I’m a sucker for furniture. I love the mixture of function and design. And paintings of furniture? Well, those hold a special place for me as I went through my own “chair” phase while I was studying painting in college. So when I spotted the work of Gabriel Fernandez at Guardino Gallery in Portland this weekend, he had me at hello.
Eichler Book on Table, oil on canvas, 24×36
Fernandez creates scenes using furniture as another artist might use human models. He sets the stage to tell a story, of a moment that just happened or is about to occur. His compositions focus on the beauty of the objects themselves, the lives that they have led.. maybe an interesting life in a public place or a spiritless existence in a warehouse.
Orange Chair In Front of Radiator, oil on canvas, 25×21
The artist seems to be exploring the relationship of the objects to their environment, as an important player in a larger scene. His use of light and shadow create a sense of emotion and mood, keeping the images from becoming mere still lifes, but instead imbuing them with a sense of story.
Coos Bay Laundromat, oil on wood, 14×19.25Green Chair With Three Suitcases, oil on canvas, 20×22 Green Chair With Three Suitcases, oil on canvas, 20×22
These are objects with soul, with personality, experience. A past, a present and a future.
Green Chair With Three Suitcases, oil on canvas, 20×22
To see more of Gabriel Fernandez’s work, visit his website. Or, if you’re lucky enough to be in or near Portland, OR, drop by the Guardino Gallery in the Alberta Arts District.
All images are courtesy of the artist’s website.
Princess Rashid
August 8, 2011 at 9:26 PMGreat post. At first, I wasn’t that moved by the work…I am not a furniture person.
But your writing made me give the images a second look and I began to see the work differently. This was the statement that grabbed me….. “His use of light and shadow create a sense of emotion and mood, keeping the images from becoming mere still lifes, but instead imbuing them with a sense of story.”
In taking a second look, I was really able to get that “sense of story”, Well done!
So thanks for sharing this wonderful artist, Gabriel Fernandez. I especially appreciate the painting, “Eichler Book on Table”.
You might also like to check (if you haven’t already, Chris Stott). http://christopherstott.blogspot.com/
Lesley
August 8, 2011 at 10:29 PMThanks, Princess! Sometimes I agonize over getting the words right and often wonder whether I shouldn’t just let the artwork speak for itself.. I appreciate that the words I wrote changed your mind about the work!
LOVE Christopher Stott’s stuff! Gabe Fernandez’s work definitely reminds me of his. Stott’s work has been all over the blogosphere lately, so I thought I’d let things cool down a bit before I featured him. 😉
Gabe Fernandez
October 25, 2011 at 5:53 PMLesley, I am having a reception for some new work of mine at Guardino this Thursday,OCT. 27th 6-9pm. Come by and say hi if you are in the neighborhood. -gabe
Lesley
October 25, 2011 at 6:21 PMHey Gabe! I would love to be there, but unfortunately am about 4.5 hours from Portland right now. But send me the info on the show and I’ll announce it on the Artsy Forager Facebook & Twitter feeds! Congrats and good luck with the new show! ( artsyforager@att.net )
All the best,
Lesley