Shirley -- Naturalistic Still life of Pears --11"x14"

Comments by Hall Groat II regarding Shirley's Painting

This particular painting is rooted in the tradition of naturalism, a sensibility that is based on the intense observation of tonal relationships, merging values, and dissolving edges. Naturalistic painting is concerned with suggesting the actual mood and ambiance of the space, which is reflective of how we see as humans. This aesthetic ideology is fundamentally different from "realists" who are concerned with specificity and freezing time, as in a photographic snapshot. Naturalism is ephemeral, just as the human experience. Humans do not have the capability of focusing on multiple sharp edges at one time, similar to how a camera sees or a hyper realist painter mimics a photograph or creates a hyper reality.