Tucson Art Academy

Ken Auster Workshop

Ken Auster is returning January 18-21, 2012.

Below is a overview of his March 2011 workshop at the Tucson Art Academy. Ken Auster is a “Plein~Air Painters of America Signature Member” and completed March 2011 of "Our month with these Masters!"

Ken’s 4-day workshop covered Intellect and Passion. He explained in detail that you need both elements to become an artist. Understand intellectually, and then paint passionately. Ken demonstrated daily at different locations around Tucson and back in the studio. Many subjects were painted. Chefs to street scenes then desert landscapes. Strong attention on composition, simplification of shapes, creating atmospheric perspective, developing focal points, and balancing cool and warm colors. To watch Ken work his craft with simplified techniques and layering of paint is a complete art in itself. Everyone learned “to gesture not render” and “paint what you know, not what you see.”

Don't forget to click the 720p button on the lower right to see it in HD.

 

Ned Mueller Workshop

Don’t miss your chance to study with one of America’s finest artists, Ned Mueller. He has been painting and teaching for over 50 year and if you want to improve your skills or just refine your drawing and painting, this class you should not miss. Ned is member of these fine art organizations. Oil Painters of America, Northwest Watercolor Society, Plein Air Painters of America, Northwest Rendezvous Society.

January 27 - 29 . 2012
$425 includes model fee
Oil . Pastel . Acrylic . Beg - Adv . Class Limit . 15 Students

Link to his website.

 

 

Ken Auster-Cover Artist for Plein Air Magazine

We are excited to announce that Ken Auster will be on the cover of the next Plein Air Magazine. Ken is one of the best American artists who is also one of the best teachers. We are honored to have him teach for us this January. His workshop date is January 18-21st. Here is the full info on his workshop. Ken also published a new book. You can order it through his website.

Clyde Aspevig interview

We just came across this great interview with Clyde Aspevig. One of our best living artists.

 

American Watercolor Society Stan Miller Receives 2 Awards

Stan Miller will be teaching a 4 day workshop January 23-26 . 2012.
This one not to miss!

Click here for all the details!

Tucson Art Academy Instructor Stan Miller receives:

The Artist’s Magazine’s 28th Annual Art Competition. Third Place for Landscape/Interior
See his painting and article in the December issue on new stands now.

and Southwest Art Magazine Artist's Competition . Finalist. Edwin’s Blue Hat

Lorenzo Chavez on the Cover of Pastel Journal Magazine

Tucson Art Academy Instructor Lorenzo Chavez is on the cover PASTEL JOURNAL magazine. CONGRATS!!!

Lorenzo Chavez will be teaching a 4 day workshop April 2 - 5 . 2012.
Pastelists...sign-up for this one!

Click here for all the details!

Read a preview inside here.

Impressionist Society Awards

The winners were chosen by Scott Christensen for the 12th National Juried Exhibition presented by the American Impressionist Society.

Here is a link to the rest of the show

First Prize Kathleen Turner “Siena”

Second Prize John Burton

Third Prize “Traveler” by Mary Qian

Gabor Svagrik . Solo Exhibition . Through a Painter's Eye

I am excited to announce Gabor Svagrik's (co-owner of the Tucson Art Academy)
Solo Exhibition in Scottsdale, Arizona. Artist Reception November 10th, Thursday Night Artwalk. Come Celebrate with Us! To Preview the Show ~ Click here

Canadian Paintings on view in England, Norway, & Netherlands

Canadian Paintings on view in England, Norway, & Netherlands

“Stormy Weather Georgian Bay,” by Frederick Horsman Varley, 1921, oil on canvas. Collection the National Gallery of Canada, Ottowa.

Paintings by The Group of Seven, plein air painters active around Toronto in the early 20th century, will be presented in a traveling exhibition that opens at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London on October 19, 2011 (through January 8, 2012) and travels until October, 2012.

 

“The West Wind,” by Tom Thompson, 1917, oil on canvas. Collection the Art Gallery of Ontario.

The exhibition, titled Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven, moves to the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway (January 29-May 13, 2012), and then ends its tour at The Groninger Museum, Groningen, the Netherlands (June 6 - October 28, 2012).

One of the first institutions to collect and celebrate the Group of Seven was the McMichael Collection in Toronto (www.mcmichael.com).  According to their website, “In the early days of the twentieth century, circumstances brought together several artists who were committed to exploring, through art, the unique character of the Canadian landscape. Collectively they agreed: Canadian rugged wilderness regions needed to be recorded in a distinctive painting style. This style would break from European traditions and reflect an increasingly nationalistic sentiment.”

 

“The Jack Pine,” by Tom Thompson, 1917, oil on canvas. Collection the Art Gallery of Ontario.

The original members of the group, Tom Thompson, J.E.H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varlety, Frank Johnston, and Franklin Carmichael met as employees of a design firm in  Toronto, and they were joined by A.Y. Jackson and Lawren Harris. They received financial support from Harris (heir to the Massey-Harris farm machinery fortune) and Dr. James McCallum. MacCallum owned land on Georgian Bay and Thomson worked as a guide in nearby Algonquin Park, so those became the primary painting locations for the artists’ outdoor painting activities. After serving in World War I, the members of the group joined together again, but Thompson died in 1917 before the first exhibition that identified the members as the Group of Seven.

Exciting news

Alexey Steele will be teaching at the Tucson Art Academy on February 9 - 11 . 2012

Don't miss this great workshop with Alexey and his artist status as a CALIFORNIA ART CLUB Signature Member, and NOVOREALISM Founder. Click here for his workshop details.

