Park West Academy Study Guide PDF

PARK WEST ACADEMY STUDY GUIDE ® Updated January 2023 1 EXPECTATIONS FOR TRAINING ARTIST INFORMATION & ARTIST PRESENTATIONS Artist knowledge should be your first priority, as this information allows you to professionally and accurately represent our artists. You are expected to be able to present all the major contemporary artists at training. PARK WEST PRESENTATION How would you introduce Park West to someone who has never heard of us? This is something you will do often on the job, and will be a graded exercise at training. Take the key points from the “Park West Presentation” section of the study guide and make it your own! Don’t memorize what’s written. ART COLLECTING 101 Have a basic understanding of why people enjoy and collect art. Understand the different levels of collecting. ARTISTIC MEDIUMS AND MOVEMENTS Be able to simply explain how an artistic medium is created to someone with no art knowledge. Many find it helpful to watch YouTube videos on these topics. Have a basic understanding of significant art movements—when they took place, why they happened, and which notable artists influenced the movement. 2 PARK WEST & THE ART WORLD Park West Gallery Mission Statement Park West Gallery's mission is to create an educational, entertaining, and welcoming environment that ignites a passion for the arts and creates a collecting experience like no other company in the world. Park West Gallery supports a myriad of artistic talent, engages the widest array of audiences, and advocates genuine artistry while maintaining only the highest of professional standards. About Park West Gallery You will interact with first-time cruisers and guests who have never attended a Park West auction. Memorizing the following facts will enable you to introduce the gallery to potential clients: Park West Gallery is the world's largest privately owned art dealer and has been in business since 1969. Park West Gallery produces live art auctions onboard over 95 cruise ships worldwide - and on 100+ ships by mid-2023. Park West Gallery has built a global client base of over 3 million collectors and hosts over 200 art auctions every week on land and sea. Park West has a museum in Southfield, Michigan, and gallery locations in Las Vegas, Nevada; Honolulu, Hawaii; and New York City —and we’re continuing to expand. Park West holds regular live-streaming online auctions where collectors can bid on art from all over the globe. Park West Gallery provides the art programs for multiple cruise lines including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. Park West Gallery offers one of the best customer satisfaction guarantees in the art world—the 50/50 Satisfaction Guarantee. This means that, in celebration of Park West's over 50 years in business, clients can collect with confidence because they have 50 months to exchange any art they collect. 3 ART COLLECTING 101 Why Do People Collect Art? There are a variety of reasons one has to collect art. Some cruise passengers may not initially have an understanding or interest in the arts, but through our auctions and seminars, a new appreciation is sparked. It is helpful to know what motivates art collectors as you learn to become an art dealer. Aesthetic Value: They like how it looks. They want to decorate their home or office. It Moves Them: Some people emotionally connect with a work of art. This may be influenced by how it looks, the story behind the image, the artist’s background, or the medium. Personal Meaning: It can commemorate an event, remind someone of a loved one, or even become a memory of their cruise vacation. Historical Value: Some works we offer are already centuries old, but even modern art can be acquired with the intention of making it a family heirloom. Expression of Self: Art is a way to visually display inner thoughts, feelings, or desires. Status Symbol: The artwork itself creates a sense of pride. Note: We never recommend collecting art for investment. What makes art valuable? Many factors affect the price and value of an artwork: Name, reputation, and ability of the artist Medium (such as etching, unique one of a kind, serigraph, etc.) Edition size The physical size of the artwork Quality of imagery Availability The presence or lack of artist’s signature Historical importance Importance within the artist’s oeuvre (a.k.a. body of work) 4 LEVELS OF COLLECTING You will find four major categories of art offered to our guests onboard. Unique works are the highest level of collecting, followed by Embellished Limited Editions, Graphic Works/Limited Editions, and Posters. 1. Unique, One-of-a-Kind Works Unique works are the best artworks available—this is the highest level of collecting. They are singular works, the only one in the world that exists. Historically, “original” meant unique, so most people today who talk about an original artwork really mean unique. “Original art” is defined as any artwork created directly under the control and supervision of the artist. Thus, the graphic works we sell are also original works. The term unique is the most accurate word to use when referring to a one-of-a-kind artwork. Unique works include acrylic paintings, oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, pastels, and some mixed media works. 2. Embellished Limited Editions An “embellished work” is a graphic work (see below) that has embellishments added to each artwork after the edition is completed. These embellishments are most often brushstrokes of paint or gesso to mimic the look and texture of a one-of-a-kind unique painting. Some embellished limited editions are numbered on the “verso” (back) of the artwork for this reason. In some cases, the artist does the embellishing him or herself, but, in most cases, the artist will embellish a few examples from the edition and then highly-trained artisans who work for their atelier (i.e. studio) will complete the remainder of the examples in the same manner. As with printing—even though the artist has help—they remain highly involved at all levels and approve all work before signing a work of art. Note that when artworks are embellished, each work in the edition is embellished the exact same way, so each looks the same. Due to the extra work involved, hand embellished works have smaller edition sizes than non- embellished works. This combination of factors makes an embellished graphic work more expensive than a non-embellished graphic work (all other factors held constant). 5 LEVELS OF COLLECTING 3. Graphic Works (Limited Editions) Often referred to as “prints,” we refer to them as “graphic works” to help distinguish them from posters. The major difference between graphic works and posters are, (1) posters are not hand-signed, and (2) posters are not limited in number. Creating a graphic work requires a great deal of artistic talent, creativity, attention to detail, skill, and patience. Artists can spend decades perfecting just one graphic medium, such as Marc Chagall and the lithograph. To the uninformed, a graphic work may seem like “just a copy,” so guests may not understand why they may sell for thousands of dollars. If you get this reaction, you can explain that the works they see are not copies or posters, but are truly art forms in themselves. Collecting graphic works has benefits for the artist and collector alike—for example: Photorealist painter Scott Jacobs spends hundreds of hours on a single painting and thus is only able to create 3-4 paintings a year. It would be impossible for him to keep up with the demand for his work. You may wait 18 months or more for a unique Jacobs. Additionally, not everyone can afford to purchase a unique work. A Scott Jacobs unique painting can sell for $30,000+, but his hand-signed graphic works, limited to just a few hundred examples, are usually available for around $1,500. In short, graphic works allow an artist much greater exposure while also providing affordable access to fine artwork to the general public. It’s a win-win situation. This is also why graphic works are great for beginning collectors—it’s a more affordable way to collect while still getting a work that is limited in edition. 4. Posters The only posters Park West offers our clients for sale are works by Leroy Neiman and Alfred Gockel. Neiman works specifically are not reprints—they are vintage and nostalgic works that have been archived in some cases for over 50 years. Many artists have used posters as a way to express their creativity and are often considered landmarks of their time. Think Peter Max in the ’60s, Chagall and the opera, Picasso and his bullfights, etc. 6 Graphic mediums are methods that allow an artist to create multiples of the same image. Commonly known as prints, we refer to these as “Graphic Works” to highlight the artistry in the creation process. Artists choose specific graphic mediums because they are either in search of properties the technique produces or simply because they enjoy the process. Picasso said that even if he had only produced one print from the 500+ plates he created in 1968, he still would have created each plate because he so enjoyed etching, proofing, and re-working of every single image. Chagall so loved lithography that he created one on the day he died. The most important thing to realize when discussing graphic works is that they are art forms in and of themselves and have a high degree of involvement from the artist throughout the entire process. An artist's work is their reputation and thus extremely important to them, so they will not hesitate to destroy any examples from an edition that do not meet their high standards. Etching Etching is one of the oldest printmaking mediums. Along with engraving, it is one of the most important techniques for old master prints and remains in use today. Watch this etching demonstration from Christie’s: How Rembrandt Made His Etchings | Christie's Etching Process: 1. The process begins with a metal plate, most commonly copper. 2. Acid-resistant wax, called ground, is applied to the entire surface of the plate. 3. The artist removes the ground using a burin (needle), exposing the metal beneath. 4. After the image is drawn, the plate is submerged in an acid bath. 5. The acid bites away at the exposed metal, creating lines. 6. The plate is removed and cleaned. 7. The plate is inked; excess ink is removed so ink only remains in the etched lines. 