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BRANDY NAUGLE ZZYZX - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Brandy Zzyzx is a commercial artist and scientific illustrator specializing in mineral specimen illustrations, commercial ad design, and contemporary symbolist Fraktur style hex signs. Knowledgeable in many mediums and crafts, her favorite media are watercolor, gouache, and oil paint. She uses these to create her specialized mineralogical illustrations.
Each mineral specimen is painted from life in her studio, under double magnification. Her primary focus is to create a 100% accurate painting. Brandy often calls her works "mineral portraits", referring to the attention she pays to capturing each specimen's unique qualities. Her paintings have been exhibited in group shows,
published on magazine covers, used in commercial print & web marketing campaigns, and reside the private collections of her many patrons.
Brandy is also Art Director & Lead Designer for The-Vug.com Quarterly Magazine, co-owns and operates several well respected mineralogical websites, and is Educational Director for Zzyzx Gallery. In this latest capacity she has the opportunity to combine her love of art and her life long interest in science by creating info-graphics and science based installation art.
"I want to communicate that there is beauty to be found all around; especially the hidden beauty within the fields of natural science" |
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CHRIS HUGHES - HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Although art created in only black and white lacks more vivid colors, it can be just as striking to the viewer. For example, look at the power of a few lines on paper in sketches by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, and other masters of the past. Chris Hughes’ mineral and wildlife art, rendered in graphite and charcoal, shows great detail and realism, both difficult qualities to create, even using a full range of colors. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (1997), Hughes concentrated his studies in drawing and minored in art history.
Since graduating he has focused extensive attention to collecting and archiving contemporary and classic video and film art. He has spent the past ten years providing assistance to artists, curators, universities, and art institutions worldwide regarding moving image art.
Hughes is considered one of the country's foremost experts in regards to the collecting and currating of contempoary video and film art; being sought out for interviews with the New York Times, media outlets such as the Museum of Modern Art’s (New York City) former radio station WPSI, and Salon.com. He is also an avid collector of the works of contemporary photographers Cindy Sherman, Thomas Ruff, and Nan Goldin, among others. |
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FREDERICK WILDA - HADLEY, MASACHUSETTS
Fred is a self taught artist who has made commercial
and fine arts his chosen career since 1959; becoming a benchmark in the industry in the past 30 years.
His mineral paintings fall into
one of two basic categories...specimen or species. A
species painting may require more than one specimen
to complete the work. He prefers to work from actual
specimens, but when necessary he can use photos.
Limited edition prints are usually made from the
originals. Many of his originals are commissions
from collectors or museums.
Fred has completed a series of over 130 illustrations for reproduction in a book titled "The Pegmatite Mines Known
as Palermo", written by Robert W. Whitmore of New Hampshire. His work has also been included in articles in the Extra Lapis English magazine as well as Rocks & Minerals and Rocks & Gems magazines. Fred was honored to be picked as the "Featured Artist" in the 2004 Mineral and Fossil Show in Munich, Germany. His originals and limited editions prints are in many collections throughout the United States and Abroad. Currently selections of his paintings are in the collection of the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California |
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JEFFREY SCOVIL - PHOENIX, ARIZONA
For over 20 years Jeff Scovil has been filling the photography needs of world class mineral collectors, natural science publications,
and museums the world over. Specializing in mineral specimens, gemstones and fine art jewelry, Jeff also photographs antique scientific instruments,
archeological materials, and lapidary arts.
He currently works in digital, 35mm and 4x5 large format. Most recently he has begun creating capitvating abstract, macro lapidary photography. His works can be seen in all the top trade publications and in varies scientific guides and books. Prints of many photos can be ordered directly from the artist.
Jeff travels all over the United States setting up at gem and mineral shows and arranging private photo shoots for clients and giving technical talks on photographing gems and minerals.
photo to the right copyright 2009 Gail Spann; Rockwall, Texas
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BRUCE PAUL GABER - BETHESDA, MARYLAND
Dr. Bruce Paul Gaber is a biochemist, science educator, and a life-long cook. During his long career at the Naval Research Laboratory, Bruce established a firm reputation as one of the pioneers of nanobiotechnology.
In his second career as a scientific illustrator/animator Bruce has achieved worldwide recognition as a visual interpreter of the "small world" of nanotechnology. His work has appeared in books, journals, and juried exhibitions worldwide. He is also an award-winning photographer.
His most recent series, "Pyrite Deconstructed" is an activity of Earth's Light--an exploration of the unique beauty of minerals with the goal of stimulating curiosity and wonder, and gently informing the viewer about the processes by which they exist. A limited number of giclée prints of these images by have been prepared by Bruce on 17' x 17' Sunset Select Matte Canvas using Epson’s eight ink UltraChrome K3 plus Vivid Magenta pigment ink set.
Earth's Light is a project of the Catherine J. Gaber Endowed Fund for Education in Mineralogy, A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech. Proceeds from the sale of these photographs support this fund. |
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RACHEL DIAZ-BASTIN - FAIRFAX, CALIFORNIA
Rachel Diaz-Bastin is a Bay-Area based artist and life-long California resident. She is a graduate of UC Davis, where she earned her degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Currently working as a curatorial assistant in the entomology department of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (a job which she admits has her feeling like a kid in a candy store), Rachel is surrounded by a treasure trove of insect specimens from all over the world. Many of her favorite subjects to illustrate are easily overlooked small and funny-looking creatures at the Academy, which she loves to draw both for educational purposes and with the ultimate goal of inspiring conservation action.
Her skills have been challanged in wide variety applications, from creating fine art works for private commission to designing for researchers, conservation organizations, parks, and wildlife centers.
"I am amazed by the designs I find in the natural world. Through my nature illustrations I hope to not only capture the literal form of a plant or animal, but also share the inspiration I find in them through vivid (and sometimes exaggerated) colors." |
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