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To gaze upon one of the still-life paintings of W. Charles Nowell is to encounter a visual contradiction. The artist's choice of palette is dynamic and vibrant, instantly engaging the viewer's eye in a dance of light and color. The compositions however, through their use of line and balance, provide a sense of stability and order. The combination of these elements conveys a feeling of beauty and elegance that is at once contemporary and timeless. Originally form Groveland, MA, W. Charles Nowell showed an artistic interest at an early age. He worked as an apprentice to Boston School artist Paul Ingbretson, where for years he pursued the kind of academic training that has been passes down from French 19th century painters such as Edgar Degas and Jena-Leon Gerome. He then spent a summer with New Hampshire still life artist Sidney Willis where his focus turned toward a more contemporary approach to color and composition.
Nowell now works directly from life and his process involves tremendous setup and a preparation time before even beginning his exquisitely detailed painting. Known for his attention to light, surface, and composition, Nowell has won many awards including the prestigious first place in the "Figure and Portrait" at the Copley Society of Boston.
Cranberry and Lemons
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Iris
"I think of my work as an idealized realism. My paintings are a careful balance between what I see in a nature and what I choose to bring (to) them from my own aesthetic sensibilities" W.C. Nowell
silver Creamer
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