8. Dampened paper is placed over the plate and put through a printing press, creating the etching. 9. Additional impressions are created by re-inking, cleaning, and putting plates through the printing press. Additional Notes on Etching: Rembrandt is widely considered to be one of the greatest etchers in art history. The primary difference between etching and engraving is that engraving is a physical process, and etching is a chemical process. An engraver uses sharp tools to cut lines directly into a surface, while an etcher burns lines into a surface with acid. Etching’s principal advantage over engraving is that little knowledge of metalworking is needed, which is why you may encounter more etchings than engravings. Keep in mind this does not mean it is an easy medium to create and master. Etching has often been combined with other intaglio techniques for varying effects—Rembrandt often worked with etching and engraving. Francisco Goya also worked with etching and aquatint. Park West offers etchings from masters like Rembrandt, Picasso, Chagall, and Goya. 7 Lithograph Lithography, or “stone writing,” is a printmaking process where images are inked and pressed onto slabs of stone or metal plates. The technique works on the principle that oil and water repel each other. Lithography is characterized by its subtle, milky colors and soft lines. It is also revered for its capability to produce atmospheric, delicate colors and soft tonalities. The technique lends itself to a painterly aesthetic. Lithography Process: 1. Using an oil-based crayon or “tusche,” an artist draws an image onto a polished slab of limestone. 2. The stone is treated with a chemical solution that causes the image to attract oil-based printing ink. The blank areas (negative space) will repel the ink and attract water. 3. The stone slab is wiped with solvent, usually turpentine, to bond or “fix” the image to the stone. 4. The slab is prepared for printing by damping it with water. Water is absorbed only by the blank areas. 5. Oil-based printing ink is applied to the slab with an ink roller. 6. A damped piece of paper is placed on the slab. Then the slab is run through a lithographic press which exerts a great amount of pressure between the paper and the slab. 7. The paper is lifted from the slab with the image printed in reverse. This process is repeated for each individual color in the image - a new slab is needed for each color. 8. The lithograph is examined, and left to dry, it can be rolled again for the next color “impression” to be printed. Watch this Lithographic demonstration from New York’s MOMA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUXDltQfqSA Additional Notes on Lithography: Lithography was heavily utilized by 19th and 20th-century artists like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was an early innovator of the technique, and Marc Chagall who revolutionized the medium. Notable artists who also excelled in lithography include Emile Bellet, Marcel Mouly, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. Offset Lithograph Offset lithography is a commonly used technique in which the inked image is transferred (or “offset”) from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. The print is not made directly from printing plates (such as traditional lithography), instead the image is transferred to another surface and from that surface to paper. Additional Notes on Offset Lithography: Offset lithographs are not the same as lithographs, even though there are similar elements. A notable artist who produced offset lithographs was Thomas Kinkade. 8 Serigraph Serigraphy is based on stencil printing (also known as silk screen printing). The concept is to push pigments through stencils to create an image. Each color requires a separate stencil and printing application—so 30 colors in a serigraph require 30 stencils. Serigraphy is characterized by beautiful textures from the layered colors and precise lines. Serigraph Process: 1. Stencils adhere to a porous polymer material screen—silk was the original material used, thus the term “silkscreen” —which is stretched tightly onto a frame. 2. Once the stencil image is completed and adhered to the screen, paper or canvas is laid beneath it, and ink is forced through the stencil and screen onto the chosen surface by a squeegee. Watch this demonstration from UTSA professor Malaquias Montoya titled "A Look into the Art of Serigraphy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8nzbHr3aIQ Additional Notes on Serigraphy: Innovators in the technique of serigraphy include Andy Warhol, Erte, and Yaacov Agam. Giclée (pronounced JHEE’ clay) Invented in the late 1980s, giclée printing is an example of the artist’s use of continually emerging technologies. The term giclée was coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made on inkjet printers. Artists typically select giclée as their medium of choice if their work relies heavily on realism or very subtle techniques of color and light and shadow variation, as giclées produce higher resolution images than other mediums. This results in crisp contrasts and rich, intense colors. Giclée Process: 1. An existing image is captured through digital photography or flatbed scanning of the work. 2. The image is then loaded into a computer and the digital file becomes the “matrix,” like a plate or stone in other mediums. 3. The artist—or assistants under the artist’s supervision—edit and correct the digital file. 4. “Proofs” are printed on a large-format, high-resolution industrial inkjet printer for evaluation. 5. The image is created when archival inks are sprayed in very fine droplets in a very controlled pattern onto canvas or paper. 6. Color corrections often take hundreds of attempts before they meet the artist’s approval. 7. Once approved, an edition will be created, hand signed, and numbered for sale in the market. Watch this video demonstration “Printmaking: The Basics of Making Giclée Prints" by Tim Gagnon: Print Making info from Tim Gagnon GagnonStudio the basics of making giclee prints Additional Notes on Giclées: Notable artists who use giclées include Pino, and Tim Yanke. 9 Dye Sublimation In chemistry, sublimation involves a substance changing from a solid to a gas without ever becoming a liquid. In hard surface sublimation, an image is printed onto transfer paper using dye-based inks and then transferred onto a specially coated surface with heat and pressure. Dye sublimation is a digital printing process that transfers imagery onto materials such as metal, glass, and plastic. Dye Sublimation Process: 1. The original image is made into a digital matrix and, from there, the artist has total control over how the colors will appear on the final work of art. 2. The image is essentially cooked onto the materials, which, in the case of Park West Gallery, are usually lightweight aluminum plates. 3. Along with creating a sharp and vivid image, dye sublimation also benefits from the durability of the panels, which is much greater than canvas or paper. 4. When a white panel imaged with six colored inks was tested in simulated interior daylight conditions, the panel was shown to last two to four times longer than long-lasting archival photo papers. 5. The panels are also scratch-proof and resistant to chemicals, moisture, and heat. Additional Notes on Dye Sublimation: Notable artists who have produced dye sublimation works include Guy Harvey, Michael Cheval, and Wyland. Caldographs Caldographs are a relatively new innovation, pioneered by Park West artist Csaba Markus. By using the dye sublimation process, an image is transferred onto a wood panel. This incorporates the grain of the wood into the imagery. The panel is then protected with a coat of varnish, and from there can be hand embellished. Markus came up with the concept while attempting to pay tribute to Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Mona Lisa,” which was painted onto a wooden panel. To quote Markus, “I saw these wood panels, and thought, ‘Wow, we should recreate the Renaissance style with the same materials they used.’ It is a natural background you cannot recreate, so every caldograph is different.” Caldograph Process: 1. The original image is made into a digital matrix. 2. Once the artist is satisfied with the results, the matrix is transferred onto sublimation paper using water-based inks. 3. The inked paper is applied to a specially-coated wood panel using heat and pressure. 4. The inks become gas and permeate the surface before returning to a solid form. 5. The inks permanently bond to the wood on a molecular level, creating a brilliant, high-quality image. 10 6. After the image is transferred to the wood, each work is embellished by hand and finished with a protective, high-gloss varnish. Watch this video demonstration of Csaba Markus talking about the caldograph process: Csaba Markus Unveils Caldographs on Wood Additional Notes on Caldographs: Notable artists who have embraced caldographs include Csaba Markus, Matt Beyrer, Gregory Arth, and David “Lebo” Le Batard. 11 NUMBERING AND SIGNING GRAPHIC MEDIUMS In each graphic medium, a limited number of impressions are pulled from the plates, stones, blocks, or screens. Each impression is inspected by the artist and, if it is up to their standard, it becomes part of the edition and is eventually signed and numbered. The matrix is often then defaced or destroyed to ensure that the limited edition stays limited, preserving the value of the edition. The numbering is displayed as a fraction, with the bottom number indicating the number of impressions pulled (not including proofs), and the top number indicating the “serial” or identification number of that individual impression. As an example, the 5th signed graphic work out of an edition of 500 would be numbered “5/500.” There is some misunderstanding on the significance of the number in an edition. It is sometimes assumed that the lower the top number, the more valuable the work. This is a common misconception, as the top number has no determination in a work’s value. Additionally, the artist typically numbers as he or she signs the works, which is not necessarily the order in which they were created. The bottom number is the one that may influence the edition’s “value” because a smaller edition is more exclusive than a larger edition. Works from smaller editions may fetch higher prices because there are fewer available. Note that the practice of signing and numbering graphic works is relatively modern, starting in the late 19th century. It is not uncommon to see an etching or lithograph completed by an old master such as Picasso, Goya, or Rembrandt, without a signature or number. 