Let's Get Real!

“Let’s Get Real!”

Realist Paintings by Gallery

Artists

“Let’s Get Real!”

April 1st - 30th

Meyer Gallery is pleased to introduce an experience that blurs the line between art and reality. “Let’s Get Real!” is an ongoing exhibition that boasts the execution of centuries-old techniques, blending Dutch Master virtuosity with contemporary creativity. Driven by a passion for authenticity, our artists infuse humor, drama, and power into their work. The dedication to representationalism is evident in the artists’ ability to portray unexpected beauty in the ordinary.

225 canyon road santa fe, nm, 87501

The term realism in art emerged in the 1840s by French novelist Champfleury, whose friend, the painter Gustave Courbet, exhibited the style in his work. At the time, the subject matter of realist paintings were mainly scenes of peasant life, city streets, cafes and places of leisure, and a growing candidness toward the body and sex. A certain grittiness defined the genre, with the middle and upper class audiences of art responding with shock. Broadly today, realism can be thought of as “a more general stylistic term to forms of sharply focused almost photographic painting irrespective of subject matter,” as described by Tate.

Strong examples include early Pre-Raphaelite work such as John Everett Millais’ Ophelia. Hyperrealism and trompe l’oeil — the latter of which translates to “deceive the eye” and constitutes the optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a twodimensional surface — fall within this tradition.

Our collection showcases the versatility and richness of realism, offering viewers a glimpse into a world where art becomes a mirror reflecting the beauty found in our status quo. The resulting body of work is a testament to the enduring allure of realism, where tradition meets contemporary vision, and each stroke tells a story that resonates with the shared human experience.

michele AMATRULA

Michele Amatrula has a voice and vision unique amongst contemporary photorealist painters. Using skills honed during decades as a leading professional illustrator, she depicts small glimpses of unexpected beauty in everyday life. Her work stands out for both it’s unexpected subject matter and exquisite portrayal of light and shadow. Amatrula embraces wear and tear, melancholy moments, and faded glory. In her capable hands, vintage bottle caps take on the evocative luster of the Dutch Masters, tattooed limbs reveal more truth than a conventional portrait, and antique household objects evoke nostalgia for a simpler time even as they recall the complex lives of their owners. Informed by the past, Amatrula’s precise paintings celebrate the perfect imprecision of the present, and remind us of the possibility of a joyful future.

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Fallen Soldiers oil 24 x 18 $3,600

bryony BENSLY

Born in Thailand and raised mainly in Hong Kong and England, Bryony Bensly experienced a multicultural upbringing, with artistic influences that ranged from Asian religious art to postmodernism. She had forays into installation art, made sculptures out of organic matter, and then circled back to her first love: drawing and painting. Bensly’s work is a juxtaposition of conceptual ideas and realism, manifesting in surreal imagery with a narrative that focuses on our internal and external life. Her current body of work focuses on our interdependence, responsibility, and attitudes towards nature and the environment.

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daniel CARO

Daniel incorporates paper figures in his compositions, breaking the pattern of traditional still life painting; this approach injects a sense of modernism into the classical realism of his compositions.

Memory oil 17.5 x 13 $3,900

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trish COONROD

I am a still life painter, particularly interested in fruit and flowers, the artist says. I enjoy exploring their colors and idiosyncrasies of form which can imply gesture and personality. Each object is unique, and the interactions between objects point to a story or dialogue. I’m an enthusiastic gardener and my paintings often include subject matter that I’ve grown.

-Trish Coonrod

Mixed Galdioli oil 16 x 20 $5,000

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jay DAVENPORT

Davenport’s strong foundation in representationalism has led him to paint the funny and humorous side of animals and how they differ, as well as relate, to human life. His view of the animal world allows us all to observe and even laugh at ourselves occasionally.

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Pony Boy (If I Were a Cowboy) oil 7.5 x 12.5 $3,600

natalie FEATHERSTON

Featherston works exclusively in the centuries old realm of trompe l’oeil, creating dazzling paintings that combine the virtuosity of a Dutch master with a thoroughly modern mind.

Artful beyond just illusion and trickery, they are truly masterful still lifes made with both craft and wit. - The Chicago Sun Times

Rocket Ray Gun oil on 3D panel 14 x11 x 2 $6,800

michael

GALLARDA

Gallarda’s paintings, although cutting edge in imagery and ideas, are solidly grounded within the traditional field of easel trompe l’oeil. To him, every image in the painting must fool the viewer’s mind or else – “it’s just a still life.” This strict commitment to the traditional requirements of the genre, combined with his skill, is what renders a Gallarda trompe l’oeil painting truly convincing.

