Spain- Galleries (and pics) Galore- Part 3

I've been back from my latest trip to Spain for about three weeks now, definitely returning to my usual work routine-a good thing-but I have the most vivid memories of this trip, more so than previous ones. Yes, its only been a few weeks, but my appreciation of Spain continues to grow.  

Plaza Santa Ana- Madrid

Of course there are places yet to see, but I have traveled a lot, including to "exotic" places- India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, all over Europe- Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Scandanavia, and Bosnia, even to Bulgaria, and Greece.  Throw in Canada, Mexico many times, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and a couple of others. Yet still, my favorite part of the world remains - Spain. In previous blogs I've talked about the attraction for me (seen here + here). In fact, the reason I decided to learn to
speak Spanish, which makes my travels there even better, was because of how much I enjoyed my second trip. Now, after having been to Spain three times in the last nine years, I most likely will be going back for art/business within the next 4-7 months.

Plaza Mayor Madrid

Ok, now for this blog's theme.

June began the PhotoEspaña festival in Madrid and it will continue through the end of July. PhotoEspaña is an international photography and visual arts festival and this year the emphasis was on Spanish photography. Rather than one giant art fair type of setting, it takes place in about 100 different venues-galleries, museums, etc., which is too much to even remotely try to take in, especially with a limited amount of time. Plus I wanted to get to the Prado, Thyssen, and Sofia Reina museums. In fact, because of this, even though we started out in Madrid we didn't get to any of PhotoEspaña until our return, after visiting Barcelona and Valencia. We ended up spending a lot of time in the Prado and planned on getting to the Thyssen and galleries upon our return at the end of the trip.

Great little shop in Madrid

Lionel Feiniiger, Thyssen Museum

Although a big art fair in one place, like Art Basel, Expo Chicago, etc., is very convenient and everything is under one (giant) roof, PhotoEspaña's multi-site setup has for me one distinct advantage. You get to walk the city and explore some of the great neighborhoods of Madrid. It is a big, bustling city, but once you get off the main boulevards you are treated to something that makes Madrid great. The streets are much quieter, restaurants and cafes abound, some great shopping off the main drags, beautiful buildings, etc., etc.   My (amazing) girlfriend and I walked just about everywhere. And......

 

As I mentioned, we returned to Madrid for the last two days of our trip. After getting settled in we walked to the Thyssen Bornemisza, which is not quite the Prado, but still another world class museum. Walking back via side streets, we passed by the office of Art Gallery Tour. For the hell of it, I googled it when we got back and saw they offered various tours, including galleries participating in PhotoEspaña. The next day was our last day in Spain and I sent the tour company an email, hoping they would have space available. And since people come back to work after their lunch/siesta break, I was hoping for a response even though it was evening 

by then.

Retiro Park, Madrid

Retiro Park 2, Madrid

What luck!! We arranged to meet the tour guide at the first of six galleries we would visit. Our guide happened to be the owner of Art Gallery Tour, Eloisa, who was just fantastic. I am usually a little leery of tour guides when it comes to art, after all, I have been an artist/photographer for many years and have studied art history and the history of photography extensively. But Eloisa was not only articulate, both in Spanish and English, but very, very knowledgeable. We received in depth explanations about all the art and artists we viewed, and had great discussions about the work and the galleries.

Glass Tears- Man Ray (on display at Monda Galeria)

Here are the links to the galleries we visited:

  Heinrich Ehrhardt

  Elba Benitez

  Mondo Galeria

  Oliva Arauna

  Joan Gaspar

  RPHG

When I get back to Madrid, PhotoEspaña will be long over, but now I can say that I officially have a great sense of the contemporary art scene in Madrid, thanks to the layout of the festival. I am so glad to call Spain my home away from home and, needless to say, I cannot wait to return.

-Darryll

Spain- Art, Food, and People- Part 2

  There's something about Spain, well actually lots of things about

  Spain, that make it irresistible to me.  This was my third trip there in the

  the last nine years.  I was gone for twelve days but could have easily stayed

  another twelve if I had the time.

