Walter Stanford enchants viewers with his monumental depictions of wildlife. His massive bears, wolves, and birds of prey are a crowd favorite at The Art Cellar. An eye-level glare from one of these creatures evokes a feeling of closeness to the animal that cannot be felt from a photograph or from viewing through binoculars. His parliament of owls keep a watchful gaze on passersby, each of their eyes holding individual personalities. Stanford’s recipe for beautiful wildlife paintings starts by building the emotional connection within, capturing the subject in a realistic way and adding some flare of color choice and brush stroke. In the end, Stanford’s finished pieces capture the heart, soul, and personalities of these subjects; attributes that tend to be overlooked.

In an effort to emphasize connection, heart, and personality, Loren DiBenedetto takes the same approach to her subjects by creating stunning compositions that bring life to many objects that we use or see everyday. A master of subtle narratives, DiBenedetto imbues her still lifes with a sense of mystery and emotion. Whether it be capturing the delicate intricacies of a bird's nest, or the quiet elegance of fruit arranged just so, her paintings invite contemplation and discovery. Dibenedetto’s use of Realism is just the surface layer to her work, as she interlaces beautifully curated composition and lighting, emphasizing the ebb & flow of the form to develop emotional connections and stories to her subjects.