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kduley@scottsdaleartschool.org
Two of America's foremost plein air landscape artists, Kevin Macpherson and Matt Smith, are coming back to Scottsdale to help celebrate SAS' 25th Anniversary. They are "coming home" to demonstrate and exhibit the considerable artistic talent they began honing years ago as students at Scottsdale Artists' School.
In an all-day special event commemorating the School's founding, the two nationally acclaimed artists will conduct separate three-hour art demonstrations with accompanying commentaries beginning with Smith's demo at 9 am followed by Macpherson's at 2 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2008.
Because of anticipated demand for tickets, the Macpherson/Smith event will be held at Stagebrush Theater on 2nd Street and Marshall Way across the street from Scottsdale Artists' School. Seating is limited and available on a first come first served basis. The demonstrations will be separated by a buffet lunch and followed by an evening reception with the artists and an exhibition of their work at Scottsdale Artists' School.
Tickets are $195 per demonstration or $350 for both. Cost includes lunch, reception, the exhibition and a 20% discount on advance copies of SAS' planned DVDs of the Macpherson-Smith demonstrations. A chance to purchase the paintings created by the artists' during their respective demonstrations will also be held. Those attending both demonstrations will also be invited to participate in a "Coffee and Critique" session with the artists beginning 9 am, Sunday, November 9, at Scottsdale Artists' School.
Each presentation will be digitally captured for large-screen overhead projection and recorded for later use in SAS' planned production of commercial DVDs.
Highly-respected among collectors and fellow artists alike, Kevin Macpherson is past president of Plein Air Painters of America. His painting instruction book, Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light and Color, is in its ninth printing, including a Chinese language translation. Winner of numerous awards, Macpherson is the first artist named Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America. He began studying at SAS in 1983 and was recipient of SAS' "Best and the Brightest" Purchase Award in 1986.
Following graduation from ASU with a BFA degree in painting, Matt Smith became an ardent student of traditional art at Scottsdale Artists' School in 1984. He won Best of Show Award at SAS' "Best and Brightest" show in1990. Today, Smith is a nationally prominent plein air artist, who spends half the year traveling, painting landscapes wherever he goes. He has participated in many major shows and exhibitions throughout the country and has received numerous awards at such prestigious venues as Prix de West, the National Museum of Wildlife Art and Western Rendezvous of Art. Like Macpherson, Smith's work has been featured in many of America's leading art magazines.
This special event is part of SAS' Anniversary Year plan to add many more top-notch professional artists to its guest faculty and to expand the School's curriculum to accommodate virtually all important genres of traditional art, including western art and wildlife painting.
REGISTER TODAY!
Call 480-990-1422 or online www.ScottsdaleArtSchool.org
Hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm weekdays and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturdays. Admission is free and open to the public. Scottsdale Artists' School is located at 3720 N. Marshall Way in the Scottsdale Arts District (SW corner of 2nd Street and Marshall Way). Free parking is available in the school's parking lot
For more information call the school at (480) 990-1422 or visit the web site at www.scottsdaleartschool.org.
About Scottsdale Artists' School
Founded in 1983 by a group of artists and community leaders, Scottsdale Artists' School is a non-profit school of traditional
fine art offering workshops and courses in oil painting, drawing, watercolr, pastel and sculpture. The School attracts
more than 3,000 students each year from all 50 states and many foreign countries.
Supported by Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the State of Arizona and National Endowment for the Arts. Funding also provided by Scottsdale Cultural Council and Scottsdale League of the Arts.