Archive for the ‘Abstract Art’ Category

 

Christopher Peter Mixed Media Silhouettes

Posted on: October 4th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

Silhouettes by Christopher Peter at Art Leaders Gallery

Christopher Peter: Breathtaking, Ethereal Silhouettes 

Published October 4th, 2022

As art lovers, we are constantly searching for that one painting that makes you stop in your tracks and say, “Wow, that is breathtaking.” That is how we felt when we first saw Christopher Peter’s mixed media silhouettes. His work adds vibrancy, pattern, texture, and life to living spaces. You can now view his work in person at the gallery!

Known for using unconventional materials, Christopher’s mixed media silhouettes blur the line between portraiture and vibrant abstract painting. Combining these elements creates a personal narrative between the viewer and the work. He creates his mixed media paintings by hand and is a celebration of color, movement, and light.

His work is a reflection of his ultimate goal – using art to explore the relationship between ourselves and how we experience our surroundings. To achieve this goal, Christopher’s mixed media silhouettes often includes handmade papers, vintage roadmaps, and repurposed books in addition to acrylic and oil paints. Below, read about Christopher’s inspiration, his studio life, and his color palette!

Christopher Peter in his painting studio

What do you do to find inspiration for your mixed media silhouettes?

“My silhouette paintings are inspired by a craft that my grandmother used to do as a kid. She would have a family member sit down and then shine a light on their face and trace the shadow and cut out the tracing on paper. She did it extensively; I have a cutout that she made of my mom in second grade.  As an adult making art, I keep returning to that, and I keep trying to push that as far as I can. There’s a slightly different approach depending on whether I’m creating the painting as a custom commissioned piece. In general I start by photographing a model in my studio. I’ve painted friends, acquaintances, peers, even the woman who drives the bus that went past my old studio. Anyone interested in the work and wants to be a part of the story can be!”

Christopher Peter with students at his studio

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?

“I have a pretty steady studio schedule. My alarm goes off at 6:00 or 7:00 depending on the day. I wake up, drink some coffee, pack up breakfast and lunch, and ride my bike to my studio space. My studio is a bit unique in that its in a retail gallery space in the heart of SOWA (the art district in Boston). I am open to the public so I get quite a few visitors!  It’s really fun to engage with the community in that way. There’s always exciting new work in progress, work that’s finished, and pieces that is shipping out. The whole process is on full display.

I paint for about 8 hours each day. I’ll typically choose a particular pose to fit an idea, style, dimension, and palette, then I’ll get to work on the painting. I paint everything unstretched, with the canvas cut from a massive roll that is tacked flat to my work surface. By building the piece in layers I am able to see the entire surface develop in stages. In fact, the entire prep layer is developed simultaneously and then the underpainting is next. After the underpainting, I add layers of paint, layers of collage, layers of paint, collage, until the piece starts to make sense. It tells me where to go and what to do.

Once I render the portrait and the negative space is realized, I untack it from the wall and build the stretcher bars and brace. Then, I stretch it and varnish and install the wire for hanging.  The entire piece is done completely by hand.  If the painting is a commission, the client and their designer or gallerist are all included in this process. Bringing the vision to life is such a wonderful feeling!”

Christopher Peter Silhouettes in Studio

What is your ideal color palette to work with?

“I tend to gravitate towards blue/cream/black/silver/gold and my favorite white is Snow White.  Additionally, I respond really well to surfaces that have a really subtle shimmer. I love it when a painting really comes alive in different lighting conditions.  It’s almost like the piece has a life of its own!  After about a decade of experimenting I’ve found myself returning to a handful of specific mineral paints like stainless steel and micaceous iron oxide to achieve that quality.”

View more of Christopher’s work available on our website, or check out christopherpeter.com to view more of his process and installation examples!

