Gerard Bianco Studio

"Jubilee Park Covered Bridge" original watercolor painting by Gerard Bianco.  What attracts us to covered bridges? Could it be the feeling of nostalgia we get when we look at a covered bridge, our longing of the past when we felt that times were simpler, when we felt unified with other people, a time where we felt safe? We sometimes feel alone in this world where fierce trouble rains down upon us. The covered bridge represents the protective environment we inwardly seek, both in reality and metaphorically. The covered bridge swaddles us with its shelter, protecting us against the storm, keeping us dry and warm.  The covered bridge was built with the sweat and hard labor of men, not by cold, unforgiving machines that build the sleek modern bridges of today. We find companionship and a natured presence in the fruits of this hard labor. Covered bridges are usually situated in scenic environments that attract us, offering a quaint vision of when we were young and had more time an...

Back in the day, when I was studying painting and portraiture at the Art Students League on 57th Street in New York City, the book that was required reading in almost every class was “The Art Spirit” by Robert Henri. I refer to this book as, “The Art Bible” for artists. The content in this book is educational and highly inspirational for beginners, professionals, and everyone in between. I still have my copy, pictured here and below, which I purchased back in the 70s. (Did you catch the price I paid back then? $2.50.) I lovingly read this book over and over. As you can see, it’s been so well-read that it’s falling apart and held together with rubber bands. For me, it’s like an old friend I keep saying “hello” to, or an old pair of tattered slippers that are still so comfy. I like to underline important content in a book I’m reading. As you can see, almost every passage has been underlined. The information in this book is so deeply moving and important that whether you’ve been painting ...