Have you seen any artist that mixes simple and complex to create a perfect blend of technique and color, while instilling his work with a sense of spirit and a visible glow? No? Meet Dennis Wojtkiewicz. Born and raised in Chicago, he airbrushed and detailed cars for a living. His sojourn into painting was inspired by Bob Paulson, a professor at Southern Illinois University, who convinced him to apprentice for a year at the Paris atelier of Patrick Betaudier. He admits that Bob Paulson was the reason why he didn’t end up back in the Chicago working-class neighborhood where he was born.
Wojtkiewicz has carved a niche for himself by taking his still-life fruit and flower paintings to a different dimension. His works are beautiful and encapsulating. Whether you are a fan of art or not, his works which have a heightened approach to realism is guaranteed to leave you enchanted and yearning for more. From mouth-watering citrus to juicy watermelons, his painting encapsulates the fruit’s texture, form, and delicate details.
Talent doesn’t lie
His works are a testament to his incredible talent. His drawings and paintings have received extensive coverage, representing in major private and public collections across Asia, Europe, and North America. What’s more? His works have been shown across international art fairs in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Santa Fe, Palm Beach, Bridgehampton, and Taipei.
Wojtkiewicz paintings are themed around spirituality, relationships, reproduction, and the transitory nature of all things, and connect the viewer either with the sensual or the metaphysical. While he approaches art contemporarily, Wojtkiewicz admits that the literal interpretations of some of his paintings bothered him.
“I used to be a figure painter, but the literal read of the people in my paintings always caused me some consternation. Using fruit as a subject matter gave me much more latitude in constructing an image. I’m trying to approach a very accessible, traditional format (still life) in perhaps a more contemporary way—minimal in form yet very complicated in process,” Wojtkiewicz tells My Modern Met. [1]
All of his works are done with incredible detail that leaves each piece glistening as if a light is shining from the fruit’s flesh. Speaking on the painting process, Wojtkiewicz says each painting starts with a monochrome base and goes through up to ten passes before the end result is achieved. He admits that he often gets lost in the technical details of his paintings in a bid to ensure that it reflects all of the characteristics that have come to be associated with his works.
“When I began these paintings, I was interested in what the inside of the fruits revealed. The seeds and veins, and the translucent flesh and color changes, were intriguing. The more I focused on them, the more fascinating they became.“
“There are a number of elements in the visual undertow which can function as metaphor or serve to represent themes such as spirituality, relationships (or lack thereof), reproduction and, generally speaking, the transitory nature of all living things.When I go into the studio it is with the intent of imbuing the paintings with a living spirit and to realize something that will connect with the viewer on a sensual if not metaphysical plane.”
The Academic
A full-time professor at Bowling Green State University, Wojtkiewicz has taught drawing and painting in the School of Art since 1988. He apprenticed at the Atelier Neo-Medici in France under the tutelage of Patrick Betaudier between 1978 and 1983. He also received his M.F.A degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 1981. He has received two Ohio Arts Council Individual Fellowships
Speaking about the best part of being an artist, Wojtkiewicz, who likens making art to breathing, says that creating art has become a natural part of his life, one he couldn’t exist without. He adds that spending time at the studio to create a piece makes it worthwhile, but he also worries about the reception his works would receive, as it can be a heavy burden on some artists. [2]
His flower paintings are also created with the same incredible detail that gives his fruits a glistening look. Here are some works of this amazing artist. Enjoy.
Image credits The Mind Circle
References
- “These Incredible Paintings Capture the Delicious Details of Fruit.” My Modern Met. Emma Taggart. Accessed March 1, 2020.
- “ The Fruit of Wojtkiewicz’s Labor.” TWT. Accessed March 1, 2020.
- “Luminous Portraits of Sliced Fruit Glow Like Stained Glass Windows. The Mind Circle. Accessed March 1, 2020.
- “DENNIS WOJTKIEWICZ.” Wojtkiewicz. Accessed March 1, 2020.