Still-Life Blue Tones Oil on Canvas by Edward Sotello

With this oil painting realised by the Californian artist Edward Sotello, we can clearly see on the right a glass, a vase, and some flowers placed on a table. On the left, a possible game carpet with the visual presence of a dice marked with the number 5. The artist delivers here a reflection on the impermanence of this life. Like a flower blooming today, withered tomorrow, it will leave its place to fruit, or not. To arrange objects thematically is to tell a story about life and to open doors to many interpretations, depending on the sensitivity of each.

The composition, the lighting, the blue, orange, and almost white colours, the texture, or the style don't offer any perspective in a geometric sense, but a precise application of hues and construction in two dimensions, as if the objects had been laid flat.
The "human figure" is absent and at the same time terribly present.

Edward Sotello is a graduate of Claremont University where he earned an MA with an emphasis on drawing and painting the human figure. He received his BFA from the University of Denver. There he studied ceramics and completed academic courses. At the University of Redlands California, he completed his secondary credential. As an undergraduate at Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles he took courses in life drawing, watercolours, and oils. He studied ceramics under Jim Stewart at Valley College, San Bernardino. He taught high school students art at Yucaipa High School for 33 years, has taught drawing at Valley College, San Bernardino, painting at Crafton Hills, Yucaipa, and watercolour at UCR Extension. At Patton State Hospital patients learnt art and crafts under his supervision. Among his awards are a first in both watercolour painting and oils at the Bakersfield Art Festival, third place for painting at Riverside Art Museum, and first at the MMM Show for acrylics. Also an Excellent Award for oils at the MMM Show at RAA. Currently, he teaches watercolour painting at RAA and has a good following of students. The subjects vary from flower painting, landscapes, abstract design, and portraits.

REFERENCE NUMBER: LU654312174492
PERIOD: Mid-20th Century
CONDITION: Good
MEASUREMENTS: Height: 21" Width: 21" Depth: 2"
COUNT: 1
MATERIAL: Canvas, Oil
CREATOR: Edward Sotello