Artist Bio

After leaving art school Tony worked as a graphic designer for various small companies and studios. Then as an advertising art director he left and started freelancing as a designer/art director. It grew into a small firm of his own doing projects in the healthcare field to publication design for national publications for clients such as the U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. Open Tennis and their affiliated publications.

• Painting since the 80s, I’ve been exploring more in my painting for the past few years. From a garden series, to oil/wax abstracts, to recent landscapes.

• I look for inspiration whenever and wherever life occurs. Often you don’t have to look any further than your own garden. It can inspire you in the most profound—or yes, in its simplest ways!

• As a former designer/art director I like the message to be clear, concise and even confusing at times. Whatever it takes to draw the audience in. Whether they stay is the trick. I do explore more these days. I believe change is good for the soul. When I start a new painting I want it to take me to new places, it’s what I find so appealing in making art. It can be daunting at times and us artists can struggle with it. Creating something unique and relevant to who I am is my own goal. When I think I’m getting closer I feel that pull. I’m not sure why, I just try and make the most of the ride.

• I’ll leave you with your own questions and hope your answers are satisfying to each of you. •

 

Main Subject

Abstracts and landscapes

 

Materials and Techniques

I use traditional watercolors (Windsor Newton) on 140 & 300lb Arches papers. My Garden Series paintings are imaginary works which sometimes have been referred to as “magic-realism” in style. They are intricate and highly detailed in a patterned approach technique. People respond well to the palette and intermingling of imaginary plants. My landscapes, in a variety of oil paints, begin with my own photographs and observations over the years in travels and day-to-day living. My goal with the landscapes are to simply capture a sense of place, of common scenes that we live around and through each day. These landscapes are a welcomed break from the detailed watercolors. Done over the past two years the oils are to help sharpen my approach so I can teach oil painting classes, which I have done with watercolor in the past.

 

andradesign@comcast.net

http://tonyandradeartist.net