Year: 2015

Artist Opportunities #296

Paradox I by Art League printmaking instructor Nancy Aldrich-Wolf.
Paradox I by Art League printmaking instructor Nancy Aldrich-Wolf.

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

Two Torpedo Factory opportunities

Visiting Artist Program deadline: January 29, 2016. Applicants may apply for a 1, 2, 3, or 4-month summer residency at the Torpedo Factory, June through September. More information about the Visiting Artist Program

Annual Jury deadline: January 29, 2016. Each spring the Torpedo Factory Artist Association conducts its annual jury for new Torpedo Factory Artists. More information about the jury process

Virginia artists

Deadline: March 16, 2016. Art Speaks on the Bay is held in Mathews, VA and is open to all Virginia artists age 18 and up. More about this exhibit

Re-runs: The announcements below have appeared here previously, but their deadlines still haven’t passed:

 

Photography exhibit (1)

Deadline: November 18. For “Simply” at the Center for Fine Art Photography, photographers are asked to capture the everyday in an extraordinary way. All subject matter accepted. All capture types and photographic processes are welcome. More about this exhibit →

Photography exhibit (2)

Deadline: November 19. The Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico to enter its 5th annual Focal Point, an open-juried all photography competition. Following exhibition guidelines, any original 2-D or 3-D work created in any form of photography will be considered. More about Focal Point →

Vivid: Abstract Expressions

Deadline: November 30. This exhibit at ArtSpace Falls Church is an all-media, juried show open to all artists. The theme is “Vivid: Abstract Expressions.” For more information, see page 2 of the catalog.

Wearable art

Deadline: November 30. The Spartanburg (SC) Art Museum is seeking fashion designers, jewelry artists, wearables artists, and textile/fiber artists to submit 3–5 images of their original work for consideration in Contextile, a live event to be held in Spartanburg Art Museum’s main gallery on Saturday, January 16. More about Contextile (PDF) →

Alexandria installations

Deadline: December 11. Up to ten artists or groups will be selected to create installation work over the course of approximately 90 days within vacant, commercial properties throughout Alexandria, VA. Artists will be paid a commission of $2,500-$5,000 per project. Installation art is used in the broadest sense. We are looking for innovative, compelling, and community-inclusive work. All mediums, styles, and collaborations including those not necessarily associated with installation artwork will be considered. Group submissions are encouraged. There is no fee to submit. More about this opportunity (PDF) →

Howard County Arts Council

Deadline: January 1, 2016. General exhibition applications for Howard County Arts Council galleries are reviewed on a quarterly basis. All artists ages 18 and over are eligible to apply. More about HCAC general exhibitions (PDF) →

Drop-off: January 7, 2016. For the HoCo Open 2016 exhibit, all artists in Howard County are eligible. More about HoCo Open 2016 →

Fairfax County Artists

Deadline: January 6, 2016. The Arts Council of Fairfax County is pleased to announce the annual Strauss Artist Grant program for individual artists. Artists in all disciplines including visual arts, creative writing, theatre, dance performance, choreography, film, new media, music composition, and music performance are eligible to apply. More about the Strauss Artist Grants →

The Cube

Deadline: January 18, 2016. The Cube is an experimental and installation space programmed by Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, NC. The space, a roughly 20×20′ box, is equipped with several electrical outlets and track lighting. More about the Cube →

Artist Opportunities

What Art Class Should I Take?

With registration now open for classes at The Art League, there’s no better time to catch the creativity bug. If you’re wondering what kind of class to take next, or ready to take the plunge for the first time ever (congrats!), it can be hard to know where to start.

So we made a quiz to help you!

Take it below, and click on your final result to go to the list of classes in that category. (Or go on your own search.) If you need some more personalized guidance on which class is for you, contact our School office and we’ll be happy to help (703-683-2323 / [email protected]).

 

Search the full catalog here!

Art Classes, Artful Resources

A Tip-Top Art on Tap

david-carter-painting chadwicks greenland

The second annual Art on Tap has come and gone, and with it a sold-out crowd of people who love art, beer, and food!

There were seven combinations of craft beer, appetizer, and artwork to sample, plus 14 works by video artists and a killer set by the band Greenland.

aot-video-1 aot-video-2 aot-video-3

Samples of the night's video art.
Samples of the night’s video art.

At the end of the night, everybody voted on their favorite art-beer-food pairings. The Judges’ Choice Award went to Fair Winds Brewing Company and the Light Horse Restaurant, and Brothers Craft Brewing and RedRocks won the Popular Vote Award!

