New reality show invites you into the colorful world
of surf artist Drew Brophy At first, Drew Brophy didn?t want his own television show, but after a little nudging from Maria Brophy, his promoter, manager, and wife of 11 years, he agreed to share his unique brand of eclectic surf art with, potentially, millions of viewers. What sets The Paint Shop apart from the onslaught of reality television currently dominating the airwaves, however, is Drew?s educational approach, colorful designs, and surfer attitude. That and there?s no drama?the main ingredient in most other reality shows. ?We keep the negative drama out of it,? says Maria. ?The downside is that our ratings will never be as high as Jersey Shore, but we want to show people that they can design a lifestyle where they are doing what they love for a living. We want people to see that it?s possible!? And this wave-riding couple is doing just that. Along with their 9-year-old son, Dylan, the Brophys live and work in the beautiful seaside town of San Clemente, California, where the majority of the show is shot. From his studio, Drew walks viewers through some of his more interesting commissioned projects?from initial design to finished work of art. Whether he?s painting screamin? skulls on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or installing abstract art in a hotel, he?s having a blast?and rockin? out while he?s doing it. But the best part of the show is seeing the customers? enthusiastic reactions when they first see how Drew has transformed their humdrum surfboard or bike helmet into a colorful work of art that?s sure to get noticed. After all, the Brophys are in the business of making people happy. The fourth episode of The Paint Shop will begin airing in a couple of weeks, and Maria says it?s the ?most colorful one yet!? In this episode, Drew and tattoo artist Mark Longnecker take a street-art tour of Los Angeles, paint the exteriors of some vans alongside a few famous graffiti artists, and complete the show with a tattoo demonstration. Maria said the show has opened a lot of doors for Drew?s business. They currently are in discussions with some major television networks and hope to see the show broadcast nationally in the near future. For now, The Paint Shop can be viewed locally in Southern California or online. Visit http://www.thepaintshop.tv for air times.  Drew, Maria,
and Dylan Brophy in
front of their
?Dream Machine.? Photo (c) Michael R. Foley. | Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode had a unique solution to the rampant graffiti that was decimating his city back in 1984: Give the vandals a positive way to channel their creativity.
The Anti-Graffiti Network was born. It hired muralist Jane Golden to reach out to those responsible for defacing Philadelphia’s buildings and alleyways and encourage them to decorate the urban landscape with organized murals instead. Golden successfully forged a relationship with the graffiti community and gave its members opportunities to take part in creating expansive murals that beautified their neighborhoods.
Since its inception, this grassroots program—now called the Mural Arts Program—has contributed to more than 3,000 murals adorning the city of Philadelphia. These murals created by at-risk youth convey Philadelphia’s history, character, and notable figures. Philadelphian citizens and neighborhoods submit many of the mural themes by way of an online request form. According to Rueters news agency, Golden said that only a half dozen of the murals have been defaced to date.
Today the program has expanded to local prisons and rehabilitation centers as well, furthering its mission to save lives with art. More than 300 inmates and 200 juveniles receive instruction from the Mural Arts Restorative Justice program every year. Inmates, ex-cons, and juvenile offenders are afforded the opportunity to learn new skills, repair any damage they may have imposed, and contribute to their communities. By way of art, the program gives a voice to many who otherwise feel at odds with the community.
The Mural Project is currently painting one of the largest murals in the country. Slated for completion this June, “How Philly Moves” will reach 75 feet tall and span a half-mile wide, greeting travelers as they arrive at the Philadelphia International Airport.
Visitors to Philadelphia have a variety of mural tours from which to choose, including walking tours, mobile-phone tours, bike tours, trolley tours, and themed tours. The Love Letter Train Tour takes tourists by 50 romantic murals, the Ale & Arts Adventure Tour serves as both a mural and a brewery tour, and the African American Iconic Images Collection Train Tour includes murals of such figures as Malcolm X, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Jackie Robinson.
Note: The information contained in this blog was taken directly from the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program website.
