These stunning red fashions are the work of former art student Erika Landry. She just completed her junior year at the School of Art Institute of Chicago. Erika traveled to India for three weeks during winter break and took her inspiration from that trip.  Here are her 3 ‘looks’ – she designed and made everything (including the headpieces and necklaces).   Her school set up a store in downtown Chicago and her pants from look #2 sold for $275 and the necklace for $75. Erika just moved her to NYC for an internship with Marchesa, her dream designer intern with this summer. 

I had the pleasure of taking my first class at the Art Students League of New York a few weeks ago. Founded in 1875 by artists and for artists, the Art Students League of New York has been instrumental in shaping America's legacy in the fine arts. Many renowned artists have honed their skills at the League, which is dedicated to sustaining the great tradition of training artists. Today, more than 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, study at the League each month. Click here to see a short film about the League by Dale Schierholt.  

I spent the a week with artist Max Ginsburg. Here are some of his oil paintings:

During my weeklong workshop with Max I learned the following:

• Painting is a challenging, difficult and rewarding
  
• Teaching feeds your painting- Max also worked as a high school art educator for many years 
  
• Many of the people in Max's paintings are former students
  
• Painting color, form, and light are all technical skills that can be improved 
  
• Max is a master at using his brush to create the human form, it was a delight to watch and observe him paint
  
• Max describes himself as a "social realist". He depicts NYC and the people who inhabit it, he has a message that he wants to share and political views that he expresses in his paintings. His work is much more than just figurative work, but he expresses his point of view and captures the human spirit

Here is a portrait painting that I created during the workshop.

Burlington High School Art Department Seventh Annual Portfolio Exhibition

The Burlington High School AP Studio Art, Portfolio and Drawing & Painting 2 classes will be holding the reception for their annual Portfolio Exhibition next Thursday, May 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. 

The Portfolio Exhibition differs from Burlington High’s other Annual Art Exhibition (which occurs in March) in that it is predominantly student-organized. The twenty+ students in the advanced art classes self-select the work to be displayed, they organize their own personal exhibit spaces, and they all will be on hand to discuss their portfolios, which are comprised of the body of work they have developed over the past year or more.

One long-term effort from each student will be on display: each artist has been working on a Concentration, an involved series of artworks whose learning objectives the student developed him- or herself. 

Visitors will be able to speak to the artists about their goals and their processes. Refreshments will be provided.