CLASSICAL STILL LIFE with a CONTEMPORARY TOUCH Joss Van de Ven gleaned his knowledge from the masters of the best classical techniques. Now he puts a modern day spin on them to achieve still lifes that are fresh, full of life, light and vivid colours. Technique for the sake of technique and for showing off a kind of virtuosity may create some "wow", but to my mind it has no real value. A painting has to be an illusion with a soul, not an exact replica of reality. Photography can do that much better. That's why I like the art of painting. The artist can create something, using reality as a tool, that a photographer may never be able to do. They can create their own light, mix colours that may not really exist, or forms that would be difficult to find in the real world. A painting is the product of an artist's fantasy or imagination, giving them the opportunity to create their own universe. The artist can make a painting "come alive". Next