Monday, September 14, 2009

Spectrum and Art Out Loud

Fantasy art is alive and well in large measure because of the tireless efforts of Cathy and Arnie Fenner (lower left photo), who publish the Spectrum annual collection of fantastic art.


New York's Society of Illustrators was the host on Friday for the opening of the second Spectrum exhibition, with over 100 paintings and their creators. Irene Gallo, art director of TOR books, is visible in the left foreground of the top photo. She spent huge amounts of time making the tough choices of what to include in the exhibition, and there wasn't room to include many deserving artists.

It was a privilege for me to meet many whose work I have admired, including Thomas Kuebler (photo lower right), whose vividly real sculpted fortune teller inhabited the center of the room.

On the following day, the Society opened its doors again for Art Out Loud, a live painting event that included Sam Weber, Charles Vess, Donato Giancola, Greg Manchess, and me.

I had the painted quick portrait sketches of Walt Reed and his son Roger. Walt is a renowned historian of American illustration and founder of Illustration House gallery. It was Walt's book Illustrator in America, 1900-1960 which got me interested in the profession when I was a junior high school student, and I was thrilled to have him sign my dog-eared copy.
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The Spectrum exhibition will be on display through October 17, and it's free. More info here.
Thanks to the Society of Illustrators and to Jessica and Gene for the photos.

7 comments:

Super Villain said...

manchess, gurney and kuebler! that is intense!

i really wish i would have gotten on the ball with this way early so i could have been there.

is this a regular event every year? do you and these other artists plan on attending next year?

seems to have been a very close up and personal time with amazing artists, i really wish i could have made it!

Tracy Flynn Art said...

I love the portrait!!

I also like that you are wearing the Stranger Tides T-shirt from the previous post.......coincindence??

James Gurney said...

Yes, Tracy, coincidence! Very observant.

Kactiguy said...

Wish I could have been there. Looks like it was fun.

James Gurney said...

Goo Goo, yes, I believe they do it every year, but I'm not sure who they'll ask next time.

Daroo said...

The portrait looks great (and the one of his son on Irene Gallo's blog too) did anything interesting come out of the simultaneous interview?

(as someone who can't string four coherent words together when I'm really concentrating, I'm always impressed when someone can talk intelligently whilst painting.)

Craig Elliott said...

It was fun standing behind you and drawing Walt and Roger as you painted them. One of my highlights form the Spectrum show/ Art out loud trip!

Craig Elliott Gallery