“What should be done with my artwork before and after I kick the bucket?” Here are a few considerations on how to prepare your art studio for the inevitable. by Mary Longe A peek inside Lori Putnam’s art studio, which is also her home (read more about Lori’s studio space at FineArtConnoisseur.com) At a recent exhibit opening, my friend was tickled by teasing between one of his collectors and their adult daughter about when she would get his painting. Turning to me he said, “There’s one that won’t end up at Goodwill.” This is evidence for a T-shirt of mine that says There’s a Little Truth in A ..read more

Learn techniques for creating pastel paintings! The following is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who will be joining us on the faculty of Pastel Live, September 18-20, 2024, with an Essential Techniques Day on September 17. Learn more and secure your spot at PastelLive.com. For the Love of Flowers: 7 Pastel Paintings and the Inspiration Behind Them by Pamela Hamilton 1. “Beauty Becomes Me” Pamela Hamilton, “Beauty Becomes Me,” pastel on paper, 12 x 16 in. I’ve been a hobbyist gardener since I was 15 years old when I asked my parents if I could have my own flower bed ..read more

Still Life Painting of the Week: “Raise the Flags” By Christine Mercer-Vernon As summer arrives, irises in my garden burst to life, drawing a variety of insects and bees to their colorful blooms. In just a few short weeks, giant flowers will alternate down each stalk, opening and dying off in a frantic display that ends as fast as it began. Deeply inspired by my love of botanical illustration and fascination with the cycle of life, death, decay, and rebirth, I combined direct observation with harmonic symmetry to capture a time-lapse of the life cycle of these irises. Beginning with a panel to ..read more

Find inspiration and learn pastel painting techniques with today’s featured artist Emma Colbert > Pastel is the best medium to work with when it comes to portraying fur, says artist Emma Colbert. Known for the extraordinary realism with which she depicts animal fur and the sensitivity with which she represents their emotions, Emma Colbert will be among the faculty members of the annual online art conference Pastel Live, September 18-20, 2024, with an Essential Techniques Day on September 17. The artist will return to Pastel Live for the second year in a row and by popular demand after last ..read more

By James Andrews Classical realism, academic art, the atelier method — whatever you choose to call it, it’s a fact that the tradition of realist art instruction passed down through the ages by individuals and institutions such as Paris’s Ecole des Beaux-Arts nearly died during the 20th century. The rise of modern art (and perhaps a bit of professional jealousy) fostered not just an organic shift away from some traditional methods, but also the intentional abandonment of disciplined study altogether. Accomplished artists, classically trained themselves, eschewed that training for their own stu ..read more

There is a lot of superb contemporary realism being made these days; this article by Allison Malafronte shines light on a gifted individual. Kristen Valle Yann’s (b. 1997) body of work explores the sometimes difficult and confounding experience of being human, leaving behind suggestions of hope and light. Every portrait, still life, and landscape whispers a gentle reminder that, although our time on earth is fleeting and we often may feel alone in our questioning, there is still meaning to be found in the simplest moments of life. “My world is one of quiet recollections,” the artist shares ab ..read more

The following is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who has joined us on the faculty of Watercolor Live, an annual virtual art conference. The next one takes place January 22-24, 2025, and you can sign up now at WatercolorLive.com. *** The English artist and author David Poxon rejoices in the fact that Britain brought watercolors to global attention as a fine art during the 18th century. To celebrate this heritage, he has organized the third edition of the International Watercolour Masters Exhibition at an idyllic spot in western England, roughly 35 miles northwest of Bi ..read more

The Salmagundi Club Library is presenting an exhibition of contemporary realist portraiture featuring an alluring array of paintings, drawings, and sculptures from over 20 renowned fine artists. Dates: Through May 31, 2024 Curated by: Artist Michael Fetherston, Club Member & GCA Alum by Lorenzo Narciso Curated by artist Michael Fetherston, the show brings together a variety of aesthetic visions to one of the oldest and most celebrated genres of art. “Throughout history, from Da Vinci to Sargent, it’s the portrait paintings that seem to fascinate us the most,” comments Fetherston. “While t ..read more

The following is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who will be joining us on the faculty of Pastel Live, September 18-20, 2024, with an Essential Techniques Day on September 17. Learn more and secure your spot at PastelLive.com. Watch ‘How to Easily Bring a Portrait to Life featuring Carol Peebles’ > Watch as art publisher Eric Rhoads interviews Carol Peebles on this episode of Art School Live! . Contemporary realism portrait painting by Carol Peebles“Choosing Her Revolution: My Chick In Flight” by Carol Peebles Fast-track your painting skills with tips and tricks f ..read more

Meet this week’s top Realism Today Ambassador, Nika Nyoko: Nika Nyoko is a Bulgarian freelance illustrator with a Master’s degree in Art Pedagogy, specializing in watercolor and oil painting. With 15 years of experience in illustrating children’s books, Nika’s passion now lies in exploring human connections and self-awareness through her artwork. Her paintings are a reflection of her own introspection, utilizing multi-layered compositions that blend old master techniques with modern digital sensitivities. Nika’s sensitive nature and high degree of empathy are evident in the philosophical inte ..read more