Archive for the ‘Artists’ Category

Vakhtang

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Artist Name: Vakhtang

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Vakhtang

Artist Biography:

Vakhtang was born in 1972 Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. His grandfather, a well known Georgian artist, often took the little boy to his studio and taught him how to draw and paint. The grandfather would arrange a still life and the two of them would paint it together, then talk about what they both saw and painted. After still life came landscape (plein air painting) and then portraits.

Since age five, Vakhtang took part in exhibitions of Children’s paintings and in 1989 received a gold medal on a nation-wide juried competition of children’s paintings in Tbilisi. This was followed by another honorary diploma in a Children’s art competition in 1990.

Since 1998 Vakhtang was studying in the school for children gifted in art. In 1996 he was accepted to the Tbilisi Academy of Art. It was in 1999 during summer practice at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Art where he first saw the works of Levitan and Coro. That had a huge impact on his vision of art and helped shape him as a landscape artist. Vahktang began to understand that he wanted to paint landscapes, but in a way that show his feelings and inner world. Landscapes are his way to give people warm feelings and positive emotions.

During his school years he continued to actively participate in exhibitions, both group and solo. Vakhtang experimented with styles and manners, tried surrealism, modern decorative styles, hyper realism, but more and more understood that what he calls “Lyrical Landscape” is his true love in art. The last two years at the academy were spent wandering the hills and valleys of his native Georgia, often with friends, sometimes alone. He was sketching hundreds of trees, hills, peasants’ homes and girls milking cows. He continued to perfect his style and steady his hand.

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Gregg Cobarr

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Artist Name: Gregg Cobarr

Artistic Discipline: Photography

Artist Biography:

Gregg Cobarr has twenty-five years of professional photography experience with such music industry clients as Columbia and Epic Records, MCA, RCA, Capitol and Warner Brothers. In the TV and movie industry, he has done work for 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. He holds a Bachelors Degree from Brooks Institute of Photography and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from California Institute of the Arts.

Gregg’s work has been published both nationally and internationally in addition to numerous awards for his photography and was recently featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Some of the artists Gregg has photographed over the years include: Aerosmith, Heart, Ringo Starr, Bob Marley, Santana, Dolly Parton, Journey, Willie Nelson, Talking Heads, Meatloaf, Charlie Daniels Band, Kenny Loggins, Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, Elvis Costello, Blue Oyster Cult, Electric Light Orchestra, Jefferson Airplane, Derringer, Cheap Trick, Muddy Waters, etc.

 

His artistic eye and attention to detail makes his work stand out in a world overcrowded with images.

 

 

 

 

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Allison Lefcort

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Allison Lefcort

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Allison Lefcort

Artist Biography:

Allison Lefcort has painted since early childhood. The Greenwich Village Art Gallery in New York City first represented her professionally when she was seventeen. At twenty-six, she is becoming widely collected and recognized for her own style of portrait painting.

Allison has shown her work in fine galleries around the country, in places as diverse as SOHO, Maui, Kennebunkport, and Key West. Her portraits have hung side by side with such esteemed artist as Peter Max and Romero Britto. Her paintings have been purchased and shipped around the world to places like Monte Carlo, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Luxembourg, Jerusalem, Paris and London.

Allison was invited to paint a portrait of the First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Allison had the privilege of presenting this portrait to the First Lady, and it was then shipped to her at the White House.

She was also invited to paint portraits of Their Royal Highness, the now late King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor. That same portrait of the late King Hussein was featured in an interview with Queen Noor conducted by Katie Couric on the Today show! Queen Noor mentioned to Katie that it was her favorite portrait of her late husband.

Allison’s paintings can be found in the collections of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Her Royal Highness Queen Noor of Jordan, Barbara Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Robero Britto, Phil Ramone, Luciano Pavarotti, John Stango, Universal Studios Orlando, Warner Bros. Studio Stores, The Walt Disney Gallery, Tears for Tears, The Indigo Girls, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Buckley, Deborah Gibson, Robert Cuccioli, Lea Delaria, and Liza Minelli.

“My art is inspired by the works of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. Boldness and simplicity are the keys to the success of my portraits. The Vibrant color of the background accents the shapes and shadows and enhances the three-dimensional appearance.”

