The Importance Of Preserving Art Heritage

My eyes opened wide as my mentor Jack took my hand and moved the brush in a new way. He could have shown me, but when he took his hand to move mine, I got it instantly. When I asked how he learned this amazing little painting trick, he told me that his mentor in Florence had done exactly the same with him, 40 years earlier. Clearly, this move had been passed from mentor to student for generations.

We're living in an amazing era for realism. When I started publishing my first art magazine, less than 10 years ago, I lamented the important traditions that were barely being preserved and were taught in so very few places. Much has changed, and graduates of the ateliers teaching the 600-year-old methods of past greats are springing up across America, resulting in a movement unlike any seen since the Renaissance. Mark my words: The next 50 years will be a new renaissance for realism in a form relevant to our world today.

A Meeting By Chance
When Peter Trippi and I first met at dinner and he asked me the goals of my magazine Fine Art Connoisseur, I think he expected to hear of my profit motive. Instead, I told him of my passion for exposing people to the art of generations past and my passion for seeing a new generation of painters carry on the tradition so that it continues for generations to come.

We were in sync, and the rest is history: That meeting resulted in Peter's joining as our editor, which in turn has led to the magazine's being embraced by the leading art experts who pen our articles, and, of course, by our growing readership.

The Endless Debate About Technology In Art
At a recent gathering of artists, a discussion arose about whether technology should be used in art, just because of its availability. That sparked a debate over the use of photographs in the creation of artworks.

Some referred to great artists of the past who utilized then-new photographic technology as a tool, while others stated that life is the only medium that should be copied. That will probably be an endless debate, but the discussion led to other technology, which raised the question: Is it harmful for students to study from videos created by master artists?

One artist stated that his success began with his having viewed a DVD by one master artist, because his location and budget didn't allow him to study with such masters. That DVD was, the artist said, his road to becoming a better painter until he could afford access to in-person mentors.

One wonders what might have changed if video had been rolling as the greats from our past placed paint on canvas, or if we could have preserved their discussions and motivations related to their art.

Seeing Bouguereau With New Eyes
Though nothing can replace the personal touch of a master-mentor relationship, many of the great volumes on painting were crafted from student notes. Imagine how those of us who paint could have improved by watching, through the lens of a camera, over the shoulder of Gerome, David, or Bouguereau. Imagine how many tens of thousands of lives they could have touched among those not fortunate enough to be able to study with them, or to live during their time. Imagine the impact future generations of painters will feel when they are able to capture moments with today's masters. These will be invaluable experiences.

Empathy Of The Brush
The best art critics, the best experts, are those who can empathize with the brush. It's been said that to truly understand painting as a collector or a viewer, one must learn to paint. Though I loved art, I could not properly see it until I studied painting with my first mentor, Jack Acetus Jackson, who studied in the lineage of many great Florentine and Venetian masters, with Madame Simi and with Frank Reilly and Ives Gammel.

After a year of study, I wept when I saw a Bouguereau at the San Francisco Legion of Honor through newly opened eyes. I could not grasp how he could accomplish such mastery, with such transparent skin tones. It was that moment that I knew my new purpose, which is helping others' eyes open to such beauty and assuring a future so these methods don't die.

Carrying The Flag
Many individuals are carrying the flag for realism, with the unified purpose of seeing it discovered by the art world. They are fighting against great odds in a world where realism has been pooh-poohed as nothing more than "pretty pictures." Yet this new, energy-filled movement is not about repeating the past but about creating a new future, rooted in deep traditions. It is being embraced by youth, who find it new and refreshing, and who are teaching others, opening ateliers, and breathing new life.

Determined To Carry Traditions Forward
Word travels fast when your mission is clear. Michael Klein, a magnificent young painter who studied under Jacob Collins, recently caught my eye because he shared this same mission of carrying painting technique and philosophy to future generations. Not only was he teaching, he determined that he could leverage technology to touch more lives, and invested time and effort to create a simple video format to document some of the world's most important artists. It was a labor of love, and American Painting Video Magazine was born.

When I learned what Michael was doing, I suggested that we make APVM available to the Fine Art Connoisseur audience. Michael is passionate about conducting interviews, philosophical discussions, and even showing some of the great painters at work, which I believe will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand realism at a deeper level. The new result is APVM Fine Art Connoisseur, which I am announcing today.

No Hollywood Hype
APVM Fine Art Connoisseur is producing two hours of content every quarter and is offering it at only $10, which is a good value; we often see DVDs of artists selling at much higher prices. This is content you can also view online and download to your computer to keep forever. And I believe you'll appreciate the quiet pace. APVM Fine Art Connoisseur is not filled with annoying fast-paced edits, but feels more like a documentary on public television. Our goal was to keep this very real, almost spiritual, so you can get a feel for the pace and thought process of each video. It's not Hollywood, it's authentic.

New Doors Opening
Each two-hour video features multiple artist visits, discussions, and unique content. For instance, when we were in Russia, Peter Trippi interviewed Semyon Mikhailovsky, the Rector of the St. Petersburg Academy of the Arts, a 300-year-old institution founded by Catherine the Great and one of the most important schools in the world. That interview is just one of several segments in the current issue of APVM Fine Art Connoisseur. In the next issue, APVM Fine Art Connoisseur visits Antonio Lopez Garcia in Spain, one of the best living realists of our time.

Worldwide Exposure
I'd like to invite you to explore American Painting Video Magazine. If you're a collector, an art professional, an artist, or just someone with a passion for art, I believe you'll find this video magazine very insightful. It's a communication tool about techniques and philosophies that have passed through generations, and I'm proud to be involved in the archiving of such important information in video and making it available worldwide.

