Wojtkiewicz Comparison!

After reading and re-reading my interview with Dennis Wojtkiewicz I wanted to know more about an artist’s thought process and what goes into creating a beautiful piece of work. I decided to search the internet for a painting that mirrored one of Professor Wojtkiewicz works in one or more of its elements. I stumbled upon a painting by Cheryl Ratcliff titled “Oranges” that strikes a similarity with one of the Professor’s pieces’ in his Citrus Series. Obviously, these two paintings are paralleled in there concepts which both depict the orange fruit and both are done in oil on canvas. In my research of Ms. Ratcliff and my interview with Wojtkiewicz I found that they both are interested in light and the implications it can inspire. For example, Ratcliff says she finds it thrilling to try and capture a part of life’s exquisite splendor in light, shadow, and color on canvas. Similarly, Wojtkiewicz says he is interested in light and its spiritual (not religious) implications, and color theory and how it effects the visual impact of painting.

Despite obvious similarities at first glance, these paintings also differ. For example, Wojtkiewicz painting is extremely realistic and is suggestive of a living thing i.e a organic shape. On the other hand, Ratcliff takes on a more abstract depiction using thick brush strokes, little blending, and somewhat curvy lines. Both have an obvious light source shown through shadows on and around the orange itself.

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