12 PAINTING MEDIUMS These mediums are used to create unique, one-of-a-kind works of art. Be careful with the word “painting” as it can ONLY be used when describing a one-of-a-kind artwork! Oil Oil painting gained popularity during the Renaissance. It is known for its rich colors, smooth appearance, and excellent blending properties. Oil paint takes 1-3 weeks to be dry to the touch and 6-12 months to be dry enough to varnish. Because of the slow dry time, oil paintings take much longer to complete, but allow for easier blending of colors than acrylic and thus produce rich, lush, and sometimes life-like final products. Oil paint dries by oxidation, not evaporation. Acrylic Acrylic painting gained popularity in the 20th century and is most commonly used by painters today. Acrylic paint is fast-drying paint that is plastic in nature. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted with water or modified with acrylic gels, media, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media. Watercolor Watercolor is a painting or drawing created with pigments that are suspended in a water-soluble vehicle. The most common surfaces to create watercolors are paper, vellum, and wood. Since the pigment is water-based, it is quite transparent and allows the surface to shine through, creating a luminous effect. Watercolor’s inherent luminosity and its capacity for rapid execution give landscape painters an ideal means for recording the fleeting effects of nature. 13 RENAISSANCE Renaissance (approx. 1400 - 1520) Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. The term “Renaissance Art” refers to the painting, sculpture, and decorative arts of that period of European history, which emerged as a distinct style in Italy in about 1400, in parallel with developments that occurred in philosophy, literature, music, and science. Renaissance Art reached its zenith in the late 1400s and early 1500s centuries in the work of Italian masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Many works of Renaissance art depicted religious images, including subjects such as the Virgin Mary, or Madonna, and were encountered by contemporary audiences of the period in the context of religious rituals. Today, they are viewed as great works of art, but at the time they were seen and used mostly as devotional objects. Park West carries the work of several classic and modern artists who were inspired by the Renaissance aesthetic, including works by Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn and more contemporary figures like Csaba Markus, Tomasz Rut, and Peter Nixon. Famous Renaissance Artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael 14 IMPRESSIONISM Impressionism (approx. 1870 - 1890) A 19th-century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence in the 1870s and 1880s. The genesis of impressionism was the invention of photography—photography replaced the need for representational, realistic painting. The impressionists and their precursors, the Barbizon painters, were the first to “free” painting from its slavery to the visual illusion of reality and allow the two-dimensional surface to be recognized and respected for what it was. Characteristics of Impressionist paintings include: An unfinished texture with visible brush strokes Open composition Emphasis on light and its changing qualities—often accentuating the effects of the passage of time Ordinary subject matter The inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception Unusual visual angles The name of the movement is derived from critic and humorist Louis Leroy’s scathing review in the Le Charivari newspaper, making wordplay with the title of Claude Monet's “Impression, Sunrise (Impression, Soleil Levant).” He inadvertently gave the artists the name by which they would become best known. Derisively titling his article The Exhibition of the Impressionists, Leroy declared that Monet's painting was at most, a sketch, and could hardly be termed a finished work. Famous Impressionists: Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt 15 FAUVISM Fauvism (approx. 1905 - 1910) Pronounced fow·vi·zuhm Originator—Henri Matisse This movement’s use of non-naturalistic colors was one of the first avant-garde developments in European art. Many Art historians credit the advent of Modernism beginning with the appearance of the Fauves in Paris at the Salon d’automne in 1905. Fauvism believed in using color as an emotional force. The use of non-representational color defined the movement. Fauvists would use color based on emotion, rather than reality. (For example, painting the grass red and a tree blue) The term “Fauvism” is derived from the French word “Fauve,” which translates literally to “wild beast.” “Instead of trying to render what I see before me, I use color in a completely arbitrary way to express myself powerfully.” —Vincent van Gogh Inspired by van Gogh, the Fauves took this idea further, translating their feelings into color. Famous Fauves: Henri Matisse, André Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin 16 CUBISM Cubism (approx. 1907 - 1915) Originators—Pablo Picasso and George Braque invented Cubism in Paris between 1901 and 1914. Cubism was partly influenced by the later works of artist Paul Cézanne in which he can be seen to be painting things from slightly different points of view. Pablo Picasso was also inspired by African tribal masks which are highly stylized or non-naturalistic but nevertheless present a vivid human image. “A head is a matter of eyes, nose, mouth, which can be distributed in any way you like.” — Pablo Picasso The term “Cubism” seems to have derived from a comment made by the critic Louis Vauxcelles who, upon seeing some of George Braque’s paintings exhibited in Paris in 1908, described them as reducing everything to “geometric outlines, to cubes.” Cubism was one of the most influential visual art styles of the early 20th century. It was a cataclysmic movement, creating a completely new and radical concept of painting, perception, and the depiction of pictorial space. In cubist artworks, objects are broken up, analyzed, and re-assembled in an abstracted form— instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multiplicity of viewpoints simultaneously, while emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the canvas Famous Cubists: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Paul Klee SURREALISM Surrealism (approx. 1924 - 1939) Surrealism aims to revolutionize human experience. It balances a rational vision of life with one that asserts the power of the unconscious and dreams. The movement’s artists find magic and strange beauty in the unexpected and the uncanny, the disregarded and the unconventional. At the core of their work is the willingness to challenge imposed values and norms, and a search for freedom. Surrealism taught the world to see art not merely visually and literally, but to appreciate it on a subconscious level as well. Many surrealists used automatic drawing or writing to unlock ideas and images from their unconscious minds. Others have wanted to depict dream worlds or hidden psychological tensions. Surrealist artists have also drawn inspiration from mysticism, ancient cultures and Indigenous art as a way of imagining alternative realities. Surrealism started as a off-spring of Dada movement, focusing on the subconscious rather than the nonsensical This movement started as a literary movement, and then evolved into an artistic movement as well with the influence of Andre Breton, who is considered the father of Surrealism Surrealism took two forms: Some artists, like Spanish painter Joan Miro and German artist Max Ernst, practiced improvised art, distancing themselves as much as possible from conscious control - also known as abstract or automatism surrealism. Others, like the Spaniard Salvador Dali and Belgian painter Rene Magritte, used scrupulously realistic techniques to present hallucinatory scenes that defy common sense - also known as figurative surrealism. Famous surrealists include Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo, Man Ray, Joan Miro and Max Ernst. 18 KINETIC ART & OP ART Kinetic Art and Op Art (approx. 1955 -) Kinetic art is art from any medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or that depends on motion for its effect. Kinetic art originated with late 19th-century Impressionist artists like Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Édouard Manet. They all experimented with accentuating the movement of human figures on canvas. Kinetic artists are fascinated by the possibilities of movement in art—its potential to create new and more interactive relationships with the viewer and new visual experiences. Op art is a form of abstract art that creates optical illusions. Op art typically employs abstract patterns composed with a stark contrast of foreground and background—often in black and white—to produce effects that confuse and excite the eye. Op art is characterized by virtual motion, while kinetic art is drawn to real motion. One of the exhibitions that solidified the genre of kinetic art was Le Movement in 1955 at Galerie Denise Rene in Paris. The exhibition included works by Agam, Vasarely, Calder, and a few additional artists. Famous Kinetic Artists: Yaacov Agam, Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely, Bridget Riley, Josef Albers Famous Op Artists: Yaacov Agam, Victor Vasarely, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Wen-Ying Tsai, Bridget Riley, Getulio Alviani 19 Abstract Expressionism (1946-1956) The first primarily American art movement Works of Abstract Expressionism are non-representational, capturing the physical act of painting and the individual unconscious, influenced by the Surrealism Movement. Also called "action painting" and the New York School, Abstract Expressionism stressed energy, action, kineticism, and freneticism in the creation process. Abstract Expressionists liberated themselves from geometric abstraction (such as Cubism) and