The Artist

The Artist

Artist Statement:

Monet described the landscape as something that changes in appearance “at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life.” When elements such as light and air move through the landscape, it leaves an imprint that forever changes its appearance. As someone who was Born in The Bronx, NY and living in Northeast Florida, I have grown to appreciate the beauty and the complexity of the American landscape, specifically the Southeastern coastal areas. As a landscape painter, I often spend time outside painting from life or taking photos of my subject. I am often amazed by the changes light has upon the sky, water, and foliage. The slightest change can have a substantial impact on how one views the same subject throughout the course of the day. The complexity of the landscape, with its colors, shadows, and twisting twigs are constantly changing, and can be used as an allegory of our ever-changing state as humans. The interconnection between nature and humans is what I seek to capture in my landscapes, still life, and portraits.

Artist Biography:

Vanessa Withun is a contemporary representational artist of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage originally from Bronx, New York.  Coming from an artistic family, she was always drawn to the arts. After serving in the military and moving to the Southeast, she developed an interest in landscapes and nature. She was inspired by the wetlands and marshes that surrounded the coastal area and decided to pursue a degree in environmental science.  Although her work is representational, she heavily relies on an intuitive process to which gives her paintings a sentimental and romantic quality. Her style is a combination of Expressionism and Realism and believes that both forms of art are necessary in order to achieve an aesthetic balance. She enjoys painting from life and using color and heavy textures to show the intricacies of form and the behavior of light. Although she focuses on coastal landscapes, she enjoys painting portraits and still life as well. Her work has been exhibited across the United States including with Oil Painters of America. She is also a recent recipient of the Art Ventures Grant in Jacksonville, FL.