Fortune's Wheel

Fortune’s Wheel, Oil Painting by Melody Phaneuf
40 x 48, Framed
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Whatever the subject of a painting, an artist’s work is always something of a self-portrait. That the artist directs visual components to evoke emotion, or tell a story through the interplay of line, shape, color, movement and light, reveals something of the artist’s personality.

My own temperament is best suited to studio work. Quiet contemplation and an orderly environment provide me a sanctuary to analyze visual modes of expression. I enjoy working with still life because of its potential to express an idea or evoke emotion with familiar objects.

The still life painting called Fortune’s Wheel, is about transformation provoked by sudden change. The ever-turning wheel has stopped with the Jester hanging by one foot. Three tarot cards suggest clues to his present ordeal. The black veil that obscures the exhibit poster yokes the Jester to the wheel. An extinguished candle, well-worn map, and coins are strewn; the sand in the hourglass is running out. Light from two sources suggests that disorder rules, but the Jester still smiles, knowing the wheel will turn again.

Fortune’s Wheel is one of the paintings featured in the March issue of American Art Collector. Fortune’s Wheel will be on view at The Guild of Boston Artists, 162 Newbury Street during the month of March.

Fortune’s Wheel, Oil Painting by Melody Phaneuf
40 x 48, Framed $16,000
Available for purchase at The Guild of Boston Artists

Melody Phaneuf is well known for her evocative still life, landscape, and portrait paintings. Her paintings are regularly on view at The Guild of Boston Artists, 162 Newbury Street; at Fenway Studios, Boston by appointment; and North Shore Art in Gloucester from May through October. Phaneuf ‘s paintings have been exhibited at The National Arts Club in New York City, Galerie Herouet in Paris, and with Art du Monde, in Japan.

Melody The Artist Home, founded with photographer and color specialist, Martha DiMeo, features Phaneuf’s original oil paintings on tumbled marble tile murals and beverage coasters, fine art prints, and handmade note cards.

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Boston Artists Celebrate Excellence

The Guild of Boston Artists is celebrating 95 years of traditional artistry in an exhibit showcasing contemporary member work together with select paintings of illustriousness early members. The exhibit opens September 10, 2009 and continues through September 27.

Farewell, Persephone is my contribution to the anniversary exhibition and pays homage to the mythical Goddess of the Underworld. Mythology, allegory, and symbolism are evident in many of my paintings. I am inspired by the transformational effects that stories can have. In these paintings I think of myself as a storyteller in a visual rather than oral tradition.

My paintings are rooted in the emotional impact of an idea, which is my inspiration to create. Composition is always first~ the choices of value key, movement, and color arrangement that evoke the mood I'm trying to convey. The objects chosen for these allegorical still lifes do bear weight but the primary focus is on the abstraction, how the components work together to trigger an emotional response to the painting.

Farewell, Persephone is featured in the September 2009 issue of American Art Collector, page 161. An earlier post tells the story of the myth of Persephone in the Underworld. To see Farewell, Persephone, visit The Guild of Boston Artists, located at 162 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02216. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10:30 to 5:30.

Farewell, Persephone, 42 x 48 oil painting by Melody Phaneuf

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Melody Phaneuf is well known for her evocative landscape, still life, and portrait paintings. Her work is regularly on view at The Guild of Boston Artists, 162 Newbury Street; at Fenway Studios, Boston by appointment; and North Shore Art in Gloucester from May through October. Phaneuf has exhibited her paintings at The National Arts Club in New York City, Galerie Herouet in Paris, and with Art du Monde, in Japan.

Melody The Artist Home, founded with photographer and color specialist, Martha DiMeo showcases the artist’s original paintings on tumbled marble tile murals and coasters, fine art prints, and handmade note cards. Online ordering at MelodyTheArtist.com/shop

Follow Melody on twitter
Become a facebook fan
Visit Melody’s studio
Commission a painting by Melody

Related~

• The Nature of Myths
• Myths of Transformation
• The Marriage of Persephone