Four to watch for in Laguna, CA

Four of our instructors will be in the 13th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational October 9-16, 2011

Ken Auster

Peggi Kroll-Roberts

Ray Roberts

Bryan Mark Taylor

Congrats to all of you!

Ray Roberts wins Top Awards

California plein air painter Ray Roberts has been showered with top awards in art competitions in recent years, including the First Place prize in the May/June bi-monthly competition in the 1st Annual PleinAir Salon competition, the Gold Medal in the California Art Club (CAC) annual competition, the coveted Artists’ Choice Award in the CAC competition. On August 27, Roberts won the Best of Show award at the Maynard Dixon Country event in Mt. Carmel, Utah.

George Carlson interview

A must watch for any creative person!

 

Ray Roberts takes First Prize!

 A Quiet Spot, by Ray Roberts, winner of the First Prize award
in the May/June PleinAir Salon bi-monthly contest

Congratulations to Ray Roberts, Tucson Art Academy instructor and Plein-Air Painters of America signature member.

Ray Roberts will be teaching a 4 day workshop March 15 - 18, 2012.

Kenn Backhaus on the Cover of Plein Air Magazine

"Road to the Harbor," by Kenn Backhaus, 2011, oil, 11 x 14. Private collection.

via www.outdoorpainter.com

Tucson Art Academy Instructor Kenn Backhaus lands the cover of the magazine. CONGRATS!!!

Kenn Backhaus will be teaching a 4 day workshop March 8 - 11 . 2012.

Click here for all the details!

 

Tucson Art Academy Instructor Randall Sexton wins top Award

Randall Sexton won First Prize at the Telluride CO, Plein Air event. Randy will be teaching for us a 4 day workshop on March 21 - 24 . 2012. Don't miss your chance to study with one of the best painters in the country.

For more info click here.

Simon Kogan sculpting Bill Reese

Simon Kogan is one of our finest living sculptors. This video demonstrates his craft and honesty. He is working on a portrait of Bill Reese. Bill was one our best fine artist who showed all of us to stay true to our vision and try all mediums.

Visit Simon Kogan’s website at: http://www.simonkogan.com/

Visit Bill Reese’s website at: http://www.williamfreese.com/

 

Ned Mueller Workshop

Ned Mueller who is also a Plein~Air Painters of America Signature Member instructed a great group of painters in 2 separate intensive workshops lasting 3 days each this past April. The first 3 day workshop was spent drawing the portrait. Ned showed everyone how with time and hours committed to drawing the portrait you will begin to see success. There is no hidden talent just draw, draw and then draw some more. Students unlearned some old habits and opened their eyes to new found skills. Everyday the students were challenged with a different live model. He finished the last 3 days painting the portrait. Ned showed with ease that knowing your craft will no doubt have a outcome of a great painted portrait. It is through this challenging but worthwhile pursuit you will see a true master at his best. We are excited to have him return in 2012. Mark your calendars so you won't miss out.

Don't forget to click the 720p setting to see it in HD

 

Ray Roberts Workshop

Ray Roberts followed with our March “Plein~Air Painters of America Signature Members” month at the Tucson Art Academy. Also everyone got to meet another wonderful artist, Peggi Kroll Roberts as she arrived with Ray.
Ray’s 4-day workshop went from Field Studies to the Studio. It covered the importance of needing both the “What’s” & the “How’s” to complete a successful painting.
Ray demonstrated many editing techniques, sketching your composition, painting simple, fast, color studies with shapes and value. Outside is not always about completing a painting. Then inside approaching your painting with a completed idea, because in the studio it is ultimately about design. Ray briefly showed using computer techniques in Photoshop to your benefit. This was very clear and understood by all that it is only a tool, not your master. The students left knowing “Why” when you look at Ray’s paintings you see a true artist at work. If you missed out, not to worry, Ray will be returning in 2012.

Don't forget to click the 720p setting and watch it in HD.

 

Kenn Backhaus workshop

Kenn Backhaus started our March “Plein~Air Painters of America
Signature Members” month at the Tucson Art Academy.

His workshop was about How You Can Create that WOW! Factor
In Your Paintings. It was a different format than usual, but so well
executed by Kenn.

This particular workshop Kenn talked in a group setting, showed
digital presentations, and demonstrated his ideas. The students
learned how to gather their creative thoughts, plan their design and
composition prior to ever putting a stroke on the canvas. With Kenn’s
years of experience and knowledge as a professional painter he
knew how to conduct a workshop that was about maintenance &
fine-tuning your car engine. Not always racing that car to get to a
destination without seeing the scenery. If you missed out on this
workshop, Kenn Backhaus will be returning in 2012 with another style
of workshop that will be as anticipated as this one.

 

Matt Smith workshop

To admire a painterly, desert, landscape painting Matt Smith is always the first to come into our minds. This is exactly what the student’s that studied with Matt Smith in his February 4-day workshop left knowing intimately. We were honored to have Matt give his knowledge and insightfulness to a subject he knows so well. To watch him work from direct observation and gather the exact amount of information to make a strong painting is what all artists strive for. Besides being outside, 2 days were in the studio with more attention on techniques and the benefits and drawbacks of photography as a tool to accurately paint your subject. We thank everyone that traveled so far to take the workshop and very much look forward to May when Matt returns for his second workshop at the Art Academy.

Make sure you click the 720p setting to watch it in High Definition