A Celebration of Art and Royalty at Freeman`s

School for Contemporary Realist Art
Spring/Summer 2011
Vol.4 No.2
A Celebration of Art and Royalty at Freeman’s
I
t may have been the third annual Artists of
Studio Incamminati exhibition, but it was
still full of firsts.
Of course, the week-long event at historic
Freeman’s Auctioneers & Appraisers featured
66 pieces of artwork by studio artists. And,
all week those artists performed painting
demonstrations in Freeman’s display window
on busy Chestnut Street. Inside, in honor
of the royal wedding of Prince William and
1. Nelson Shanks paints Pennsylvania Ballet dancer
Lauren Fadeley.
2. Nelson Shanks with Patrick Jephson and Michael
Smerconish (from l. to r.)
3. Guests of the Royal Wedding Tribute Reception enjoy
Smerconish's interview of Shanks and Jephson, which
revealed their personal experiences with Princess Diana.
4. Lauren Fadeley views her portrait during a break.
Kate Middleton, visitors were treated to a
display of rare photographs and letters of
the late Princess Diana, William’s mom.
They belong to Artistic Director Nelson
Shanks, who spent considerable time with
the young prince when he painted Diana’s
official portrait. Shanks also displayed his new
Diana portrait.
For the first-time the exhibition also
hosted several high-profile events including a
private preview party; a Nelson Shanks painting
demonstration with Pennsylvania Ballet dancer
Lauren Fadeley, who was featured in the Oscarwinning “Black Swan” and a Royal Wedding
Tribute Reception and Dinner featuring radio
talk-show host Michael Smerconish, Patrick
Jephson, LVO, Diana’s former chief of staff and
Her Majesty's Honorary Consul, Oliver St.
Clair Franklin, OBE.
The exhibition was hosted by the Friends
of Studio Incamminati and Freeman’s, Talk
Radio 1210 WPHT Philadelphia, Land Rover
Jaguar Main Line and Maloumian Oriental
Rugs. All proceeds benefit the non-profit
Studio Incamminati and its artists.
◆
Studio Incamminati: More Than 500,000 Served
O
utreach is essential to our mission and
we’re doing in a big way this year—over
500,000 served. That’s the number of persons
we’ve reached so far as, more than ever, Studio
Incamminati reaches out to make a positive
impact locally and nationally in a wide variety
of settings.
This spring, we had the honor of again
bringing our training to the School District
of Philadelphia through Artist in Residency
programs at Fels, Northeast, and Edison high
schools. Our instructors came back energized
by the overwhelming enthusiasm expressed by
the students and teachers. For the first time, our
artists performed live painting demonstrations
before a stream of 250,000 persons at the
Philadelphia Flower Show. In April, more
than 500 artists, patrons and royal enthusiasts
attended our annual art exhibition and events
at Freeman’s Auctioneers & Appraisers in
Center City Philadelphia. We also were part
of the 150,000 who jammed Broad Street at
the first Philadelphia Festival of the Arts Street
Fair. Perhaps, most rewarding for me was the
Portrait Society of America’s Conference in
Atlanta where I met more than 700 of the
country’s most talented artists.
And, we’re bringing our message to even
more people. Come see us at our exhibition at
the Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield, N.J.
or at the Rittenhouse Art Show in Philadelphia.
Executive Director
Studio Incamminati welcomes your support. For information, please call Executive Director Jay Pennie at 215.592.1918.
340 NORTH 12TH STREET ■ SUITE 400 ■ PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107 ■ www.StudioIncamminati.org ■ 215 . 592 . 7910
Studio Incamminati Artists Out and About
Artist Accolades
S
tudio Incamminati Founder and Artistic
Director Nelson Shanks received a 10-page
profile in the May
American Artist. In
“Painting the Beauty
of the Natural World.”
Nelson also will be
a judge in Utrecht’s
Third Annual Art
Competition.
The
grand prize includes
a six-week summer
workshop package at Studio Incamminati
and dinner with Nelson at his Chelwood
Estate home. American Artist magazine is also
a sponsor.
Studio Instructor Natalie Italiano’s
painting “Cameron” won best portrait at the
Philadelphia Sketch Club's 148th annual Small
Oils Show. The 150 year-old Sketch Club is the
oldest arts club in the country. Its membership
has included illustrious artists such as Thomas
Eakins and N.C. Wyeth. Natalie also is
blogging to document her project, “One
Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American
Teenagers.” The models are between ages 13
and 19. The paintings are each 14" x 14", and
painted from life in one four-hour session.
She is completing two portraits weekly. “Alla
Prima,” from the Italian “at once,” is a painting
technique in which the work is completed
in one session
without time for
the paint to dry.
Natalie is also
teaching an Alla
Prima workshop,
July 11–15.
In addition to
her work at the
Portrait Society of America conference, studio
instructor Lea Colie Wight’s analysis of how
she uses light and color was featured in April’s
The Artist’s Magazine. Lea’s portrait “Ellie” was
selected for Salon International 2011, a juried
exhibition of 415 oil paintings. The exhibition
was sponsored by Greenhouse Gallery of
Fine Art, San Antonio, TX. Lea joins fellow
instructor Stephen Early and Nelson Shanks
in the Studio Incamminati track during
American Artist’s Weekend with the Masters
Intensive in New York City, June 22–26. Due
to demand, a second Studio Incamminati
track was added featuring Nelson Shanks and
instructors Robin Frey and Dan Thompson.
Studio Instructor Stephen Early was
featured in the second volume of American
Painting Video Magazine. Earlier issues
featured instructors Dan Thompson and
Darren Kingsley. The magazine is produced in
conjunction with Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.