Contemporary Art for your Dining Room

Posted on: September 15th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

3 Contemporary Art Ideas for the Dining Room

Published September 15th, 2022

Spice up your dining room this fall with a new contemporary painting! With the holidays fast approaching, its time to get your hosting space ready for friends, family and loved ones. Original artwork can spruce up any space and bring new life and visual interest. Below, find three of our favorite contemporary artworks that work in any neutral contemporary dining space.

Rodney Denne

Local Detroit artist, Rodney Denne, creates bold figurative and abstract paintings. In fact, many of his pieces include layers of colors and symbols that are sure to start conversations! Featured  the title painting from his Exposed series, a perfect contemporary art piece for your dining room.

David Ma

David Ma’s original contemporary abstract paintings showcase an appreciation for the natural world. For instance, his use of color paired with the gestural texture of the paint creates an organic scene only nature can create. Furthermore, The organic nature of his artworks create a calming and serene atmosphere for your dining space.

Ekaterina Ermilkina

Contemporary artist, Ekaterina Ermilkina paints abstract cityscapes that are full of texture and color. These textured oil paintings resemble a mosaic due the heavy specks of color and shape, giving the viewer a feeling of unity and togetherness. What better way to represent the unity of family and friends than enjoying a stunning original painting by Ermilkina in your dining room.


Follow the gallery on Instagram and Linkedin for more art inspiration and ideas! Additionally, feel free to call or email the gallery for more information.

248-539-0262   |   info@artleaders.com

Figurative Art – From Traditional to Contemporary

Posted on: August 20th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

Five Figurative Artists You’ll Love

Published on August 20th, 2022

Some of the most influential and well-known works of art connect us to the human figure. For example – The Mona Lisa, The Scream, The Birth of Venus – all speak to us through the human figure. Figurative art, whether traditional and representational or contemporary and abstract, creates a human element and a captivating presence in your home. Whether it be an expression, an action, or simply a familiar face, when we look at the human figure on a painting, we are able to make connections to our own lives.

Here at the gallery, we have a wide selection of figurative paintings, prints, and sculptures. Anna Razumovskaya’s contemporary impressionist painting bring us romance, while Gabe Leonards cinematic, story-telling paintings bring us drama. Figurative art from traditional to contemporary can compliment just about any space. Finally, below you will find five of our favorite figurative artworks that can impact any space.

Beauty of Dark by Hessam Abrishami

Beauty of Dark by Hessam Abrishami, Figurative Art from traditional to contemporary

Hessam Abrishami, Beauty of Dark, Ltd. Ed. Giclee on Canvas, 36″ x 48″

Loving the Spin by Anna Razumovskaya

Anna Razumovskaya, Loving the Spin, Hand-Embellished Giclee on Canvas

Anna Razumovskaya, Loving the Spin, Hand-Embellished Giclee on Canvas

Gold Leaf by Kerri Warner

Gold Leaf by Kerri Warner at Art Leaders Gallery

Kerri Warner, Gold Leaf, Mixed Media on Board, 48″ x 72″

Rossetto II by Pietro Adamo

Rossetto II by Pietro Adamo

Pietro Adamo, Rossetto II, Mixed Media on Canvas, 48″ x 24″

Lip Gloss is for Girls by Gabe Leonard

Lip Gloss is For Girls by Gabe Leonard

Gabe Leonard, Lip Gloss is for Girls, Ltd. Ed. on Canvas

Find a piece of art that speaks to you! You can find our contemporary and traditional figurative artists here:  Browse All Artists.

Anna Razumovskaya | Hessam Abrishimi | Kerri Warner | Pietro Adamo | Gabe Leonard

Contact the Gallery for more information on starting your own collection of figurative art, from traditional to contemporary. Additionally, you can follow the gallery on Instagram for gallery updates!

Detroit Elite Eight

Posted on: June 28th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

Michigan’s Best Artists share their inspiration

Published on June 28th, 2022

Michigan is home to many talented artists, and Art Leaders Gallery recognizes just how important local art can be to the community. Throughout July, the gallery will be exhibiting eight of our talented local artists. The Detroit Elite Eight are not only making an impact in the Detroit Metro, but many of our artists have been recognized internationally.