the need to suggest recognizable images. Giving free rein to impulse and chance, the impassioned act of painting became valuable in itself. Coming after action painters such as Pollock and de Kooning, a second grouping of Abstract Expressionist artists including Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Clyfford Still. They were deeply interested in religion and myth and created simple compositions with large areas of color intended to produce a contemplative or meditational response in the viewer. Famous Abstract Expressionists: Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Klein, Mark Rothko 20 Pop Art (1954 - 1970) Originator—Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi Pop art started in the United Kingdom, but became a true art movement in New York City, thanks to the efforts of artists like Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns. Considered by some to be the first “postmodern” art, Pop Art embraces popular culture and advertising, rejecting the division between critically esteemed “fine art” and the “lower” art forms of commercial and comic art. Pop art challenged artistic tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is appropriate within the perspective of fine art. Through the appropriation of these images and transformation of them into “high art,” their meaning and reflections on contemporary culture can be revealing. The concept of pop art refers not as much to the art itself as to the attitudes that led to it. Andy Warhol’s artwork reflected his attitudes on American postwar culture. He once stated, “What’s great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same thing as the poorest… No amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking.” Pop art often takes as its imagery that what is currently in use in advertising. Product labeling and logos figure prominently in the imagery chosen by pop artists. Consider the Campbell's Soup Cans labels, by Andy Warhol. Famous Pop Artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Keith Haring 21 ARTIST PRESENTATIONS Crafting Your Presentations A large part of your success at training and on the ships hinges on your public speaking skills. Whether you are talking about one of Park West’s artists, an art movement, or the gallery, or our auctions, you need to deliver your information in a way that is interesting and exciting. Here is the structure of a great presentation: 1. Opening “wow” statement 2. Accolades, accomplishment & honors bestowed upon the artist 3. Description of the artist’s aesthetic style, referencing the image 4. Biographical points (Only if it is interesting and you have time) 5. Concluding statement with a call to action Important Notes & Best Practices When presenting, be personable and informative without making it sound like you’re giving a lecture. It’s not just WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. Have fun with it! Keep the presentation to about 1 minute, and speak clearly Do not use the words piece or painting. Why? ○ When you say “piece” you may say “piece of work” which has a negative connotation ○ When you say “painting” you mean unique, one of a kind artwork. 80-90% of the words in our onboard collection are limited editions, not unique paintings. ○ Instead, say “work” or “work of art” *Do not write out a presentation and memorize it* ○ People can tell when you are reciting vs. talking. ○ By memorizing a presentation, you sound more robotic and it is harder to digest for your listener Reference the image when discussing the aesthetic style. For example: “Romero Britto’s colors are bright and bold. You can see in this work the striking 22 ARTIST PRESENTATIONS How to study & create a presentation: ○ Find main points about your artist ○ Ensure these points cover aesthetic & accolades ○ Turn these into key words that make up the outline of your presentation ○ Think of a great opening ○ Memorize your key words & your opening statement Example of creating a presentation for Thomas Kinkade Step 1: Main key words below. Memorize these and practice your presentation with them Most widely collected artist in U.S. Painter of Light Luminists Love Notes 2002 Olympics & World Series Step 2: Recall your key words and fill in the blanks, creating the following as a presentation: “Thomas Kinkade’s works are in more American homes than any other artist and, looking at his work, it’s easy to see why. He is known as ‘The Painter of Light,’ as he uses techniques borrowed from the Luminists of the 19th century. Many of our collectors love Kinkade’s works because of the way his art reflects light–they look brighter in the daylight and more subdued at night. Kinkade was also a family man. He would hide ‘love notes’ within his works in the form of the letter ‘N,’ representing the name of his childhood sweetheart and wife, Nanette. On top of being more collected than any other artist in America, he was also selected to commemorate the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as well as the 2002 World Series. When you’re looking for an award-winning and widely collected artist whose work will turn your house into a home, Thomas Kinkade is the artist you need to collect today!” 23 POWER WORDS POWER WORDS Don’t call everything “beautiful.” Expand your vocabulary! Also remember to not say “painting” or “Piece” - use “work” or “work of art!” Alluring Charismatic Drab Abrupt Charming Dramatic Absorbing Cheerful Dreamy Abstemious Cherubic Duality Abstract Chic Dusky Abundant Clarity Dusty Accelerated Classy Dynamic Accessible Colorful Ebullient Acclaimed Accomplished Colossal Eclectic Adamant Comforting Communicative Ecstatic Adept Compelling Complementary Effervescent Adroit Complex Efficacious Adventurous Confident Effortless Aesthetic Considerable Conspicuous Effulgent Affluently Contemplative Effusive Alluring Corse Elaborate Ambiguous Courageous Elated Ambrosial Creative Electric Amusing Créme de la créme Electrifying Analyzing Crisp Elegant Angelic Cubist Elongated Anthropomorphic Cultured Embodiment Appealing Curious Eminent Arcadian Curvaceous Emotional Artistry Curvilinear Empower Ascetic Dangerous Enchanting Aspiring Dapper Endless Astonishing Dark Endorsed Attractive Dauntless Energetic Audacious Dazzling Enforced Augmented Deafening Engaging Avant-garde Awe-Inspiring Decadent Engrossing Beauteous Decisive Enhanced Beguiling Decorative Enigmatic Bereft Defiant Enkindle Bewilder Defined Enrapture Bewildered Deific Enthralling Bewitching Delectable Enthusiastic Bleak Delicacy Enticing Blissful Delicate Ephemeral Bold Delicious Epic Brazen Delightful Epitome Breathtaking Demanding Essential Bright Descriptive Ethereal Brilliant Desirable Everlasting Brutal Determined Evocative Calm Dexterous Exceptional Calming Diaphanous Exciting Captivated Didactic Exclusive Captivating Distinct Exemplary Cascading Distinctive Exhilarating Cataclysmic Distinguished Existential Catalyst Diversified Exotic Cerebral Diverted Expertise Cerulean Divine Expressive Challenging Dominant Exquisite 24 POWER WORDS Extraordinary Incorporeal Mesmerizing Extravagant Influential Mind-blowing Extrovert Inimitable Monochromatic Exuberant Innovative Monumental Exultant Inquisitive Motivation Eye-catching Insidious Motley Fabulous Insight Moving Famous Inspiring Munificent Fantastic Institution Muse-over Fascinating Intense Muted Fastidious Intensified Mysterious Fearless Intimate Mystical Fecund Intoxicating Naturalistic Ferocious Intricate Nebulous Ferocity Intriguing Nonpareil Figurative Intuitive Noteworthy Fine Inventive Noticeable Finesse Invigorating Obtrusive First-rate Inviting Offbeat Flair Iridescent Olympian Flawless Irrational Opaque Flourish Jagged Optimistic Fluid Jocular Opulent Fluttering Jovial Orchestrated Folksy Joyful Organic Forceful Juvenescent Originality Formal Juxtaposing Ornamental Formulaic Kaleidoscopic Ornate Fuliginous Knowledgeable Ostentatious Generous Languorous Outrageous Gentle Lavish Outstanding Genuine Legendary Overrated Geometric Lifeless Painstaking Gifted Life-like Palatable Gigantic Lilting Palpable Glamorous Limpid Pantheon Gleaming Lovely Paramount Glorious Luminescent Passionate Glowing Luminous Pedestrian Gorgeous Luscious Perpetual Gothic Lush Personable Graceful Lustrous Pervasive Gracefulness Luxurious Phenomenal Grandiose Lyrical Philosophical Great Magical Pictorial Gripping Magisterial Picturesque Halcyon Magnanimous Pioneered Handsomely Magnetize Pioneering Harmonious Magnificent Pizzazz Heartfelt Maintain Pleasant Heartwarming Majestic Plush High craftsmanship Major Poetic Hilarious Manifest Poignant Historical Marvel Polychromatic Humanizing Marvelous Postmodern Hypnotic Masculine Potent Ideal Massive Powerful Idiosyncratic Illuminating Masterful Pre-eminent Illustrious Masterminded Precious Immense Mature Precision Impeccable Maximized Preeminent Impressionistic Meandering Prestigious Impressive Meditative Prismatic Incomparable Incomprehensible Melancholic Proficiency 25 POWER WORDS Profound Shining Temporal Prominent Significant Tenuous Propitious Sinewy Therapeutic Provocative Single Thought-provoking Thundering Provoking Skillful Timeless Pulchritude Smooth Towering Pulchritudinous Soft Tranquil Pure Somber Transcendent Puritanical Soothing Transcribe Quaint Sophisticated Translucent Quintessential Sparkling Tremendous Quotidian Radiant Rambunctious Spasmodic Trenchant Rapturous Ravishing Realist Spearheaded Tribal Recaptured Spectacular Trippy Refined Spirited Trite Reflective Splendid Ubiquitous Regal Splendiferous Unbelievable Rejuvenated Square Uncommon Relaxing Stale Unconventional Relentless Stark Unforgettable Remarkable Starry Unique Renowned Statuesque Unparalleled Representational Stereoscopic Unrivaled Reputable Stimulating Unsurpassed Resplendent Stormy Unusual Revelation Striking Utilized Revelatory Strong Valuable Rhythmic Stunning Vast Rich Stylish Verdant Ridiculous Stylized Versatile Riveting Sublime Vibrant Robust Substantial Vigorous Romantic Subtle Virtuosity Rousing Succinct Visceral Sanguine Succulent Vision Satirical Suggestive Vivacious Saturated Summarize Vivid Saunter Sumptuous Voluptuous Scenic Superb Voracious Scintillating Superfluous Well-received Screeching Superior Wheedling Scrumptious Superseded Whimsical Scrupulous Supple Wide-eyed Sculptural Surpassing Withering Seductive Surrealistic Wonderful Seminal