Artists on Art magazine
Cover art by Bruno Surdo

The January/February issue of Artists on Art magazine features Bruno Surdo’s 10 principles of success for artists; a look into the “other” with illustrations by Lori Field; honest paintings of the aging female figure by Francien Krieg; a philosophical look with Timothy Holton at why frames matter; and more.

Here’s a sneak preview of the new Artists on Art magazine:

Contemporary paintings
Francien Krieg, “Perfect Imperfections,” 2016, oil on linen, 47 x 39 in.

From “Not Above My Couch” (essays on the work of Francien Krieg):

“Dutch painter Francien Krieg paints older women who have moved on from the pressures of beauty to a place where spirit becomes the means of physical attraction. Her women are struggling with aged bodies that severely limit their quality of life . . . By throwing aging in our face like a violent Western, we have to respond. The response is what Krieg is after. She feels her point is made by the extreme response.

“Yes, men and women’s ideal view of young beauty does get shattered with age, but something else takes place of more importance: The realization that when idealized beauty is gone, the innate inner beauty of spirit has the potential to create an outer beauty with a greater depth.” ~ written by Alan Katz

Contemporary portrait paintings
Patricia Watwood’s photo references and study of the entertainer Jack Benny. Watwood also teaches artists how to create portraits from life in this Streamline Art Video workshop.

From How to Create a Vibrant Posthumous Portrait by Patricia Watwood

“In my years of creating portraits, I’ve had a number of commissions to paint historical figures. Posthumous projects are quite common, as it is often after someone has passed away that his or her family and colleagues want to celebrate that person’s life and contributions.

“Recently, I had a commission to paint the American comedian Jack Benny. Often, formal commissions are of some sober and serious type, like an academic or a politician. I was excited to portray an entertainer and capture the lighthearted, dynamic energy of the mid-century American icon.

“For a private individual, I ask the people who knew her best, “Which smile or expressions make you say ‘Oh, that’s her!’?” I consider what age and dress best personify that person to the intended audience of the portrait, and at what time in her life she made an important impact. All these considerations should factor into the image you want to capture.”

Contemporary wildlife paintings
Dustin Van Wechel, “Rock Jockies,” oil on canvas, 48 x 24 in.

From “An Artist’s Romance with the Wilds of North America” by Dustin Van Wechel

“Memory is an interesting thing. When I think about it, those moments where I have been lucky enough to have had an extraordinary wildlife encounter — whether via the car or out hiking — are actually quite few. In the nearly 20 years I’ve been working as a full-time artist, I can think of only a handful of those times. And yet, my memory of them is so strong, and the excitement of the encounter so vivid, that it feels as though it’s happened much more often.

“It’s these kinds of experiences that keep the passion I have for wildlife and nature so strong, and they have provided me a wealth of ideas from which to create paintings.

“While my process has evolved over the years, one constant remains: I’m always looking to communicate my obsession with the creatures and landscape of the Rocky Mountain West through my work.”

Watch a time-lapse video of Francien Krieg painting a portrait:


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