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Pingere, Pingere, Omnia Pingere oil 11 x 9 $8,500

sherry JOHNSON

Sherry’s go-to medium is oil paint and she uses a brush instead of a palette knife. She’ll compose the image first, before starting the painting. She goes in with a drawing first that is really tight. Then comes in with a contemporary approach and start laying down the color. One of the recurring challenges Sherry faces is deciding what background color will go best with the skull. She wrestles with that quite a bit, sometimes it will get to a point where she will put the painting aside and come back to it with fresh eyes in a few days.

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Buffalo oil 34 x 30 $5,000

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joel CARSON JONES

Joel Carson Jones lives, teaches, and paints in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1975. With the work-ethic of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, he embodies a humble appreciation of simplicity, nature, and the friendships his discipline has fostered. Joel has established an international reputation for his Still Life and Trompe L’oeil paintings.

Fly Ball oil 10 x 8 $6,500

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Jhenna quinn LEWIS

“Elegant restraint” is a term that has been associated with Lewis’ painting style, which is strongly influenced by Japanese art. I am drawn to simplicity of color, style, and composition, says Lewis. My inspiration comes from Japanese masters such as Utagawa Hiroshige, Uta Maro, and Hasegawa Tohaku.

-Jhenna Quinn Lewis

It Was Not My Lunch oil 12 x 24 $7,800

jacob a.

PFEIFFER

Jacob Pfeiffer layers visual puns, humorous wordplay and idiomatic expressions into his tightly rendered still life paintings. Accurate and purposeful compositions reveal bold colors, seemingly tangible textures and juxtaposed patterns while the artist invites the viewer to decipher his mixed messages or underlying narratives.

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megan SEITER

My fixation with realism began the moment I picked up my first crayon. Like most children, my drawings consisted of simple stick figures and smiley-faces. I drew them by the dozens, transforming my house into a gallery of colorful artwork. My goal, even then, was to create pictures that would accurately represent the world around me.

-Megan Seiter

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Oceanic colored pencil & pastel 24 x 24 $5,800

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sarah SILTALA

Stillness and moments of quiet are the ephemeral influences in my work. Just as a bird alights only for a moment and then is gone, I try to capture that brief moment where the world stops for an instant and we are fully aware. Whether a still life or landscape, I am interested in capturing the most feeling with the least amount of busy mark making to communicate my vision. I prefer smooth surfaces and empty space to showcase the small details I want the viewer to focus on. I spend several weeks on each painting, patiently layering thin veils of oil paint to reveal a depth of color and luminosity that makes each work unique. This draws the viewer in to look more closely at its hidden complexity. I try to find balance in quiet, contemporary composition and harmonious color and texture.

Still Life with Blue Grey Gnatcatcher oil 16 x 16 $4,500

eric g.

THOMPSON

Eric 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 simple 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.”

Champion

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egg tempera 14 x 10 $3,900

kari TIRRELL

A self-taught artist, Kari Tirrell spent her formative years drawing people and animals in graphite, charcoal, and ink. She won her first award in an art contest at age 11. After many years of drawing, Kari changed direction and started painting abstracts in acrylic, selling her work to collectors around the globe. She eventually returned to realism, and acrylic became her medium of choice.

Kari’s work has been juried into many regional, national, and international exhibitions, and has received numerous awards. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, and is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society, and is a Distinguished Pastellist with the Pastel Society of the West Coast.

Birds of a Feather acrylic 24 x 30 $18,000

adam VINSON

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa in 1978, Adam Vinson began his artistic training studying commercial illustration at the Luzerne County Community College and continued his studies thereafter under the tutelage of Anthony Waichulis. Upon finishing the Waichulis Studio curriculum, he enrolled in the historically prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Using the styles of trompe l’oeil and contemporary realism, Vinson reflects a balance of contemplation, humor and irony in his work. He believes that, for him, representational painting is the best direct route to forming both a visceral and cerebral connection with the viewer.

He maintains a rigorous exhibition schedule in venues around the country and has been featured in numerous publications including American Art Collector, American Artist, Southwest Art, Stroke of Genius and American Arts Quarterly. In 2009, Vinson was the recipient of the third place award in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.

anthony WAICHULIS

My painting efforts still remain as steadfast and focused today as they have when my journey began. I continue to teach and lecture privately, at academic institutions, and at various art associations throughout the country. My desire to learn and grow as an effective representational Trompe L’oeil painter remains unfettered. I aspire to honor those I follow and strive to give benefit to those who may one day follow me.

-Anthony Waichulis

Natura oil 30 x 24 SOLD

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slade WHEELER

After years of study in anatomy, composition and two-dimensional design, he began the extensive study of past Masters. Over time Slade discovered his love for the minute details and the use of symbolism that realism and Trompe l’oeil styles offer. His work is often laced with allegory and contemporary references, narrated by the use of everyday objects and icons placed in near-surreal settings. He remains dedicated to the traditional approach and close observation that is required for the precise execution of his paintings.

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Roughin’ it oil 9.50 x 7.50 in $3,500

Meyer Gallery

Meyer Gallery