International Artist December-January 2025/No. 160

Happy holidays to you and your family, and thank you to everyone who responded to our reader survey! We know you love International Artist as you rated us your #1 favorite artists’ magazine. This is a huge honor, thank you! It certainly makes everything we do absolutely worthwhile. A few other fun facts: 75 percent of you would like to see more content about fixing mistakes while painting (we understand this), and 90 percent of you use IA as a resource for buying art materials and supplies (we reacted to this). We also started a bookstore this year, and our timing must be on point as 70 percent of you want to see more books and digital publications in the magazine. You can choose from over 100 art books or…

Welcome to the December/January issue and happy holidays! It’s hard to believe that 2024 has almost come to a close. As you reflect on the past year, I hope that you acknowledge all of your hard work, find gratitude in the people who’ve supported you along the way, and most of all, feel proud of yourself. Whether you’ve made vast leaps in your art practice or you’ve spent the year simply exploring your creativity, that inherent love of art always persists. This issue, we’re presenting our first ever Art Materials & Supplies Buyer’s Guide, just in time for the season of giving. You’ll find a curated guide filled with a variety of artists’ tools available to purchase from some of the top brands out there. As part of our Art…

Rukiye Garip Balıkesir, Turkey, Winter Reflection, watercolor, 30 x 22" (76 x 55 cm) Grand Prize is a four-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine Visual Splendor Turkish artist Rukiye Garip is captivated by the natural world around her. Working in watercolor, Garip captures intimate moments in the outdoors, from little river rocks in a pool of clear water, to the first fallen leaves of autumn, to salmon making ripples in a pond. “My paintings are inspired by both soothing and provocative aspects of nature,” says the artist. “Tranquil elements such as still transparent water, soft sand, moss and autumn leaves give me a sense of happiness and peace, while the dynamism of bare rocks, steep slopes and thermal movements evoke an exciting sense of movement, energy, exhilaration and wonder.…

Changhua City, Taiwan, The river in spring, gouache and acrylic, 21¼ x 151/3" (54 x 39 cm) My Inspiration The inspiration for this piece comes from the dynamic interplay of light and shadow on the surface of water in nature. The ever-changing nature of water prompts reflection on its beauty and serenity. I aimed to capture the tranquil essence of water, revealing its enchanting appearance under different lighting conditions, thereby conveying a sense of harmony to the viewer. My Design Strategy In my design, I emphasized the transparency of the water and the details of the light reflections to enhance visual depth. The use of gouache with its rich saturation and opacity allowed for a soft blending of colors in the base and shadows. I employed white acrylic to create…

Northamptonshire, UK, Church Cove 2, oil on linen, 27½ x 59" (69 x 149 cm) My Inspiration I’ve spent time at sea, I was also born near it and have lived by it. Of all those who spend time on the sea, surfers in particular, have an intimate knowledge of its surface. They have their faces at sea level where four foot waves look intimidating. They also study tides, wave patterns and weather conditions. Using a similar preparation I am attempting to capture something of this intimacy with the sea without getting my feet wet! The sea is a huge draw, it is evidence of nature’s brutal yet beautiful power, but we underestimate it at our peril. My Design Strategy This painting of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England, involved…

Washington, USA, Bayview Sunrise, oil on canvas, 36 x 84" (91 x 213 cm) FINALISTS Each receives an Award Certificate and a one-year subscription to International Artist magazine PLUS having their work seen worldwide by international galleries looking for new talent. Finalist My Inspiration The inspiration for most of my paintings is what I observe every day in the landscape that surrounds me. The Pacific Northwest is blessed with wonderful subtleties of light and mood. This particular painting strives to capture the pre-dawn light of the Skagit Valley in Washington State and the magical combination of warm and cool tones radiating from the surroundings. This particular morning was perfectly still and silent. My Design Strategy The scene deserved something of a grand scale in order for the viewer to feel as…