Blog Archives

Ian Roberts and the Search for Beauty

10/31/2022

Are you into landscape painting?
I know I am!
So here’s a link to some of my landscape paintings
and drawings.

’Stunt Road Up Two Miles’ Roberto Quintana, Acrylics on Canvas

Ian Roberts
is into landscape painting too!
Sign up for his Weekly newsletter
and FANTASTIC Video tutorials.

Ian Roberts has been painting for over 40 years.
He attended the New School of Art and
the Ontario College of Art in Toronto.
He also studied figure painting in Florence, Italy.
He now teaches plein air painting in the U.S. through his school 'Atelier Saint-Luc',
named after the patron saint of painters,
in Los Angeles, California.

Each week Ian shares a 5-7 minutes video on some aspect
of composition and how it plays a foundational role
in our painting.
"This Guy really knows his stuff!
(and He shares all the Tricks of the Trade.)
I’ve been following Ian for many years now and I always learn something new from him!" -RQ

He also has an excellent Video series:
“The Search for Beauty”
One artist’s journey to understand beauty
https://thesearchforbeauty.com/videos/

Plus…
He has written TWO of my favorite books in my library!!

“Mastering Composition”
Techniques and principles
to dramatically improve
your painting

by Ian Roberts

(40 minute video included)

AND…

“Creative Authenticity”
16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision

by Ian Roberts

If all that's not enough!
He has also produced several other videos:

Mastering Composition from Photos:
Light & Shadow,

Mastering Composition from Photos: Landscape Painting

Mastering Composition,

Plein Air Painting,

Design,

Color,

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Bombing Science and Fuse Awr

10/24/2022

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Here's an interview of Fuse Awr
(from the 'Bombing Science' Blog)
Awr is a Los Angeles graffiti artist who began painting
in the 1980s, before relocating to Colorado in the 1990s.

INTERVIEW: FUSE AWR MSK
https://www.bombingscience.com/interview-fuse-awr-msk/

"Native Son (This Saint Flyod)” 2016, aerosol on stucco, El Mac and Fuse Awr.

This mural is a collaboration with El Mac.

Bombing Science is a web site
all about Graffiti Art!

Bombing Science has been a great source for graffiti pictures since 1998 and a complete online graffiti supplies store.
They are the official retailer and distributor for some of the most popular graffiti products such as: Molotow premium paint, DANG, Ironlak, Flame Paint, Krink markers and many more.
They pride themselves on supporting graffiti artists from around the world, giving them exposure in their graffiti blog and supplying them with the finest tools.

Check out their Graffiti Photo Library…

And... they have Links to 60 different graffiti street art walking tours around the world!

Plus a good Tutorial for beginners…

1. Intro
"Graffiti techniques and tricks have grown tremendously over the years, and from its underground roots on the gritty streets, they’ve been past on and developed through word of mouth for years. But here at Bombing Science, we want to share our experience and knowledge of graffiti with you. We came up with some in depth analysis and some of the fundamentals of the graff game in this graffiti tutorial, all to help you master the craft. Nothing can bring you those super sharp outlines and flawless colour schemes quite like going out there and getting your hands messy. We explore the theory and some tips (literally) behind the essentials of graffiti. You’ll learn how to paint a graffiti piece from start to finish.
We start off breaking down the basics of graffiti tools, from can control to cap selection, these are the essentials that everything else will be based on. Once that’s wrapped up, we jump into letter structure, the foundation of any graff piece, from tags to burners. Once letter structure is established, style is then explored creating a sense of originality to a piece or throwie. From there we delve into the intricacies of the trade, from extensions to cut backs, we cover them all so you can get a feel for when to use what, and why. Finally we jump into little tricks that often go overlooked but can come in handy in a big way."

(I especially like Mr. Ferocious’s techniques for extending the last bit of paint in the can or the trays when your on-site! -RQ)

And they also have...

a forum,
https://www.bombingscience.com/graffitiforum/

and a shop!
https://shop.bombingscience.com/

Including FREE stuff!
https://shop.bombingscience.com/free-graffiti-supplies

They also have a great Blog...
with more Interviews, Reviews of supplies, featured artists, and videos!
https://www.bombingscience.com/

Check it out!
Peace and Love -RQ

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DCA Call for Muralists/Murals

10/17/2022

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“Hey Folks!
The Mail-Room just sent this down to my desk!
It looks time sensitive
so I'm passing it along to you.
No good pictures but a lot of good info.” -RQ

Call for Muralists and Mural Restoration and Conservation Projects
DEADLINE:
Nov 13, 2022 - 11:59 pm

Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is seeking muralists to propose their own historically significant murals located in the City of Los Angeles that need conservation. The mural conservation proposal must include a paid youth apprenticeship opportunity for young people from the mural’s local neighborhood. Selected mural conservation projects should also depict the social justice theme(s) of the mural, notable cultural figures, or important histories that are meaningful to residents.

