Announcing: Live Figure and Head Painting Workshops with Alexey Steele this Winter

NOVOREALISM ART ACADEMY

Alexey Steele Grand Atelier Studio, Carson, CA

announces a figurative workshop series this winter:

"RUSSIAN ACADEMIC APPROACH TO HEAD AND FIGURE PAINTING"

Course Meets 8 Saturdays: January 7, 14, 28; February 4, 18, 25; March 3, 10

Please note new time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost of the course: $400 for 8 sessions (model fee is included)

Artists and Art students are invited. 

Please register early to reserve your spot.

workshop in process

Overview: The Objective of the workshop is to introduce the participants to Alexey Steele's approach to painting a figure, based on his legacy of Russian Academic Tradition. Alexey will focus on his approach to working with live model as well as describe a vital integrated relationship of Form, Tone and Color essential in a successful execution of any painting and particularly figure.  It shall encourage participants to study these three elements in depth after participation in the workshop.  

There are a substantially diverse number of wonderful approaches to conveying life-like visual image shared through various workshops, books and systems by some remarkable artists of our time. Some of them perceived as radically different from one another, yet in fact outside "techniques" they all convey same core principles. Those "integrating" principles behind various individual approaches will be the main theme of the workshop.

The central principle this workshop is intended to demonstrate and to train its participants in - is the key function of Value in connecting Form to Color. 
 

Classes consist of demo, live painting and critique.

List of the supplies will be send upon registration.

Please email Olga at classicalunderground@yahoo.com to sign up.  

 

Read an in-deph review of Alexey Steele workshop in

American Artist Workshop Magazine:

www.alexeysteele.com/Articles/AmericanArtist2010.pdf

   

 visit his website 

and gallery at http://americanlegacyfinearts.com/  

       

"Everyone knows what a powerful artistic force Alexey already is, but few, until this time, could have realized what a sensational and dynamic art instructor he makes as well."

- George Malone, workshop participant

Announcing: Live Figure Painting Workshops with Alexey this Fall

NOVOREALISM ART ACADEMY

Alexey Steele Grand Atelier Studio, Carson, CA

announces a figurative workshop series this fall:

"ACADEMIC APPROACH TO FIGURE PAINTING"

Course Meets 6 Saturdays: October 22, 29; November 12, 19; December 3, 10

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost of the course: $300 (model fee is included)

Artists and Art students are invited.

Please register early to reserve your spot. 

Overview: The Objective of the workshop is to introduce the participants to Alexey Steele's approach to painting a figure, based on his legacy of Russian Academic Tradition. Alexey will focus on his approach to working with live model as well as describe a vital integrated relationship of Form, Tone and Color essential in a successful execution of any painting and particularly figure. It shall encourage participants to study these three elements in depth after participation in the workshop.

There are a substantially diverse number of wonderful approaches to conveying life-like visual image shared through various workshops, books and systems by some remarkable artists of our time. Some of them perceived as radically different from one another, yet in fact outside "techniques" they all convey same core principles. Those "integrating" principles behind various individual approaches will be the main theme of the workshop.

The central principle this workshop is intended to demonstrate and to train its participants in - is the key function of Value in connecting Form to Color. 
 

Classes consist of demo, live painting and critique.

List of the supplies will be send upon registration.

Please email Olga at classicalunderground@yahoo.com to sign up.  

Water and Fire

Read an in-deph review of Alexey Steele workshop in

American Artist Workshop Magazine:

www.alexeysteele.com/Articles/AmericanArtist2010.pdf

My Public Commission for CSU Dominguez Hills

The unveiling of my new work “Learners of Dominguez: Howard, Jenika, Auburn, Chris, Ronald” - turned out an amazing  and personally inspiring experience. 

Here is some press about it::
http://www.csudhnews.com/2011/09/csu-dominguez-hills-unveils-final-commemorative-painting-for-50th-anniversary/

Newly Unveiled Artwork Captures the Soul of a Diverse Campus

The project carried a special significance to me as “Learners of Dominguez” represent to a very large degree my views on the role of ART in the contemporary society and on the direction of contemporary ART in the 21^st century. The painting is part of the NOVOREALISM project I launched and ideas I discuss with my friends in the web magazine www.novorealism.com

Painting Jenika and Auburn

Steele painted his work in a series of intense live sessions with the CSUDH students.

Filename: AlexeySteelepaintsJenika.jpg

Painting Auburn and Chris

Steele says that the emotional openness and engagement of the students made them "his co-authors."

Filename: SteelepaintsAuburnandChris.jpg

Painting Ronald

Ronald was the first person to see the finished painting as he was painted last.

Filename: AlexeySteelepaintsRonald.jpg

 
Official Unveiling with the President of CSUDH Millie Garcia

Official Unveiling with the President of CSU Dominguez Hills Millie Garcia at the Presidential Fall Convocation reception

Filename: AlexeySteeleArtUnveilingwithM.jpg

 
Millie Garcia and Alexey Steele with "Learners of Dominguez"

Official Unveiling with the President of CSU Dominguez Hills Millie Garcia at the Presidential Fall Convocation reception

Filename: AlexeySteeleArtUnveiling7969.jpg

"Learners of Dominguez" oil on canvas, 15" x 60"

Alexey Steele's new painting commissioned by CSU Dominguez Hills to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most diverse campuses in the nation.