RedRocks and Brothers reps with their trophy.
RedRocks and Brothers reps with their trophy.
A closeup of the trophy by Torpedo Factory artist Lisa Schumaier.
A closeup of the trophy by Torpedo Factory artist Lisa Schumaier.

Thank you to everyone who came out, and we’ll see you for Art on the Rocks on April 29, 2016! Click here to join our email list if you haven’t already.

  • The breweries & restaurants: Brothers, Devils Backbone, Fair Winds, Hardywood Park, Heavy Seas, Port City, Starr Hill, Carluccio’s, Chadwicks, King Street Blues, the Light Horse, Pizzeria Paradiso, RedRocks, and Virtue Feed & Grain.
  • The artists: David Carter, Mike Francis, Scott Hutchison, Steve Prince, Beverly Ryan
  • The video artists: James Bayard, Laura Callier, Sasha Gransjean, Michele Grassani, Mike Hyman, Kathleen Mallaney, George Miller, Christopher Wallauer, and Joan Woodill. Laura Callier won Best in Show for Computer Love.
  • The band: Greenland

photo-booth pizzeria-paradiso laura-callier-video giraffe greenland-band

Events

Watching (& Sketching) the John Singer Sargent Talk

For anyone who missed last week’s lecture on John Singer Sargent, given by scholar Richard Ormond, we have good news! The video of the entire presentation is now online. It was a sold-out event — our thanks to all who came!

And here’s another treat: one attendee shared sketchbook notes from the evening! We loved this sketch on C. Dumaine’s Black Elephant Blog, shared here with permission.

Credit: C. Dumaine's Black Elephant Blog
Credit: C. Dumaine’s Black Elephant Blog
Events

Arts Programs for Service Members

A woodcut by Printmakers, Inc. member Patrick Sargent, a leader of many art workshops for service members.
A woodcut by Printmakers, Inc. member Patrick Sargent, a leader of many art workshops for service members.

Here at The Art League, we’re very proud of our IMPart program, which provides hands-on art experiences to injured military personnel. (More about IMPart.)

On Veteran’s Day, we wanted to share other organizations and programs that do similar work, locally and across the country. In addition to the visual arts, there are programs in writing and performing arts serving varying groups including veterans, current service members, their families, and caregivers.

  • Studio 296 in Arlington provides studio space, workshops, and resources free of charge to all current and former members of the US Armed Forces.
  • The Armed Services Art Partnership is based in Virginia but works all over the country with programs in writing, music, and comedy.
  • The Veterans Writing Project, based in DC, provides no-cost writing seminars and workshops for veterans, active and reserve service members, and military family members.
  • GI Film Festival, based in Alexandria, is a film festival dedicated to sharing the military experience. Anyone can submit a short or feature-length film.
  • Combat Paper holds traveling papermaking workshops where veterans use their uniforms worn in service to create works of art.
  • The Vet Art Project provides opportunities for veterans, family, and friends to work with expressive arts therapists and creative media.
  • CAMMO (the Center for American Military Music Opportunities) out of Fort Belvoir provides music-related services including career development and auditions for veterans and service members.
  • Warrior Writers is a national nonprofit with programs including workshops, performances, and art exhibits.
  • The Veteran Artist Program “takes artists who are also veterans, and propels their works and careers into the mainstream creative arts community through networking, mentorships, collaborations with professional artists, and original productions.” It’s based in New York City but holds programs nationwide.
  • The Telling Project is a national performing arts non-profit that employs theater to deepen our understanding of the military and veterans’ experience.
  • The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, run through the Department of Veterans Affairs, starts with local competitions at VA centers.

Please let us know if we missed any!

Americans for the Arts is also compiling a directory of programs in the arts for service members, veterans, and their families.

Artful Resources

Artist Opportunities #295

Concrete Cover 3, photo collage by Art League instructor Rosemary Luckett.
Concrete Cover 3, photo collage by Art League instructor Rosemary Luckett.

