Franck Ayroles, 1975 | Abstract /Mixed media painter

Franck Ayroles is a professional painter engaged with Maison des Artistes and is a member of the organization ADAGP. Franck Ayroles was born in Saint-Nazaire.

He worked as a chief decorator and made a film with the comedian Philippe Le Maire after his studies in advertising and film.

Thereafter, he decided to become entirely focused in his artwork.

Painting has since childhood always been the big passion in his life.

During the 80s, Franck Ayroles joined and won many competitions organized by TF1 in the TV program "Bonjour la France" hosted by Jean Claude Bourret.

Armando Barrios | Cubist / Abstract painter

Venezuelan Artist Armando Barrios (1920-1999) was born in Caracas in 1920. He entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Caracas in 1932. During Rómulo Gallegos management as education minister in the government of Eleazar Lopez Contreras, the institution was reformed in 1936 and changed its name to the School of Visual Arts and Applied Arts of Caracas. Antonio Edmundo Monsanto and other leading painters of the generation of the Fine Arts were called to direct and integrate their teaching staff.

Pietro Magni | The Reading Girl / La Lettrice, 1856

Pietro Magni's marble statue The Reading Girl brought the Milanese sculptor international fame and recognition.

It was exhibited numerous times at international exhibitions throughout Europe and America, each time to great public and critical acclaim. Stylistically it owes much to the artistic tradition of verismo or "realism" that characterized Italian art during the middle years of the nineteenth century, but it also recalls earlier aspects of Italian romanticism.

William Wetmore Story | Delilah, 1877

Delilah (/dɪˈlaɪlə/; Hebrew: דלילה Dəlilah, meaning "[She who] weakened") is a character in the Hebrew bible Book of Judges, where she is the "woman in the valley of Sorek" whom Samson loved, and who was his downfall.

Her figure, one of several dangerous temptresses in the Hebrew Bible, has become emblematic: "Samson loved Delilah, she betrayed him, and, what is worse, she did it for money", Madlyn Kahr begins her study of the Delilah motif in European painting.

Luca Morelli, 1968 | Figurative Realist painter

Luca Morelli is an Italian painter, known for working in the Figurative style. Morelli was born in Rome. He graduated in 1990 from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Lives and works in Rome.

William Wetmore Story | The Libyan Sibyl, 1867

"The Libyan Sibyl", which American sculptor William Wetmore Story (1819-1895) described as “my anti-slavery sermon in stone”, was inspired by events leading up to the Civil War.

Oracle in hand, the Libyan Sibyl, eldest of the legendary prophetesses of antiquity, foresees the terrible fate of the African people.

This premonition is suggested by the heroic figure’s state of brooding cogitation.

Ancient Rome / La Civiltà romana

Ancient Rome, the state centred on the city of Rome. This article discusses the period from the founding of the city and the regal period, which began in 753 bc, through the events leading to the founding of the republic in 509 bc, the establishment of the empire in 27 bc, and the final eclipse of the Empire of the West in the 5th century ad. For later events of the Empire of the East, see Byzantine Empire.

William Wetmore Story | Medea, 1865

In the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, Medea was the sorceress who assisted Jason in obtaining the Golden Fleece and later became his wife.

When he abandoned her, Medea murdered their two children and planned the death of his new love, Creusa.

To nineteenth-century theater audiences, Medea was a sympathetic character forced to choose between relinquishing her children and protecting them by destroying them herself. Story similarly deemphasized Medea’s revenge, leaving to the viewer’s imagination the scene of infanticide to come. | © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

William Wetmore Story | Cleopatra, 1858

Neoclassical sculptors often drew upon mythology, ancient history, the Bible, and classical and contemporary literature for their subject matter. The full-size marbles of Massachusetts native William Wetmore Story exemplify this trend, and Cleopatra, his most famous work, was one of dozens of subjects such as Medea, Delilah, Electra, and Saul that were produced in his Rome studio.

Mark Yale Harris | Abstract Figurative sculptor

Mark Yale Harris realized his true passion in the Southwest. Stone carving became his life’s work, as Santa Fe became his home in the late 1990s. He dedicated himself to creating in 1996, and with much to learn, the artist chose a mentor whom he had long admired to assist with honing his burgeoning artistic skills, sculptor Bill Prokopiof (Aleut, 1944-1999). In the spirit of the nation’s most recognized Native American artist, Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1915-1994), Prokopiof and sculptor Doug Hyde (Nez Perce) took Harris under their wings and generously shared their immense knowledge, talent, and vision. Inspired by the geographical region and grounded in the wisdom of his teachers, he began feverishly creating sculpture.

