"Maria" by Stephen D'Amato, oil on linen, 5/2010

 

 
   I finished this painting of Maria last week. I really liked the color of her sweatshirt and I wanted to create the painting in a harmonious manner. I also decided to use some shapes around her in a non-descriptive or vague way to keep the emphasis on her face and her Serene expression.

The Frick Collection: "European Painting Exhibition for 2010"

  The Frick Museum is showing European paintings from Dulwich Picture Gallery in London. One of the major collections of Old Master pictures in the world, particularly of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This is definitely on my list on shows I want to see this month.
  The featured works are; Rembrandt van Rijn’s Girl at a Window, 1645; Sir Anthony Van Dyck’s Samson and Delilah, c. 1619–20; Thomas Gainsborough’s Linley Sisters, 1771–1772; Sir Peter Lely’s Nymphs by a Fountain, c. 1650; Canaletto’s Old Walton Bridge, 1754; Gerrit Dou’s Woman Playing a Clavichord, c. 1665; Antoine Watteau’s Les Plaisirs du bal, c. 1717; Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s Flower Girl, c. 1665; and Nicolas Poussin’s Nurture of Jupiter, c. 1636–37. 

 Masterpieces of European Painting from Dulwich Picture Gallery
March 9 through May 30, 2010 
http://www.frick.org/index.htm
 

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island 9" x 12" Watercolor 2009

  

  I've painted this scene a number times. There is a section at Liberty State Park where both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are visible. My Grandparents came through Ellis Island back in 1912 I think?

Stormy snow weather photographs 2-10-10

 

 
  






  

  Went for a walk in the snow today and took some pictures. We really got a blizzard this time.

Interesting Lecture at the Art Students League Feb. 2, 2010

Jennifer Pena's "Return of the Raptor"

  Jennifer Pena gave a really interesting lecture with her birds of prey. A great opportunity for sketching and taking photographs.

(Photo by Rebecca Blackwell ©2003

"Eastman Plaza Building", Watercolor, 2009, 12" x 16"

   

   I painted this one Sunday morning. The town was a little more quiet and the coffee shop was opening up for the day. There is something about an early Sunday morning in a town when the pace is a little slower and more relaxed than usual. A memory of growing up in Pompton Plains, my Dad used to go to the bakery and pickup jelly donuts and crumb buns for our breakfast. This painting has some of that memory instilled in it.

   My watercolor and oil paintings done outdoors are refered to as "plein air"*  paintings and are painted a more loose manner than my paintings done in the studio. These "plein air" paintings are usually done in one session. There is a lot to consider in doing this type of work. The biggest challege for me is the changing of the light. I prefer working in the early morning hours or late afternoon, when the light and shadows are more dramatic.

  

*En plein air (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛ ˈnɛr]) is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

My sketchbook from the summer of 2009

  These are some of my preliminary drawings for my larger paintings that were taken from my sketchbook last summer. I worked on location in Cranford, New Jersey and Jersey City, New Jersey. With some or the sketches I added a little watercolor or just watercolor. The sketchbook for me is a way of organizing my ideas, reference for time of day and the light to be recorded. Sometime I'll do numerous studies before deciding on a final painting. The sketchbook is also personal, like a diary, with a sense of intimacy.

At the opening of The Ridgewood Art Institutes' exhibition

  Standing beside my painting "Jersey City Docks" during the opening reception last Sunday. A very good turnout and  a lot of good work to be seen.













Photo courtesy of Jim DelGiudice

Opening at the Ridgewood Art Institute's juried exhibition

   My watercolor painting "Jersey City Docks" has been accepted in the Ridgewood Art Institutes 30th Annual Regional Juried Show. The Opening Reception is on Sunday, January 24, 2 - 4pm.

  

The show is up from Sunday January 24, through Sunday, February 12. Gallery Hours are Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

  Address: 12 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ  07450  Phone:  (201) 652-9615

  for directions see: http://www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org/directions.html

  The Ridgewood Art Institute's Website is http://www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org/index.html

Inspriration: This is John Singer Sargent's El Jaleo 1882

One of my favorite paintings by Sargent. Check out the Virtual Online gallery in my "interesting sites" section. An amazing collection. This painting is at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It is on my must list to see. His watercolor paintings are some of the best if not the best. From time to time I like sharing some artists work that I find inspiring.

The Opening at the Small Works Show

   Posing beside my watercolor painting, "Wildwood Pier", at the opening of The Small Works Exhibition on Tuesday December 1st. The Show has been extended until January 24th, 2010.
   Manhattan Borough President’s Office Gallery1 Centre St. NY, NY

For the Christmas Season

 A couple of Churches I have painted in Cranford. This is a small watercolor study of the Alliance Church in Cranford. Below is a small oil painting. The watercolor is hanging in The Artist Framer Gallery in Cranford. At the bottom is an oil painting of the same church.

