Wednesday, October 26, 2016

THE GALLERY GIRLS in San Francisco - NSFW

Photography c2016GregAutryARR

October 25, 2016

Over this past weekend I was thrilled to attend two drawing workshops with The Gallery Girls. One at Trickster in Berkeley, and one at The Red Victorian in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. For me it was like a homecoming.  Jennifer Fabos Patton, who owns and produces all of The Gallery Girls event's, was joined by models Taryn Nicole Piana and Amanda Achen. All from LA.


I drew both nights. The Photos herein are from the Saturday event, at The Red Victorian. Thus I decided to write on my Photo Blog, to highlight the models and The Gallery Girls. The theme for the Saturday night drawing was  "Pagan's All Hallows Eve." Artist must create, and drawing, sketching, and painting are ongoing endeavors required to maintain skill levels, and to improve those skills simultaneously. Art Schools offer formal instruction and are invaluable in todays ever changing creative fields. Today Digital Artist create on iPads and Tablets the way artist have painted on canvas with oils for centuries. ALL Artist must continually work on these skills.



Drawing workshops provide a resource for artist to work and practice outside of the formal environs of a "school." I met Jennifer Fabos Patton when I lived in Orange County, CA and was showing my work (Plein Air Paintings) at the Studio 7 Gallery in Laguna Beach. I also wanted to do portraits and figure work and had not the time, nor the funds,  to go to a formal art school.



Jennifer has taken the ideas of the lively social scene of early nineteenth century Paris, where art salons could be found in Cafes, Clubs, and Bars all throughout the City, and created an opportunity for artist, and models alike, to mingle and socialize, make art, and have fun.



Jennifer Fabos Patton produces Art Events and Parties, with opportunity for every level of artist pursuing figure work, to paint and draw in varying locations, with multiple models, and always exciting themes which add vitality and a contemporary vibe to the events.



Some are straight drawing workshops, most are Art Events centered around drawing or painting and include food, and libation, Belly Dancers, themed music from DJ's to Live Bands. Began in the Los Angeles area almost thirteen years ago, today The Gallery Girls can be found in San Francisco, New York, and beyond `The Pond' also.

There are long pose workshops for artist who want longer, still, pose to work on. While other Drawing Parties and Events are typically three or four hours, and offer poses ranging from five to twenty minutes. Some of the drawing Salons have become Events in themselves, attracting and selling out big crowds, many of who are not artist per se, but people who want to be around and involved in the actual creative process of the art scene.

 


The models for The Gallery Girls are some of the most well known in the industry. Art Models must be able to emote, and hold a pose with absolute stillness, for at least twenty minutes minimum. It is one of the most difficult aspects of being an art model. Events are always themed, and of course, can include nude as well as `costumed' models, both male and female.

               




Many of the models for The Gallery Girls work for major animation and film studios,  as art models, and as actors. You'll also find a plethora of artist from students to pros who work in the industry everyday. Artists from animation, comics, and the gaming world mix with beginners and students and build The Gallery Girl community.  Its great for new artist to feel welcome and to make genuine friends with seasoned professionals who provide encouragement and advice.




I count many artists I've met at The Gallery Girls events as friends. Artists who work at Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros., and others. I've made friend with professional makeup artist in television and film, who are also artist, and with models who are always delighted to see what the artist have created.

Check out The Gallery Girls Website and Facebook Pages, for workshop dates and locations and come join the fun.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

UPDATE ON PHOTO BLOG

I reside in San Jose, south of San Francisco, California. I shoot commercially, and have been doing so for the past thirty plus years. People are the focus of my work.
Greg Autry 

My career began accidentally, when I picked up a camera and began shooting friends, who then showed some of my images to their friends , who happened to be booking Agents for modeling agencies. Judy Fontaine in Los Angeles was instrumental in pushing me to become a fashion photographer. I learned lighting  from greats like Peter Gowland and Mario Casilli, to name but two.

Mario Casilli - Google Images

Hugh Hefner and Peter Gowland - Google Images

I was out of the business for many years, becoming successful in other professional endeavors. When the opportunity arose however, I came back to my true love and passion. Today, I work with clients whom I share an artistic vision with. My time is also spent writing and painting (of which I'm also passionate about.)

Creatively I find that varying my surroundings and procedures is they best way for me to keep a fresh perspective. I paint traditional landscapes in oils, En Plein Air (outdoors.) For a change, I go into the studio and paint heads and figures. Photography began shooting Studio work, working with models and Agencies. A few years ago, I started shooting Events on location.

I began covering a wide array of events a few years ago, when Splash Magazine Publisher Lawrence Davis saw and liked a couple of shots I'd taken, and asked me to shoot for LA Splash Magazine. I enjoy sharing the creativity and art of others, and have also been working to research and write a book about the artist Julian Ritter.

Lawrence Davis Publisher with two unidentified models


This combination of factors has allowed me write articles and photograph people at events I enjoy, and to be able and share the creativity of others in my articles. The goal, simply put, is to help others promote and share their creativity. It my way of giving back to the creative community.

I offer a wide range of services and most importantly, I offer professionalism, a commitment to quality, and to providing the client with results that go far beyond their expectations. I provide budgets clients can depend on, and always, complete assignments on time.

Misty Copeland 


I am in the process of updating my old (flash) website, and converting into a blog format. Until then, I will share some older shots from my beginnings, images from events I have covered over the last few years, and simply some miscellaneous images I just happen to like.

Please contact me at greg@gregautryphoto.com and let e know how I can be of service

Thank You
Greg Autry