 Mural painted on a wall on the south side of Philadelphia. Photo Christian Carollo. | Opening the doors of acclaimed museums around the world to anyone with Internet accessAfter 18 months of collaborating with some of the world’s most highly acclaimed art museums, the search engine giant Google unveiled Art Project yesterday. Not only does this new website allow visitors to view more than a thousand artworks in high resolution, but it allows them to take virtual tours of the participating museums, as well.
Art lovers will no longer have to travel to New York City to peruse the halls of its Metropolitan Museum of Art; they will no longer need to plan an excursion to Europe to see the Palace of Versailles or Amsterdam’s van Gogh Museum. With the click of a mouse and an Internet connection, anyone can admire the classic, famous, and awe-inspiring works of art contained within the walls of these museums.
Guests can travel from room to room inside the 17 featured museums and galleries using Google’s Street View technology. Unfortunately, some of the works of art are blurred for copyright reasons, and images of other works are less than clear, even when the virtual guest is “standing” right in front of them.
But use the site’s View Artwork option, and many of the works can be viewed in high resolution, with the ability to zoom in to see fine details—even brush strokes. With another click of the mouse, a visitor can learn the history behind and media used to create any particular piece, along with viewing notes, size, and other important specifications.
Is zooming in and out of a high-resolution image of a painting on your computer screen any match to physically standing before it and taking it in? Maybe not. But some may argue that it’s better than never seeing it at all.
Art Project Head, Amit Sood, stated in a press release that the collaborators hope the new site “will be a fascinating resource for art-lovers, students, and casual museum goers alike—inspiring them to one day visit the real thing.”Visit: http://www.googleartproject.com/  The Bedroom is just one of 30 pieces from the van Gogh Museum that can be viewed in high resolution. | Online art gallery aims to help emerging artist promote their work and build their resumesJohn R. Math knows it takes a lot of work for an artist to build up his or her resume—especially to build it up to the point where it is taken seriously by gallery owners and art representatives. Before John was able to successfully sell his work through galleries, he participated in many art shows, exhibitions, and competitions. "There must be an easier way," he thought. He searched for other, easier ways for emerging artists to introduce their work into the world, but found nothing. It is for this reason he began operating Light Space & Time, an online art gallery that runs monthly competitions and notifies gallery owners and other art world decision makers of the winning entries via email. Winners are also promoted to news and press release outlets, which can ultimately help to create more traffic to the artists' websites. This month's competition is "Seascapes," and entries must be in by January 29, 2011. Both amateur and professional artists are welcome to enter any form of two-dimensional art or photography. There is a $15 fee per five entries. Simply upload images to the gallery's website. The information in this blog post was taken directly from the Light Space & Time website. For more information go to: http://www.lightspacetime.com/ | When I reminisce about the best gifts that I have received over the years, I don’t think about clothes and jewelry, or about gadgets and appliances. I think about the gifts that were crafted with love and care—the gifts that were made with me in mind, and that will always serve as a reminder of the people who gave them to me.
Last year my holiday budget was smaller than usual, so I decided that instead of buying the women in my family expensive gifts for the holidays, I would put a new hobby to the test and make them jewelry out of beads and wire. I have always struggled with what to buy for my little sister—no matter what I put under the tree, it never seems to bring a believable smile to her face. The previous year’s gift was the worst—a Belgium waffle maker when she had just started a carb-free diet. But last year I gave her handmade earrings, and she wears them all the time. It was not only the most inexpensive gift I had ever given her, but also her favorite.
A similar revelation came to me before my wedding this last September. My soon-to-be mother–in-law threw me an amazing bridal shower. The gifts were piled high and ranged from practical to luxurious. But the gift I received that I will treasure the most was not an item I had listed on my registry, nor was it the most expensive. It was a stained-glass heart made by my aunt that contained my and my fiancé’s initials. She couldn’t believe I was more excited about her homemade gift than I was about the crystal pitcher she had given me as well—but I was. It was special in a way that nothing from a department store could ever be.
