Sea legs
“Bather” by John Tarahteeff, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Although Sacramento painter John Tarahteeff is still young (in his 30s), he’s been exhibiting his work for a decade. His current solo show, Seaworthy, demonstrates how far he’s evolved: His use of allegory and symbolism are still present, but he’s developed a more refined approach. Clearly influenced by classical painters, he employs techniques to achieve transparency in “Fishermen in the Old Country,” a romantic “Watson and the Shark”-esque man-vs.-beast painting, and shimmering texture in the Dutch still-life inspired “Three Fish,” though with acrylic paint. He uses a more subdued color palette than his foray into neon hues a few years ago, though his attention to detail hasn’t diminished. Artistically, he’s got sea legs.
