Notes from the Studio

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Meet inspiring artists past and present

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Why creativity matters, and how to integrate it into everyday life

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Creative Play: Color Grids inspired by Stanley Whitney

Creative Play: Color Grids inspired by Stanley Whitney

Stanley Whitney (b. 1946) is an American painter most known for his vibrant abstract grid paintings. Drawing inspiration from sources ranging from artist Piet Mondrian to quilt-making, Stanley creates richly...
Artist Spotlight: Alice Neel

Artist Spotlight: Alice Neel

Born in 1900, Alice Neel is best known for her portraits of people in her social circle, during a time when there was a diminishing interest in figurative painting (Abstract...
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE COLOR FIELD PAINTERS

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE COLOR FIELD PAINTERS

Color Field Painting is an art movement that emerged from Abstract Expressionism in the mid-20th century. In opposition to the dramatic, gestural works of the first generation of Abstract Expressionist...
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE FIGURATIVE ARTISTS...

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE FIGURATIVE ARTISTS...

For centuries artists have been portraying and interpreting the human form in a multitude of ways. Since the Renaissance, figure drawing has served as the foundation of training, a crucial...
Podcast Rec: Getty Museum's Recording Artists

Podcast Rec: Getty Museum's Recording Artists

As you know, a big part of A L P is learning about iconic artists who have shaped art movements over the past century or so. We love finding new resources to...
Watercolor Explorations

Watercolor Explorations

The ways to experiment with watercolor are endless. Here are just a few ways to play with watercolor, creating unique textures and effects along the way.  Water blooms Lay down...
The Secret to Happiness? Being in a state of FLOW

The Secret to Happiness? Being in a state of FLOW

Psychologist Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues in his 2004 TED Talk (viewed by almost six million people at this point) that the moments when we feel happiest and most fulfilled personally...
How Art Making Reduces Cortisol

How Art Making Reduces Cortisol

Find Your Creative Zen  Now more than ever we need healing modalities to combat the stressors of our daily lives. Commonly known as the “stress hormone”, cortisol affects several aspects...
Artist’s Spotlight: Georgia O’Keeffe

Artist’s Spotlight: Georgia O’Keeffe

 “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.”  Georgia O’Keeffe drew inspiration from the...
Fun Feels Good (and it's good for us)!

Fun Feels Good (and it's good for us)!

In a recent New York Times article, researcher and author Catherine Price presents her findings on what precisely makes us feel most engaged and alive.  It turns out that, “Many people...
Artist's Spotlight: Frank Bowling

Artist's Spotlight: Frank Bowling

We recently revisited the work of Guyana-born British artist Frank Bowling, and haven’t been able to stop gazing longingly at his lusciously painted artworks. Born in 1934, Bowling moved to...
Artist Spotlight: Jean Arp (also known as Hans Arp!)

Artist Spotlight: Jean Arp (also known as Hans Arp!)

Jean Arp (1886-1966) was born in Germany to a French mother and German father - and tends to be known in German-speaking countries by the name Hans Arp. He was...