John Morfis

Secret Agent Cap Gun

2022

Painted from life in his connecticut studio, John Moris paints two metal oar locks. These tools are normally attached to the sides of a row-boat, and lock in the oars with which a sailor would row. Hanging fro a tiny metal nail, dangling from a small white thread, before an off-white, monochromatic backdrop. Framed in a simple black frame, as pictured. Frame dimensions are 24 x 20 inches. Painting dimensions are 19 x 15 inches. John Morfis was born in Glen Cove, Long Island in 1976. His humble beginnings made pursuing a career in art difficult and paradoxically necessary. Fixated on making things aesthetically pleasing, John made an extreme departure from his family life when he chose to base his life on art. Surrounded by mechanics, welders, and otherwise trade workers John had a tough time expressing his interest in a world much more utilitarian and much less expressive and impractical. With an extraordinary desire to be an artist and a grant awarded, John was able to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from the University of Hartford in 1998. While there John studied oil painting under American realist Stephen Brown. John’s first solo show took place in 2007 at the Ellen Traut Collection Gallery in Hartford, CT and was a near sell out. Since then John has had success up and down the northeastern coast of the United States working with various galleries and collectors. His work has also appeared in various group shows at the New Britain Museum of American Art in Connecticut. ARTIST STATEMENT Each painting, although a portrait of a tired hand...

A still life of an ushanka, a type of hat with ear covers. Personett's textured fur and wood table invites the viewers to feel as if they are in the painting. The frayed edges of the strings of the hat suggests this is a well-worn garment, loved for many years. Signed "Personett" lower right corner. Framed in a traditional black frame w gold trim. Framed dimensions: 17 x 15 inches Rachel Personett was born in Hawaii, but raised in Colorado. Being the daughter of a pilot she has always traveled extensively. She has studied part time at the Savannah College of Art and Design, The Angel Academy of Art, and finally settled on the Florence Academy of Art, graduating in 2015. In January 2016 she apprenticed the painter Odd Nerdrum in Norway for eight months. Rachel Personett works strictly from life, and enjoys the challenged of painting the ephemeral. Working from life provides the opportunity to travel around the world painting the ever changing people and landscapes. Artist Statement My mother had studied advertising in college, so she knew a lot about arts and good craftsmanship. She did talks at my elementary school each week and on a different artist. I remember being very moved by the images of Van Gogh and Andrew Wyeth. At the Florence Academy I really liked Sargent, Sorolla, Willard Metcalf, Henri Fantin-Latour and Velazquez. At Odd Nerdrums I gained new respect for Rembrandt and was introduced to other Scandinavian painters like Edward Munch...

Thompson's oil paintings of neon signage explore his appreciation for how these hand-made signs are built. This may be a result of the many years he spent as an equipment engineer in...

Glorious fun with food in this bold and colorful still life celebration where green, red, orange and yellow reigns, in this chili pepper scene from highly collectible American realis...