A Passion for Painting Tchotchkes

Still Life PaintingTchotchke Series
Written By Christine O'Brien
 

Inspired by my surroundings, I am always looking for a unique or captivating subject that will become a concept for a series of work. Years ago, while on a jog, a sparkly reflection from an object at a yard sale, caught my attention. I stopped to admire the unique ceramic collectible. Immediately attracted to its nostalgic aura, its elegant form, my mind churned with excitement on how to depict its glistening nuances on a canvas. I finished my run and returned to the sale with money. To my chagrin, that little collectible was gone. At the time, my studio was among many resale and antique shops, so I began a quest to find formerly owned keepsakes as fodder for a series of “Tchotchke” paintings. Once acquired, I sketch ideas that are simple compositions with dramatic detailing. Sometimes I inflict a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor to bring life to these charming little knickknacks. Gallery-wrapped square canvases, these paintings evoke a feeling of boxed presents. An exclusive collection of second chances, Tchotchkes formerly valued as displayed decor, have a brand-new legacy in a beautiful painting.

 
Christine O'Brien

Christine’s proclivity to draw began at age five after helping her artistic mother render portraits of her siblings. She received a scholarship to study fine art at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she completed a rigorous program of classical instruction. During her junior year, Christine was selected as the sole recipient for an independent study in advanced experimental drawing and painting with Gardiner McCauley, head of the art college. Her final project, a five-foot square mixed media portrait was installed in the college reception area and published in the curriculum catalog. After graduating, Christine worked in her hometown of Chicago as a graphic designer and illustrator. Recruited to a large photography turnkey operation as a creative director and sales representative, she thrived in a career of both art and marketing. Christine moved west in the early 90’s, where she studied acrylic and oil painting at UCLA. Her affinity to paint the figure blossomed into a career as a portraiture artist. In recent years, she has drawn from both her imagination and surroundings to create imagery that combines her traditional training with a modern edge. These works include lone figures amid simplified landscapes, and enlarged depictions of secondhand collectables. She describes her work as scenes that capture a mood of beauty and contemplation. Christine lives and works in the Denver area and is collected throughout the US and abroad.

http://www.christineobrien.com
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