Syn Studio - Gathering of the Masters 2016

MAJOR THANKS to Syn Studio for putting on for putting on such an informative event: 'The Gathering of the Masters 2016', a 3 day masterclass workshop I was fortunate to attend! The highlight for me was getting to meet and draw with artist, James Gurney. His book 'Color & Light' is a supreme resource I recommended to realist painters repeatedly: http://jamesgurney.com/…/color-and-light-a-guide-for-the-re…

Syn Studio is the leading concept art school in Montreal. You can find out more about the courses and workshops they offer here: http://synstudio.ca ‪

Arnold Bocklin, Alexandre Cabanel and Jacek Malczewski

I've been planning some new paintings to complete for TheArtist Project in February 2016. Montreal's 'le Grande Bibliotheque et ArchivesNationales du Quebec' (the large library and national achieve of Quebec) is my favorite place in the city. (Half the first floor of this massive library is books related to art!)

 I like looking at art books before I fall asleep. (Sometimes it gives me weird dreams, but I'm OK with that.) 3 amazing artists I've introduced myself to from the eminent dead category are: Arnold Bocklin (Swiss, 1827-1901), Alexandre Cabanel (French, 1823-1889) and Jacek Malczewski (Polish, 1854-1929). I have a strong affinity to symbolist painters (Bocklin and Malczewski being two of them. Cabanel was more of an academic painter.)  

                                                                        Arnold Bocklin

                                                                             'The War'

                                                                                  Oil

Alexandre Cabanel

'The Death of Moses'

Oil

 

 Jacek Malczewski

'Eloe and Ellenai'

Oil

Art for Dummies

Two things:

 

1) You can never learn too much about your industry.

2) It's important to be able to explain what you do to people outside your industry in very comprehensible, digestible terms.

I've been flipping through this book (not necessarily reading it in order). If you're still intimidated by art, it is an accessible read from a credible source.

Click here to buy the book on Amazon.com

Alphonse Mucha book

Saddened I must return this Alphonse Mucha book that I've been selfishly renewing from the library. Admittedly, I was only previously familiar with his posters (which I also love), but his murals are now my favorite. His work is an unparalleled achievement of deep emotional narrative. His staging is also beyond impressive.

If you are unfamiliar with him, you can watch a 6-part documentary on him here via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU5gCPQaW3g&list=PL43A0144BA35CEA62