Oil and metal leaf on wood panel.
24x48x2.25"
Giant water lilies float gently in the ever-changing waters of their lake home. They open their flowers adorned and unafraid, showing themselves to the setting sun and accepting its warmth in return.
The 2.25" deep sides of this original oil painting on custom wood panel are gilded with metal leaf and gleam from all angles. No frame required!
Honourable Mention
Praise for Water Nymphs from exhibit juror Ewa Chwojko-Srawley:
“This artwork captures the attention because of an unusual technique that combines oil and metal leaf on panel, resulting in a mesmerizing visual experience... This artwork seamlessly merges materials and techniques to craft a piece that combines precision with enchantment, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. It is a testament to simplicity, achieved through meticulous craftsmanship and creative imagination.”
Gillian Lahav is an emerging, self-taught oil painter and gilder based in Toronto. She traded her desk for an easel at the end of 2022 and released her first collection of paintings in late summer 2023. Gillian has found exciting early success, exhibiting and joining private collections in Canada and the US, and receiving honourable mention in her first juried exhibit.
Gillian is a member of Workman Arts, a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation.
Gillian’s work is available on gillianlahav.com and on Instagram at @gillianlahav.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My paintings are inspired by magic in the natural world, featuring slumbering animals and lush plants set in golden light.
Working out of an Edwardian home full of plants and sleepy house cats, I paint on locally made wood panels, layering oils and metal leaf over exposed wood grain to achieve organic scenes with lots of movement. A hiker and former archaeologist, I look to wild plants, antique treasures, and sleepy house cats for rich colours and compositions that speak to me.
My first series, Golden Hour, invites rest and indulgence, referencing feminine figures in Art Nouveau, the rich warmth of Klimt's Golden Phase, and the mysticism of Pre-Raphaelite dream scenes.
I hope this imagery will evoke for viewers the rich warmth and energy of golden hour, that fleeting time of day when the sun casts its most magical spell.
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