ILLUMINATED FEATURES

PAUL MORIN

Paul Morin paints portraits that emphasize character.  By capturing a look of amusement, bewilderment or other quirky expression, often accompanied by some kind of prop, Paul delves into the personality of his subjects much like a candid snapshot  reveals the moment-specific projection of a person's inner thoughts.  Painted with silverleaf backgrounds, these large scale portraits capture all available light in their environment, emphasizing the dimensional qualities of Paul's realist style.

“In my exploration of the human figure, I try to bring movement, expression, and impact to the physical boundaries of the canvas. ‘Scale’ is a very important concept for me — not only the size of the canvas, but how the elements fit within the canvas. I strive for immediacy and monumentality in my work. A moment caught in time but also a timeless sense of grandeur. 

My use of color relies on nature but is never a slave to it. My technique is based on the old master techniques of 17th century Italian and Flemish painters. Though rooted in tradition, my work has the impact of contemporary painting. The figures confront — they meet the viewer half way (sometimes more than half way). Through layers of under-painting, I am able to bring a sense of movement caught, which brings life to the image — an impression that the expression will change suddenly, or a muscle will ripple. " ~ P. Morin

This Series of Baseball Paintings are an homage to our beloved 2110 S.F Giants finally winning the World Series. 

Like an old baseball card collector scouring through his collection of memorabilia, I began to collect pieces of history in the form of newspaper headlines, magazine promos and my own photographs. As the 2110 Playoffs began to unfold, I began to create mixed media pieces layered in collage and paint as visual relics chronicling the journey to the championship. 

In my artistic process, I give way to the graces of improvisation, putting down a background of intense orange and green color washes, tearing up and glueing in collage, as shapes and rhythms form into an abstract space. The figures anchor the composition as texture builds up and is woven in and out of the background . I delicately render the faces, blur edges and create transparencies so that the characters literally emerge out of their own history. Text and images of glory seep in and out of the baseball figures to show metaphorically that our inspirations lie in and outside of ourselves. 

Alitha Young

Painting is enthralling, exciting, and challenging. I love the vibrancy and richness of color and also the interplay of colors, combined with patterns, shapes and lines. Painting allows me to capture and express my feelings about the beauty and mystery of the world and the incredible colors and patterns that surround us.

My process involves building up many layers to create a heavily textured surface. I sometimes begin the process with a layer of modeling paste on primed canvas and then build up with progressive layers of paint, and papers, fabric, or other objects. I always start with a concept or design and then work intuitively from there, so that the painting takes its own natural course to completion. 

On exhibit until JUL 28

Nature inspired abstractions now on exhibit at NOVA 

 

 

 EBB & FLOW

 

Paintings by David Regan 

 

 

"Having spent most of my life in an urban to sub-urban environment I have a deep appreciation of nature and it is at the core of my inspiration as a painter. Throughout the bodies of work that I have developed there is a consistency in trying to capture that ineffable, emotional response one has while feeling connected to his or her natural environment. This connection, I feel, cannot be captured through realistic interpretation but rather through emulating the cycles, struggles, and harmonious conflicts ever present in the natural world through paint and composition. ?

In my series 'Leaves' the process for these paintings uses a single found leaf as the starting point for each. During this process I became interested in the natural structure of the leaf and equally natural breakdown of that structure over time; the most beautiful point in the cycle being its end. I saw the leaf as symbolic of the constant ebb and flow of life. I strove to extend this perception onto the surface of the painting to create a symbolic logic and balance with the paint surface that was simultaneously growing and breaking down.???

The 'Water' series in an attempt to capture what I find so intriguing, powerful and beautiful about water, particularly waterfalls or water in motion. What interests me about these paintings is how my interpretation of these natural settings has been influenced by my urban, pixilated, vector modeled world. I see them as an exploration of both organic and geometric understanding of space and form.?"  

David Regan

 

On exhibt through JAN 27, 2010

 

 

 

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Kathryn has shown her work on a national scale, from New York City to Hawaii, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City and St Louis in commercial galleries, university galleries, and non-profit community art spaces. Notably, she is a NEA Regional Fellowship recipient amongst other fellowships, grants and awards she has received. She has been written about by Alan Artner, Chicago Tribune and Raphael Rubenstein of Art in America and her work has appeared in the New York Times. Her work is included in numerous public and private collections. 

image:  'I Need I Want' 66 x 48 Oil on Canvas 2008

“I translate my exerience of nature… the life that is felt in the mystery of the moment into my art creations. Moved by passion to convey this experience continues to drive me. Getting closer each time is a reward ... and it is in this "trying" that true talent and creativity deepen. Sharing this talent becomes the gift to my clients ... and to myself.“ – J. Christman