(l. to r., from top)
Nelson Shanks' CONNIE,
(A DEMONSTRATION)
graces the magazine cover.
Natalie Italiano's awardwinning CAMERON.
Lea Wight's work in The
Artist's Magazine and her
portrait of ELLIE.
Steve Early was featured
in the digital American
Painting Video Magazine.
The Art of the Portrait Conference
Historic Russian Exhibition
◀ The preview of the Spring 2011 American Painting Video
A
S TUDIO I NCA MMINATI N E WS ■ V OLUME F OUR , N UMBER Two ■ Spring/Summer 2011
◆
◆
Lea Colie Wight was chosen as
Distinguished Faculty.
◀
1. For the second straight year, Studio Incamminati
artists performed painting demonstrations and
sold their artwork at the Philadelphia Youth
Orchestra gala.
2. Open House 2011 drew visitors who toured the
studio, admired the artwork and talked to our
artists. The signature event is a prime source of
new enrollment.
3. Studio artists performed daily painting demonstrations
— and answered loads of questions — at the 2011
Philadelphia International Flower Show, which
drew 265,000 visitors.
4. Face to Face: The Craniofacial Program Portrait
Project partnership between Studio Incamminati
and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was
featured prominently in the hospital's annual report.
F
Early's Figure Demonstration
s a Gold Sponsor of the 2011 Portrait Society of America “TheMagazine,
Art featuring
ounder
and Artistic Director Nelson Shanks, became only the
of the Portrait” conference in Atlanta, April 28 – May 1, Studio
second living American painter invited to exhibit at two famed
Incamminati made a strong impression. Studio Instructor Lea Colie
Russian art landmarks.
Wight, awarded a 2011 Certificate of Excellence for her work, Jenn,
Nearly 50 paintings by Shanks will be on display at the Russian
also was selected to the conference’s 2011 Distinguished Faculty. She
Museum, St. Petersburg, June 2–July 20, before opening at the Russian
joined 14 other notable artists who simultaneously painted live models
Academy of Arts, Moscow, on August 4. Before the exhibition opening
in the innovative teaching tool,
Nelson was scheduled to meet
Face Off. Lea also conducted a
with famed Russian realist painter
drawing workshop. Meanwhile,
Nikolay Repin. The exhibition was
the studio information booth
organized by the Foundation for
greeted hundreds of visitors.
International Arts & Education,
Bethesda, MD.
◀ From left, Executive Director Jay Pennie
and Education Director Andy Yannelli
at the Studio Incamminati booth.
The catalog produced for Nelson Shanks’
historic upcoming exhibitions in St. Petersburg
and Moscow features over 60 of the artist’s
paintings, many new and never before
exhibited in public, along with photographs
and color plate details. It includes Nelson’s
philosophy and biography, as well as insightful
essays from esteemed colleagues.
Available for pre-sale—for details visit
www.StudioIncamminati.org/store
340 N ORT H 12 TH S TREET ■ S UITE 400 ■ P HILADELPHIA, PA 19107 ■ www.StudioIncamminati.org ■ 215 . 5 92 . 7 910
Board of Directors
Founder and
Artistic Director.... Nelson Shanks
President................. Frank Giordano
Co-founder and
Vice-President....... Leona Shanks
School for Contemporary Realist Art
340 North 12th Street ■ Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Vice-President....... Linda Knox
James R. Abbott, Ph.D.
Edith Magaziner
James L. McCabe, Ph.D.
Marc S. Mostovoy, emeritus
Friends of Studio Incamminati
Co-Chairs Deborah and Andrew Webster
Modeled on the traditional Italian
accademia and French atelier, Studio
Incamminati embraces and advocates the
aesthetics, philosophy and techniques
of Founder and Artist Director Nelson
Shanks in the pursuit of realist art.
Students and Teachers Praise Artist-in-Residency Program
S
tudio Incamminati’s Artist-in-Residency program continues to make
its mark on both educators and students. The March 4–April 15
session, at Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia, brought Studio
Incamminati artists Stephen Early and Rob Goodman and a live model
for once-a-week classes focused on Figure Drawing and Gesture. The
10th and 11th-grade art students were exposed to both the rigors of
drawing from life and the excitement of quality one-on-one instruction
from experienced artists.
Students responded with enthusiasm.
“This program helped not only my drawing skill,” said one, “but
also motivates me to draw more and more.”
“This experience was very interesting,” said another. ‘The experience
was amazing for me. I appreciated every Friday they were here.”
Art teacher A.R. Finnerty couldn’t agree more.
“I am grateful for the positive influences Steve, Rob and the models
brought to our school,” she said.
Just as successful was the first seven-week session, March 9–May 4
at Edison High School in North Philadelphia with Studio Incamminati
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artists Jennifer Hagen and Peter Kelsey. The Artist-in-Residency
program is funded by the School District of Philadelphia.
As Studio Incamminati
instructors have heard often,
This training will
realist art training—even
teach me that later on at this level—involves more
just mixing paint and
that I can do anything than
perfecting brush strokes.
I set my mind to.”
Discipline
and
critical
thinking are a large part of the
mix. As one student remarked, “This training will teach me that later on
that I can do anything I set my mind to.”
Philadelphia school district art educators were themselves
educated in the Studio Incamminati method of learning art as studio
artists Natalie Italiano and Jennifer Hagen guided an in-service day on
May 17. A total of 56 art educators attended workshops on Figure
Drawing and Color Theory.
“
◆
and our blog: www.studioincamminati.blogspot.com
340 NORTH 12TH STREET ■ SUITE 400 ■ PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107 ■ www.StudioIncamminati.org ■ 215 . 592 . 7910