Preservation of these historic murals will serve as cultural markers, connect them to the social justice themes of today, and inspire multiple conversations between the past and the present.

AMOUNT: $10,000 to $25,000, all inclusive

GRANTING ORGANIZATION: City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Public Art Division

DEADLINE: Nov 13, 2022 - 11:59 pm

STATUS: Open

CONTACT: For technical guidance with the Airtable platform, visit Airtable’s support page.
For questions about this RFP, please contact Yami Duarte, DCA Public Art Division, at: dca.publicart@lacity.org with subject line “DCA Mural Works.”

For project goals, criteria, eligibility, budget, selection process, workshop info, and how to apply download the RFP below.

Resources/Links

Request for Proposals <RFP here!
Application Portal

CONTACT:
Department of Cultural Affairs
City of Los Angeles
https://culturela.org/
201 North Figueroa Street, Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213 202 5500

MURALS
The Citywide Mural Program seeks to establish a comprehensive network of mural activity and engagement by muralists, property owners, community stakeholders, educators, technicians, technologists, and preservationists in an effort to stimulate Los Angeles’ mural resurgence.

GOALS

To preserve, conserve, and restore historically significant murals throughout the City with an emphasis on City-sponsored murals;
To produce new murals that re-engage communities, especially youth, and create new opportunities for muralists;
To provide technical assistance, training, and workshops for muralists as well as interested community members and stakeholders; and,
To support mural documentation, presentation, and engagement activities that are interactive, educational, and/or cultural tourism opportunities related to murals.

The City of Los Angeles occasionally sends out requests for proposals or qualifications for public art opportunities.
Find out more about these artist opportunities:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the City’s Mural Ordinance and why was it established?
The City’s Mural Ordinance is local legislation adopted by the Mayor and City Council related to existing murals and the creation of new murals in Los Angeles.
The Mural Ordinance was established in order to:
1) Lift the 2002 ban on murals on private property,
2) Differentiate new and existing murals from current prohibitions that apply to outdoor advertisements,
3) Create a mural registration process, and 4) Increase public access to and community participation in the creation of original works of art.

Does the City provide any funding support for new murals?
The Department of Cultural Affairs is working with each Council Office to provide funding for Council District-Specific mural related projects.
To find your Council District representative, go to:

https://www.lacity.org/government/popular-information/elected-officials/city-council.

(To be notified of Calls for Artists, please join our mailing list.)

What is an Original Art Mural?
The Mural Ordinance defines an Original Art Mural as:
”A one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, hand-tiled, or digitally printed image on the exterior wall of a building that does not contain any commercial message.
For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold.”

What is a Vintage Original Art Mural?
A Vintage Original Art Mural is a mural that existed or was created prior to October 12, 2013.

What does the Vintage Art Mural registration process entail?
Murals with documented proof of existence prior to October 12, 2013 are deemed Vintage Original Art Murals are considered registered murals by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The DCA manages a mural database which can verify the mural’s date of creation. However, murals that are not registered in the DCA’s mural database may register with a Vintage Art Mural Application. Property owners and artists are encouraged to register. There is no fee for Vintage Art Mural Registration.

Who do I contact if a mural in my community needs to be maintained, restored and/or is in need of graffiti removal?
Please call our Public Art Division’s main line: 213-202-5555.
Email is preferred including background information, address, and an image of the mural to:
murals@lacity.org

Where do I get information about the City’s Mural Ordinance?
For information about the City’s Mural Ordinance and guidance on the mural registration process, please call the Public Art Division, DCA at: 213-202-5544 or send an email to: murals@lacity.org

What is the timeline for the individual artist grant programs? When can proposals be submitted, and what is the submission deadline?
The guidelines and forms for the AIR and COLA grants programs are posted on DCA’s website in the first week of September each year.
The deadline for submitting a proposal for either grants program is the fourth Friday of October of each year.
Thats this Friday, October 28!
Better get on it!!

BE IN THE LOOP!
Receive notes about art, culture,
and creativity in LA!

Department of Cultural Affairs,
City of Los Angeles
dca.digital@lacity.org
https://culturela.org/

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Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

10/10/2022

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The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles maintains a FREE database of Los Angeles' Mural History linking artists, murals and neighborhoods.
The foundation of this database was shaped by Robin Dunitz' book "Street Gallery", the first true compilation of Los Angeles public murals.
The MCLA website allows submissions of murals created recently in Los Angeles, forming an ever growing archive joining the historic with the new.

“The MCLA site can be searched by Mural Location, Artist, Type, or Title.” -RQ

The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 86231, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0231
Phone:
(213) 291-1811
Email:
muralconservancyLA@gmail.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/muralconservancy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/themcla

And here’s the book the collection was originally based on
(one of my favorites)

"Street Gallery
Guide to over 1000 Los Angeles Murals"
by Robin Dunitz (Author)

With a foreword by Adolfo V. Nodal.
431 pages including an index with artists biographies and a bibliography.
A comprehensive listing with maps showing the locations and in some cases a brief description and/or a color photo of the more than 1,000 murals of Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods.

