Paul Ingbretson and The Guild of Boston Artists

As you may know I studied in New Hampshire with Paul Ingbretson. He was the best teacher I have had for any subject- and after 7 years of college and two degrees, I have had a lot of "teachers". He has been producing some videos, with the help of his son Whittaker and George Lambert, gearing up for the 100th anniversary of the Boston Guild. I wanted to post a few because I think they show very well what I believe are some of the major strengths of his teaching and how it is demonstrated in his work.
It is all about the start! As is often the case, painters are taught to concentrate on the drawing first. Then color comes in. The work becoming almost like a complicated 'paint-by-numbers' exercise. We were taught to ignore drawing and focus on the color first. Of course the idea is to get the right value, the right color in the right place. One could argue that placing a red smug in the upper third of the canvas is an early start to the drawing idea, but basically it is about getting a likeness in color without drawing. Drawing is very important- so save it for last. The painting slowly comes into focus, all the while the painter is "learning" the subject from careful observation.
This video gives some indication of how good start should look. There is a bit at the end of Paul discussing his views on art.

This second video shows the painting further along in the process.

At Least My Painting is Warm

I was honored to have one of my paintings selected for a show in Florida. I would have loved to travel down with the paining to get out of this miserable winter we are having, but alas I could not.

The show it the 9th Biennial National Art Exhibition and is one of the nation's most prestigious juried exhibits of traditional 2-dimensional media. Juror Carl Samson, nationally-acclaimed portrait painter, selected 130 pieces out of over 450 entries from 27 states for the "9th Biennial National Art Exhibition" at the Visual Art Center in Punta Gorda, FL. The exhibition opens this Saturday, February 1 and closes March 9th.

The Late Night, 13"x9", oil on linen, 2011, ©Richard Luschek

I also found out my piece was honored with an award as well, which is pretty exciting. If you need a vacation- drive on down and see the show and buy a prize winning painting.
Visual Art Center
210 Maud Street
Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Here is a blog post about the painting of this piece.

Art Renewal Center 2013 Finalist

For my first post of 2014 I promise to be a more active blogger. Not just on this blog but also on my illustration blog- which you should be following. Last year for what ever reason I had the least amount of posts in a year since I started Verisimilitude. Even this post about me being a ARC finalist is kind old news. I have been told blogs are done- pass'e- they are are "so 2009". Twitter is apparently not the hip new thing anymore either. Not sure what the newest online social media trend is now- maybe a site where you just post a guttural noise that expresses your feelings. Actually, that's a pretty good idea. Anyone want in invest in my new website- Gruntbook?

In a few days is the deadline for the next Art Renewal Center 2014 International Salon. I was very excited to be chosen for the second year in a row as a finalist. Last year I entered the first painting of a 3 part commission I am working on for the Demolay Internation organization, in the Imaginative Realism category. I got my big glossy catalog in the mail the other day. It is an honor to see my work featured alongside so many great painters.



Here I am casually admiring the catalog on my fancy new desk (the desk will get a blog post of it's own soon), drinking my morning cappuccino (I know it is uncool to drink cappuccinos before 2 p.m., but that is how I roll).
Here is a link to high res version of the painting on the ARC website.  CLICK ME!
If you want to own one of these catalogs for yourself CLICK HERE

Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXVIII

I am proud to be showing in the Cincinnati Art Galleries Panorama show again this year. I love being in this show as a majority of the paintings are by Cincinnati painters who have long passed from this world. Most of my favorite painters are dead. So, if you see the show and notice my work hanging with all these deceased painters- don't worry. I am still alive for now.

The show also has an lovely catalog. Here a view of the interior of this fine publication with two of my favorite pages. The Louis Henry Meakin painting on the right was one of my favorites in the show. I am pretty partial to the paintings on the left as well. There were some wonderful works including a Volkert painting of farmers gathering hay in the field that was pretty stunning. Make sure you get out to see this show.

