| Bill Braun |
| Bill Braun "Trompe L'Oeil" |
| Bill Braun |
| June 9, 2004
- July 4, 2004 |
| 6;00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |
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June marks the 12th solo exhibition of new Trompe L'Oeil paintings by Bill Braun.
Over the past 12 years, Bill Braun's paintings have become a quiet cult favorite among Seattle area art collectors. These Acrylic on canvas paintings are unique combinations of amazing technical skill and sly humor. Unlike most Trompe L'Oeil painting which are still lifes of nostalgic objects, Braun's paintings appear to be children's collages of paper, staples, tape and photographs. But upon closer inspection the viewer finds subtle and sophisticated paintings.
Trompe-l’oeil (Fr. ‘deceives the eye’) A type of painting, usually STILL-LIFE, which by means of various ILLUSIONIST devices persuades the spectator that he is looking at the actual objects represented. Successful trompe-l’oeil occupies a very shallow space behind the PICTURE-PLANE, or actually seems to project beyond the picture surface
Trompe-l’oeil’s literal translation and intent are the same” “to deceive the eye”. Trompe- l’oeil’s historical citation starts with Pliny the Elder’s story of the painting contest between Zeuxis and Parrhasius in Athens, 5th century B.C. and classical examples had been discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
European Trompe-l’oeil painting peaked with the 17th and 18th century Dutch “vanitas” painting. American Trompe-l’oeil painting was very popular in the late 19th century, particularly works by William Harnett, John Peto and John Haberle. Some historians have claimed that Trompe-l’oeil influenced the American Pop artists of the 50’s and 60’s, such as Jasper Johns’ “Flag” (1955). The Abstract Illusionists of the 1970’s, James Havard, James Lembeck and Californian Joe Doyle assimilated on Tromp-l’oeil convention in more obvious ways.
Abstract Illusionism is for the most part how Bill Braun came to paint Trompe l’oeil. He began painting mostly geometric abstractions and started adding illusionist’s touches. Quickly the shadows and textures took over and soon came the staples and cut outs of birds, flowers and houses. While Trompe-l’oeil means to deceive the eye, the paintings of Bill Braun not only convincingly achieve that, but they also fool the mind adding to the illusion. When viewing a painting by Bill Braun, the viewer sees images in 3-dimension of objects easily seen in the past creating no conflict between mind and eye as to what they are (really) seeing. The success is remarkable and continues to amaze everyone who comes into contact with them.
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Fortune |
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| 14 x 14 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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Daisies |
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| 14 x 14 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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Day-Flyer |
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| 10 x 8 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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Difficult |
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| 10 x 8 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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Foxglove |
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| 24 x 37 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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Grapevine |
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| 23 x 21 Inches Acrylic on Canvas |
| Sold |
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