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

Ceramic cups

Deadline: November 12. International Cup 2016, at the Clay Studio of Missoula, is an exhibition showcasing ceramic work that explores the infinite possibilities of the idea of a cup. More about International Cup →

Wearable art

Deadline: November 30. The Spartanburg (SC) Art Museum is seeking fashion designers, jewelry artists, wearables artists, and textile/fiber artists to submit 3–5 images of their original work for consideration in Contextile, a live event to be held in Spartanburg Art Museum’s main gallery on Saturday, January 16. More about Contextile (PDF) →

Alexandria installations

Deadline: December 11. Up to ten artists or groups will be selected to create installation work over the course of approximately 90 days within vacant, commercial properties throughout Alexandria, VA. Artists will be paid a commission of $2,500-$5,000 per project. Installation art is used in the broadest sense. We are looking for innovative, compelling, and community-inclusive work. All mediums, styles, and collaborations including those not necessarily associated with installation artwork will be considered. Group submissions are encouraged. There is no fee to submit. More about this opportunity (PDF) →

Torpedo Factory jury

Deadline: January 29, 2016. The Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association has announced the timeline for the 2016 jury. Becoming a member of TFAA is the first step to getting a Torpedo Factory studio. All artists working in fine arts and fine crafts are eligible. Fine crafts include such work as ceramics, textiles, jewelry, all kinds of sculpture, glass, film, video, and more. Read more on torpedofactory.org →

Artist Opportunities

Three New Exhibits For Your November

“Mini MAX”
“Mini MAX”

Mini MAX
Juried by Raye Leith
through December 1

Artistic Vision: Redefining the Picture Frame
Curated by William Adair
through November 29

We have three new exhibits this month at The Art League, including one that’s a bit different from our usual fare.

“Redefining the Frame”
“Redefining the Picture Frame”

“Artistic Vision: Redefining the Picture Frame” is curated by frame restorer, gilder, and general expert William Adair. It’s all about the relationship artists have with the frames that support, protect, and enhance their artwork.

And it’s interactive, too! You can try gilding (or covering in gold leaf) this partially finished frame:

redefining-the-frame-1

And what are these art supplies for? Well, you can gild and graffiti a special door for a project of William Adair’s. (More details on that later.)

graffiti-materials gold-leaf

Since it’s November, our other exhibit is celebrating large-scale work, small-scale work, and nothing in between. It’s called “Mini MAX,” and it’s incredible!

15 Tiny Papers by Nina Spangler
15 Tiny Papers by Nina Spangler
Thoughts in Confinement, mixed media, by Stana Benesova Kimball
Thoughts in Confinement (detail), mixed media, by Stana Benesova Kimball
Hide and Seek, mixed media, by Kay Walsh
Hide and Seek, mixed media, by Kay Walsh

How amazing are the exhibits this month? Come in and see them for yourself, and look for more of the story on this blog.

Exhibits

A Pottery Slam Success

Yes, you read that right!

Last Thursday, The Art League was privileged to host a Pottery Slam coinciding with the exhibition Pottery on the Hill.

What’s a pottery slam?

Mark, Dan and Sam explain their techniques and teach a group of over 70 eager learners at the Pottery Slam!

Posted by Pottery On The Hill on Thursday, October 29, 2015

Artists Dan Finnegan, Mark Shapiro, Sam Taylor, and our own Blair Meerfeld demonstrated on the wheel while everyone had some refreshments and asked questions. It was standing room only in the pottery studio!

Thanks to everyone who came out — we had a great time! Read more about Pottery on the Hill here.

Photo by Chip Beck
Photo by Chip Beck
News

Artist Opportunities #294

Painting by Art League instructor John Murray.
Painting by Art League instructor John Murray.

Our apologies for missing last week’s installment. Our blog is now up and running, so enjoy this extra-large opportunities post!

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

All Media

Deadline: November 7. Terrault Contemporary in Baltimore, MD is excited to announce its its first Juried Exhibition, “Special Combo.” All mediums will be considered, but must not exceed 60″ in any dimension. More about “Special Combo” →

Postcard exhibits

Deadline: November 9. Ugly Art Room, the roving curatorial art project, has moved from Brooklyn, NY to Corvallis, OR. For its inaugural Pacific Northwest exhibition, a postcard show (“Paradise”) will explore the theme of travel, place and presentation. More about “Paradise” →

Deadline: January 4, 2016. “Women Do It!” is a traveling postcard exhibit open to artists of all genders and ages. It is non-juried; all theme-related postcards will be accepted. This exhibit travels to the Torpedo Factory in February. More about “Women Do It” →

Howard County Arts Council

Deadline: January 1, 2016. General exhibition applications for Howard County Arts Council galleries are reviewed on a quarterly basis. All artists ages 18 and over are eligible to apply. More about HCAC general exhibitions (PDF) →

Drop-off: January 7, 2016. For the HoCo Open 2016 exhibit, all artists in Howard County are eligible. More about HoCo Open 2016 →

The Cube

Deadline: January 18, 2016. The Cube is an experimental and installation space programmed by Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, NC. The space, a roughly 20×20′ box, is equipped with several electrical outlets and track lighting. More about the Cube →