Treat yourself to a dose of wonderful video at AmericanPaintingVideoMagazine.com, or go to FineArtConnoisseur.com and click the APVM button. You can also visit the APVM page on Facebook.

Eric Rhoads

PS: I'm especially proud of this project and our association with producer Michael Klein, not only because he is an accomplished painter with a passion for the generational techniques he has spent years learning, but because of his eye and experience. Michael is extremely discerning about the people featured, which gives me great confidence in the project. I hope you'll consider viewing American Painting Video Magazine and help others capture the passion by sharing what you've learned.

 

Comments

[Stanka Kordic]

Hello Eric! I came across this blog researching Garcia, and have just seen the interview on APVM. A magnificent interview!

Garcia has SO much to teach our young realists coming up. He is advocating more than technique..technique being merely "the vehicle for the substance of your spirit". IMHO, there is such a huge focus on technique alone these days. The development of our own individual language is often lost in modern realist work. Hence, the plethora of copycat work that exists in galleries today.

It is one thing to carry the traditions of our masters forward, I am all for that. The challenge becomes, how do we make it our own? How do we take it to the future infused with the individual spirit it deserves? How do we touch the hearts of our viewers, personally?

I'll end it with another quote from Mr. Garcia:

"the good language is your own, the one that is important to you..and you have to learn it as you go."

SIncerely,
Stanka Kordic

[Eric Rhoads]

Stan:

Though I may favor realism I also love a many forms of art. Though I admit I find some things a turn off, others I find stimulating and interesting. I know one thing for sure and that is NOTHING is gained by tearing down others.

[Garin Baker]

Thank you Eric for your informative article and the launching of Fine Art Connoisseur/APVM and hoping that this unique platform will embrace all the varied languages and approaches of contemporary realism.
For I've experienced many of the prejudices and narrow perceptions of what is Realism is for many years from many angles.
Being quite fortunate to have studied at early age with great aritists like Dinnerstein, Silverman, Laffel, Ginsburgh. Greenberg , Ted Seth Jacobs, then on to college in the early 80's at Pratt only to find myself in the fine arts department painting from live models alone until other students asked "who's class was this", for which I had no answer other to say "welcome". My sincere hope is that this new platform and collaboration will be open to a diversity of contemporary realism and art that's truly inviting and interested in expressing ideas and approaches beyond the usual comfortable subjects, internal and external. Again,Thank you and I plan on signing up immediately!

[Mona Youssef]

Thank Eric for the lively article, I have enjoyed reading it as always. It is about the time to educate the majority of the importance and the value of realism. This does not mean belittling any other style. Rather, to put realism in the right frame and proportions for it has been criticized negatively over the many years for personal gains. I am a realist artist and will never change my style even if my sale is not as much as I wish. It is the style that I have chosen for myself since childhood and will always stand for it. Although, I have been international art jury and had to jury artwork of all kinds of styles and appreciate them all, but my first love is for realism. I knew within my heart that the time would come for realism to relive. What is more beautiful, sophisticated and challenging than nature itself! Simplifying / subtracting what we see in nature is taking out portions of its beauty, perfection and dynamic energy. In realism, whether we are capable of capturing what we see and fell or we do not. It takes much to paint in realism and is not simply by copying a photograph as some may think!

In addition, realism records history, cultures and carry civilizations. Realism in endless process of learning and will never die.

[Mona Youssef]

Thank Eric for the lively article, I have enjoyed reading it as always. It is about the time to educate the majority of the importance and the value of realism. This does not mean belittling any other style. Rather, to put realism in the right frame and proportions for it has been criticized negatively over the many years for personal gains. I am a realist artist and will never change my style even if my sale is not as much as I wish. It is the style that I have chosen for myself since childhood and will always stand for it. Although, I have been international art jury and had to jury artwork of all kinds of styles and appreciate them all, but my first love is for realism. I knew within my heart that the time would come for realism to relive. What is more beautiful, sophisticated and challenging than nature itself! Simplifying / subtracting what we see in nature is taking out portions of its beauty, perfection and dynamic energy. In realism, whether we are capable of capturing what we see and fell or we do not. It takes much to paint in realism and is not simply by copying a photograph as some may think!

In addition, realism records history, cultures and carry civilizations. Realism in endless process of learning and will never die.

[Mack Brislawn]

Indeed, we should embrace all art. But it is sad that in years past representational art was not accepted, but continually denigrated by the modernist critics.

There are now quite a number of great young artists who are following the realist tradition.

[Judith Baker]

I love that you think that the new wave towards realism is on the way. Over the past several years I've been painting in a classical style. I get lots of favorable comments but almost no sales! I hope I can survive til the wave breaks!

J

[Stan Sperlak]

Hello Eric, Great article as always, so helpful and informative and generous. But, always remember there is room for all art and artists in this great world, and while i too favor realism, and know how helpful the education from a great teacher can be, please stay open minded that realism is not better than other art, and too often that is the mindset that eventually destroys the joy the world feels as they digest art. People start to feel if they like abstract, but nobody else is talking about it then they are wrong. Or as 20 years ago, people had not re-embraced ateliers and life drawing and "realism" but they shouldn't have felt odd. Or coming across teachers and galleries who take such strong positions as to what is real and worth looking at, buying or doing. Lets just embrace all art, and know we all have individual preference about what is attractive to us.

[Elizabeth Gallery]

The first link in your email did not work and there was no APVM button in the second link. I do not do Facebook, so could not access the sample video.