London gets an Alma-Tadema, Western and Wildlife art is having a moment
And more news from the realism art movement this week.
🌟 Mainstream
The National Gallery in London acquires a masterpiece by Lawrence Alma-Tadema
The National Gallery in London has acquired its first painting by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, titled "After the Audience," as part of its 200th-anniversary celebrations. This Victorian masterpiece depicts Agrippa, Augustus's son-in-law, returning to his villa after an audience with petitioners. The acquisition, facilitated through donations and negotiations with Christie’s, enhances the gallery's collection of Neoclassicism and Aestheticism, movements that have been underrepresented in recent decades.
To learn more about Alma-Tadema, I recommend this episode of the podcast Suggested Donation.
🏆 Competitions
Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Voting - Now Open!
Voting for the 2024 Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award is now open, allowing the public to select their favorite artwork from 150 finalists across various categories, including painting, photography, and digital art. Participants can cast their votes until September 6, with winners announced in mid-September. In the running is Shiori Mori who paints beautiful multi-figure works in the realist tradition with an updated aesthetic.
💰 Shows & Auctions
Buffalo Bill Art Show Announces 2024 Award-Winning Artists - Fine Art Connoisseur
The Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale has announced its 2024 award-winning artists, recognizing eight individuals for their exceptional work in the exhibition. Ralph Oberg won The Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale Award for his oil painting "High Noon," which captures the essence of the American West. Other winners include Stephanie Hartshorn for her two-dimensional piece "Blue Chair" and Stefan Savides for his three-dimensional work "Home is Where You Find It." The event, which showcases 104 contemporary Western artists, aims to support the arts community and promote Western art.
Cowboy & Western Collectors Saddle Up At Scottsdale Art Auction - Antiques And The Arts Weekly
The Scottsdale Art Auction held on August 3 showcased a strong demand for Western-themed artworks, with 401 lots sold and a total revenue nearing $2 million. Frederic Remington's piece "Goot Packers at Work" achieved the highest sale at $81,900, while multiple other Remington works also garnered significant bids. The auction attracted 1,600 bidders, including many new participants, highlighting a robust market for both classic and contemporary Western art. I included an article on this last week, but this one has more imagery available of the works sold.
Keys Auctioneers discusses wildlife art sold at auction | Eastern Daily Press
Keys Auctioneers recently highlighted the popularity of wildlife art, particularly ornithological pieces, in Norfolk, where nature and art intersect. The region's diverse habitats attract both artists and bird watchers, leading to strong demand for wildlife-themed art. Notable sales included Jack Cox’s “Ducks In Flight” for £290 and Keith Shackleton's “Night Herons In The Tide Pools” for £2,000. Keys continues to host successful Wildlife and Ornithology Sales, with the next event scheduled for September 20, featuring a range of artworks, taxidermy, and ornithological equipment.
🎨 Learn
Make a Point with the Vanishing Point
John Roman discusses how artists use perspective to engage viewers and convey the main intent of their works. It highlights the historical use of the center of vision in paintings, particularly in Paolo Veronese's "Marriage at Cana," where the perspective directs attention to key figures, emphasizing their significance in the narrative. Roman also explores how other artists, like Vermeer and Matisse, employed similar techniques to enhance the viewer's experience and connection to the artwork.
Gurney Journey: Painting Calm Water
James Gurney's latest blog post features a new YouTube video focused on painting calm water amidst a chaotic roadside environment. The video offers practical techniques and insights for artists interested in capturing serene water scenes in their artwork.
qiang-huang, a daily painter: Derek Penix Workshop 2025
Qiang Huang announces an upcoming workshop with renowned artist Derek Penix, scheduled for 2025. Huang shares his journey into color research, textures, and mark-making, emphasizing Penix's award-winning abstract style as a significant inspiration. This workshop presents a unique opportunity for representational artists to delve into more abstract techniques under Penix's guidance. Interested participants can sign up for the workshop through Huang's website.
👩🎨 Artist Features
This artist makes mindblowingly realistic art in a drawing app | Creative Bloq
Japanese artist Nana showcases astonishingly realistic 2D hand studies created using a simple mobile app, MediBang Paint. Each piece reflects a meticulous process, with some drawings taking a month to complete as the artist painstakingly captures intricate details like wrinkles. The artist’s Twitter/X feed features time lapses which reveal that the hand studies are constructed through an atelier-like observation process, rather than by tracing and sampling a photo.
Western Art, Reimagined - Realism Today
The article highlights the work of Andrew Higdon, a contemporary realist artist from Atlanta. Higdon's passion for Western themes stems from childhood experiences in Texas, which led him to explore the cultural significance of Western art in America. His paintings, characterized by a hyperrealist, graphic-novel style, reinterpret traditional Western subjects through unconventional perspectives.
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Fletcher Graham