KOSAR in SPLASH 13: The Best of Watercolor!

I am so honored to have had my painting Never Known, Never Forgotten accepted into SPLASH 13: Alternative Approaches.  This annual features the best in watercolor, and includes so many beautiful works of art from so many talented watercolorists!  They say that painting with watercolor is the hardest form of painting as it is an unforgiving media.  Mistakes can not be covered or painted over like other forms of painting due to the transparent quality of watercolor, and once the white of the paper is lost, you can never get it back.  Most watercolorists allow the water to do its thing.  As a hyper-realist, I like to be in complete control of the watercolor.  I feel that controlling watercolor is like controlling the uncontrollable, and that challenge is why I love it!  Thank you to F+W Media, and North Light Books for this honor! 

Be sure to get your copy today HERE.

Never Known, Never Forgotten

by J. Anthony Kosar   14"x11" Watercolor & Gouache on Illustration Board

Looking for a gift for the holidays?  If you are interested in purchasing a pack of greeting cards or a limited edition, signed and numbered giclée print of Never Known, Never Forgotten, please email studio@kosarteffects.com

Never Known, Never Forgotten © J. Anthony Kosar.

Splash 13 © F+W Media.

Featured in Portes Magazine!

Over the summer, I was featured in the first issue of Portes Magazine, a biannual "a celebration of the Best of Everything Greek. Everywhere. Open Doors."  I have always been proud of my Greek heritage, as I am 50% Greek on my Mother's side, and feel honored to be included in the first issue of this beautiful bold magazine!  Thank you to my friend Anthe Mitrakos for an amazing article!  Check out the Portes Magazine website, and if you are Greek, or just love Greek culture, be sure to get a subscription, you won't be disappointed!

Here is my 4 page Article:

(Click images to Enlarge)

Artwork © J. Anthony Kosar.

Portes Magazine & Article © Portes Magazine.

Featured in BLICK Fall Catalog & Blood on the Plain!

Recently, my work was featured in the Blick Fall printed catalog, encouraging artists to "Try Something New" ... and in this case, they are talking about molding and casting.  Featured is the work I did in 2011 on the short film Blood on the Plain by Watercooler Productions where I created the indigenous creatures that slaughter the students at a High School dance.  Check out the feature online HERE and see some of the process of creating these monsters, as well as what materials you can use to create your own!! 

Blick has always been a big supporter of my work, thanks to my friend and fellow artist Kevin Sandstrom!  I used to work at the Blick in Wheaton during college when I would never take home a paycheck (I was buying art supplies to experiment and perfect my craft)!  I have been fortunate to be invited to do demos and appearances at the Blick store and the Blick booth at Wizard Comic Con and C2E2 over the years.  Blick is also one of the sponsors of my FX Classes and Workshops I teach at my studio.  So, I can definitely confirm what their slogan says, "Artists pick Blick!"

For those of you interested, you can watch BLOOD ON THE PLAIN on YouTube HERE
 

And see more pictures of the Making of the

BLOOD ON THE PLAIN Monsters on my website HERE

Sculpt & Process Pictures © J. Anthony Kosar.

Blood on the Plain © Watercooler Productions.

Blick Website image courtesy of Blick Art Materials.

3 Awards in SI-LA's ILLUSTRATION WEST 50

If you are in California, be sure to check out the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles ILLUSTRATION WEST 50 Exhibition taking place at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California!  The opening reception is TONIGHT, March 30th 7pm to 10pm.  I have 4 pieces exhibited in the show, and 3 of them received awards: Gold, Bronze, and an Honorable Mention in the Graphic Novel / Comic Book Category!!!  The show will be up until April 4th, so don't miss it!  If you aren't in California, you can still see everything online on the ILLUSTRATION WEST 50 website.  I am really honored to receive these awards, and I thank SI-LA for the honor!

Here are my 4 pieces in the show:

 

GOLD AWARD

Between the Lines

Interior from The Spider: The Iron Man War

12" x 5.75" Digitally Painted in Photoshop 

 

BRONZE AWARD

Run for your Life

Interior from The Spider: The Iron Man War 

12" x 5.75" Digitally Painted in Photoshop 

HONORABLE MENTION

March of the Machines

Back Cover from The Spider: The Iron Man War 

11" x 17.5" Digitally Painted in Photoshop 

Monster from the Watergate Lagoon

From Presidential Monsters

7.3" x 10.85" Photoshop

Illustrations © J. Anthony Kosar 
Characters © & TM their respective owners.
SILA Logo © Society of Illustrators.

Accepted into SPLASH 13!!

Never Known, Never Forgotten 14x11 Gouache & Watercolor on Illustration Board

My most successful painting to date, Never Known, Never Forgotten was accepted into Splash 13: The Best of Watercolor!!! This is my first time entering this competition, and I am thrilled and honored to be included amongst such talented watercolorists, only 115 artists selected internationally! Splash 13 focuses on Alternative Approaches and I am really excited to share my unique approach to painting watercolors to the readers of the Splash books. The tentative publication date is June 7th, 2012, so be sure to reserve or order your copy once it is printed, or pick one up at your local book store! View the winner's list HERE

Never Known, Never Forgotten © J. Anthony Kosar. All Rights Reserved.

Kosar's Artwork Featured in Creative Painting Guide Book

Three of my paintings ( Never Known, Never Forgotten; Second Thoughts; and Wrong Chord ) are featured in The Complete Photo Guide to Creative Painting. I had the priveledge of meeting one of the authors, Geri Greenman at the Norris Gallery's WATERCOLOR 09 Art Exhibit where three of my paintings were on display.

This book is a comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of creative painting. It serves as a reference and technique guide for painting with all types of craft and fine arts paints, including acrylics, oils, tempera, watercolor, and pastels. The organization provides easy access to information with step-by-step directions and 700 full-color photos for clear understanding. Galleries of artwork by a wide range of artists offer the reader examples of what can be done with each of the painting categories and inspiration to pursue the hobby for themselves.

Read an article about this book HERE

Buy this book HERE

Here are the pages my art is featured:

About the Authors:

Paula Guhin is a former educator, visual artist, photographer, and the author of the ever-popular Glorious Glue, Art with Adhesives (J. W. Walch) and Can We Eat the Art? (Incentive Publications). Articles have appeared in School Arts, Instructor, Teaching Today, and many more periodicals. She is also a contributing editor for Arts and Activities magazine.

Geri Greenman, a high school art teacher for thirty years, was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award by her colleagues. She was a finalist for the Delores Kohl (International) Outstanding Service in the Field of Education award, a nominee for the Golden Apple, and listed in the Who's Who among America's Teachers. Geri Greenman has been writing for Arts and Activities magazine for 24 years, a contributing editor for 10 years, with 100 articles published.

Never Known, Never Forgotten ; Second Thoughts ; and Wrong Chord © J. Anthony Kosar.

All other art © the respective artists.

Book & Pages © Creative Publishing International, Inc.

Book Info & Author Bios from Amazon.com

All Rights Reserved.