Alpenglow and Mout Washington

What is Alpenglow-Alpenglow is a beautiful natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun is just below the horizon, casting a reddish glow on the mountains. This glow is caused by the scattering of sunlight by particles in the atmosphere. The term "alpenglow" comes from the German word "Alpenglühen," which means "Alps glow." It usually happens during sunrise and sunset.

Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, is a particularly stunning sight during alpenglow. As the sun rises or sets, casting its warm light on the mountain's slopes, the peak is bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. This phenomenon, known as alpenglow, creates a breathtaking view.

Why artist love to paint this glow is that during the blue and white colored winter months the Alpenglow produces a magnificent pink band of color over the mountains just for a few minutes at the horizon line.

Second Generation Artists

What is a second generation artist?

I only found out when my daughter, Violet told me. She and her friend shared stories of growing up with a parent who is an artist. Stories like hiding in the living room behind five foot canvases or putting secret Hello Kitty stickers on the art, to increase the value of it.

Literally: It could refer to painters who are the children of previous painters. This is a common occurrence in family businesses, where the skills and knowledge of the trade are passed down from generation to generation.

In our own family, Violet confessed to me while working in Canada Gallery in NYC, that she wanted to be an artist too! It is certainly not easy being an artist. There is so much unknown, however the types of creative, emotional, concept and spiritual discoveries are wonderful.

Violet has been accepted at the Goldsmith University in London, to get her masters in Fine Art. For the first time, she will be able to work full time on her own paintings to see where they will take her. You can follow her on instigram Crusty_Violet.

Let’s Wish this second generationer huge success.

Grant Winner of the Hemphill Family Foundation

After a few attempts at grant writing, I finally was able to develop the skills to win one! It has tank me four years of developing the skill to be able to put into words the abstract concepts, and to do a strong budget.

Anyone who can write about art in a professional way, You ARE MY HERO!!!

Newburyport Art (NAA) is thrilled to announce two winners

of the Art Adventure Grant! Since 2016, each grant has been generously funded by the Hemphill Family Foundation. This grant enables artist applicants to explore aspects of their artistic practice and professional development through experiences such as travel, educational classes, learning opportunities, and more! This year was NAA’s largest applicant pool to date, with 29 submissions. The winners were selected by a committee who considered the strength and cohesiveness of the portfolio, the artist’s thoughtful consideration and planning, and personal investment in the greater idea of an art adventure. Last Saturday, Mary Francis, Trustee of the Hemphill Family Foundation and NAA Artist Member, presented the awards to the winners.

 

Congratulations to Rebecca Klementovich,

winner of the 2024 Art Adventure Grant! In her grant application, Rebecca writes: “Painting a bog in the National forest located in North Conway En Plein Air would be an immersive and challenging experience that engages both the physical and emotional…En Plein Air painting in a bog offers a chance to truly connect with nature and capture its beauty on canvas…The finished paintings will be a unique collection that reflects not just the scene itself, but also the experience of being there.

Fashion Illustrator Antonio from Fashion Institute of Technology

For my classmates and myself who went to Fashion Institute of Technology, were all enchanted by the famous Fashion Illustrator who went to our school. His name was Antonio Lopez. He graduated years before us. We were shown so much of his work as examples of illustration. He was epic and revolutionized the fashion illustration world as we knew it.
His work pushed a new style of Illustration. The figures were robust and larger than life. At that time newspapers used fashion illustrations for fashion instead of photography, so Antonio was the IT, illustrator at that time. GC has a wonderful article about him, if you want to find out more about him.

Meantime, this Blue hat and women sketch is one of my Fashion Illustrations. I was an art director in fashion, NYC for many years. We used fashion illustration for our sales and special clients. Here in this series, I am just having fun and doing some wild wigs and hats as a shout out to an era!

#antoniolopez #fashionillustrationnyc #fashionillustration

What is an Art Investment Fund?

Believe it or not there are finance areas that invest and buy art. Some of these funds buy local artwork or blue chip type art as investment. Its a bit corporate however, it supports the arts! I was lucky enough to have a large group of paintings bought by Fidelity in Boston. This institution bought local art as an investment for the future.

Some banks do offer wealth management services that include access to art investment funds. These funds are usually managed by separate firms specializing in art investment with a curator.

Art Investment Funds: These are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase and manage artwork. The goal is to generate returns through appreciation of the artwork's value and potentially through selling shares in the fund

  • Bank Wealth Management: Some banks offer wealth management services for high-net-worth individuals. These services can include access to alternative investments like art funds alongside traditional stocks and bonds.

So, while the bank wouldn't directly own the art fund, it might provide a platform for its clients to invest in one.

art investment funds

Eva Hesse and Material Breakdown

I recently fell in love with Eva Hesse’s work. She was a trailblazer in using unconventional materials like latex, fiberglass, and plastics in sculpture. This contrasted with the dominant Minimalist movement that was happening during her time. Hesse’s work moved away from using the industrial materials in a cold and calculated way. Her work brought a sense of process, vulnerability, and organic form to sculpture.

After watching Eva Hesse’s documentary I saw how her materials in her sculptures began to break down. Her beautiful work was falling apart. Here are some reasons why using sustainable art supplies can be important for the longevity of your artwork: I plan on using paint and materials that will last.

  1. Material Breakdown: Traditional art supplies often contain harsh chemicals or materials that can break down over time. For example, some paints can yellow or become brittle, while papers made with low-quality wood pulp can become acidic and cause the artwork to deteriorate. Sustainable art supplies, on the other hand, are often made with natural materials or recycled content that are less likely to degrade as quickly. This means your artwork is more likely to stay vibrant and well-preserved for future generations.

  2. Avoiding Lightfastness Issues: Lightfastness refers to a pigment's ability to resist fading over time when exposed to light. Some traditional pigments, especially cheaper ones, are not very lightfast and can fade significantly over the years. Sustainable art supplies often focus on using high-quality, lightfast pigments. This ensures your artwork retains its original colors and doesn't become washed out over time.

Using sustainable art supplies can help your artwork resist the natural breakdown of materials and fading from light exposure, allowing it to be enjoyed for years to come.

Why is Art Important to Collect

Collecting art is a fantastic luxury. Collecting is an honor and an mystery. There are so different reasons and types of collectors. Here are some reasons- All are legal!

Enjoyment and Beauty: People are drawn to art that they find aesthetically pleasing or emotionally resonant. Owning a piece of art allows them to live with it every day and experience that enjoyment on a regular basis.

Legacy Building: A collection can be a way to tell your story and reflect your taste. It can also be a way to leave a lasting legacy for future generations

Preserving History: Owning a piece of art can be a way to preserve a piece of history. Artworks can document social, political, and cultural movements throughout time.

Supporting Artists: Buying art directly from an artist or gallery is a way to support the art world and help artists continue creating.


Mount Washington and Fauvism

Fauvism is an early 20th-century art movement that uses bold colors and simplified forms. Fauve paintings are often non-representational, and the artists who created them were more interested in expressing emotion than in creating realistic depictions of the world. Henry Matisse, Andre Derain. Georges Braque, Maurice de Vlaminck and Raoul Dufy were Fauvism painters. These were the painting giants that helped me delve into painting the bright foliage of New England.

The Fauve palette is a great way to capture the beauty of Mount Washington. The mountain's rugged peaks and deep valleys can be rendered in a variety of bright colors, and the Fauve style's emphasis on simplification can help to create a sense of awe and wonder. I especially use hot pink and orange to off set the greens and blues of the New England landscapes. The Fauvism painters used pinks and oranges in their work as well.

Mount Washington Painting influenced by Henry Matisse