Panorama of
Cincinnati Art XXVIII
A Benefit for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Continues through December 31st

A portion of all sales for the month of December will benefit the CSO
Cincinnati Art Galleries
225 East 6th Street
Cincinnait, Ohio

Holiday Shopping at the CINCINNATI INTERNATIONAL FINE ART FAIR

I will have some work in an Art Fair this weekend hanging in the Greenacres Art Guild booth with around 10 other guild members. It opens tomorrow night and runs through the weekend. It is a pretty big event with OVER 60 FINE ARTISTS AND GALLERIES.

I am not a big fan of all the big holiday sales and commercialism that happens the weekend after Thanksgiving. With everyone running around getting all their Black Friday discounts being little more than mindless consumers.  Where is the true spirit of the holidays?!
So, I want you to know, to fight this horrible trend, absolutely none of my work will be discounted during this weekend show. I will be selling all of it at full price. I have been told it is a deal already, so in my view that is good enough. I will have 3 small works- including the one shown in the image above. These would make great Christmas gifts- so much better than a big screen TV or video game system. I promise you it will be more pleasant than being at Walmart or Best-buy.

This big show is being held in the Cintas Center on Xavier campus, I am not 100 % sure, but I don't think there will be a game going on that day, but you have to admit that would totally add to the event.

CINTAS CENTER 

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

1624 Herald Avenue Cincinnati Ohio 45207 Free Parking

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER  30

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
10 -6 

FREE PARKING

CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE

OVER 60 FINE ARTISTS AND GALLERIES

 WWW. CINCYIFAF.COM

Secret Revealed

So, my Secrets are apparently not too secret as everyone seems to know which ones are mine. It is either that or something to do with pheromones. Nah, lets say it has to do with the visual charm of the work. That probably sounds better.
Mine was snatched up quickly by someone who already has around 4 of my secret cards from the past few years. Interestingly, on the very first Secret Artworks event 6 years ago, this same collector, who did not know me at the time, was with her husband. When the doors opened, they both rushed off to get cards they liked. They both separately got cards I had painted- obviously having no idea who did them.  Pretty cool considering there are usually close to 1000 5x7 cards by various artists to search through. Last year, her husband grabbed the card I painted as well. 
Here is my card for this years 2013 Secret Artworks which they can hang in the Richard Luschek section of their collection.

Clean Thoughts, 7 x 5, oil shellacked paper , ©copyright Richard Luschek 2013

It is probably my favorite opening of the year. The work is donated and the funds raised go to the various Artworks community programs. Artists that donate work get to attend a hip and happening party (oddly I don't get to go to those very often).
I thought I would post a few process shots.
The artists are sent simple postcards. I decided to coat the paper with orange shellac which protects the paper from the oil paint and gives a warm tone to paint on.
I taped the card to a board and started painting. I wanted to create a little story and continue my series of light bulbs.
Here is a shot after about 40 minutes. I did not do a drawing, but just started painting on the orange card, doing my best to cover it fast. You can see the scene with the bulb suspended by a wire. You can also see the other Mr. Clean doll I have laying nearby on the table. Yes, I have 4 Mr. Clean dolls, you wanna make something of it?!

I got big shapes down and just continued refining and pushing shapes around. Here it is after about another hour.

 I let it dry setting it near the furnace pipe and then refined it on a second day to get to the finished image you see at the top of this post.
If you are an artist in Cincinnati and are not doing this event, what are you thinking?

Secret ArtWorks 2013

Once again I have painted a card for the Secrets Show. 
I know I am not supposed to show you the work- it being a secret and all, but here is a shot of the card.

It is not a great photo and really the other side is more exciting, but if you want to see it you had better show up and check it out. It is a happening party.
Click to buy tickets
Click to see the cards online.    Last I looked, mine was not showing, as I turned mine in about two weeks after the deadline- that is just how secret mine is. Anyway, if you saw it, you would know it is mine.

It all happens this Friday, November 22, 5:00 pm- 9:00pm

The Center in the Mercantile Building (The old Contemporary Art Center space)
115 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

5-6pm: Cocktails & VIP Art Sneak Peek
6pm: Doors Open to Secret Works of Art
Valet parking available on Walnut Street between 4th & 5th Streets.
Handicap access on 5th Street.


Art Preview Week
November 18 – 21, 2013
Westin Hotel Atrium
21 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202