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David Garibaldi

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: David Garibaldi

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

It was not until high school, after walking away from a life of graffiti in the streets, that the performance artist, David Garibaldi, turned his hip-hop influences in a more positive direction. Now, only a few short years later, his message of “Living one’s life as a platform,” has touched the hearts and minds of the hundreds of thousands of people he has performed in front of. His show energetically mixes a six foot canvas, performance art and motivational speaker with a little rock star thrown in for good measure.

 

From a Snoop Dogg concert to opening for the Blue Man Group, Garibaldi offers something special in his live performance “Rhythm & Hue,” something that anyone from any walk of life can relate to and enjoy. Most recently, he painted a portrait of Carlos Santana during the half time show of a Golden State Warriors basketball game. To everyone’s surprise, Santana came out and signed the work once Garibaldi had finished.

 

David Garibaldi’s Disney Fine Art program is a fusion of the “Rhythm and Hue” performance art and his more controlled, studio work. The result is a strongly stylized character with the exciting spontaneity of his live, performance pieces. With Garibaldi’s ability to make even the most classic figures seem somehow entirely new and fresh, his works are able to have one leg in classic iconography, while the other is clearly stretched far into the exciting world of modern art.

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Noah

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Noah

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

Born and raised in the heart of Orange County, California, the artist known simply as Noah has been creating amazing artwork – locally and worldwide – for many years. The “stages” of Noah’s life begin with his earliest memories: his grandmother’s rose garden, his mother’s floral designs, watching his father paint for hours on end. He was only two when he began to draw, still in school when he started winning awards for his work, and just 16 when he committed to a life and career as an artist.

 

His art career flourished while still in high school, creating signs and banners for the school, family and friends. With no formal training but a ton of raw talent, Noah began taking on commercial work of every variety. In the early nineties he was known for setting up his easel at local coffee shops and painting portraits of famous celebrities. His work captured the attention of Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Craig T. Nelson, ZZ Top and the Black Crows.

 

As recognition grew, so did his roster of clients (Levi’s, Alpine, Lexus) and collectors including CEO’s and celebrities. In 2004 Noah was asked to paint the famous pink “Suki” car in Universal Pictures “2 Fast 2 Furious”. One of his most recognized achievements are his rolling canvases for Alpine Electronics. These radical vehicles have won numerous automobile awards such as “Best Paint” at SEMA in Las Vegas four years in a row. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world.

 

In 2005 Noah teamed up with famous motor cross rider Carey Hart who launched A&E’s “Inked”. Noah’s art is seen in every episode on the walls of Hart and Huntington. In 2006 he became the official painter for © Fuente Cigars offering limited edition prints of the Fuente Heritage and their products.

 

“Being an artist is a privilege and a responsibility,” he says. “I want to impact individuals in the way I am impacted spiritually. In the best of all possible worlds, I would like my work to bring comfort to others, and help them move forward on their own spiritual journey.”

 

Noah and Disney

 

Growing up in Orange County exposed Noah to one of his greatest artistic influences. “I spent my days as a child wandering Main St. in Disneyland enjoying the magical world Walt Disney created,” explains Noah. ” I have been blessed with the unique opportunity to create art that helps carry on the legacy and heritage of Walt Disney’s dream. My goal is to continue to impact the lives of both young and old with the magic I have been so fortunate to take part in.”

 

Noah’s original Disney character portraits, crafted in his signature Asian-influenced, monochromatic paint style, are proving to be extremely popular among collectors of Disney Fine Art. He carefully renders the composition first, and then over-paints with more exuberant effects.

 

“I like to mix photorealism with drips and texture. It contradicts itself and works to the very end the organic and natural contrasts beautifully with the structure of the airbrush and photorealism. It’s a nice marriage of techniques that gives the work more depth. The effect is almost trompe – l’oeil, French for ‘trick the eye’, which is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects appear in three-dimensions. This is especially true of the water drops on the flowers.”

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Tim Rogerson

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Tim Rogerson

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

As a rising star in the art world, Tim Rogerson casts his artwork with a very evident energy and passion. Inspired by the works of Edgar Degas and Malcolm Liepke, the North Carolinanative has embarked on an artistic journey that has taken him from Degas to Disney to darling of the industry.

Born in Kissimmee, FL, Mr. Rogerson was forced to move with his family to North Carolina at the age of four because of family health concerns. His father, who at the time, was employed by Walt Disney World as Show Director in charge of managing and maintaining all of the performances in the park, made every day a magical adventure for the future artist, even though they no longer had the safety umbrella of Disney.

Mr. Rogerson grew up living the everyday life of a kid, playing outside and “hanging out” with friends, however, the artistic urge to create was always present, compelling him to apply the pictures and images in his head to paper and canvas.

