Artist’s Statement

I briefly attended the Cleveland Institute of Art (1992-1993) but found hanging out at the Euclid Tavern and the Cleveland Museum of Art much more educational. Music And Art have been a constant force in moving my life forward. Although the past is a constant reminder of promises forgotten. I now make good on the little lies that get me through the night. The reinventing of the dream-self on every new morning. The doorway between the conscious self and the subconscious ideal has been left open. What remains of the journey lies in paint. My Style is subjective to the viewers preconceptions. I am a figure artist. The rest is up for interpretation. The artistic influences on my paintings are quite varied. I am most influenced by the Symbolist. Which turned into the modern Illustration movement. Everyone from Klimt to Schiele from Bacon and Auerbach to Frazetta and Giger. All my idols are dead. It is my time to start a new generation of dreamers.

Artist Statement

I was skeptical about photographing the inaugural New York Dance Parade. It was a whacky concept: Let’s dance for miles down Broadway and thru the streets of Greenwich Village. But, as with so many things in New York City, an interesting new approach will find an audience. Even though it was cold and gray and wet, the streets were lined with eager watchers. There were the usual contingents of favorites from the Caribbean and middle Europe, but also patriots from the icy north and the tropical Pacific. And, a strong field of alt-dancers, who came equipped with pogo sticks, roller skates and stilts.

Three things most of the dancers had in common: They loved all forms of dance, they were wildly energetic and they were totally un-self-conscious about their bodies. The woman in the photograph, who might be described by some as zaftig, was a charming performer, dancing naturally for all the miles of the parade. She made the day warmer.

Artist Biography

Thom O’Connor has been making photographs for 55 years.  His editorial images have appeared in major American magazines and newspaper, including The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, PC Magazine, Parade, The Chicago Sun-Times and Prevention.

Thom has taught photography and design at Long Island University and The College of New Rochelle. He has written on photography for Popular Photography, American Photographer, Lens Magazine, USA Today, Photo District News, and The ASMP Bulletin.

O’Connor has been a member of the Highlands Photography Gallery in Milford, Pennsylvania, and the Fototo Gallery in Huntington, New York. He is currently a member of the Soho Photo gallery in New York City. Recent solo exhibits of his fine art photography have included: “Ireland, Not So Long Ago,” “The Golden Hour,” “Intersections,” “Empty City,” “Something About The Light,” “We Ain’t Neva’ Scared,” and most recently “The Project.”Thom is the proprietor of The TableTop Studio, in New York City.

 Artist Statement

Nature is the single greatest teacher in Art. When composing a work, I am on a journey to humble myself before the magnitude of reality; of nature.

Among my influences are Zorn, Sargent, and modern masters such as Nelson Shanks, Steven Assael, and Dan Thompson. Through them I seek a marriage of classical themes and contemporary progress.

I eschew the use of photographic implements, and their aesthetics, and instead search for visual celebrations of nature via the primacy of work made from life. Each work is an exploration of our reality and an invitation to commune with it.

Artist Biography

Based in Wilmington, DE, Jarred Fisher is a contemporary realist artist. After graduating from Delaware College of Art and Design in 2007, where he studied under Catherine Drabkin, Paul Hluchan, and Elana Hagler, Fisher spent the next five years struggling to create work with the level of skill and depth of purpose he sought. Moved by the works of many of the 19th century baroque painters, Fisher sought out to acquire deeper technical skills and more rigorous academic instruction. Upon reading a magazine interview with noted master artist Nelson Shanks, Fisher set out to further his training at Shank’s Philadelphia atelier, Studio Incamminati, beginning in 2012. There he trained under living masters such as Dan Thompson, Jon DeMartin, Darren Kingsley, Stephen Early, Lea Colie Wight, and Kerry Dunn.

Graduating in 2016, Fisher continues to search for answers to the innumerable questions of reality through the practice of daily painting. A firm believer in the importance of art education, he also serves as the Upper School Art teacher at Doane Academy in Burlington, New Jersey. There he teaches high school students the same academic, realist curriculum he studied at Studio Incamminati.

Professional Artist with 10 years’ experience, 4 years of study under master artists, and 4 years of teaching students in both private and classroom-style settings. Concentrations in contemporary realist works in Oil and Metalpoint with a focus on still life and figurative work.

Artist Statement

To show yourself, to expose yourself, to like to do that. To make it by yourself, through yourself, from yourself – this is an option. You do something as desired end of obtained. I wanted to have me. I did it. I did myself great. What do I do next? I am putting myself into an attic or going into the world? Metaphoric – through the work, literally – through she, the author, me. I see myself well, but I can not show myself to you like this. If you’re honest, you’re smashed. I want you to see me, but I am shy, I want to make you feel uncomfortable. Look at me from a distance. We keep our distance. We are approaching by the idea, we are breaking through the real. And the reality is full of walls. Not full, but there are always four. Or so it sounds good. And a eye-hall. Talk from there. Or not. As you wish?!

And the dots. Why dots? So I felt now. That is enough, do we like to say like that!? Not. Everything has an explanation. But mine, here, did not looked good.

“I love all dots. I am married to many of them. I want all dots to be happy. Dots are my brothers. I am a dot myself.”   –    Sigmar Polke

Education

2013 – 2016 – National University of Arts Bucharest, Romania, Painting Department, Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts 2013 – 2016 – National University of Arts Bucharest, Romania, Teacher Training Department, Psycho-pedagogical Training in Visual Arts Level 1

Exhibitions / Group:

2016 – ”Diploma” – The Institute, Stirbey Palace Art Gallery, Bucharest, Romania 2016 – “In pursuit of the present”, Art House Gallery, Bucharest, Romania (National)

2015 – “The new angels of justice”, Academy Gallery, Bucharest, Romania (National) 2015 – “ The drawing”, Mansard Gallery, Timisoara, Romania (National)

2015 – “Point”, Pitesti, Romania (National) 2014 – Dales Hall, Bucharest, Romania (National) 2012 – Art Gallery of the Romanian Academy Library , Bucharest, Romania (National)

2012 – at the Romanian stand, Kermes 2012 Exhibition, Spain (International)

2011 – “Signs and Symbols” , Brussels, Belgium (International) 2011 – Social Workers Center, Madrid, Spain (International)

2009 – “The colors of Byala” , Byala, Bulgaria (International)

2008 – “Mazes” , Debut Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria (International)

2008 – “Impressions”, Debut Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria (International)

Awards

The biennale prize 2015 – first place, drawing contest, Timisoara, Romania