Illustrious Painter D. Eleinne Basa Takes Us On An Illuminating Journey Through The Streets Of New York And Italy

Gaze up at the resplendent architecture during a rainy nighttime stroll on one of the world’s most coveted blocks, the corner of Spring Street and Greene Street in New York City’s treasured SoHo neighborhood. Inimitable light guides you on a journey of peeping or popping into elite shops to adore the romantic Parisian blouses designed by Anne Fontaine, the animal-friendly items and of-the-moment groovy girl styles at Stella McCartney, or the free-spirited femininity at Chloé. Maybe you desire a new iPhone or want to host an event at Apple’s oldest store in New York City.

Soho Evening Rain, a lush 20-inch-by-16-inch oil on linen is among a dozen new oil on linen paintings comprising Basa’s solo exhibition, LuminoCity, which is on view through December 10 at Rehs Contemporary Galleries at 5 East 57th Street in New York.

“I wanted to do a series of cityscapes that captured light effects, so the night scenes with rain showed the most potential for almost abstract renditions but still show real scenes,” explained  New Jersey-based classically trained artist D. Eleinne Basa in an email interview. “However, since I am a very traditional naturalist painter, I am still drawn to rendering shapes that show realism like in the windows et cetera. However I can play with abstraction in the renderings of light reflecting on the streets or showing how light can bounce off different surfaces.”

Even hardcore downtowners venture above 23rd Street sometimes, and arriving in Times Square can be a delightful surprise, especially when showers force non-urbanites to seek cover inside chain retailers and restaurants. Times Square Lights charms even those who avoid tourist traps at any expense. Truly, it’s a joyful depiction of consumerist excess, which, when captured just right, is as intoxicating for a moment as the timeless neighborhoods where you prefer to spend a lifetime. 

“In Times Square, in the evening especially, there is so much bouncing lights, billboards, reflections, that it is almost an abstract medley of shapes against a black canvas,” said Basa.

Travel some four-thousand-plus miles to Lucca, a city and commune in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea, for an intimate walk along its cozy byways via the serene scene of Side Street Shadows (Italy).

“I am usually painting from plein air and photos but for this series it was mostly photographs.  From my years of painting plein air I know that the camera could not really capture the true colors especially in the shadows so I compensate for that,” said Basa.  

Born in the Philippines, Basa grew up in Manila and immigrated to the United States in 1994, settling in New Jersey. After raising two children, Basa built a basement studio in 2004 and dedicated her life to painting, a talent she began honing when she was eight years old. Basa’s landscapes engage the viewer’s gaze with their radiant light and luminescent qualities reminiscent of the early Luminists and Tonalists of the American School. She is inspired by painters like Thomas Moran and George Inness.

These small-scale works will fit in any global city apartment or adorn an elaborate display in a sprawling estate. These intricate paintings are selling quickly to folks eager to brighten their space with inimitable city views. I missed my chance at the multifaceted Soho Street Shadows.