 |  |
|---|---|
| Camera-Ready Art A photo-realistic painting should make you believe at first — or even second — glance that you are looking at a photograph. One of the best practitioners of this type of art is Rick Bennett, a Hanover College assistant professor whose work can be seen locally at Swanson Reed Contemporary, 638 E. Market St. (589-5466). This 24-inch-square oil-on-panel painting, Jomon, which depicts mankind’s oldest known pottery, is priced at $1,600. | Written in “Stone” Pens may be utilitarian, but they certainly don’t have to be boring. Monteverde Pens Inc. has a line of writing utensils produced with fashionable resin finishes, including Arizona Turquoise, shown here. Its Diva La Penna Lipstick Pen is made with the same retractable function as a lipstick, and extends to 5 inches long when the cap is added. The pen is available at area Office Depot stores (www.officedepot.com) for $25. |
 |  |
|---|---|
Painted Turtle Faux tortoiseshell, always a popular finish, makes this tole (painted tinplate) lamp extraordinary. Manufactured by Theodore and Alexander, the lamp is 36 inches tall with an eight-inch base and 19-inch black shade. It sells for $377 at Hubbuch & Co., 324 W. Main St. (583-2713, www.hubbuch.com); other lamps run $60-$1,245. | A Cut Above With an abundance of European and American armor, weaponry and artifacts, as well as videos and live re-enactments, the Frazier Historical Arms Museum brings the past 1,000 years back to life. This set of six stainless-steel letter-opener sword replicas, each of a different medieval design, sells in the museum’s The Castle gift shop for $33. The price range for other imitation swords and daggers is $40-$105. The museum is located at 829 W. Main St. (412-2280, www.fraziermuseum.org). |
 |  |
|---|---|
| Older Than Old Artist Gwen Burke, who worked in the theater for 15 years painting and sculpting scenery, knows her way around a faux finish. This three-drawer wood chest, distressed in antique white with painted motifs of lotus flowers, birds and grapes, “was old to begin with,” says Burke, “and was aged more by fauxing years over the surface with elbow grease and paint.” Measuring 72 inches high by 48 inches wide by 24 inches deep, the chest costs $1,900 and is available through the artist (899-1378). Her commissioned and existing faux pieces range from $400-$2,700. | Grain of Untruth Artist Catherine Bryant specializes in what she calls “creating illusions of reality.” The bookcases and doors, as well as the trim, in this 12-foot-high, 13-foot-wide and 15-foot-deep room appear to be made of palisander, or Brazilian rosewood, but it’s actually a painting technique called faux bois (“forged wood”). You can find examples of Bryant’s trompe l’oeil work at the Dunbar-Bryant Art Studio, 2003 Frankfort Ave. (458-1247, www.catherinebryantart.com). The price range for her commissioned artistic finishes is $600-$20,000. |
