Sonia's Basement

Hiatus, again

Emma — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:03:15 +0000

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!

Vendedora de Cacharros/Pottery Seller – Oil on canvas – 30” x 20”

Emma — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:19:10 +0000

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

Vases, Still Life – Oil on Wood – 28” x 20”

Emma — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:36:41 +0000

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.

Bursting Flowers – Oil on wood – 28” x 20”

Emma — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:26:59 +0000

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.

One Village, Seven Mountains – Oil on canvas – 26” x 30

Emma — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:53:08 +0000

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

Still Life, Red and White Poppies – Oil on canvas – 24” x 20”

Emma — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:54:30 +0000

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

Black Woman, Seated – Oil on canvas – 27” x 19”

Emma — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:49:18 +0000

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

Stilt Houses by Moonlight – Oil on Masonite – 24” x 12”

Emma — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:46:33 +0000

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

Semi-Hiatus

Emma — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:24 +0000

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

What We’ve Been Up To

Emma — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:01:38 +0000

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.