Symmetry Wonderment Sensational Symphony Wondrous Sensual Tactile Zany Seraphic Tantalizing Zealous Serene Tasteful Shimmering Tempestuous 26 PREBID INFORMATION & SCRIPT Prebid: This information will be taught at training. If you wish, you can familiarize yourself with the process by reading this section. What is a Prebid? An Associate gives a collector the right to take the first bid on a work of art at auction and if no one else bids against them, they get it at that price. Why should a collector make a Prebid? A Pre-bid gives the collector the right to bid FIRST on the artwork, getting them that first, lower opening bid. It also guarantees that the artwork in question will come up for auction as it is a request based auction. Lastly when we place a Pre-bid sticker on the artwork early on, it may also serve as a deterrent to other collectors thinking of bidding on that work (i.e. that work will now be a bid war, maybe we should look for a different work”) When is a Prebid made? Either at the Auction Preview or in the Art Gallery. Prebid Script (Note: words in BOLD need to be said verbatim) 1. Warm Welcome with a Smile: “Welcome to the art auction, glad you are joining us!” 2. Park West Information: “Have you ever been to a Park West art auction before?” IF YES – “Welcome back, great to have you back with us. You already know that we are the world’s largest privately-owned art dealer, and after 52+ years in business we are glad to count you among one of our 3 million + collectors. IF NO – “Welcome to Park West Gallery! We are the largest privately-owned art dealer in the world and have been in business for over 52 years with over 3 million collectors worldwide. We operate on most major cruise ships, have land galleries in Hawaii, Vegas, and have a museum in Michigan. Park West believes that art is for everyone and we have an incredible selection of art with something for every budget and taste. 3. Introduce Yourself: “By the way, my name is _____________” 27 PREBID INFORMATION & SCRIPT 4. Brief Artist Presentation: “I am not sure how familiar you are with (name of artist they are looking at), they are (insert artist presentation)” 5. Roll Into Pricing: “Let me give you an idea of what this will go for at auction.” The Estimated Retail Price for this work is $_______. Many of the people at the auction here today will place a Prebid. This means we will be bringing their work of art up for auction, and best of all it gives them the right to the first bid on that artwork, which is great because the first bid is the lowest bid. As long as no one bids against them, that is the price the artwork will go for. The Prebid on this work is $____________” 6. Examples of some closing questions after you have gone over pricing: “Is this work of art for yourself or is it a gift for someone? “Will this be your first work of art that you have collected or will this be joining an existing collection?” ”Do you have a preference when this work of art comes up in the auction? If you don’t, I would suggest we bring it up earlier as some people will wait to bid on things until later in the auction.” “Ok great, let’s go ahead with your pre-bid then, shall we?” 7. Wrap Up: “Ok great, congratulations, you have really chosen an exquisite work of art. Good luck and I really hope no one else bids against you. What else have you seen that you like?” 28 WORDS TO AVOID We pride ourselves on getting people involved in art as professional art dealers. Being a professional comes down to your actions and words. Below is a list of words you should avoid, and what you should use instead: Avoid Use instead Customer Client or Collector Purchase or Buy Collect Salesman Art Associate, Gallery Director, Auctioneer Sold or Sell Help, Collect, Acquire, Assist If When Piece of Work, Piece of Art Work of Art, Artwork, Example Painting Artwork, Work of Art, or the specific medium Print Graphic Work or the specific medium (e.g. Etching) Obviously, Actually Remove No Eliminate; add explanation But, However And, In Addition Profanity, Sex, Religion, Politics Completely avoid Print, Copy, Poster, Reproduction Work of Art, Artwork, Example Investment Never use this word; we do not sell on investment Honestly, To tell you the truth No need to say it Closed Ended, yes/no questions Open-ended questions No problem You’re Welcome, My Pleasure Sign Ok or Autograph Contract Paperwork Oops, I lied Pardon me, I misspoke Filler word (um, uh, like, actually) Eliminate; slow down & enunciate Lingo - dude, sick, awesome, cool Eliminate Interruptions Never interrupt a client or guest 29 PARK WEST PRESENTATION How would you introduce Park West to someone who’s never heard of us before? “Hello and welcome to Park West Gallery! As a family owned company that started in 1969, we’ve grown to become the world’s largest privately owned art dealer with over three million satisfied clients. At Park West, we believe that art is for everyone, which is why we have thousands of artworks for every budget and taste, both on this ship and in our electronic gallery. From modern artists like Peter Max and Thomas Kinkade to masters such as Picasso and Rembrandt, we have something for everyone. In addition to being on cruise ships, we hold auctions on land and have galleries in Las Vegas and Hawaii and flagship Museum in Southfield, Michigan. Every week we host more than 200 auctions. What this means for you is that you are in wonderful hands, with an experienced company that loves nothing more than connecting you with the perfect work of art!” 9 Bullet Points for your Park West Presentation: World’s largest privately owned art dealer Over 3 million collectors In business since 1969, over 50 years Over 200 auctions conducted per week On majority of cruise ships and we also do auctions every week in major US cities Thousands of works of art available Guaranteed authenticity Art is shipped to your door fully insured 30 AUCTION PRESENTATION How would you encourage people to attend an auction if they have never been to one? “If you have never attended a Park West auction event before, you’re in for a treat! As the largest privately owned Art Gallery in the world, we host over 200 live auctions around the world every week and our auction onboard is one of the most exciting events of each cruise. At Park West, we believe that Art is for Everyone. We offer a huge variety of art for every budget and taste, with close to a thousand works of art onboard and even more in our Electronic Gallery. We’d love to show you how much fun collecting at an art auction can be, so join us tomorrow at 1:00 pm in the International Lounge for our live art auction. Grab a glass of chilled champagne on us, and relax while we show you our phenomenal collection from some of the world’s best-known artists. We’ll also have a much larger sample of artwork on display - what you see in the gallery and around the ship is just a sample of our fantastic collection. Whether you know a little or a lot about art, you’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll leave the auction with a FREE work of art just for attending. You also get free raffle tickets for the great raffle prizes at the auction. Get there on time as it is usually standing room only by the time the auction starts. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, in the International Lounge, at 1 pm!” 6 Bullet Points for the Auction Presentation: One of the most exciting events of the cruise Fun and informative Free champagne Only time our collection comes out on display, art in gallery and around ship is just a sample Free raffle tickets for one of the great raffle prizes Free work of art for everyone that attends 31 Park West Framing Facts Being the world's largest privately owned art dealer has also made Park West one of the world’s largest custom framers. Our framing and delivery facility takes up over 203,000 square feet, in Miami Lakes, FL. We frame around 5,000 artworks per week Park West offers wood and composite frames—all are Archival and Conservation quality. Park West also offers: Archival tapes, adhesives, and mounts Conservation quality acid-free matting We use Acrylic/Plexiglass to protect the artwork. It is shatter-resistant and blocks 80% UV rays. All our frames are between $199-$399, which includes shipping in the continental U.S. Our framing program allows collectors to easily match frame styles for the same medium. Provenance Provenance is the history of ownership for an artwork. This is extremely important in art, as it’s essentially one way to prove that your artwork is legitimate. A free Certificate of Authenticity accompanies every work of art that Park West sells or raffles. The vast majority of the artwork we offer comes directly from the artists themselves, giving our clients the opportunity to collect works with perfect provenance. Furthermore, our collecting experiences that involve our world-class artists provide our clients with photos, stories, and other forms of authenticity that few other galleries can match! For additional art definitions, you may reference the following Glossary of Art Terms on the MoMA website 32 COMPLIANCE WHAT IS COMPLIANCE? Compliance is policies set forth by Park West and our Cruise Line Partners. In order to effectively maintain consistency and integrity on any ship or at any auction, it is required that the associates, gallery directors and auctioneers meet certain established criteria. Please note that adherence to these specified guidelines is taken seriously and failure to comply with the following guidelines may result in fines, or worse, for the principal auctioneer, gallery directors and associates. WHO IS COMPLIANCE? YOU! Anybody who represents PWG is part of Compliance. You and your team have a responsibility to always be compliant. Look out for each other. WHO REVIEWS COMPLIANCE SUBMISSIONS? The Compliance team. Our objective is to review the auctioneer’s compliance recordings of auctions and seminars. These are rated according to your performance. At times, secret shoppers may visit the ships to do live Compliance audits. WHEN SHOULD YOU REACH OUT TO COMPLIANCE? At any time that you are not sure if something / someone is compliant. It can be yourself or somebody from your team. Being compliant is always everyone’s responsibility. COMPLIANCE EMAIL: [email protected] EDUCATING OUR COLLECTORS: Familiarize