Visual art (and the artists who create it) should be seen and not heard.

secondary (if contradictory) statement

My work is as much about an interplay of the flat painting surface with the illusion of three dimensional space as it is about the sensual beauty of the female form. Background and foreground trade places to challenge the viewer's preconceptions of where space should begin and end. Pictorial composition encompasses both time and three apparent spatial dimensions, as the viewer's eye is allowed to follow its natural course through various planes of focus. The figures themselves are lifelike, sumptuous and beautiful, sometimes playful, at ease with themselves and at home in their space, happily oblivious to the artistic and compositional machinations at work around them. Nudes are presented straightforwardly, neither shocking nor coy. The apparent simplicity of some of the images belies subtle levels of complexity that linger on the visual palate. A convincing illusion is created of a world which invites the viewer to enter, spend some time, look around, discover things not seen at first glance. In this kind of visual journey, one discovers that art can be stimulating rather than pedantic, enriching rather than morbid, transporting rather than reporting.

awards

Artist of the Month, January 2007, The Artist's Magazine (online)
Finalist (3 paintings), 2006 The Artist's Magazine competition, Portrait & Figure Category
Second Prize, International Artist Magazine 2006 "Favorite Subject" competition
Award of Excellence, 2006 OPA National Exhibition
The Pastel Journal Grand Prize Award, 2005 Pastel 100 competition
Artist of the Month, July 2005, The Artist's Magazine (online)
Finalist, 2004 The Artist's Magazine competition, Portrait & Figure category
People's Choice Award, 2004 Anacortes Arts Festival
Honorable Mention, 2004 Anacortes Arts Festival
Best of Show, Equinox Arts Festival, Everett, WA

solo exhibitions

Northwest of Eden, January 2006, Art Boutique, Everett, WA

group exhibitions

Unclad 2008 Stanwood, WA
Unclad 2007, Stanwood, WA and Portland, OR
Gallery Artists Holiday Show 2006, Gallery by the Bay, Stanwood, WA
"Honey, I Shrunk the Art" 2006, History of the World Fine Art Gallery, Camano Island, WA
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition, 2006, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
Oil Painters of America 15th National Juried Exhibition, 2006, Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
Unclad 2006, Stanwood, WA and Portland, OR
AB Group show February/March 2006, Sisters Restaurant, Everett, WA
Group show February 2006, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Anniversary Show 2006, Insights Gallery, Anacortes, WA
Art Port Townsend 2005 juried show, Port Townsend, WA
Delightful Darks 2005, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Arts Council of Snohomish County 15th Juried Exhibition, Everett, WA
Round 2005, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Seattle Erotic Arts Festival 2005, Seattle, WA
Unclad 2005, Gallery by the Bay, Camano Island, WA
A Wonder of Woman 2005, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Anniversary Show 2005, Insights Gallery, Anacortes, WA
Holiday Show 2004, Gallery by the Bay, Camano Island, WA
Honey I Shrunk the Art 2004/2005, History of the World Fine Art Gallery, Camano Island, WA
Big Picture Show 2004, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Petite Pieces 2004, Insights Gallery, Anacortes, WA
Anacortes Arts Festival 2004 Juried Show, Anacortes, WA
Summer Show 2004, Art Boutique, Everett, WA
Unclad 2004, David Maritz Gallery, Camano Island, WA
Sisters Restaurant Holiday Show 2003, Everett, WA
Golden Gallery, Snohomish, WA
Equinox Arts Festival Juried Show, Everett, WA
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Show, Edmonds, WA
Bellevue Arts Festival Juried Show, Bellevue, WA
North Light Gallery, Everett, WA
New York International Art Show

ArtQuest ®

All images on this site are copyright 1970, 1986, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 by John Vistaunet.

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