Leonora Carrington | Surrealist painter and sculptor | Sculpture

Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) was a painter, writer, sculptor, alchemist, visionary, and was the darling of the 1930s Surrealism movement.

She never tried to be a Surrealist, but her paintings of fantastical creatures and living furniture happened to encapsulate the essence of the movement.

Victor Brauner | Surrealist painter

Victor Brauner (1903-1966) was a Romanian Jewish sculptor and painter of surrealistic images.

Brauner was born in Piatra Neamț, Romania, the son of a timber manufacturer who subsequently settled in Vienna with his family for a few years.

It is there that young Victor attended elementary school.

When his family returned to Romania in 1914, he continued his studies at the Evangelical school in Brăila.

His interests revolved around zoology during that period.

Petr Dick /Пётр Дик | Figurative pastel painter

The famous artist Petr Gergardovich Dick /Пётр Гергардович Дик (1939-2002) descendant of immigrants from Northern Germany, was born in Altai. Dick graduated Sverdlov Art School named after I.D. Shadr and Moscow Higher Art Industrial School. Since 1960’s he lived in Vladimir. Peter Dick worked in original style - pastel and charcoal on sandpaper. Characteristic features of his creative activity are strong and delicate color combinations, expressive antiquity of laying figures.

Roberto Weigand, 1968

Roberto Weigand is an award-winning illustrator of children's books and magazine cover designer in Brazil.

Roberto Weigand studied Architecture in São Paulo’s University and in 1991 he started working as an Illustrator for newspapers, magazines and children’s books.

From 1999 he worked as Illustrator and Infographist for Veja magazine, from 2001 he became responsible for Istoé magazine covers and from 2002 he started to write for Publish magazine.

Wieslaw Smetek, 1955 | Conceptual Illustrator

Wieslaw Smetek, born in 1955 in Poland, has been illustrating for the big names among the publishing houses for over twenty years now. He gives their magazines a face, makes them instantly recognizable at the kiosk - and he does it with witty and impudent, but always intelligent allusions. He shows former Federal Chancellor Schröder as a drenched and bedraggled poodle looking very woebegone, or Chancellor Merkel as a mother hen gathering her charges under her wings, or the globe as a beach ball with water running out of it.

Laura Harris | Abstract painter

Described as 'beautifully imperfect' Laura's paintings speak to an inner voice often ignored - with strikingly bold colours and texture, each one takes you on a journey that requires contemplation and offers discovery.

Mostly self-taught, Laura began painting in her teens.

With her draftsman father teaching her perspective and technique, he also encouraged freedom of expression.

Before becoming a 'serious' painter, Harris had a small graphic design company that specialized in corporate identity.

Stefan Georgiev, 1954 | Mixed media painter

Bulgarian painter Stefan Georgiev / Стефан Георгиев born on June 24-th in the Town of Veliko Tarnovo. In 1974 he graduates from Arts school in the Town of Kazanlak, Bulgaria.

He then continues his education in "St Cyril and St Methodius" University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria in the Faculty of fine arts.

He is a member of the Greek Artists Union, He lived in Athens from 2000 to 2014.

He works mainly on canvas with oil paint, mixed techniques or pencils. However he also uses watercolor, pastels and acrylics. With the help of a spatula, he mixes the materials in order to get the wished deepness, thickness and effect. His paintings are figurative with a stylized and decorative style.

Tom Root, 1958 | Portrait /Figurative painter

Tom Root was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He studied drawing and painting at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Connecticut, under Aaron Shikler N.A. and Deane G. Keller, and at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.

Early on, Tom was interested in being a part of a contemporary figurative revival. He loved historic portraiture but intensely disliked modern formula-based commercial portraiture and desired to see contemporary portraiture reconnected with fine art. This has been the goal of much of his work.

Emanuil Popgenchev (1942-2010) | Cubist painter

Most distinct Bulgarian representatives of Cubism Emanuil Popgenchev was born in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. Graduated the National Art Academy, "Decorative monumental painting", 1967. The only contemporary Bulgarian artist who built a body of work in the style of Cubism and his achievements receive international recognition.

