Crows on Red with Buddhas, pastel on monotype, 35 x 26, framed.

$1,600

Sylvia Gonzalez has distinguished herself among collectors for her astonishing compositions of fruits and vegetables. These works are more than just images of edible delights, they are color studies and compositions designed to arrive at the essence of the object being described. They are reminiscent of the still life compositions of Georgia O'Keeffe, whose work was known for its purity, boldness, clarity and scale. She uses bright uninhibited color to accent the sensuality and passion of her subject matter. Her newest work directs the same fervor to the study of birds, particularly California birds. Sylvia has developed a style of monotype that she puts down on the paper before drawing the birds in pastel. The effect is pattern upon pattern and the work is complex and compelling.

Sylvia Gonzalez has been drawing from the time she was a little girl. She was born in Atlanta Georgia. Her mother is German and her father, Cuban. They met while attending school at Georgia Tech. She received a BFA in art in 1984 and has worked with photography, colored photography, figure drawing, and monoprint, exploring various aspects of her art. She considers travel to be a great influence on her work. She has traveled in Europe, Costa Rica, Canada, Cuba and Southeast Asia.

Sylvia lived for seven years in Fairfax, where her daughter Lucia was born. She is highly respected in San Francisco, Marin County and the East Bay, where she has regularly exhibited.