Show Preview | RS Hanna: David Cheifetz

Fredericksburg, TX, September 1-30

David Cheifetz, Gold at Dusk, oil painting

David Cheifetz, Gold at Dusk, oil, 12 x 24.

This story was featured in the September 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine September 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine September 2012 digital download here. Or simply click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

“In this exhibition, I’m exploring atmosphere in both my still lifes and my cityscapes. My approach to these very different subjects is starting to converge, and it’s making my paintings stronger,” says rising star David Cheifetz (pronounced Chay-fitz). The artist says he’s becoming more specific and intentional in his cityscapes, placing more emphasis on focal points, and beginning to treat his still lifes as miniature landscapes, with a stronger sense of depth and distance.

David Cheifetz, Fortress, oil painting

David Cheifetz, Fortress, oil, 18 x 24.

More than 20 new pieces are on view this month at RS Hanna Gallery, which hosts a reception for the artist on Friday, September 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Among them is the award-winning FOIL THINGS, an exceptional example of Cheifetz’s willingness to take on fresh challenges. Using only a palette knife—something he’s doing more often lately—the artist quickly built up thick paint to replicate the foil’s crinkled texture on each object. Design elements and composition stand out in this subtly monochromatic arrangement, and the foiled surfaces provide a dramatic complement to the soft background and the white fabric. The chartreuse of the apple draws the eye, and a closer look reveals its delicate reflection on the neighboring goblet and tumbler.

When Cheifetz turns from still lifes to cityscapes, his sensitive blend of modern and classic techniques brings new vitality to urban scenes. Dramatic lighting effects and juicy, bold brushwork or knife strokes evoke the rhythm of the city. Night scenes glow and rainy streets come to life with watery mirror images of the city and its lights.

Born in the Pacific Northwest and now living in Palo Alto, CA, Cheifetz completed a bachelor of fine arts in architectural studies at the University of Washington in 2004 and began working as an architect. In the fall of 2007, he started learning to paint with oils at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore and then studied with such top artists as Scott Powers, Jeff Legg, and David Leffel, as well as at the Safehouse Atelier in San Francisco. In 2009 he became a full-time artist. Cheifetz has gained increasing recognition and awards. In September 2010, Southwest Art magazine marked him as a “rising star” among artists under the age of 31, and FOIL THINGS took third place in the May 2012 Bold Brush Painting Competition.

RS Hanna Gallery enthusiastically presents Cheifetz’s new body of work. Gallery representative Maggie Gillespie 
sums up what visitors can expect: “With David, modern images flow from an old master’s brush. Like an old soul in a young body, his work is both seasoned and fresh at the same time, emerging from the unknown with a smile.”—Rosemary Carstens

contact information
830.307.3071

www.rshannagallery.com

Featured in the September 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art magazine September 2012 digital download
Southwest Art magazine September 2012 print edition
Or click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

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