Anfinson’s “Underglimmer” at Salt Island Provisions Gallery
Artist Eric Anfinson is more comfortable painting on large canvases, as demonstrated by more than 12 years of exhibiting his work locally and nationally. But on Saturday, March 21, from 7- 10 pm, the artist reveals a series of small oil paintings on linen-primed panels at Salt Island Provisions Gallery –paintings that have challenged the artist to a new level of growth and understanding in his work as a painter.
“It has been a practice of being uncomfortable and patient,” says Anfinson, whose distinct figurative style tends towards vibrantly saturated oil paintings on very large stretched canvases.
“Underglimmer” veers from this in its exhibit featuring 17 new paintings – the largest 20’”x 16” in size and the smallest 12” x 9”. And yet, though the paintings may represent a smaller space in size, the world they present create a “much larger intimacy,” says the artist.
Indeed they are dreamy and ethereal, invoking an essence of timelessness.
“All the moments are very quiet,” he offers. “They do more with less.”
Canvas size is not the only directional shift the artist has taken. While the artist’s signature style is certainly recognizable, if his process looks different, it’s because it is.
In the creation of his works for “Underglimmer,” Anfinson consciously focused his efforts in being loose despite the smaller space, allowing for light to come through on the linen canvases and for the work to retain some rawness.
“Painters will especially appreciate this show because you can see more,” he says. “It’s not ultra polished.”
The effect is less saturated and remarkably fluid despite the tighter space limitations, a technique not especially easy for smaller works.
“When you have just oil and mineral spirits on the hard surface, it becomes a dance,” says Anfinson. “If you allow the traces of that dance to be seen without being too tight, it moves even though it’s still. There’s a pulse to it.”
Anfinson continues to paint subjects of people, but explains that they “are less about the individual than about a moment in space,” he says.
“The goal is universal appeal. That means something you can recognize within yourself,” he continues. “The subjects are simply the willing templates.”
His backgrounds are typically based on “an invented world” without losing hold of reality.
“Everything needs a touch of truth or people will see right through it,” he says.
Underglimmer will give us that and more.
Old and new collectors will not want to miss this exhibit that runs from March 21 through April 9 at the rustic pop-up shop and gallery on 830 Fleming Street. The paintings are perfect for tinier island dwellings, and the prices—relative to Anfinson’s larger works— are fairly small, too.
For more information, Call 305.896.2980 or visit EricAnfinson.com.