John Aiken Art

Jean Grimal is a true 20th century discovery. This breathtaking piece is a gorgeous example of his mastery as an artist. He beautifully creates chiaroscuro in this painting. The way the light touches the edges of the Chinese bowl and the grapes is an example of his skill in representing light. Jean Grimal (1942-1998) was born in the town of Tulle, France in 1942. Jean’s family moved to Paris when he was 8 years of age. After receiving a classical French education with studies in Latin and Greek, Jean Grimal entered the University to receive his Baccalaureate. He then attended Claude Barnard School for three years, when he received his Art Degree.  Upon completion Grimal taught art for seven years.  As Grimal’s own interest in formal painting and art began to possess him, the artist’s destiny changed.  In 1967 Jean Grimal stepped aside from teaching and pursued a career in professional painting and working as an illustrator in advertising.  As an advertising illustrator, Grimal worked with Lise Goldfard for more than 25 years at Studio 44 where they collaborated with major and important accounts, such as: Air France, Christofle, Peugeot, Lacoste, to name a few. At the same time he began presenting his formal paintings to galleries in Paris and Cannes, France and in London and Windsor, England.  Much to his surprise, Grimal found that his paintings were sought after by major art galleries and collectors throughout Europe.  After a number of years of being an important and successful art illustrator for these major accounts, he found himself having to choose between the two.  Fortunately for collectors, he chose to dedicate his life to the classical style of painting.  Jean looked at the simplest things in life through a microscope, where he could take the simplest object and depict the age of the fruit or the leaf. Jean Grimal received great pleasure from his work and painted for over thirty years.  As his style matured and became ever more perfect Jean Grimal truly reached the pinnacle of his career.  The artist’s methods were particularly distinguished when measured against his peers.  Grimal’s painting skill was distinctive and exceptional. Jean Grimal was known for his realistic trompe l’oeil and still life paintings.  The artist would carefully arrange the objects to form a satisfying composition.  By painting every shadow, highlight, and reflection within each composition Grimal brought mundane subjects to life.  His tight rendering combined with his attention to light and detail allowed him to blur the lines between illusion and reality, truly making his works one of a kind.  Grimal’s trompe l’oeil paintings consist of intricate compositions of cards, envelopes, photographs, paper of different materials and weights, backs of canvases, images of other artists’ works, kitchen utensils, pistols, and more.  Grimal had a talent for mastering these illusions that deceive the eye in his trompe l’oeil paintings.    No matter what genre Grimal was painting, tight, unperceivable brushwork characterizes his work.  The artist painted every crease and crinkle, every shadow and highlight, every detail.  By doing so, he was able to capture each individual surface texture of the objects in his paintings.  Grimal was also fabulous at depicting light in his paintings- often contrasting strong lights with strong darks, creating chiaroscuro modeling.  His still life paintings are reminiscent of Dutch seventeenth century...

HUBERT HENRARD (Belgium 1816-1898) Still Life with Cornflower and Harebells Signed l.r.: Hubert Henrard Oil on canvas Framed 25 by 20.5 cm., 10 by 8 in. (frame size 41.5 by 36.5 c...

Bennett Oates, Fine Quality English late 20th century Still life of wild flowers in a vase. Oates was an English painter of flower subjects during the last half of the 20th centur...

Beautiful Italian Still Life painting by unknown artist in the style of Giorgio Morandi. Oil on panel, measuring 16 1/8 x 22 inches. ca. 1960s Artist board and fixtures are Italian.

“White Cat” presents a quiet, contemplative moment centered on a simple porcelain cat figure. The artist uses soft, atmospheric brushwork and muted tones to evoke a sense of solitude...

Henry Schnakenberg Pear, circa 1925 Signed lower right Oil on board 12 x 14 inches Provenance The artist Kraushaar Galleries, New York Private Collection Cecelia Lord, Summerland, California Henry Ernest Schnakenberg...