Re-runs: The announcements below have appeared here previously, but their deadlines still haven’t passed:

VMFA Fellowships

Deadline: November 6. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline. Only current legal residents of Virginia are eligible. More about the fellowships →

Public art

Deadline: November 8. The City of Alexandria, Virginia invites artists and artist teams to submit their qualifications to be considered for a public art project as part of the Simpson Park Playground and Passive Space Renovation. Read the Request for Qualifications →

Being Her Now

Deadline: November 9. What does it mean to be a woman in the twenty-first century? All forms of media will be considered for this exhibit at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD. More about this exhibit →

Photography exhibit

Deadline: November 18. For “Simply” at the Center for Fine Art Photography, photographers are asked to capture the everyday in an extraordinary way. All subject matter accepted. All capture types and photographic processes are welcome. More about this exhibit →

Photography exhibit

Deadline: November 19. The Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico to enter its 5th annual Focal Point, an open-juried all photography competition. Following exhibition guidelines, any original 2-D or 3-D work created in any form of photography will be considered. More about Focal Point →

Vivid: Abstract Expressions

Deadline: November 30. This exhibit at ArtSpace Falls Church is an all-media, juried show open to all artists. The theme is “Vivid: Abstract Expressions.” For more information, see page 2 of the catalog here.

Fairfax County Artists

Deadline: January 6, 2016. The Arts Council of Fairfax County is pleased to announce the annual Strauss Artist Grant program for individual artists. Artists in all disciplines including visual arts, creative writing, theatre, dance performance, choreography, film, new media, music composition, and music performance are eligible to apply. More about the Strauss Artist Grants →

Artist Opportunities

This Week: John Singer Sargent, Beer, and “Redefining the Frame”

It’s a busy week at The Art League! Don’t miss these upcoming events …

An Evening on John Singer Sargent with Richard Ormond

Thursday, November 5, 2015, 7:00 pm
Main Hall, Torpedo Factory Art Center
Registration is FULL but get on the waitlist!

An Out of Doors Study (detail), 1889
An Out of Doors Study (detail), 1889

Richard Ormond, former Director of London’s National Maritime Museum and former Deputy Director of London’s National Portrait Gallery, is also one of the world’s leading authorities on John Singer Sargent. Having written more than 30 books on the subject of his famous great uncle, Ormond will share anecdotes about and insights into the world of this leading portrait painter of the late 1800s.

​Exhibit: “Redefining the Picture Frame”

Curated by William Adair of Gold Leaf Studios​
November 5–29, 2015
The Art League Gallery

Bill Adair (courtesy Gold Leaf Studios)
Bill Adair (courtesy Gold Leaf Studios)

​​Frame conservator, historian, and master gilder, William Adair​ ​began his career in frame conservation at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. His special exhibit at The Art League Gallery features a collection of frames created by 19th and early 20th century artists and examines their increasing interest in how their art would be framed and displayed. Discover how artists looked to each other and to a number of art movements to develop designs that would become extensions of the artwork.

November 6: Art, Beer, and Food at Art on Tap

When: Friday, November 6, 7:00-10:00 pm
Where: The Art League Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center
Tickets: $45. Must be 21+ to attend. Click here to purchase.

Art on Tap at The Art League

Seven craft beers from seven local breweries have been artfully paired with a work of art from an Art League instructor. Local restaurants have chosen a brew/artwork coupling to serve as their muse to create the perfect complementary appetizer. Enjoy the numerous brew, bite, and artwork trifectas on Friday, November 6 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at The Art League’s second annual Art on Tap event.

Events

Michelle Obama on IMPart!

It’s not every day the First Lady mentions you in a speech!

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Prince Harry toured Ft. Belvoir. Jon Meadows had his artwork on display at the USO Center, and, well, here’s what happened next:

Michelle Obama: “Earlier today, I caught up with one of those tremendous caregivers who I’ve gotten to know over the years.  Her name is Melissa Meadows.  And her husband Jon sustained severe brain and nerve injuries in Afghanistan almost three years ago.  And his injuries were so serious that one of his doctors described him as an ‘advanced Alzheimer’s patient.’

Melissa, like so many in this room, dropped everything.  She left her job as a nurse and cared for Jon full time, helping him in and out of bed, managing the family’s finances, managing Jon’s medication, all of his appointments, and so much more.  And while she was supporting her husband, Melissa started supporting other caregivers as well.  She helped organize a network to help other caregivers share information and ideas here at Fort Belvoir. …

And today, with Melissa’s support, her husband Jon continues to recover.  I got a chance to spend some time with them and saw his amazing art work — another incredible therapy that is happening here at Fort Belvoir.