Filename: ASteeleLearnersOfDominguez.jpg

Workshop at Tucson: The Legacy of Russian Academic Tradition and Integration Approach to Figure, From Form to Color through Value.

Join Alexey Steele, an internationally acclaimed award-winning artist and a Signature Member of California Art Club, as he will share his approach on working with figure based on his legacy of the Russian Academic Tradition.

February 9 - 11, 2012
Tucson Art Academy
Tucson, Arizona
http://tucsonartacademy.com/Alexey%20Steele/AlexeySteeleClass2012.htm

Overview: The Object of the workshop is to introduce the participants to Alexey Steele’s approach to painting a figure, based on his legacy of Russian Academic Tradition. Alexey will focus on his approach to working with live model as part of his execution of multi-figure composition as well as describe a vital in his view integrated relationship of Form, Tone and Color essential in a successful execution of any painting and particularly figure. It shall encourage participants to study these three elements in depth after participation in the workshop.

There are a substantially diverse number of wonderful approaches to conveying life-like visual image shared through various workshops, books and systems by some remarkable artists of our time. Some of them perceived as radically different from one another, yet in fact outside “techniques” they all convey same core principles. Those “integrating” principles behind various individual approaches will be the main theme of the workshop.
The central principle this workshop is intended to demonstrate and to train its participants in - is the key function of Value in connecting Form to Color.
 
First day is drawing all day, highlighting the importance of a drawing – from laying in the forms to values. Second day – same pose into painting, demonstrating the direct connection of core perceptions from drawing to painting and from Form to Color through Value. Demo of drawing and painting with critique.
 

Alexey Steele unveils three major works at two California Universities

All three new works represent an important step in Alexey's career depicting major themes of his figurative work and reflecting his deep beliefs on the role of ART within a contemporary society.

They also amply represent his method and philosophy that he describes in the web magazine www.novorealism.com as part of NOVOREALISM project he founded.

Monday, August 22nd, 2 - 4 p.m.

Alexey unveils his painting  

commissioned by CSU Dominguez Hills  

to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of this statistically one of the most diverse campuses in the nation.

  

The event will take place at the Fall Convocation reception in the Loker Student Union ballroom of CSUDH as part of the official convocation ceremony.  

All three new works represent an important step in Alexey's career depicting major themes of his figurative work and reflecting his deep beliefs on the role of ART within a contemporary society.

 They also amply represent his method and philosophy that he describes in the web magazine www.novorealism.com as part of NOVOREALISM project he founded.

On Monday, August 22nd, Alexey unveils his painting  

commissioned by CSU Dominguez Hills  

to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of this statistically one of the most diverse campuses in the nation.

  

The event will take place at the Fall Convocation reception in the Loker Student Union ballroom of CSUDH as part of the official convocation ceremony.  

 

"Learners of Dominguez: Howard, Jenika, Auburn, Chris, Ronald" features the likenesses of five of the university's students, from its oldest at 80, Howard Christiansen, to its youngest at 17, Auburn Hightower, along with Jenika Miller, Chris Barnette, and Ronald Farol.

Conceived as part of his ongoing "My Neighbor" series, Steele painted his work in a series of intense live sessions with the students whose emotional openness and engagement made them in his words "his co-authors". None of the painting was touched up after the sittings, resulting in what Steele says is a "live painting from first stroke to last". He said that through realism of such collective participation he wanted this 15-inch by 60-inch painting to capture the soul of the students, and as a result, the university, sharing live experience of the community.

  

 

 breaking canvas with Jenika and Auburn

                                   

          with Howard  

                                                                                                   painting Auburn and Chris on the same session
                                   
                                             to accommodate the desired natural day lighting the special set was constructed
                                   
                                                                                                     painting Ron
                                    
                                              posing last, Ron is the first one to see finished work and to capture it on his mac  

  

http://www.csudhnews.com/2011/08/csu-dominguez-hills-president-opens-2011-12-academic-year-with-convocation/

 http://news.wooeb.com/843973/ContactUs.aspx

  

  

  

                                                                                                     ***

Saturday, August 20, 7 p.m.

is an opening reception at

Kwan Fong Gallery of California Lutheran University

for a group exhibition

The New Romantic Figure 

 

The show includes works by:

Michael Lynn Adams, Peter Adams, Jeremy Lipking, Cyn McCurry,
Michael Pearce, Tony Pro, and Mia Tavonatti

As part of this exhibition Alexey presents a painting and a large-scale figurative cartoon drawing.

Both works are portraying real people and function as portraits within meaningful settings where the "realness" of the characters emphasizes the metaphoric context of the works. Alexey calls them "painted songs."

 

"Madonna of The Storm: Unia and Wolf. The Storm is Coming"  80" X 36" oil on canvas - is a commissioned portrait executed on site live for a client in the span of ten days of non-stop live painting sessions. It is painted in San Juan, Puert Rico on an approach of the hurricane Earl of 2010 and is presented to the public for the first time.

