Precious Specimens: Carly Waito

Written by

in

,

So often, when we see gems & minerals, it is rarely in their natural state.  After they’ve been cut and polished and set, they seem to lose some of their inherent beauty and mystery.  Toronto artist Carly Waito pays homage to these multi-faceted marvels in her small, exquisitely detailed paintings.

Dioptase, oil on masonite, 10×9

Waito uses macrophotography to record the color and intricacies of each cluster, which she then translates into oil.

Flourite 2, oil on masonite, 10×12

Through a process of layering, she captures in paint the amazing depth and prismatic qualities that give gems their luster and appeal.  By isolating the minerals in their natural state, Waito celebrates their innate beauty.

Amethyst 6, oil on masonite, 8×9

The visual textures in these small works are simply stunning.  And by keeping the works small, Waito invites us in to look closer and really examine the tiny details that make each gem so precious.

Pyrite 2, oil on panel, 10×10
Smoky Quartz 5, oil on masonite, 12×11

To see more of Carly Waito’s work, please visit her website.

Artist found via The Art Stormer.

Featured image is Flourite 2, oil on masonite, 10×12.  All images are via the artist’s website.

Comments

2 responses to “Precious Specimens: Carly Waito”

  1. grosenberg Avatar
    grosenberg

    Wow beautiful! A number of my photoshop creations have started from pictures of gems subjected to various filters

  2. marcusbonnick Avatar
    marcusbonnick

    Wow!, beautiful pieces!