Titled: "Crooked Smile"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

One of the latest in the artist's series of whimsical animals...

Titled: "Crab In Space"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

One of the latest in the artist's series of Whimsical Animals....

Titled: "Running Rooster"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

One of the latest in the artist's series of Whimsical Animals....

Titled: "Pelican Peeking"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

This close-up of an Eastern Brown Pelican shows off its vivid color and varied textures. The artist has always wondered what pelicans must be thinking as they sit there trying to pretend they're invisible. The rosey pink background gives this work a slight unearthly quality and ties in the rest of the colors. Textures aboud, with the different types of feathers and the scumbled texture of the bone-like beak. This painting is one of the latest in the artist's line of "whimsical" animals, and this one fits right in to that theme! Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Shaggy Sheep"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

Fitting nicely into the artist's family of "whimsical" animals, the "Shaggy Sheep" usually draws a smile or even a laugh from its viewers. The artist has always loved sheep and it was a real pleasure to paint one in real life. The rich, deep, "midnight blue" background was achieved with a layering effect, which adds perspective paired with the earth-tone foreground. The textured fur of the sheep is appreciated more by seeing the work in person to notice the impasto and knife technique that lends a stylized yet suggestive believability to the overall form. The sheep's front legs extend below the canvas to bring the sheep even closer to the viewer for a more intimate effect. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Psychic Monkey"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

One of the latest in the artist's series of "whimsical" animals, this gibbon monkey was a resident of the Natural Science Center of Greensboro, NC. The juxtaposition of the red, plastic ball with the wild monkey (in captivity) is a stark contrast. The background of zig-zags sets the monkey apart from its surroundings in an unearthly quality. This monkey and its mate died tragically in July 2008 when they were undergoing their annual physical examinations. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Neon Duck"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

Imagine this duck looking up at you in person! This painting's exaggerated sense of perspective gives us a "person's-eye" view of this friendly creature. With just a suggestion of feathers, the artist uses the rounded form of the duck to fill the canvas, while dynamic angling of the tail and careful placement of the head and beak make the overall composition surprisingly rhythmic. The bold use of color pits complementary oranges and blues, even with the use of a shimmering outline in these colors. The underpainting in earth tones adds a depth to the background, with the suggestion of leaves floating around the duck giving the painting its "electric" name. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Mystic Tiger"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

The subject for the "Mystic Tiger" is an Indian tiger named Axle at the Greensboro Natural Science Center. Almost floating in space, the tiger's side view is captured in mid-stride with only a hint of shadow in the foreground. The background was rendered to simulate the almost disembodied effect the animals inspire with their graceful movements when they stalk their territory. The emphasis on the form of the tiger and its stripes highlights the power and beauty of the animal. The tone of the tiger was a challenge to render naturally, with mainly earth colors instead of metallic, artificial pigments. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Miami Lewie"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

This curious little guy is an alley cat who lives outside a hotel in the Art Deco district of Miami. The unusual perspective of this painting was captured from an interesting vantage point with the cat reclining upon a stuccoed wall. The artist affectionately named his subject "Louis Puffy Cheeks" and captured this interesting feature when he painted him. He spelled the name "Lewie" instead of Louis in the title because so many people pronounced the name Lewis (must have been because of the juxtaposition with "Miami"). The artist's treatment of the foliage is reminiscent of the primitive style of Henri Rousseau, while the sunwashed beach-tone stucco created with a scumbled effect contrasts with the more natural color and stylized lines of the cat's fur. The chain-link fence behind the subject accentuates the art deco design. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Georgettas Walk"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

This bird, an egret, makes its way through the wetlands of Florida. The background creates motion and makes this composition more dynamic. This animal painting is different than the artist's other "whimsical" animals in that the bird is much smaller and doesn't fill the entire canvas, but it has its own sense of whimsy nevertheless. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Cry Baby"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

Yes, this is a real cat, and yes, he really can do that! Isn't he whimsical? Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Cosmic Cow"

Whimsical Animals - Oil

The "Cosmic Cow" is the first in the artist's series of "whimsical" animals, and the namesake of The Cosmic Cow Society, a group formed to promote the arts in the NC Triad community. One of its most striking features is the subject's dominance of the canvas, while still achieving a dynamic composition with the subject looking straight at the viewer. Without an overriding sense of light and shadow, the cow is presented in pink, magenta, and earth tones and surrounded by a sea of complementary greens. Its body is given a defined outline and an "aura" surrounds the cow, lending its unearthly name. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Look What Washed Up"

Macro-Landscapes - Oil

The title is a realistic one. What is this thing? It only came to shore after a hurricane in Florida, and I'm still not quite sure what it is. Larger than lifesize on canvas, it looks almost alien... Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Composition In Purple And Orange"

Macro-Landscapes - Oil

The artist calls this painting a "macrolandscape" because it forces the viewer to say "What is It? Inspired by a scene from a trip to Antelope Canyon, Arizona, it focuses on the colors, lines, and forms, rather than the subject matter itself. You don't have to tell your guests what it is; you can leave them guessing! Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Study In Greys"

Macro-Landscapes - Oil

This painting is a prime example of what the artist calls his "macro-landscapes." An intentional flattening of the picture plane emphasizes the lines of this unsettling composition, while the varied tones of gray add another dimension of interest. Even the diamond shapes compete with the rectangular, and the objects' placement seems almost haphazard. After wrestling with orientation and perspective, the viewer may distinguishes words..."G - R - A ..." A macro landscape challenges its viewer by taking a closer look at ordinary objects or depicting them from an unusual viewpoint. It forces the "What is it?" question in order to stimulate viewers to see things in a different way. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "We Sale Stamps"

Macro-Landscapes - Oil

Colorful and not quite recognizable, this scene might be more familiar if you frequent Florida or beach tourist stands. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Yellow Mountain"

Landscapes - Oil

One of the first in the artist's current series of landscapes, this painting is based on a scene in Southwest Virginia. The treatment of color and line suggest Van Gogh, and the scene focuses primarily on color and shape, rather than lighting and shadow. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Watauga Cabin"

Landscapes - Oil

This peaceful cabin scene was what the artist saw one day when he was fishing, and then looked the other direction behind him. Tucked in the woods was this little (or not so little) cabin. The title tells us the location of the scene, right beside the Watauga River in the mountains of North Carolina. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Turtle Island"

Landscapes - Oil

This scene was inspired by a trip to Turtle Island, amid the Niagara River near the falls. There are footbridges (pictured) to the island, and the river is swift as it approaches the falls. You can make out the Minolta observation tower in the distance. Scott Plaster's work is available at:

Titled: "Tazewell Mountain"

Landscapes - Oil

This scene is based on the landscape of Tazewell, Virginia. Its style helped the artist embark on a new series of landscapes focusing on color, form, and line. Scott Plaster's work is available at: