Wednesday, November 28, 2012

PleinAir Magazine Post on the DVD

I just received the article below in my email this morning! Thank you!







Now You Can Learn Lost Techniques
of the Hudson River School Painters
Rediscovered by a Passionate Artist



America has long been fascinated with the Hudson River School painters, and artists have tried to emulate these fabulous paintings for the last hundred years. Yet, without understanding these painters’ techniques, most could never capture the look and feel of their work. The Hudson River School techniques are like the Holy Grail of American painting. The story of their rediscovery and the detective work involved is fascinating.

About the Hudson River School Painters

Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole, American Painter, 1801-1848

From 1825 to 1875, the members of the Hudson River School art movement documented the landscape of America, primarily in the Hudson River Valley, the Catskills, the Adirondacks of New York, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The group, which emerged under the leadership of Thomas Cole, had a style all their own, which has become the most coveted of all American painting styles. These realistic and detailed paintings often romanticized pastoral settings, showing the coexistence of man and nature.


Kindred Spirits, 1849 by Asher Brown Durand

The Hudson River School artists had a style and a technique that was purely American. Sadly, most of those techniques died with the painters themselves. It is rare to find a painter today who can can capture the essence and feel of the Hudson River School, the sense of dramatic light, the feel of distance and air, and the emotional impact that gives you chills when you view their paintings. The luminosity of this iconic American style has long been sought after.

Sadly, the Hudson River School techniques died with the painters and their students as realism fell out of vogue over the past 100 years.


A Long Journey of Discovery

Mt. Pleasant Hotel
While most American kids grow up in the suburbs of our cities, Erik Koeppel grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where he awakened each day to stunning vistas and color-filled skies. Because his father managed a classic old hotel that had been a frequent stop for the Hudson River School painters, Erik grew up aware of the Hudson River School, and with their work, rather than video games, as his influences. That exposure to the School’s history prompted Koeppel’s curiosity and passion for its painters, yet as he became interested in learning their techniques, he soon discovered he could find no one in America who could teach him.

Nowhere to Turn

No one, it seemed, could answer the question of how the Hudson River School masters achieved the feeling and emotion in their paintings. Though there were lots of people who wanted to sway Koeppel to study Impressionism or modernism, and many who discouraged him from following the path of these great American masters, Koeppel wasn’t going to give up until he found answers.

Like a Painting Archaeologist

Old Artist Letters
Unfazed by the lack of teachers and driven by the desire to know the exact techniques used to create such masterpieces, Koeppel made it his mission to study the Hudson River School painters. Like an archaeologist sifting though sand for clues, Erik spent over a decade digging through dusty volumes of antique books, sifting through musty archives, studying fragile artist letters, and poring over the handwritten journals of great painters like Cole, Durand, Church, Kensett, and Gifford. Koeppel tirelessly visited the homes of artists and the dingy archives of museums, seeking any clue he could find to lead him to answers. After studying extensively and keeping his own journal, Erik gradually gleaned tidbits of information and put them together like a great jigsaw puzzle to understand the steps of these artists’ techniques, and how they created paintings with such depth and feeling.
Exhaustive study lead Koeppel to understand the artists’ color palettes, which he had to translate to modern replacements for those colors no longer available or unsafe to use. He discovered their mediums, how they used a brush, and the exact process, step by step from creation to final glazing, for how they painted such beautiful trees, glowing light, and the feeling of air.

Coveted by Collectors

Koeppel’s shows in New York have been met with critical acclaim, and his paintings have been embraced by top collectors, and Erik was inducted recently as a living master by the coveted Art Renewal Center. Most collectors cannot afford Hudson River School originals, but Koeppel’s students are producing amazing works that are selling well. One of his students was recently written up in the New York Times — a very rare instance of praise for a representational painter in a paper whose critics have traditionally leaned toward the modern in their tastes.

A Gift Others Would Keep a Secret

Erik Koeppel spent ten years in his quest to learn and perfect these techniques. Though he could have kept what he learned to himself so that only he could produce such beautiful works and further his career, he wants to share this passion so others don’t have to dig so deeply to discover what he has found. He has decided to share these techniques with you.

Impact on Impressionist and Figurative Painters

You may love the Hudson River School paintings and want to learn how to create them, but there is typically a waiting list to enter the Hudson River Fellowship Erik Koeppel teaches. Or perhaps you prefer a looser, more impressionistic style and don’t aspire to paint like the Hudson River School. You’ll find that after viewing this in-depth instructional DVD and applying the techniques to your own style, you’ll experience a transformation in your work, taking you to a higher level. Students who have mastered these techniques have found they can apply them to all forms of painting, whether figurative or landscape.
Impressionist painters need to know, as much as any other artist, how to make paintings come alive, build drama, make stunning compositions, and create that feel others wish they could emulate. These techniques bring paintings to life, no matter what style you follow. Picasso was classically trained and found that training benefited him as he found his own forms of expression.