Artist: Andras Gombar, French (1946 - ) Title: Still Life 1 Year: circa 1965 Medium: Oil on Canvas mounted to Wood, signed Size: 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 60.96 cm)

Francois Gabriel (French, 1893-1993), Still Life with Bouquet and Fruit, Oil on Panel, late 20th century, signed lower right, giltwood frame. Image: 29.5" H x 24.5" W; frame: 39" H x...

Oil on canvas Image size: 24 x 28 1/2 inches (61 x 73 cm) Contemporary style hand made frame This is an incredibly carefully executed work. On what appears to be a wooden ledge we see a plate of freshwater fish, possibly a roach, a copper pot, a larger terracota pot...

Zane York deftly walks the line between playfulness and profundity. Drawing inspiration from the inherent strangeness of the natural world, York imbues quotidian scenes with subtle e...

Robin Hextrum's (US based) "Crimson Petals" is an oil painting that depicts a vibrant red flower on a black background. This painting is sold unframed, but is ready to hang. Artist ...

Beautiful still life painting by California artist, John McCormick III. Romantic Autumn Collection, ca. 1985. Oil on wood panel, 4 x 7 inches; 6.5 x 9.5 inches in wood frame. Signed lower right. Minor scratches in varnish. EDUCATION 1980 San Francisco State University, CA, Teaching Credential 1978 University of the Pacific, CA, B.F.A. SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2020 Harris Harvey Gallery, Wild Life and Other Topics, Seattle, WA 2016 Harris Harvey Gallery, Clues and Fragments, Seattle, WA 2014 Lisa Harris Gallery, Visitation, Seattle, WA Elins Eagle-Smith Gallery, San Francisco, CA 2011 Julie Nester Gallery, The Land, Park City, Utah 2010 Lisa Harris Gallery, Recent Landscapes, Seattle, WA SF City College Art Gallery, New Landscapes and Portraits, San Francisco, CA 2009 Lisa Harris Gallery, Water Journey, Seattle, WA 2008 Anne Reed Gallery, Water Journey, Ketchum, ID 2007 Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Solo Exhibition, Montréal, Quebéc 2006 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA 2005 Anne Reed Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Ketchum, ID Lisa Harris Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Seattle, WA 2004 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA The Bolinas Museum, Solo Exhibition, Bolinas, CA 2003 Anne Reed Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Ketchum, ID Lisa Harris Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Seattle, WA 2002 Scott White Contemporary Art, Solo Exhibition, La Jolla, CA 2001 Lisa Harris Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Seattle, WA The Triton Museum, New Works by California Artists, Santa Clara, CA The Munson Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM DNFA Gallery, Landscape and Memory, Pasadena, CA 2000 Diane Nelson Fine Art, New Landscapes, Laguna Beach, CA 1999 Tercera Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Los Gatos, CA 1998 San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, Solo Exhibition, San Jose, CA 1997 Robert Allen Fine Art, Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA 1996 Robert Green Fine Art, Solo Exhibition, Mill Valley, CA 1995 Harleen & Allen Fine Art, Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA 1993 Harleen & Allen Fine Art, Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA 1984 Triangle Gallery, Two-Person Show, San Francisco, CA 1982 Triangle Gallery, New Work, San Francisco, CA SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2020 Harris Harvey Gallery, Fall Perspectives, Seattle, WA 2020 Harris Harvey Gallery, Provenance, Seattle, WA 2019 Harris Harvey Gallery, Summer Reflections, Seattle, WA 2018 Harris Harvey Gallery, Fall Focus, Seattle, WA 2017 Elins Eagles Smith, San Francisco International Art Fair, San Francisco, CA 2016 Harris Harvey Gallery, Winter’s Offering, Seattle, WA Lisa Harris Gallery, 31 for 32: Summer Salon, Seattle, WA Elins Eagles Smith, San Francisco International Art Fair, San Francisco, CA 2012 Lisa Harris Gallery, Plein Air Invitational, Seattle, WA 2010 Bolinas Museum, 22nd Annual Mini Show, Bolinas, CA 2009 Lisa Harris Gallery, 25th Anniversary Show, Seattle, WA 