Joseph DuVivier’s “Surface Tension” at The Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino

Joseph DuVivier, Featured Artist for March at the Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino, presents “Surface Tension,” with a focus on water lilies. Joseph, a master of realistic painting in oil, describes his work as follows: “I have a deep fascination with water lilies and they have provided inspiration for several of my paintings. I love interplay between reflections and the abstract shapes formed by the lily pads. At home I constructed an octagonal lily pond which is partly inside the sun porch and partly outside. The pond lilies are models for my work. When painting lilies I try to faithfully reproduce the individual lily pads, buds and blossoms, but I take liberties in arranging them on the canvas to support my composition. Three of my water lily paintings are views from underwater, which I was able to see using a sort of inverted periscope. From underwater at a distance the surface acts as a mirror, with every lily pad, stem and bud sharing the composition with its reflected image. From closer, light coming from above the surface is refracted and the colors are dispersed creating a ghostly world above the water. I wish my paintings could show this with the shimmering effect of moving ripples on the water surface. In a different style, of course, Monet was the master of this, and it is hard to paint water lilies without reviving memories of his work.”

See Joseph DuVivier’s show March 6 through April 1st. The gallery is open daily 10:30 – 5. You are invited to the Second Saturday reception March 9, 5-8pm, with the Artist’s Talk at 5:30. More information: (707) 937-2217, artcoopmendocino.com   While you are there, take in the additional show “Mendocino Main Street” at our gallery embedded among the members’ individual display walls.