Johann Wilhelm Preyer was a 19th century German painter who specialized in still life of fruit and glassware, often in simple arrangements that allowed him to focus great attention on individual objects.

Preyer had a richly visceral approach. In good reproductions, you can get a sense of the immediacy and palpable textural quality of his subjects.

I particularly like his straightforward studies of leaves and small groupings of fruits, meant for his own study rather than as finished works. In some of the image sources, you will find drawings, occasionally of landscape, but usually of his favorite subjects.

Preyer studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and with Wilhelm von Schadow, but unlike most of his teachers, and the other members of the Düsseldorf school of painting — of which he was an early participant — he chose still life rather than figurative work.

Johann Wilhelm Preyer’s brother, Gustav was also a painter, as were his children Paul and Emilie. Paul chose figurative art, but Emilie Preyer took on her father’s subject matter and teaching, and to my mind, took them to an even higher level. (See my post on Emilie Preyer.)

Often when I feature a contemporary artist, I start by pointing out their geographic region, but plein air painter Patrick Saunder’s location might best be described as “America”, as he and his wife, photographer Kimberly Saunders, travel across the U.S. with an Airstream trailer, following the plein air circuit or going where the spirit takes them.

Partick Saunders participation in plein air events has garnered him considerable press notice and numerous awards.

He paints with an open, gestural style, that is laid on a solid grounding of traditional draftsmanship, some of which may come from his background in illustration.

I particularly admire his use of value contrasts, sometimes muted, sometimes dramatic, and the way he adjusts his color choices accordingly. There is always a sense of the immediacy of the light, whatever its nature, in Saunders’ compositions.

Saunders occasionally teaches classes and workshops at various locations.

There are some interviews with the artist archived in the Press section of his website.