yourself with the auction rules and regulations. You will find this on the bid card or the “rules and regulations” video. The video must be played before every auction. If the video fails to play for technical reasons, the auctioneer must explain the bid card verbally. When recording for compliance, be sure that this video / bid card is always included. INVESTMENT SELLING: What is investment selling? Implying or suggesting investment value in the future. We do not predict the future, therefore avoid investment selling or speculation about “what might happen in the future”. Why do we collect art? Always collect art because you love it. Please refer back to the section of “Why Do People Collect Art?” in the Study Guide for a more comprehensive explanation. INCORRECT FACTS: ART KNOWLEDGE: It is of utmost importance that your art knowledge is top notch. If you are not sure of something, rather research it and get back to the guest when you know the answer. Don’t go by “hearsay”. Always verify your facts. INAPPROPRIATE COMPARISON: Avoid comparing one thing to another that is not related with the intent to make something look more or less desirable than it really is. For example, it is compliant to compare paintings to paintings of the same artist or, compare serigraphs to serigraphs of the same artist. You may also do stylistic comparisons of different artists. INACCURATE PRICING: Always quote the exact prices in the POS. Avoid “ballparking”. EXAGGERATION: What is an exaggerated statement? A statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is. Please avoid this. At times it may allude to investment selling. Compliance Quick Facts YOU are part of the compliance team. Educate our collectors. Facts. Be top notch with art knowledge. If you are not sure about something, research it rather than to go by “hearsay.” Do not sell on investment. We collect art because we love it. Quote only exact and documented prices. Please see the Compliance memo for more details. 33 MAJOR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS The Major Contemporary Artists are our most popular and best-selling artists. You will be expected to present any of these artists at training. LIST A Artists LIST B Artists LIST C Artists Ron Agam Nano Lopez Picasso (Vollard, 347, Ceramics) Yaacov Agam Csaba Markus Rembrandt & Matt Beyrer Marko Mavrovich Millennium Edition Romero Britto Peter Max Dali (Sacra Biblia & Divine Comedy) Michael Cheval Anatoly Metlan James Coleman Michael Milkin Chris DeRubeis David Najar Duaiv Sam Park Marcus Glenn Jean Claude Picot Michael Godard Pino Kre8 Alexandre Renoir Ashton Howard Itzchak Tarkay Slava Ilyayev Daniel Wall Thomas Kinkade Jim Warren Wyland Tim Yanke 34 RON AGAM (1958 – ) Pronounced “RON a-GAHM” Aesthetic style: After a successful career as an acclaimed fine art photographer, Ron is following in the footsteps of his father—Yaacov Agam—to create his own mesmerizing kinetic art. Ron calls his recent artworks “3-DK,” which stands for “three-dimensional kinetic.” His artwork is characterized by kinetic imagery, optical elements, and visual iconography that immediately engage the viewer. Accolades: Ron received France’s highest civic recognition for his photography: the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Ron’s work of art, “La France,” is on permanent display in the French Embassy in New York. His artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions all over the world. Biography: Born in France, Ron was given a camera by his father at the age of 6. He found himself drawn to photography and eventually became an award-winning photographer. In the 1980s, Ron moved to New York where he opened his own gallery and art press in SoHo. Read Park West Gallery’s full Ron Agam biography here. Main Points: Award-winning photographer – Kinetic art – son of Yaacov Agam 35 YAACOV AGAM (1928 – ) Pronounced “Yah-COF a-GAHM” Aesthetic style: Agam is one of the founders of Kinetic Art—art with movement as part of the design, incorporating the 4th dimension of time. He calls each viewer to action, challenging the notion that art should only be enjoyed from limited perspectives. Agam works in a variety of media, including painting in two and three dimensions, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, serigraphy, lithography, and etchings. Accolades: He was selected to hold a one-man retrospective at the Guggenheim museum in New York City in 1980. He has works and art installations all over the world, including “The Agam Fountain” in Paris, the “Fire and Water Fountain” in Tel Aviv, Israel, and “Reflection and Depth” at the Port Authority in New York, among many others. Agam was commissioned by George Pompidou (president of the French Republic) to create “Elysee Salon.” The work of art is an entire room (i.e. salon) within the Pompidou museum in Paris—the floor alone took 4 1/2 years to complete. On December 15, 2010, a painting by Agam sold at auction for $698,000 at Sotheby’s New York, the highest price ever paid for the work of an Israeli artist. In 2017, the Yaacov Agam Museum of Art opened in the artist’s hometown of Rishon LeZion, Israel. Biography: Agam was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel. He initially trained in art in Jerusalem before moving to Zurich and eventually Paris. Agam quickly won critical acclaim for his art after his first one-person-show in Paris in 1953. Read Park West Gallery’s full Yaacov Agam biography here. Watch this classic Park West’s video featuring Agam: Timeless: Yaacov Agam Creates to Transcend the Visible Main Points: Kinetic art – Installations all over the world – Agam Museum in Israel 36 MATT BEYRER (1981 – ) Pronounced “BUY - ruh” Aesthetic style: Beyrer created Natural Expressionism, an artistic style that combines the natural grain of wood with his meticulously painted landscapes, cityscapes, and still lifes. Beyrer is inspired by Old Masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, while the Hudson River School artists influence his use of light. He also draws influence from contemporary artists like Drew Struzan, the creator of the iconic Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones movie posters. Accolades: In his first year with Park West Gallery, Beyrer sold out every VIP auction that featured his art, making him the first artist in Park West’s history to accomplish this feat. Biography: Beyrer was born in Winter Park, Florida, where, in eighth grade, he was bitten by a shark while surfing. While recovering, he watched The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross and was inspired to learn how to paint. After graduating from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2006, he developed his unique style, Natural Expressionism, which quickly grew in popularity with collectors. Read Park West Gallery’s full Matt Beyrer biography here. Main Points: Natural Expressionism – Incorporates wood grain into his paintings 37 Aesthetic style: Britto’s self-taught style is “Neo-Pop Cubism,” a combination of Cubism, Pop Art, and graffiti-inspired by artists like Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Britto’s style is characterized by patterns, bright colors, and even the creative use of his own name. The artist’s goal is to bring optimism, warmth, and happiness to those who view his art. Accolades: The art of Britto has been featured in more than 140 galleries around the world, including the Carrousel du Louvre. Britto’s commissions include original works for Mini Cooper, BMW, Apple Latin America, Pepsi, Grand Marnier, and Disney. Britto was named the official ambassador for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also created art for the 2007 Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014. In 2017, the Star Art Foundation commissioned Britto to create a work of art presented to His Holiness Pope Francis. Biography: Born in Recife, Brazil, Britto wanted to be an artist as early as age 8. He initially pursued a career in academia but realized his true passion was art. He immigrated to the United States in 1988 and was catapulted into the limelight after completing a high-profile commission for Absolut Vodka. In addition to his art, Britto is a committed philanthropist. Read Park West Gallery’s full Romero Britto biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Britto: Inside Romero Britto's Pop Art Empire Main Points: Neo-Pop Cubism – Self-taught artist – Created art for Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup 38 MICHAEL CHEVAL (1966-) Aesthetic style: Cheval’s signature “Absurdist” style is inspired by 19th-century theatre, literary great Lewis Carroll, and Surrealists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. The detailed art of Cheval features witty metaphors, optic juxtapositions, and nods to European folklore. Cheval views his work as a “window to another reality” and invites viewers to deduce their meanings or imagine their own meanings to become “co-authors.” Accolades: While still in art school, Cheval held his first solo exhibition, which received critical acclaim. In 2000, the National Arts Club in New York City recognized him with its Exhibition Committee Award. In 2009, Cheval was selected as the Best of Worldwide Oil Artists by the “Best of Worldwide Artists” Volume I Book Series. His artworks were chosen to be published in the book “Dreamscape 2010” among 50 world-renowned surrealist artists. Cheval’s works are held in museums in Eastern Europe and in the private collections of actress Gina Lollobrigida and musician Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Biography: Born in 1966 in Russia, Cheval was raised in a family of painters, poets, and sculptors. He attended the Ashgabat School of Fine Arts and moved to Moscow to work as an illustrator and artist for publishing houses. In 1997, the artist immigrated to the United States, where his art was well-received by critics and collectors. Read Park West Gallery’s full Michael Cheval biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Cheval: The Absurd Artwork of Michael Cheval Main Points: Absurdist – Inspired by Dalí and Magritte – Invites viewers to become “co-authors” 39 JAMES COLEMAN (1949-) Aesthetic style: Coleman works in oil, watercolor, gouache and pastel. His work is impressionistic,luminous and intrigues the eye and touches the heart- you can feel