Don Porter

"My art affirms to me that meaningful action, self-realization, and transcendence are possible and eminently desirable. I may not always know what will come next, but I am enlivened and pleased enough with the process and the results that I often regard it as an addiction to abstract spirituality."

Solvō - Photograph (temporary sculpture) 24 x 24 in.

Don Porter, a lifelong California artist, was taught and mentored by some of the finest: Gui Ignon in Ojai, California and, at the University of California, Berkeley, by Elmer Bischoff, Richard Diebenkorn, Peter Voulkos, Jerrold Ballaine, - and influenced by others along the way (e.g. Hoffman, Munch, Ryder, Delacroix).

Winner of numerous awards, Porter has exhibited his photographs, paintings and sculptures in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, North Carolina, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. His photographs and paintings are collected worldwide.

Coincidental with his career as an artist, Don has been an award-winning architect and builder in Nevada and California, where, beginning in the 1970s, he helped pioneer sustainable design and recycling practices. 

In addition to painting and traditional photography, Porter’s most recent work involves photographing temporary sculptures that persuade him to see beauty in each moment (Venus principle). As he manipulates various inanimate materials and substances, he introduces them to baths of pigmented liquids and subjects the ever-changing configurations to layers of light (filtered, reflected and refracted). He photographs these fabrications as they transform, dissolve, disintegrate … cease to be what they were. He does not use Photoshop or the like.  “By intentionally designing the sculptures to transcend a preceding moment of existence,” Don explains “I can record that exact instance of transformation as a requiem for each moment that was, all the while conceding, even celebrating, the impermanence of all that exists …. did exist.”  

“The cohesiveness of my images is with the process itself, not so much with the images or series of images - which I tend not to do. No moment is the same as any other, nor is one of my temporary sculptures the same as any other. Each of these images is a self-portrait of my artistic intentions and decisions at a particular time - a metaphor for my existential being."

Rilke - Photograph (temporary sculpture) 18 x 13 in.
Odysseus - Photograph (temporary sculpture) 30 x 40 in.
Sigourney - Photograph (temporary sculpture) 24 x 20 in., 12 x 19 in.
When Morn Purples the East (Blake) - Photograph (temporary sculpture) 25 x 32 in.

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


 

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Phil Davis

"I create landscape and figurative work that combines expressionist painting with dynamic stencil printing as an additional way of layering. The multi-layered nature of this process enables me to present the emotional intensity of the human spirit, and to convey the shape-shifting energies of life."

Ballerina Second Study - Acrylic on paper 40 x 30 cm

Phil Davis studied Fine Art and Sculpture at Loughborough University. Beginning his career as a commercial artist, his early work depicted landmarks of his travels abroad, particularly Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe and Asia. Changing to working largely with oils and acrylic resulted in work of greater vibrancy, and allowed the more experimental and existentialist narratives in which he is interested to be explored through a style he has coined 'Stencilism.'

Through this style he produces landscapes, and figurative subjects that combine vivid colours with additional features of the subjects incorporated using handmade stencils. This style is a constant blending and morphing of two processes, a combination that creates dynamic and emotionally heightened images where creative instinct and the fine detail of his chosen subjects are portrayed and juxtaposed alongside each other. The bold colours and dynamic ways in which they are applied convey the emotional intensity around the subject, whereas the stark graphical tones of the print process convey a sense of bold physicality. He uses this combination of two processes to present his own interpretation of the physicality of life but seen through the eyes of pure emotion. 

Phil Davis' style enables him to work with instinct and emotion, as well as being meticulous. The painting process begins by focusing on colour and mood, applying paint to the canvas in an expressive and free-flowing way. Moving on to the composition itself, he creates stencils of the relevant subject matter before printing the results onto the canvas, thereby pushing boundaries with traditional compositional processes in painting. As he experiments with different ways of applying stencils to canvas, his style seeks to blur the distinctions between traditional painting and printmaking, in order to create new and interesting ways of applying colour, texture, composition and form in order to suggest a more subjective version of his subjects. 