So it’s just amazing to see. It’s been amazing to keep up with their story. And as all of you can imagine, recovery, it’s a long road. There are starts and stops. There are good days and bad.  But Melissa, Jon, they are fighters, just like all of you.  Jon has made incredible progress. And as I said, through the art therapy program with the USO and The Art League, he’s unlocked this amazing talent for sculpture and painting that he didn’t even know existed. I actually commissioned him to do a piece for the President’s Christmas present from me, so please don’t tell him. Jon even has his own pop-up art exhibition in Alexandria.”

Thank you to Mrs. Obama for your support of the IMPart program, and good choice on your Christmas present! Read her full remarks here. For more about IMPart, click here.

News

Energy Through Line: A Q&A with Guy Jones

Resurrection, pen and ink on gesso board, by Guy Jones
Resurrection, pen and ink on gesso board, by Guy Jones. Sold.

The Torpedo Factory recently lost two longtime resident artists. Friend and fellow artist Guy Jones has memorialized them in this three-foot high drawing, which happened to be selected as Best in Show by the juror for this months’ “Superstition & Belief” exhibit.

We asked the artist to tell us about his chosen medium — pen and ink — and the inspiration for this piece, his largest to date:

How would you describe Resurrection?
Resurrection is a vision. It’s a view into the other side: what lies beyond this realm. It is “other worldly.”

What was the inspiration for this piece? What was your goal?
I was not inspired; I was shown. The image hit my brain like a bolt of lightning. I found out after three days of rough sketching that a fellow artist friend had passed away the day I had this vision, and that my artist studio mate was dying (and passed away three days later). They are both present in this piece.

My goal was to share this vision. Bob is the frog and Marcel is the beetle. This image was a gift from them.

Resurrection by Guy Jones (detail)
Resurrection by Guy Jones (detail)

What does the winged tree represent to you?
The winged tree came before anything else was conceived. It represents rebirth. When I look at that tree, I see the doorway to the “other side.” There is this old tree next to the path at Huntley Meadows Park that captivates me and perhaps inspired my vision.

Why are you an illustrator? What keeps you coming back to drawing?
I was wired to draw.

I have illustrated but do not consider myself an illustrator. I draw. I draw energy through line. I have always loved pen & ink, don’t know why. I really prefer black & white.

“When it’s done, it can really surprise me. I like that.”

Can you elaborate on the idea of “energy through line”?
You see, everything is energy, has spirit. I draw the energy behind the image. I just happen to use pen & ink (line) to express this energy.

What tools did you use to create Resurrection?
Resurrection is “straight up” pen & ink on gesso wood panel. That’s it.

I use Micron pens. They are felt tip but use archival ink.

When are you most happy, creatively?
Pieces rarely end up the way they start. I go into it pretty loosely. When it’s done, it can really surprise me. I like that.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am a Torpedo Factory Artist on the 3rd floor in Studio 329. I’m gearing up for the holiday season. I plan on making larger pieces in the near future. “Resurrection” is the largest piece I have done. I usually work fairly small.

Why is this piece the largest you’ve done?
Well, I had this large panel for a while but was more comfortable working smaller. Then I had the vision and I knew I had to use the large panel.

First came the tree. Everything else just followed. That’s usually how it goes.

Artist Interviews

Save $10 on Art on Tap Tickets (Ends Today!)

Art on Tap

Do you enjoy art? Beer? Food? How about all three?

We’ve invited seven breweries and seven restaurants to pair their beers and original appetizers with seven works of art by Art League artists.

At the second annual Art on Tap, you can try all seven triplets and vote for your favorite. We’ll also have live music and video art to enjoy.

Tickets are only $35 for a limited time! Buy your ticket by Friday, October 23 to take advantage of this early bird deal before the price rises to $45.

Buy tickets on Eventbrite

Art on Tap participants

 

News

What is Sgraffito?

Student work from past Sgraffito and Granito workshops taught by Bill Adair.
Student work from past Sgraffito and Granito workshops taught by Bill Adair.