2008 Lisa Harris Gallery, Water Falling, Seattle, WA 2007 Triton Museum, Survey of Bay Area Landscape Painters, Santa Clara, CA, Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Los Angeles Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA Galerie De Bellefeuille, Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL Julie Nester Gallery, Group Show, Park City, UT 2006 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Art Chicago, Chicago, IL Galerie De Bellefeuille, Toronto Art Fair, San Francisco, CA Renee George Gallery, Small Scale II, Charlotte, NC 2005 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, SF International Art Fair, San Francisco, CA Scott White Contemporary Art, Palm Beach Art Fair, Palm Beach, FL 2004 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Art Chicago, Chicago, IL Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, SF International Art Fair, San Francisco, CA 2003 Anne Reed Gallery, Group Landscape Show, Ketchum, ID Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, Art Chicago, Chicago, IL Arcadia Fine Art, Art Chicago, Chicago, IL 2002 Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery, SF International Art Fair, San Francisco, CA Scott White Contemporary Art, Terrain, Telluride, CO Arcadia Fine Art, Summer International Invitation, New York, NY DNFA Gallery, Landscape Show, Pasadena, CA Diane Nelson Fine Art, Landscape Show, Laguna Beach, CA 2001 Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, Summer Salon, New York, NY Susan Street Fine Art, Solana Beach, CA Anne Reed Gallery, Reflecting on Surfaces, Ketchum, Idaho 2000 Lisa Harris Gallery, Millennium: Three Introductions Seattle, WA 1999 Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, Large Paintings, San Francisco, CA The Munson Gallery, New Gallery Artists, Sante Fe, New Mexico Diane Nelson Fine Art, Elements of Landscape, Laguna Beach, CA 1998 Robert Green Fine Art, Selected Gallery Artists, Mill Valley, CA Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery, Birmingham, England University of the Pacific, Alumni Exhibition, Stockton, CA 1997 Robert Allen Fine Art, San Francisco, CA 1996 Robert Green Fine Art, Mill Valley, CA 1995 Harleen & Allen Fine Art, San Francisco, CA 1990 United States Embassy, Selected Western Artists, Moscow, Soviet Union 1989 University of the Pacific, Alumni Show, Stockton, CA 1096 Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA 1985 Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS 2008 Djerassi Foundation, Alumni Winter Residency 2004 Morris Graves Foundation, Artist Residency 2002 Morris Graves Foundation, Artist Residency 2000 Karie Thomson Honorary Fellowship, Djerassi Foundation Djerassi Foundation, Artist Residency Year 2000, Woodside, CA Marin Arts Council, Individual Artist Grant 1998 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Award of Artistic Merit Marin Arts Council, Community Art Grant 1992 University of the Pacific, Alumni Fellowship 1986 University of the Pacific, Alumni Fellowship BIBLIOGRAPHY “Mitchell Albala and John McCormick,” Visual Art Source, review by Matthew Kangas, March, 2014 “Coast to Coast, Best of the West”, Southwest Art , May 2005 “Start your collection”, Southwest Art, June 2004 "The Studio Book" by Kathleen Riquelme & Melba Levick, Rizzoli Publishing, Nov. 03 “Artists offer two views of the landscape” Seattle Times, February 14, 2003 “Preview-John McCormick” Artweek, February, 2003 “Challenging Landscapes Expand Horizons” The Telluride Watch, May 31, 2002 “Following Their Bliss; John McCormick & Jan Gauthier” SFSU Magazine, spring, 2002 “John McCormick, Landscapes”, essays by Ron Glowen & Susan Hillhouse, Horsehill Press, 2001 “Bay Area Artist”, Southwest Art Magazine November, 2001 “John McCormick at Diane Nelson” Orange County Register, November, 2000 “Marin Artists Open their Studios” San Francisco Chronicle, May 2000 “MarinScapes Returns for 11th Year” Marin IJ, July 1999 “Designs by Joseph Escherick” Architectural Digest, August 1996 “San Francisco Best Bets”, SF Examiner, June 4, 1995 “Marin Open Studios” Marin IJ, May, 1995 “In The Galleries”, Marin IJ, February, 1995 “John McCormick at Harleen & Allen”, Northern CA...