April 1, 2007

Andreeva Gallery in collaboration with Andreeva Portrait Academy, presents “Converging Passions,” a collection of realist paintings by celebrated instructors from the United States, Canada and France. The works showcase the technique and vision of nineteen leading contemporary realists—including, Yuqi Wang, Ryan Wursmer, Grace Kim, Ned Bittinger, Dan Thompson, Shirley Pulido, Numael Pulido, Anthony Ryder, Juan Carlos Martinez, Michelle Tully, Catherine Prescott, Henry Wingate, John Robert Peck, Linda Kyser Smith, McCreery Jordan, Jane Angelhart, Dawn Whitelaw, David Kassan and Shuqiao Zhou. Most of the artists are classically trained in a modern atelier atmosphere, and are helping to revitalize this artistic tradition through their own work and teaching.

Andreeva Gallery, located in historic downtown Santa Fe, represents acclaimed artists from throughout the world, whose approach is varied and distinguished.

Following the Instructors Exhibition, Andreeva will be hosting a Still Life Invitational Exhibition April 23 – May 20, and a Landscape Invitational May 21 – June 17, 2007. These exhibitions will be available for viewing on their opening day at HYPERLINK “http://www.andreevagallery.com” www.andreevagallery.com .

“Converging Passions” artist/instructors include:

Yuqi Wang Grand Prize winner in the Portrait Society of America, Second Prize Winner in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and was awarded “Best Portfolio” in the American Society of Portrait Painters at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Ryan Wurmser, a California painter, was selected as one of eleven young artists to exhibit at the Forbes Gallery’s “Next Generation of Realists” show. He won the Gold Medal in the 2007 California Club Competition and “First Honorable Mention” in the Artist’s Magazine Portrait Competition.

Grace Kim won first prize in the 2006 International Realist competition and the December cover and “Best Art of 2006” in the Artist’s Magazine competition. She has won awards from the Allied Artist’s of America and Hudson Valley River Association.

Ned Bittinger trained with Daniel Greene and John Howard Sanden and has painted notable commissions including Henry Kissinger and co-founder of C-Span John Evans.

Dan Thompson Teaches at the Art Students League, Parsons and the Grand Central Academy in New York. He was one of eleven artists to exhibit at the Forbes Gallery “Next Generation of Realists” show.

Shirley Pulido studied at Syracuse University, the University of Rochester, the Brooklyn Museum Art School and the Cooper Union in New York.

Numael Pulido studied at the Art Student’s League with George Gross and Frank Mason. His work has been exhibited at the National Academy of Design and the Royal Academy of Portrait Painters in London. Pulido also won the S.J. Wallace prize.

Anthony Ryder Studied at the Art Student’s League and Ecole Albert Defois with Ted Seth Jacobs. Ryder is the author of “Figure Drawing” and has taught at the Art Student’s League, the Water Street Atelier and founded “The Ryder School.”

Juan Carlos Martinez, who lives and works in Canada, studied with Michael John Angel and was awarded “Best Portfolio” in the Portrait Society of America Competition.

Michelle Tully worked with Jacob Collins in the beginnings of the Water Street Atelier, and studied with Ted Seth Jacobs and Anthony Ryder before founding Studio Escalier in France.

Catherine Prescott has 20 years teaching experience and was a finalist in the 2006 Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.

Henry Wingate, a Virginia artist, studied with Charles Cecil and Paul Ingbretson, and has received prestigious awards by the Hudson Valley Art Association and Portrait Society of America.

John Robert Peck is instructor of oil painting at the Florence Academy of Art. He has his BA in Physics, MA in Architecture.

Linda Kyser Smith studied with Aaron Shikler, Burton Silverman and Milt Kobayashi. Her paintings are in collections in ten countries around the world.

McCreery Jordan was a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine Still Life Painting Competition, New York.

Jane Angelhart is an accomplished watercolor painter and portrait artist. In addition to her teaching, she has painted over 350 commissioned portraits.

Dawn Whitelaw studied with Everett Raymond Kinstler and Scott Christensen and has won Best of Show in the Portrait Society of America.

David Kassan has studied with masters such as Burton Silverman and Aaron Shikler and has won awards by the Portrait Society of American, The Newington-Cropsey Foundation and the Art Students League of New York.

Shuqiao Zhou was Chair of the Oil Painting Department at Guangzhou Art Academy and has work in the National Museum in Beijing.

Reception Information

Opening Reception: Friday, April 6, 2007. 5-7 PM Closes: April 22, 2007