 Three years ago I visited Madrid, Granada, and Sevilla.  This year, my trip was again
 to Madrid (how could I go to Spain and not re-visit the Prado?!) then on to Barcelona and Valencia.

 There are three basic things that make Spain great - the art, the food, and the

 people. In Madrid alone there are three major world class museums, the Prado,

 the Thyssen, and the Sofia Reina. The Prado by itself, containing El Greco, Velasquez,

 Reubens, Goya and more, is amazing. In the other two museums there are even
more masterpieces to be found, including Picasso's Guernica at the Sofia Reina.

Picasso-Guernica, Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid

Goya, Prado, Madrid

Reubens, Prado, Madrid

Barcelona has Gaudi, the Picasso and Miro museums, and more.  Valencia is smaller,

and I was unfortunately only there two days, but there is a lot to explore. On top of

Spain's legendary art museums, there is a multitude of wonderful art galleries, which I will cover in a future blog.

Food. Generally I appreciate fine food but never think about it much, although I remember

from my previous trip that almost anywhere we went, whether it was a local small place or

a fancy restaurant, everything was great. This time around, I was even more impressed.
Seasoned traveler and food critic, Anthony Bourdain, has raved about the food there and
once said that the best young chefs in the world are in Spain.

 

 

My girlfriend and I ate in the wonderful markets, or mercados, as well as small "local" restaurants, hip to traditional tapas places, top notch restaurants, and even a newer "cool" pizza restaurant "la mucca".

In the end, we had a large range of foodie experiences and just about everything was fantastic.

 

Lastly, the people. Madrid and Barcelona, the two biggest cities, can be a lot of hustle and bustle, but

I still remember nine years ago, when I could barely speak a word of Spanish, we were going out

to dinner in Madrid and got completely lost. I stopped an older man in the street to ask him for

help. All I could do was point to an address and gesture that we didn't know where we were.

He ended up walking with us, a mile out of his way, right to the front door of the place.  Is everyone

like that? Probably not... but I have a feeling the generally warm and friendly Spanish disposition has something to do with constantly being surrounded by beautiful art and delicious food...and I supposed the traditional mid-day siestas don't hurt either.

Flamenco Dancer

So if you ever have a chance to get out to Madrid or any of the places mentioned above, definitely take advantage of that opportunity! More to come soon about the galleries we visited in Part Three...stay tuned!

-Darryll

Sarah Lukes- Artist of the Month- June

From the series, "Head Case".

Sarah Lukes is a photographer and collage artist from California and our pick for this month's featured artist. Her website, Beautiful Yourself, is loaded with all kinds of unique creations, threaded together with the ribbon that is Sarah's personal style. It is a style that is playful, cosmic and, with the combination of vintage imagery and modern adornments, timeless.

From the series, "Up Above the World So High".

Sarah mixes seemingly random elements together to create something unexpected, yet in the end the composition is whole and complete. She has an eye for textures and details, which she delicately pieces together in a manner that is often imperfectly perfect. Sometimes, it's the imperfections that really make the art. This is a strategy that Darryll uses in his photos while viewing the images on the computer. He will leave alone the bits that maybe any other artist would Photoshop out of their photo. I think these kind of decisions that Sarah and Darryll are making with their art has really helped to distinguish themselves from other artists perhaps doing similar work.

From the series, "Up Above the World So High".

 In a lot of the images, we see a strip of text, balancing out the entire composition. This gives each piece a touch of a meaning, yet still leaving a bit of intrigue, not giving her vision away all at once. The viewer is free to interpret and contemplate.

From the series, "Plastered Polaroids".

We get to see a piece of Sarah in each of her works of art but are left wanting more. It's this kind of subtle mystery, combined with her distinctive style, that helps to define Sarah Lukes as an artist and allows her to project her own brand of art into the universe.

Feast your eyes on loads more work at Sarah's website and enjoy!