Every child has a dream. For Mr. Rogerson, it was to be an artist as well as satisfying his desire to return to his home-state; back to the magical kingdom from which he came. Of course being surrounded by the whimsical images of Disney characters, even after his family moved to North Carolina; his father was an avid Disney collector and supporter, didn’t help curb his appetite for the Sunshine State. However, it was these images that helped form some of Mr. Rogerson’s style, which has begun to earn him critical acclaim.

Fulfilling his dream of returning to Florida, Mr. Rogerson was accepted as a student at the prestigious Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, majoring in Illustration. “I was a very traditional art student and explored all works; from the old masters to modern art,” says the artist. “My influences include Degas and John Singer Sargent; with his perfect, confident brushstrokes…their work has allowed me to push the envelope with my own abstraction of life.

Using the medium of oil paints, Mr. Rogerson focuses on capturing people in social settings, My work will always evolve, becoming more complex and detailed, says Mr. Rogerson.

While studying at the Ringling School, Mr. Rogerson gained the reputation as an upcoming artist and influence in his own right. His unique style was recognized when he was awarded the 2003 Best Painter Award from Ringling, followed by 2003 and 2004 Best of Ringling Award. One of his recognized works was an emotionally powerful portrait of Mr. Lincoln.

Since graduating from Ringling in 2004, Mr. Rogerson has contributed his artistic abilities to Disney and SS Designs in Florida. Currently, Mr. Rogerson is taking the art world by storm with his whimsical imagery for Disney Fine Art and this summer’s launch of Tim Rogerson’s Cosmopolitan POP: A Series of Paintings About Everyday Life and the Games People Play; a series of collections of works that showcase the lighterside of life. “I want my paintings to celebrate life and stay fresh… I try to stay away from the basic routine and technique because my joy for painting comes from the challenge of creating something entirely new,” says the artist about Cosmopolitan POP. In preview, this series has already won critical acclaim by the trade and his peers.

Mr. Rogerson’s latest success has come in the form of an official title. Named an Official Artist of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Winter Team, Mr. Rogerson has taken the POP world by surprise again with his colorful and impacting style. Tim Rogerson has obtained this designation by working with An Official Licensee of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Fine Art Ltd.

Rogerson’s piece titled “US Olympic Winter Team 2006″ will be released as both a limited edition giclée in an edition of 250 and an open edition poster. His contribution will help support the U.S. Olympic Winter Team.

Throughout history, the Olympic Games have been a forum for nations to peacefully compete for the prestige and honor of gold medals. U.S. Olympic Winter Team 2006″ is an ode to the American men and women who are competing peacefully in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games during such a volatile time in our history. From the graceful glide of the ice skater to the speed of the bobsled and determination of the downhill skier, Rogerson’s piece represents the passion with which the U.S. Olympic Team hopes to bring the gold home to the Red, White and Blue.

As my personal style is emerging and I break down the composition into simple shapes, with each shape having its own palette it’s a jigsaw puzzle of color to form an image, says Mr. Rogerson.

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Mike Kungl

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Mike Kungl

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

The Art of M. Kungl – A Fresh Twist on a Classic Era

 

After completing art and design school M. Kungl applied his graphic design education to achieve a successful career in advertising. Spending nearly two decades creating award winning logos, package design and illustration for companies such as Panasonic, Johnson & Johnson, Toshiba and Nissan Motors, Kungl then focused on fine art full time.

 

Soon into his new career, Kungl never suspected that success on one coast would lead to recognition on another. Within just two years the California artist was selected to create the official artwork for Miami Beach’s 25th annual Art Deco Weekend.

 

The Miami honor is just one of many in a succession of developments that highlight Kungls growing reputation as a recognized collectible artist across the country and around the world. In addition to strong domestic sales of his images, Kungls works are rising in popularity throughout Europe, Japan and Australia. His work is featured regularly in magazine articles, how to books and television shows.

 

Kungl currently works in his southern California studio shaping and refining each of his meticulously crafted images. In addition the artist is also creating high quality gift and home decor products under the M. Kungl Studios name.

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Manuel Hernandez

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Manuel Hernandez

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

Brilliantly composed and filled with vibrant color, the paintings of Manuel Hernandez are a feast for the eyes. Reflecting the mastery and energy of some of the finest artists to ever fill the pages of Disney history, Hernandez’s work captures the magic and essence of this timeless artistic tradition and moves it reverently into the twenty-first century.

