Abend Gallery Still-life Paintings

Eric G. Thompson's "Slow Rise" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a red clay teacup steaming with warmth with a cast shadow on the silver background. About the Artist: Eric G. Thompson captures stillness. He captures moments. Whether he is painting in oil, egg tempera or watercolor, he is seeking to evoke a haunting memory, a lost feeling. In a fast-paced world of deadlines, obligations and busyness, Eric invites you into the peace that he has enveloped within this momentary glimpse in time. Believing that we all seek silence, without even realizing it, he implores you to dwell on something you otherwise would have overlooked, or have long-forgotten. Literally and figuratively, he sheds light into the attics of our lives, even if it is just to awaken a feeling buried deep within the viewer. A major influence on Eric’s work is the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, an appreciation of imperfection, age and patina, often referred to as “flawed beauty.” Balance and light are also key elements found in every painting he creates. Like the characters of the objects, figures and houses Eric paints, his technique has been refined through life experience. He is completely self-taught, and believes this process has led him to find a unique voice and vision, through perseverance, trial and error. A painter since 1989, Eric now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah and has been selling his work professionally since 2002. He paints from his travels and the treasures discovered along the way, and he chooses his medium based on the mood he wishes to convey. Eric will continue to paint, evoking our memories, shedding light on the beauty and solitude of ordinary moments once forgotten, now glorified before us in fluid brushstrokes. Eric seeks to find greatness in the most humble of subject matter, illustrated by Elbert...

Tracy Wall's "Flip Flop Trio" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts three pairs of sandals in teal, white and purple on a tan background. About the Artist: As an artist, Tracy Wall sheds new light on everyday life, inviting the viewer to see the familiar as if for the very first time. Working with a variety of subjects, Tracy paints interesting viewpoints with compelling value, color, and shapes. Appealing compositions are everywhere, and they make strong impressions from afar even before the subject matter is recognized. She loves to balance representational impressions with more abstracted compositions. Tracy has studied at the Art Students League of Denver under such influential artists as Michelle Torrez, Ken Velastro, Kevin Weckbach, John Lencicki, and Rob Gratiot while also participated in additional workshops from Sally Strand, Carol Marine...

Sybiline's (CAN based) "Afternoon Delight" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a Sphynx cat eyeing a pink teacup with milk and plate with a w...

Kelly Birkenruth's (US based) "The Genesis of Femininity" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a still life of two green granny smith apples and a halved egg shell in situ with a smaller than life bronze statue of a feminine figure. Kelly Birkenruth’s captivating paintings are in the style of contemporary realism while staying firmly grounded in the tradition of the Old Masters. She is able to pull the viewer into her paintings by interweaving emotion with a humanistic quality through her supreme handling of light. Through her portraits and still lifes she is able to evoke sensitivity and empathy, which in turn allows her to create images which transcend mere representation to capture the true essence of her subject. Kelly’s arresting compositions, draftsmanship, use of color and observation of detail allow her to create paintings with a timeless quality. After earning her degree from Pennsylvania State University, Kelly moved to southern California where she began a career as a fashion model. Her agency soon sent her abroad to Paris and Tokyo, where she spent the next several years modeling. When she wasn’t walking the runway, she spent endless hours in the great museums of the world, closely observing and studying the works of the Old Masters. “My time abroad, particularly in Paris, opened my eyes to the vast beauty and power of a great painting. After that I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of Fine Art” said Birkenruth. After returning to the States, Kelly studied at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles, CA. She then continued her studies through workshops and private study with renowned artists such as Daniel Sprick, Steven Assael and Jesus Emmanuel Villarreal. In the spring of 2019...

Seth Winegar's (US based) "The Crack of Dawn" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a white barn with a hay loft caught in the blue glow of the rising sun, as the dark b...

Clyde Steadman's "Cake" is an original, handmade oil pain ting that depicts a red velvet cake sliced in half with white frosting and red flowers. About the Artist: Clyde Steadman g...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Flower Farm," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a crop of flowers growing thickly as it spreads out along the ho...

Rachel Linnemeier's "All Dogs" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a purple Tamagotchi toy on a green background. About the Artist: Born in 1...

