Nostalgic Candy

Acrylic on gessobord, 14 x 11"

Painting #219, 2013

I came across this candy jar at Chapters Book Store during the fall of 2012. It was priced at $15, but probably contained two dollars worth of candies. The art of presentation and packaging really caught my eye which compelled me to buy it. The translation in French of Nostalgic Candy for the Canadian market should be "Bonbons nostalgiques". "Friandises d'antan" translates to Treats of Yesteryear in English which sounds equally sweet. 

The art book that anchors the composition is one of those amazing Taschen indispensables written by Kerstin Stremmel. The frontispiece for Realism is Gumball XV (detail) by Charles Bell. The first time I witness a solo show by a Photorealist was Charles Bell at the Louis K. Meisel Gallery in New York City during the month of November, 1994. This is a nostalgic homage to Bell, the type of artist I technically aspired to become in the earlier stage of my artistic career.  At the time, it just seemed quite impossible to paint like that. The book itself is a general overview on Realism with the likes of Eric Fischl, Lucien Freud, Edward Hopper, Tamara De Lempicka, Georgia O'Keefe, Gerhard Richter, Charles Sheeler, Grant Wood among others and two more Photorealists- Chuck Close and Richard Estes. 

This painting will be part of the 15th Anniversary Celebration Group Show of the Elliott Fouts Gallery running from January 4 to February 6, 2014. 

Participating gallery artists also includes: Christopher Stott, John Karl Claes, Gale Hart, Susan Hoehn, Bryan Mark Taylor, Anthony Montanino, Joe Santos, Kathy O'Leary, Deborah Bonuccelli, Vito Antonio Ferrante, Sandy Delehanty, Samantha Buller, Gary Pruner, Philippe Gandiol, Susan Shoger, Kathrine Lemke Waste, Terry Pappas, Judy Nunes, Manuel Nunes, Teresa N. Fischer, Gregory Kondos, Micah Crandall-Bear, Vic Vicini, Bill Chambers, Randy Brennan, Tod Steele, Jeff Nebeker and Tim White.

photo provided of EFG

Elliott Fouts Gallery
1831 P. Street Sacramento, California, USA , 95811 
Phone (916) 736-1429 
e-mail: efgallery@sbcglobal.net

-SOLD

Glass Decanter at the MET

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 14 x 11"

painting #218, 2013

While my previous painting was inspired by a tumbler from the Museum of Modern Art Store, this one is from the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

During the final day of our escape week-end in New York City this past February, my wife and I had the immense pleasure of meeting Hyperrealist painter Cesar Santander who kindly gave us a quick tour of the highlights of the Met. We then parted ways by noon time and made our way to the American Wing Café for lunch before heading back to the airport.  The American Wing features the Charles Englehard Court, a grand multi-level atrium flooded with natural lighting which showcases sculptures, architectural elements, stained glass and art glass. The ground floor has amazing Tiffany stained glass murals.

The previous month, I had acquired an original Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrile glass vase for my own collection and was able to find similar pieces in an adjoining room which houses decorative art.

The decanter and glasses featured in my painting are attributed to Jersey Glass Company of George Dummer (1824-1862) and can be found in the upper level of the atrium. It was displayed behind glass, but my SLR camera was able to focus properly on the vessel and eliminated any kind of glare. I took the photo as a vacation snapshot, but when I saw the image of my PC screen, it had all the elements for an elaborate glass study. It is one of the most intricate imagery that I have painted thus far.

This painting is currently on exhibition in the Walking in a Winter Wonderland group show at the Fog Forest Gallery. 

To acquire this painting, please contact the 
Fog Forest Gallery 
14 Bridge Street, Sackville, NB. Canada
(506) 536-9000 or e-mail-gallery@nbnet.nb.ca .

-SOLD