Framed Friday: Jussi Poyhonen

This beautiful painting and quaint frame come to us from Jussi Poyhonen.  Jussi, originally from Finland, spent some time with studying with Odd Nerdrum as well as studying at the Florence Academy of Art and the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, for a number of years before moving to Florida.  He has recently returned to Florence in order to teach at the Academy.  

Jussi Poyhonen, 'Olivia', 7 x 8, Oil on Panel.

This picture shows a bit of the profile of the frame, with the scoop.  It's such a detailed frame for the size of the piece.  The gilding is beautifully burnished with a crimson finish.

One of the best details on the frame is this metal hanger.  Most frames from Florence come with this for hanging, instead of being wired.  It creates a nice accent. 

Keep an eye out for some more beautiful frames from Jussi.  He recently sent us four landscapes that were painted and framed in Florence.  Jussi says that many of the Florentine framers still do the gilding themselves.

 

Framed Friday: Carlo Russo

It's Friday again!  This week we are happy to feature a frame, and painting, by Carlo Russo.  Carlo is another one of our artists who makes his own frames.  Having been to his studio, and seen him working through this frame, we know how much he thinks about the color, profile, and finish on his frames.

Carlo Russo, 'Dreams of Ophelia', 22 x 29, Oil on Linen.

Carlo did an amazing job with the gold leaf detail.  The gold picks up on the browns and tans of the painting, playing off her skin tone perfectly.  The frame looks classic, even though it was only made a few months ago. 

If you haven't seen this painting or frame in person, be sure to stop by the gallery soon!  It's hanging in a prime spot behind the nook desk!

Beacon Hill Seminars: Object, Manner, and Means: The Rebirth of Representational Painting

For seven Wednesdays, starting February 6, 2013, Ali will be orchestrating a lecture series through Beacon Hill Seminars.  To quote the Beacon Hill Seminars website, this is a great organization composed of people 

“who have a vigorous interest in continuing their intellectual growth. It is dedicated to a concept of learning with and from peers. Members of Beacon Hill Seminars create, participate in, or lead a diverse group of courses designed to follow a seminar format of small group discussions and learning.”
— Beacon Hill Seminars

Gregory Prestegord, 'Green Door', 35.5 x 37, Oil on Panel.

Here's the rundown on the course:

Aristotle used three terms to delve into the meaning of representation: object, manner, and means. Applying these terms to the twenty-first century painter, one might have a vibrant, pulsating city as the object, the desire to capture this vantage in a distinctive realist style as the manner, and a fresh palette of Winsor and Newton oils as the means. Through representational painting, the artist conjures the electricity and power of a city.

In seven sessions we will share our visual experiences with representational paintings, discuss the current reengagement with realism taking place in the art world, and hear from experts whose passions range from the techniques of the Dutch Masters to the camera obscura and from John Singer Sargent to the use of the iPhone 5 in capturing images for painting.

Expect several prominent guest lecturers and at least one excursion as the seminar advances. Open minds and spirited conversationalists desired.

James Welu, Director Emeritus of the Worcester Art Museum, has the unique perspective of someone who trained as a studio artist before entering the world of art history and eventually specializing in seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish art. With many con-temporary representational painters focusing on the aesthetics and skills of the Dutch Masters, Jim will share his knowledge of the period and its immortal marks on the production of art. 

David H. Lowrey, 'Vermeer's Studio c. 1667', Oil on Canvas.

David Lowrey, Fenway Studios artist, preserves the tradition of Boston’s finest realists – Benson, Paxton and Tarbell – through traditional painting. David has built working models for the camera obscura, which he employs in his creative process and we will experience during his guest lecture focused on the enduring techniques of artists past. 

Joseph McGurl, a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art, has been referred to as one of the acknowledged leaders in the current American landscape school.  Joseph's paintings are often seen in relationship to the great 19th century luminist painters but with a thoroughly modern approach to style and subject.  For him, the process, rather than the product is the most important part of a painting.  Rather than relying on photography, this method gives him the freedom to create paintings based on his imagination, memory, and his sketches. 

Joseph McGurl, 'Last Light, Winter', 19 x 33, Oil on Canvas.

Gregory Prestegord, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and youngest artist featured at Sloane Merrill Gallery, will discuss his desire to paint real visual experiences and his elaborate use of the iPhone camera as a tool. Be prepared for a studio demonstration in the gallery.

Gregory Prestegord, 'Spring Garden Ridge', 16.5 x 24, Oil on Panel.

Ali Ringenburg has a strong commitment to the tradition of representational work and the artistic profession. Before opening her gallery, she worked with Nashville-based interdisciplinary artist Adrienne Outlaw, at the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, and most recently was the director at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia. She holds a BA in art and art history and English literature from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

For more information on how to get involved with Beacon Hill Seminars, please visit their website.  Seminars are open to all Beacon Hill Seminars members.  Registration closes Wednesday, January 16th.  We are so looking forward to hosting the seminar!

Our First Ever: Framed Friday!

We are happy to be starting our weekly blog post called Framed Friday!  Every Friday, we will be featuring our favorite frame from the week.  Sometimes they will be on pieces we have in the gallery and sometimes they will be from places we have visited. 

This week we'd like to show you this beautiful frame (and painting) by Justin Hess. Justin makes all his own frames so that each frame is its own work of art to compliment each painting.

 

Justin Hess, 'Chinese Vase with Almond Blossoms', 24 x 16, Oil on Linen.