In addition, we often connect to the story and inspiration behind artists and their artwork. Read about where the Detroit Elite Eight find their inspiration and what their work means to them below.

Antonio Molinari – Abstracts

Detroit Elite Eight

Where do you find your inspiration?

“I find inspiration in nature.  There is so much to draw from, the beautiful shapes, colors, and textures.  Just stepping outside I constantly discover so many ideas to pursue.  I also draw inspiration from design.  Proportions, line work, and the simplicity of things I find attractive.  I feel the combination of these influences create something unique and fresh.

How has art impacted your life?

“Art is vital to me as a person.  It’s not a hobby to me it is so much more.  I physically and emotionally need art.  I need the visual stimulation and emotional expression of art.  It touches a part of my spirit that nothing else can.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“The goal of my work is to captivate viewers and stimulate their imagination.  Take them out of their current state, let them lose themselves in the painting.  I want viewers to forget stresses and feel inspired. The goal is to bring them on journey each time they view the art in hopes that they discover new hidden details each time.”

View Molinari’s Artwork


Gerd Schmidt – Landscapes

Detroit Elite Eight

Where do you find your inspiration?

“I find my inspiration everywhere, constantly in awe of nature and the world we live in. I am lucky to have a home surrounded by beautiful trees that inspire my paintings.”

How has art impacted your life?

“I believe that art is such a fun way to express my creativity and life a dreamful life.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“Personally, my goal is to have fun and improve as much as possible. I enjoy seeing people look at my work. Often as they get closer and closer, they wonder if the trees are real or not. Hopefully, this allows people to look closely at nature and art, as they are so intertwined.”

View Gerd’s artwork


Dane Porter – Minimalist Sculpture Artist

Detroit Elite EightWhere do you find your inspiration?

“For most of my work, I find inspiration in two very different things, nature, and architecture. With a lot of work containing modern minimalist lines, the inspiration can be found throughout. A lot of pieces are either representational of modern infrastructure and or natural silhouettes.”

How has art impacted your life?

“Art has affected every aspect of my life ever since I can remember. Even from a young age, I was always creating. Today, most of my decisions are based on creativity and color. Art has graciously given me purpose in so many ways. Art has greatly impacted my life by becoming a career for me; creating contemporary pieces of art for homes and commercial businesses. Coming from a family line of artists and craftsmen; art was destined to become a constant in my life.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“The goal of my art has always been to create powerful visual works never seen before. The purpose however has always been to create artwork that temporarily takes the viewer out of their norm to experience something brand new and visually captivating. And if I am lucky, A bit of symbolism will be found throughout my work as well.”

View Dane Porter’s artwork


Rodney E. Denne – Abstract Figurative Detroit Artist

Detroit Elite Eight

Where do you find your inspiration?

“I find inspiration by studying other artists. It is important to learn from others in order to develop. your own style. I am particularly interested in the works of CY Twombly, Franz Klein, Bob Thompson, Willem do Kooning and Mark Rothko.”

How has art impacted your life?

“Growing up in Clarkston, MI, I really enjoyed drawing. My mother did ceramics and I was always surrounded by creativity. After spending time in the Air Force, I began to draw again. This led to painting and eventually the creation of my large scale abstract figurative works. I now feel that I paint because I have to. It is part of me.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“I believe that my audience hasn’t even been born yet, so I am constantly pushing boundaries and experimenting with new mediums and styles that might be enjoyed once I am gone.”

View Denne’s artwork


Konstantin Savchenko – Impressionistic, Textured Oil Painter

Konstantin

Where do you find your inspiration?

“As an art instructor, I find inspiration seeing the incredible artworks that my students create. I feel that my work continues to develop and change being surrounded by creativity everyday.”

How has art impacted your life?

“I have met amazing people throughout my career, and I am so grateful for those relationships. Without art, I would not have the same life that I do today.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“The goal of my work is to connect with my audience emotionally so that they can be transported into the landscape depicted in my paintings.”