  

  

                                            

The living room of client's house, situated just one block from the beach with the help of the staff was transformed into a fully functioning painting studio.

                             
                     this type of live work is wholly dependent on the complete participation and dedication of the models

                   

                                        
                                                     live and life-size multi-figure painting is quite an intense sport

The work was conceived as "Madonna of The Storm" several weeks prior to artists' arrival, yet the appearance of a full-throttle Caribbean hurricane, first in a season, in the middle of executing the work obviously could not have been anticipated.

As the massive storm was gathering over island which was franticly bracing itself for the onslaught of nature, Alexey was happily taking his models to the beach for studies.

 

                                                                                                          ***

"Rising: Jaboy, Christian, Derron, Michael, Luis"   100" X  80" charcoal, pastel pencils, mixed media on paper - is a cartoon, a full scale drawing study for a painting, that Alexey is working on in various stages since 2003.  

 

  

It represents an insuppressible force of the human spirit in the face of the power of a totalitarasing and corrupt society. It centered around live-studying of the authentically diverse  characters of modern day fighters, juxtaposing their personal identities and straggle to the consumerist dictatorship through undue political influence of monopolistic corporate brands and financial conglomerates.

 

each figure was studied in live drawing sessions with central characters of the work 

 

 from the live studies the figures  were developed    

  

  

Each meaningful "load-bearing" element was meticulously researched, fabricated  or staged

 

in the great "battle of brands" ART always wins

IN ART WE TRUST!  

  

  

  

  

  

Artists' reception:         

 Saturday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

  We look forward seeing you all!

  

Admission is free. Located in Soiland Humanities Center, the Kwan Fong Gallery is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Street parking is by permit only Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitor parking is available in the parking lots on Mountclef Boulevard north and south of Olsen Road.

Sponsored By Lois and Allan Friedman Family Foundation and the CLU Art Department

  

  

  

  

http://www.callutheran.edu/news/news_detail.php?story_id=7734

http://blogs.callutheran.edu/kwanfong/2011/07/13/new-romantic-figure-painting/

  

  

  

  

  

We look forward seeing you all!

  

check out alexey steele's blog,  

 visit his website 

and gallery at www.americanlegacy.com  

 

Atlanta Encounter: Eddie – A Smile of A Righteous Life

The Portrait Society Of America conference was a total blast of hanging out with great friends, some best and most exciting living artists pushing the noble figurative realism to were it belongs in our century.

 

Yet, the most incredible part of the excursion was an accidental meeting with Eddie Tigner at Atlanta’s Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Upon digging up a tip on this perfectly authentic spot our rowdy gang that included Scott Burdick, Jeremy Lipking, Tony Pro, Romel De La Torre headed there right after Face Off Demos.

 

We came just for great ribs, but found something even more extraordinary. A great band was playing blues with wonderful sax player from France Raphael Imbert joining in; yet what absolutely struck me was the keyboard player. His demure statue set a perfect contrast to the unbound kindness of Spirit pouring out of his glistering eyes. It was Eddie. He turned out to be 85 years young and there was the whole wall of Fat Matt’s plastered with his photos and portraits, as he has been playing with bands there for the last 25 years and still going strong every Thursday. We just were that lucky to turn up there at his night. Incredibly, he is the only person I’ve met so far for whom the smile is not a temporary muscle function, but a “basic skull structure.”

 

In a rat chase world of ours Eddie is Nature’s iconic rendition of Genuine Kindness. He is a Generous Soul who lived his life right. His secret? “If you ain’t loving it, it ain’t worth doing.”

 

It was deepest honor and joy that incomparable Eddie agreed to pose for me and Jeremy right there in the Fat Matt’s next morning.  Jeremy had to get back to the conference, but I was enormously fortunate to spend the whole day with Eddie in a magic dialog of Souls that painting portrait live is all about.

 

 

To be ready for moments like this is what worth all the training and what Realism means to me.

 

www.eddietigner.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos by Olya Vlasova

"Daughter of a Shoeshiner"

 "Daughter of a Shoeshiner" oil on canvas 40" X 54"

When I met Jay and his daughter Gaby in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the reverence I inherited from my Dad and the Russian Realist School for the nobility in common man came to full force. 

In their striking quintessential characters I immediately recognized a link between all the Americas as a sort of “hemispheric” story. Jay spent ten years in Texas before returning to his father’s old shoe shining spot in Mexico. Jay showed me his symbolic drawings representing escape and freedom. His demeanor was that of a rider, his soul was one of an artist and in his heart he was Texan. He served his fellow men.

As I painted them I thought of Garcia Marquez’s multi-generational story, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’. The composition of Jay, Gaby and the old man made me think of Leonardo’s ‘Annunciation’ and Andrei Rublev's ‘Trinity’.

Creating "Visual Verse" in Multi-Figure Work

Gaby



 
Jay



 
 Hands of an Artist



 
Boots and Pink Laces




Old "King"

Lone Star and Long Road