Today’s Artwork of the Day is “Can You Say Mona?” — a 36″ x 24″ oil painting by Roland Morin, who will be showing his work at Artexpo New York 2012 with Artisan Direct.

"Can You Say Mona?" by Roland Morin, oil painting, 36"x24"

Roland Morin’s witty, colorful take on Leonardo’s masterpiece brings to mind the winking Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein or Andy Warhol. For Roland, however, the process of art is driven by simple joy.

For me the important thing is not to fit into accepted genres, but rather to express a positive and uplifting way to view life and to bring joy to those who view my works. In a complex, ever-changing world, I aim to make my message simple, something that speaks to the heart without having to negotiate lengthily with the head.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1954, Roland’s precocious artistic talent eventually landed him at Baltimore’s PICA Art School in Baltimore. Roland says his sinister view of the world as a young artist expressed itself in dark tones and a bleak palette. Later in life, however, Roland had a religious revelation. He credits his new devotion to Jesus Christ with changing his painting completely. The forms Roland used became simplified, yet charged with bright, vibrant, life-affirming colors. The new look was fresh, contemporary and fit the “user-friendly” approach Roland is taking these days:

Let’s face it, the world is not a simple place to live in anymore; therefore, why should we, as artists, make our artwork any more difficult for them to understand and accept? Bright colors are vital to my work, counteracting the effects of a world which can often seem dark. In this way, I capture the spirit of freedom from the complexities of everyday living, and encourage my viewers to take some of that feeling into their lives.

Roland Morin greets collectors at Miami SOLO

Despite the immediate appeal of Roland’s work, he is only now making his art available to collectors in museum-quality giclee prints as a charter member of Artexpo Studio. You can find out more about Roland Martin through his Artexpo Studio page, as well as see more of his wonderful paintings and buy prints in a range of sizes.

After his very successful showing at the Miami SOLO show, Roland Morin will be showing his paintings at Artexpo New York 2012 with Artisan Direct, Ltd., a sales, marketing and e-commerce company representing the interest of artisans and galleries worldwide. If you’re going to be here on Pier 92 from on March 22-25, stop by the Artisan Direct booth and say hello to Roland, and take a moment to let his work put a smile on your face.

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “I’ll Think About It,” a 24″ x 24″ acrylic on canvas by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Ilene Richard. Ilene has been drawing and painting “fun little characters” for as long as she can remember. And after being introduced to children’s book illustration at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, she knew that was going to be the basis for her career.

Ilene has since worked on many children’s books with most of America’s biggest publishing houses. Additional training at the DeCordova Museum School and the Museum School in Boston helped her on her parallel path as a fine artist. A couple dancing; a group of strangers standing next to each other in a crowded room — these are the seemingly undramatic moments that Ilene brings vividly to life with electric colors, fanciful stylization and a resonant emotional connection between her subjects:

Working as a children’s book illustrator and painter, it is important to me to create a narrative quality to my work, and draw the viewer more easily into my world.

Ilene Richard's booth at Miami SOLO 2011

Ilene Richard has exhibited her paintings throughout New England, as well as in Artexpo’s Miami [SOLO] show, while her illustration appears in books by Random House, McGraw Hill, Oxford University Press, Scholastic and other publishers. Now, as a Charter Member of Artexpo Studio, Ilene is offering museum-quality giclees of her originals at www.artexpostudio.com/ilene-richard.

We’re quite pleased that Ilene is coming to Artexpo New York 2012, where her stylish, infectiously fun paintings will be at Pier 92 from March 22-25! For now, find her online at www.artexpostudio.com/ilene-richard and www.ilenerichard.com

"Gaea Longs For Ouronos" by Jesse Newman

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “Gaea Longs for Ouronos” by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Jesse Newman.

A visual effects artist living in New York City, Jesse has worked on numerous award-winning projects, including feature films (Armageddon), commercials (M&Ms, Verizon, HP), broadcast designs (Disney, SciFi, HBO) and short films (Shapeshifter, One Rat Short).