Techniques Revealed on DVD

For the first time, Erik Koeppel reveals these lost techniques, on a new two-disc DVD set. Over six hours of instruction explain the discoveries Koeppel has made over the last decade. This DVD includes:

Sketching and Composition on Location

Koeppel Sketch
Erik takes you outdoors and shows you how he determines his composition to create a beautiful painting. This is the foundation neglected by many painters. How do you create balance? How do you pull the subject through the picture? Where is your focal point? What creates distance? Erik shows his process for sketching out variations to determine what he will paint and discusses what makes great compositions.

Painting a Plein Air Study on Location

Erik does an in-depth outdoor demonstration, employing techniques used outdoors but not in the studio.

Painting a Tree Study at Sunset

TreeStudy

Erik shows you how he paints trees and how he captures the essence of light during a sunset.

Creating Effects with Glazing

Glazing
Find out how the Hudson River School painters created a sense of distance, light, shade, and glow through the use of a series of thin glazes.

Creating a Studio Painting

StudioPainting
Erik takes the plein air study indoors and demonstrates how he creates a larger studio painting. A complete, in-depth demonstration, including elements added and subtracted from the plein air study.

The Palette of the Hudson River School Masters

Palette
Learn how the Hudson River School painters accomplished that distinctive rich, woodsy feel with a limited palette of colors, and learn how to use those colors.

A Visit to Erik’s New York Studio

A brief visit to Koeppel’s studio to see how he has it arranged to be most effective.

An Exhibit of Koeppel’s Best Paintings

You’ll see Erik Koeppel’s own Hudson River School paintings.

An In-depth Interview with the Artist

Art Publisher B. Eric Rhoads interviews Koeppel about the Hudson River School and offers his own thoughts on painting.

Over Six Hours of Learning the Hudson River School Painters’ Secrets on Two DVDs

Techniques of the Hudson River School Painters Erik Koeppel

Now available. Order your copy today.

order   

GiftMakes a great holiday gift

PS: It's rare for a young painter to dedicate his life to pursuing the lost techniques of the artists who influenced him. If you could be accepted to study with Erik Koeppel, what would be the cost of travel, hotel, and the time spent with him? This DVD is an exceptional value and offers hours of education. By studying these techniques, you stand to become a stronger painter with improved composition abilities and techniques that could bring you decades of opportunity.  

Please order today. Overnight delivery available.

Call 561-655-8778 or visit streamlineartvideo.com.

order here

 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Q & A Techniques of the Hudson River School DVD

(click here to order)
I've recently gotten news from Eric Rhoads the Chairman of Streamline Publishing that my DVD, Techniques of the Hudson River School Masters is the company's top selling DVD. So thank you to Eric, and to everyone who has purchased the DVD for sharing the news that this is a very helpful way to improve your paintings, as well as informative for anyone interested in 19th Century landscape painting methods.

I thought I would take the occassion to share some of the questions and answers that have come up since the release,  and also some testimonials.

Q:
I'm interested in your dvd mostly in terms of color. Does it show the palette while mixing colors and naming those colors?
A:
thank you for your interest. The palette and painting were both filmed throughout the demos so it switches from the palette to the painting a lot, and goes at a slow pace that you can paint along with. The colors (and paint tubes) are listed, and spoken about very specifically before I start painting. I think you'll find a lot in the DVD about how I use color to capture light and atmosphere too.

Q:
Hi Erik, sorry to bother with the business side of things - I am trying to order your dvd through arc but it looks like Streamline publishing only accept PayPal? That is awkard for me, I would prefer to use my credit card, any suggestions?
A:
I would call them, 561-655-8778 I'm sure they can take your order over the phone. Thanks for getting in touch, Erik