Now that the holidays are approaching once again, I am heading to the art supply store instead of the mall. This year everyone on my gift list will receive an original watercolor painting, not a mass-produced trinket or last-minute gift card. And of course, I am including with their gifts, a collection of Walter Foster books and kits, in the hopes that next year I might get something just as special in return.
As a special thanks to all of the aspiring artists out there, we are offering 40% off any online purchase this holiday season. (See the coupon below.)
| How to make the move from amateur hobbyist to professional artist
 There comes a time in the life of every artist when the question is asked: “What's next?” After a few years of painting I had to ask myself, "Where do I want to go with my art?” Do I continue to paint for the shear pleasure of creating something beautiful, or do I want to take it to the next level? Being a stay-at-home mom with four children, my world was pretty limited, but I knew I wanted my art to be more than a hobby. I decided to get my work “out there” by taking some basic steps. This was my “baby steps” plan.
Join Art Associations
Joining an art association is always the first step in getting more exposure. It provides you with opportunities to show your work and get feedback. There is nothing more valuable to your growth as an artist than listening to what people have to say about your work. Their compliments and criticisms (you have to take the good with the bad) can help you take an objective look at what is, and is not, working in your art.
 Find Mentors Try to surround yourself with artists who are more accomplished than you are. Be a sponge—listen to them and learn from their experience. Let their skill and expertise motivate you to push yourself to the next level.
Enter Competitions Broaden your horizons by entering some art competitions. Either go online, or turn to the back pages of you favorite art magazine and you will find a multitude of contests. Not only are these competitions a great experience, but they will add to your resume as well. Although there will be rejection, there will eventually be success! The key is to not give up. Don’t let the small defeats discourage you. Use them as motivation to keep working and improving. As the saying goes, "If you throw enough pasta at the wall, eventually something's going to stick.”
Sell Your Art Try your hand at selling your work. Whether it’s a local art fair or the holiday bazaar at your child's school, you will find a place to sell your work. Nothing fuels the creative fire more than someone willing to pay money for you art. Always remember to start out small. Don't expect someone to shell out $1,000 at a community event. To make your art affordable, try working smaller.
Eat & Breathe Art
Stay motivated and inspired. Visit museums and study the work and techniques of artists you admire. Improve your skills by reading books, taking classes or workshops, and most importantly, by practicing, and practicing, and practicing some more! Always keep a pen and camera nearby. You never know when inspiration will hit. I always seem to get great ideas at two or three o’clock in the morning, or I see a great scene for a painting while I’m waiting for my kids at soccer practice.
Enjoy the Process Most importantly, don’t take yourself too seriously! Learn to enjoy the process. It’s not always about the results. It’s only canvas, paint, or paper. Today's failures may be tomorrow’s success.
| Because Art is Community in Motion
Donna Boudakian, Founder and CEO of Mobile Masterpieces, Inc 
 Operating in the Metro Atlanta area, Mobile Masterpieces Inc. is literally a moving art studio. We travel to the location of our client’s choice, provide all art supplies and inspiration needed to allow an individual or group to create a personalized or unique painting, and we take care of all set up and clean up. Everyone gets a 16 X 20 acrylic canvas, and three hours later, has a dry masterpiece of his or her very own. We specialize in step-by-step, personalized instruction so that each person can feel successful.
 Our events reach all ages—from 7 to 107! We do birthday parties, ladies’ nights out, senior enrichment, and not-for-profit work for those in the community who may be ill or in need. Part of our philosophy also reaches those who feel that they simply “cannot paint.” We believe there is no such thing as a “perfect” painting and that the inherent therapy of art can reach anyone. Emotions are often conveyed in produced art, and, while most of our events are happy in nature, we often encounter pain, sadness, and depression as the paint reaches the heart of each artist and releases the colors of their lives.
Mobile Masterpieces is about a journey of creativity and community. We can relive the hundreds of lives we have touched in the photos of our events, but, more importantly, our clients can relive those moments of success with a brush and canvas each time that “thought to be impossible” painting is viewed.
