Singular Focus: Variations on a Theme by Chuck Larivey

Virginia artist Chuck Larivey’s Singular Focus – Variations on a Theme collection is one to behold! Larivey is known internationally for his captivating use of translucent light in oil paintings. Specializing in vibrant atmospheric and water effects, Larivey has a fabulous new collection of koi fish and water lily paintings that we are excited to display at the Stravitz Fine Art Gallery on Laskin Road.

Larivey began painting koi and lilies in 2010, inspired by the koi fish at Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. He has always enjoyed painting flowers, and he quickly came to love the artistic freedom this subject allowed him in terms of colors, composition, size and scale. He also loves that this is a subject that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere in the world. Larivey has enjoyed having one “singular focus” to paint, as he feels this has allowed him to improve and perfect his new style of hyper-realism.

The artist has always been fascinated with light and reflective objects. Understanding light and color as one and the same comes naturally to him. In all his paintings, he follows light and expresses it through vibrant colors. In his koi and lily collection, this is especially apparent in the green lily pads whose color pops out of the dark water.

Chuck Larivey’s new collection will be on display at the Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Gallery on Laskin Road through the month of April until May 3^rd. Come and experience these beautiful new works!

Charles Kello: In His Own Words

Oil Painting of Norfolk Docks by Charles Kello

 

As dictated by Charles Kello

Oil Painting by Charles Kello

 

Charles W. Kello was born in the Ghent section of Norfolk on August 19th, 1942. The son of a terrific commercial artist, Charles W. Kello Jr. and “Myrt” his mother. He is the first child among five children, introduced to art at the age of nine. His dad stated that young Kello “Just never stopped painting”. Since then, he began to receive awards as early as age twelve and even now at age seventy-one. As a teenager, he was an illustrator for several printing companies, before photography was what it is now. In order to reproduce ships and buildings, they had to be painted in detail, the reduced before printing. This gave him a firm foundation for his painting.

Charles is proficient in drawing, watercoloring, oil and acrylic. He has devoted his later years exclusively to oils. He has mastered landscape, seascape, still-life, florals, and portraiture. Charles states that this is a “Feat rarely seen in any artist”. This statement was also made by Vincent Price who bought several paintings from Kello in 1963. The following year Kello had a one-man-show in New York on Madison Avenue, which was a total sell-out. Kello has paintings in collections around the world. He commented, “From South Africa to Alaska, I have been quite prolific and painted over 5,000 pictures”. As one collector said “I have been looking at one of the landscapes I purchased three years ago and I still have not found everything in it”. “Last Flight”, a painting by Kello, was acquired by the Norfolk Museum, now known as the Chrysler. Kello teaches classes in oil at his studio in Norfolk. That is my “little painting factory”. Richard Stravitz Gallery on 30th Avenue and Pacific Street is the exclusive agent for Mr. Kello’s work.

Opal is the Multi–gem

True words spoken by Anthologist Terri Guillemets. Opals have been around forever. Supposedly the Romans cherished this beautiful stone 200 years before Christ. The Roman historian, Pliny, characterized the opal in eloquent words “…for in them you shall see the living fire of the ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light”. I couldn’t agree more! Put an opal in the light and you have a whole array of different colors at every angle. It’s amazing how a gem can be so subtle and striking all at the same time.

Beautiful opal set ring by Brock Summs. Interested? It’s currently on display at our 30th Street Gallery. Call (757)961-7509 for more details

At our 30th Street gallery in Virginia Beach, VA, we just recently added a new jewelry artist to our family. Brock Summs is a Virginia Beach local who hand cuts his stones and then has them set in various rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. His work is quite remarkable!

And opals are not the only stones that he cuts. There are various other cuts and designs.

Wow!! Look at the face at the bottom stone!

We are very proud to show case Mr. Summs gorgeous art work at our 30th Street gallery. If you have any interest or questions of these beautiful treasures please call us at (757) 941-7905.

Anne–Marie Savino at our Stravitz 30th Street Gallery

“Virginia Beach in a Dolphin” by Anne-Marie Savino. The piece won 2 awards at The Old Coast Guard Station and Museum: “Best in Show” by Director of Exhibitions, MOCA- Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and The People’s Choice Award.

Anne–Marie Savino is an award winning artist from Virginia Beach. She has been passionate about drawing since she was a little girl. Looking at her work you would never guess that she was self-taught. Her work captures her emotions, mood, thoughts, and her feelings as well as the wide variety of experiences she has lived.

Her preferred medium is pen and ink.

Ms. Savino has quite a background! She is on of ten children/ Her childhood and youth were spent traveling all over the world with her family. She has lived in over 10 different countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where she experienced a wide range of cultures and languages.

We are proud to feature her work at our 30th Street Gallery in, Virginia Beach VA.

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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