Ariane Rosario

(she/her/hers) is based in San Francisco, CA with roots in Tampa, FL, and Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Ariane’s work is focused on capturing the expressions of moments through various means; whether through portraits, land and city-scapes, or everyday objects. She studies the effect of light and shadow on the emotion of a painting. In particular, she is enamored with the unexpected that can occur at the intersection of light and dark, both in her subjects, and in her painting. Her use of exaggerated color often serves to accentuate the vibrancy with which she sees her subjects, rendering them both lifelike and lively, yet surreal. With inspirations including Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn, she conveys scenes with feeling through the use of fantastical colors and unique perspectives.

​Ariane finds portraits allow her to capture intimate expressions, especially faces with which she is intimately familiar, such as close friends or family. She strives to capture unique instances, and amplify their meaning through bright colors and distinguished shadow and allows her feelings about the subject to spill into the piece. She continues to explore abstract palettes to add an element of surrealism to her work.

Landscapes and cityscapes also serve as inspiration for Ariane; she often finds surprising avenues for incorporating dynamic vibrancy and energy into ordinary scenes. Through capturing unique vantage points or superimposing unrealistically bright colors onto a scene, she attempts to transform ordinary (or extraordinary) outlooks into something bordering unearthly. 

---

FUTURE ART

Going forward, Ariane hopes to further explore portraits and color. Although Ariane can’t always commit as much as she would like to art, she continues to draw inspiration from everyday scenes around her.

For my mother (2018) - 16x20 Oil on Canvas

Melancholy - Oil on canvas paper

A self portrait in the style of Wayne Thiebaud, using color to emphasize shapes and shadows.

Another self portrait, during which I was working through a phase of insomnia. I attempted to capture the exhaustion, yet required endurance that accompanies the helplessness of involuntary sleep deprivation.

Looking Forward. (2021). 16x20 Oil on Canvas

In “Looking Forward,” I portray myself again as the subject, glancing just adjacent to the viewer with an ambiguous expression. I wanted to capture the uncertainty that captures the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected our lives. Am I looking forward with optimism, or with apprehension? It can’t be seen easily with the mask. Are the bright colors and harsh lighting indicative of a sunrise and the day, or sunset and the night? Am I reaching to take off my mask, or am I pulling it close? I wanted to use questions like this to emphasize the ambiguity of the pandemic’s effects and duration, as well underscore the additional distance masks put between friends, and strangers.

Horseshoe Bend (2018) - Oil on canvasboard (12x16)

A landscape depicted with a limited palette and using only a pallete knife for application.

A look upwards (2019). 18x24 Oil on Canvas

In “A look upwards,” I overlay a colorful and vibrant scene on an otherwise ordinary glance towards a skyline to underscore the vivacity I see in the city.

Wildfire (2019). 18 x 24 oil on canvas paper

Wildfire was inspired by the series of wildfires that occurred in Califorina. In addition to burning many communities and landscapes, the air was clouded with thick, terrible smoke that made breathing difficult all across the state. By conveying air, water, land, and fire in one painting, I signify the integral relationship that fire has with all elements of their surroundings.

Untitled (eating a burrito) (2020) - Oil on canvas paper

Another portrait, this one more playful in nature, capturing my sister eating a burrito from taco bell. Scenes like this, the three of us enjoying food together in our hometown, happen so rarely that I enjoy capturing the moments years later to reflect.

Untitled (2019). 24x18 Oil on Canvas

This piece is focused on a bull’s skull. However, I attempted to use warm, soft lighting and colors, along with featuring a vibrant flower, to give a delicate and gentle feel to an otherwise grave subject.