Ian Sklarsky is an artist who creates blind contour portraits using pen, ink, and water color.[1] Inspired by how blind contour requires an artist to remain focused on the subject without distraction, Sklarsky’s ongoing series of artworks are drawn with just a single line and without looking at the sketch until finished.[2] Ian first learned the traditional method of blind contour drawing during a high school art class. By 2012, he had completed over 700 portraits spanning five years including life-size format group pictures.[3] His works have been exhibited in New York City fashion shows,[4] hotels,[5] restaurants,[6] and galleries.[7] In September 2014, Guest of a Guest named Sklarsky[8] as one of NYC's most creative power players – from the worlds of fashion, art, media and beyond.[9] Sklarsky’s drawings were featured throughout the 2015 Oslo Freedom Forum where he used his technique to draw live portraits of the event’s speakers.[10]
Ian Sklarsky | |
|---|---|
 Ian Sklarsky in Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Born | Ian Lee Sklarsky March 13, 1982 West Islip, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Years active | 2007 – present |
| Website | iansklarsky |
The Bernic Hotel in Manhattan commissioned Ian Sklarsky as mixed media artist-in-residence in 2015.[11] In spring of 2016, Sklarsky developed an adult coloring book in collaboration with Yotel featuring iconic New York City imagery.[12] In October 2016, TED (conference) invited Sklarsky to give a live demo of his style of blind contour drawing in Cape Town South Africa.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ Fazooli, Julie (21 February 2012). "Blind Contour Artist Ian Sklarsky". Abominable Ink.
- ^ Xiao Qi, Aqila (9 December 2015). "Artist Draws Whimsical Single-Line Portraits Without Looking At The Paper - DesignTAXI.com". designtaxi.com.
- ^ Day, Karen (14 February 2012). "Ian Sklarsky". Cool Hunting.
- ^ "#HerSource: Maison Jules Fashion Presentation". The Source. 4 September 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Nora (24 June 2016). "7 New Hotels in New York City". The New York Times.
- ^ "At Omar's Restaurant". www.plumevoyage.fr.
- ^ "David E. Peterson, Emil Alzamora, Gio Peter Black, HANKSY, Ian Sklarsky, Jeffrey Owen Ralston, John Wenrich, Matt Colagiuri, Olek, Shaun O'Connor "Outside The Box" at Krause Gallery | Artcards New York". artcards.cc.
- ^ "You Should Know: Ian Sklarsky". Guest of a Guest.
- ^ "New York | Guest of a Guest | YOU SHOULD KNOW NEW YORK". Guest of a Guest.
- ^ "Meet the Artists of the 2015 Oslo Freedom Forum | News | Human Rights Foundation". Human Rights Foundation. 15 May 2015.
- ^ "Hospitality Net - Urban Exploration Meets Global Inspiration at The Bernic". Hospitality Net. 9 November 2015.
- ^ Frank, Priscilla (10 March 2016). "'Blind Contouring' May Just Be The New Adult Coloring Book Craze". The Huffington Post.
- ^ "TEDxCapeTown 2016". TEDxCapeTown 2016 Programme.
- ^ "Ian Sklarsky". TEDx Cape Town YouTube Channel. 1 December 2016.