Rachel Linnemeier's "Purrfect Pet" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a yellow Tamagotchi toy on a pink background. About the Artist: Born in 1989 in rural Indiana, Rachel Linnemeier creates her figurative paintings in the medium of oil paint. In 2013 she completed her undergraduate BFA with an emphasis in Painting and a minor in Art History from Herron School of Art & Design in Indianapolis. She has studied in workshops with painters Alyssa Monks...

Please note: This painting will ship from the artists' studio in the Netherlands. Yvonne Melchers' "This Morning She Was Still Flying" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a common pigeon or dove laying face down on a concrete sidewalk. Artist Yvonne Melchers showcases her mastery of light and form in her sumptuously detailed paintings of subjects both intimate and universal. Whether painting a scene from her beloved North Sea Shore, the portrait of a strong but vulnerable young man dressed for the historical Siena Palio...

Brian Sostrom's (US based) "Pink" is an original, handmade acrylic painting that depicts a fluffy cumulus cloud floating above the landscape, glowing pink and purple from the sun. ...

Drew Young's (BC based) "Specter Boarder" in an original, handmade acrylic and oil painting that depicts a white orchid with a black background seen through...

Drew Young's (BC based) "Unclasp" in an original, handmade acrylic and oil painting that depicts a pink and white floral element with green leaves seen thro...

Natasha Isenhour's "Morning in the High Desert" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a sunrise that colors the clouds a lavender and yellow color as they swirl above th...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Storm Break," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a mountain cliffside overshadowing a cluster of Autumn trees lining the bank of a rocky str...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Lookout," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a rural farm building with a sloping tin roof nestled at the foothills of pine covered green mo...

Thane Gorek's (US based) "Songs from the Forest #1" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a giant tree, growing in the center of a stone courtyard, in the process of dro...

Hiroshi Sato's (US based) "Blue and Dog" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a miniature dog sculpture sitting on white vanity with a white...

Hiroshi Sato's (US based) "Mannequins" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts two white mannequins in a contrapposto stance with a sleek background of red, white and blue...

Rhonda Libbey's "The Beautiful Tree" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a grouping of lush patterned trees in situ with a vanity and mirr...

Calvin Lai's (US based) "Remover of Obstacles" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a still life of a black elephant statue and a metal Lord Ganesha statue...

Calvin Lai's (US based) "Predator and Prey" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a still life of bear shaped honey containers advancing t...

Calvin Lai's (US based) "Ninja!" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a still life of a miniature wooden mannequin, a ninja toy, and a blond haired girl figurine in sit...

Yana Beylinson's (US based) "Bodegon" is an oil painting that depicts a still of a kitchen counter stacked with a Pellegrino bottle, a pink spray bottle, a yellow pear, and a white m...

Thane Gorek's (US based) "Anaheim" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a green Anaheim pepper halved, so that it's seeds and core are exposed, with an indigo blue back...

Thane Gorek's (US based) "Habenero" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an orange Habanero pepper halved, so that it's seeds and core are ex...

Thane Gorek's (US based) "Red Bell II" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a red bell pepper halved, so that it's seeds and core are exposed...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Sleeping Giants," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an elevated view of a dense urban city packed with various architecture and buildings t...

Judd Mercer's (US based) "Transitory," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a view of the Chicago river and the many bridges that cross it into the urban center filled ...

Elena Burykina's "Halfway" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a woman with her hands folded and supporting her chin as she stares forward, her face cast in light and ...

Calvin Lai's (US based) "Let's Play Ball" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a still life of a plastic toy bear in situ with an apple and a wooden mannequin, all cast...

Narelle Zeller's "Cymbidium Orchids" is an oil painting that depicts four blush colored orchid flowers blossoming in contrast with the vivid orange back...

Narelle Zeller's "Cymbidium Orchids II" is an oil painting that depicts nine blush colored orchid flowers blossoming in contrast with the light grey bac...

Linda Tracey Brandon's (US based) "Gardenia on a Blue Table" is an oil painting that depicts a bouquet of blooming White Gardenias with leaves sit...

Linda Tracey Brandon's (US based) "Gardenia on Her Side" is an oil painting that depicts a blooming White Gardenia with leaves sitting on a white ...

Linda Tracey Brandon's (US based) "Oranges and China Frog" is an oil painting that depicts seven Oranges sitting on a white tablecloth with a gree...