For years now, he has now been working on a project of epic proportions, which he will unveil this March at Artexpo New York 2012. “The Rebirth of Gaea” is a celebration of Greek mythology, the earth and — most important — Jesse’s daughter Emma. The final image is comprised of thousands of images, representing hours upon hours of manipulations in post-production. Here’s a video sneak preview:

REBIRTH of GAEA – Flowing Meditation from Jesse Michael Newman on Vimeo.

All told, Jesse’s been working on this project for about six years. The first several years of the project, he took an average 2 weeks out of the year to work on it; then, realizing he needed to devote more time, he took a one-year sabbatical.

The project has taken this long for several reasons. I worked off and on the first several years, becoming absorbed in it for a few weeks and then not touching it again for many months at a time. You may notice when you see the final image, it is staggeringly complex… Finally, and most importantly, I fell in love with the process—creating artwork, I was home with the family more. When you find bliss, you tend not to rush out of it.

“Rebirth of Gaea” depicts Jesse’s daughter as Goddess of Earth. The media is what Jesse describes as “hyper-real fantasy art,” a tapestry of layers delicately interwoven from ancient narratives, personal experience and visual effects. When asked how he he managed to devote nearly a full year to this project, he said:

People usually don’t like this answer, but… unless you’re living below poverty level, you could do it, too. Prioritize time for yourself over having cable TV, a new car, etc. Live below your means. Recognize every purchase as a value of time, not just money. Don’t look at a new car strictly as costing $30K; translate that into time and see it as costing you a few months home hanging with the kids.

Jesse was recently accepted as a juried Charter Member at ArtexpoStudio.com, where you can now purchase museum-quality reproductions of his innovative work. You’ll find his online Artexpo Studio gallery at www.artexpostudio.com/jesse-michael-newman and you can visit his personal website at www.jessenewman.com

The entire Artexpo team is eagerly looking forward to seeing the big unveiling of “Rebirth of Gaea” at the show. Don’t miss it!

By the Still Water, Georgia Nassikas, 16" x 24" encaustic

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “By the Still Water,” a 16″ x 24″ encaustic painting by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Georgia Nassikas. These still waters could well be those of the Rhode Island coast, where Georgia was raised. Born into one of the state’s most revered political families, Georgia was the daughter of John Chafee, Governor of Rhode Island and later Secretary of the Navy and U.S. Senator, and the sister of former U.S. Senator and current Governor Lincoln Chafee. Georgia was pulled by another strand of her remarkable DNA, however: her maternal great-grandfather was the noted painter and camouflage pioneer George de Forest Brush, while an aunt was an accomplished portraitist.

Leaving the hum of political life to her brother, Georgia went on to train as an artist and designer in Boston and Florence. She eventually set up her studio in the rolling, Virginia countryside across from Washington, DC.

Now, her life resonates with the hum of an entirely different kind. Dotting the gardens outside Georgia’s window are blue and yellow beehives that produce the encaustic medium she paints with. It was after Georgia saw Jasper Johns’ encaustics at the National Gallery that she began to mix hot beeswax from her hives with mineral pigments, damar and oil sticks, applying it boards and creating semi-abstracted, planar compositions with richly textured surfaces.

What I love about this medium is the energy involved – the process of scraping, layering, and scoring is active, engaging, and challenging.

The hives themselves often figure in her landscapes, though the sea is never far from her artist’s eye. What ties her work together, beyond her trademark, formal approach, is its quiet, timeless luminosity. While enhanced by the ancient medium of hot wax and pigment, Georgia’s unique sense of light can be seen in her earlier work in oil as well as her more recent encaustics.

Georgia has exhibited widely in Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland and Rhode Island. We are fortunate to have her join us at Artexpo New York 2012 from March 22-25, and look forward to welcoming her. You can find out more about Georgia Nassikas at her website, georgianassikas.com.

Today’s Artwork of the Day is Navajo Way, a 13″ x 19″ digital photograph by Linda and Theodore M. Shinkle.

