Paintings That Are Truly Gems. Realistic Crystals and Minerals Rendered In Oils by Carly Waito.

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011

These amazingly realistic oil paintings on masonite by Carly Waito are really precious. Literally and figuratively. The small scale works range in size from 4.5" x 6" to 11" x 12' and impressively capture the way crystals and rocks reflect and refract light. Given the healing properties of many stones and minerals, these works have appeal in both their craft and subject matter. I'd like to own several of them and hang them together. As you can see, they sell quickly (almost every single one shown in this post is sold).


above: Dioptase, 2011 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2011 (sold)

above: Pyrite, 2011 (sold)

above: Bornite coated Chalcocite, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Flourite, 2011 (sold)

above: Vesuvianite, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Spessartine, 2011

above: Flourite, 2010 (sold)

above: Sphalerite, 2010 (sold)

above: Barite, 2010 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2010

above: Rhodocrosite, 2009 (sold)

The following three images represent some of her latest work and as you can see, she is exploring black backgrounds for some of her newer pieces.


above: Amethyst Mountain, 2012

above: Tektite, 2012

above: Dark Crystal, 2012

The following text is courtesy of Narwhal Art Projects:
In these works, diminutive specimens of semi-precious gems and minerals are rendered in meticulous detail, exposing the beauty and logic of their structural minutiae. Yet, beyond simple imitation, Carly Waito’s reproductions imbue further worth to objects that are naturally perfect: where each specimen inherently exudes an aura, Waito has both reiterated and enhanced it. The result is a reverent homage to nature’s marvel, the faculty of humankind and the unconditional value of their synergy.

Through curating minerals, photographing them in macroscopic detail and rendering them in oil paints, Waito employs a layered process highlighting the ties between mimesis and levels of value. From the seemingly limitless depths of Smoky Quartz to the chromatic, reflective facets of Sphalerite, the geometry and beauty of each painted specimen speaks to the incredible complexities of nature’s design as well as Waito’s own facility. Each painting expands the infinitesimal traits of the artist’s tiny subjects, rendering them as detailed maps of an otherwise invisible geological universe.


About the artist:
Toronto-based artist Carly Waito was born in Manitouwadge in 1981 and raised in Thunder Bay. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, Waito co-founded the ceramic art and design studio coe&waito with Alissa Coe in 2005. The partnership is known for its elegant products and sculptural installations inspired by the natural world. As a painter, Waito has continued to pursue this inspiration, with a focus towards geology, geometry and ideas of wonder and curiosity. She has participated in a number of exhibitions, including Little Crowns (Dec 2009) , The Dazzle (Oct 2010) and Specimens (2011) at Narwhal Projects, and Plus 1(2011) at Sloan Fine Art in New York.

Purchasing inquiries please contact Narwhal Art Projects.

NARWHAL
2988 DUNDAS ST WEST TORONTO ON CANADA M6P 1X6
tel: 647.346.5317

Carly Waito

Two Different Artists Paint The Same Unusual Subject: Rubber Band Balls.

It may seem like an odd subject to you, but clearly not to artists Canadian Joanna Strong and Sandy Wilcox of the U.S., both of whom were separately inspired to paint a series of the same exact subject: Rubber band balls.


above left: Joanna Strong, A Joyous Voyage; above right: Sandy Wilcox, RBB#9

Painting them as a singular subject in the style of contemporary realism, Strong's paintings are slightly more photo-realistic with dramatic lighting and on a black background, making the bright colors pop. Wilcox's images of the same subject are painted in a smaller format, a little softer in execution and color and are featured on pale neutral backgrounds with soft shadows.

I have chosen to feature 14 paintings by each artist. I find both equally appealing and would love to own one of each.

Joanna Strong's Entanglement Series (sizes range from 16"x 16" to 48" x 48"):

A Joyous Voyage:

Birthday Party:

Climbing Trees At Sunset:

Gone Shopping, Back Soon:

Halleluia:

It's A Beautiful Evening:

Picking Wild Strawberries at The Beach:

Sail Away:

The News:

Undiscovered Country:

Up In The Airy Mountain:

We Could Be So Happy:

Wrapped Up:

all of the above paintings by Joanna Strong have been sold, to see more of her work, visit her site

Sandy Wilcox's Rubber Band Balls (sizes range from 10" x 10" to 20" x 16.5":

RBB #5:

RBB #6:

RBB #7:

RBB #8:

Rubber Band Ball #1 (sold):

Rubber Band Ball #2:

Rubber Band Ball #3:

Rubber Band Ball #4:

Rubber Band Ball #5:

Rubber Band Ball #10:

Rubber Band Ball #14:

Rubber Band Ball #15:

Rubber Band Ball #16:

To purchase one of Sandy Wilcox's Rubber band ball paintings, visit her site.

