail.com

George Clayson

gclaysonarts@gmail.com

Grazyna Federico

fe.gr@web.de

H Harsha Lakhani

harsha18lakhani@gmail.com

Haungkwon Ryu

rcki20@chol.com

Heather Grisham

hgrisham1@gmail.com

Heidi Planke

wertschutz@planke-versicherungen.de

Babu Xavier

ba_bux@yahoo.com

Bea Danckaert

bea.danckaert@outlook.com

Bernd Hau

be.hau@web.de

Bharat Talsania

br.talsania@gmail.com

Binoy Varghese

binoyvarghese47@gmail.com

Birgit Schweimler

birgit_schweimler@yahoo.de

Black Céleste

stephankra21@gmail.com

Bobby Bautista

bobbybaut@yahoo.com

Brian Kutz

bkutz@flgcorp.com

J

Brigitta Beyer

beyerbrigitta44@gmail.com

James L Hall

Jlhall253@aol.com

Joe Lambert

jlamber8@columbus.rr.com

John Vic Borg

john@jvborg.com

C

I Ida bagus Alit

idabagusalit09@gmail.com

Ignacio De Mattos

xmatt@vera.com.uy

Ilona Jetmar

ilonajetmar@hotmail.com

Ioana Moca

ioanamoca@gmail.com

ChangKai-Yung

artist123a@yahoo.com.tw

Chang Kuo-erh

changkuoerh@yahoo.com.tw

K

Cheryl M. Navarro

c.navarro@philembassy-seoul.com

Kamol Chawbangngam

maidscustom@gmail.com​​​

Karen Brockbank

karenbrockbank@aol.com

Chozenon-Bourras Monik monik.chozenon@orange.fr Chris Gunkel

chrisgunkel0383@gmail.com

Katerina Kaloumenou

art@katerinakaloumenou.com

Christopher Pollari

pollarichristopher@gmail.com

Khassal Zohra

stephankra21@gmail.com

Kouakeu

stephankra21@gmail.com

D

340

Eka Rukhadze

Dana Diamond

danaddiamond@gmail.com

L

Dario Guion

kunst_guion@web.de

Langer Reiner

6665jasmin@gmail.com

David Hilditch

djhilditch@yahoo.com

Loredana Bradaschia

loredana.bradaschia@gmail.com

David Norocos

stephankra21@gmail.com

Louis Degni

louisdegni@gmail.com

M Madhavi Srivastava

madhavi.srivastava3@gmail.com

Magdalena S Wozniak

mandalenaw@hotmail.com

Mahmoud Alkaaki

mahmoudkaaki@outlook.com

Manuela Barbosa

mmmb6613@gmail.com

Maria Ivan

maria.ivan.art@gmail.com

Marika Csajághy

csajiro@gmail.com

Marissa Dickey

weezy.bear23@gmail.com

Marites Esperon-Micabalo

etesmicabalo@gmail.com

Merima Popara

merima.popara@hotmail.com

Michael Kaphengst

michaelkaphengst@msn.com

Minaaz Khera

minaazpkhera@gmail.com

Minaxi Adeshara

minaxiades@gmail.com

Monika Wisberger

monikawsbrgr2@aol.com

Mrudula Bapat

mrudul2324@gmail.com

N Naeem Sachedina

sachedinanaeem@gmail.com

Nandita Richie

nandita.richie@yahoo.com

Nandita Sharma

nandita.sharma39@gmail.com

Natre

natrepinter@gmail.com

Nenita Zohren

zohrennenita@gmail.com

Nick Amon

stephankra21@gmail.com

Nimisha Rao

nimishauday@gmail.com

Nupur Nigam

nupurnigam87@gmail.com

OP Olivier Pringal

contact@olivier-pringal.com

Pascal Russi

pascalrussi.58@gmail.com

Patrizia Gallo

patrizia.prodanza@gmail.com

Paul Henderson

paulshenderson@me.com

Paula Haapalahti

paula@nihao.fi

Payal Pihu

payal@payalpihustudio.com

Per Ole Gmelok

ole.gmelok@gmail.com

Poho

stephankra21@gmail.com

Priya Yabaluri

afaurban@gmail.com

Priyanka Parhi

parhipriyanka@gmail.com

R Raghu Vyas

raghuvyas21@gmail.com

R Parameswaran

adhiruby@gmail.com

Riky Van Deursen

info@rikyartstudio.com

Robina Del Mar

robina-del-mar@hotmail.com

Rodica Pungea

rodica.pungea@gmail.com

Roger Perrier

romiperrier@orange.fr

Roswitha Eisenbock

art@roswitha-eisenbock.at

Rukshana Hooda

rukshana.hooda@gmail.com

Rupal Buch

rupalbuch@gmail.com

Rupali Srivastava

rupaliart.india@gmail.com

S Sahar Zaman

saharzamanonart@gmail.com

Sanjukta Barik

sanjuktarun@yahoo.com

Satwant Sayan

satwantartist5@gmail.com

Sergey Zorov

zoros@mail.ru

Simret Nebrin Rylander simret09@hotmail.com Siu Yau Chung

sychungcollection@gmail.com

Skya

stephankra21@gmail.com

Sofia Murvanidze

sofiamurvanidze@gmail.com

Sonaly Gandhi

gandhisonaly@gmail.com

Spiros Gelekas

sgelekas@gmail.com

Stenka

stephankra21@gmail.com

Subhadra Sarkar

mekhali2002@yahoo.com

Sudip Chatterjee

sudipkchat@yahoo.com

Sumitra Kshirsagar

kshirsagarsumitra@gmail.com

Susan Uccelletti

suzystuf@aol.com

Svetlana Grecova

lanagrecova@gmail.com

T Tamali Das

tamali.krishna@gmail.com

Taznin Mannan

mannantaznin@gmail.com

Tejal Patel

pateltejalm@gmail.com

Teresa Martins

mt.cruzmartins@gmail.com

Tetka Rhu

tetka.rhu@gmail.com

Thor Magnus Kapor

thormkapor181@gmail.com

Tina Thakkar

tinathakkar74@gmail.com

Toyoko Nishihara

toko0925@icloud.com

Tülin Kaynak

tulin-1333@hotmail.com

UVWYZ Ursula Glatz

uglatz@eblcom.ch

Valentina Butnarciuc

valentinafinearts@gmail.com

Vanessa Newton

vanessa.newton@hotmail.de

Vijay Kumar Upadhyay

uvijaykumar079@gmail.com

Violette Le Gallou

violette.legallou22@orange.fr

Władysława M Fedasz

orbitour1@wp.pl

Wu-Peng Huang

dm8960ms64@gmail.com

Yulia Altas

artmir2@gmail.com

Yulianus Yaps

yulianusyaps@yahoo.co.id 341

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AFG Art Book volume1 - 2019