HRF segment to appear in American Painting Video Magazine

Jacob Collins painting in Platte Clove at the Hudson River Fellowship, July 2010

The next issue of American Painting Video Magazine will be available October 1st. This issue will include a segment on plein air painting filmed at the Hudson River Fellowship. Among the artists doing demos are Jacob Collins, Edward Minoff, and Thomas Kegler. More information on the APVM website, check it out!

Happy Monday

Katie Whipple makes delicious cupcakes. Thanks Katie!

embarking on a new year at GCA

Here at GCA the core program has been back in session for about a week now. It's exciting to be back in the studios together with old friends and new faces. This is my third year studying at GCA and I love how the program keeps getting better as we progress. The teachers and students are always talking about and looking for ways to evolve and this year there are some new improvements that we love. We now have some two week poses (all poses were previously 4 weeks long). Mornings in the North Studio are dedicated to a new still life class with Tony Curanaj that is open to third and fourth year students. This class is great because it gives us a chance to study composition and color in depth.

For the first assignment we were given a week to finish a painting. At GCA we get used to taking at least a month on our cast drawings and figure work, so this was a much needed kick in the pants!

by Emilie Lee


by Chris Rigney


by Victoria Herrera


Connie Netherton working on her painting


Sam Worley at work


Neal Esplin


Tony Curanaj lectures about the elements of composition


he's a very active lecturer

Structure Drawing class with Colleen Barry & Will St. John

The first session of Structure Drawing taught by Colleen Barry and Will St. John starts tomorrow morning. The class runs from 10 AM to 2:00 PM. Visit our site for more information on signing up for a session.

With an emphasis on accurate observation, students will improve their understanding of the figure by incorporating the use of the skeleton, plaster casts (ecorche), and master drawings into their life studies. Each student will learn to complete a carefully rendered drawing from the live model, followed by a companion anatomical/structural drawing in the same pose. Instructors will dissect the pose from each position, illustrating anatomical landmarks, proportional systems, and structural conventions with the aid of masterworks from the Renaissance through Beaux-Arts. By developing their drawings alongside 2-D ecorches, students will develop a conceptual understanding of the body that may be applied to observational drawing as well as studies from memory and imagination.

both drawings by Colleen Barry

Landscape Painting Show at Kaaterskill Fine Arts

GCA student and two-time Hudson River Fellow Lauren Sansaricq has a piece in this upcoming group show!

Looking Forward from the Hudson River School Tradition

Date: September 4-October 3
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 4, 4-6 pm
Location: Kaaterskill Fine Arts, Route 23A, Main Street, Hunter, NY
Hours: Thursday 10 am - 5 pm, Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday 10 am – 7 pm, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm. Closed Monday through Wednesday.
Information: 518 263 2060
Email: gallery@catskillmtn.org

In cooperation with the Thomas Cole Historic Site and their current exhibit, Remember the Ladies, this show features works of pioneering artistic women like Emily Cole, Candace Wheeler, Louise Kamp, Doris Frye and Dorothy Saengar. Side by side with the work of contemporary artists Nancy Campbell, Edith Marcik, Kate McGloughlin, Lauren Sansaricq, Sue Story, Ruth Wetzel and others, this exhibit traces the continuity of the profound influence of the founders of the Hudson River School of Art on the women of that period and to the present day.

contemplation of sunrise by Lauren Sansaricq

The Triad Lecture this Friday

Artists Stephen Gjertson, Kirk Richards and Steve Armes, known as The Triad, will open GCA's free,
public lecture series, Artists on Artists on Friday, September 10. The lecture will take place in the Cast Hall on
the 6th floor from 4:00-5:30pm. Please join us! (rsvp by emailing rsvp.gca@gmail.com)


Steve Armes Punta di Lavedo, 2006 Oil on canvas, 22 x 28


Stephen Gjertson Warming Up, 2004 Oil on canvas, 48 x 38


Kirk Richards
Starting a New Ristra, 1995
Oil on canvas, 40x30

“Artists Stephen Gjertson, Kirk Richards and Steve Armes represent two important links to 19th-century Academic Art training: The Gammell/Lack tradition and the DuMond/Reilly tradition. Mr. Richards will present a historical ov...erview of traditional painting, explaining important links from teacher to student. Mr. Gjertson will discuss his 29-year project to paint a six panel installation for the Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. He will illustrate his presentation with preliminary studies as well as images of the final work. Mr. Armes will discuss his background and training, focusing on how he paints an academic landscape. He will show numerous painting demonstrations in a step-by-step manner beginning with the field sketch and culminating with the finished painting. The artists will remain for a panel discussion, welcoming questions from those in attendance.”

The Winning Drawings

Here are the winners!

Drawing skills are the bedrock of good painting, and the foundation on which form and color can most truthfully be expressed. It is incumbent on the artist to routinely sharpen and develop these skills from life. The intent of this competition is to bring greater prestige and honor to those artists who have devoted time and energy to honing these abilities. It will be a pure test of drawing skills.

The draftsman who executes the most beautiful drawing will be awarded the Grand Prize accompanied by the title, Apelles. The second place prize includes the title, Protogenes. The winning draftsmen will hold these titles until the next annual competition.


by Darren Kingsley: Grand Prize, Apelles


by Will St. John: Second Prize, Protogenes


by Carla Crawford: Honorable Mention


Viewing the drawings at the awards reception

Drawing Competition Awards Reception

Here are some photos from the reception on Friday night. I'm still waiting to receive photos of the drawings themselves, so keep checking back! I will post them as soon as possible. Meanwhile, American Painting Video Magazine posted a little video of the reception on their facebook page that briefly shows the winning drawings, so check it out.


The Judges: Michael Klein, Edward Minoff, and Scott Waddell


Edward Minoff shakes the hand of first place winner Darren Kingsley


the crowd goes wild!

Congratulations to our Winners!

Late night posting....

First Place, Apelles goes to Darren Kingsley

Second Place, Protogenes goes to Will St. John

Honorable Mention goes to Carla Crawford

Details and photos to follow soon!

Drawing Prizes to be Awarded Today!

Our first annual drawing competition comes to an end today at 6:00pm

when the ten draftsmen put down their pencils. The work is magnificent and

the judges Scott Waddell, Ted Minoff and Michael Klein have their work

cut out for them! Judging will take place this evening from 6-8pm.

JOIN US for the awards reception TONIGHT in our Cast Hall from

7:30-9:30pm. The competition room will open for a FINAL VIEWING after the

awards are announced at 8:30pm!

Visit our website for the list of our mighty competitors:

http://grandcentralacademy.classicist.org/drawingcompetition.html

The winner is awarded the title of Apelles and $1,000. The second

place winner earns the title of Protogenes and $500.

The winners wear their titles for one year and defend them at the next contest!

GCA is located on the 6th floor of 20 West 44th St. (between 5th & 6th Avenues)