Q: (from email sorry about the">>")
I was going to buy the DVD today but first I have a question. On
>> "average"
>> how long would it take an intermediate level artist to paint the demo
>> painting that will be painted from the DVD lessons. I understand that
>> everyone has their own pace but a ballpark time would be sufficient.
>> Having watched the DVD preview and seeing that you use small brushes
>> leads
>> me to think that this style of painting may be so labor intensive as to
>> make it not feasible to paint very many paintings in a year. Hours,
>> days,
>> weeks?
A:
A layered process allows me to give
> a lot of time and thought to each painting while having a number of
> paintings going in my studio at once.
>
> There are I think around 550 min. on the DVD, but that includes two
> outdoor studies (one quick and one longer) and one indoor studio painting
> that takes the most time. There are also some demonstrations of glazing.
> I've had a lot of positive feedback that the DVD goes at a slow pace that
> one can follow along easily, so I would say, probably a few days of
> painting and 'pausing' would provide a clear introduction to my technique
> (which might take a lifetime to master.) All of the demos were
> painted/filmed in one sitting with a lot of instruction from me about what
> I'm doing. I typically do public demos in 1.5 hrs. with very solid
> results. Although it looks like it takes a long time, part of the 'magic'
> of this process is that it all comes together quickly once mastered.
>
> I hope you enjoy the DVD, and please keep in touch with feedback and
> questions. 
 
 
Q:
Mr. Koeppel:

My name is Bill Smith and I live in Sugar Land, Texas (a suburb of Houston). I just wanted to write and say how much I appreciated your efforts in producing the 2 disc CD on The Techniques of the Hudson Valley School. I received the set about 2 weeks ago and have been reviewing it constantly ever since. My wife was gone last week to visit her sister up in Morristown, NJ so I had a lot of time to digest your excellent video. I’m now working on my second painting by carefully following your Hudson Valley pallet and instructions on color progressions and can already see improvement.

I’m not from Houston originally but grew up in Utica, New York…….not far from the Munson-Williams- Proctor Institute where I was first exposed, at an early age,  to the works of the Hudson Valley School when I saw Thomas Cole’s  (4) painting allegory “The “Voyage of Life”. Even as a young boy I was amazed by Cole’s ability to produce such fine paintings full of minute details. I’ve been painting as a hobby most of my adult life (I’m 63) and have always marveled at the atmospheric effects the Hudson Valley painters achieved…..Church, Cole, Durand, Bierstadt, Gifford…….and have wondered how they did it……..your CD’s have helped explain how. I have used glazing somewhat over my years of painting but with your help will now be able to use it more effectively.

Anyway, thanks again for your careful explanations and thorough analysis of the HV technique………I’ve been in Sales & Marketing all my life and know how rare feedback can be and that “atta-boys” are few and far between. Like me, many others may have likewise appreciated your efforts but perhaps haven’t taken the time to tell you so.

I am a big fan of ARC and that is where I first became aware of your work. If you ever decide to produce another video sequel to this one I will be sure to buy it!

I do have one question for you: in your video you quote Gifford a lot…..are there any books that you can recommend that will elaborate even more on the HV techniques?  

Regards, Bill Smith
A:
Thank you Bill, it was really nice to hear from you. It's great to know the dvd has been helpful, and I always love to meet new Hudson River School enthusiasts. A lot of the Gifford references came from a 19th article someone gave me a photocopy of from a reporter who interviewed, and hung out with Gifford while he was alive. I think it was called American Painters volume (3?), but don't recall. There's lots of good info out there, and I particularly like books with actual letters/journals from the artists themselves (of which there are many available).

All the best,

Erik
 

Testimonials:

"Hi Erik,
I thought you would be interested to know that I found your DVD of significant value and feel it should be a must for serious landscape collectors without a painting background. -David Grey (of the Grey Collection)"

"Susan Engle Budash, Artist: I just wanted to write and tell you how much I've enjoyed your video. While I've had painting instruction, beginning when I was 9 years old and years later followed up with earning degrees in Printmaking, I was never taught to paint in a limited pallet. In following your pallet, I've been able to portray landscape painting in its much truer and convincing state than I had ever anticipated and am now thoroughly engaged in creating several landscapes depicting the Niagara region of NY State. I've been painting in the Indirect methods for almost 12 years now and sought out the methods on my own and the results have been so rewarding. Thanks again for creating your wonderful instruction video on the Hudson River School methods."

"
Dear Erik
I just finished your terrific DVD
Thanks for putting so much time and thought into it
I found it to be  inspirational and educational
I have purchased numerous art instructional DVD's over the years and I would place yours on the top of the list
You were clear, concise and thorough.
In fact I hope to watch it again and paint along with you, to further explore the technique
I also enjoyed the interview aspect of it, very unique, and interesting it was a nice deviation form the standard instructional
Kudos to both you and Mr Rhoads
Sincerely
Bruce Gherman
"

....and many more.

Here are the images of the paintings created on the DVD (click here to order):

Studio Demo

30min. Cigar box demo

Outdoor Demo

Thank you for reading, and please feel welcome to share any questions/comments on the DVD.

