Paul Honatke has a way of luring his viewers into his dreamlike wonder world.
“Salad Days” is filled with swirling lines and patterns, which along with the deep bold colors, give his artworks a hypnotizing effect. He has a strong identifiable style, reflected in his own rich color-full palette.
Some of Honatke’s strongest subjects are his large eyed front and center women. Their eyes meet the viewer ‘eye to eye’ demanding full attention. Even when their eyes are closed, or just sleepy-eyed, all are inviting you to join them in their dreaming or maybe daring the viewer to look inward and recall their own dreams under the moon and stars.
Some of the paintings in this show are brand new, the rest were done over the past two years. With one or two exceptions, none of the subjects are drawn from life. They are all interpretations and inventions. Sometimes spontaneous, sometimes culled from past sketchbooks, which constitute a rich resource of undeveloped ideas. A cast of characters in search of a play.
Honatke says, “In my art I combine a loose drawing style with careful painting. The goal is to create a believable other world. A place where drawing throws conventions out the window and painting quietly brings them back in.” He usually begins with a central figure to which he adds other elements to create a narrative and develop composition.
“Salad Days” will be at the Nevada City Winery Gallery, July 1 through August 3. The winery is open daily.
An opening reception will be held Friday, July 3, 5:30-7:30, which is also Nevada City’s ArtWalk.
Artist: Paul Honatke
Show: “Salad Days”
Medium: Acrylic and Mixed media
Showing at the Nevada City Winery Galley July 1st – August 3rd
Opening Reception & Art Walk: Friday, July 3rd | 5:30–7:30 PM