Vincent Garriano is a contemporary American realist painter and former comic strip artist. He became interested in drawing at an early age, and by the age of 12, the choice was made. He went on to obtain his BFA from the State University of New York in 1982 and an MFA from Syracuse University in 1985. He subsequently pursued a career at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, among others, as an illustrator. He attributes his years of experience drawing comics to the development of a sense of narrative structure.
Vincent Garriano ‘s paintings are marked by photographically realistic scenes of a carefully observed sense of place, offering small details of everyday life. For a series set in New York’s bustling SoHo district, Giarrano painted from a number of unique vantage points, for example from the top of the underground stairs, looking down on a figure emerging from the basement.
Around 2000, Vincent began to take an active interest in fine art again, particularly realist painting. He meticulously studied the works of John Singer Sargent, took part in workshops and painted with friends.
From the middle of the decade his work began to appear quite frequently in group and solo exhibitions. His work has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC and the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Vincent likes to paint the omnipresent experiences of everyday life. For him, these fleeting moments can have something of infinite significance. It was also extremely important for him to capture light effectively and create a moody atmosphere.
“Painting New York is an endless source of inspiration. The energy is incredible. For me, it’s all about the people and the architecture. The city is so monumental with its huge monoliths and vast canyons. The variety of people is also immense: interesting, creative and cultural. There’s a serious intensity throughout the city, a larger-than-life feeling”.
“One of my favourite neighbourhoods in New York is Soho. I love the classically inspired architecture contrasted with contemporary elements; new buildings, graffiti and vibrant people. Other parts of the city are just as attractive and it’s wonderful to discover the special character that each one has”.
“The people of the city are also an endless source of inspiration. I love getting to know my subjects, finding out what they look like and seeing the environments they identify with”.
“Storytelling is an important element in my work. I find that the questions that arise from my scenes engage the viewer and draw them in. It’s like an exploration, and that’s also one of my favourite things about being a painter: exploring and trying to figure things out. Sometimes it’s about discovering my subject, and sometimes it’s about formal concerns, making the composition work and getting the colour harmony right.”
“One day, I painted a fashion blogger during Fashion Week. Her room was covered in clothes and beauty products, overflowing with beautiful shapes and colours. I was able to capture part of her experience as she worked on her blog, totally exhausted, lying on the hotel bed, dressed in the latest designer clothes, her laptop askew. I loved capturing her energy, her interests and all the chaos that characterises her life at Fashion Week”.
“One of the things I find fascinating about New York is how it’s a constantly changing environment. You’ll see scaffolding regularly consuming buildings, new designs inserted into old structures, whole areas like Hudson Yards modified.”
“Graffiti and utilitarian marks in the streets come and go. The runes are about these transitory elements. The figure moves through the scene, through this place, through life and at this moment; its form reflects the character and intensity of the steel columns”.
“I love painting in series; it allows me to focus on one subject and explore it fully. It’s also great to move on to another series for a change, then come back to what I was working on with a new perspective.”
“I find that painting is about appreciating the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. As an artist, slowing down and capturing beautiful moments allows me to appreciate and share the wonderful things in life”.
Interessant point de vue,mais moi j’aime rêver devant une peinture.J’aime entrer dans un monde plus beau.
Ici c’est pas le cas.
je comprends chacun sa sensibilité