Sgraffito & Granito Workshop
Friday, November 13, 2015

Next month, master gilder and frame historian Bill Adair is opening up his Gold Leaf Studios for a special Art League workshop. The technique he’ll be teaching is one that’s not familiar to many modern artists, though it’s been around for hundreds of years.

sgraffito: (Italian) scratched away

Sgraffito is used to refer to any technique where a surface is scratched to reveal what’s underneath. Ceramics artists may recognize it as a surface decoration technique. In framing, it dates back to the Renaissance, which is when this frame, now at Gold Leaf Studios, was made:

Sgraffito stars

See those gold stars against the blue? That’s sgraffito. First, the frame is gilded (covered with gold leaf). Then, it’s painted over with tempera paint — in this case, blue. When the paint is dry enough, it’s scratched away with a tool to reveal the gold again. Watch how in this video (the scratching starts at about 2:30):

And what about the other part of the workshop, the granito?

granito: (Italian) grained, made grainy

Another traditional frame decoration technique from Italy, granito is all about creating texture, using punches, stamps, and other tools. You can read more about both these techniques in this article by Bill Adair in Picture Framing Magazine.

Art Classes

Artist Opportunities #293

Painting by Art League sumi-é instructor Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz
Painting by Art League sumi-é instructor Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

Artomatic 2015 last chance!

Deadline: first come, first served. Don’t miss your chance to participate in Artomatic 2015, opening October 30! Read the registration guide here, and check out this helpful blog post on How to Sell at Artomatic.

Wings

Deadline: October 26. This exhibit at ArtSpace Falls Church is an all-media, juried show open to all artists. The theme is “Wings.” For more information, see page 2 of the catalog here.

Craft sale

Deadline: October 28. All Crafts Considered is NPR’s annual arts and crafts event. More about All Crafts Considered →

Public art

Deadline: November 8. The City of Alexandria, Virginia invites artists and artist teams to submit their qualifications to be considered for a public art project as part of the Simpson Park Playground and Passive Space Renovation. Read the Request for Qualifications →

Photography exhibit

Deadline: November 18. For “Simply” at the Center for Fine Art Photography, photographers are asked to capture the everyday in an extraordinary way. All subject matter accepted. All capture types and photographic processes are welcome. More about this exhibit →

Vivid: Abstract Expressions

Deadline: November 30. This exhibit at ArtSpace Falls Church is an all-media, juried show open to all artists. The theme is “Vivid: Abstract Expressions.” For more information, see page 2 of the catalog here.

Artist Opportunities

Some Spaces Remaining for Andrew Wyeth Studio Trip

Geraniums by Andrew Wyeth. Cover image: The Carry by Andrew Wyeth.
Geraniums by Andrew Wyeth. Cover image: The Carry by Andrew Wyeth.

See where one of the great American artists of the 20th century lived and worked!

You can sign up for this trip through Thursday, October 22 at 5:00 pm. For more information and to register, contact Travel Workshop Coordinator Margaret Cerutti: 703-683-1780 x 13 or [email protected].

Day Trip
Monday, October 26, 2015
Andrew Wyeth’s Studio, the Brandywine River Museum and Kuerner’s Farm

Originally purchased in 1911, the 18 acre property on the Brandywine was acquired by Andrew Wyeth’s father, N.C. Wyeth, with the proceeds from his illustrations for Treasure Island. It has since served as endless inspiration for a family of extraordinary creativity

A private motorcoach will take you from the Torpedo Factory Art Center to the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania to view the Museum’s art collection and receive guided tours of Andrew Wyeth’s studio and neighboring Kuerner’s Farm.

After a small breakfast, the bus will depart from the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 7:15 am. The group should arrive back in Old Town about 7:00 pm.

Cost: $105 per person
Includes: Breakfast snacks, round-trip transportation by private motorcoach, entrance passes to the Museum, Wyeth’s Studio and Kuerner’s Farm, and guided tours of the Studio and Kuerner’s Farm

For the full slate of travel workshop in 2015–16, click here.

Travel Workshops

Visiting Gold Leaf Studios

Gold Leaf Studios

Yesterday, we took a trip to Gold Leaf Studios to see the workshop firsthand — a veritable theme park of frames and framing history located in Dupont Circle.

Gold Leaf is the studio and workshop of Bill Adair, a master framer, gilder, and frame conservator and historian:

Bill Adair (courtesy Gold Leaf Studios)
Bill Adair (courtesy Gold Leaf Studios)

This November, Adair is partnering with The Art League for two projects. First, he’s curating an exhibit on framing and art history in the 19th and 20th century, “Artistic Vision: Redefining the Picture Frame.” And on November 13, he’ll be teaching a workshop on Sgraffito and Granito, two traditional techniques for decorating frames. That workshop will take place onsite at Gold Leaf.

The Gold Leaf Studios building was a carriage house in a former life. Once we arrived, we went upstairs, bypassing the workshop on the first floor. But of course, we still snuck a peek on the way out:

Gold Leaf Studios

Upstairs in the galleries, every wall was filled with examples of frames. And when we say filled, we mean it.