Navajo Way by Linda and Theodore M. Shinkle

Collaborative photographers Linda and Theodore M. Shinkle snowshoe, cross-country ski, hike, boat and don waders to capture rare and unique moments in the natural and human worlds. For today’s Artwork of the Day the mother-and-son duo ventured deep into the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley, Utah:

Leo Lightfoot, a Navajo guide, took us to this rarely viewed sacred site. Wind and water eroded the sandstone over the last 50 million years, forming this double arch. The fleeting golden early morning light furthered nature’s handiwork by additionally carving remarkable shapes into the largest arch.

Inspired by shapes, abstraction, texture and the connectivity of light, shadows, and reflections, the Shinkles stage tableaux through the camera lens in a technique known as light painting.

Location work begins our artistic process with fulfillment coming after digital dark room editing, developing and postprocessing. Our process delivers a highly nuanced, stylized body of work, evoking an interpretive emotional response rather than a literal experience. We photograph where feelings coincide at the intersection of technology and compelling composition.

Trained in darkroom techniques at the University of Michigan, Linda continued her studies at the Sorbonne University of Paris and with National Geographic photographers in Italy. Linda obtained her Juris Doctor, practicing law while continuing to pursue her passion for photography. She gave her son Theodore his first camera at age three. After he grew up and received a Bachelor of Arts from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, he studied photography at FAMU and Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Picking up work experience in the cinema industry, he then joined creative forces with his mother. Since then they have photographed on location on five continents. Linda and Theodore both reside in Michigan, and their work has been exhibited in galleries and shows around the country.

As Charter Members of Artexpo Studio, Linda and Theodore are now making their work available to a wider collecting public through museum-quality art prints. Visit their Artexpo Studio page to view their work or buy it directly in a range of sizes.

We look forward to seeing Linda and Theodore Shinkle at Artexpo New York on Pier 92, March 22-25. If you’re there, come meet them. You can also learn more about this uniquely brilliant photographic duo at their Artexpo Studio page  or at shinklephotography.com.

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “1935 Duesenberg SJ Special,” a 30″ x 40″ acrylic painting by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor James E Caldwell III.

"1935 Duesenberg SJ Special" by James Caldwell III

Painter James E. Caldwell III had an epiphany when he spotted this this ’35 Duesenberg at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.  Bright sunlight had broken through the Monterey Peninsula’s gloomy marine layer and shone on the car’s elegant streamlined design. James was struck and took out his camera.

I work from photographs, the photo session requires minimal time with the owner and the car, it allows me to capture the light at a given moment often in a natural environment.

That Duesie went on to win best of show that day — and James immortalized the moment with one of his most passionate, brilliantly colored paintings of automotive exotics.

My passion for cars can be seen in my work…I have always loved cars, as I became more serious about my painting they seemed to be an obvious subject choice. I continue to find capturing the complex reflections and distortions of light and color in the intricate surfaces to be a rewarding challenge.

A native Californian who lives and works in Menlo Park, south of San Francisco, James graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2000. Yet under the influence and tutelage of his father, the renowned California landscape painter Jim Caldwell, James says he has been a student of art for as long as he can remember.

There’s a growing demand for James’ original acrylic paintings of classic cars — “automotive portraits,” as he calls them — among collectors of both automobiles and art. As a Charter Member of Artexpo Studio, however, James is now making museum-quality reproductions of his work available to a wider audience. View and purchase James’ prints from his online gallery at Artexpo Studio: artexpostudio.com/james-e-caldwell-iii.

You can also learn more about James E. Caldwell III at jamesartist.com. And if you are at Artexpo New York 2012, March 22-25 at Pier 92, stop by and see for yourself how James transforms steel and rubber into canvases of enduring beauty.

"Sea" by Sarah Ali

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “Sea,” a 27 x 27 pigmentation on cork by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Sarah Ali.

Sarah Ali’s entry into the world of art probably saved her life. Born into a family of two physicians, she pursued an MBA, married and became the proud mother of three children. However, two years ago, Sarah’s health rapidly deteriorated and doctors couldn’t find the reason or a cure. After months of grueling tests and hospitalizations, the mystery ended with the devastating diagnosis of lupus.