Also, be sure to stay tuned for a future blog covering Darryll's trip to Spain!

- Chelsea

Back to Spain- Part 1

España - El Primero - Darryll Schiff

         Nine years ago, I ventured out to Spain to do some soul-searching and art-admiring. During my trip, I started taking pictures on the street that brought me back to my fine art origins and veered me away from my recent commercial photography projects. I was exploring a new style which led to a new way of approaching the camera as a tool. The result was a new and exciting path for me. Because of this, I consider Barcelona and Madrid to be the catalyst to my fine art career.

España - Darryll Schiff

I don't tend to listen to music while I shoot, but looking back at this set of photos from my last Spain trip, it seems as though Miles Davis's Sketches of Spain would have made the perfect soundtrack at the time.

Sueños de España - Darryll Schiff

 My style has definitely developed since then, and will no doubt continue to evolve, but I'm excited to see what happens in the next couple weeks when I return to my "artistic roots". I will soon be back in Madrid and Barcelona, talking to galleries, visiting museums, and of course, taking more pictures.

Barcelona - Darryll Schiff

        Stay tuned for part two, where I will keep you updated with my trip. Be sure to follow me on Twitter to see what pictures I'm taking in real time @DSchiffArt !
-Darryll

Monthly Round Up- June

Here's this month's list-o-links that I found to be particularly interesting. Please enjoy!


Incredible macro photography of the hidden world around us, brought to you by photographer Miki Asai.

Miki Asai

Thrift store paintings are given a comical twist when artist Thyrza Segal gets her hands on them.

Thyrza Segal

See how the meatpacking district in New York has cleaned up its act over the past 30 years in these before and after images by photographer, Brian Rose.

I can't stop looking at these highly saturated, bold, and playful images by photographer Maurizio Di Iorio.

Maurizio Di Iorio

Comic book legend, Lynda Barry, sits down with ArtNews to reveal how she keeps a smile on her face while pushing all the boundaries, how a non-artist can be an artist, and more.


-Chelsea

Artnois Magazine Featuring Darryll Schiff

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share some exciting news with you!

Issue #10 of art and music e-magazine, Artnois, is out and I am one of the six featured artists. Artnois is a budding, yet prominent, online magazine that seeks out today's rising artists coming out of L.A. and beyond, and I'm honored to be part of their selection.

They gave me a 6-page spread filled with select pieces of mine and an interview that
covers everything from my artistic process to the music I'm listening to today.

Sneak peek of my feature. 

You can find my interview in the reader above from pages 24-29, or hop to this link to go straight to my feature.

This was a fun process for me to be involved in and I hope you enjoy the results.

-Darryll

Artist of the Month- January/February- Alex McLeod

Because it is now February and we missed January's artist of the month due to Photo L.A. madness, I wanted to change gears and bring something really different under our spotlight to start off the new year. This artist is doing something so unique and fascinating, I find it hard to put into words how it makes me feel. This artist belongs in their own category of art-making; he is BOLDLY defining art and that is why I present to you, Alex McLeod.

Alex McLeod

When I first saw these images, I envisioned the artist meticulously creating miniatures and then placing each detail by hand into a 3D landscape and then photographing the finished product under the appropriate lighting. All of this is true, but what makes this exceptionally intriguing is that it is all done within the computer. There is no photography involved. These are fully digitally rendered images that McLeod is creating.

Immediately, my mind begins to journey through the landscapes and drink them up. They are so lush, elaborate, and inviting. Something I noticed shortly after is that there aren't characters in these images. This lack of people or animals becomes eerie, a feeling which is enhanced by the fact that these are such joyful and fantastical environments. So where are all the people?

Alex McLeod

This question allows me to begin to picture the kind of wacky characters that would exist in these environments and the kind of stories they would tell. They have a similar effect of matte paintings, that were once used in film making to provide an environment that, pre-3D rendering technology, would have been very difficult to build by hand. Now, they are done digitally and generally used for the same purpose, or for pre-visualization in movies, video games, etc.

