I’m back in Annapolis for school, so Sonia’s Basement is on hiatus again. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop us a line at soniasbasement@gmail.com. Until next time!
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23
Jun 10
Vendedora de Cacharros/Pottery Seller – Oil on canvas – 30” x 20”
Dense and vibrant, this unique painting draws you in with its bold colors and lines. There are unexpected bits of delicacy, too, like the vendedora’s lace collar. Canvas shows some wear on close inspection. Plain wooden frame, 1/2” wide. Signed “Fornes”, dated 1957. $300
23
Jun 10
Vases, Still Life – Oil on Wood – 28” x 20”
Lovely on its own or paired with its sister piece. Colorful and unobtrusive, this piece packs loads of style. Another great wooden frame, this one 6” around. Indistinct signature, dated 1963. $450 by itself, or save a total of one hundred bucks when you buy both Bursting Flowers and Vases, Still Life for $900.
23
Jun 10
Bursting Flowers – Oil on wood – 28” x 20”
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Four bursts of color masquerading as flowers. Clearly the work of a very skilled artist; depth and definition are emphasized by the layers of paint and where the artist has chosen to achieve very fine linework by taking a knife and carefully scraping away some of those very same layers. Beautiful wooden frame 4.5” around. Indistinct signature, dated 1963, $450, or buy this together with its sister piece, Vases, Still Life, and get both for $900, saving you a hundred bucks.
21
Jun 10
One Village, Seven Mountains – Oil on canvas – 26” x 30
This work of outsider art is sure to cause a stir. The brightly-colored landscape will light up any room, while the number and variety of people pop against the background. Signed “Raymond Gallo”, this painting has a strip molded frame to maintain the integrity of the canvas without detracting from the painting itself. Some wear in lower right corner; frame in okay condition with some chips – because the color and style are both so bold, imperfections in the frame are not noticeable when hung on a wall. $200
16
Jun 10
Still Life, Red and White Poppies – Oil on canvas – 24” x 20”
The nature of an abstract still life means it is difficult to pin down the particular species, but I think they look most like poppies. I defer to any botanist who cares to disagree. Regardless, this painting has a lot of rich colors without being in-your-face or otherwise overwhelming. It is signed, but the signature is indistinct. The frame is a piece of art in its own right; measuring 5” wide, it is made up of dark blue-green corduroy and gilded wood. $230
16
Jun 10
Black Woman, Seated – Oil on canvas – 27” x 19”
An attractive young woman, eyes slightly cast down, gazes into the distance. Whatever she’s thinking about, it’s clearly serious, and not all about how her outfit coordinates nicely with the blue wall behind her. Signed “Jedon”, this painting’s strip frame means it is ready to hang in your living room, and there’s nothing to detract from the lush colors of the painting itself. $165
16
Jun 10
Stilt Houses by Moonlight – Oil on Masonite – 24” x 12”
The kaleidoscopic jumble of colorful houses crowding against the water can’t help but elicit a grin from the viewer. The stilt houses themselves are emphasized by the verticality of the painting, and the overall effect is dream-like and a little magical, perhaps because the sky and sea have become indistinguishable. Signed “Lake”, matted and framed. Frame measures 3” wide. $180
16
Sep 09
Semi-Hiatus
At the end of August, I returned to Annapolis to start my sophomore year at St. John’s College, which means Sonia’s Basement is on hiatus for a little while. I will be coming back to NJ about once a month, so if you have any requests (and a bit of patience) I’d be happy to hear from you and set up an appointment. Thanks for your support!
- Emma
18
Aug 09
What We’ve Been Up To
I leave for school next Tuesday so act quick — but I’ll also be coming back to Maplewood about once a month during the year if you see something you just need but can’t make it within the next week. Sonia has been teaching me how to clean and restore paintings, and here’s a picture of her showing me how to fill in canvas with polymer after patching a tear:
More paintings coming soon! And as ever, don’t be shy about dropping us a line.