Mola Salsa, 2013 Eric Wert's still life's nearly vibrate with saturated colour and decadent detail that somehow exceeds the limitations of realism. In Mola Salsa, a stone molcajete seems to exalt its earthly contents to the level of ambrosia—the food of the gods—accompanied by a golden tequila offering. Not surprisingly, Wert began his career as a scientific illustrator. His current approach is, he says, “more poetic than scientific." Wert received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a master of fine arts degree from North-western University. He paints in his Portland, Oregon, studio, and his work has been exhibited around the world. See more of Wert's paintings in Eric Wert: Still Life (Pomegranate, 2018). With subjects ranging from fine art, nature, and architecture to humour, the metaphysical, and more, Pomegranate's interlocking jigsaw puzzles combine stunning images, superb colour reproduction, and sturdy construction to delight generations of novice and veteran puzzle solvers alike
