21st Century and Contemporary More Art

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Afternoon shadows stretch across the forest floor, casting deep greens against the golden yellow, orange and umber autumn landscape. Part of Nancy's signature...

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Artist Lisa Elley paints a kaleidoscopic autumnal landscape, vibrant with spirited flecks from her palette knife. Using her signature style, Lisa applies impasto trees with thick texture and gentle movement. The foliage sways with energy, suggesting a beautiful fall day in the mountains with the colorful changing leaves on display.

About the Artist
Artist Lisa Elley produces sweeping impressionist views and rich geographies with lush textures. Growing up on a little farm in New Zealand surrounded by rolling green, she became greatly influenced by her surroundings. This instilled a remarkable ingenuity in her leading her to pursue a fine arts degree at the University of Auckland. Passionate about experiencing new things, she moved to London, New York, Florida, and ultimately the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now resides. She works at her studio inside an old cannery in San Jose with perfect natural light, 30-foot ceilings, and infinite possibilities. She cultivates her skillful command with a palette that allows her to maneuver her artistic blade with fluidity. “I am drawn to them over brushes as they create an amazing sense of movement with the beautiful texture they evoke,” shares Lisa. An award-winning artist, her works have been represented by galleries all over the globe and have also been featured in distinguished publications. Lisa savors the quality time she spends with her family during her free time.

Words that describe this painting: autumn, forest...

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Artist Kira Yustak paints a bed of dandelions with two bumblebees hovering above. The airy flowers provide essential food to pollinators as the first blooms o...

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While visiting the United Kingdom, artist Onelio Marrero explored the Irish National Stud Farm, known for breeding thoroughbred horses. The farm boasts breath...

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Lily pads and lotus flowers float weightlessly on a pond. The vivid blues evoke a refreshing coolness, accentuating the vibrant colors of the aquatic plants. ...

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Early evening colors reflect on a peaceful lake, painting its surface with soft purple hues. Aquatic plants pick up different tones as they recede into the sh...

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Artist Elizabeth Garat has always felt an affinity with trees. She came upon this view on a long walk during the golden hour in Ashland, Oregon. A gentle bree...

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Vibrant dainty flowers burst from a colorful vase, filling the scene with an explosion of pinks, purples, and greens. The deep blue background brings out the ...

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A tall palm tree stands against an evening thunderhead, illuminated by the warm glow of the setting sun. Carefully blended colors capture the essence of the dra...

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"Common Ravens are a friendly lot, hanging around in large groups at an abundant food source or pairing off to wander as a couple," ...

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Sunlight filters through the dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on an allée. The trees form a natural corridor, leading deeper to the tranquil trail. Painted with a brush and palette knife, the scene's warm palette and rich texture evoke the soothing essence of a summer day.

About the Artist
Artist Janet Dyer...

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Sunlight filters through the fence and trees, giving the scene a warm and inviting glow. Yellows, blues, and greens evoke a sense of relaxation and tranquilit...

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As low-lying clouds blanket the surrounding hills, artist Onelio Marrero captures the tranquil allure of the Glendalough Monastery in Ireland on a rainy day. ...

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Artist Nancy Merkle shares that this painting was inspired by an adventure in rural Oregon. A small trail in the backcountry reveals a forest of pine and fir trees among rolling hills. Crisp light warms the golden hillside and pulls the viewer deeper into the scene.

About the Artist
Nancy Merkle's process begins with a glimpse of color, a flicker of light, a pattern, or a texture. Elements swirl in her mind for hours, sometimes days, sometimes weeks before a design clicks and is transferred to canvas. With the canvas in front of her, she works intuitively -- a mark here, a mark there, a little touch of color, a bit of texture -- until she is satisfied and declares the work finished. Currently Nancy's work leans toward abstraction; she doesn't paint the world as it is, but as she wishes it were. Bold colors and loose brush strokes are her goal. When she's not making art, Nancy travels the Pacific Coast with a bicycle strapped to the car and "curiosity in my back pocket."

Words that describe this painting: landscape, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, nature, forest, trail, road, woodland, hills, rural, outdoors, impressionist, pine, fir, trees, impressionism, landscape, representational, acrylic painting, green, yellow

Oregon Trail...

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"I was excited to be able to stay in the garden after closing time to paint the sunset over the marsh," shares artist Sherri Aldawood. She painted this view en plein air at Middleton Place...

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Artist Onelio Marrero presents an impressionist piece exploring ponds, koi, and goldfish—part of his ongoing series focusing on freshwater fauna. "Koi and Goldfish are considered lucky because, despite their bright colors attracting predators, they have useful survival instincts," shares Onelio. These fish take advantage of reflections of the sky and trees on the water's surface to hide from predators. Onelio capitalizes on the effects of the clear sky and silhouetted trees reflected on the pond to partially mask the exotic fish.

About the Artist
Artist Onelio Marrero paints impressionist city scenes of everyday life. He captures the romanticism of New York City, from the picturesque fountains in Central Park to a glistening city street on a rainy afternoon. He creates a sense of nostalgia and intimacy with his work, offering the feeling that you have visited this particular scene before. “Each play of light, each texture, and each movement of a figure can have a captivating effect on me,” says Onelio. He studied at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art where he mastered discerning color and values, giving his work a more spontaneous appearance. Onelio’s work is an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.

Words that describe this painting: koi, goldfish, water, pond, lake, swim, reflection, liquid, rocks, pebbles, animal, oilpaint, impressionism, impressionism, animals, oil painting, green

Hidden Gems...

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The artwork depicts the Nine of Pentacles card, symbolizing rapidly growing success, incoming financial satisfaction, and wealth. White bison figures represen...

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Waves crash onto the shore of the Central California Coast. Soft purple hues from the distant hills create a beautiful backdrop against the sun-kissed cliffs,...

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Sunrise. Colored clouds recede into space, dominating this painting looking upriver. This painting is done in oil on stretched canvas. It is sealed with wax...

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Artist Janet Dyer displays a sunny landscape of Provence, France. A scenic woodland stretches toward a grove of trees flourishing over the terrain. "This fiel...

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Onelio endeavored to convey our culture's modern fixation with our phones. "It seems that wherever we are, we feel compelled to 'stay connected' even at the e...

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Of this great voyage, Andrea Doss says, "She is a great adventurer of many lands, where she has seen a million places and times, a...

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"This is a view from the clearing of an 18th century stone house that belonged to my art professor at Gettysburg," says artist Jay Jensen. "The painting was i...

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Sometimes I paint objects that I think are "pretty." China, flowers, ribbons. Soft colors. It still needs a nice design. A center of interest. It has to stay...

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The last moments of daylight in a residential neighborhood. Woman walking her dog. Cool blues and purple in the landscape rest on a muted peach sky. Expressi...