Until Next Time…Live, Laugh, Love & Paint!
| swensonart.net I am often asked how I begin my Continual Line Contour Drawings. I usually start at the top and work my way down on the left side, and back up on the right side. I am conscious of not closing in the entire subject. It is important to leave open edges.  Keeping open edges allows the eye to move in and through the drawing freely. In the sketch you will notice a dot where I began and where I finished. Once I put the pen on the paper, I don't lift it until the drawing is finished. The image becomes a little distorted but I think that is part of its charm. In the photograph I show the still life set-up, then the contour drawing, and the final stage with watercolor. This is a demonstration of how I use watercolor with a continual line contour drawing. I use Tombow pens for the drawing because they are filled with water-based ink that dissolves nicely when I paint watercolor over it. The color I prefer is a burnt sienna. Another reason I like to use these pens is because the drawing is less prominent than it is with waterproof pens. This is a wonderful warm-up exercise.  Happy Painting!
Brenda
Swenson Walter Foster Books By Brenda Swenson Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook Steps to Success in Watercolor Discover Watercolor Sketching | French origami artist Erik Joisel created these figurines from one square piece
of paper each, with no cutting, tearing, or pasting.
The ancient Japanese art of origami has been transformed from folding simple cranes and jumping frogs into a folding intricate, detailed works of art that are nothing short of engineering genius. It?s hard to believe that some of the animals, dragons and human likenesses created by the world?s top origami masters today are folded from a single paper square, with no tearing, cutting, or pasting?but believe it or not, the rules of origami have remained intact. Origami is as much a science as it is an art. It is possible, claim the origami masters, to create any and every shape with origami. Of course trial and error will not render such complex designs. Mathematics, including but not limited to geometry, and engineering are the keys to creating these beautiful creations. Several theoretical scientists have been focusing their energy on origami and how it can explain world. As a sheet of paper is transformed so dramatically without cutting or pasting, scientists ask what this means in terms of other planes. A 22-year-old MIT professor, Erik Demaine, received a MacArthur Fellowship?also known as the ?genius? grant?in 2003 for his ideas about the practical applications of folding. He concludes that protein folding will someday be used to stop diseases from destroying the body. Some artists are going another direction with origami, creating minimalist paper forms. Others are folding geometric masterpieces, changing and moving origami, crumpled paper origami, and even one fold only origami. To learn more about contemporary origami and the science behind it?and see some truly amazing works of art?watch the PBS documentary, ? Between the Folds.? The film features 10 artists and scientists who are revolutionizing the way we think about origami. If you would like to try your hand at origami, this site has folding instructions for more than 400 different models. Monks by Giang Dinh
Dragon by origami master Satoshi Kamiya. He started folding paper at age two.
| Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be an artist. I always drew well, and my father, a third generation artist, encouraged my aspirations. I continued to pursue art throughout high school, but after graduating, I realized that neither my parents nor I could afford a formal art education. So I did what I had to do; I got a job and went to work. Art became a distant memory as I moved on with my life, married, and had four children. I used my artistic talents around my home—decorating and redecorating—but knew there was always something missing from my life. After a close friend showed me a painting he had done, I decided to once again try my hand at fine art. I had never painted before, so I grabbed the cheapest and most practical thing in the art store, which was acrylic paints (oil paint didn’t make sense with four small kids in the house, and my lack of free time). I did my first painting, and saw that this might be something that would let me express all those creative ideas that had been dormant for the last 10 years. I continued to paint as often as I could, and tried to increase my knowledge by reading anything and everything I could get my hands on. I used experimentation, and trial and error to hone my talents. As my confidence increased, I joined a local art group, and had some success in their shows. Next I began entering competitions that I found in art publications. There too, my success grew. Now after 15 years of painting, I can say that I have shown my work all over the United States and have had many solo exhibitions. As a figurative realist, I have found myself alone when it comes to the use of acrylic instead of oil paint, but it works best for me. Now go discover the ways to express your creative side that work for you. You may end up with a brush in your hand and a masterpiece on your canvas. |
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