Pyrdsa piece is clear, yet thought provoking By Anita Stratos Photo by Farrah Maffai For an artist to truly capture the heart of his subject, he has to feel its impact himself. The resulting meaning is often elusive to the viewer. A refreshing difference can be found in the work of artist Michael Pyrdsa, who presents his subject matter in a very clear, straightforward way. Still, art lovers will find his work thought-provoking as it warms their hearts, stirs fond memories, and has them dreaming of the world on the canvas. If the work represents the soul of the artist, then Pyrdsa must be tranquillity personified. Painting in a style he refers to as hyper realism, the eye of the viewer can sometimes be tricked into believing it is looking at a photograph rather than an oil painting. Pyrdsa's current works feature richly colored landscapes and still lifes, but these inspired creations are worlds apart from more stereotypical pieces of past centuries. Many of Pyrdsa's New Jersey landscapes capture the historical beauty of the state: There's a series on familiar scenes in Asbury Park as well as twists on the grand Victorians of Cape May. Pyrdsa "paints his environment," allowing his reaction to the scenes he witnesses to flow through his brush. The works are captivating in their simplicity, yet the very perfection of them is complex, as each imparts a feeling of peacefulness that seems to transport viewers to a simpler time and place. Pyrdsa presents exquisite insights into his own special perspective of his world and takes the time to share them. Several of Pyrdsa's works can be seen at The White Street Gallery in Red Bank. One of the pieces on exhibit is "Rose of Sharon," a good example of how Pyrdsa's brilliant use of light and shadow come together to form his own still life style. Here, a welcoming table draped with a flowered cloth is the foundation for a vase filled with Rose of Sharon stems; the tablecloth itself s a focal point as it gently flows from the table corners, and yet is completely realistic with its crisp folds from storage still visible. Near the vase is a silver bowl brimming with fruit, while other pieces of fruit are scattered naturally about the tabletop. Also on the table is a silver pitcher, and reflected in the polished surfaces of both the bowl and the pitcher are not only the items we can see, but also the room beyond our view, which includes a reflection of Pyrdsa sitting in a chair composing the painting. This, the artist said, is one of only two or three paintings in more than 30 years of work in which he has included an image of himself. Art became a focus in Pyrdsa's life in his youth, when the artwork of comic books captured his attention. But his passion for art was fueled by the gallery of works being displayed on campus by his fellow Trenton State students. He credits this, along with the university art department's stimulating environment, for turning him into a serious art student. Beginning with surrealism, Pyrdsa eventually evolved into photo realism, which he has now refined into hyper realism, an area in which he plans to remain for the foreseeable future. If you visit The White Street Gallery, you'll notice that owner Bill Quinn specializes in American and European fine art from the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as some 18th century work and several contemporary pieces. Quinn's lifelong love of antiques is obvious, as the shop also carries some fine antiques, including Tiffany and Handel lamps. Quinn attributes his multi-faceted interests in the arts to his filmmaking, which he describes as a collaborative art form. Visit the Web site at www.whitestreetgallery.com and view examples of the gallery's current works, as well as read about client services. More of Michael Pyrdsa's work can be seen at www.michaelpyrdsa.com. What is it? "Rose of Sharon" by Michael Pyrdsa Where to find it: The White Street Gallery 64 White St. Red Bank (732) 673-3940