J. Steven Manolis (b. 1948-)
Jellyfish (2014.01), 2014
Acrylic on Canvas
48 x 30 inches
J. Steven Manolis, is an American abstract expressionist artist who paints in both watercolors and acrylics on canvas. He is fascinated by the tropical flora and fauna of Florida, where he lives. Jellyfish is one of his many seascapes.
"Through the influence of my mentor Wolf Kahn, my early painting career was as a colorist. When I wanted to find my own voice, and move away from Khan’s style, I decided that Watercolors would be my medium since it would force me to paint differently from Wolf because he painted in oils and pastels. I spent most of my painting years perfecting watercolors. I now use water color techniques with acrylics, creating translucent layers.”
Renowned Art Critic, Donald Kuspit states, "Manolis’ Miami abstract expressionism is a welcome relief from New York abstract expressionism, and just as authentic. That is, the happy self or happy consciousness that informs Manolis’ art is just as “true” as the miserable self or unhappy consciousness… But, the contemporary question is whether we prefer the self-destructive despair of the Age of Anxiety…or whether it’s time to welcome a more emotionally constructive, delightful kind of abstract expressionism."