News Flash

Our featured artists in April are selections from Silver Lake Regional High School's Studio Art 2 class, comprised of sophomores and other upper grades. The exhibit features more than 40 Trompe-i'oei Pet Portraits, inspired by the students own pets, using acrylic paints. 

Trompe-l'œil is an artistic term that translates to 'deceive the eye' in French for the optical illusion of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface. In this project, students created the illusion of a real frame in a trompe-l'œil style. 

"It appears that these are framed photos of our pets, but they are actually acrylic paintings on canvas," said teacher Rachel Maguire. "The painted frames not only enhance the overall presentation of our artwork, but they also create a sense of depth and dimension." 

Inspiration was taken from personal photographs of students pets. The goal was to capture the unique personalities and characteristics of different pets, down to the high level of detail for fur and whiskers. Three-dimensional photo references added shape, textures, layers, and colors to achieve a realistic appearance. Students also experimented with different techniques and materials, such as blending, strippling, paint markers, and sharpies to create different textures and effects. 

"We are thrilled to share our pet portraits with our community," said Maguire. "Our pet portraits represented the love and connection we have with our furry friends. Pets are more than just companions; they bring joy, comfort, and unconditional love into our lives. We hope to inspire others to appreciate and cherish the animals in their own lives." 

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