Sarah fell into a severe depression. Fortunately, her maternal uncle JAMALI, one of the most respected contemporary artists in the world, and creator of the unique “mystical expressionist” style, came to her rescue.

“He encouraged me to start painting. My uncle taught me that painting is an act of meditation, which can bring about feelings of euphoria like no other.”

Having nothing to lose, she picked up a paint brush and hasn’t been able to put it down since! In Sarah’s work, we can see her inner experience—severe pain during a flare-up, as well as bright, euphoric colors on “good” days.

“Whatever the day brings, with the help of my painting, I can deal with this condition in a whole new light. When I paint, it brings a very intimate, intense feeling—a great sense of peace and tranquility surrounds me—I believe it has saved my life.”

Sarah’s work incorporates unconventional media such as pigmentation on imported Spanish cork. Her Fresco Tempera paintings are created outdoors in collaboration with nature and all its basic elements. In many of the pieces one can see leaves, twigs and grass. Powder paints are applied along with water to form rich textured pieces. Once the pieces are complete, varnish is applied to secure all the substrates.

Sarah Ali & Scott Birnbaum at Miami SOLO

Last December, during Art Miami, Sarah Ali was recognized by Baterby’s Art Auction Gallery as a 2012 “Best Florida Artist.”

She is also an esteemed Charter Member artist at Artexpo Studio, an online fine art gallery powered by Artexpo. Keep an eye out—you’ll soon be able to purchase museum-quality reproductions of her work at www.ArtexpoStudio.com. Meanwhile, find her online at www.sarah-ali.com

This March, you can visit Sarah and see her extraordinary creations at booth #482 during Artexpo New York 2012.

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “Miami Magenta” by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Hans Petersen.

"Miami Magenta" by Hans Petersen

Hans Petersen’s vibrant, large-scale paintings show the influence of the CoBrA Movement, a collective of Northern European artists dedicated to complete freedom in color and form. In the bright colors, aggressive brushwork and compositional excitement of “Miami Magenta” — part of Hans’ most recent body of work, ART-I-TECTURE — you can see how the Danish-American painter abstracts his environment into patterns and textures that seem to dance on the canvas.

“I process different aspects of architecture and environment and translate them into abstract, graphic, expressionistic paintings. As the title [ART-I-TECTURE] suggests, I rely on my knowledge of architecture and color to create visions of real and imagined images.”

Trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen, Hans settled into a successful career as a graphic designer. His work brought him to the USA; first New York City, then Charlotte, NC, where he created marketing materials for the American furniture industry. In 2005, Hans took up his brushes again as a full-time painter, yet his graphic design background still informs the visual logic and bold compositional sense of his canvases:

Barbara Koller, Scott Birnbaum, Hans Petersen at Miami SOLO

“Paintings with impact bring me pleasure. I strive to infuse a distinctive energy and character into my work to achieve excitement for myself and for others. If it goes unnoticed, it simply wasn’t worthwhile painting.”

Hans Petersen’s vivid paintings are sought after by discriminating collectors. Represented by galleries in Stamford, CT, Charlotte, NC and Copenhagen, and featured in private collections throughout the United States and Denmark, Hans is also making his work available to a wider audience via museum-quality reproductions as a Charter Member of Artexpo Studio.

Learn more about Hans Petersen at www.hanspetersenart.com — or meet him and view his canvases during Artexpo New York 2012, March 22-25 at Pier 92. And look for his online gallery, launching soon at ArtexpoStudio.com.

"Dogwood Bloom V" by Kristen Ray Naugle

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “Dogwood Bloom V,” a 32″ x 48″ mixed media work by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Kristen Ray Naugle.

When asked what inspired this particular work, Kristen offered the following:

“The Dogwood is one of the first signs of Spring in Missouri. When you see it blooming, it’s hard not to be excited from the Dogwood’s promise of color. In the studio, the depth of color came alive with a Mixed Media treatment.”

