April Issue 2001
Hundreds Crowd Richard James Galleries To See Artist Carl Brenders
Many of those who packed Charleston, SC's streets to celebrate St. Patrick's Day were drawn to The Richard James Galleries to meet the incredible artist who has dedicated his life's work to the celebration of nature.
Brenders, the renowned wildlife artist from Belgium, made a personal appearance at The Richard James Galleries. The event also provided the rare opportunity for the public to see several of his original paintings, which are seldom available, attracting collectors from near and far. Among the originals on exhibit were his three exquisite new songbird paintings: The Treasures of Spring, which included Gleam of Gold - Goldfinch, Spark of Ruby - Cardinal and Flash of Sapphire- Blue Jay. Painted as a triptych, each piece depicts a songbird in a blooming redbud tree. Art collectors purchased all three originals, as well as every available framed set of limited edition prints.
Those in attendance at The Richard James Galleries were especially struck by how personable Brenders is. Passionate about wildlife, he is an intense man who sees minutia that escapes the average viewer. Brenders' art allows one to see what he sees, exactly as he sees it - in comparison, everything else seems out of focus. Gallery Director, Beth Huggins, noted that many mistook Brenders' paintings for photographs, a common misconception. "They had nothing but praise for the artist," said Huggins. "They couldn't believe how detailed his work is, and many asked him, 'How do you see like that?' as he autographed their posters, books and personalized limited edition prints for them."
Brenders, one of the world's foremost painters,
is known for his photo-realistic style, as USA Today noted
when reviewing a book of his art; Wildlife: The Nature Paintings
of Carl Brenders (Abrams/Mill Pond Press). Time magazine
stated that the appeal of Brenders' art is the recognition of
the fact that his work is not photography, but "the work
of a clear, polished eye and a rock-steady hand."
Brenders commented, "I always looked at things differently
than other people. I noticed how shadows followed the relief of
the ground. For hours I could look at leaves and plants, turning
them around to see how their form seemed to change in every different
position because of the changing light. The white swan in the
park was not white at all anymore in late afternoon light, but
was full of creamy and blue reflections, sometimes very intense."
Brenders' appearance continues to generate interest in his work as collectors stream into The Richard James Galleries to acquire more of his limited edition art prints, published by Mill Pond Press of Venice, FL, since 1984.
For further information check our SC Commercial
Gallery listings or call Gallery Director Beth Huggins or Art
Consultants Mary Hoffman or Gina Lacivita at 843/577-9122.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
Subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts
from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts
Online, Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use
without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina
Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.