Shan Fannin's (US based) "1972 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 M22" is an acrylic painting that depicts a closeup view of the grill of a baby blue 1972 Ponti...

David Shingler's (NC based) "Fishing Reel" is an oil painting that depicts a fishing reel with a freshly caught fish. Bio/artist statement: David Shin...

Emma Hirst (US based) "Clam Shells and Their Shadows" is an oil painting that depicts an interior still life with six clam shells laid out on a white surfac...

Patrick Nevin's (US based) "Quoting Sagan" is an oil painting that depicts a human skull situated with books and letter blocks, and other various object...

Patrick Nevin's (US based) "Vanitas with Marine Corps Coin" is an oil painting that depicts a human skull situated with an orange, a Marine Corps coin, ...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Entropy" is an acrylic painting that depicts an overturned blue glass jar with clock hands spilling out onto a white background. Bio: Josh Talbott grew up in suburban/rural Georgia in the southern US. His first work as a professional artist was in scenic painting and murals for various production companies. An attempt to deepen his well of possibilities led to New Orleans where as a street artist he sold works to people from all over the world before loosing everything in hurricane Katrina. With short stints in Santa Fe and then Los Angeles Josh arrived in the small coastal city of Los Osos, California where he lives and works today. His curiosity is voracious and interests are many, including scuba/ free diving, sailing, surfing, gardening, geology, rock hounding, rationality, AI, history, and philosophy. In his studio there is always an audiobook on, and outside of the studio there are all manner of activities making there way into his work. He has many private collectors scattered across the globe and murals in San Francisco. ARTIST STATEMENT We live in a time of extreme and accelerated change, growing complexity, and specialization. At every stage in our human trajectory from primitive beginnings crawling out of the sea to the present gauntlet of challenges, our thinking tools and their uses are central to the story of what it means to be human. My work is informed by a fascination with thinking tools and the effects of programming and environment through the different phases of life and our capacity for storytelling. My practice consists of constructing small-scale still life scenarios of toys and other artifacts of human development, then creating photorealistic acrylic paintings of these scenes. The work juxtaposes the familiar and playful with a contemporary, complex, adult world. While I am interested in the science of the mind, and what it means to be a human, my work seldom features the human form, focusing instead on the objects and items that are frequently left behind. As such, the subject of the painting becomes the viewer him or herself because their own humanity is ultimately what is revealed. My work honors toys as thinking tools for small people and the scenes depicted explore the ways in which the culture of our formative years leaves a lasting mark and continues to shape our storytelling. The plastic artifacts of my formative years carry memories of simultaneous confusion and wonder at the world around me. These are sensations and emotions still very much present in my life. What were your imaginings and dramas when you played with toys? Are you living them today? The multileveled still life paintings of familiar toys are bright and accessible and connect to the viewer's nostalgia and playfulness while provoking deeper insights into our current evolutionary, cultural, and technological moment. I place each little curio with care into meaningful relationship to their interlocutors and environment. The plastic dinosaurs often depicted are emblematic of childhood curiosities, of great wonder and speculation at past worlds and the depth of evolutionary time, and yet they are made of a material that illustrates our shortsightedness, a quintessential human quality that makes it quite possible that these plastic creations will outlast us all. I do my best to draw inspiration and resources from everywhere to build a visual language. In my divergent path I find the musical compositions and the story of composer, Philip Glass inspiring. The story of his devotion to his craft and his subsequent successes have encouraged and inspired me. I'm influenced by writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Sapolsky, and Yuval Noah Harari, the many books by Simon Winchester, Daniel Dennet, Robert Wright...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Half Spent" is an acrylic painting that depicts a empty honey bear jar reused as a piggy bank, half full of coins with a light blue background. Bio: Josh Talbott grew up in suburban/rural Georgia in the southern US. His first work as a professional artist was in scenic painting and murals for various production companies. An attempt to deepen his well of possibilities led to New Orleans where as a street artist he sold works to people from all over the world before loosing everything in hurricane Katrina. With short stints in Santa Fe and then Los Angeles Josh arrived in the small coastal city of Los Osos, California where he lives and works today. His curiosity is voracious and interests are many, including scuba/ free diving, sailing, surfing, gardening, geology, rock hounding, rationality, AI, history, and philosophy. In his studio there is always an audiobook on, and outside of the studio there are all manner of activities making there way into his work. He has many private collectors scattered across the globe and murals in San Francisco. ARTIST STATEMENT We live in a time of extreme and accelerated change, growing complexity, and specialization. At every stage in our human trajectory from primitive beginnings crawling out of the sea to the present gauntlet of challenges, our thinking tools and their uses are central to the story of what it means to be human. My work is informed by a fascination with thinking tools and the effects of programming and environment through the different phases of life and our capacity for storytelling. My practice consists of constructing small-scale still life scenarios of toys and other artifacts of human development, then creating photorealistic acrylic paintings of these