21st Century and Contemporary More Art

Artist Comments
Artist Brian McCarty depicts a quiet rural home behind a red barn. Surrounded by a field of grass and autumnal trees, a car sits on the winding dirt path. "Everyday life is caught in a moment," says Brian. "Arriving home, or getting ready to leave home. A lazy afternoon." Just the type of subject Brian loves to paint.

About the Artist
Artist Brian McCarty paints idyllic landscapes and bucolic architecture. “Growing up in rural New Jersey, I’ve always found old houses, barns, and the countryside interesting subjects,” says Brian. Influenced by his mom who was a self-taught artist and art teacher, she encouraged Brian to pursue anything artistic. After graduating from Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art and earning his BA in Art from Thomas Edison State College, he worked professionally as a graphic designer in New York for the largest publishing houses in the country. A career that spanned thirty-six years. Brian has done comedy and sketch writing with the Groundling Theater, and worked in a few major feature films as an actor. To begin his process, Brian takes photos of his references with an iPad, crops the images to his liking, and paints directly on his canvas with a quick oil wash. Recently returning to painting full time, he converted a room in his house into a working studio. “I get lots of natural light, and listen to music and podcasts while I paint.”

Words that describe this painting: country, house, home, barn, farmhouse, farm life, country living, road, architecture, impressionism, autumn, oilpaint, architecture, impressionism, oil painting, green, brown

House and Barn...

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Inspired by a twilight he witnessed, artist Jose Luis Bermudez captures the setting sun on a natural landscape. Bathed in su...

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A slow-moving sea turtle swims with determination, balancing a cupcake on its head. It evokes feelings of solitude, peace, and joy. The artwork, painted over ...

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"Whether it's fall, winter, spring, or summer it's always time for some colorful birch!" exclaims artist Lisa Elley. A stand of vivid birch trees glows in a b...

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"A rich veil of coastal air hangs over a broad grassy path in this composition," says artist Jesse Aldana. "The golden haze tinges the afternoon with a brilli...

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A warm impressionist still life of pink peonies against a pink backdrop. "Soft, happy colors are what I envisioned," says artist Judy Mackey. "I created the u...

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A grey bird swoops past a dog and dives into a berry bush in artist Jaime Ellsworth's playful piece. The playful work captures the whimsical sense of their un...

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Artist Onelio Marrero paints a tender mother and daughter moment in a river. Created as a figurative study for a larger painting of the same setting. The subj...

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The fiery hues of the autumn trees contrast beautifully with the cool tones of the stream. The swift course of the water distorts the reflection of the gently...

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Artist Guigen Zha paints a realistic still life of lotuses in different stages of development. He props them on Chinese ceramic vases against a background of ...

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Rolling green hills unfold against mist-covered mountains in the morning light. Autumn trees adorn the landscape, casting long shadows on the vibrant field. T...

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Artist Tara Zalewsky-Nease painted this rhododendron forest scene en plein air in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Bold and gestural brushwork punctuates...

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Low clouds stretch across the evening sky and mirror perfectly on the lake's surface. Shades of purple and blue deepen into gray, signaling the arrival of night...

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The sky shines a brilliant blue on these rare warm January days. Sunlight bathes the landscape, casting shadows from the trees. Patches of golden grass peek thr...

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Artist Alana Clumeck demonstrates a contemporary image of a sturdy bison, central to a radiant sunrise. She pulls inspiration from a visit to her native homel...

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Artist Onelio Marrero captures this scene of a sunset's effects on a snow-covered trail near his home in northern New Jersey. The rich colors and textures of this painting, rendered in sensitive yet bold strokes, reflect the fleeting light filtering through the trees. Onelio works from a small oil study and paints the rest from memory.

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: woods, forest, trees, leaves, snow, winter, season, trail, shadow, impressionism, sunset, oilpaint, nature, impressionism, nature, oil painting, purple

Sunset on the River...

Artist Comments
A young girl sits at a park on a late summer's day in August, lost in a story of a compelling book. The strong afternoon sunlight highlights her hair and back. "I saw this girl sitting by the reflecting pool in Washington, DC", shares artist Faye Vander Veer. "I wanted the painting to be about her, so I obscured surrounding details and kept the brushwork loose. What was her story, what was she reading?”

About the Artist
Artist Faye Vander Veer seeks out moments with engaging narratives and captures them with an impressionist style. She describes herself as an observer of people living their day-to-day lives. Her goal is to offer viewers a look into her sensory memory while also prompting the beginning of a story. Faye always keeps her camera by her side, ready to capture reference material. "For me, each painting is an opportunity to explore my emotional reactions to the color and light I observe," says Faye. She enjoys being in her glass-walled studio surrounded by nature to inspire her creative process. When she is not putting paint on canvas, Faye can be found in nature, journaling or writing poetry. Her artwork has been showcased in both American Art Collector and Art of the West magazines.

Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, female, woman, girl, impressionism, impressionist, water, book, Manet, Degas, people, park, book, hair, impressionism, people, oil painting, brown

Young Girl Reading...

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"A thick layer of clouds begins to loosen its grip on the Malibu coast as the restless autumn sea besets a pier of stone," describes artist Jesse Aldana. Beam...

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The rear arbor and limestone pond of a historic mansion in Ringwood located in northern New Jersey. On the upper tier of the arb...

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Artist Robert Hofherr shares an expressionist view of rocky outcrops in the forest. Bold color, energetic paint application, and a simplified drawing style he...

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Artist Ruth LaGue presents an impressionist black barn with a prominent pink roof. Inspired by the shapes and patterns of the landscape, she draws the viewer'...

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The rising sun hides behind the trees, casting their crowns in a soft red glow. Cotton candy clouds drift across the sky, their reflections dancing on the tra...

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Artist Nava Lundy paints a young girl flying a bright yellow kite on a cloudy day. The impasto texture of the ethereal sky builds atmospheric depth. Nava aptl...

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Morning sunlight covers the dining room table with a warm, amber glow. The flower arrangement of orchids and willow rests prominently on the table, with a bra...

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Artist Suren Nersisyan shows an inviting view of a vineyard that draws the eyes further towards a scenic mountain range lining the distance. Rows of grapevine...

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A lush expanse of lavender fields in Provence, France. Artist Janet Dyer depicts this countryside view with varying shades of violet perfectly balanced by the...