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John Singer Sargent's Murals at the Boston Public Library

10/3/2022

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Here's a good follow up to the earlier post I did on
Edwin Austin Abbey's murals:

John Singer Sargent’s mural cycle
'Triumph of Religion'

"Check out these lectures sponsored by
the Boston Public Library!"

The Sargent Lecture Series:
New Interpretations of Sargent’s Murals
at Boston Public Library

John Singer Sargent’s mural cycle at the Central Library
in Copley Square, spanned twenty-nine years of the prolific artist’s career between 1890 and 1919.
A century after a public controversy around Sargent’s 1919 installation reached a peak in 1922, Boston Public Library gathered a group of conservators, historians, curators, and authors in May 2022 to revisit this significant project in Sargent’s life and to offer new interpretations
of the murals.
The talks make connections across local and international collections and resources to promote the further study and discussion of Sargent’s library works.

New Interpretations of Sargent’s Masterwork at Boston Public Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbXGHv4_e9I

May 9, 2022 Meghan Weeks

Join BPL’s Curator of Interpretation for a virtual exploration of John Singer Sargent’s Triumph of Religion mural cycle at the Boston Public Library.
This introductory lecture will examine the evolution of the project over three decades between 1890 and 1919, and offer fresh insights into the visual study of these masterful murals on public display.

Reflections on the Restoration
of John Sargent's Murals at the
Boston Public Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj0F0x2jzr8&t=8s

May 10, 2022 Gianfranco Pocobene and Kate Smith

In 2003-2004, the Straus Center for Conservation undertook the comprehensive conservation and restoration of the Sargent murals which also included in depth technical analysis of the artist's painting techniques.
This talk focuses on some of the more complex treatment issues that conservators faced during the fifteen-month project.

Sourcing the Madonna of Sorrows: Painting, Sculpture and Sargent’s Spanish Photographs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfMej2a_cw0

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Chloe Sharpe introduced by Richard Ormond

Sargent’s Madonna of Sorrows, installed in 1916, was the culmination of over twenty years of research into Spanish religious iconography for the Boston Library murals.
The painter’s fascination with the spiritual power and rich materiality of Spanish art led him to amass a significant collection of photographs of sculptures, which has only recently been rediscovered in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
This lecture explores the significance of these and other sources for interpreting the murals’ meanings.

More images of Sargent's mural panels at Boston Public Library are available at Digital Commonwealth.

and more videos!

The Uncanny Sargent: The View from Conservation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS52Nxdj2kI

Lecture: Richard Ormond on John Singer Sargent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOuD5oZZQf8&t=7s

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...to Roberto's Blog!

  "Duit-On-Mon-Dai"

  Roberto has been pestering the ‘Marketing’ staff here at Art and Soul for some time now to get together with ‘Research and Development’ to come up with a fun way for him to share all the great work out there of all the many other talented muralists and artists he's been "influenced by" over the years. ‘Sales’ was totally against the idea! ("How could that possibly improve the bottom-line?!"). ‘Marketing’ remains split, as usual ("We need more data"). ‘R&D’ thought it might be a fun way to "show off a little", and to showcase all those great ideas they keep finding out there on the internet. ‘HR’ said it might be a good way to keep 'The Crew' distracted ("Since they are all so bored since Covid hit, and Roberto is spending more and more time in his studio working on all those silly little easel paintings").
'The Crew' said: ’'Sure, We've got nothing else going on …but only if we get to share stuff about technique, materials, and equipment." ‘Receivables’ said: "It obviously won’t make more work for us, so why not!". 'Legal' said: "No Way! You are NOT going to reveal where you steal all your ideas from!" (Although Roberto values their legal advice, He rarely listen’s to their hysterics anyway). So... here we are! Welcome to Roberto’s new blog:
  "Duit-On-Mon-Dai"
     "As the title implies, I will post once a week (on Monday, more or less). Feel free to leave a family friendly comment. Dialogue and praise is encouraged. Creativity, passion and wonder should be expected. Politics and personal grievances hopefully kept to private emails. And please… no Whining! and no sales pitches either (you can make your own damn blog for that).
   I expect to start becoming a little more savvy with all this social media stuff, but for now ‘Bookmark’ my website and check back every once in a while. I hope you will find it interesting. Don’t be too persnickety over my whimsical spelling and creative punctuations either, my Editorial Department is not what it used to be… I am seriously understaffed these days."
Peace and Love...
-Roberto Quintana, WFA

Ian Roberts and the Search for Beauty

Bombing Science and Fuse Awr

DCA Call for Muralists/Murals

Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

John Singer Sargent's Murals at the Boston Public Library

...to Roberto's Blog!

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