(Daniel C. Chiriac, Still Life. Red Apples. 2013. 8 x 8. Oil on canvas.)
For the Red Apples still painting, the medium used was oil on canvas. The apples look pretty "ready-to-eat" fresh in the painting. There is no sign of aging or any evidence of decaying. They look like they were just bought at the supermarket and were placed on the table for this painting. On the artists website he noted he had trouble painting red objects but there isn't any evidence of his struggle. This makes me think the artist is older and a skilled artist. The apples take up a good portion of the piece. The artist used the placement of the apples effectively, where both negative and positive space is evenly balanced. The eye focuses on the apples when first looked at but, the apples don't overwhelm the piece, the viewer can look at it and focus on the other objects. The placement is aesthetically pleasing to look at it. To me, this painting makes me think of a house in the country and these apples are getting ready to be made into an apple pie. The painting gives me a southern cooking, cabin in the woods and old dog on the porch feel. I think i get this feeling because the artist could've placed the apples on a more modern looking table and it would've lost it's inviting tone because the lighting reflecting the browns on the table compliments the reds and yellows in the apples. There is a lot of lighting in this painting that gives the apples an almost whimsical feel. I think the artist intended this piece for any audience, it's pleasing to look at and apples are loved by pretty much every age group.
(Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts, Still Life. Vanitas. 17th century. Oil on canvas.)
For the painting Vanitas still life, the medium used is oil on canvas. This painting is pretty interesting because it appears as a whole completed piece and then what I didn't notice when I first looked at it; the painting appears to be a painting of a painting thats falling off its frame. The items used in this piece gives off an "ye olden times" feeling, even without looking at the century it was painted in because of the golden drinking mug, the candle and the items under the skull (I'm not sure what they are...) It's a bit of a morbid piece I guess you can say, the skull gives a grim look on the composition, but I think it's suitable for the time period. The two white dots in the background, whether intended or not, give the impression of eyes menacingly staring at the viewer. The objects used make me think the artist was well educated from a higher class family because the amount of gold in the picture, as well as the violin behind the skull. I get the feeling the artist is trying to portray what the higher class is like, it feels serious and I get an Edgar Allen Poe feeling. I'm assuming because of this, that the artist is an older gentleman. I'm unsure of the focal point because the eyes kind of dance around the painting. For me, they stop on the white "eyes", the skull and the piece of paper falling from the canvas, because there's a lot going on here and each item are filling their designated spaces fully. This piece feels more targeted towards an older audience rather than a younger one.
(Craig Shillam. Still Life, Sugar and Vice, 2012. Oil on canvas.)
For the final painting, the medium used is oil on canvas. On the artists website, he had an up close photo of his painting and the strokes he used were clean and compared to Van Gogh, thinly painted on the canvas. Even though the main focal point is the gumball machine, it doesn't overtake the rest of the objects. For example, when I look at this piece my eyes automatically go to the gumball machine, but when I keep looking at the painting, all the other objects create their own spot light and evenly add themselves to the gumball machine.The painting gives a whimsical feel, with how the artist picked the objects, the way the lights reflects and how colorful the painting is. The quality of the piece makes me think the painter is older but how the composition is makes me think the artist has kids of his own or even grandkids. Not to mention, the painter could be representing his inner child through the piece because of his color choices. I have a feeling the artist intended this piece for kids of all ages. There is no age restriction and it's effective for any audience.Though painted realistically, I get a comical pop art feel from this because of how gumball machines make me think of when I was a young girl but also the cute torn note at the bottom of the painting that says, "I love this :) ." I thought this effectively creates a painter to viewer relationship, it makes the piece more inviting and personal. The way the items are placed, also use both positive and negative space evenly. It's not too clustered, even with the gumballs on the table and it's not too empty because of relationship the items give each other. What really helps create a narrative for this piece is the relationship each item has. All items include a stand out color; the note with the blue writing, the yellow gumball machine with the colorful gumballs, the shot glass with the pink paper, the cigarettes? with the pink logo and the table with all on the objects on time. Looking at the piece a final time made me think of my own childhood, for example the gumball machine could represent the child surrounded by adult items like the cigarettes and the shot glass. I get a feeling of growing up too fast in this painting, because that's what I had to do. It's like me still wanting to be a kid even though i'm well into my twenties now and can no longer have that sort of whimsy. The viewer can take it either way but the message can be a positive one of whimsy or a serious one of longing.
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