Edith Cheever Dent work in progress oil on canvas

master still life artist - realism

JEANNE ILLENYE: Predominantly a self taught artist, Jeanne received her initial training at an early age through private instruction, later attending Ridgewood School of Art and Pratt Institute. Initially inspired by the Dutch Masters, Jeanne’s large classical still life paintings utilize a warm, earthy palette and elaborate, fluid compositions punctuated by strong contrasts. She incorporates signs of age into her work as a reminder of nature’s delicacy and transience. A perennial favorite that evolved into a platform for larger contemporary work is her “Little Gems” series, affording an opportunity for Jeanne to introduce new subjects presented in a typically American approach, pushing them right out front to the viewer in bold, simple compositions. It is with these paintings that Jeanne has joined the trend of contemporary realist masters whereby she utilizes the background space as support rather than incorporating into the whole elaborate, classical composition. This exercise in both simplification of format and intensification of focus continue to reveal lighter, more emphatic paintings that simultaneously retain a delicacy of touch and sensitivity of spirit for which Jeanne is recognized.

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