scenes. The work juxtaposes the familiar and playful with a contemporary, complex, adult world. While I am interested in the science of the mind, and what it means to be a human, my work seldom features the human form, focusing instead on the objects and items that are frequently left behind. As such, the subject of the painting becomes the viewer him or herself because their own humanity is ultimately what is revealed. My work honors toys as thinking tools for small people and the scenes depicted explore the ways in which the culture of our formative years leaves a lasting mark and continues to shape our storytelling. The plastic artifacts of my formative years carry memories of simultaneous confusion and wonder at the world around me. These are sensations and emotions still very much present in my life. What were your imaginings and dramas when you played with toys? Are you living them today? The multileveled still life paintings of familiar toys are bright and accessible and connect to the viewer's nostalgia and playfulness while provoking deeper insights into our current evolutionary, cultural, and technological moment. I place each little curio with care into meaningful relationship to their interlocutors and environment. The plastic dinosaurs often depicted are emblematic of childhood curiosities, of great wonder and speculation at past worlds and the depth of evolutionary time, and yet they are made of a material that illustrates our shortsightedness, a quintessential human quality that makes it quite possible that these plastic creations will outlast us all. I do my best to draw inspiration and resources from everywhere to build a visual language. In my divergent path I find the musical compositions and the story of composer, Philip Glass inspiring. The story of his devotion to his craft and his subsequent successes have encouraged and inspired me. I'm influenced by writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Sapolsky, and Yuval Noah Harari, the many books by Simon Winchester, Daniel Dennet, Robert Wright...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Maneuvers" is an acrylic painting that depicts a green army man toy with a bright red hungry hippo and blue marble with random ...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Spring" is an acrylic painting that depicts a rubber toy duck trapped in a spring loaded mouse trap Bio: Josh Talbott grew up ...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Untitled at Sea" is an acrylic painting that depicts a small toy red piano floating suspended in a light blue sea background. Bio: Josh Talbott grew up in suburban/rural Georgia in the southern US. His first work as a professional artist was in scenic painting and murals for various production companies. An attempt to deepen his well of possibilities led to New Orleans where as a street artist he sold works to people from all over the world before loosing everything in hurricane Katrina. With short stints in Santa Fe and then Los Angeles Josh arrived in the small coastal city of Los Osos, California where he lives and works today. His curiosity is voracious and interests are many, including scuba/ free diving, sailing, surfing, gardening, geology, rock hounding, rationality, AI, history, and philosophy. In his studio there is always an audiobook on, and outside of the studio there are all manner of activities making there way into his work. He has many private collectors scattered across the globe and murals in San Francisco. ARTIST STATEMENT We live in a time of extreme and accelerated change, growing complexity, and specialization. At every stage in our human trajectory from primitive beginnings crawling out of the sea to the present gauntlet of challenges, our thinking tools and their uses are central to the story of what it means to be human. My work is informed by a fascination with thinking tools and the effects of programming and environment through the different phases of life and our capacity for storytelling. My practice consists of constructing small-scale still life scenarios of toys and other artifacts of human development, then creating photorealistic acrylic paintings of these scenes. The work juxtaposes the familiar and playful with a contemporary, complex, adult world. While I am interested in the science of the mind, and what it means to be a human, my work seldom features the human form, focusing instead on the objects and items that are frequently left behind. As such, the subject of the painting becomes the viewer him or herself because their own humanity is ultimately what is revealed. My work honors toys as thinking tools for small people and the scenes depicted explore the ways in which the culture of our formative years leaves a lasting mark and continues to shape our storytelling. The plastic artifacts of my formative years carry memories of simultaneous confusion and wonder at the world around me. These are sensations and emotions still very much present in my life. What were your imaginings and dramas when you played with toys? Are you living them today? The multileveled still life paintings of familiar toys are bright and accessible and connect to the viewer's nostalgia and playfulness while provoking deeper insights into our current evolutionary, cultural, and technological moment. I place each little curio with care into meaningful relationship to their interlocutors and environment. The plastic dinosaurs often depicted are emblematic of childhood curiosities, of great wonder and speculation at past worlds and the depth of evolutionary time, and yet they are made of a material that illustrates our shortsightedness, a quintessential human quality that makes it quite possible that these plastic creations will outlast us all. I do my best to draw inspiration and resources from everywhere to build a visual language. In my divergent path I find the musical compositions and the story of composer, Philip Glass inspiring. The story of his devotion to his craft and his subsequent successes have encouraged and inspired me. I'm influenced by writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Sapolsky, and Yuval Noah Harari, the many books by Simon Winchester, Daniel Dennet, Robert Wright...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Walter's New Pet" is an acrylic painting that depicts a small orange haired doll toy, Walter presumably, with a large blue toy ...

