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Augie Tantalo
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As a child growing up in northwestern Pennsylvania, I was always fascinated with the beauty of nature. The green, yellow, orange, red and purple colors within the various leaves of an autumn forest or country side were awesome. The dazzling white snow on a clear crisp winter day painted with the bluish gray shadows of naked trees along the side of a mountain were breathtaking. The huge billowy white and gray clouds against the deep blue sky, speckled with the contrasting black images of migrating geese and other birds were truly inspirational to me. Today nature continues to be very inspirational as I search for subject matter to use within my oil paintings.
Although landscapes were not the primary focus of the art created during my childhood, the fascination with details, so much a part of my paintings today, began within the hills surrounding the small city of Bradford, Pennsylvania. Portraits of people were probably my first challenge as I began my artistic career. At that time, proportions were my greatest challenge. Color wasn't always necessary as I pursued my early passion of drawing. Through a careful study of the human form I began to develop a very keen awareness of various details on skin and hair, patterns and color changes within a persons eyes or on various articles of clothing. Details became almost an obsession for me.
Today my media of choice is oil painting. Color and value have now become as important as lines, shapes, patterns and textures. The choice of subject matter is always changing. Although I consider myself a "Realist" in style, in content, I try to choose everyday or common subjects that are detailed enough to force the viewer to study my compositions a little longer than they would normally. I am trying to help the viewers to become more aware of the world around them. Our normal day to day world is filled with very abstract images and details that most people take for granted and don't look at long enough to recognize or appreciate. It is my primary purpose as a painter to point out these details in order to help them enjoy the world a little more.
He is a Chelsea Global 2006 Competition Winner and his winning Oil on Canvas “Gurley Street” can be seen at http://www.amsterdamwhitneygallery.com/art_acquisitor.html go to page 52 to see his art. Also, he is an award winner of the Allied Artists of America Award in the Grand National Exhibition in 2007 from the American Artists Professional League Inc. His artwork entitled “Window Shopping” can be seen at www.americanartistsprofessionalleague.org/grandnational2007.htm. |
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