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THE INVENTION of the airbrush is attributed to American watercolorist Charles Burdick, who perfected it in 1893. He created his Aerograph, as he called it, for painting in watercolor. It [...]

DURING ART SCHOOL I thought I'd tried every conceivable medium, but one had slipped through the cracks. I'd never tried gouache (it hadn't even been mentioned by my instructors), and [...]

Gouache paint is opaque, unlike traditional watercolors, which are transparent. Gouache has a definite paint layer that dries on top of the surface or support, as opposed to transparent watercolors, which absorb into paper as a stain. PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR). [Extracted from the article]

As I was standing in front of a rack of magazines, the December 2009 cover of American Artist visually leapt off the stand and caught my eye. What a spectacular [...]

Thank you for the excellent October 2006 cover article on Gene McInerney ('Gene McInerney: The Delicate Engineer,' by John A. Parks). Gene is one of the finest landscape painters in [...]

CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) are critical determinants for cellular differentiation and cell type-specific gene expression. Their functional roles in osteoblast development have not been determined. We addressed a key component of the mechanisms by which C/EBP factors regulate transcription of a tissue-specific gene during osteoblast differentiation. Expression of both C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta increases from the growth to maturation developmental stages and, like the bone-specific osteocalcin (OC) gene, is also stimulated 3-6-fold by vitamin D(3), a regulator of osteoblast differentiation. We characterized a C/EBP enhancer element in the proximal promoter of the rat osteocalcin gene, which resides in close proximity to a Runx2 (Cbfa1) element, essential for tissue-specific activation. We find that C/EBP and Runx2 factors interact together in a synergistic manner to enhance OC transcription (35-40-fold) in cell culture systems. We show by mutational analysis that this synergism is mediated through the C/EBP-responsive element in the OC promoter and by a direct interaction between Runx2 and C/EBPbeta. Furthermore, we have mapped a domain in Runx2 necessary for this interaction by immunoprecipitation. A Runx2 mutant lacking this interaction domain does not exhibit functional synergism. We conclude that, in addition to Runx2 DNA binding functions, Runx2 can also form a protein complex at C/EBP sites to regulate transcription. Taken together, our findings indicate that C/EBP is a principal transactivator of the OC gene and the synergism with Runx2 suggests that a combinatorial interaction of these factors is a principal mechanism for regulating tissue-specific expression during osteoblast differentiation.

The article discusses the benefits of using the airbrush in painting and presents techniques that achieve unique effects with transparent watercolor, gouache and acrylics. It mentions three factors for determining the right kind of airbrush which includes the painting medium to be used and the needed flow rate of the paint. It offers a step-by-step demonstration of how an airbrush was used in creating "Heirlooms With Cherries," ways of mastering the four basic forms and some warm-up exercises.

The author offers basic information on the use of an opaque watercolor medium, gouache, to create realistic depictions of different still-life objects. He gives a brief overview, history and description of the water-based paint. He presents a demonstration in using gouache in painting glass, silver, old books and tapestry. He discusses how to apply the paint with an airbrush, the type of surface materials it can be painted on and the different palettes and brushes he uses. He then describes his painting and varnishing procedure.

The article offers tips on painting objects made of silver. The author explains the technique she developed which involves working from dark to light and the ability of silver to provide freshness and dimension to a painting. The creation of several of her works including "Still Life With Gilded Mirror," "Still Life With Silver Goblet," and "Still Life With Cherries," is discussed. It also presents step-by-step instructions on how the author painted her work titled "Still Life With Blue Cloth."

The article focuses on gouache, an opaque watercolor also known as tempera or designers colors. Gouache has the same physical properties of transparent watercolor paint with the only difference of having a white additive included to make it opaque. Its several beneficial properties include its ability to dry quickly, having great covering power or opacity, and its precision and spontaneity on instances when the use of fine strokes are needed.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the essay on Luis Melendez titled "A Very Spanish Appetite: The Paintings of Luis Melendez," in the December 2009 issue, as well as in acknowledgment of the "American Artist Studios" periodical.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles published in previous issues including "Gene McInerney: The Delicate Engineer," by John A. Parks in the October 2006 issue and one on the subscription of a full-time painter to the art periodical.