THOMAS HENRY GALLERY :: Artist Biography


ARTIST'S STATEMENT Through my paintings, I attempt to synthesize the long tradition of classical realist painting with the inspiration of the relatively new art medium of photography. By drawing on the skills from my previous photography work I utilize the camera to create intimate “portraits” of my still life subjects. The pre-painting photographic study offers a very specific way of observing and capturing a subject. While using the photograph as a visual reference I then proceed to draw and paint with the sight-size method and other classical techniques in the same way painters have worked from casts or life drawing for generations. As realist painter, I work toward creating a painting which embodies the historical techniques of nuanced paint handling and lighting. Painting in this tradition is an exploration that moves me further away from the original photo and allows me to continually explore these mediums finding where they converge and where they separate. I use my fascination with paint’s unique qualities of luminosity, texture and blending to achieve this goal. In my paintings of fruits and vegetables, my goal is not only to provide a realistic image of the subject but also to capture the object’s uniqueness and “character.” I continue to build the layers of paint while exploring a diverse range of contemporary color fields and compositions frequently inspired from modernist and abstract painting. My objective is to develop these paintings until they express an emotive experience unique to the subject and the medium of oil paint. Born:1964 Providence, RI EDUCATION Tom Ouellette Atelier, Boston, MA Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA Museum Of Fine Arts School, Boston, MA Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA. BA PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 1985-2004 CS Photography, Inc.Owner, artist director, and principal photographer. EXHIBITIONS & REPRESENTATION 2007 Jessica Hagen, Newport, RI 2007 Thomas Henry Gallery Nantucket, MA 2007 De Cordova Museum And Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA Annual Auction 2007 Windemere Gallery, Rockport, MA 2007 Jules Place, Boston, MA 2007 Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA 2007 Boat Meadow,Gallery MA 2007 The Firehouse Gallery, Damariscotta, ME 2006 Jules Place, Boston, MA 2006 Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA & Block Island, RI 2006 Lyman-Eyer, Provicetown, MA 2006 The Donovan Gallery, Tiverton, RI 2006 The Firehouse Gallery, Damariscotta, ME 2006 De Cordova Museum And Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA. Art In The Park 2005 Boston International Fine Art Show, Boston, MA 2005 Jules Place, Boston, MA 2005 Lyman-Eyer, Provicetown, MA 2005 De Cordova Museum And Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA. Art in the Park 2005 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 2005 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA 2005 Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA & Block Island, RI 2005 Four Winds Nantucket, MA 2005 The Donovan Gallery, Tiverton, RI 2005 J. Demeri Gallery, Rockport, MA 2005 La Provence, Rockport, MA 2004 Annisquam Gallery, Gloucester, MA 2004 La Provence Gallery, Rockport, MA 2004 J. Demeri Gallery, Rockport, MA 2003 La Provence, Rockport, MA 2002 Oasis Gallery, Gloucester, MA 2002 La Provence, Rockport, MA 2001 J. Demeri Gallery, Rockport, MA PUBLICATIONS 2007 RI Monthly 2005 Cape Arts Review 2005 Provincetown Banner AWARDS 2006 Best In Show Providence Fine Furnishings Show Bill Chisholm 212 Dartmouth St Box 2 Pawtucket, RI 02860 978-337-6186 E-mail: bill@billchisholm.com