Meet this week’s top Realism Today Ambassador, Emilie Fantuz:
Emilie Fantuz is an American-Canadian artist known for her large-scale paintings depicting reflections and nocturnal urban landscapes. Her palette knife paintings combine technical elements of hyperrealism with an abstracted stylization that is distinctly her own.
Through reflected imagery and complex compositions, Fantuz investigates the perception of colour and light inspired by the beauty of everyday scenes. Her work has appeared in exhibitions in Canada, the USA, and UK and is part of both private and public collections.
Chinatown Reflections
The hyperrealistic oil painting “Chinatown Reflections” depicts a scene of everyday life, with the artist’s reflection captured in a window as they photograph the view. The painting captures the vibrant energy of the place and the artist’s connection to it.
The theme of reflection in the work refers to both the physical reflections in the window and the deeper, metaphorical reflections on the meaning and significance of the scene. The painting captures the light in a fleeting moment, preserving the artist’s memories and reflections of the place.
Fade Into You
This hyperrealistic oil painting, “Fade Into You,” depicts a scene of everyday life with multiple figures reflected in a window. The viewer can see through the window to the street beyond, while also seeing the reflection of the street behind them. The painting captures the vibrant energy of the place and the figures’ connections to it.
The theme of reflection in the work refers to the multiple layers of meaning and significance present in the scene. One of the figures appears to disappear into the reflection, inviting the viewer to imagine themselves in the scene. The attention to detail in the work encourages the viewer to keep looking, discovering new elements and layers. The painting captures the light in a fleeting moment, preserving the figures’ memories and reflections of the place.
Le Magasin
“Le Magasin” depicts a pair of glass doors with large brass handles. The doors reflect the figures standing in front of them, creating a sense of depth and movement in the scene. The artist’s exploration of light and perception of color is evident in the way the reflections and brass handles are depicted, with a carefully calibrated use of light and shadow.
The artist’s skillful use of these tools allows them to capture the reflective qualities of the glass doors and the gleaming brass handles, creating a sense of depth and detail in the painting.
These three works were entirely crafted using palette knives, giving them a distinctive textural quality and enhancing the realism and detail of the scenes.
Connect with the artist at www.instagram.com/emiliefantuz.
Related > Browse more palette knife painting techniques here at RealismToday.com.
Become a Realism Today Ambassador for the chance to see your work featured in our newsletter, on our social media, and on this site.