View Konstantin’s artwork


Andrew Madvin – Hand-Blown Glass Artist

Detroit Elite Eight

Where do you find your inspiration?

“I grew up curious with the freedom to explore the outdoors quickly becoming interested in the natural world around me. In high school, I loved metals and jewelry classes, which eventually led me to glass sculpture.”

How has art impacted your life?

“Art shaped my life. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with my brother, doing what we love.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“The material holds an excitement I can feel. I see endless possibilities in form, technique, and physical attraction waiting to be discovered. This is the goal of my work; to explore its possibilities.”

View Andrew Madvin’s artwork


Robert Madvin – Hand-Blown Glass Detroit Artist

Robert Madvin

Where do you find your inspiration?

“My inspiration comes from nature. My artwork focuses on natural elements, textures, and color. I also take inspiration from my travels and day to day life. While I was studying in Hawaii, I created his glass sculpture series called Pohaku, meaning “rock” or “stone.” Ancient Hawaiians would stack stones upon one another to create rock sculptures. The sculptures acted as navigational tools throughout the islands.”

How has art impacted your life?

“My brother, Andrew, introduced me to glass at while I was still in high school and it forever changed my life. We now are lucky to own our own glass studio where we create our artwork together.”

 

View Robert Madvin’s artwork


Richard Powell – Contemporary Pointillism 

Richard Powell

Where do you find your inspiration?

“The work of other artists constantly inspires me. Many times I wonder through art fairs and galleries in awe of what humans can create. In addition, I have always enjoyed the works of impressionists and post-impressionists such as Van Gogh and George Seurat.”

How has art impacted your life?

“I grew up with a love for fine art. I went to school at The College of Creative Studies in Detroit. Art continues to hold a strong presence in my life as I experiment with a variety of mediums. Powell has paints with a variety of mediums.”

What is the purpose or goal of your work?

“I hope to inspire other artists and my audience to grow in their own creativity.”

View Richard Powell’s artwork

 

Antonio Molinari: Victorious

Posted on: June 13th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

The Inspiration Behind the Canvas

Victory II by Antonio Molinari

Published on June 13th, 2022

Antonio Molinari draws inspiration from the techniques of Paul Jenkins and Helen Frankenthaler. He creates an array of mesmerizing tones and shapes by focusing on

colors interlacing in such a way that there is an illusion of depth. For instance, he pours color like crossing veils suspended without gravity. While his paintings remain energetic, he gently executes each painting with refinement. The relationship between these transparent hues invites us into an intimate moment.

“My paintings focus on connections. Through harmonious movements of paint, I take people on a journey. It can be a brief moment of uplifting energy or an hour of deep inspiration, but my greatest reward is moving the viewer emotionally.”

Antonio Molinari was born and raised in Michigan. He credits his artistic inspiration to his childhood spent in the countryside. There, he fell in love with nature at a very young age. In particular, Molinari recalls a view across an open hillside, which lead to a beautiful tree line. He would wake up early just to watch the sunrise and wait “for the rays of light to dance across the treetops”. He says, “I love that memory so much that I am compelled to capture it. Pouring energy and wonder onto a canvas in hopes to share that same bliss of inspiration.”

“When painting I feel like I’m pouring emotions onto the canvas. I amalways chasing, and trying to capture a positive reflection of a moment. To me, the paint has to be fluid and graceful. The paint personifies emotional transitions that arise within all of us. This is what makes us human and sparks heart felt connections.

I fell in love with abstract painting because it is such a departure from my daily design work. The expression and emotion of the paintings aren’t defined by feasibility guidelines. I have a fond appreciation for when my abstracts aren’t followed up with questions like “how are we going to build this?” The freedom from rules is marvelous. Pursuing both techniques truly enhance each other. It’s how I achieve the highest sense of balance with all my artistry.”

