Overview

"A book of pictorial art depicting imaginary cities in the forgotten past, distant future or in another world. The cities are garden cities, with wide boulevards, beautiful fountains, set in a virtual garden of Eden. Thomas Jewusiak has been a working professional painter all of his adult life. He worked his way through college by painting street scenes and architecturally interesting buildings and selling his work through private commissions. He has designed homes and presented them through his own architectural renderings in oil on canvas and pen and ink. His love of architecture has brought him to old historic towns, capturing their magic of place through his brush. He inhabits the places he paints always painting on location where possible (even if that location is the interior of his own imagination.) He now paints only in oil on linen canvas cloth, in what at first appears to be a highly representational or even meticulously detailed photorealistic style; but upon examination his work reveals itself as highly ""impressionistic"", subjective, idealized and even fantastic, a streetscape of the mind- of a bridge unbuilt, demolished or obscured. ""Artist's Statement: I reject the description of the style of my painting as photorealistic. I make no attempt to duplicate a photograph. Although there can be a valid artistic point in doing this, it is decidedly not my point. I attempt to communicate a reality or rather an illusion of actuality, as perceived by the eye and mind that is more intense, more concentrated than that which can be captured by the camera and lens alone. I also attempt a more honest portrayal of what is real than can be produced by the simple photograph. Since many of my paintings are purely conceptual, existing originally only in the imagination, or as a distillation or manipulation of many separate scenes that may exist, did exist or I think existed, the charge of ""merely"" duplicating a photograph is particularly galling. By representing the finest detail in paint I attempt to foster the illusion, (or foist the illusion), to give a perceived concrete existence to a pure product of the interpretive imagination. The sometimes excruciating detail is fundamental to the intended impression, a sleight of hand (or eye), where we are perhaps distracted by the minutia, enamored of it and thus lulled into a forgetfulness that the whole is artifice, an elaborate construct that takes on a life entirely its own, an exaggerated reality so real that it seems dream-like, a dream more real than waking."""

Full Product Details

9798988375494

Table of Contents

Reviews

"Cityscapes of the Mind is a captivating collection of pictorial art that transports readers to imaginary cities-places that exist in the forgotten past, distant future, or perhaps another world altogether. Thomas G. Jewusiak, a seasoned professional painter, weaves intricate visual narratives through his brushstrokes, inviting us to explore these fantastical urban landscapes. Artistic Style and Vision: Jewusiak's work defies easy categorization. He rejects the label of ""photorealistic,"" emphasizing that his paintings transcend mere replication of photographs. Instead, he seeks to convey an intensified reality-an illusion of actuality that surpasses what a camera lens can capture. His attention to detail is meticulous, drawing viewers into a dream-like realm where every brushstroke contributes to an elaborate construct. These cityscapes are more real than waking life, existing at the intersection of imagination and perception. The Garden Cities: Within these pages, we encounter garden cities-lush, harmonious enclaves with wide boulevards, beautiful fountains, and verdant landscapes. These urban utopias evoke a sense of serenity, set against the backdrop of a virtual garden of Eden. Tall towers and traditional architecture coexist seamlessly, inviting contemplation and wonder. Jewusiak's cities are not bound by the constraints of time or space. They emerge from the depths of creativity, blending elements from various epochs and cultures. As we explore these pages, we find ourselves immersed in a tapestry of possibilities-a fusion of memory, invention, and longing. The Illusion of Reality: The artist's commitment to detail serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. It lulls us into a forgetfulness, allowing the whole to transcend its parts. We become enamored with minutiae-the delicate tracery of a balcony railing, the play of light on cobblestones-until the cityscape assumes a life of its own. This is artifice elevated to an exaggerated reality, where dreams take on substance. Cityscapes of the Mind invites us to wander through these imagined streets, to lose ourselves in the interplay of color, form, and emotion. Whether we stand at the threshold of a forgotten past or gaze toward a distant future, Jewusiak's brush guides us-a cartographer of the mind's architecture. In this volume spanning eleven installments, the artist continues to weave his spell, beckoning us to explore the uncharted corners of our own imaginations. Each page holds a secret, each city a story waiting to unfold. Verdict: Cityscapes of the Mind Volumes One through Eleven is a visual feast-a testament to the power of art to transport, transform, and transcend. Whether you're an aficionado of urban landscapes or simply seeking inspiration, this collection invites you to step beyond the ordinary and into realms where cities bloom like flowers in the mind. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)"

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available