the warmth in his paintings. As a master of color, light, and design, Coleman has become one of the most collected and sought-after Disney artists around the world. Accolades: As one of the few artists in the world licensed to create Disney imagery, Coleman’s work is highly desirable. The contributions made by Coleman to the world of art span over 30 years both in film and fine art. In addition to his passion for art, Coleman is a naturalist and environmentalist who supports the National Parks and other environmental organizations. He is a five-year finalist in the Arts for the Parks competition held by the U.S. National Park Service. Biography: Coleman was born in Hollywood, California in 1949. As a youth, his creative abilities seemed to dominate his world, suggesting a seemingly unlimited amount of imagination and ingenuity. His interest in filmmaking and fine art would eventually lead to a long, successful career in animated films. Coleman began as an animation background painter, which was to change his life forever. Over the years he collaborated with more than 12 animated films for Disney Studios where he developed his ability to create computer generated images. Read Park West Gallery’s full James Coleman biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring James Coleman: James Coleman: From Disney to Fine Art 40 CHRIS DERUBEIS (1978-) Aesthetic Style: DeRubeis is the innovator of “Abstract Sensualism,” a style characterized by shimmering metal, organically flowing lines, and abstract imagery. DeRubeis masterfully manipulates aluminum, copper, silver, and gold panels to create mesmerizing works of art. His technique incorporates everything from chemicals to natural elements such as fire. He favors metal because it combines sculpture and painting in a way that “enhances my ability to communicate emotions intently.” Because of his unique technique, DeRubeis cannot make limited edition reproductions, so every work is a one of a kind variation. Accolades: Derubeis’ style is a registered art form. In 2005, DeRubeis’ work earned the MUSE Award in “New Movement.” Biography: Born in California, DeRubeis was inspired at the young age of 13 by his grandfather, who gave him his first airbrush. Disinterested in the artistic styles and movements he learnt about in art school, DeRubeis experimented for 10 years to develop Abstract Sensualism. His art is now exhibited and collected around the world. Read Park West Gallery’s full Chris DeRubeis biography here Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring DeRubeis: Painting with Fire: The Art of Chris DeRubeis Main Points: Abstract Sensualism- Create art on metal with fire, power tools, and paint 41 Aesthetic style: Duaív is a French contemporary Impressionist—his paintings are uplifting, colorful, cheerful, and bright, almost buzzing with movement. He uses cans of paint rather than tubes, working with various sizes of palette knives and tiny brushes, smoothing with his fingers. While Duaív only uses six to eight colors on his palette, a full spectrum of hues shines out. Accolades: He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Star of Europe for his efforts to assist contemporary artists and his country, awarded by HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark. In 2006, Duaív was entered into the Benezit Dictionary of top-rated painters. He has painted custom vehicles for Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche. Duaív has exhibited all over the world, including France, the United States, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Tunisia, and Australia. Biography: Duaív is a French-born artist who began his painting career at the age of 3. He completed his first oil painting by the age of 9. Duaív met Salvador Dalí when he was 25, who was a great inspiration to him. Duaív is an accomplished classical cellist. For two hours every morning, Duaív practices his cello, maintaining his technique. Each night, he paints in his studio for four to six hours, always listening to music. Read Park West Gallery’s full Duaív biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Duaív: Duaiv Harmonizes Music and Art Main Points: French Impressionist – Acclaimed classical cellist – Known for his bright, cheerful compositions 42 Aesthetic style: Glenn is known for his use of bright colors and his expressive use of papers and fabrics, creating a masterful textured collage effect. He created a unique method of combining painting with sculpture to form a bas-relief, which he calls “Flat Life.” He has been developing this style for more than a decade. He fascinates viewers by inviting them into his realm of colorful and unique imagery, representing themes like the creative process of making art, the dialog between art and the viewer, and music (mostly jazz). Accolades: His artwork “One Nite Outta This World” was selected as the official art for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014. Glenn was also the official artist of the 2014 Amelia Island Jazz Festival. In August 2005, Glenn’s work was featured in his first museum exhibition held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. The museum now hosts one of his paintings in its permanent collection. Biography: A native of Detroit, Glenn was raised in Corktown, the city’s oldest neighborhood. As a teen, Marcus won a full scholarship to the city’s prestigious Center for Creative Studies. Prior to becoming recognized for his artwork, Glenn worked on an assembly line for Chrysler during the day and developed his art style at night. Read Park West Gallery’s full Marcus Glenn biography here. Watch this classic Park West’s video featuring Glenn: Marcus Glenn: Detroit's Finest Main Points: Created “Flat Life” combining painting and sculpture – Official Artist for Grammy Awards – Incorporates jazz into his art 43 Aesthetic style: His detailed and irreverent works of art are filled with animated olives, grapes, and dancing strawberries. Godard’s unique imagery is an exciting combination of imagination and subtle humor, which evoke the creative side in “Olive” us. (He loves a good olive pun.) Accolades: Godard’s imaginative art has been seen by millions of people around the world through cruise lines, galleries, hotels, television, and magazines. His paintings adorn the walls of the Officer’s Lounge in the Pentagon. Godard has been featured on many television shows, including Inked, A&E’s Criss Angel’s Mind Freak, HBO’s Cathouse, and American Casino. Famous collectors include Larry King, Ozzy Osbourne, Michael Jordan, Kriss Angel, Michael Phelps, and Dog the Bounty Hunter. A documentary on Godard’s life won several awards and was aired at multiple independent film festivals. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital honored Godard for his dedication to fighting childhood cancer at the 7th Annual St. Jude: Affair of the Art Gala in 2017. Biography: Godard worked as a mechanical engineer for 12 years before devoting himself to his art career. After his daughter passed in 2006, he dedicated himself to philanthropic causes through his art. Read Park West Gallery’s full Michael Godard biography here. Main Points: Rock Star of the Art World – Dedicated to philanthropy – Detailed paintings of cocktails and animated olives and fruit 44 Kre8 (1980 - ) Pronounced “Create” Aesthetic style: Kevin “Kre8” Vigil has a distinct style of colorful, abstract splashes against black-and-gray compositions that have earned him fans around the world. Drawing on a unique background steeped in graffiti art, tattoo artistry, and the love of Surrealism, Kre8 has inspired art lovers to share in his vision of enjoying creativity and life. Kre8 references Dalí as one of his first artistic influences but also draws inspiration from the works of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pablo Picasso. Kre8 explains that his colorful splashes of paint represent our inner lives and describes his own artistic style as “Kre8izm” Accolades: 34 sell-out events at Park West VIP level. Biography: Miami-based artist born in Germany in 1980, Kre8 moved to the United States at the age of 5. At the age of 14, a group of graffiti artists approached Kre8 and invited him to try his hand at graffiti. He joined the group, which came to be known as “Kre8 and ATF,” and participated in graffiti displays across the United States for the next decade. “Kre8” - “Kre” stands for “Knowledge Reveals Evolution” while the 8 represents the infinity symbol turned vertical. At the age of 25, Kre8 started working as a professional tattoo artist in Florida while continuing to create his own original artwork. Read Park West Gallery’s full Kre8 biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Kre8: Coloring the Abstract: The Art of Kre8 Main Points: “Kre8izm” – Combines Tattoo art, Graffiti art, and Surrealism 45 ASHTON HOWARD (1979-) Aesthetic style: As one of the world’s foremost tropical artists, Ashton Howard brings the tranquility, light, and colors of the ocean to collectors around the world with his enchanting paintings and remarkably fluid art style. With a self-taught style that blends realism and abstract expressionism, Howard’s art is just as much about the subject as it is about the moods it evokes—moods that one can only encounter when they’re alone with nature. He calls his artwork “Fluid Realism.” Accolades: Howard’s art is displayed in more than 25 galleries around the world. Murals painted by Howard have popped up over recent years. These include murals at the Sacred Heart Women and Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida; Pepperdine University in Malibu, California; and several locations in Houston, Texas. Biography: Born in 1979, Howard was raised in Pensacola on the Gulf Coast in Florida. Howard was always interested in art, a passion he fostered in high school. This passion led him to enroll at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1999, but he soon decided to leave after realizing his methods and vision didn’t fit into the art school’s structured curriculum. Howard traveled the world seeking artistic inspiration from exotic locales. His journey ultimately led him to Encinitas, California in 2001. He worked as a self-described “struggling artist” in Laguna Beach, supporting himself by teaching surfing lessons and painting surfboards. Read Park West Gallery’s full