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Rissa Berlin
UNITED STATES
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“All good art involves meaning and mystery, while composition, medium and technique are secondary considerations, there in a supportive role.”
Rissa Berlin is primarily an emotive artist whose love for nature is expressed in beautiful renditions of birds, horses and Koi contained within an illusory world of ordered and abstracted environments. Berlin’s work aims at the essence of a creature rather than a photorealistic portrayal. Her subjects are primarily individual creatures or pairs. Where there are flocks, portrayal is suggestive and ethereal. The ethereal nature is also brought to the individual, since all creatures are a mystery, with the possible exception of our canine friends.
Flight Path | Acrylic
Not For Sale
A bird flies over farmland that is segmented into rectangles and intersected by roads, each form with a different color based on what is grown within it. Diagonals appear like trails of flight across a plane;
She gives her subjects vulnerability, translucence and spirit; a bit dissonant from the abstracted and ordered atmospheric space they find themselves in. The spatial qualities of her environments often evoke windows to alternate realities where colors fields occur within spheres, rectangles and diagonal lines. The spheres have a ghostly, planetary quality. Diagonals appear like trails of flight across a plane; flight that is not chaotic and whimsical like that of a bird, but straight and directed like something of human or divine origin. Rectangles suggest the human influence, with which the creatures continually must interact. There is poetry in this juxtaposition of the natural and the humanly ordered.
Finding Direction | Acrylic
$6,000
I am fascinated that when migratory birds have to travel from north to south or vice versa, they align themselves with the magnetic field lines and travel to their location. Solar and Lunar circles are part of this reality... The spatial qualities of her environments often evoke windows to alternate realities where color fields occur within spheres, rectangles and diagonal lines. The spheres have a ghostly, planetary quality.
In the background of meaning, Rissa’s preoccupations are classic; She pursues the True, the Good and the Beautiful. There is no cynicism or deliberate ugliness revealing pathologies of human behavior. We know that all too well. And yet, there is no artificial prettifying of life; no extravagant decorativeness. There is the serenity of the real, insofar as we can capture it.
“In a series of paintings, Rissa Berlin pursues the chosen themes of Movement, Order and Spirit.”
In paintings, meaning is different than in the written word, which directly describes insights and observations. The painted image cannot be so clear in its intentions. It can attract by beauty and by engaging the viewer as well as the artist in discovering its mysteries.
Sun and Moon | Mixed Media
$1,100
In "Different Worlds" I have encircled the face of a predator juxtaposed by the white bird and it’s freedom in flight.
Koi Quad is mixed media on canvas. The subject called to me to layer other mediums and textures which is the way a saw though the water at the sudden appearance of these colorful and fluidly moving koi. more of these paintings or in the works.
Koi Quad | Mixed Media
$2,500
Creatures provide movement, interspersed also with suggestions of non-creaturely movement. Spirit is to be found within the life force and personhood of creatures. The soul of humanity imagines non-human creatures to express similar soul-like qualities and creatures often do not disappoint. Order is to be found in the balance or life. In a different way, order is juxtaposed in the interactions between creatures and the way in which humans organize their own lives conceptually. It is what they must engage with and, in part, the frame through which we can appreciate them.
“Rissa’s works defines and segments the canvas much like in life, so it can be a quasi-geometric expression of what we experience and how we frame our visions.”
“Birds and wildlife represent freedom, movement and balance and the natural richness of creation.”
The theme of birds has long been a source of mystery and awe. Rissa’s images express her growing desire to meaningfully connect with the natural world through the majestic beauty of these winged creatures. Birds and wildlife represent freedom, movement and balance and the natural richness of creation.
Through a Looking Glass | Pastel
$450
The Tufted Titmouse with her echoing voice, is a frequent visitor to my bird feeder
Through my window I have often observed her carrying away sunflower seeds one at a time. Hence the title “Through a Looking Glass”
Humanity manipulates nature for its purposes by imposing layers of abstraction – the unique ability of humans to realize in concrete forms their abstract inventions. So, a bird flies over farmland that is segmented into rectangles and intersected by roads, each form with a different color based on what is grown within it. Same with buildings. Solar and Lunar circles are part of this reality. Rissa’s work expresses a love of abstraction as well as wildlife.
