Nigerian printmaker and painter Ojo Olaniyi creates works that reflect his interest in social justice, identity, and community. He often depicts his themes in group portraits and gatherings, especially catching the innocence and curiosity of children in their expressions and interactions. “I highlight social justice,” says Olaniyi, “by showing equality and fairness in my community-focused pieces. Identity is pictured in individuality and self-expression through portraits and everyday scenes and community is showcased in the beauty of human connection and shared experiences.” Olaniyi discovered his love for art during his primary school days (1967-1973) in Nigeria. … Continue reading Prints by Nigerian Artist Ojo Olaniyi→
Michael Roberts describes his delicately conceived photographs as “minimalist.” “Starting last fall,” Roberts remembers, “I wanted to capture the very basic forms and graceful structures I would perceive while hiking in the Sonoran Desert. Carefully composed images with certain lighting and reduced background lent themselves to minimalism in nature and without the intrusion of color that often supersaturates photographs today. I love the simple complexity of natural structures. The images focus on one’s own perceptions and interpretation. “I seek to portray things and scenes that are overlooked or are mere backdrops to everyday … Continue reading Minimalist Photographs by Michael C. Roberts→
Watercolors came naturally to artist James Ellis. “The summer I finished elementary school I discovered my mom was taking a watercolor painting class,” he remembers. “I watched her arrange her palette and paints, ready her favorite brushes, set up a tiny watercolor board on a tiny easel, and then paint that morning’s model, a small white vase decorated with a blue printed illustration of a Chinese farmer. The vase held a few black-eyed Susans. My mom worked quickly, and in less than an hour she produced an exquisite rendering. My mom had suddenly transformed … Continue reading Watercolors and Drawings by James Ellis→
I grew up in Ukraine, the heart of the freedom-loving Cossacks, surrounded by the rich cultural heritage of my people who had a strong influence on my artistic path. My interest in art began at a young age, soaking up the diverse visual images I encountered on a daily basis. Instead of formal art classes, I learnt on the streets, where vibrant graffiti and street art became my school. I travelled extensively, absorbing the diverse art styles of the places I lived in, including Israel and the UK. My journey in art began with … Continue reading The Varied Works by Matthew Morpheus→
Figurative painter Joseph A. Miller freeze-frames telling moments of childhood and beyond. He focuses on the human figure in environments that create a context for psychologically charged open-ended narratives. Many of these narratives explore ideas about power and vulnerability, about enchantment and play. Children at play are often featured. “I remember as a child looking at the edge of the page of my copy of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I was mesmerized by how much illusion and meaning was squeezed onto that thin sheet of paper. For me, this … Continue reading Figurative Works by Joseph A. Miller→
Richmond, Va. artist Lizzie Brown paints vivid and dramatic portraits to show the beauty, resilience, and strength of African Americans. Brown remembers her own first portrait at age five. “I was standing with a blue easel before me, a white sheet of paper, crayons in the easel tray, and I wanted to be sure to use EVERY color. I was in the zone, drawing my brown skin, black hair pulled in a ponytail with strands hanging to the left and right. I had red nail polish and chose to put myself in a long blue … Continue reading Lizzie Brown’s Vibrant Portraits→
My photography employs minimalist classical shooting techniques which offer a throwback alternative to computer driven modern photography. This approach carries the label Forensic Foraging in a nod to the plodding techniques of early crime scene pictorial work. Forensic Foraging is not in direct competition with any other shooting approach. It is only a carefully considered recognition that the basic techniques which made photography great in the first place can still have considerable relevance in today’s digital world. I seek to lift everyday subjects up into pleasing eye candy by recording them in a visual … Continue reading William Crawford’s New Photography→
Anick Langelier is a Canadian artist whose paintings mix the spiritual and literary with inspiration from the Old Masters. Living in Laval, Quebec, Langelier began painting at sixteen to deal with her symptoms of schizophrenia. She was also stirred to paint after reading about Van Gogh. Langelier is self-taught although she took painting classes to learn basic techniques such as perspective and the mixing of colors. She studied art history from library books. “At the beginning my work was inspired by the Great Masters,” says Langelier. “I learned to paint by imitating a lot … Continue reading Artist Anick Langelier Looks to the Old Masters→
The first thing Sam Abell entreats his workshop students to do is imagine their photographs without a primary subject. “I cover up the subject with my hand and ask, is there still a photograph under here?” says the celebrated National Geographic photographer, who has lived just west of Charlottesville for going on fifty years. “The answer, almost always, is no.” That can be a tough lesson for eager photographers, but it’s easier to swallow coming from such a calm and sympathetic teacher. It makes a difference, too, that Abell has always practiced what he … Continue reading For Albemarle’s Sam Abell, Photographs Come from Within. By Russell Hart→
At three, Brooke Major picked up a paint brush and rode her first horse. Her path was set. “My grandfather had riding stables and I fell in love with horses as a young child in Clayton, a small town in the North Georgia mountains,” Major remembers. She started riding frequently, and by six, she had her first pony and began jumping lessons in Buckhead, a suburb of Atlanta. “As for painting, the passion started at the age of three when I drew on absolutely everything I could find, most of the time … Continue reading The Sculpted Paintings of Brooke Major→
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