Light and Shadows on Objects

by Anthony P. Karan

July 1 - August 30, 2015

Gallery Hours

Monday-Thursday, 10 am - 4 pm

Artist’s Statement

I am drawn to stylized realism in paintings and, on purely aesthetic grounds, especially those that show spatial depth, and the effect of light and shadows on objects. As I learn more about sketching and painting, my concentration is on motivation, approach, application, composition, skills as a sketcher and painter, and on visual effects.

After more than a year of practice, last fall I attempted to paint complete still-lives. Previously, for a couple of years, I used graphite to sketch portraits on paper. Those sketching came after what seems like a lifetime of neglect, of being distracted from engaging in anything at all in fine arts.

The sketches on display here have brought me closer to regaining some of the artistic skills I believe I had a long time ago. I remember acknowledgements from some credible sources that I possessed versatile painterly skills. I believe what they said, and remember working with watercolor, chalk, pencils, oil pastels, and graphite on different kinds of paper and wooden boards. I don't have any of these works with me now; just these remnants of skills I manage to show.

I believe that sketching or painting still-life is an effective way to reacquaint with some of what were my skills. I chose to paint apples predominantly so as to keep my sketches simple, but I quickly realized that these evolved orbs with specialized encasings are more difficult to render in ways I intended. I have expanded my compositions by gradually incorporating other objects. So far the media of acrylic on canvas or paper has been sufficiently flexible for Chiaroscuro and for the complexity of my subjects.

From here I hope to go on to landscapes, and portraits. Thank you for visiting.

—Anthony P. Karan