Leonardo da Vinci | Comincia della Scultura, e se essa è scienza o no

Trattato della Pittura

Parte prima | Capitolo 31

Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura | Testo Integrale

La scultura non è scienza ma arte meccanicissima, perché genera sudore e fatica corporale al suo operatore e solo bastano a tale artista le semplici misure dei membri e la natura de' movimenti e posati, e cosí in sé finisce dimostrando all'occhio quel che quello è, e non dà di sé alcuna ammirazione al suo contemplante, come fa la pittura, che in una piana superficie per forza di scienza dimostra le grandissime campagne co' lontani orizzonti.

Galq Mincheva | Abstract painter

Galq Mincheva is an Bulgarian artist born in Sofia. "- I am a medical doctor and the painting is my hobby and passion. My pictures are expression of myself, my personality, my feelings, my inner space and my fantasies".

Susan Roux, 1958 | Figurative /En plein air painter

I was born in the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire in 1958, where my love for nature began. I studied at Rhode Island School of Design and recently under the supervision/tutoring of Stas Borodin, renown Russian Impressionist. After college I made my home in Maine where I remain today. The beauty of my surroundings from inland lakes to the Atlantic coast has been a constant source of inspiration.

Sean Yoro | Seaside Murals painter

Sew York-based Hawaiian-born street artist Sean Yoro (a.k.a. Hula) has created a stunning series of street art murals depicting women emerging from the water along the concrete walls of ruined and abandoned structures. At home on the water, he paddles on a surfboard to reach the best locations for his art, even managing to balance his paint cans as well.

Before the NY-based artist unveiled these stunning street art murals on his Instagram, he had already made a name for himself with his beautiful portraits of women painted on canvas and even on old surfboards.

Rubén Belloso Adorna, 1986 | Hyperrealist painter

Spanish Artist🎨 Rubén Belloso Adorna was born in Seville in 1986. He holds a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Seville. Prize for the best record Faculty of Fine Arts in Seville, 2010.

He has participated in numerous group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. He has had solo exhibitions in galleries throughout Spain, Italy and Portugal. He has received several awards among them the 2 nd Prize Gruas Lozano in 2009 and the 1st Award🎨 Juan Robles Youth values Culture in 2010. His work has appeared in numerous media, whether in newspapers, radio and TV.

Zhao Kailin 赵开霖, 1961 | Figurative /Portrait painter

Zhao Kailin 赵开霖 is an Chinese painter known for working in the Figurative style. Kailin was born in 1961 in China. In 1988, he studied at Oil Painting Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts. Now he lives in China. For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by Kailin see Zhao Kailin, 1961 | Figurative painter.

Debra Hurd | Palette Knife painter

Art and music are my passions but it's all art to me.

Internationally acclaimed artist Debra Hurd studied art at both Southern University in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. For 15 years she was a graphic designer in Florida and Austin, Texas.

She is also an accomplished pianist, having studied music since early childhood. Debra's wild boogie-woogie and honky-tonk style still finds her in the recording studios and at live performances in Austin. She loves jazz, classical, and salsa styles, too.

Jim Salvati, 1957 | Conceptual Figurative painter

To look at a Jim Salvati painting, is to experience a snapshot into the soul of his subjects.

Each person portrayed in his work, which is thick and textured with oil paint, is telling a story about the life of the person, the emotion of that moment in time, their world surrounding them, and a warm sense of the human condition and its uniqueness.

"We all have stories,” Salvati says, "and I like telling them".

Charlie Chaplin | Smile, 1936 | Modern Times

"Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) movie Modern Times.

Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954.

In the lyrics, based on lines and themes from the film, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow, just as long as they smile.

"Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Chaplin's film.

It was used as the theme song on NBC-TV'S The Jerry Lewis Show from 1967-69.

Tomasyn De Winter | Floral painter

Tomasyn De Winter was born in Belgium but during her childhood travelled extensively with her parents, which exposed her to many different cultural experiences.

At a young age she showed an interest in the decorative arts making simple sketches and collecting materials which would later be used in her art.

Today Tomasyn works as a freelance artist in Germany and creates mainly floral works which are full of vitality and texture.

Using collage style corrugated papers and metallic paints plus her signature square shaped decorative icons her work is bold, contemporary and full of expression.

Lodovico Tommasi | Italian Divisionism/Neo-Impressionism

Ludovico Tommasi (Livorno, 1866 - Florence 1941) was an Italian painter.

Inspired by the example of his elder brother Angiolo and his cousin Adolfo, Ludovico Tommasi devoted himself to painting, developing his art in close contact with Silvestro Lega, a frequent visitor to the Tommasi family villa at Bellariva. He made his debut at the Florence Promotrice in 1884 with a life study.