Kristen’s luminous, vintage-inspired florals have been attracting media attention across the country. Her work was recently featured in a St. Louis Magazine spread, and she was named “One of 50 Artists to Watch” in the Nov/Dec issue of Art Business News Magazine. She’s also a Charter Member at Artexpo Studio, where you can find museum-quality reproductions of her original work. You’ll find her online gallery here: www.artexpostudio.com/kristen-ray-naugle

Based in Nixa, Missouri, Kristen grew up in a household of photographers and went on to obtain a BFA in graphic design from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Today, she gains inspiration for her work through her surroundings, often focusing on “the simplest and most basic objects.” Florals and nature are strong themes for Kristen, and she says her work is “a search for poetry in nature.”

Like good poetry, her mixed media works feature varying layers and subtleties. She carefully crafts each piece through layering color, texture, artistically influenced photography and hand embellishments.

In Nov/Dec of last year, Kristen showed her work at Miami [SOLO], where it was very well received. Here’s a photo of her booth:

Kristen Ray Naugle's booth at Miami SOLO last Nov/Dec.

We’re certain Kristen’s elegant florals will be a big hit in NYC as well, during Artexpo New York 2012, March 22-25 at Pier 92. Get your tickets online now, if you haven’t yet!

Meanwhile, find Kristen online at her website www.kristenraynaugle.com and at Artexpo Studio: www.artexpostudio.com/kristen-ray-naugle

Click here to purchase giclee reproductions of Kristen's work.

"The Special Flower #36" by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Tahline Toranian

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “The Special Flower #36″ by Artexpo New York 2012 Exhibitor Tahline Toranian. Tahline is also a Charter Member at ArtexpoStudio.com, where you can find museum-quality reproductions of her original artwork. Here’s a link to her profile page: www.artexpostudio.com/artists/tahline-toranian

Tahline will be joining us this year all the way from Sidney, Australia. We’re looking forward to welcoming her to the Big Apple and seeing her contemporary floral art in the gallery-style exhibition space of Pier 92!

Tahline’s striking florals—part of her signature “Special Flower” series—are at once abstract and representational. With their stylized shapes and arcing, artful lines, they invite interpretation. In this particular piece, the viewer might at first glance see a flower, then perhaps an exotic bird, and then perhaps an emotive exploration with color and form.

Art and color are “like air and water” for the artist, who says she does not feel fully present unless she is exploring both. As for her process, she says:

“I focus mainly on abstract[ions], heavy color and texture-based styles. I love unique color schemes, striking light features, and delicious, touchable textures. I am inspired foremost by flowers, and anything organic found in the most surprising and unconventional locations: the gutter, someone’s plate, underneath a tree. I love anything unconventional, the history of old-style pieces, elements positioned to defy the norm, fresh, gloriously traditional pattern, and luscious textures that make me want to enter into and merge as one with the medium.”

It is this marriage of both traditional “old-style” elements and bold, modern strokes that makes Tahline’s artwork an ideal choice for the contemporary collector. We’re confident her work will be a big hit in the New York market and beyond.

As for how Tahline was led to pursue a career in the arts, she says:

“Drawing and coloring were as natural to me as breathing, back to my earliest memories. I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, plus a Diploma in Design Fundamentals from both The University of Western Sydney and Enmore Design Centre. But something never felt right until, one day, I took a random glance at a box I had in the corner of my apartment. It contained drawings I had completed years earlier. I pulled the works out and said to myself, ‘There is no way I can make a career out of this.’ And then, within seconds, I thought again: ‘I am going to make a career out of this.’ I haven’t looked back since.”

While drawing and painting flowers is Tahline’s current passion, she’s not interested in just the average still life with daisies!

“I want to push and redefine this subject matter in ways no one has ever thought or dared to do so before, creating pieces that make the viewer question logic and convention from that point onward.”

If you’re interested in seeing more of Tahline’s contemporary florals, you can find her online at tahline.blogspot.com Also,be sure to click the image below and visit her online gallery at Artexpo Studio!