The Time Lapse The Hong Kong Skyline - Mixed media on plywood surface 90 x 120 cm
The Walk To St Pauls, London - Acrylic on canvas 61 x 79 cm
The Fire Eater Virgen De Carmen - Acrylic on paper 30 x 42 c
Ghost City Las Ramblas Barcelona - Acrylic on canvas 21 x 30 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


 

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Ian Laws

“My art is an expression and release for my anxiety and OCD, and the canvas is a place to highlight the complexity of thoughts that I have within myself.”

ca4 - Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 in. $2000

"I have done a lot of artwork but I have not until now put it out too many places, artwanted.com. and artavita.com are the only places I have work now."

ca20 - Fine pen on hard card 16 x 20 in. $1500
ca11 - Acrylic on canvas 16 x 20 in. $2000
ca22 Acrylic on canvas 16 x 20 in. n. $3000
a6 - Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 in. $2500

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Thomas Vancoppenolle

Born in: 1994, Belgium
Lives in: Ghent, Belgium
Media: Photography, Film/analog photography, Installation, Printmaking, Video, Crafts
Describe your art in three words: Nostalgia, melancholy, solitude
See More Work:  www.thomasvancoppenolle.com | Instagram

Meditation On A Landscape - Still from video installation, 1x1m

"Is it possible to become friends with a butterfly? Suppress your presence as a human being, stay very still, and convince yourself that you are a tree or grass or a flower. It takes time, but once the butterfly lets its guard down, you can become friends quite naturally."

Papillon: A Sense of Place - Still from video installation (I of II), 4 x 5 m
Papillon: A Sense of Place - Transparent plexiglass sculpture 60 x 40 cm
Maze - Paper poster A2
What themes does your work involve?
My work often explores the notion of a place, and the way in which we perceive and experience the different aspects of a landscape on a personal level. In what ways are we affected by the mental and sensorial qualities of a ‘landscape’ in its various forms, and how much of our own subconscious or memories do we project onto the places or phenomena that we encounter throughout our lives? Is it possible to perceive a work with singular meaning while every person carries his or her own background?
Describe your creative process.
Through the collection of fragmented images of places or landscapes, poetry, sound or photosculptural work, I process and mould questions of place and belonging into visual or auditive works. Can a work breathe or have a personal connection to us, translated mainly through form or, sound or text? Bringing a sense of life or energy into an otherwise static experience, I invite viewers into a dialogue with these mental spaces to project and reflect themselves on what is in front of them.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
I feel the biggest influence for me has always mainly come from the East. When I was introduced to the work of Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama at the age of 18, something inside of me was awakened by the expressive energy in his work. A completely new world opened up to me from then on, maybe for the first time. In addition to this, I've always been strongly fascinated by subjects as Taoism, Shintoism, or other philosophies and beliefs that speak on any kind of animism in nature or life.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
For me, explanations and words always come second, so I think the greatest power of art lies in speaking through its various forms first and foremost, before anything has been said or read about it. At a time when streams of information approach us from all sides, I value it immensely when I feel my emotions being touched by something without having someone come up to me to explain what this specific work is supposed to be about, or should be. That way, form can always prevail over language.
What is the role of the artist today?
I have little judgment about what role art, or the artist should take on in this society, but I do know that I want to give myself fully to this quest that carries beauty and slowing down in mind, at all times. Regardless of any socio-actual context from which art could speak, I'll express whatever I can in form or sound, and invite people to stand still amidst the flow that keeps pulling us from place to place. I chose art for the sake of feeling connected with the other and the self.

 


This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


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Jiqun Chen

Born in: 1947, China
Lives in: China
Media: Painting, Drawing
Describe your art in three words: Ujumchin Herdsman, Echoing Steppe
See More Work:  http://jiqunchen.com

"I am an oil painter who depicts the conservation of Steppe ecology of China."

