creativespotlite’s blog

Interview With Artist Don Sahli

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:19:07 -0700

Everybody looks for a label. I would like to be known as a painter one who painted what he saw while wandering around on his journey.

Don Sahli made the decision to become a professional artist at a very early age. By the time he was 17 years old, galleries in Texas and New Mexico were selling his paintings. Sahli has earned his living as a professional artist all his adult life. Presently, his work is represented by galleries in Colorado, North Carolina, New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas.

When I look at a painting, I want it to bring me back to when I was on the scene. I want it to convey the drama and emotion that first captured my attention, the atmosphere, and the soul of the place.

Sahli’s work contains stylistic echoes of the Russian masters, particularly evident in his uninhibited use of color, his stern originality and unique vitality. As the last apprentice to the Russian colorist, Sergei Bongart, Sahli sustains an important artistic legacy, one passed from Ilya Repin, the fountainhead of all modern Russian painting, to Nicolai Fechin, to Peter Kotov, to Sergei Bongart to Don Sahli.

My teacher taught, his teacher taught, and I wanted to keep this tradition alive and give something back.

In 1995, carrying on the legacy of his teacher, Sahli opened Sahli School of Art in Evergreen, Colorado. He lives with his wife, Cindy and their two sons, in their mountain home near the school.

Q - What medium or mediums do you work with?

A - I am an oil painter - on canvas or board - depending on the size of the painting and where I am painting - studio or plein air.

Q - How long have you been an artist? How did you get started?

A - I have been an artist all my life. I sold my first painting at age 14 or 15. When I was 17, I took my work to a gallery in Taos, NM, the gallery director accepted it and sold my work for several years. I have continued to show in galleries around the country since that time....

Please click here to read the rest of this Artist Interview....

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Step by Step Acrylic Painting Tutorial & Tips From Artist Lesly Finn

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:57:05 -0700

About Lesly Finn

I am English and emigrated to New Zealand with my husband in 1999, since when I have been able to pursue a long held dream of expressing myself with paint. Ideas for my work come from a variety of sources, including images from the natural world, dreams, emotions and memories. These are portrayed through a mix of colour, texture and contrast that evolve during the act of painting.

I enjoy drawing and pastel work, and paint with acrylic on canvas, often incorporating collage and textured elements. For me one of the many joys of painting is the continuous exploration and development of ideas, and my hope is that the resulting work will give pleasure and invite quiet contemplation.

- Lesly Finn

Painting With Acrylics Some Tips!

Acrylic paints are not that easy to get used to … at least that’s what I found when I started with them. They dry very quickly so paint often gets wasted, they can ruin your brushes and the ‘covering power’ of different colours varies quite enormously. So I thought that I would post a few general tips for using acrylics …. things that I have read and tried out that worked, and other things that I have found out through trial and error!

Follow this link to read more of this article along with a step by step acrylic painting tutorial by Lesly Finn...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Top 10 Online Resources To Help You Learn How To Draw Cars

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:02:15 -0700

Learning how to draw cars is a very popular hobby as of late, so I decided to dedicate a post that lists some great resources online to help you learn how to draw cars fast. The following links include free step by step drawing tutorials of race cars, sports cars and other great tips for car drawing enthusiasts.

Click here to learn how to draw cars online...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Artist Spotlite - Interview With Pamela E. Miller

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:12:54 -0700

Painting by Pamela Miller

About Pamela E. Miller Contemporary Art

“By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity” -Robert Heinlein

These are just a few words that I like to live by. I feel that creating art is a way of sharing your soul with others. As you will see in my artwork: sometimes I am very flamboyant and always colorful, sometimes confidant and peaceful, other times angry or chaotic. I think all of my emotions; passions come out in my works. Sometimes I layer it on thick (paint and words) and other times I flirt with the canvas with light feathery strokes. My art reflects my beliefs in love, warmth, generosity, loyalty, and honesty. I’m inspired by science, fantasy, martial arts, architecture, and nature (especially water).

Click here to read this interview...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

At The Dock - Step by Step Acrylic Painting Lesson by Brian Rice

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:08:24 -0700

"At the Dock" - By Brian Rice

Brian has no formal training in art. He is self taught and learns most from a careful observation of the order and design of the natural world . He believes that “nature is the artwork of a creator/master artist who displays a wisdom and a genius that we have only begun to understand”. His focus is to create art that will cause the soul to search for a deeper meaning in an increasingly chaotic world.

He started striving for a photo realism style in the 1990’s and achieved it to some degree, but, he found the style did not evoke much emotion and set out on a journey to find a style that was realistic but, with a much looser impressionistic approach.

Brian got the idea for this painting while on vacation in Newfoundland. The quiet and serenity of this area was what he wanted to capture in the painting...

Click here to view this acrylic painting lesson...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Painting Demonstration by Richard Ancheta...

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:34:35 -0700

By Richard Ancheta

I just added a new painting demonstration to my blog by the very talented artist Richard Ancheta.

Richard Ancheta first began to paint at the age of 12 years old and took painting lessons with well known Filipino artist and illustrators. His devotion and vision as an artist are promising. He studied Multimedia Design at Montreal International Academy of Design. Richard works in various mediums: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel and charcoal. His works have been featured in newspapers, magazines and books. He boast 20 years of experience in painting, illustration, advertising and graphic work.

Click here to view the oil painting lesson...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Interview With Portrait & Landscape Artist Karin Wells

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:31:20 -0700

Karin Wells is an artist of amazing versatility. She graduated with honors from both the New England School of Art and Design, Boston, 1965, and the Butera School of Art, Boston, 1986. Karin has enjoyed a career as an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator and sign painter. She also taught Life Drawing and Painting for many years. She has most recently studied for three years at The New England School of Classical Painting in Greenfield, New Hampshire, under the direction of Numael Pulido.

"I enjoy working with traditional oil paint on linen canvas. The Old Masters take my breath away and when I look at what they have done with this traditional medium, it gives me endless inspiration to learn more."

Click here to read this artist interview

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Free Oil Painting Lesson - Painting Horses in Landscape with Figures

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:36:01 -0700

Image Copyright Elin Pendleton

Here's a great new demo by artist Elin Pendleton. The title of this oil painting lesson is "Painting Horses in Landscape with Figures". This painting lesson will show how Elin moves from an original idea, through the entire process as she paints an equine subject in her studio.

Follow this link to view the oil painting lesson...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Acrylic Painting Demonstration with Lorraine Vatcher..

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:16:41 -0700

Reflections of Pink and Green

I have a wonderful step by step painting demonstration to share with you today. It is another beautiful work by artist Lorraine Vatcher. The title of this painting is "Reflections of Pink and Green”.

Click here to view the acrylic painting demo...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

“Vineyard Patterns” - An Oil Painting Demonstration by Jennifer Young

nobody@vox.com(creativespotlite) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:47:34 -0700

Hi All,

Just wanted to share a new step by step oil painting demonstration that was created by the very talented artist Jennifer Young.

The title of the painting is "Vineyard Patterns"...

Jennifer Young is a professional artist from Richmond, Virginia, most known for her vibrant landscape paintings of France, Italy, and the American South. She is inspired by the beauty she observes on her frequent travels, and paints on location as often as possible.

Click here to view the oil painting lesson

Read and post comments | Send to a friend