Kerstin Arnold’s oil paintings imbue life’s intimate moments with exquisite vitality. Rendered with utmost precision, the objects that Arnold paints become more lucid and captivating on canvas than they are in reality. China, glassware and liquid appear to be immune to peril, perpetually occupying that blissful space in which life unfolds flawlessly. Inspired by people, animals and common objects, Arnold often uses photographs she composes as the basis for her paintings. The perspectives are often unexpected—she might take an aerial view of a still life or confront an object head-on. Once she begins to paint, she applies color in several layers, gradually building up the richness of each image. With a lineage that spans from the Old Masters to Edward Hopper and David Hockney, Arnold’s work actively interacts with representative painting’s long, abundant history.
Before she began exhibiting as an artist, Arnold pursued a successful career as a draughtswoman and her precise drafting skills enhance her paintings’ magnetism. Kerstin Arnold lives and works in Germany.
