St.Claire Art

St.Claire Art is the gallery and working studio of Asheville artist Stephen St.Claire. His paintings are unique in that he begins each one by sculpting the composition onto the canvas with layers of modeling compound and gesso, then covering the entire surface with Italian aluminum leaf. Oil paint is then applied to the metal, and then each piece is finished with several layers of solar-protectant resin. "I have called my technique Dialuminism ("light passing through") because light reflects off the metal background layer, passes through the layers of paint and then is refracted by the layers of resin (which acts as a clear lens, fused to the surface of the painting). The result is a painting that is basically back-lit, which creates very intense color. Light plays off some areas and casts shadows beneath others, creating a dimensional painting that changes in appearance depending upon where the viewer is standing in relation to the light source." Visitors are always welcome not only to view the artwork, but to pull up a chair and chat with the artist.