Gold-Leaf-Studios-1

That painting on the left, by the way, is by Abbott Thayer — the painter, teacher, and father of camouflage — and will be in November’s frame exhibit.

There are lots of goodies to take in at this studio, but we’ll share with you just one more of our favorites: this 15th-century Italian frame that shows off some sgraffito stars:

Gold Leaf Studios

To read more about this frame and see some student work from past Sgraffito/Granito workshops, read Bill Adair’s article in Picture Framing Magazine here.

Links:

Art Classes

What’s That Thing? Tortillons

Tortillons, up close.
Tortillons, up close.

Do you have a question about art supplies? Let us know in the comments or by contacting us here.

There are lots of cool things in art supply stores, including a fair number that might make you wonder, “what’s that for?”

At The Art League Store, staff members are working artists, so they can answer that question for you. For the inaugural edition of “What’s That Thing?”, we decided to tackle tortillons.

Tortillon

How’s it pronounced?

Tour-tee-ohn, roughly. (Note: if you ask for a “tortle-on,” the store clerk will still know what you’re looking for. We speak from experience.)

It’s French, meaning “something twisted.” Sometimes spelled tortillion, with an extra “i”.

What is it?

A short stick made from tightly rolled paper. You can see what they look like close-up at the top of the post.

What’s it for?

It can be used for blending graphite, charcoal, and pastel. Use it by rubbing and see the effect it has on your drawing. To clean it, you can use sandpaper (also sold in the store) or just grab a new one. They’re very inexpensive.

How’s it different from a blending stump?

They’re used for the same thing, but they have some differences. Tortillons are much smaller and have harder, scratchier paper. They’re made from a sheet of paper in a tightly rolled stick.

In contrast, blending stumps are molded from paper pulp and have a more “velvety” texture, as described to us by store clerk Chris Cardellino. Because they’re larger and stubbier, they’re better suited to large areas of blending, while tortillons can get into the detailed areas of your drawing.

How much are they?

At The Art League Store, they’re $1.20–1.30 for a pack of six (in either Small or Medium). Blending stumps come in a variety of sizes and range from $0.84–2.45.

You can also experiment with making your own: just cut out a trapezoid of scrap paper and roll it as tightly as you can.

tortillon

Artful Resources

Five Ceramics Instructors in “Strictly Functional”

Oval Teapot Adobe with Hollyhocks by Blair Meerfeld.

On view now in Lancaster, PA, the 2015 “Strictly Functional” is the 23rd edition of the big, annual juried exhibit.

And we’re pleased to share that five current and recent members of the ceramics faculty here at The Art League are part of it! Not a bad representation, don’t you think? Susan Cohen, Susan Greenleaf, Blair Meerfeld, Allison Severance, and Joan Ulrich are all featured, and Joan Ulrich also received a Purchase Award from the L&L Kiln Company for her Nesting Soup and Salad Bowls.

Congrats to the artists on their beautiful, functional work!

Nesting Soup and Salad Bowls by Joan Ulrich

The 23rd Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, juried by Matt Long, is on view through October 31, 2015 in Lancaster, PA.

News

Artist Opportunities #292

Washington, Medusa, Watson by Art League instructor Matt Pinney. 48” x 48”, oil on aluminum photographic print, 2013
Washington, Medusa, Watson by Art League instructor Matt Pinney. 48” x 48”, oil on aluminum photographic print, 2013.

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

VMFA Fellowships

Deadline: November 6. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline. Only current legal residents of Virginia are eligible. More about the fellowships →

Being Her Now

Deadline: November 9. What does it mean to be a woman in the twenty-first century? All forms of media will be considered for this exhibit at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD. More about this exhibit →

Photography exhibit

Deadline: November 19. The Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico to enter its 5th annual Focal Point, an open-juried all photography competition. Following exhibition guidelines, any original 2-D or 3-D work created in any form of photography will be considered. More about Focal Point →

Fairfax County Artists

Deadline: January 6, 2016. The Arts Council of Fairfax County is pleased to announce the annual Strauss Artist Grant program for individual artists. Artists in all disciplines including visual arts, creative writing, theatre, dance performance, choreography, film, new media, music composition, and music performance are eligible to apply. More about the Strauss Artist Grants →

 

Artist Opportunities

What’s New in the Gallery: Superstition, Belief, & Celebration

Nine paintings from “Each Day is a Celebration,” a 58-painting series by Sheila Harrington.
Nine paintings from “Each Day is a Celebration,” a 58-painting series by Sheila Harrington.

