Photography That Looks Like Old Master Paintings

We were floored when we first saw artist Paulette Tavormina's still-life photographs featuring fruits and vegetables. Modeled after 17th century Old Master paintings, Tavormina uses a modern medium — photography instead of oils — to capture a similar look, and the effect is nothing short of spectacular. "I have long been fascinated by the magic of everyday objects, the majesty and delicacy of nature, and the world culinary delight," says Tavormina. "I have blended decades of photography and food styling with a love of 17th century Old Master paintings to create these still-life photographs."

Previously a prop and food stylist in Hollywood, Paulette is a largely self-taught photographer who collects the "props" for her photographs and creates the tableaus herself. We can easily imagine a trio of these in a kitchen or dining room — or anywhere, really.

The following photographs are part of a solo exhibition starting on March 14 at San Francisco's March. They are available for purchase by calling 415-931-7433.