Gerard Bianco Studio

Why am I showing you a photo of a 50-year-old, broken-handle paint brush? It's because I want to illustrate an important point that will save you, the artist, lots of money. Often, a new student will arrive to my classes with dirty brushes thrown into their art box that have bristles glued together with dried-out paint from their last painting session. They're brushes you wouldn't use to paint a fence much less a work of art. The paint brush you see in the photo above is my brush. It has been with me since I was a student. We've gone through many battles together and it has never let me down. Yes, it has a tired, worn-out, broken handle, but the old soldier's bristles work as well today as they did when they were new. That's because I faithfully clean my brushes with a solvent and wash them with a detergent after every painting session, making certain all paint has been removed. Then I shape the bristles to their original form and put them on my windowsill to dr...

  Below is a short video - a step-by-step journey through my painting process as I bring to life Maine's most treasured tourist attraction, the iconic Portland Head Light. Watch as paper, paint, and imagination come together to create a lasting image that comes alive. Discover more painting videos and artwork, including Giclée prints of the Portland Head Light at https://gerardbianco.com/

Please check out my interview published on the Catholic Artist Connection blog where I answer questions regarding artistic fulfillment, daily artistic practice, and practical resources for Catholic artists living in Maine. The Catholic Artist Connection kindly published my painting, Our Lady of the Lilies (seen here) as the cover-piece for their newsletter, Issue #518. Here's the link: https://catholicartistconnection.com/blog/gerard-bianco After reading the interview, perhaps you can share in the comments section below how would answer the same questions. I'm sure the readers would love to hear from you. Thanks, Gerard

I thought I'd begin a series of blog posts exploring the many ways the act of creating enriches our lives. Along the way, I'll also share some of the pitfalls, frustrations, and unexpected discoveries that are part of every creative journey. Although I'll often write from the perspective of a painter, many of these thoughts apply equally to sculpture, writing, dance, music, and virtually every other creative discipline. In this first installment, On the Journey of Creating , I explore a curious—and for many, perhaps baffling—feeling that often comes over me after I complete a painting. It's an experience I've discovered I'm not alone in having. I'd love to know if you've ever experienced something similar in your own creative work—or even in another area of life. As always, thanks for reading, Gerard Happy creating! ON THE JOURNEY OF CREATING It’s hard to explain, but when I look at one of my paintings the day after I’ve finished it, I often ge...

Welcome! I’d like to tell you a little story behind the rather unusual portrait pictured above. Many years ago, I had the privilege of sitting for a painting demonstration by the celebrated portrait artist Richard Whitney . The event was sponsored by the Metropolitan Portrait Society and held at the historic Salmagundi Club in New York City. Because it was a live demonstration, Richard painted only what time allowed—my head and a suggestion of a collar. And while I was honored to be the model, I was left with a portrait that felt… unfinished. It lingered in that state for years. Eventually, I decided to resolve it myself. At first, I sketched in a traditional suit and tie. Respectable, certainly—but uninspired. Then I thought, why not have a little fun? Why not step beyond the ordinary and paint myself in costume? The question became: which costume? The answer arrived unexpectedly. Just last week, while visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art , I came upon a portrait date...

Episode 1 - Mixing Colors I’ve been in the art field for approximately 50 years – painting, illustrating, teaching, lecturing. And in all that time, I’ve watched students make the same mistakes over and over. The mistakes that were made 30 and 40 years ago, are still being made by the students today. And it’s not just beginners who make these mistakes, it’s intermediate painters, and dare I say it, people who have been painting for a long time. In this series, we'll delve into the 30 most common art mistakes people make and how to avoid them. 30 mistakes, 30 episodes. It’ll be fun and instructional with solid time-tested content, and with tips and tricks to help you avoid these mistakes in the future. So, what do you say? Let’s get to it! Here's the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/vowHNDcy5RM