Justin goes in to depth about how in make frames in his book Controlling the Creative Process: A Painter's Guide to Methods & Materials.  He talks about coloring frames, adding gold leaf, and creating a texture.  Please feel free to stop by the gallery to take a look through Justin's book, which talks about more than just framing or purchase a copy for yourself here.

 

Museum Visit: Worcester Art Museum

Just before the holidays, Ali had a chance to visit the Worcester Art Museum.  Joined by Beacon Hill Seminars collaborators, she met with Director Emeritus James Welu for a wonderful lunch and tour of the museum.  They talked about the gallery's upcoming seminar, Object, Manner, and Means: The Rebirth of Representational Painting, for which Mr. Welu will be a guest lecturer.  

Mr. Welu specializes in seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish art, and was the WAM Director from 1986 - 2011.  Under Mr. Welu's direction, the museum was the first to: create an Art All-State program for high-school artists (1987), originate an exhibition of Dutch Master Judith Leyster (1993), and to focus its contemporary art program on art of the last 10 years (1998).  We cannot wait to hear what Mr. Welu has to share with us on February 6th to kick off the seminar!

Two postcards from the Worcester Art Museum. Left: 'The Fur Jacket: Arrangement in Black and Brown', James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Oil on Canvas, 1877. Right: 'Girl Playing Solitaire', Frank W. Benson, Oil on Canvas, 1909.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Worcester Art Museum, the museum houses over 35,000 pieces that span over fifty centuries.  Opened to the public in 1896, the museum has seen a great number of firsts in growing its collection, including being the first museum in the nation to purchase works by Claude Monet.                                                                                    

In addition to the wonderful art and building architecture, the museum offers numerous educational programs for all ages.  The library, which is run in collaboration with the College of the Holy Cross, contains nearly 45,000 titles and an equal number of slides, available for loan.  The museum also has a state-of-the-art conservation department. 

If you are looking for a fun day trip we recommend checking out the Worcester Art Museum!  The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, with late hours (until 8pm) every 3rd Thursday of the month. 

Boston Athenæum

Ali and gallery friend Paul took a quick visit to the Boston Athenæum yesterday afternoon. After being greeted by these beautiful doors, she knew she was in for a treat!

Founded in 1807, the Athenæum was modeled after the Athenæum and Lyceum in Liverpool and contained "the great works of learning and science in all languages."  The great works, however, were not limited to books, but extended to include art and artifacts.  Though it changed locations often during its early years, it has called 10 1/2 Beacon Street home since 1849 when its current building was completed by architect Edward Clarke Cabot.  Since then it has received a few updates and additions to accommodate the growing collection but the feel as remained consistent, a place that "serves as a stimulating center for discussions among scholars, bibliophiles, and a variety of community-interest groups."

Boston Athenaeum Doors at 10 1/2 Beacon Street.

The Athenæum's current art collection contains over 600 paintings and sculptures.  Since its founding in 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has always had a close relationship with the Athenæum.  The MFA's early exhibitions were held at the Athenæum and when the MFA got a building in 1876, the Athenæum placed a major portion of its art collection in the museum. 

In celebration of that partnership, the Athenæum is opening an exhibition titled Brilliant Beginnings: The Athenæum and the Museum in Boston.  Set to open February 12, 2013 and run through August 3, 2013, the exhibit will feature diverse artifacts from the Athenæum's collection that have special meaning to the early collaborations between the two institutions. 

Enrico Meneghelli, 'Picture Gallery of the Boston Athenaeum', 1876. Photograph from the Boston Athenaeum.

Today, in addition to its wonderful collection of books, art, and artifacts, the Athenæum offers a variety of events including bringing in leading authors, hosting lectures and discussion groups, concerts, and art exhibitions, wine and cheese receptions, and events for kids in the children's library.  

We encourage anyone who hasn't visited the Athenæum to spend a little time there! 

Our Newest Artist: Mary Sauer!

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the gallery: Mary Sauer!  Mary graduated from BYU, has taken classes at the Art Student's League in New York and The Grand Central Academy of Art, and apprenticed with William Whitaker.  Mary had a big 2012 -- she won "Best of Show" at The Portrait Society of America's International Portrait Competition, was featured on the cover of the August Issue of American Art Collector Magazine, and was named one of Southwest Art Magazine's "21 Under 31" Artists.  Expect to see Mary's work in the gallery before Christmas!

Here's what Mary has to say about her work:

"I believe there is beauty in every form which can be translated to the canvas by showing it as it appears naturally.  This pushes me to achieve representational color harmony, proportion, and value relationships via a traditional approach to oil painting."

Converge in NYC

We had the fortune of heading down to New York for the opening night of Converge: Where Classical & Contemporary Art Collide.  It was an incredible evening -- the paintings were stunning, the show was well hung, and we got to spend time with a handful of our favorite artists and friends! 

A personal favorite by gallery artist Danny McCaw:

'Orange on Plate', 30 x 24, Oil on Panel, 2012.

If you are in New York, we highly recommend visiting the exhibition at 25CPW Gallery (25 Central Park West at 62nd Street)!

A Wonderful Addition: Justin Hess!

We are excited to announce the addition of Justin Hess to our roster of artists at SMG! Justin studied and then taught at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy and recently relocated back to his home state of California after six years abroad. We are captivated by his paintings -- they will be arriving in the gallery in the next two weeks!

Take a look at Justin's work and background on our website: Justin Hess.