Digital matte painting

I also begin to think of the I Spy books I read as a kid. Within the books, each page opened up to a new landscape, filled to the brim with objects you were meant to search for and identify. Again, when these books were first made, they weren't using 3D modeling software. They were building miniature sets, the way I originally thought McLeod was creating his images. 

Walter Wick creating a miniature set for an I Spy book.

This is so impressive to me because beyond the fact that McLeod is imagining up these whimsical, colorful spaces that I have never seen the likes of, he is rendering them in such a way that allows us to believe that these "sets" physically exist behind a camera somewhere.

Alex McLeod

In McLeod's art, all is not really what it appears to be. His technique is complicated, I'm sure, and something that no other artist will likely be able to imitate. In a way, Darryll has a similar approach to his art. He's making images that one may look at and try to identify the technique. In the end, what he's doing is a lot more complicated than meets the eye. I think Alex McLeod is able to say the same thing. In this way, he's blazing a trail and defining his own brand of art.


To see more of Alex's work, please visit his website here.


-Chelsea

Next Week- Photo L.A.

Just doing some last minute things before we jet off to L.A. next week! If you'll be in town, be sure to check us out at booth 714. Darryll will have 15 of his pieces, most from his newest series, Descending to Heaven (pictured). We can't wait to get the booth all set up so we can ride out the rest of the fair!

-Chelsea

Weekly Roundup- 11/9

Hi all,

Here's a new trend we're starting at DSFA…a weekly roundup of art &design-related links, leading to articles, images, news, etc. There's a lot of information out there, let us break it down for you! We'll share with you ideas and notions that we find interesting, inspiring, or even upsetting. Here's our (small) list for this week! Enjoy.

Would you ever wear this "invisible" bike helmet? Could save a lot of lives, considering the number of people that won't wear a helmet due to…fashion concerns.

Ever find yourself confused with the terminology that comes with the art world? Never fear, Robert Atkins has created a guide to help you decipher exactly how we are defining art today.

Artist Daan Botlek creates street art that is detailed, yet simple. You would definitely have a double take passing these on the streets of Germany.

We have implemented a new way of organizing here at DSFA…and it's FREE. Asana is a lifesaver for those with post-its littering their workspace. Plus, did I mention it's free?!

Apparently this is a thing…photographer Perttu Saksa captures the street performing monkeys that are dressed up as dolls. Um…beware.


That is all this week! Share with us some links that you've found interesting lately!

-Chelsea

Artist of the Month- October- Veronique Meignaud

It's October, and well into the gallery opening season which means we've been busy over here at DSFA. So that is a good thing, but unfortunately, we haven't had time to touch this ongoing project of ours, the DEFINEART blog. However, today I present to you our pick for October's artist of the month.

Leito

This month I'm bringing it back to the contemporary art world and delving into an area we don't often get to explore, illustration. Darryll knows how important it is to remain inspired and since we deal with a lot of photography, he's asked me to highlight someone that I find inspiring to my illustration career. So! Ladies and Gentlemen, Veronique Meignaud!

Chor'Biose
Animation project

I stumbled across this lovely illustrator/art director recently and upon visiting her website I felt as though I was instantly transported into another dimension of shapes and figures. Her focus appears to be digital illustration, but that's not why I felt like I was peering into a whole new plane of existence. The landscapes, figures, and lighting all seem to be constantly morphing and evolving, which is quite a feat considering I was looking at 2-D work. The colors she uses are prismatic and often gem-like.

Cornaline

Her work is truly unlike anything I've ever seen. The animation in the Motion section of her website feels like a natural artistic progression, taking what she does so very well in the 2-D and then actually bringing it to life in 3-D. I felt as though I was looking through a kaleidoscope that was slowly hypnotizing me, lifting my awareness to a new level. I'm so glad there are artists out there, like Veronique, who are able to temporarily enchant their viewers in order to get them to see new places and spaces in their minds. So in my mind, she is not only defining art, but also the unseen world that surrounds us.

