"Shell Games" Painting

Brian McClear is a contemporary representational painter known for still lifes that bring familiar objects together in unexpected ways and portraits that look beyond simply capturing a likeness. His paintings often begin with something that catches his attention—an object, a texture, an unlikely pairing, or sometimes a visual pun that makes him smile. Some are playful or nostalgic; others use visual metaphor to address social, political or environmental concerns. Working primarily in oil, McClear’s approach is representational but decidedly painterly, with direct, intuitive brushwork that allows the hand of the artist to remain visible. A graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design, he began his career as an illustrator before spending more than two decades in advertising and eventually returning to painting full-time. He now maintains his studio practice in Connecticut.