Gerard Bianco Studio

  To be a successful artist, you must possess two important attributes. Number 1. Mastery of your medium , and 2. A vivid imagination . Let's first talk about Mastering Your Medium. It doesn't matter how long you've been working in art, whether you’re a newbie, or a seasoned veteran, you can't create what you want without first gaining proficiency over the tools you use to express yourself. This is true in most all forms of self-expression. How do you gain knowledge and understanding of your medium? Simple. It's like the old joke, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice. Learn the fundamentals of your medium. Learn techniques. Learn control. Don't let your medium control you. Once you have learned one technique, push this technique a step further to learn something new. Take it one step at a time. Study how other artists worked. Copy, decipher, drink the waters of knowledge. Become proficient with your tools. This is how you grow...

I'm excited to announce my solo painting and illustration show at the Meetinghouse Arts Gallery in Freeport, ME. Opening reception is May 27th. Please save the date. I'd love to see you there. It will be a blast! https://gerardbianco.com /

Boy, if ever I’ve wanted to go deep into the weeds, here’s my golden opportunity. There are many who will say that art has no purpose other than being art, even brushing aside aesthetics. You’ve all heard the expression, “Art for Art’s Sake,” which Wikipedia describes as “… is the usual English rendering of l’art pour l’art, a French slogan from the latter part of the 19 th century-it’s a phrase that expresses the philosophy that the intrinsic value of art, and the only ‘true’ art, is divorced from any didactic, moral, political, or utilitarian function.” In this little blog article, I am not going to argue the ‘true’ nature of art. If you believe that purposeful art is not ‘true’ art, then by all means, go right ahead. I do not follow that philosophy. I believe that to diminish and discount great works of art that were created with a purpose is to separate thought and art. With this in mind, I offer seven purposeful ways in which art has played an important role throughout histor...

Amid the hustle, bustle, concrete, and steel that make up Manhattan Island, Central Park is a welcomed oasis. One of the park's most famous sights is the Gapstow Bridge. It has appeared in countless movies and TV shows. It is a major attraction, offering one of the best views of the NYC skyline. In my painting, Central Park in Summer, the bridge gracefully stretches across the park's lake. An enormous variety of foliage in the foreground acts as a lush foil against the cool, hard surface of the bridge. The city's skyline peeks through the trees. Watch the Central Park in Summer Watercolor Painting Video on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEOR77dimkw Thanks for looking!