Artists Describing Their Art:
Dana Zivanovits - Dana Zivanovits was born in 1958 in Columbus, Ohio and received his art training from the Columbus College of Art and Design (1978 to 1982). After art school, he went abroad for a year and studied the art of the old masters in London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Venice. Returning to his studio in Columbus to develop these influences into a new body of work, he then traveled to Mexico and studied the sculpture and painting of that country for an extended period. The unique and vivid colors of Palenque and Vera Cruz intensified his palette. After a period in Ohio, he then moved to Venice Beach, California where the brilliant light of the region reinforced his desire to capture effects of sunlight and atmosphere. Returning to Ohio in 1995, he has continued to paint themes deriving inspiration form sources such as world mythology, classic and B-grade cinema, literature and dreams. However his primary inspiration is direct observation from nature, versus an approach based in art theories or cultural critique. Dana has been widely represented by galleries and exhibition projects including Julie Rico and Mega Boom in Los Angeles, the Venice Art Detour, Around the Coyote Festival in Chicago ...
Juraj Skalina - Started participating in after school art program in the Middle School. Studied for 4 years at the School of Art and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. After graduating high school, continued studies at the University PJS, majoring in Fine Art and Slavic languages. Events in Czechoslovakia during the years 1968-69 forced him leave the country and immigrate to Israel. In Israel graduated from Bezalel School of Art with the degree BFA in 1974. During the years 1975-81 worked in the field of textile design as an art director. From 1981-1986 owned and operated The Art Lovers Gallery in New York City, specializing in custom framing and sale of fine art. In 1987 moved to Tucson Arizona, where continued in business of custom framing and gallery by operating and owning Famous French Gallery. All through the years continued to draw and from the year 2000 participated in Open Studio sessions in The Tucson Drawing Studio. During the years 2002-4 participated in the juried shows of the TDS. Today the work of Juraj Skalina can be seen at Famous French Gallery. Juraj Skalina ...
Alletta Remillard - My work focuses on expressionist portraits, depicting various characters alongside self-representations. I draw inspiration from the intricate details of the human form skin folds, veins, membranes, and muscles. Its these underlying features, such as blood vessels, that I leverage to tell a story or represent a moment in my life. I explore themes of identity, existentialist anxiety, and safety within these. Influenced by anatomy, gore and horror, as well as human experiences, my art serves as a visual narrative, as experienced over the past year of my life. Working with acrylic paints, oil pastels, and chalk pastels, I blend these materials creating an organic effect. Color plays a large role in my work to convey intensity and depth. Although color may not contribute to the realism of the body, it nevertheless serves to highlight the forms I wish to emphasize. I create my work in many thin layers with large brush strokes. Large brushes allow for an organic flow throughout each work, bringing the viewer back to the purpose pieces of the body. ...
Jyoti Thomas - I feel passionate about creating in many different forms and mediums but I'm predominantly a painter. My art comes from my inner world giving a voice to thoughts and emotions that can't always be adequately expressed in other ways. I am always in awe of the deep power of creativity to heal and bring deep insight. Most of my works are rich in colour and symbols and are an emotional and soul felt interpretation of the world within me and around me. The works shown here are from several bodies of work those being Meet Anita, Gifts of Descent, Below the Surface, Fragments, Oceans of Choice. and Night Sea Journey. My artwork has been a constantly changing river of works following the journey of my life, through good times and difficult times and has always been a refuge and a deep love. While the artwork just IS in its own right I also hope that it taps into others experiences of life and links us together in our common humanity. I love art just for its own sake and nothing else in my world has the ability to lift my heart and soul like making art does. I ...
Suzanne Mcclelland - DESIGNER, ARTIST, INSTRUCTOR, AND MENTOR II am a professional artist and Designer in the Sacramento area. I have a love for being creative with my clients in their home and office projects. Art has always been a love of mine. Because I visit so many homes and office I decided to extend my professional ability to create wonderful spaces for my clients. I want to bring more knowledge to the public on how I create my artwork and how it brings life to their spaces. I love the color, texture and the flow of the Pastel medium that I can use to make the piece fit in that special place. I mostly blend the pastels and use vibrant hughes. I build layer on top of layer to get the effect I want. I use different papers to create different effects that I want and go from there. I am an abstract artist and love the journey it takes me. I also work in Acrylics which I am now working with some new ideas, and will be sharing that with all of you soon. I love the energy that I feel when I work with my paintings which I share with ...