 If you'd like to see more, please visit her website.
 If you'd like to see Veronique's talent in action, check out this neat little video on Youtube.

 -Chelsea

Spotlight- Paul Klein- Klein Artist Works

Paul Klein has an intense passion for art and, more importantly, its creators. He says, "I think artists are wonderful. They make my world better. And if more artists succeed we’ll all be better off. The perspective and enrichment artists provide is irreplaceable.  I treasure artists and their contribution." It's hard to dive into the Chicago art scene and not come across the name "Paul Klein". He is somewhat of the main artery in this community and it's because of his positive attitude towards artists and his dedication to their success. His way of expressing his opinions so openly and honestly has led people to flock to him for advice about their art careers. His trail of influence, spread across Chicago's art community and beyond, is what led me to his figurative door at Klein Artist Works. 

Screenshot of a Webinar in action.

Because Paul is important to us here at DSFA, we want our audience to get to know him and his endeavors a little better Check out our little Q&A session with Paul himself:

DSFA: When did you know you wanted to be involved in the art world? 
Paul Klein: As a kid, I learned how to weld from my mother. I loved welding big ol things and I was thoroughly mediocre so I decided to try a gallery instead. It was a 3 year plan, to be followed with different occupational ideas, but the 3 years lasted over 30.

DSFA: How do you find the Chicago art scene compared to other art centers like New York and LA?
PK: I like the Chicago scene. I just wish people here were more positive about it. So much is a matter of perspective or attitude. I respect what gets seen in New York a lot, but there’s more that goes on in the world than there. I like that L.A. appears to be so supportive of their own.

DSFA:  When you operated your gallery, Klein Art Works, there was a point where you were seeing art shifting into a more tech-based platform and therefore followed suit with what you chose to display in your gallery. Today, are you seeing a similar forward shift in art or are we reversing into more traditional avenues, for example, the way the fashion industry recycles trends?

PK: I don’t see a lot of shifting, but maybe that’s because of how I look at the world. I see images without necessarily seeing the medium. I would like to see more painting.

DSFA: Darryll recently attended a party of yours and learned of the success of many of the other attendees, which speaks volumes of the great experience they had with your program. Since Darryll had such a beneficial experience as well, we can't help but wonder, what is next for you? Anything new in the works? 

PK: Not so much new. I still want Klein Artist Works to be stronger. I’m in the final stages of a book sharing as much information from the course as possible.

Paul (left) with Dutes Miller and Stan Shellabarger

More than just giving advice about your art career, Paul lays out the art world like a map, and gives you the means to navigate it. He is straightforward and genuine and I can honestly say that I felt he had my best interest in mind when speaking to me about the path I'm taking with my work. I highly recommend checking out his webinars if you're looking to hear from art world experts and equip yourself with tools you might not have known existed. Within Paul's program, there is also the opportunity to explore Chicago galleries and/or studios and to have one-on-one interaction with Paul as your guide. A truly priceless experience, in our minds.


Paul's Links:
Klein Artist Works
Art Letter



 -Darryll

Artist of the Month- August- Mike Carr a.k.a China Mike

          This month I'm turning my artist-of-the-month focus to an illustrator/fine artist from Bedford, England, Mike Carr. Lately we have been loving color and movement here at the studio so I was instantly drawn to Mike's work, which not only displays the aforementioned qualities, but also shows a bit of darkness and mystery, which is a heady combination. He pulls this off quite well in his paintings, using unpredictable brush strokes, minimal landscapes, and figures in the foreground that melt into their surroundings.

             There's something joyfully disjointed about the spaces and faces we see in Mike Carr's work that reminds us of some of Darryll's pieces. Characters interact with each other and their environment in ways that allow us to borrow Mike's perception of the world. I think that is one of the most important aspects of art. It is lovely when an artist not only shows, but invites others to see the world the way they do. In Mike Carr's case, I believe it is his use of bright, friendly colors, especially the soothing blues, that is so welcoming. So take a moment to learn a bit more about this artist that we feel is doing a great job of defining art.