After his military service in Milan between 1888-1891, Tommasi and his brother Angiolo frequented the cultural circle that gravitated around Giacomo Puccini at Torre del Lago, and it was here that he came into contact with several exponents of the Tuscan artistic avant-garde, including Galileo Chini and Oscar Ghiglia.

Hartwig Kopp-Delaney | Symbolist / Mystical Digital painter

Hartwig Kopp-Delaney is a German mystical digital artist and photographer that expresses duality and transduality - oneness - love and hate - the split and separated mind trough art. He tries to show a possible way out of the inner conflict and stress.

The artist creates pictures about the path, the inner journey, the experiences, the sufferings, the tragic and the funny illusions that he had. And probably the greatest adventure to be explored is the journey to the source. Looking at his artworks you will discover elements like: Buddhism, psychology, spirituality, symbolism and of course alchemy and the holy grail.

Chie Yoshii | Surrealist /Visionary painter

Japanese by birth, Chie Yoshii moved to the US, where she completed BFA at Massachusetts College of Art in 2000 and studied with Adrian Gottlieb from 2002-2008.

Much of her work is inspired by the analogy between mythological tales and the human psychology.

She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Stephen Cefalo, 1976 | Symbolist / Baroque style painter

Stephen Cefalo is an American artist in the traditions of Symbolism and the Baroque.

He was born in the hometown of Albrecht Durer (Nurnberg, Germany) on the birthday of his heroes, Winslow Homer, Charles Le Brun and Franz Von Stuck, and felt a calling from early childhood to become a painter.

Stephen and his two sisters were raised in Newburgh, Indiana by a single mother who worked full-time at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.

His aunt Marilyn gave him oil painting lessons at twelve, and his mother bought him books on figure drawing and supplies when she found them.

Olga and Sergey Kamennoy (KAMU) | The Muses

KAMU - a creative union of two artists, Olga and Sergey working under a pseudonym. Artists live in France.

"Art of KAMU combines male and female - yin and yang, combines delicate feminine image with brutal scenes of battles or hunting. Yin - a passive, receptive, preserving, feminine world. Yan - is primarily active, pass, transforming, masculine world. Yin and Yang is quite natural complement each other, although in a sense opposed to each other.

Through the medieval theme KAMU provided for the women most important role. Dreamer, it goes from the real men’s world to the world of her dreams. Contrast between drawings and delicate female body highlights the vulnerability and fragility of the model".

Ilir Pojani, 1954 | Abstract painter

Ilir Pojani is an Albanian contemporary artist living in Fairfax, Virginia. He was born in Tirana, Albania.

Pojani studied painting and graphic art at the National Academy of Arts in Tirana. His work has been shown in numerous exhibitions and international art contests in United States and Europe.

Pojani has won several international art awards🎨. His distinct artwork has been recognized and owned by many art collectors and galleries throughout the world.

Truls Espedal, 1973 | Figurative painter

Born in Stavanger, Norwegian painter Truls Espedal earned a BA in Illustration and a Master of Arts in Visual Communication from the Kent Institute of Art and Design in England. His work has been seen in numerous solo and group shows across Norway.

In addition to his fine art work, Truls is also an accomplished designer who has several album covers to his credit.

Alvaro Castagnet, 1954 ~ Impressionist Watercolor painter | Part. 2

Álvaro Castagnet is an master of watercolor medium who has been honored in numerous art competitions. He is a successful author who travels around the world attending exhibitions, hosting workshops and participating as a member of the jury for international art events.

For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by Castagnet see Alvaro Castagnet, 1954 ~ Impressionist Watercolor painter.

Luigi Loir | Paris of Belle Époque

Luigi Aloys-François-Joseph Loir, dit Luigi Loir was born December 22, 1845 in Goritz, Austria and he died February 9, 1916 in Paris.

Luigi’s parents were of French origins, but his family lived in Austria as employees of the French royal family, the Bourbons - his father was a valet while his mother was a governess.

In his catalogue raisonnée on Luigi Loir, Noé Willer explains how "since the French Revolution, Gorritz (which was known as ‘the Austrian Nice’) was a refuge for royalists and particularly the Bourbon branch of the family".

The earliest years of Luigi’s life, then, were spent in the Gorritz castle, but shortly after his birth, the Loir family relocated, along with the Bourbon family, to the Duchy of Parma, around 1847.