Chinese artist Jiqun Chen was born in 1947. He attended the Affiliated Middle School of the Central Academy of Fine Arts from 1963 to 1967. Following that, he ventured to Mandu Baolige, East Ujumchin Banner, Inner Mongolia, before returning to Beijing in 1980. During the 1980s, he established himself as a professional painter. In the 1990s, he divided his time between sketching in pastoral areas and showcasing his work in exhibitions abroad. In the year 2000, he published his website www.chenjiqun.com

 


This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


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La Reine

Born in: The Netherlands
Lives in: Macharen, The Netherlands
Media: Painting, Sculpture, Poetry
Describe your art in three words: Positive, colorful emotional
See More Work:  www.willemijndenissen.nl

Floating - Noir de Mazy stone

"For 20 years, I worked in a high school, teaching students painting and sculpture. Now, I work in my studio and teach both men and women the techniques of making sculptures."

Little tower in Liempde - Pen drawing
Kingfisher - Bronze sculpture
People moving and dancing - Acrylic on canvas
What themes does your work involve?
My three-dimensional work usually focuses on people. People fascinate me in all their movements and body language, and this fascination is reflected in my work in stone or bronze. Rooted in realism, I engage in a battle with the stone or wax material. While working with the material, I can convey the associations that come to mind, utilizing the feelings, impressions, and relationships that develop with the stone.
Describe your creative process.
With my images, I look at the stone and see which figure is already within it. Then, I just have to remove the excess material, sand, and polish the work nicely. The movement of people is paramount in my paintings. I can let go of the constraints of reality and paint from my heart; the inspiration flows out and is reflected in the painting.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
The colors and my feelings serve as my inspiration for my three-dimensional work, with Rodin being a major influence. I create art because the inner urge to create is so strong within me that I must act on it. A day without working on my art is a day wasted.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
Good art is art that touches you and evokes emotion.
What is the role of the artist today?
I have chosen art because I can put my feelings into my artwork. Art must be in society, and one can never start early enough to bring art into their life. It can be as essential as eating and drinking.

 


This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


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Roxana Werner

“I am constantly observing and learning about our environment, in particular, human behavior. These two main subjects continue to serve as material for my present and future creations.”

Experience inside and beyond the frontier II - Oil on paper 81 x 100 cm

The Footprint of Time

I never cease to be amazed day by day by my surroundings and deeply feel thankful for the ability to experiment and appreciate everything from the most ordinary to the most extraordinary. This marginalized world, made up of waste, the useless, the despicable, goes unnoticed by the human eye, which has been educated to appreciate only one perspective of what is designated as an aesthetic value. Paradoxically, it is on this "dark" side where I discover colors, textures, materiality, which I rescue and enhance in my painting.”

Experience Inside and Beyond the Frontier

“The project "Experiences Inside and Beyond the Frontier" gestated from some trips in search of new experiences that offered new possibilities for my work. I toured Morocco, India, Southeast Asia, and my country, Chile. An exhaustive, deep look, going beyond the apparent, reveals to us that, despite the formal differences, the inner look, of an existential order, is universal and equally disturbing to all human beings of any race or creed. Through ceremonies and rituals, hope quiets souls.”


“My artwork is created, for the most part, using oil painting and mixing different techniques on different supports. The themes I choose to portray have a mixture of both realism and dream-like sequencing. These themes emerge after the connection I experience emotionally and intellectually when visiting different countries. During these travels, I take particular interest in studying the ethnography of the region I am in. My past journeys through the Atacama Desert, the Saltpeter Towns, Valparaíso, South East Asia, Morocco, and India have served as inspiration. Using these experiences, I interpret them later in the solitude of my studio.

In the past couple of years, my work has been shifting from ochre and brownish-toned paintings that once had a more academic and rigorous approach into more vibrant color paintings with looser brush strokes resembling a more expressionist style.

I am constantly observing and learning about our environment, in particular, human behavior. These two main subjects continue to serve as material for my present and future creations.”