 

Manuel’s meticulous attention to detail is the hallmark to his paintings. Traditionally trained, Manuel Hernandez, a Southern California native was originally inspired and influenced by the contemporary illustrative works of J.C. Leyendecker, Dean Cornwell and Norman Rockwell. Having studied and apprenticed as an illustrator, Manuel Hernandez developed his skills with pen and brush to a level of mastery that would come to satisfy even the most discerning eye of some of the more critical Disney art traditionalists.

 

When asked to contribute his artistic interpretation of the Walt Disney legend Hernandez set about to create a fresh perspective utilizing a modern Americana theme made famous by his early illustrative influences. Armed with many years of study and an equally demanding self-drive for perfectionism, Hernandez incorporated the powerful style of Muralist Diego Rivera, which when blended with his illustrative technique helped to create the unique and passionate artwork he would become famous for.

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Dick Duerrstein

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Dick Duerrstein

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

As a young child growing up in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, Dick Duerrstein was always drawing.He loved to draw battle scenes and cars, especially cars that had been designed and painted by the iconic Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth.His mother’s shopping list always included a note to buy him another ream of white paper, as he quickly filled every inch of both sides of each sheet with his meticulous graphite drawings. After high school, he studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena while working for a graphics firm.

His passion for art, along with his love of Disney comics and movies, fostered in him the dream of someday working for the Walt Disney Studios and in 1976 he began his career at Disney as Creative Director for their Consumer Products Division. Designing Disney merchandise for the national market, Duerrstein worked alongside many of the foremost animation artists of the 20th Century, including Ward Kimball, Marc Davis (and incidentally, with Chuck Jones at Warner Bros.)For the next 22 years, Dick had the opportunity to use his talent in many diverse ways, developing his own unique style that is prevalent in his paintings today.

His experience at Disney working on a wide variety of projects has given Dick a world-class sense of design.His artwork has adorned everything from record album covers and clothing to fine collectible items such as cel portfolios, art glass and furniture.Some of his published works include a series of three children’s books that he illustrated, and a fine art serigraph series of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck.Dick began perfecting his current style of painting over fifteen years ago.Finding inspiration in the work of contemporary artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, he has imbued his paintings of cartoon characters with new life.

At home in his studio, Dick begins each painting by simply layering each aspect of the character, color by color, so that each painting expands beyond character interpretation.Working primarily on canvas in acrylics and oil pastels, his striking, contemporary style brings his images to life in a dramatic and unforgettable fashion.The vibrant colors and bold brushwork of his art create a sense of movement, excitement and reverence for the creative process.He truly enjoys the process of discovery involved in the conception and execution of his paintings, knowing that he can bring his imagination to life on the canvas for all to share.

Duerrstein’s work can be found in the Walt Disney Studio corporate offices, Burbank, California; The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. and St. Jude’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and private collections worldwide.Currently his work is seen in “The Art of Mickey Mouse” exhibition traveling through Japan.

“I approach each painting, each character with the awe of a child, but the memories and skills of an adult and consequently, I hope that my artworks inspire in the viewer that wondrous sense of magical thinking that Disney imbued each of his characters with and that has made them such classic icons of American cinema.Having spent much of my career in my dream-job at Disney Studios, this new opportunity to interpret and to paint the characters is freighted with much more meaning than is possible to express in words, so I’ll let my art do the talking for me.”

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Trevor Carlton

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Artist Name: Trevor Carlton

Artistic Discipline: Paintings

Artist Biography:

Monte Trevor Carlton was born in 1972 in Olympia, Washington State. Although he took up painting in high school, the first artistic passion that Trevor embraced was acting. He decided to forgo an art scholarship in favor of attending a dramatic arts scholarship at Skagit Valley College.

Trevor next attended the Lee Strasberg Acting Workshop. The following year he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Amidst the chaos of auditions and callbacks, Trevor paid the bills by working in a custom furniture store, specializing in antiquing and faux finish designs.

It was here that a style was born. Using reclaimed lumber as his “canvas”, he started painting images of vintage Americana with subjects ranging from pop icon celebrity to the hey day of jazz.

After numerous gallery shows in Los Angeles and private commissions he has now combined his unique style to that most American of symbols, MICKEY MOUSE. Along with a series of classic lobby card paintings, he has also created a performance piece that has him painting a large canvas of our favorite Disney characters in a matter of minutes.

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