Monday, June 30, 2008

Work Featured in PAFA Alumni Exhibit

Two of my paintings, Green and Cattle at the Watering Hole, were selected by Juror David R. Brigham, Ph.D., the Edna S. Tuttleman Museum Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), for exhibit in the PAFA Juried Alumni Exhibition 2008.

The exhibit runs through July 27, 2008, in Gallery 128, 128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, on the first floor of the Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is Free.

This special exhibition features 74 graduates of the Academy, and all artwork is for sale. Twenty-percent of all artwork sold will benefit the Alumni Annual Fund of the Academy.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Recent Happenings

I just returned from a very eventful trip up to Maryland. The landscape painting workshop at Belle Haven Park in Alexandria, Virginia (June 21-22) went really well. I will be planning another workshop in the DC area for early August.

The next workshop I will be teaching will be July 12-13, 2008, in southwest Charlotte, North Carolina, at the McDowell Nature Preserve. This workshop is a plein air landscape painting workshop overlooking Lake Wylie. It is from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. each day and is limited to eight (8) participants. Please call 704-596-1286 or email me if you would like to take this workshop or would like to be notified of future workshops or classes in the MD/VA/DC or Charlotte areas.

I recently completed two commissions for a client in DC.
Moving to the Shade - Original Realism Landscape Painting by Paul Keysar

Moving to the Shade
10" x 14"
Oil on Linen
© 2008

Black Angus Grazing in the Countryside - Original Realism Landscape Painting by Paul Keysar

Black Angus Grazing in the Countryside
10" x 14"
Oil on Linen
© 2008

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

English Pointer painting featured in
Garden & Gun Magazine

English Pointer - Realism Painting by Paul Keysar

My painting, English Pointer, is featured in the article "Good Dog" in the January/February 2008 issue of Garden & Gun Magazine.

Garden and Gun Magazine is a 21st Century Southern lifestyle magazine, which launched in early 2007. It is carried in major retailers. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, I encourage you to give it a read. The name drew me to pick up the first issue last spring, and I quite enjoy it. www.gardenandgun.com

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe how quickly the last third of 2007 went. Months felt like weeks and weeks, days. I wanted to thank everyone who has supported, encouraged, or shown an interest in my work and my life over the past year.

2007 was a year of many changes for me. I moved from Maryland to Concord, NC, in January, a temporary residence while house hunting. In March, I joined the Lake Norman Art League and started my first "miniature" paintings. In April, I decided to start this blog, and because of a lack of work space, took up the practice of completing several miniature paintings a week (works which are all posted on this blog). In May, I purchased and moved into my first home in Charlotte, NC. June and July were months of transition as I became adjusted to my new work space and for the first time, a somewhat settled life.

During the summer, my wife and I were asked to serve on the Board of Officers for the Lake Norman Art League. As summer drew to a close, I began to focus more on my larger work, phasing out work on miniature paintings. In September, I joined the Mooresville Artist Guild to become more involved in the local art community. I participated in several shows during the fall and received recognition for several different works. Moreover, I started to turn my attention back to figurative study and work, as I intend to incorporate the figure into my landscapes more. Two books that have proved to be a valuable resource are Classical Drawing Atelier - A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice by Juliette Artistides, Watson-Guptill, 2006; and The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition by Anthony Ryder, Watson-Guptill, 1999.

Looking Ahead to 2008: I have thought about getting back to teaching for some time now, and in early January, I will be starting a Long Pose Figure Drawing Class held at the Mooresville Artist Guild. My painting, English Pointer, will appear in the January/February 2008 issue of Garden and Gun Magazine, as part of the feature titled "Good Dog." Look for that to hit newsstands sometime in mid-January 2008. I have many plans and goals for 2008. I hope you will check in from time to time to read more about what's happening in my life as an artist and to view newly completed paintings and other works. If you would like to start receiving my e-Newsletter with information on new works for sale and other news, please send an email to info@paulkeysar.com. I send out newsletters approximately once per month.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and successful 2008! May it be your best year yet.

-Paul