Andre Lucero: Plein Air Impressionist Artist

Back by popular demand, renowned impressionist artist Andre Lucero will be demonstrating his Plein Air techniques for creating “seascapes”.  This will be his second time holding a paint demonstration at our Laskin Road gallery.  Most of Mr. Lucero’s beautiful work is mostly comprised of Plein Air landscapes, still-life, and figurative painting.

Mr. Lucero is one of the many fine artists we represent, and we encourage anyone who is in the area to come by and look at the many works we have on display. He shows so much movement in his work, and the lighting that he uses on some of his subject matter is quite dramatic. It reminds me of the Chiaroscuro technique that great artists, like Rembrandt and Peter Paul Rubens, used.

Here is an article from the Richmond Magazine if you are interested in learning more about Andre Lucero.

The demonstration will be held at 1217 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. If you are in the area and would like to attend the event, then please call us at (757)305-9411 to reserve a spot. Seats are limited so be sure to book ASAP.

30th Street Burnell/McLauchlin Event

This past Saturday (January 17^th, 2015) our 30^th Street gallery held an event in honor of two local artists of the Hampton Roads, Virginia area, Robert Burnell and Thomas McLauchlin. It was such a pleasure getting to know both of these gentlemen and learning a little of their history.

Thomas McLauclin (left) Robert Burnell (right)

Both are Portsmouth, VA natives. To learn more about Robert Burnell and see more of his work Go Here. Also to learn more about Thomas McLauclin and see more of his work Go Here. This will give you an idea as to what you will find at our 30th Street gallery in Virginia Beach if you are ever in the area and would like to stop by.

There was a huge turn out for this event! So many people were impressed with the various art works and jewelry we have to offer. I love going to these events and watching peoples reactions to the various sculptures and artwork. I’ve always felt that our 30th Street gallery is the perfect place to start for any first time art collector.

The Old Print Shop | New York City as Art or Imaging the City.

It’s always so interesting to see a progression of a state, or city, or country even. What is different now? What stayed the same? I would love to see this exhibition! The oldest painting is from 1671!! Wow!!

artlight

New York City as Art or Imaging the City. A spectacular exhibition containing prints and paintings from 1671 to contemporary artists using New York City in their art. The Old Print Shop, January 10 – February 7, 2015

The exhibition covers almost 350 years of art based on New York City as a theme. The earliest is Ogilby’s Novum Amsterodamum from 1671 and ends with images by a group of contemporary artists.

The earliest images of New York City, (then only Manhattan) date from the third quarter of the seventeenth-century. Very few were produced as there was not much here with the exception of a great natural harbor and a navigable river. During the eighteenth-century there are a few images of New York City produced and in interesting group of maps. The real romance of images of New York City begins with the Hudson River School era. So many…

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The Raku Ladies

So this is a post from a different blog that we have used, and I really think it’s something that is worth be blogging about here. It’s certainly a unique medium that I’ve never heard of until about a couple of months ago. One of our very own, Nathalie Graham from the 30th Street gallery at Virginia Beach.

These are so fun looking!

Here’s what she wrote:

“Our 30th Street Gallery has just received delightful new pieces: Martha Hayes’ “Raku Ladies”.  These original works are truly one of a kind, as the raku firing process never creates the same result twice. Martha explains how this works:

“The raku firing process began in Japan about 400 years ago. In this process the pots are taken from a red hot kiln (about 1800 degrees) and placed in a combustible material in a closed container, creating an oxygen-free atmosphere which sparks a chemical reaction called reduction. This reduction process creates metallic effects on the surface of the pots. During the reduction all of the available oxygen molecules in the atmosphere, clay and glazes are used to create combustion. Therefore the carbon left in the atmosphere seeps into the unglazed areas on the pot turning the clay black.

“The raku process is affected by many variables – changes in the atmosphere during the firing, speed of reduction and the type of combustible material used, to name a few. The effects are spontaneous and immediate and never the same”.”

“Good Game” Sculpture for Local Park in Virginia Beach, VA

Commissioned Bronze Sculpture by Master Sculptor Richard Stravitz

Master Sculptor Richard Stravitz was commissioned by the Kempsville Pony League for the creation of the bronze sculpture “Good Game”. This sculpture characterizes a young baseball player in an old fashioned pinstriped baseball uniform and stirrup socks. The figure poses as if indicating a high five after a good game. This sculpture is featured in the Hampton Roads section of the Virginia-Pilot. To read the article Click Here.

10 things that being an artist taught me last year

This is some great food for thought for all you artists out there, no matter what medium you choose!

Last year around this time I wrote a list of 10 things that being an artist taught me in 2013, and many of those things ring so true today too. Things like, “Your fingers can create more than you think they can” and “A creative community is incredibly beautiful and worth cultivating…”

This year, I feel like I’m building on these things and adding a few more to the list as well.
Such as:

• Ask for the things you would like. Dreams require a little boldness and a lot of follow through.
• Practice the habits that help your creativity.
• When you feel trapped by the expectations that are put on your work (by yourself or others) change it up – pronto.
• Rest. Creativity has a hard time working in a tired mind.
• The first thing you have to do is pick up the brush. Then, make as many mistakes…

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