"Mike Carr aka- China Mike, started out in Bristol (south west England) during the mid 90's as a freelance illustrator working for record labels, fashion brands and club promoters 

After a number of years working for news shelf publications he began to develop an interest in more traditional mediums and decided to move away from the largely digital process which he had become accustomed to. China Mike the painter and fine artist was born; 'I couldn't believe I hadn't discovered painting earlier, I felt like I'd wasted a lot of time stuck in front of a computer screen doing commercial work, painting just felt so natural to me'.

Since finding his new calling he has taken his work around the globe, exhibiting in London, Berlin, Munich, Switzerland, New York, Los Angeles, along with numerous galleries up and down his native England."

                      - - - www.chinamike.co.uk

Images courtesy of Mike Carr a.k.a. China Mike

-Chelsea

Studio Update- Art in Public Spaces

Hi all,

         I just wanted to take a moment to discuss an exciting project I've been working on for quite some time now that's just been completed. Recently I became connected with an amazing art advisor, Patti Gilford. She helps to acquire art for private homes, and for designers and architects who are looking to build creative, inspiring, and soothing environments. Patti explained to me that she was looking to obtain pieces for a shared space on the 12th floor of a new hi-rise residency on Lake Shore Drive. This specific space is pretty open and needed a nice flow and a central focus. She had seen the work on my website and thought I'd be a good fit for this project. Immediately, Chelsea and I started looking through my body of work, which is no small feat. We narrowed the our sample images down to pieces that contained people, moving across a landscape. Below is an image of the two pictures that Patti chose, in their final destination.

                                  

          It was fun for Chelsea and I to be a part of this building's design process. I think it's important for people to be surrounded by art in their living spaces. The places we call home are our sanctuaries, where we can unwind, reflect, and recharge. Sometimes we need aid in doing so and art can play a major part in this process. My pictures were placed in an open space where people pass by to get to the main amenities of the building such as a gym, pool, party rooms, and computer labs; places meant to make you feel at home. The space needed images that would make an impact on its inhabitants, which is why they were printed so large, as most of my pieces are. My hope is that my work has become a staple of this shared space, that people pass by it with intrigue and comfort. I have included an image of another piece of work, a panorama, that is intended to make a similar impact. 

           Larger than life-sized images like these are the reason why I think studio visits are so important. We love showing work to visitors here at the studio. If you are interested in a studio visit, please contact either me or my assistant Chelsea at the following e-mails:

darryll@schiff-art.com

chelsea@schiff-art.com

Also, check out Patti's website at www.pattigilford.com to see what her and her excellent firm are all about. 

-Darryll

Artist of the Month- July- Zoe Keating

                               

This month's artist is a musician. I was trying to think of an artist that inspires both Darryll and I, not just in our artwork but also when we're working in the studio. We are always listening to music in the studio and sharing with each other musical artists that we dig.

One day I showed up to work and Darryll had burned two CDs for me. One was Feist's latest album and the other was Zoe Keating, an artist I hadn't heard of before. All he explained to me was that she plays the cello and that it's kind of different but I might like it. Done! I put the CD in my car on the way home and instantly was transported to somewhere new. The sound coming from my speakers was intricate, dramatic, and soothing. I knew right away that this would not be kept in the CD graveyard within my car instead would make it to my laptop's music library to be listened to while I work.

I think what I love most about Zoe's music is that my mind can wander within it. I'm not distracted by words and choruses, but instead lulled into a space where I can create and think alongside her music. I also think that Darryll likes her music for similar reasons but mostly because her music is so layered. She plays with just her cello and laptop, which she uses to record samples as she plays, and layers them on top of each other. If you take a look at Darryll's photography, he is using a similar technique. They both have a sense of controlled chaos in their work, that evolves and expands as you begin to notice the small details that make up the bigger picture.

Give her music a listen and see what you find within it, and within yourself!


-Chelsea