Josh Talbott's (US based) "Who's Driving This Thing" is an acrylic painting that depicts yellow scorpion appendages with the body of a black car having been released from a glass jar. Bio: Josh Talbott grew up in suburban/rural Georgia in the southern US. His first work as a professional artist was in scenic painting and murals for various production companies. An attempt to deepen his well of possibilities led to New Orleans where as a street artist he sold works to people from all over the world before loosing everything in hurricane Katrina. With short stints in Santa Fe and then Los Angeles Josh arrived in the small coastal city of Los Osos, California where he lives and works today. His curiosity is voracious and interests are many, including scuba/ free diving, sailing, surfing, gardening, geology, rock hounding, rationality, AI, history, and philosophy. In his studio there is always an audiobook on, and outside of the studio there are all manner of activities making there way into his work. He has many private collectors scattered across the globe and murals in San Francisco. ARTIST STATEMENT We live in a time of extreme and accelerated change, growing complexity, and specialization. At every stage in our human trajectory from primitive beginnings crawling out of the sea to the present gauntlet of challenges, our thinking tools and their uses are central to the story of what it means to be human. My work is informed by a fascination with thinking tools and the effects of programming and environment through the different phases of life and our capacity for storytelling. My practice consists of constructing small-scale still life scenarios of toys and other artifacts of human development, then creating photorealistic acrylic paintings of these scenes. The work juxtaposes the familiar and playful with a contemporary, complex, adult world. While I am interested in the science of the mind, and what it means to be a human, my work seldom features the human form, focusing instead on the objects and items that are frequently left behind. As such, the subject of the painting becomes the viewer him or herself because their own humanity is ultimately what is revealed. My work honors toys as thinking tools for small people and the scenes depicted explore the ways in which the culture of our formative years leaves a lasting mark and continues to shape our storytelling. The plastic artifacts of my formative years carry memories of simultaneous confusion and wonder at the world around me. These are sensations and emotions still very much present in my life. What were your imaginings and dramas when you played with toys? Are you living them today? The multileveled still life paintings of familiar toys are bright and accessible and connect to the viewer's nostalgia and playfulness while provoking deeper insights into our current evolutionary, cultural, and technological moment. I place each little curio with care into meaningful relationship to their interlocutors and environment. The plastic dinosaurs often depicted are emblematic of childhood curiosities, of great wonder and speculation at past worlds and the depth of evolutionary time, and yet they are made of a material that illustrates our shortsightedness, a quintessential human quality that makes it quite possible that these plastic creations will outlast us all. I do my best to draw inspiration and resources from everywhere to build a visual language. In my divergent path I find the musical compositions and the story of composer, Philip Glass inspiring. The story of his devotion to his craft and his subsequent successes have encouraged and inspired me. I'm influenced by writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Sapolsky, and Yuval Noah Harari, the many books by Simon Winchester, Daniel Dennet, Robert Wright...

Robin Hextrum's (US based) "Mega City Redux" is an oil painting that depicts a calm blue background with gold patterning interrupted with bright red and orange floral patterns and bo...