The footprint of time I - Oil on canvas and mixed media 119 x 100 cm
The footprint of time III - Oil on canvas and mixed media 118 x 178 cm
Experience inside and beyond the frontier I - Oil on canvas 35 x 35 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


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Barbara Mierau-Klein

"My digital art images reflect my fascination with the beauty of colors and the moods and emotions they evoke. I love to add complexity and a depth to my images using creative layering of the original photography, colorful elements, rich textures and other effects. "

Golden Fall Walk - Digital photo collage 30 x 30 in.

Barbara Mierau-Klein is a digital artist recognized for her multi-layered, imaginative and colorful fine art images. A native of Germany, Barbara lives in the Washington D.C. area but often travels the world as a passionate landscape and nature photographer since her teenage years. 

Much of Barbara’s work is highly stylized and focuses on beautiful moments and evocative moods across a wide range of subjects. The inspiration for her images comes from many sources, often her own nature photography, but also books, song lyrics, movies, and works of other artists, old masters as well as contemporary digital artists.

Barbara’s work has been exhibited in a number of galleries in the US and Europe and has received numerous awards. Her images also appear regularly in international art magazines. Barbara is represented locally by Waverly Street Gallery in Bethesda, MD.

New York at Night - Digital photo collage 25 x 35 in.
White Tree on Teal - Digital photo collage 30 x 30 in.
Sisters - Framed Archival fine art print 30 x 30 in.
Autumn Tree Colors - Framed Archival fine art print 30 x 30 in.
Purple Forest - Digital photo collage 30 x 30 in.
Orange Central Park - Digital photo collage 25 x 35 in.
Golden Gate Bridge - Framed Archival fine art print 30 x 30 in.
Green and Purple City - Framed Archival fine art print 30 x 30 in.
Blue Tree Collage - Framed Archival fine art print 30 x 30 in.

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


 

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Robert Perriam

"I do not follow any specific artistic style or seek to imitate the work of any artist. I seek only to depict in a natural way, the often-harsh beauty of the landscapes, vegetation and lighting of Australia, in particular the landscapes of the inland deserts."

Black Flame - Wood 24 x 70 cm

Robert (Bob) Perriam, for forty years a field geologist working in the exploration industry in remote areas of Western Australia, carried a camera and photographed the landscapes which he visited. Now retired, Perriam uses a small motor-home to make photographic trips to remote and scenic areas. 

"My preference and inspiration is for pristine wilderness landscapes, trees and wildflowers untouched by the hand of man."

Dark Waters - Photograph 46 x 31 cm
Verticordia - Photograph 46 x 31 cm
Walga Rock - Photograph 46 x 31 cm
Reflections, Woodanilling Pool - Photograph 46 x 31 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist


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Andi Edan

"Oscar Wilde said many things about the nature of art. One of my favorite quotes is: No great artist ever sees things as they really are."

Sewn canvas x 4 - Acrylic on canvas and wood 4 x 20x20cm, $5,000

Andi Edan was born in South Africa and now lives in London. She has also lived in Durban, Jersusalem and Brussels. Edan studied Fine Art at the Bezalel Academy of Art and design in Jerusalem, majoring in Painting, Photography and Printmaking. After graudating she taught a "Women's Art" program at the Bezalel Academy.

"After moving to London in the 1980s, I set up and ran a creative computer graphics company, Image Workshop, based in central London. Today I have my own design agency, 'Design for Print'. I work in different media including photography, computer graphics, painting and bookmaking and have published several photographic books on Blurb.com."

Sutures - Acrylic and mixed media on MDF Diptych 2 x 30x30cm, $5,000
Knitted inset - Acrylic and mixed media on wood 20x20cm, $2,500
Cabaret - Acrylic and mixed media on MDF Diptych 2 x 30x30cm, $5,000
Fossil inset - Acrylic and mixed media on wood block 15x15cm, $3,500

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