abstract – Circle Foundation for the Arts

Fred Smilde

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Fred Smilde’s background is in classical music. He has a Masters in piano performance from Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. He has recorded a CD, taught numerous classes in Music Theory and given many concerts. While in the Doctoral program at Peabody Conservatory, he decided it was in his best interest to leave. In October of 2008 after roughly ten years of creative inactivity, he began to paint. In the process, he has found the challenges and problems one faces in the two mediums (music and painting) are very similar though the technical means are different. One is faced with the utilization of space (time) to make a comprehensible whole. Structure in time becomes structure in space.

Mae Jeon

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MARANT

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“From an exterior painting I turned to a more creative painting by working in themes and color codes. The color, bringing a rhythm to these themes, is reinforced in the background such as black and white. The search for color is very important to give life and depth to the paintings, accompanied by strongly marked outlines in the manner of stained glass. The guiding line remains the nature and the events of life.

The work is characterised as a kind of stylized figurative painting, in flat tint somewhat deconstructed, taking geometric shapes and incorporating structured subjects of nature by working on color codes. This projection of landscapes and flowers symbolizes the elements that we would like to dream of in our imagination and be able to project into our life. By symbolizing the elements of these compositions I try to communicate a message of well-being in nature and simplicity in life.”

Adora Newton

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"My inspiration is to express myself and immerse others in my artistic world. I am self-taught in various art techniques and I love to try out new techniques. I love to dive into another world and put my feelings on canvas. What drives me is that I touch people with my art. For many, my art is also a therapy.

For me, the definition of art is: To be one with my art. To develop artistically without limits. Live your life the way you want it. Not like others expect you to."

Adora Newton is an Austrian artist living in Vienna.

Arnaud Gautron

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Leena Fredriksson

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Helsinki-based artist, designer, trend specialist, and art educator, Leena Fredriksson received her MA from the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2005. She is currently finalizing her second Master's degree in art education at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Leena works as a designer and trend specialist at Kuudes, an insight-driven design consultancy. She is also the creator of Momolu, an original, design-led character brand. Leena’s career as an artist is at the core of her hybrid professionalism.

Leena has participated in juried group exhibitions in Milan and the coming few months in Luxembourg and New York art fairs. Leena is featured in Italian CORRIEREdell’Arte & CorArtMagazine and will be featured in Current Masters v. 5 published by World Wide Art Books. Her paintings can be found in several private collections in Europe. Leena has lived and worked in Paris and New York. She currently resides in Helsinki.

Continuous longing for the Finnish archipelago emanates from Leena’s abstract paintings: harsh nature and the movement and silence of the sea are the source of inspiration for her paintings.

”I grew up in the Finnish archipelago and, I am struck by the beauty of nature — the landscapes and animals — that surrounded me.”

Carolyn Adams

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American artist, Carolyn Adams graduated from the Southeastern Louisiana University and then began a career in advertising but also worked in other fields. She finally decided to fully dedicate her time and energy to fine art, consequently moving to Europe where she lived and painted for 20 years. Exposure to European culture "has had a tremendous influence on my life and work as an artist."

While living in Europe, Carolyn Adams had several solo exhibits and participated in a number of group shows. Upon returning to the United States she was unable to financially survive as an artist which led her to return to work and only paint when she had the time and inspiration.

In her own words: "Upon retiring, I once again fully devoted myself to art. There has been a long period of time between past exhibitions and my present achievements. However, I feel my artwork now reflects my growth as an artist as I continue my career.

I feel that my age should not be a deterrent. I'm strong and healthy and I paint every day. I usually work on a series of 10 paintings at a time. First building up each painting, and then completing them with a glazing process (10 to 20 layers) I've developed over the years I apply this process to both my oil and acrylic paintings. Recently I have been working more in acrylics and exploring this medium's possibilities.

As an artist, I strive to find a statement of harmony and awareness. I am always searching for integrity in my art as I seek a balance between craftsmanship and spirituality."