Skull and Tomatoes

Varying shoes lined up with blue background

Sugar container on counter top

Kitchen stove with pots and pans

Bird in still life

Bird perched on bowl of bones

Red bird with small toy car. Painted in trompe-l'œil style and sold unframed.

Kelly Birkenruth's oil painting "Help Has Arrived" depicts five tennis balls, one golf ball, and three golf tees suspended by string. About the artist: Kelly Birkenruth’s captivating paintings are in the style of contemporary realism while staying firmly grounded in the tradition of the Old Masters. She is able to pull the viewer into her paintings by interweaving emotion with a humanistic quality through her supreme handling of light. Through her portraits and still lifes she is able to evoke sensitivity and empathy, which in turn allows her to create images which transcend mere representation to capture the true essence of her subject. Kelly’s arresting compositions, draftsmanship, use of color and observation of detail allow her to create paintings with a timeless quality. After earning her degree from Pennsylvania State University, Kelly moved to southern California where she began a career as a fashion model. Her agency soon sent her abroad to Paris and Tokyo, where she spent the next several years modeling. When she wasn’t walking the runway, she spent endless hours in the great museums of the world, closely observing and studying the works of the Old Masters. “My time abroad, particularly in Paris, opened my eyes to the vast beauty and power of a great painting. After that I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of Fine Art” said Birkenruth. After returning to the States, Kelly studied at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles, CA. She then continued her studies through workshops and private study with renowned artists such as Daniel Sprick, Steven Assael and Jesus Emmanuel Villarreal. In the spring of 2019...

Kelly Birkenruth's oil painting "Everyone's Favorite Game" depicts a rock, paper, and scissors. About the artist: Kelly Birkenruth’s captivating paintings are in the style of contemporary realism while staying firmly grounded in the tradition of the Old Masters. She is able to pull the viewer into her paintings by interweaving emotion with a humanistic quality through her supreme handling of light. Through her portraits and still lifes she is able to evoke sensitivity and empathy, which in turn allows her to create images which transcend mere representation to capture the true essence of her subject. Kelly’s arresting compositions, draftsmanship, use of color and observation of detail allow her to create paintings with a timeless quality. After earning her degree from Pennsylvania State University, Kelly moved to southern California where she began a career as a fashion model. Her agency soon sent her abroad to Paris and Tokyo, where she spent the next several years modeling. When she wasn’t walking the runway, she spent endless hours in the great museums of the world, closely observing and studying the works of the Old Masters. “My time abroad, particularly in Paris, opened my eyes to the vast beauty and power of a great painting. After that I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of Fine Art” said Birkenruth. After returning to the States, Kelly studied at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles, CA. She then continued her studies through workshops and private study with renowned artists such as Daniel Sprick, Steven Assael and Jesus Emmanuel Villarreal. In the spring of 2019 Kelly...

Kelly Birkenruth's oil painting "Chocolate Choices" depicts a chocolate cupcake with whipped cream and a cherry on top, a small chocolate cake, a chocolate eclair, Hershey Kisses, M&Ms, and chocolate footballs. About the artist: Kelly Birkenruth’s captivating paintings are in the style of contemporary realism while staying firmly grounded in the tradition of the Old Masters. She is able to pull the viewer into her paintings by interweaving emotion with a humanistic quality through her supreme handling of light. Through her portraits and still lifes she is able to evoke sensitivity and empathy, which in turn allows her to create images which transcend mere representation to capture the true essence of her subject. Kelly’s arresting compositions, draftsmanship, use of color and observation of detail allow her to create paintings with a timeless quality. After earning her degree from Pennsylvania State University, Kelly moved to southern California where she began a career as a fashion model. Her agency soon sent her abroad to Paris and Tokyo, where she spent the next several years modeling. When she wasn’t walking the runway, she spent endless hours in the great museums of the world, closely observing and studying the works of the Old Masters. “My time abroad, particularly in Paris, opened my eyes to the vast beauty and power of a great painting. After that I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of Fine Art” said Birkenruth. After returning to the States, Kelly studied at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles, CA. She then continued her studies through workshops and private study with renowned artists such as Daniel Sprick, Steven Assael and Jesus Emmanuel Villarreal. In the spring of 2019 Kelly...

Jon Doran's (UK based) "Dark Cup on Grey" was painting in 2019 and it depicts a grey cup with an abstracted background. Artist statement: "I am interested ...