Are you superstitious?

Whatever your beliefs, we believe you’ll enjoy our new exhibits for October.

“Superstition & Belief,” juried by Joseph Cavalieri, is an exploration of the spiritual and the occult. Art League member artists brought a lot of strong work, some of which is getting us in the mood for Halloween:

The Seer, photograph by Nancy Howren
The Seer, photograph by Nancy Howren
They Keep Going Up, photograph by Roxanne Crouse
They Keep Going Up, photograph by Roxanne Crouse
The Church With No Flock by BD Richardson
The Church With No Flock, mixed media, by BD Richardson

This month’s solo exhibit is seasonal in a different sense. “Each Day is a Celebration” by Sheila Harrington documents a year in the world through the prism of small still lifes. Each painting shows the different foods, flowers, and drinks that graced the artist’s table over the course of a year. You can follow along from spring to summer to fall to winter, enjoying the different sight sensations as you go.

Sheila Harrington - Each Day is a Celebration

Both exhibits are open through November 1 (a Sunday, not a Monday as usual). Come see them! Our gallery hours and exhibit info can be found here.

Deconstructed Thurible; copper, brass, and silver; by Ryan Davis.
Deconstructed Thurible; copper, brass, and silver; by Ryan Davis.
Resurrection, pen and ink, by Guy Jones was awarded Best in Show.
Resurrection, pen and ink, by Guy Jones was awarded Best in Show.
Goddess, mixed media, by Denise Adler.
Goddess, mixed media, by Denise Adler.
Exhibits

How to Read a Tube of Paint

 

Paint labels, front and back

Do you have a question about art supplies? Let us know in the comments or by contacting us here.

It can be a little overwhelming, standing in front of a rack of artist paints. With dozens or even hundreds of colors to choose from, where do you start?

With the label, of course! While technically written in English (and sometimes Spanish and French too), they can sometimes be a little tough to decipher. But everything you need to know is there, from the pigments used to make the paint, to its archival qualities, to what kind of safety precautions, if any, you need to take.

If you ever need any help choosing or reading paint labels, The Art League Store is staffed by knowledgable, working artists who are there to answer your questions. Here’s our quick guide to finding what you need on paint tubes, front and back:

How to read paint tubes

About pigments: Different manufacturers have different “common” names for paints that use the same pigment. For example, Winsor & Newton’s “Winsor Lemon,” Golden’s “Hansa Yellow Light,” and Williamsburg’s “Permanent Yellow Light” all use PY3: Arylide Yellow, but you wouldn’t know that unless you peeked at the back of the label.

About lightfastness: Lightfastness lets you know how permanent (or archival) the paint will be: will the color look the same in a few years or does it lose its vibrancy or shift hues after periods of exposure to light or heat? The manufacturer has tested it for you so you don’t have a nasty surprise years down the road.

About series numbers: The higher the number (or letter), the higher the price. Why are some paints more expensive than others? It’s all about the pigments, which might be from organic sources or manufactured synthetically, and how much they cost the manufacturer.

Of course, these are just the basics — different products have many variables that may or may not be on the label, like opacity and transparency, how thick or thin the paint is (viscosity), and drying time.

Artful Resources

Artist Opportunities #291

Lollipop Tree rug by instructor Michael Heilman
Lollipop Tree rug by instructor Michael Heilman

Every Tuesday, we gather a variety of artist opportunities around the DC area and beyond. Find one below and enter today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

Artomatic 2015

Deadline: First come, first served. Artomatic 2015 is here! Find out how to participate by taking a look at the Registration Guide.

NC Residency

Deadline: October 10. Artspace in Raleigh, NC has two residency opportunities. Learn more about them here.

Environmental art

Deadline: October 16. “ecoPOP: Art” is a three-day Pop Up event.  Local artists will display and sell their artwork made from recycled materials  or with an environmental theme. More about the event →

Works With Paper

Deadline: October 24. The theme of the 6th Annual Sitar Arts Center Juried Exhibition is Works With Paper. Submissions must show the manipulation of paper in some form to change the identity or use of the paper to represent your concept or idea. Entrance categories are split into Youth, Young Adult, and Adult. More about the exhibit →

Historical DC art

Deadline: January 3, 2016. The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. invites all artists residing in the Washington metropolitan area to enter its 2016 For the Record juried exhibition and fundraiser. This call is for 2D artwork depicting Washington’s changing built environment. Artists agree to donate their work to the Historical Society if accepted. More about the exhibit →

Artist Opportunities