Virtual curated exhibition

My idea for my exhibition is to include artists whose work I am really drawn to and who have inspired me in some way. The main theme is going to be about fantasy and surrealism. I am thinking about titling it "Fantastical Worlds". Most of the artists I include will be leaning towards realistic and illustrative qualities. The artists I plan on including are: James Jean, Brian Froud, Yoshitaka Amano, Donato Giancola, James Gurney, and possibly a few more that I have not decided on. What these artists have in common is that their work tends to be narrative, dream-like, and immersive. Some of them are stylistically different, yet they are similar in subject matter and theme.

Artist Research: Donato Giancola

I just recently discovered this artist, Donato Giancola, and I am simply amazed by his skill and talent. His work is so imaginative and his level of detail is insane. He draws inspiration from the old masters of painting, like Caravaggio, Vermeer, William Bouguereau, and Hans Memling. When I look at his paintings, I am definitely reminded of baroque and renaissance art.





His work is very dramatic. I can really get the sense of the narrative that he is conveying. The way he paints light and shadows is incredibly beautiful. I enjoy the areas of saturated color, which add nice contrast.



Giancola's paintings transport you into another world, making you part of the story he weaves. I love how each part of his painting is interesting, not just the focal area, but everywhere in the painting. There's always something to catch your eye.

Artist Research: James Gurney

I really, truly admire James Gurney's work. The level of realism and detail is phenomenal. I think it is incredible that he creates these worlds with dinosaurs and humans coexisting in his Dinotopia books. They look so real and believable.



I've flipped through his book on color and light, and it is incredibly informative. You can tell he knows what he is doing by how deliberately and intelligently he paints color. I think that it is awesome that he still paints with oil paint, considering how illustration has been shifting to the digital realm.




I absolutely love his portraits as well. They are beautiful and really capture the individuality of the model. I like how he uses minimal brushstrokes to define certain areas, like the hair, and renders focal areas, like the eyes, nose and lips, with more detail.



I hope to one day be able to paint/draw at his skill level. He is definitely an artist I would love to emulate.

Artist Research: Aubrey Beardsley

I am loving Aubrey Beardsley's work. His drawings make a big impression, even though they are in black and white. His linework is beautiful and delicate. I really enjoy all the white space and the flatness of the forms. It looks like his work was inspired by the Japanese woodblock prints.



I also really like how he incorporates patterns in his drawings. They aren't all over the place, but rather in specific areas that draw your eye in. The sense of narrative is great too. The figures interact with each other and have expressive faces. It's like he captured a scene from a story perfectly.