03.05.23 01:58 PM

                                       

 Adrian GottliebAdrian Gottlieb’s works have been exhibited at the Panorama Museum in Germany, the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and the Pasadena Museum of California Art, California. His paintings are in private and public collections throughout the United States, in Europe and Scandinavia including the renowned Wilton House collection in Wiltshire near Salisbury, England.Painting directly from life, Gottlieb assiduously avoids the use of photographic reference material or optical aids.Born and raised in Vermont, Adrian Gottlieb’s talent and observation skills were evident from early childhood. He worked from his imagination, from life, from rented taxidermy specimens, and copied 19th century zoological drawings and portraits, building an early foundation for the pursuit of representational expression.

By 15, Adrian had exhibited in the state capitol and been recognized by Vermont's Governors Madeline Kunin and Dr. Howard Dean. His painting of Abenaki Tribal Council members won second place in the Congressional Art Competition and was purchased by the University of Vermont for permanent exhibition.In 1993, Adrian was chosen a first place winner of the Young Inventors and Creators of America Award, sponsored by The Foundation for a Creative America; a Div. of the US Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright Offices. The award culminated in a ceremony and exhibition held at the Jefferson Building of the US Library of Congress in Washington, DC and a commendation from Vice President Al Gore.

Eager for training in more hands-on, applied drawing and painting, Gottlieb began investigating Atelier study during his freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University. He transferred to RIT where a major in Illustration allowed him to pursue realist expression. He enhanced his fine art education by attending Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy for three summer terms which earned credit toward his BFA.Under the tutelage of Charles Cecil, Gottlieb was first exposed to the near lost drawing and painting techniques developed from the Renaissance through the early impressionists.After attending an exhibit at La Specola museum, Gottlieb returned to the US to pursue independent study in gross anatomy and anatomical drawing through an arrangement between RIT and Rochester University Medical School. He earned his BFA (with honors) in 1998 and enrolled in the Intensive Drawing Program at the Florence Academy of Art. Within a short time he was invited to join the full Painting Program and studied with Daniel Graves and Simona Dolci. Both had studied under Nerina Simi at Studio de Nera Simi and had been inspired by their interaction with Italian realist Pietro Annigoni.

In the Atelier and Academy tradition, select advanced students typically serve as;instructors. Gottlieb served as an instructor in varying capacities from 2001 through March 2002. He completed his studies at the FAA, but remained at the academy through the end of spring term 2002. While many FAA core students stayed on for years, he left to focus on developing a more personal style which was leading him to strive for luminosity and a more "naturalist" interpretation of color.Gottlieb stayed in Italy, painting in his flat in a Tuscan farmhouse, and taught privately. In 2002 he was awarded the ARC International Scholarship Competition, which gave him the opportunity to study composition privately with long-time mentor Maureen Hyde.In 2003 Adrian was offered a private painting studio and teaching position with the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. During his two years as a faculty member at LAAFA, Gottlieb was the first to introduce Bargue drawing, Cast Drawing, life drawing (long poses), cast painting in Grisaille to the LAAFA curriculum. He taught drawing and painting in oil exclusively from the live model

Gottlieb left LAAFA in 2005 to open a private studio in Echo Park, California where he dedicates his time to his ongoing personal creative development, commissioned paintings and painting for gallery exhibitions. He teaches painting techniques two days per week.Viewing Gottlieb's paintings in person, one is immediately struck by the painterly quality of his work; imparting a life force sorely missing in flat, Photo-Realist work. While he has expanded his themes to include more landscape and still life, Gottlieb’s passion remains centered on figurative compositions.Adrian Gottlieb is first and foremost a professional painter. He offers highly personalized traditional training in a small studio setting, designed in the apprenticeship tradition, Gottlieb Studios & Atelier: Painting the Figure in Oils.