Erik Koeppel Studio
P.O. Box 325 
Jackson, NH 03846

Erik@ErikKoeppel.com
ph: 603-383-7062


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Art Dealer Messes with Texas at the Theta Antiques Show in Houston, TX

Erik Koeppel "In the Catskills" 41 x 41 inches Oil on Canvas
Those who know my work know that I show and sell frequently beside historic artwork, particularly beside 19th Century American Landscape Paintings from the Hudson River School. That's why Joe Panarelli, the Director of McColl Fine Art, decided to hang my paintings beside Alfred Thompson Bricher, George Inness, and others at the 60th Annual Theta Charity Antiques Show in Houston, TX this weekend.  Although I don't have all the details, I've heard from Joe that there was a dispute at the show on hanging day as to whether my work should be allowed to hang. It was not because of the quality of the work, but because of my birth year, 1980. My understanding is that words were spoken, and voices were raised with the authorities at the show, but in the end my paintings were allowed to hang!

So with special thanks to Joe Panarelli and McColl Fine Art, I'm happy to say that my paintings are currently on view at the Theta Antiques Show. I hope if you're in Houston you'll check it out, and see for yourself if I should be allowed to hang beside Bricher or not.

?

The following paintings, and more will be at the show:

Erik Koeppel "Red Rock Canyon" 10 x 16 in.

Erik Koeppel "The Wildcat River " 13.5 x 10.5 inches Oil on canvas

Erik Koeppel "A Whitredge Pool" 16 x 12 inches Oil on panel

Announcements:

Rehs Galleries, Inc. is my new representative in NYC. Click Here to see the first couple of paintings, and check for more updates soon. 
 


THE INSTRUCTIONAL DVD IS HERE:
Order here:
Techniques of the Hudson River School Masters with Erik Koeppel
www.hudsonriverdvd.com







Upcoming Workshops:
Subscribe here by email to keep up to date. All workshops will be posted.

Koeppel Paintings On View:
Continually:
Rehs Galleries New York City, NY (click here) new work recently added
McColl Fine Art in Charlotte, NC (click here) 
The Banks Gallery in Portsmouth, NH (click here) 
Art Renewal Center Living Master Gallery: (click here)
New Hampshire Antiques Co-op (see some works still available)
 
Special Exhibitions:
-Dallas Art, Antique and Jewelry Show with Rehs Galleries from November 9 - 12, 2012 was a success!
 
-Hudson River Revisited at McColl Fine Art from November 1st-Dec. 6th, 2012
-60th Annual Theta Charity Antique Show  with McColl Fine Art Nov. 14 -18 in Houston, TX 
 
Thank you for reading! 

Erik Koeppel Studio
P.O. Box 325 
Jackson, NH 03846

Erik@ErikKoeppel.com
ph: 603-383-7062
 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Dallas Art, Antique and Jewelry Show

My Paintings on the Left.


From November 9 - 12, 2012, you can see my paintings in Dallas, TX with Rehs Galleries.

Here's a link to the ticket/info if you'd like to check it out:
Complimentary Ticket to the Dallas Show

I also have paintings with them on 57th St. if you'd like to visit there location in Manhattan.

Here are some of the paintings in Texas:

Erik Koeppel, "The Claudian Tree" 32 x 24 inches. Oil on panel.

Erik Koeppel, "Mt. Madison from the Androscoggin River" 10 x 16 inches. Oil on panel

Erik Koeppel, "Glen Ellis Falls" 16 x 12 inches. Oil on panel

Enjoy the show!

Announcements:

Rehs Galleries, Inc. is my new representative in NYC. Click Here to see the first couple of paintings, and check for more updates soon. 
 


THE INSTRUCTIONAL DVD IS HERE:
Order here:
Techniques of the Hudson River School Masters with Erik Koeppel
www.hudsonriverdvd.com







Upcoming Workshops:
Subscribe here by email to keep up to date. All workshops will be posted.

Koeppel Paintings On View:
Continually:
Rehs Galleries New York City, NY (click here)
McColl Fine Art in Charlotte, NC (click here) New work coming soon
The Banks Gallery in Portsmouth, NH (click here) New work coming soon
Art Renewal Center Living Master Gallery: (click here)
New Hampshire Antiques Co-op (see some works still available)
 
Special Exhibitions:
-Dallas Art, Antique and Jewelry Show with Rehs Galleries from November 9 - 12, 2012 (link)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-Hudson River Revisited at McColl Fine Art from November 1st-Dec. 6th, 2012 (link)

-60th Annual Theta Charity Antique Show  with McColl Fine Art Nov. 14 -18 in Houston, TX (link)
 
Thank you for reading! 

Erik Koeppel Studio
P.O. Box 325 
Jackson, NH 03846

Erik@ErikKoeppel.com
ph: 603-383-7062