Day: January 17, 2012

Free Seminar for Artists and Other Opportunities

Lenny Campello posted this announcement for a free artist seminar on his blog. The Bootcamp for Artists will be hosted by Lenny and the Brentwood Arts Exchange on the afternoon of February 11. The seminar is free, but space is limited, so sign up and find more details here.

Also, Rebuilding Together Alexandria is looking for designs for a 25th anniversary T-shirt design contest. Details are on the home page of their website.

The rest of today’s opportunities for artists — including exhibitions, residencies, and fellowships — comes courtesy of FindArtInfoBank.com. See below for deadlines and details, and good luck!

Black & White, The Absence of Color – MN
Deadline: January 21, 2012. The Mpls Photo Center in Minneapolis, MN seeks entries for an international photography exhibition, March 9 – April 22, 2012. First Place – $400, Second Place – $300, Third Place – $200, and Three Honorable Mentions. Prizes and Awards include free exhibition book. Juror: Bevin Bering. Open to all photographers. Entries must be submitted online. $35 first 5 images, $10 each additional image. Visit website for details at: http://www.mplsphotocenter.com/exhibits/exhibit-competitions.php. Questions? Contact Abby Rutchick at [email protected] or 612-327-4197.

The Bowery Gallery 21th Annual Juried Competition 2012 – NY
Deadline: April 15, 2012. Juror: Lance Esplund, art critic. Entry deadline: April 15, 2012. National call. The exhibition will be held from July 31 – August 18, 2012, at the Bowery Gallery, 530 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001. (646) 230-6655. The online application and prospectus can be accessed at www.bowerygallery.org

Women: an Exhibition – MD
Deadline: January 31, 2012. What makes women awesome? Who are the amazing women you know? How have they impacted your life and work? What effect have they had on the world? This exhibition invites artists and designers of all genders to create work that celebrates the incredible women they have known, loved and been influenced by. It is a chance to recognize and pay homage to all that the women in our lives have contributed to us. By showcasing the work of female artists and designers, exhibiting work about women’s roles in industry and projects about women known personally (colleagues, family, friends, mentors, role models, etc.) this show will celebrate all the facets and roles of women in our lives. This exhibition is curated by Sarah McCann and presented in partnership with D:center Baltimore. For more information visit: www.sarahbmccann.com

Washington Calligraphers Guild: The Graceful Envelope Contest – DC
Deadline: Monday, April 30, 2012. Calligraphers and artists from around the world are invited to participate in the 18th annual Graceful Envelope Contest, conducted by the Washington (DC) Calligraphers Guild under the sponsorship of the National Association of Letter Carriers. The contest is open to all ages, with two separate categories for children. There is no entry fee. This year’s theme: “D-liver D-letter D-sooner D-better.” That familiar message has been taken to heart by letter carriers, who D-liver billions of pieces of mail each year. Your challenge is to D-sign a Graceful Envelope around something that begins with D. You could choose Daisies or Dragons, Dentistry or Dancing, Dreaming or Discoveries — any “D” word your heart D-sires — and address it artistically to: The Graceful Envelope Contest, Washington Calligraphers Guild, P.O. Box 3688, Merrifield, VA 22116. See the Call for Entries at www.calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html for complete rules.

Many more listings after the jump: Continue reading Free Seminar for Artists and Other Opportunities

Artist Opportunities

Q&A with Award Winner Jane Thomas

Last week, we brought you a conversation with photographer Sandy LeBrun-Evans about her award-winning print, Truck. Part of this month’s all-media show, Truck shares a wall with the other award-winner, The Thoughts. Jane Thomas’s first-place watercolor self-portrait won the Gallery Director’s Award. We asked her to tell us more about it.

The Thoughts by Jane Thomas, watercolor
"The Thoughts" by Jane Thomas

What is the inspiration for The Thoughts?
When I rest my chin in my hand and stare at the blank wall, I am often asked, “penny for your thoughts?” I decided to paint my first self-portrait that depicts the most familiar expression of mine.

Portraits are one of your favorite subjects. What goes into a successful portrait?
I feel I get more successful results when I choose a subject that intrigues me. This might be the reason I seldom work on commissioned portraits. While I alter the clothing or the hair of the model during the painting process, I think it is important to attain a likeness by striving to retain distinctive features of a subject. I also feel I am more successful when I paint spontaneously without overworking the piece.

Is this watercolor part of a series?
Not yet, but I will give serious thought to starting a series with The Thoughts. I believe that receiving the award for my first self-portrait on the first month of a new year must be a sign of good things to come.

You use mostly watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, and Sumi in your work. Why do you gravitate toward these mediums?
I am most familiar with these mediums because I used these every day working as an illustrator for over 30 years. I majored in oriental art, using and teaching Sumi for years; it became one of the most loved mediums of mine.

What is your creative process like?
I spend many hours studying and composing the subject I chose to paint. I experiment and practice with a various mediums and methods until I determine what I will use. Since I majored in oriental art in college, I am used to the many hours of practicing on newspaper before the final strokes or painting are done on rice paper. When I feel I’m ready, I prefer the final execution of the painting to be done rather swiftly and spontaneously.

What do you want the viewer to come away with?
I hope the viewers feel that I continuously experiment with materials or techniques to learn all that I can in order to develop something new and different. Ideally, I want them to enjoy the outcome.

Artist Interviews