Victory II by Antonio Molinari

Victory II

“I painted Victory II during a time I was facing many challenges and each morning felt like a test. During one of the more difficult days, I stepped outside and looked to the sky, I witnessed a new dawn where the warmth of sunlight cut through crisp morning air, and it filled me with optimism. Experiencing that moment gave me strength to push through and be victorious. This painting represents the optimism that I experienced. I hope it inspires others to overcome their daily challenges.”

Click to view Victory II on our website.

Antonio Molinari on Artsy

See the full viewing room and show for Antonio Molinari on Artsy! Fall in love with the story behind his works. Read more by clicking the link below.

Molinari on Artsy

Stay updated on all new works. Follow Antonio on Instagram!

You can view the entire Antonio Molinari Collection on his artist page here.

Figurative Abstract Paintings by Rodney E. Denne

Posted on: March 18th, 2022 by Art Leaders No Comments

Artist Spotlight

Detroit Artist Rodney E. Denne (RED)

Published on March 18th, 2022

Rodney Denne is a Detroit artist, known for creating dynamic figurative abstract paintings. Denne creates large bodies of work using both bold, vibrant colors and thick mono-chromatic texture. In his collage and more colorful works, he adds imagery of cars, nature, robotics, and the human body to symbolize grounding. However, in his highly textured black and white paintings, bold abstract figure-like shapes juxtapose delicate background patterns. Through this process, immersive concepts emerge in his paintings. As a result, Denne’s work brings interest, vibrancy, and thoughtfulness into our lives. Denne expresses, “I am nature; a part of all things. I feel my art must come from within.” 

Read Denne’s feature article in the West Bloomfield City Lifestyle magazine, highlighting his artistic inspiration and background. The article is written by Amy Niezur and originally published in the June 2022 issue.

Painting Process  

Denne creates his dramatic pieces with oil sticks and various other medium. This allows him to produce expressive line work and unique imagery. Similarly, in his collage works, he layers a variety of mediums. Subsequently, the layers create a depth that is unique to his work alone. In his own words, “I work on both painting styles at one time. I’m divided by the figure and color, as well as black and white. I find the need to fulfill both desires in the creation of my paintings.”

 


 

Heavy With Welcome by Rodney E. Denne

Heavy with Welcome by Rodney E. Denne

Past and Present

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1971, Denne was drawn to art at the age of four. Memories of his years of service in the US Air Force influence his work. After serving in the military, Denne studied under artist Bob Jacobson. Later, he received a BA in Art and Religious Studies from Saint Mary’s College of California. Later, he then gained gallery representation at the age of 27. He describes himself as an abstract expressionist and a contemporary figure painter. His mid-century modern style infuses with his personal experiences to create dramatic compositions. His emotional, large-scaled figures encapsulate viewers through their textural patterns. Accordingly, each painting has a title that reflects a personal connection to Denne’s past and present.

Furthermore, he claims to be a product of urban and suburban environments. In effect, such duality is infused in his work. Denne states, “Within the background of my paintings, I use the images and words of mysticism, religion, myth and the Divine unknown.” He draws influence from the mid-century European art movement COBRA. In addition, his work also falls in line with artists such as Paul Klee, Franz Klein, Bob Thompson, CY Twombly, Jean-Michael Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, and William De-Kooning.

The works of art that give Denne international recognition reside in select fine art galleries and private collections throughout the United Sates as well as Europe. You can stay up to date with his latest works by following our Facebook or Instagram page

 

Exposed by Rodney Denne (RED)

Exposed by Rodney E. Denne (RED)

Figurative Abstract Commissions

Rodney E. Denne uses unique methods to convey strong statements in his figurative abstract paintings. Denne offers custom commissions for clients. These striking paintings work well with a variety of decor. A bold colorful painting will liven up your space. Conversely, a more neutral black and white painting adds texture to your space. In essence, Denne will be sure to create something remarkable for you. Currently, Denne’s work is available exclusively through Art Leaders Gallery

Family Triptych by Rodney E. Denne

 

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