Edward L. Rubin, artscenetoday featured artist

	e d w a r d l. r u b i n

1st PLACE WINNER Competition: E K P H R A S I S - Art that can inspire poetry to be written about it

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edward l. rubin

THE ANNUNCIATION

soft pastel on paper

los angeles, ca/USA

www.edwardlrubin.com

ed@edwardlrubin.com

nfs

artist statement

As an artist, I am concerned with depicting the world I know, the world I experience–both on the seen and unseen side of life. And what do I know? Drama, tension, humor, contradiction, sensuality, mythology, tragedy, beauty, ambiguity, love, and God.

In my pastel painting THE ANNUNCIATION, I show the revelation of Spirit in that moment between Life and Death, a universal experience that we all, eventually, must face in our own way. What better subject for Ekphrasis: the transcendence of this world to the next, through the collision of words and paint.

bio

25 years as Art Director and Production Designer in Film, Television, and Commercials.

AWARDS/MEMBERSHIPS
1 Emmy Award, 3 Nominations for Art Direction
1 Art Directors Guild Award, 2 Nominations
1 Cable Ace Award

EXIBITION HISTORY

2010 'Spring' Gallery 800, North Hollywood, CA
2009 Solo Exhibition, The Ebell of Los Angeles, CA
2009 'Spring into Summer' Gallery 800, North Hollywood, CA
2009 'Woman!' Gallery 800, North Hollywood, CA
2008 'Art Unites #3, NoHo Gallery LA, CA
2008 'MiniWorx' Ghettogloss Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Art Unites #2' NoHo Gallery LA, CA
2006 'Art Unites #1' Art Directors Guild, Hollywood, CA
2005 'Art! Juried show, Learning Product Expo, Burbank, CA
1990-1996: Galleries and Group shows in San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Los Angeles

Winner, Honorable Mention, The 2009 Pastel 100 Competition: THE ANNUNCIATION

ArtSceneToday Q&A

Q: Where do you see yourself in the art scene today?

A: My work is always evolving, I am interested in having it reach a very wide audience and, although I've been creating and selling my paintings for many, many years, I essentially see myself as a newcomer, an explorer, of the many ways to exhibit, especially now.

Q: What is in your inspiration?

A: My inspiration is always centered in creating something interesting, something that people can bring multiple interpretations to, something that reflects an aspect of being alive. Everything that I create is, in many ways, a self portrait, and I invite others to not only see me, but see themselves in the work, because we are all connected.

Q: What are your challenges?

A: Every piece I create has it's own special challenge, something that pushes my boundaries with the pastel medium. In THE ANNUNCIATION, the entire piece is backlit. This is a complete reversal from the lighting I normally depict, and a crucial one. It is all about establishing subtle gradations of light to dark, in the most realistic and effective way, from the back of the painting to the front of the painting. Also, the final rays of light were the last thing to do. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to really do it, and I had worked on this piece for two years! I asked for guidance, had faith, and just did it, without a test. It worked! It is a wonderful demonstration of surrender and trust, and also knowing when to stop. Maybe that's what THE ANNUCIATION is really about.

Q: How did you/do you choose your medium?

A: I have always loved drawing, and I also love amazing, vivid color. Over the years, I have worked in many different mediums: color pencil, acrylic paint, etching, lithography. With pastels, I found, for me, the perfect combination of draftsmanship and painting: clear, precise line work coupled with the seductive blending of hues. So I've stayed there.

Q: Which artist has influenced you the most?

A: I don't know, I truly love so many of them for different reasons. But I would have to say that my top favorite is John Singer Sargent. His work, in terms of both technique and subject matter, is a continual revelation.