At the end of the 19th century, photography replaced most realistic painting. Artists still painted portraits, landscapes, and still lives, but they began to use abstract and non-representational styles to do so. In the 1970's, a few artists began to work in a style called Photo Realism. They used paints and brushes, but they saw their world through the eye of a camera lens. Many of their works are easily mistaken for photos.
Summer is the perfect time to showcase my next artist, Janet Fish. Janet is a Photo Realist that became fascinated with the way light played on the surfaces of her objects, reflected, and broke up into dozens of separate shapes. Her paintings seem to shimmer and glitter with an inner light. Her colors are vibrant and glowing, and the mirrored surfaces she paints seem to bounce the eye back and forth creating the illusions of movement in a static still life. But Janet doesn't paint 'ordinary' still lives as you can see:
Green Glass From Alexis
Janet worked so slowly that she had trouble painting things that didn't last, therefore the beautiful glass containers and dishes she used in her still lives became the perfect subject for her because they wouldn't decay.
August and the Red Glass
Here is a monochromatic painting that shows her luscious colors in a more subtle way:
Bird's Nest, Apple Blossoms
And finally, a painting that has more of a story to tell:
Monkey Business
Detail from Monkey Business
Here we have a 'path of destruction' perpetrated by a monkey--can you see him fleeing the scene in the upper left of the painting? The detail is interesting to look at so you can see how intricately detailed her painting is. There is not one solid color anywhere on any surface!
When I view Janet's paintings, they remind me of pitchers of lemonade, tinkling ice cubes, hot summery days, shady chairs on the deck, and lazy conversations with friends and family. Here's hoping you have a chance to enjoy summer Janet Fish style!