Oil and Water: A 25 Year Retrospective (Springfield Museum of Fine Arts September 20-December 31, 2000)

David Brega; Douglas Brega; Introduction-Anita Shreve

Published by Unknown, 2000

About this Item

Inscribed by Douglas Brega on fep. Minor wear to covers, interior unmarked. The 25-year retrospective of the the identical twin Bregas' work is their first major joint exhibition. Douglas Brega, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, paints realistic watercolors of the people and places of New England, with his work often being compared to that of Andrew Wyeth. His architectural landscapes of lighthouses, old Colonial homes, Cape Cod windows, and weathered buildings capture the simple grandeur of New England. He is attracted to clean shapes, angled lines, and the play of light and shadow. He usually works from photographs, sometimes taking as many as 100 slides which he uses to make preliminary sketches. When he creates portraits, Doug tries to bring out the personality of the person, rather than concentrate on the physical likeness. His paintings are meticulously done in a watercolor and drybrush medium, which is extremely difficult and allows him to achieve extraordinary detail. David Brega works in the trompe l'oeil tradition, meaning "to fool the eye" into believing that which is painted is real. He is often told that his paintings looks as real as photographs, but he emphasizes that he is not a photorealist. He suggests that "Photos look like photos, while trompe l'oeil looks like it's there." Many of the subjects used in his paintings were found in antique stores. He is drawn to old, worn surfaces and intrigued by light and patina.

Seller Inventory # 251028013

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Oil and Water: A 25 Year Retrospective (Springfield Museum of Fine Arts September 20-December 31, 2000)
• Publisher: Unknown
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 32 ounces
• Seller catalogs:
  • Art Exhibition