Paul G. Oxborough-(b. 1965) American, began his studies at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design before entering a four-year apprenticeship at the Atelier Lessuer; a rigorous program that adheres to a stringent French academic tradition. Since his first New York exhibition in 2000, Mr. Oxborough has been the subject of numerous articles and reviews in such publications as ArtNews, Art & Antiques, Southwest Art, and CNN.

His awards include First Place in the Artist’s Magazine Portrait Competition, several Awards of Excellence from Communication Arts magazine and the President’s Award from the American Society of Portrait Artists. He frequently travels with his family throughout Europe and the United States for inspiration. The range of Mr. Oxborough’s subject matter seems unlimited and varies from intimate interiors illuminated by flickering candles to laconic landscapes drenched in the noonday sun to a child’s face touched by the first rays of morning light.

Our holy Father Gregory was born in Constantinople in 1296 of aristocratic parents who had emigrated from Asia Minor in the face of the Turkish invasion, and were attached to the court of the pious Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus (1282-1328). Despite his official duties, Gregory’s father led a life of fervent prayer. Sometimes as he sat in the Senate, he would be so deep in prayer as to be unaware of the Emperor addressing him. While Gregory was still young, his father died after being clothed in the monastic habit; and his mother for her part wanted to take the veil, but delayed doing so in order to take care of the education of her seven children. Gregory, the eldest, was instructed by the most highly reputed masters of secular learning and, after some years, was so proficient in philosophical reasoning that, on listening to him, his master could believe he was hearing Aristotle himself. Notwithstanding these intellectual successes, the young man’s real interest lay only with the things of God. He associated with monks of renown in the city and found a spiritual father in Theoleptus of Philadelphia, who instructed him in the way of holy sobriety and of prayer of the heart.
 
Bron: goarch.org

1 En na sommige dagen is Hij wederom binnen Kapernaum gekomen; en het werd gehoord, dat Hij in huis was.
2 En terstond vergaderden daar velen, alzo dat ook zelfs de plaatsen omtrent de deur hen niet meer konden bevatten; en Hij sprak het woord tot hen.
3 En er kwamen sommigen tot Hem, brengende een geraakte, die van vier gedragen werd.
4 En niet kunnende tot Hem genaken, overmits de schare, ontdekten zij het dak, waar Hij was; en dat opgebroken hebbende, lieten zij het beddeken neder, daar de geraakte op lag.
5 En Jezus, hun geloof ziende, zeide tot den geraakte: Zoon, uw zonden zijn u vergeven.
6 En sommigen van de Schriftgeleerden zaten aldaar, en overdachten in hun harten:
7 Wat spreekt Deze aldus gods lasteringen? Wie kan de zonden vergeven, dan alleen God?
8 En Jezus, terstond in Zijn geest bekennende, dat zij alzo in zichzelven overdachten, zeide tot hen: Wat overdenkt gij deze dingen in uw harten?
9 Wat is lichter, te zeggen tot den geraakte: De zonden zijn u vergeven, of te zeggen: Sta op, en neem uw beddeken op, en wandel?
10 Doch opdat gij moogt weten, dat de Zoon des mensen macht heeft, om de zonden op de aarde te vergeven (zeide Hij tot den geraakte):
11 Ik zeg u: Sta op, en neem uw beddeken op, en ga heen naar uw huis.
12 En terstond stond hij op, en het beddeken opgenomen hebbende, ging hij uit in aller tegenwoordigheid; zodat zij zich allen ontzetten en verheerlijkten God, zeggende: Wij hebben nooit zulks gezien!

Tony Ryder (New York, 1957) studied at the Art Student’s League of New York, the New York Academy of Art, and at the Ecole Albert Defois, in France, with oil painter Ted Seth Jacobs. He was chosen by Mr. Jacobs to be his substitute at the New York Academy in 1986. He subsequently taught at the Art Student’s League, and has since taught painting and drawing in France, and in many parts of the United States. His work is based on a synthesis of observation and traditional painting theory. He works exclusively from life. His teaching method combines class demonstrations with individual critiques.