Artists often select themes within their chosen disciplines, producing series of works with similar subjects. Daniel van Benthuysen, originally from St. Louis and now based on Long Island, NY, is exploring two themes that I find particularly interesting.
One is a series he calls “Rooftops” in which the edges and angles of rooftops form his compositions. Not only do the subjects make for interesting compositions in themselves, the series makes you want to pay attention to rooftops and edges that might otherwise be passed by as commonplace as you walk below them.
The other is a series of still life paintings in which the subjects are seashells. These provide an appealing assortment of colors, textures and interesting shapes, as well as presenting the opportunity to explore the effects of light through their translucent surfaces.
Van Benthuysen’s website includes galleries of those subjects, as well as additional still life subjects, plein air paintings and more. Many of the images are linked to larger versions.
There is also a selection of his small paintings for sale on UGallery.
