podcast - Suggested Donation

We are very excited to announce the latest installment of Suggested Donation Podcast featuring artist, and founder and director of the Florence Academy, Daniel Graves. Daniel is a titan of the Classical Realism/Atelier movement and we are deeply honored that he took the time to sit down with us and share his ideas. We were lucky enough to schedule an evening at the Salmagundi Club  during his recent trip to inaugurate the newest branch of the Florence Academy here in the US, in Jersey City. Daniel is unparalleled in his tremendous impact spreading Classical training and the ideals of humanist art, and we sincerely hope that you enjoy this conversation. Thanks to Daniel Graves and to Susan Tintori for organizing the recording, the Salmagundi Club for hosting us, and Jay Braun for being a dear.

http://www.danielgravespaintings.com/index.html

http://www.florenceacademyofart.com

Survivor of Abstract Art
Oil on linen
80 x 60 cm
(31.5 x 23.75 in.)
2013

We are proud to release the latest installment of Suggested Donation Podcast with artist, teacher and founder and director of the Sadie Valeri Atelier: you guessed it...Sadie Valeri. Sadie was so generous with her time and her thoughts, and we are grateful that we are able to share this super-fun conversation with you. Sadie's atelier was founded by a grassroots network of artists sought her out after following her outstanding blog which documents her own journey to learn classical drawing and painting techniques. We follow her development from a young Salem girl who noticed how dirt forms on snow, through RISD, and on to her transition from graphic designer to hi-tech web designer to very low-tech indirect oil painter. We hope you enjoy this one! Thanks always to Jay Braun, The Grand Central Atelier for hosting us for this recording, and everyone who continues to listen and write in with much appreciated words of support. 

“Between Darkness and Wonder” | oil in panel | 16 x 20 inches

"Self portrait at 41 in the studio with dog" 31 x 41 inches, oil on linen

"Undersea" 16 x 20 inches, 2011

http://www.sadievaleri.com

We sat down at the Grand Central Atelier's Eleventh Street Arts Gallery to record a much anticipated conversation with artist James Gurney. Our discussion traces his journey from boxcar hopping with Thomas Kinkade and an assortment of hobos to the success of his Dinatopia books to his wildly popular blog Gurney Journey. Through it all, James never stops sketching. We had fun talking shop, and hearing amazing stories from one of the most widely requested guests to be featured on Suggested Donation Podcast. Many thanks to James for taking the time to share his thoughts with us, Jay Braun and the Grand Central Atelier. We hope you enjoy this episode! 

jamesgurney.com

dinotopia.com

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/gurneyjourney

"Dinosaur Parade"

"Garden of Hope"

"Chandara" 24 x 52 inches, from "Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara"

"The Sinking of the Cumberland" commissioned by Nat Geo and currently on display in the Maritime Museum in Virginia.

"Tarquinia"  Nat Geo illustration of the Etruscan "Blue Devil Tomb"

Lightweight sketch pochade

We were recently joined by artist David Kassan and his friend
Johnny Walker for a fun conversation at the Salmagundi
Club. David is coming off of the success of his Kickstarter
campaign to fund his Parallel Palette. David discussed his
work, inspiration, roots and his Kassan Foundation. We hope
you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed speaking with 
this widely admired and talented contemporary figurative 
painter.

David Kassan, "Antonio Lopez Life Study" 16 x 14

http://www.davidkassan.com

http://kassanfoundation.com

We were lucky enough to sit down with the executive chef and co-owner of two of NYC's most celebrated restaurants, Chef Nick Anderer of Maialino and Marta, both part of the Danny Meyer empire. We sat down in the private dining room at Maialino to discuss cuisine, craft and art. Chef Nick was in college focusing on art history on a semester in Rome when he first recognized his desire to find a career in food. 

Edward, Tony and Jay talk about what 2014 was like doing the podcast, answering some listeners questions (criticism) and the all important what's in store for 2015. Edward makes Tony uncomfortable by saying nice things about one of his paintings and more. 

Tony Curanaj "Oblivion", Oil on Canvas 2014

Tony Curanaj "Oblivion" Detail, Oil on Canvas

Amidst protests, police sirens and a booming party below us, we sat down to record a conversation at the Salmagundi Club with one of our favorite artists and dear friend, Michael Grimaldi. Michael has joined the lineage of great artists who teach at the Art Students League of New York, and has become a sought after anatomy instructor, teaching over dissections at Drexel University. He made the unusual choice to dedicate himself to drawing in recent years, and we explore his motivation for this shift. We had a fun conversation and are grateful to have had the chance to speak with one of the most distinguished draughtsmen of our time. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Thanks again to the Salmagundi Club and Jay Braun

Study for Drowned World II, 2014, Graphite, Gouache and Enamel on Paper, 17x14

Study for 'Loomings', 2013, Graphite and Charcoal on Paper, 18x30

Doorway, Florence, 2014, Pencil on Paper, 18x12

Sleeper, 2014, Graphite on Paper, 17x24

We sat down with a friend and one of our favorite painters, Marc Dalessio. Marc 
primarily paints portraits and landscapes, and has become known for his 
large and small landscapes paintings executed on site. He is a sought 
after teacher, and an international man of mystery.  We had a fun evening
recording a conversation in the Salmagundi Club Library, where Marc told
us about his training in Florence, his experience drawing around riots and
tear gas, and most importantly, his motivation for painting everyday surroundings
all over the world. 

Thanks always to Jay Braun, The Salmagundi Club, and everyone who listens!

http://www.marcdalessio.com/

We are honored to have been joined by a legend in the world of contemporary figure painting, Steven Assael. Steven has been a central figure in the realist painting world for decades, instructing at the School ofVisual Arts and at the New York Academy of Art. His work is represented by the prestigious Forum Gallery in New York City.We explored Steven's introduction to art, and what continues to inspire his outstanding paintings. The conversation goes very deep into Steven's philosophy, ranging from cave paintings to Bruce Lee. 
Thanks to the Salmagundi Club for hosting us in their inspiring Library, and to the excellent sound engineering skills of Jay Braun. 
See more of Steven's work at: http://www.stevenassael.com/ 

Preparation of the Bride, 1994, oil on canvas, 96 x 108 inches

Julie, 2008, graphite and charcoal on paper, 13 x 14 1/2 inches

We sat down at the Salmagundi Club with our friend, the tremendously talented 
Michael Klein to talk about his roots in small-town North Dakota, his life in small-town Argentina, his video magazine, Instructional Documentary, his faith and, of course, his outstanding paintings. You can view his paintings, or purchase his
excellent instructional videos through his website:

http://www.michaelkleinpaintings.com

The Last Sticks 32"x55", oil on canvas

Floral Interior, 31"x38", oil on linen, 2008