Drown The Dolls. Art Explores Women's Issues By Submerging Barbie Underwater.

Paintings and photographs of Mattel's iconic doll, Barbie, forcefully submerged underwater by artist Daena Title reflect her feeling of society's idealization of women, issues of body consciousness and the impossible, unattainable perfection that the blond, preternaturally endowed Barbie represents.


above: artist Daena Title in front of her painting, Big Doll.

In her series, “Drown the Dolls”, Title appropriates the iconic image of Barbie. With so many loaded connotations, she is the perfect muse. Inspired by childhood memories and adult hang-ups, viewers bring their own associations to the paintings. Title explains, “…[Barbie is a] 50 year old icon that women hate to love and love to hate…everyone seems to have their own Barbie story.” Each work in the series portrays Barbie fully submerged in water, seemingly drowning while maintaining her trademark composure. She is either floating alone or wholly dunked by a smiling young girl on the brink of pubescence; still a game, not meant to harm, but not entirely without malice.

Big Doll:


The images capture that most influential window in a girl’s life, not a little girl but not yet a woman and warily aware of the uncertainty of her own body and her future standing in the world. Barbie is an object that projects perfection – for some it is a beauty to aspire to, for others a beauty unreachable. Title approaches her canvas with formal compositions of refraction and reflection which mirror the way women have seen themselves reflected, for better or worse, in Barbie’s image: her constant smile, implausible waistline, her over-blonde hair. “The paintings literally shove her in our faces, the same way society shoves this ideal at us,” Title states.

Paintings

Smile:

Stockholm Syndrome:

Dirty Fighter:

Pool Witch:

Stage Five - Mourning:

Mikvah:

Dark Friends:

Sweater Doll:

Stop Worrying About The Wrong Thing:

Faith, Hope, Charity and Silicone:

She Said No:

Beneath The Surface:

Madonna Of The Dolls:

Gulliver Girl:

DADT:

Serenity Now and Fractured:


A figurative painter with an ongoing interest in women’s issues and contemporary social dynamics, Title’s series, “Drown the Dolls,” continues her long time exploration of concerns dealing with female body consciousness and girlhood, as well as present day ideals of physical perfection. Title’s fascination with feminist themes began while she was a high school student, coming of age at the dawn of the feminist movement. A drastic shift in her ideals would happen in her formative early high school years – literally one year a cheerleader, the next year a feminist. As an adult Title’s interest in larger social and global issues have dovetailed with her constant examination of women’s roles and representations in society to expand her creative voice. While still deeply rooted in the most basic questions of female identity, Title’s work invites deeper socio-political associations as well. For example, “Drown the Dolls,” carries on a theme of drowning that first appeared in Title’s work soon after 911. The dolls are a stand-in for a contemporary society loosing its footing, being adrift, and in some ways gasping for air.

Photos/Archival Prints
Please note that some of the following photographs have been slightly cropped to eliminate a watermark that detracted from the work.

Kryptonite Barbie:

FLY:

BFF:

Athena:

Happy Bride:

Honeymoon:

Bridal Birth:

Circle of Friends:

Shiny (cropped):

Silver Legs (cropped):


Images from her 2011 exhibit at the Koplin Del Rio Gallery allow you to see the scale of the paintings and photos:




Daena Title was born in Manhattan in 1957 and was raised in Long Island, New York. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and in Theatre Studies from Wellesley College in 1979, and lived in Manhattan until 1991. Title currently resides in Los Angeles and has shown her work in gallery and museum spaces since 1998, including recent group exhibitions at the Torrance Art Museum and the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. She has received critical praise for past solo exhibitions from the Los Angeles Times and the LA Weekly, among other publications. Title’s artwork resides in a number of prominent private collections.
information and many of the images courtesy of the artist and Koplin Del Rio Gallery

Daena Title

A special thank you to Scott Rench who knew, given my fascination with swimming pools and Barbie dolls that I was going to find this work fascinating.