Author: Ava Ash-Waichulis

In an art studio setting, critique can often feel like a high-wire act. To be most productive, it often calls for a complex balance of openness and discernment, combined with honesty and kindness. At its best, critique isn’t a threat but rather a lifeline. It is not about tearing down but about building up. It offers a vital framework for growth, and most importantly, it is a communal act rooted in dialogue, trust, and the shared belief that we rise highest when we rise together. In a thriving educational environment, critique is more than a single moment. It is an…

Artist Mark McDermott continues to gain recognition on the national stage! His oil painting Old School (Oil on Panel, 9×12″) has been juried into the Salmagundi Club’s Fall Painting, Sculpture & Graphics Exhibition in New York City—one of the Club’s longest-running juried showcases, featuring works from leading contemporary realist and representational artists across the country. Earlier this year, the same painting earned First Place in the Richeson Small Works Show, underscoring McDermott’s precision and sensitivity in small-format composition. Old School reflects his command of form and atmosphere, qualities that continue to define his contribution to today’s realist tradition. To see…