"Portrait of Jessica", by Stephen D'Amato, Oil on Linen, 12" x 16", 2009

I painted this last spring. I am going to be photographing more of my work in the coming months. I'm posting this one now but I'll reshoot it with better lighting.

Historic Photographs of Teachers at The Art Students League in NYC

   I love these old photos where the instructors wore suits and ties. I learned the most about Painting and Drawing at The Art Students League in New York City. There is no other place like The League and no other place that offers good instruction a low cost. Some of my favorite instructors were Michael Burban for anatomy and Costa Vavagakis for drawing. Sharon Sprung and Harvey Dinnerstein are great painting instructiors.

New Exhibitions

   My lastest showings include: my watercolor "Wildwood Pier" December 1, 2009–January 4, 2010
  Small Works Exhibition
Manhattan Borough President’s Office Gallery
1 Centre St. - December 1, 2009–January 4, 2010
and my oil painging "Morning Cup" at the Art Students League
215 W. 57th Street, New York, NY
  Holiday Exhibition and Sale
December 4 – 24, 2009
  The Hoiday Show at the Artist Framer in Cranford, NJ
North Avenue and Alden Street
is showing four of my watercolors through January 2, 2010.

"NYC Skyline", Stephen D'Amato, Watercolor, 22" x 15" 1997

   This is an older watercolor, a favorite of mine that brings back a lot of memories. My good friend Mark was kind to lend me his Jersey City Heights loft for the weekend. His place has huge windows that offer this great view of Manhattan. I was really inspired to be there.

Painting at the JACS Studio Tour, in May 2009, in Cranford

This was a fun day. I shared space with another artist at the gallery Simply.
JACS offers art classes and sponsors events like the Artist Studio Tour.
A painting a brief bio of mine is in their 2009 event.
http://www.jcas.org/ARTIST_PAGE.html

Wildwood Crest from the Beach, by Stephen D'Amato, watercolor - 12" x 16" -Sept. 2008

 This watercolor was painted from the beach in Wildwood Crest. The morning light is really nice hitting the buildings.

  This is from the boardwalk looking at the pier. Watercolor 9" x 6"

Inspiration: this is Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth 1948. Tempera on gessoed panel, 32 1/4 x 47 3/4"

   This is one of my favorite pieces by Wyeth. The one that made him famous. Beautiful narrative, Christina Olson was crippled as many of us now know. But not knowing that there was something romantic about this. 

   He painted his life. The people, the places and objects that meant something to him in whatever way. When I look at an Andrew Wyeth painting, I feel like I am stepping into his world.

  The Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA is a great place to see alot of his work. There are also a couple of tours - one of NC Wyeths house and studio and the other is the Kuerner's farm.

 http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/

"Young Woman in Violet", by Stephen D'Amato, Oil on Canvas, 11" x 14" (May 09)

 

This was a three hour painting session. I felt I captured the essence of her. I like feeling spontanious with this also the thickness of paint. She was an interesting looking model.

Inspiration: this is Edward Hopper's "Mansard Roof"

   I find a lot of inspiration from some of Hopper's work. His watercolors are fresh and loose. He also pays a lot of attention to the warmth of light. Hopper painted watercolors on location. Although with some of his paintings with figures seem wooden-like, the overall feel is very interesting, conveying feelings of stillness, loneliness, isolation and notations of city and vacation life.

  This website of Hopper's work and life is really interesting. A scrapbook as stated. Take a look.  An Edward Hopper Scrapbook

"Morning Cup" by Stephen D'Amato, Oil on Canvas, 8" x 10" (Aug 09)

 

    During the summer and on Saturdays I would make my morning coffee in this perculator that I've had for over 25 years now. I am always in search of the perfect or near perfect cup of coffee. 

   There are a few places in town that I grab a cup on the go. One favorite is City Grind on North Ave.  The coffee is always fresh and they are located across from the train station. They also have entertainment on Friday nights and some paintings hanging on their walls. Cool atmosphere - check them out. 

http://www.citygrindonline.com/

Exhibitions

   I am currently exhibiting four watercolor in a group show at the Artist Framer Gallery in Cranford New Jersey. The Artist Framer Gallery is located on the corner of North Ave and Alden St.

   The watercolors were done on location at various spots in the town of Cranford.

Jersey City Skyline by Stephen D'Amato watercolor 12" x 16" (July 09)

This one is done from the Battery Park area.

Jersey City Docks by Stephen D'Amato Watercolor 12" x 16" (July 09)

I also did some painting around the Jersey City area this summer. Some of the old docks were still in tack. The park restoration committee will tearing these down quickly if they haven't already. I enjoyed painting that rusty old spindle/wheel on the right.