Cynthia Peterson
“The Luminous Object”
May 23 through September 7, 2008
West Valley Art Museum in Surprise is showing the work of painter
Cynthia Peterson. The 11 paintings are deftly nuanced portrayals of still
lifes containing many glass and shiny objects. Peterson uses watercolor
for most of the carefully composed renditions of the glowing and
transparent bottles, vases and bowls. However, colored pencil and oil are
used in several others. The largest of the works is 40 by 60 inches, a
watercolor entitled “Swimming in the Blue”.
Cynthia says of her approach to her art: “Painters such as Willem Kalf,
Zubarón, and Cotan continue to influence my work, as well as more
contemporary still life and figurative artists. I was fascinated with the
way these painters carefully rendered the effects of light upon reflective
surfaces. Throughout my art studies, I have felt compelled to
explore light and color in combination with these surfaces. As an artist, I
have an affinity for representational imagery. I look to both traditional
and contemporary interpretations of realistic styles. However, years of
study and work in design have had a definite impact and modernist
influences can be seen in my work. While the end result may be realist
imagery, the conceptual process is occupied with more formalist
concerns of visual structure: shape, space, figure/field, pattern, value
and color.”
Visitors will find her work fascinating to peruse as the myriad number
of objects her paintings contain have multiple overlaps and shade each
other as Peterson applies her considerable skills in presenting glass and
other reflective surfaces with authority and accuracy. By varying the
point of view the artist provides the spectator with extreme close-up or
an unusual overhead sighting. She asks the observer to explore this
world with her; the world of light & shadow, near and far, real and
abstract within the art. |
Swimming In the Blue
By Cynthia Peterson
Blue and Green III
By Cynthia Peterson |
