Featured here are the works from the Drawing Category, sponsored by Studio Incamminati, being showcased in the 14th ARC Salon Exhibition. The show has concluded at the MEAM museum in Barcelona, Spain, but will be traveling to Sotheby’s, NY where it is scheduled to be on exhibit from July 17th – July 27th, 2020.
For more information visit the 14th ARC Salon Exhibition Page.
8 Figurative Drawings From the ARC Salon
Sookyi Lee – Bridget
Haynes Galleries Award
Honorable Mention – Drawing
About “Bridget,” shown at top: Bridget was a fellow student I met at a bus station by chance in San Francisco, where I attended Academy of Art University. I was looking for a model who is not a professional but has a mask from which I can feel a variety of emotions. In this portrait, she is wearing a dark-colored gown with white flowers and a matching white scarf over her head. I tried to portray a calm, relaxing mood that can give the viewers comfort. The goal of my work is to seek, capture, understand and unleash the innate beauty that lies silently dormant within the human figure and in nature. Only then can I invite the viewer to pierce through their conventional perceptions and penetrate the beauty within all things.
Ayuesh Agarwal – The Wind Rises
ARC Purchase Award
Second Place – Drawing Category
About “The Wind Rises”: When I start a work, sometimes I don’t have a clear idea of what it’s going to be when it’s finished. The idea develops through the process almost like a conversation between nature, myself and the work. I find this search really exciting. It’s almost more interesting than the finished work itself as it leads me to try new things and understand how I want to translate what I’m observing.
The model was posing nude when I started working on the portrait, but as it was getting cold she wrapped herself in a shawl and the moment reminded me of the stillness before the cold begins. I decided to include it in the work to drive the narrative and the mood I wanted to express. Even though I have a story to tell, it’s also important for me to leave room for the viewer’s imagination to come with their own interpretation and find meaning.
Barbara Fox – Parting with Illusions
ARC Purchase Award
Honorable Mention – Drawing
About “Parting with Illusions”: Figurative and portrait work has never been my strong suit, even after many years of practice during my weekly life drawing sessions. I started getting serious about it while working at the Ani Academy. My first serious hyper-realism charcoal drawing was chosen by the Art Renewal Center for a purchase prize. A few more drawings focused on the figure, (including some drawings of sculpture). This drawing, “Parting With Illusions” is my largest and most complicated.
My model is Quincey, who I’ve known since she was 3 or 4. She was a very good sport to hop in the pond on a chilly May afternoon. I had an idea of how I wanted her to pose in the water, but, as so often happens, the candid photos I took were much more interesting to me. From this one photo session, I wound end up portraying Quincey in 7 different drawings and paintings…. so far. A lovely young woman in a beautiful setting; how can I resist?
Pal Laroche – Narcissus, the Maker of Depression
Finalist – Drawing Category
Available for purchase.
About “Narcissus, the Maker of Depression”: Narcissus is one of the first described narcissists in mankind’s history. This is a symbol of a mental illness that is affecting our life more and more with the new generation growing up on social media. Most depression is caused by people who have no empathy or feelings for others and keep one thing in front, themselves. The earlier you recognize these people and learn to avoid them, the happier your life can become.
Gabriela Dellosso – Visions of Passenger Pigeons
Honorable Mention – Drawing Category
About “Visions of Passenger Pigeons”: The inspiration for this drawing is the story of the extinction of one of the earth’s most abundant birds—the Passenger pigeon. I read in several sources they used to fly in flocks that darkened the skies for hours.
In creating this piece of art, I wanted to tell the story of the bird’s journey through time. As I worked on it, I found myself wishing I could travel back in time and really see a flock in flight. If only people were a little more thoughtful, perhaps the Passenger pigeon would still be around today.
Annie Murphy-Robinson – Casey, Waiting
ARC Purchase Award
Third Place – Drawing Category
About “Casey, Waiting”: Rebellion hides beneath the soft, shadowy folds of the world enveloping Casey. She is haunted by the lack of industriousness of youth, the youth before we have responsibilities; the yearning of youth, the perpetual boredom coupled with the unwillingness or outright avoidance of doing something of purpose. Engulfed in the folds of the shawl wrapped around her shoulders, Casey lives in the place between – between two moods, between two worlds. Her attire is trapped between two moods, much like Casey. The soft, delicate lace on her dress contrasts against the geometric, shimmering luster of her headscarf. Her life of leisure, the bourgeois life, catches her between boredom and the simplicity of a life of ease.
Aekarat Sakda – Dajala
Honorable Mention – Drawing
About “Dajala”: For this piece, I was inspired by the Arabic word “dajala” which means lies and deception. Such practice could be harmful and hurt people. Dajala is no less evil than consuming human flesh.
Victoria Radionova – The Girl on the Swing
Finalist Drawing Category
About “The Girl on the Swing”: Joyful moments surround us everywhere. And only need to be able to notice this calm, quiet and not intrusive joy. A walk in the garden, a rest in the shade of fruit trees, a swing where you can sit a little – can give vigor and strength. And if you will spend the morning with a dog, with your real friend, constant and loyal only to you, then a good mood is guaranteed for the whole day.
My work is about this. About quiet joy and about the ability to enjoy simple things.
Entries for the 15th ARC Salon are being accepted from April 1 through August 14, 2020.
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