Resources:
Resources for artists and art collectors, organizations, books, publications, art supply online stores, websites, and forums
The Valley Arts Alliance is a group of like-minded individuals in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska who have joined together to encourage, sponsor, facilitate and support artistic expression.
Career advice by Chris Saper in her popular column: "Portraiture and the Pursuit of Excellence"... "The Great Russian Artists" by Margaret Carter Baumgaertner... "Southern Exposure" by Australia's outstanding young portrait artist Paul Newton... "The Portraits of John Singer Sargent" by Richard Ormond and Elaine Kilmurray... John Howard Sanden's "Commentary" column on a variety of subjects, including "Presidential Portraiture Today"... Leading realist painter Richard Whitney shares his basic painting advice in "Painting the Visual Impression"... "Contemporary Masterpieces We Admire"... Exhibition and book reviews... and more.
This is the best art magazine I’ve ever looked at! The pages are filled with beautiful art and valuable information for both artist and collector. This representational art magazine always arrives in pristine condition, printed on quality paper. It features articles about past masters, current professionals, and up and coming artists, as well as informative sections regarding the artist studio and legal and copyright issues that artist and collectors need to know. The subscription rate is quite reasonable.
An excellent site for developing artists. It features regular critiques, expert tips, instructional videos and demos, online galleries of professional artists, competitions, and much, much more for all media and style of art.
After attending this school for a workshop, I am happy to give it a high recommendation. The school is a non-profit art institution located in the Arts District of Scottsdale, Arizona. Dedicated to artistic enrichment, SAS teaches the fundamentals of representational art to artists and aspiring artists.
It has visiting faculty of about 140 of the nation's best teaching artists and offers over 200 workshops and classes in oil painting, watercolor, pastel, sculpture, and drawing. The School's workshop season is from October through May, with up to five workshops a week. I attended a workshop instructed by Shuqiao Zhou the first week of March of 2008. It was an incredible experience, and I wish it wasn’t so far so that I could attend workshops more often!
Painting the Impressionist Landscape: Lessons in Interpreting Light and Color by Lois Griffel
I’m embarrassed to say that when I first read this book, I understood very little of it. I simply couldn’t see the warm/cold and different color variations that Griffel spoke of. But after experimenting with colors and trying to observe from life a little more closely, Griffel’s words started making more sense, and suddenly I started seeing color everywhere! It was also from this book that I got the idea of painting with a palette knife. I use the techniques suggested in my beginner painting classes feel that doing the exercises prescribed will the student with understanding color and with drawing and observation skills. Highly recommended for all experience levels, and a tremendous influence on my personal vision.
Painting Beautiful Skin Tones With Color & Light in Oil, Pastel and Watercolor by Chris Saper
This book is my portrait bible! I’ve read it over and over, each time taking in more and more. Saper’s clear instruction is priceless, and her understanding of color and light an inspiration. I can’t sing its praises enough or thank the author enough for sharing her experience and knowledge. Saper’s website is also a feast for the eyes, so be sure to pay her site a visit! Her articles, Portraiture and the Pursuit of Excellence are very informative to artists pursuing portraiture as well as eye opening to those commissioning portraits.
Oil Painters of America continues to grow and gain respect as an organization that values and supports its members. OPA provides the forum in which fiine artists can display art in regional and national competitions. OPA provides the network of fellow artists and experienced professionals that can assist artists in their quest for painting excellence. In addition, OPA supports the education process through scholarships, workshops and exhibitions of art from today’s masters.
A Studio Full of Artistic Inspiration was begun out of the necessity to find information for visual artists on the web. Continually growing and expanding its database of information for visual artists, Red Easel offers a wealth of information from artist directories, to fine art critiques, book reviews, and where to find art instruction on the net. They are also building an excellent database of galleries in the United States categorized by state.
Artists beware, this site is addicting!
WC! was founded in 1998 by Scott Burkett, an artist and entrepreneur who had a desire to foster a community for artists to gather and share their ideas and talents. The site has grown and flourished to become the largest forum on the Internet for visual artists with over 122,000 members. Now, you can:
Tips, Tricks, Musings, Methods, Materials, Demos & Paintings
While I'm not planning on posting many links to artists blogs in this category, there are a few that I feel are extremely informative. Award winning, Old Masters style portrait artist, Karin Wells's blog is a wealth of clear information that would benefit any artist. Definitely a must-read to anyone needing a little refresher on classics.
More links coming soon!
Inspiring artists:
Master OPA artist, Zhiwei Tu, has won innumerable awards. He is one of my favorite contemporary artists. His use of light is unbelievable. I've never been able to see any of his originals, but hopefully someday I'll get to. It's difficult to explain what draws me to his work, but I just love it!
Another favorite, another master OPA artist, more innumerable awards. His paintings show incredible depth, and his use of color is nothing short of amazing. I got to meet him at a show in Scottsdale. His portrait and figurative paintings took my breath away--I was so emotional by the time my husband cornered him that I'm sure I said some pretty stupid things.
What is it about the Chinese artists that I love so much? OPA, CAC Award-winning artist, Zhou, or Joe as he has his friends call him, is an amazing artist and teacher. The small images of his art on the web site do not do him justice. I will always be grateful for his gentle, yet direct instruction.
See information above
See information above
Reference photos for artists:
Links to free public domain or for-artisitic-use-only photos
More links coming soon!
The impressionists:
favorite links to images and information about the original impressionists
More links coming soon!
Visit Alaska!
Alaskan artists, galleries, visitor information, and links of interest
Image Works Publishing provides graphic design, photography, marketing and publishing services to small businesses with passion. Our area is so diverse with small businesses that one service is not enough. The diversity is energizing and the challenges exciting. Sole owner, Linda Henning, has 30 years experience in the graphic arts, marketing, sales, and printing industries, working with top companies in the nation.
http://www.amberjohnsonphotography.com
Award winning photographer, specializing in weddings, family portraiture, and event photography.
More links coming soon!
Visit Israel!
Israeli artists, galleries, visitor information, and links of interest
A series of article about living in Deganya Aleph (the Kibbutz where I grew up during the time period lived there. These article brought a flood of memories!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977119284
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977120262
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977122400
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977123574
More links coming soon!
Website portfolio
Websites designed by Talya Johnson, please keep in mind that a few of these are just in the beginning stages of construction.
http://www.workplacemassage-ak.com
All images, scans, original art, and content are copyrighted to © Talya Johnson unless otherwise noted and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any form without permission. Forget-Me-Not Fine art and Portraiture, 4825 W Ronnies Cir. Wasilla, Alaska 99654 • 907-373-4826 • info@talyajohnson.com • Web site designed by Talya Johnson, with technical assistance PHP/CSS site set-up by Westen Curry at Zatheron.com