Who are the Top Artists today?

[Tecumsea]

My vote would be for Olga Zernina-she has taken the St Petersburg concept of fine detail painting to new heights with added realism in the way she uses colour.

I can't disagree with any of the aforementioned but would like to add Alexandros of Alexandros Models.

Keith

 

[Helm]

As we are throwing sculptors into the mix, Steve Readdie never had a bad casting off him and the figures virtually snap together something a lot of sculptors/casters could learn from re casting blocks etc. his weapons are works of art too
Steve

 

[Forté]

My vote would be for Olga Zernina-she has taken the St Petersburg concept of fine detail painting to new heights with added realism in the way she uses colour.

I can't disagree with any of the aforementioned but would like to add Alexandros of Alexandros Models.

Keith

I did mention Alexandre from Alexandros models. He does fantastic painting using oils.

 

[badger]

when I say someone is better than another I am just being jealous of everyone else/badger

 

[1969]

I would say for sheer quality and accuracy of work you can't beat Mike Good when it comes to sculpting, he gives a masterclass with everything he sculpts.

Steve

 

[badger]

I first saw 2 figures by historex of napoleon and Josephine,painted to a fantastic standard in 1973,in brian sherrifs shop window in Dundee, since then I have been trying to become a good figure painter. when I think back then to what we have now, we are truly spoiled and to discuss on who we think is the best figure painters just goes to show how the hobby has progressed,and how the standard has improved over the years, what a great hobby to be part of./badger

 

[JasonB]

Well for me, this was the clincher that Mr. Kanaev is not human, and is perfect in every way. This is what I strive for.

 

[Tony Dawe]

Shep Paine and Bill Horan were the masters who inspired me to start figure painting decades ago.

Jason Zhou, Mike Butler, Kirill Kanaev and Sergei Popovichenko are some of the masters who inspire me today.

Happily many great painters who are out there are also Planeteers who share their joy of figure modelling and their talent here with us.

 

[DEL]

Hadn't really planned to contribute to this thread but a couple of things got me thinking about it.
Firstly the somewhat bizarre circumstances around the judging at Roselies and secondly Marcs observations on the Holmes and Watson busts in the completed thread..
The whole area around who's a top painter and who isn't is at best confusing. It can be objective and subjective at the same time, for example is a top painter one who has lots of gold medals, perhaps on one level, but that might simply be a reflection on the number of competitions a painter can attend.
Subjectively, and this is where it gets really difficult, is a top painter one whose work you personally like?
This is where the issue about the abilities of judges becomes so controversial. The skill lies in being able to recognise quality technique across the various disciplines, oils, acrylics, enamels, not to mention brushwork and airbrushing. Not an easy task.
What troubles me is when a particular piece of merit is not recognised. I've seen judging situations where pieces painted in a particular medium have been given a cursory glance as a group of judges from another discipline move on to a piece they recognise and is painted in their 'style'.
There are techniques that leave me cold such as the excessive use of an airbrush to create what to my eye is an ornamental porcelain like finish completely lacking in 'soul'.
So kudos to those who can look beyond their preferences and recognise others skills.
Bringing the topic back on line somewhat, and pinning my colours to a couple of masts I'd nominate Carl Reid and Brian Smith.
What I like about Carl's busts is the fact the faces are rarely symetrical but have character and life as a result of being sculpted by an artist and not an engineer.
This can make his work challenging to paint but great fun from start to finish.
Brian Smith is a top class painter but where he is world class is his ability to create a scene around of all thing busts. His work on the backgrounds does not simply create a frame but fully contributes to the atmosphere, drawing the viewer into the story being told.
Finally a heads up to the originator of this thread, Glenn. A few years back he was a very fine painter but in the past few years his skills have advanced significantly and he can stand up and be counted amongst the best.
Cheers
Derek

 

[kagemusha]

I think that pretty much covers all the angles Del

 

[DEL]

I think that pretty much covers all the angles Del

.... other Germanic peoples are available .......

 

[ghamilt1]

"Finally a heads up to the originator of this thread, Glenn. A few years back he was a very fine painter but in the past few years his skills have advanced significantly and he can stand up and be counted amongst the best."

Awww Derek, I'm pure blushin' now.

 

[Wayneb]

I like what Derek had to say and I agree with most of it, but it's all still a matter of opinion. But I must say when I first started to read this thread it made me cringe a bit because I felt it was a loaded question......

Wayne

 

[DEL]

They say a picture paints a thousand words so here are two from Alexander Michelotti that dramatically illustrates the dilemma.
Not by any stretch of imagination to everyone's taste but a wonderful example of pushing the boundaries of figure painting.
I've been fortunate to see them close up and they really are remarkable,

 

[ghamilt1]

"But I must say when I first started to read this thread it made me cringe a bit because I felt it was a loaded question......"

In retrospect, I can certainly see where that would be a concern Wayne. Of course I never meant to put anyone in an uncomfortable position, because after all, it is a very subjective topic. If I could go back and change the question, I think I would go for more of a "who inspires you" kind of thing, because that was what really prompted me to pose the idea in the first place. There are artists whose work just causes me to stop and take stock of the accomplishment, both technically and artistically. There are others whose work I appreciate and enjoy, but for different reasons. Naturally, it's all from my own perspective, and I realistically shouldn't expect others to share the same view. I have to honestly say that I agree with everyone's assessments here, all of the names being brought forward are inspiring people to greater things in the hobby. What their work receives at a show or contest is another matter for another thread, which frankly I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. But your point and Derek's thoughts as well, both highlight the sensitive nature of making pronouncements on whose work is "best" or who is the "top" painter/sculptor. That's on me. I should have thought out the question a little more carefully, because after all, words DO matter.

 

[Wayneb]

Remarkable for sure Derek and not to my taste but I still appreciate the fact that there are some very talented people in the world that most of us don't even know about....

 

[Viking Bob]

I agree with all the comments above and Dels too.

 

[DEL]

I agree with all the comments above and Dels too.

The planets are aligned

 

[Forté]

They say a picture paints a thousand words so here are two from Alexander Michelotti that dramatically illustrates the dilemma.
Not by any stretch of imagination to everyone's taste but a wonderful example of pushing the boundaries of figure painting.
I've been fortunate to see them close up and they really are remarkable,

Those are pretty clever and well done. Not seen those before.