Artists are always seeking or developing their style. I am no different. All of us strive for a recognizable consistency in our work. This has taken me years to find. And lots of painting. Lots of painting!
When I first began painting I wanted to paint only abstracts. I primarily used oils. Continuing studies in art history nudged me in the direction of realism, and a stint as a gallery manager of a wildlife art gallery pushed me over the line and farther away from non-objective painting. I became obsessed with the 17th century Dutch painting style and copied some of those grand paintings to understand lighting, placement and detail in the still life.
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| Abraham Van Beyeren (1667) "ostentatious" still life |
I even went so far as to paint an entire show of still life works in oils based on the Dutch images--dark backgrounds, emphasis on a group of flowers, play of light on surfaces. I learned much about consistency and style with that show.
A decade later I am still seeking, but remain focused on still life. A simplified, modernized still life. Acrylic. With the object in the middle of the painting or close to it. Maybe closer to Pop Art? It surprises me. This is why art is a lifetime pursuit.
Mona Vivar, "All American", 11 inches x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas
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