Westwind | Acrylic
$1,100
When Gannets spread its wings, it measures 2 meters in width. Gannets swim and fly almost their entire life in and above the sea, only coming on land to nest. In order to take flight, they need to catch a good wind under their wings.
The works are Acrylic over canvas or with various dry mediums, primarily pastels, over paper. In the canvases, she frequently layers other mediums to create texture and detail. This is also true of the smaller paper pieces. A collage-like effect that is achieved is not overly obvious, so as not to get in the way of the image, but to augment it. The layering process adds to a sense of mystery that she finds observing the natural world.
BIRD IS THE WORD was the theme for this show at Flagler County Art League, Palm Coast Fl. early 2021. Having fun depicting a bird “With Attitude”.
Not Convinced | Mixed Media
$450
“Rissa’s style is light in medium, with a spare application of color that is suggestive and evocative rather than brash or violent.”
Watchful | Mixed Media
$450
The Great Blue Heron often stands motionless and watchful as it scans for prey.
Before re-dedicating herself to the fine arts, Rissa spent many years commuting to Southern New Jersey while working as a web master and graphic designer for a large health system. On her hour long drive she observed beautiful and majestic horses grazing in the fields while witnessing flocks of snow geese flying overhead and landing not far from the herd reminding her fresh fallen snow. On weekends Rissa enjoyed hiking and cycling near the marshes and waterways. She was moved by the sudden appearance of white egrets and herons and marveled at their graceful and buoyant flight, as they took off and landed on the water.
This "Poised" black crowned night heron has a composed and self-assured manner.
Poised | Mixed Media
$450
Some of her achievements includes: SOLO SHOWS - Phoenix Gallery New York, N.Y., Langman Gallery Jenkintown P.A., 3rd Street Gallery Philadelphia, PA, and Gallery 401 Magnolia NJ JURIED AND GROUP SHOWS - 2021 - Annual Group Show, Greenville Center For The Creative Arts, Greenville, SC, 2021 - The Wild Hare Gallery, Travelers Rest, SC, 2021- Bird is the Word, Flagler County Art League, Palm Coast Florida, 2020- Philadelphia/Tri-State Artists Equity Virtual 71st Annual Spring Show, 2020 - 3rd Street Gallery, 610 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, 2019 - The Board Members of Artists Equity, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon Pa, 2019 - Perkins Annual Juried Exhibition, Perkins Center for the Arts Moorestown, NJ, 2019 - New Members Show Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2019 - AE 70th Anniversary MEMBERS' JURIED EXHIBITION, GoggleWorks. Reading PA, 2019 - 3rd Street Gallery · 45 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 2018 - Street Gallery · 45 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 3rd Street Gallery · Philadelphia, PA, Rosenfeld Gallery · Philadelphia, PA, Gallery 515 · Atlanta, Georgia, Chastain Art Gallery · Atlanta, Georgia, Fellowship Show, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art · Philadelphia, PA, Moore College of Art · Philadelphia, PA, Rutgers University Stedman Art Gallery · Camden, NJ, Works On Paper in “Honor of Charles Demuth”, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art · Philadelphia, PA, Noyes Stockton Gallery · Stockton, NJ, Contemporary Classic Gallery · Haddonfield, NJ, The Woodmere Art Museum · Philadelphia, PA, Pavilion Gallery · Mount Holly NJ, Gallery 401· Magnolia NJ, The Morris Museum · Morristown, NJ, Southern New Jersey Advocates for the Arts - Provident Bank · Philadelphia, PA, Civic Center Museum · Philadelphia, PA, Eyes Gallery · Philadelphia, PA, West Chester State College, Community Gallery · West Chester, PA. MEDIA COVERAGE - WHYY “Fresh Air” with Judy Stein , Art Critic - WXPN “Artists View The Arts” with Betsy Augustine, founding member, 3rd Street Gallery. AWARDS - New Jersey State Council on The Arts and Fellowship Grant 1995.
Ready to Dance | Mixed Media
$1,600
This beautiful and quirky African grey crowned crane loves to dance. They relies on its impressive dance moves to attract a mate.
“The impressions have stayed with Rissa to this day as she continues to draw inspiration for her images.”
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