Combined Series Statement: Echoes of the Golden Age
This series is a contemporary homage to 17th-century Dutch and Italian still life traditions, reinterpreted through the vibrant lens of Northern California today. My goal is to capture the "painterly" essence of the region’s local harvest, using chiaroscuro and an oil painting aesthetic to explore the rich textures and dramatic lighting characteristic of the Old Masters. By bridging classical European disciplines with the modern Californian environment, these works invite viewers to find a sense of heritage and the extraordinary within our everyday surroundings.
The series consists of three pivotal works:
Chening California Coastal Still Life: A complex study of textures—metal, local fish, and citrus—translating the "pronkstilleven" tradition into the context of the contemporary California coast.
Abundance in Velvet: A focus on the seasonal bounty of the West, capturing the tactile contrast between translucent grapes and a vibrant, split pomegranate under the clarity of Californian light.
Sunflowers of St. Helena: This piece grounds the series in the specific terroir of Napa Valley, using a local wine crate to elevate simple flora into a study of place, light, and modern heritage.
