Ben Fenske

"Summer" Neo Impressionist landscape of Fiat driving along Tuscan countryside

2023

Oil painting of lupine fields at Toro Park, in California. A sunny day makes a bright blue sky, which fades to white as it inches towards the horizon. Th...

Oil painting of beachgoers literally looking for shade from the sun on a beach in Laguna, California. Painted by award-winning plein air painter Carl Bretzke. Framed in a tradition...

Oil painting of a Maui Landscape. Painted en plein air at a graveyard, Bretzke titles this work humorously, "Dying to Stay in Maui". Two figures stand in a graveyard, on a Hawaiian ...

"Walking in the Vineyard" is a contemporary impressionist painting of a woman walking her dog through a Tuscan Vineyard. Framed Dimensions: 51.25 x 67 inches Ben Fenske (b. 1978)...

Sunrise on Nantucket Island Fisherman Gazing at the Sky 1929 Nantucket Sunrise, a Fisherman is gazing at the sky by James Francis Barker (American, 1872 – 1950). In the style of Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847 - 1917) was active/lived in New York, Massachusetts. Albert Ryder is known for Romanticism-pastoral landscape painting. Barker has a heavy impasto and extensive brushwork throughout and captures American Post Impressionism with this early sunrise on Nantucket Island scene. Image, 10.25"H x 14.25"W Signed "J. F. Barker" dated "3/29" on Stretcher bar verso Signed James F. Barker on Linen verso James F. Barker’s lineage traces back to eleven of the original Nantucket settlers. He was born in 1872 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of a railroad ticketing agent and a New Orleanian of Spanish and French extraction. His ancestors on his father's side included 11 of the 15 families who settled Nantucket in 1659. He graduated from Cornell University in 1893 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent another year studying Architecture at the graduate level. He briefly worked at D. H. Burnham & Company and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before switching to education, With a degree in mechanical engineering and graduate degree in architecture, his career was centered among institutes of higher learning. Barker was also a skilled painter and a talented photographer. Barker specialized in waterfront, wharf, and beach scenes. The artist exhibited his work during the summer months at the Eagle’s Wing Studio on Union Street, having named the studio after a steamer, which had been captained by his grandfather. James Francis Barker (1872 – 10 December 1950) was the second president of the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute, succeeding Carleton B. Gibson, from 1916–1919. He also pursued painting, pottery, metal working, and cabinet making. Gravestone in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket He was born in 1872 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of a railroad ticketing agent and a New Orleanian of Spanish and French extraction. His ancestors on his father's side included 11 of the 15 families who settled Nantucket in 1659. He graduated from Cornell University in 1893 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent another year studying Architecture at the graduate level. He briefly worked at D. H. Burnham & Company and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before switching to education, becoming Superintendent of the Manual Training Department at East Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1897. He left in 1904 to pursue similar positions at Grand Rapids High School and the Hackley School in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1906, he participated in the formation of East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio and served as its first principal. He married the former Kate Spooner in 1897 and raised one daughter. After being widowed in the late 1930s, he married Josephine M...

Sandra Pratt's "Impending Storm," created with oil on linen panel, is a captivating landscape painting measuring 8 x 16 inches (20.32 x 40.64 cm). This original artwork captures the dramatic atmosphere of an approaching storm over a serene landscape. Pratt's technique with oil paint creates a rich texture and depth, bringing the landscape to life. The painting showcases a dynamic sky filled with swirling clouds, contrasted against the earthy tones of the land and the shimmering waters. The use of bold brushstrokes and a muted color palette conveys a sense of movement and impending change, capturing the viewer's attention and drawing them into the scene. "Impending Storm" is an excellent example of contemporary landscape painting, blending realism with expressive brushwork. This piece is perfect for collectors who appreciate the beauty and power of nature depicted through skilled artistry. The painting is sold unframed and will require a frame to hang. We are happy to provide framing quotes upon request. This piece will add a touch of dramatic elegance to any collection, reflecting Sandra Pratt's unique vision and technical prowess. Artist Statement: My work is inspired by my emotional response to places I've seen and experienced. In particular, the contrasts of light and dark. I enjoy using a palette knife for the immediate bold statement it offers. I started painting as a young child and studied for a while at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago but ultimately decided to be a self-taught artist, My style of painting is called abstract impressionism. I work Alla Prima, wet into wet, not reworking a picture that has dried. I started using the palette knife to do color charts, then kept using it for immediate effects and fun texture. The challenge is making the whole painting cohesive enough in a single session, which can be a fun challenge working big!. I paint intuitively, and I enjoy painting landscapes best, scenes all people can relate to at a fundamental level, green fields in Ireland, Paris alleys, and little white barns. I'm drawn to old structures, falling down barns, fences, and houses. I love the sense of history, fragility, and secrets they exude. Artists I'm inspired by are Edward Seago, Kyffin Williams, Nicolai Fechin, and Sergei Bogart. These painters have a very particular style and handle of paint manipulation I find fascinating. My color palette has simplified over time. I've experimented with many colors; my basic palette is usually around seven colors plus white. I like creating color harmony, so the focus is on shape, composition, and edges, although colorful paintings have a place in my work. Overall, I intend to show my viewers simplicity in art and create transcendent experiences. My work has been exhibited at the Brattleboro Museum in Vermont, with the Allied Artists of America in NY, and at the A.R. Mitchell Museum and the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado. I'm from Chicago, IL, and currently live in the mountains of Colorado with my incredible husband, two kids, cattle dog...

Bold desert scene with Apaches on horseback by Marco Antonio Gomez (Mexican, 1910-1972). Three riders pause at the top of a hill with several riders trailing behind them. The desert stretches into the distance behind them, terminating in a range of mesas. The sunset is glowing behind the horizon, lighting up the bottom portion of the sky, with dark blue clouds hanging overhead. Signed in the lower right corner. Titled and signed on verso. Canvas size: 24"H x 30"W He was the pupil of his father, a famous Mexican portrait painter who moved his family to northern Arizona in 1918. There in quite untamed country, Marco rode and played with Indian children and learned about their culture. He studied at Chouinard's Art Center in Los Angeles and with Martin Syverston. Marco Antonio Gomez "Tony" was born in Durango...

1880s Century Original California School Oil Painting of Native Americans Fishing in Sierras by Ransome Gillet Holdredge Wonderful landscape of Sierra Mountains in Hudson River Scho...