by Stephanie Strasnick
Bird’s-eye views of local and international waterways were the subject of these eight oil paintings by Fredericka Foster. Ranging from calming images of swaying river tides to misty; rushing falls, the pieces evoked water’s dynamism as well as its tranquility.
The effects of light informed many of the works. In Lake Union (2013), one of the most eye catching pieces in the show, the sun’s ochre and tawny-yellow reflections glinting off choppy, blue-gray waves cause the water to appear ethereal and dreamlike. And in The Golden Hour (2012), rippling, light-blue water melds with pale-gold reflections, recalling the color palette of Monet’s “Water Lilies” paintings. A similar effect is achieved in Fjord III (2013), in which shades of green and aquamarine are woven together with crystal blue.
The paintings that seemed to best capture the motion and expansiveness of water were those not confined to a single picture plane. In Kjosfossen Falls (2013), rushing, white rapids pour down the length of three large canvases, exhibited one above the other. From top to bottom, the paintings become increasingly abstract and the water appears to move closer and closer to the viewer. And in the more serene, Bay Diptych 2 (2013), hyperrealistic blue-green waves undulate across two rectangular canvases and give the illusion that the nearest shore may not be for miles in any direction.
Using various light effects, and toying with different sizes and vantage points, Foster was able to capture the grandeur of each of these bodies of water
Stefanie Strasnick – http://www.artnews.com