Malcolm Rains takes his viewers on complex journeys in the contemporary still-lifes he creates. They are Zen like excursions that explore the relationships of how light reflects through a crumbled paper against and dark background or the dramatic travel of a leaf which may have floated down and landed from the stem of a pear. They are studies in order and chaos. They are overtly dramatic in their subtleties.

The oil paintings, which Rains creates, are both classic and utterly contemporary. His rich glazing and warm, precise lighting are reminiscent of the old masters, while the minimalist presentation of crumpled typing paper, fruits, flowers, and other objects is thoroughly modern. "Basically my works are based on perception and rel...