Arbe's originals are primarily oil on canvas, but he also incorporates a variety of other media into his work, creating a metallic texture in the abstract backgrounds of many of his paintings. He applies gold leaf, and sometimes silver leaf, and then works it with his tools and his hands into intricate patterns and textures that give his art a third dimension. His palette is full of earth tones, with an occasional flourish of vibrant reds, blues, purple or lavender. But always, grabbing your attention, is the gold - rich and luxuriously applied by hand and worked into delicate patterns representing the intricacies of life.
The effect he achieves is a mixture of classical and modern. Klimt is still clearly visible in the backgrounds of paintings like "Sweet Whispers", "Proud Sister" or "In Thought". Others, reach back into his Armenian history and are influenced by biblical themes, legends and iconography. Taken together, Arbe's greatly varied body of work is filled with romance and drama, music and love. It is soothing and compelling, exciting and peaceful all at the same time.
Love his style!
theworldofarts11 7 months ago