Daily Artsy Mixed Media Still Life

Botanic Modern: Jennifer Bain

One of the things I love about my husband is how excited he gets about wildflowers.  He is the manliest of men, but when spring arrives, he begins the hunt for perfumed beauties.  Our camera card gets filled with glorious specimens to remember and identify.  We joyfully observe butterflies and bees making their rounds, testing each bud.  Artist Jennifer Bain shares our fascination with the beauty that awaits just outside our windows.

Regeneration, mixed media on panel, 24×24

Like yesterday’s artist, Charlene Liu, Bain takes the traditional floral still life and reinvents it.  Each work may contain a few realistic portrayals of birds or flowers, but it is the juxtaposition of more contemporary, silhouetted elements and textile-like patterns that give these pieces post-modern punch.

Uphill Climb, mixed media on panel, 12×12

The simple linear shapes give the work a fleeting, unfinished quality which creates a beautifully dynamic tension between those and the more detailed elements.

Seekers, mixed media on panel, 36×48

Butterflies and birds flit across each piece, seeming to be drunk on loveliness.  Like the butterflies, I too, would love to dance among these beauties.

Pretty Bird, mixed media on panel, 36×48

Swallowtail, mixed media on panel, 18×24

To see more of Jennifer Bain’s work, please visit her website.  Oh and Jennifer is another artist represented by Skidmore Contemporary.  I told you they had great taste!

PS– Didn’t realize when scheduling these posts that I featured two floral artists within two days.  I’m interested to hear your takes on both!

Featured image is Seekers, mixed media on panel, 48×36.  All images are via the Skidmore Contemporary website.

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  • Impower You
    June 5, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    These are wonderful. I love the simple black sketches in the background. Great contrast.

    • Lesley
      June 6, 2012 at 8:38 AM

      Aren’t they? I, too, love the unfinished quality to some of them. Glad you liked them!

  • Artist Takeover, Day 3: Christina Baker « Artsy Forager
    August 1, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    […] themes or elements in a thought provoking and contemporary way.  Artists like Rachel Denny, Jennifer Bain and Brenda Mallory come to mind. The natural world is full of abstract shapes and textures, […]