Despina Kyriacou

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British Photographer, Despina Kyriacou studied Fine Art and specialized in Photography during the final year of her degree course (1982-85).

"I used photography as a means of expression and have been preoccupied with it ever since."

In 1986, Kyriacou was commissioned to photograph the North East Yorkshire coast, followed by an exhibition at the Impressions Gallery of Photography. In 1988 she participated at a group show at South London Art Gallery and in 1994 at St.Thomas's Hospital, London. The following year she showed at South Bank Centre. In 2003 she had a solo show at Riversidestudios and the same year she presented work at Battersea Arts Fair. In 2014, Kyriacou participated at Brick Lane Art Fair and showed in a group exhibit at The Mall Galleries, London. In 2015 she participated at Art Now: The Artists Fair London. In 2016 and 2017 she showed again at the Artist Fair and Brick Lane Gallery.

Ingrid Steckelberg

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German artist, Ingrid Steckelberg was born in Breslau and lives and works as a freelance artist in Achim. She also works in the artist's colony of Worpswede and Achim. Between 1993 and 2000 Steckelberg received her artistic education in en plein air painting. Along with painting she has engaged in photography. Since 2001 she is a member of the National Association of Artists as well as a member of the artists’ collective ‘ART99’. Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally and belong to private and public collections. In 2014, Steckelberg received the Volksbank Cultural Prize.

Ken Beckles

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"The best way to describe my art is to say that it is totally abstract, with large areas of varied colors that are sometimes splashed or solid and very linear in nature. The shapes are very unusual and the colors at times are also unusual. There are also some very hard edges, sometimes there are circles and sometimes there are small paintings within the paintings. My approach to doing the paintings also varies in that sometimes I work from drawings done to scale and then at times I draw directly on the surface because the concept is so clear that I can go directly to executing it. I have a continuing flood of ideas that I am constantly tapping into and as I do more paintings the greater the flow of ideas. I also work in multiple styles that each lead to a series of paintings and every now and then one of those paintings opens another door leading to a whole new series of paintings. The paintings seem to have a mystic power of their own and they seem to capture a flash of emotion and freeze it in time like a camera does but since they take longer to complete they cover a greater range of emotions. The paintings can best be described as abstract color jewels that have fallen from the cosmos like comets or shooting stars."

Fred Smilde

Mae Jeon

"My artwork reflects my Christian spiritual journey. I use floral subjects within digital media to transform spiritual ideas and divine vocabularies into pictorial images. My artistic goal is to convey a message of hope by portraying the frailty and resilience of life on earth and in eternity."

MARANT

French artist, MARANT lives and works in Saint-Junien, France. He is a registered professional with the Maison des Artistes and certified with AKOUN and I-CAC as well as referenced in Art Price. Marant is a former student of the Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Limoges.

Adora Newton

"Painting is my passion. I love to take the visitor into my world of feelings. I have exhibited in Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, USA, China... My paintings are also present in various art books."

Arnaud Gautron

“I paint a stained, drooling nature. My images are shadows, fugitive remains, blurred memories, witnesses of traces made indelible. These are prophecies of a leaking world.”

Leena Fredriksson

Carolyn Adams

"For years I have studied and experimented with the Imprimatura technique of the Old Masters. As an artist, I am concerned with the concepts of space and its relationship to the extremities of chiaroscuro and color intensity. I use this technique to achieve the desired results in my artwork."

Despina Kyriacou

Ingrid Steckelberg

Ingrid Steckelberg draws her inspiration mostly from objects and landscapes. She is fascinated by the aesthetics of decay, such as rusting iron or the morbid beauty of rotting wood and crumbling walls. She views her paintings as metaphors, rearrangements and metamorphoses of reality.

Ken Beckles

"I am an abstract painter and I am also a photographer. I started off as a photographer and gradually moved onto painting. I now work in both forms which keeps them fresh and exciting."