Ashton Howard’s full biography here Watch Park West’s video featuring Howard: Ashton Howard Brings Fluid Realism to the Art World Main Points: “Fluid Realism” - self taught - blends realism and abstract expressionism 46 SLAVA ILYAYEV (1970 - ) Pronounced “ILL-ya-yev” Aesthetic style: Ilyayev is a master of creating colorful and vivid works that carry on the traditions of Post- Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh into contemporary times. His art is instantly recognizable by the elevated textures he creates by applying thick swathes of oil paints with a palette knife. The result is unquestionably beautiful—blending viscous oil paint, a symphony of color, and the intrigue of romance. His compositions of light and shadow reflect the transitions of the seasons and the beauty of nature. Accolades: Ilyayev held his first exhibition at the Sculpture Union in Tel Aviv in 1999 and then at the Safari Gallery in Jerusalem later that same year. Ilyayev has held many group and solo exhibitions in Israel, United States, Turkey, and Spain. Biography: Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ilyayev studied art in his hometown, attending the Baku College of Arts in 1991. Upon immigrating to Israel in 1995, Ilyayev studied at the renowned Avni Institute of Art and Design in Tel Aviv. In addition to his career as an artist, Ilyayev teaches art in academies in Israel. Read Park West Gallery’s full Slava Ilyayev biography here. Watch this classic Park West’s video featuring Ilyayev: Inside the Artist's Studio: Slava Ilyayev Main Points: Impressionist style characterized by heavy textures – Strong sense of perspective, light, and shadow 47 THOMAS KINKADE (1958-2012) Pronounced “kin-kaid” Aesthetic style: Kinkade painted magical imagery that included nature scenes, bucolic gardens, cottages, sports, inspirational tableaus, lighthouses, seascapes, impressionistic cityscapes, and American icons. Kinkade’s works are rich with symbolism—for example, the lights within his homes and chimney smoke represent the warmth and welcoming of family. Surprisingly, Kinkade painted multiple layers of dark glaze across his canvases as the first step. He said, “Because of the darkness, the light I add has more impact.” Accolades: Kinkade is said to be the most widely collected artist in the United States. His paintings and limited-edition works adorn more than 10 million homes across the world. Kinkade created art for milestone events for Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort, Graceland, the Daytona 500, and Yankee Stadium. Biography: Known as the “Painter of Light,” Kinkade was one of America’s most collected living artists until his untimely passing at the age of 54. Born in California, Kinkade never graduated from college, but after a brief career as a background artist, he took the art world by storm with his idyllic cottages and landscapes. Read Park West Gallery’s full Thomas Kinkade biography here. Watch this classic Park West’s video featuring Kinkade: Video Vault: Thomas Kinkade Main Points: The Painter of Light – Collected by millions worldwide – Idyllic and luminous scenes of cottages and landscapes 48 DAVID "LEBO" LE BATARD (1972 - ) Pronounced “lee-BOW” Aesthetic style: Lebo is inspired by ancient storytelling, comic strip compositions, and street art. He creates colorful and approachable artwork that evokes spirituality and hope. Lebo fuses his love of drawing, philosophy, calligraphy, and symbolism into his own unique style—Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism. His style is characterized by gestural lines and condensed fields of color. He refers to his recurring characters as “totems,” which include owls and cats. Accolades: The artist has collaborated with Adidas, ESPN, Lululemon, Google, Harley-Davidson, and Macy’s. Lebo painted the hull of the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the Norwegian Getaway. In 2003, Lebo created the official artwork for the Latin Grammy Awards. An accomplished muralist, Lebo painted a mural celebrating the 2018 FIFA World Cup in collaboration with Telemundo Deportes and a now-iconic "Welcome to Miami Beach" mural, which greets visitors driving into Miami Beach, Florida. Biography: Lebo was born in New York in 1972, the child of Cuban immigrants. Later raised in Miami, where he currently resides, Lebo became inspired by the bold aesthetic and musical culture of South Florida. He gained renown for his public murals, and in 1996 held his first public exhibition. Read Park West Gallery’s full Lebo biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Lebo: David “Lebo” Le Batard's Creative Cartoon Flow Main Points: Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism – Inspired by symbolism, comic strips, and philosophy – Worked with major companies like Google and ESP 49 NANO LOPEZ (1950-) Aesthetic style: With his imaginative bronze figures, Lopez creates amalgamations of folklore, science, industry, and nature. In 1978, he traveled to Spain and began working for the sculptor Francisco (Paco) Baron in Madrid. While with Francisco, Nano carved marble, granite and fabricated in steel. He worked all three materials on a monumental scale. It was in Madrid that he began casting his own works in bronze and held his first single artist show. He also took the opportunity to visit Italy and see the sculptures of Michelangelo, his idol. He uses the ‘Lost Wax Process’ which was invented by the ancient Egyptians to create his bronze sculptures. Accolades: Nano was recognized early in his life for his artistic talent when he was awarded first place in a municipal school drawing contest at the age of 5. Few contemporary artists have made more of an impact on the world of sculpture than Colombian sculptor Nano Lopez. His instantly recognizable “Nanimal” sculptures are collected around the globe, and he continues to innovate and inspire with his remarkable bronze work. Biography: Nano Lopez was born October 31, 1955, in Bogota Colombia to an affluent and educated family that includes a great uncle who served as president of Colombia. His grandmother was an artist who worked in ceramics and water clay, having a big influence on Nano. She encouraged her grandson at a young age to pursue art, and her sculptures and collection of art still inspires him to this day. Around the age of 15, Nano’s love of art grew and he began using wet clay he found at construction sites to practice his skills. By high school, he was making serious copies of the masters including Michelangelo’s sculptures and paintings. He realized that art was an absolute need and passion, and towards the end of high school began to take university classes at night. Read Park West Gallery’s full Nano Lopez biography here. Watch this classic Park West’s video featuring Nano Lopez: Nano Lopez - "The Process" Main Points: ‘Nanimals’ - Lost Wax - Bronze Sculptures 50 p Aesthetic style: His unique style can be described as a contemporary fusion of Renaissance Europe and Classical Mythology. Markus is known for painting his “Modern Mona Lisas”—images of women who are not only beautiful, but sophisticated and strong. Accolades: Markus’s painting “Pure Love” was selected as one of the world's top 10 most sensual paintings by the Toronto Sun newspaper. Markus invented the new art medium known as caldographs, in which images are expertly bonded to wooden panels. He created this innovation as a tribute to da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” which was also painted on a wood panel. Markus’ artwork has been displayed around the world and featured in prominent galleries in France, Japan, England, Russia, and the United States. Biography: Born in Budapest, Hungary, Markus was inspired to become an artist by the works of Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Botticelli. He studied art in his home country, but immigrated to the U.S. in 1978. Read Park West Gallery’s full Csaba Markus biography here. Watch the latest Park West’s video featuring Markus: Csaba Markus Unveils Caldographs on Wood Main Points: Inspired by Renaissance artists —Hand crafts every aspect of his art — Invented caldographs 51 MARKO MAVROVICH Aesthetic style: His artwork vividly captures the essence of the sea. Mavrovich’s tranquil paintings of seascapes and light colors are a result of growing up near the Pacific Ocean and the Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean. Practical and resourceful, Mavrovich draws from what he knows—the seascape of the world. His style is expressive and he uses the palette knife to create texture, similar to artists in the Impressionist movement. He states he loves to be around the materials he uses to create his artworks and says “some people call it chaos, I call it perfect.” Accolades: Mavrovich has participated in group and solo exhibitions in the US and Europe His work is often featured on Pinterest Biography: Mavrovich was born to Croatian parents living in California. He and his family moved between islands off the coast of Croatia when he was young, but spent most of their time on the island of Unjie. It was here he developed a love for sea life. Started as a watercolor painter, inspired by his father, who was a watercolor artist. Mavrovich worked as a commercial diver for three years until a close call with a propeller severed an air hose and grazed his wetsuit. Mavrovich had narrowly avoided the loss of a limb. He saw this as a sign to turn his passion for art into his career. Despite the accident, Mavrovich never lost his love of the sea, and began painting seascapes, coastlines, and landscapes. See more on Marko Mavrovich here. 52 Aesthetic style: The colorful works of Peter Max are synonymous with contemporary American culture and the spirit of the 1960s and ‘70s. His style is characterized by cosmic and patriotic themes painted with brilliant hues and loose brushstrokes. Max’s art has been considered Pop Art, Neo-Expressionism, or even Surrealism. He has worked in everything from collage and painting to printmaking and sculpture. Accolades: Max’s accomplishments are numerous and has been a highly sought-after artist for decades. He remains one of Park West’s most collected artists. Max has created art for such major events as the 2006 Winter Olympics, Woodstock ’99, multiple World Cups and S

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