Natasha: The Struggle Painting

James S Rousonelos is a realist painter of people, places and society. He is influenced by the Renaissance masters like Titian, and the Baroque master painter, Caravaggio. His images contain elements of mystery, societal comment and relevance coupled with a very personal sense of experience. The artist has been painting for 43 years, and has work collected in all parts of the USA, some countries in Europe and in Canada. Rousonelos also creates commissioned work, including portraits, upon request. He also has created a very unique style in the drawing medium, with pieces that employ pastel and colored pencil fixed to a smooth, grained wood panel. Some of these pieces contain mixed media/collage materials. Rousonelos' oil painting technique, utilizes a very rare, unique 15th century glazing technique that was used by the Flemish master painter, Jan Van Eyck. With this technique, numerous oil glazes are painted over a finished charcoal drawing , first with earth-tone monochromes, and then with glazes of color. Such a technique is very time-intensive, and requires drying time between each layer of paint. Consequently, this technique creates a very mysterious, ethereal aura to each image that employs it. James has an extensive artistic education, with a Master's of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University. He has participated in workshops in painting and printmaking throughout the Midwestern United States. Rousonelos has lived,worked and exhibited in Paris, France, New York and Chicago. His work continues to be collected throughout the world. Please view Rousonelos work at his website at www.JSRArtStudio.com.