Gerard Bianco Studio

  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

 

  "Best Friends" by Gerard Bianco Rückenfigur is the German word that translates to Back Figure, or figure from the back. An artist has the option of painting people from the front or from the back, which begs the question: why would an artist paint a person from the back? Is it because he has trouble painting features? Are his noses always too long? Are the eyes in his portraits always pointing in opposite directions? No, not typically. The reason an artist paints a person, or people from behind is to create an atmosphere of wonder, both in the person being painted, and in the person gazing at the painting. Having the viewer think about what is going through the mind of the subject in the painting puts them in direct communication with the subject’s thought process. The viewer suddenly becomes one with the subject in the painting, which causes an impactful psychological effect upon the viewer. No longer are you, the viewer, looking at a typical portrait, thinking that this p...

"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 ...

        Back in 2011, I introduced my 6-Step formula for writing a short story. I published it again in 2014. Here it is once again with a few changes and a much better graphic. I thought it would be a good idea to resurrect the formula for those who may have missed it. It works the same today as it did back in 2011. This formula also works for writing other short formats such as flash fiction and even a novella.         A short story usually contains 1,200 - 7,500 words. The short short or flash fiction usually contains between 100 – 1,200 words. Experienced non-fiction writers can usually spit out 1200 words before breakfast.          But, when it comes to writing a short story, an experienced fiction writer knows that short fiction can be more difficult than writing a full-length novel. The brevity of the story constricts the wordsmith, depriving him of deep development of a character, the plot, and setting as he/she ...

  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!

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Hi, my name is Gerard Bianco, founder of Storyteller Marketing, and on  May 22, 2018 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM I'll be presenting an exciting Webinar that will increase your impact. It's titled:   4 Power-Pack Ingredients that will Skyrocket Your Elevator Speech This webinar is presented by ACE – The Association for Consulting Expertise     https://www.consultexpertise.com Do your palms sweat when you're called on to give your 60-Second Presentation at a networking event Do you stutter and fumble when someone asks what you do? Do you want to run and hide when you’re in a room full of  people and it’s your turn to discuss the benefits of your products and services? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this webinar is for you! I hope you'll join us  for this fun, informative webinar. May 22, 2018 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Here's the link to register: https://www.consultexpertise.com/events ...

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A question came up today: What's the secret for writing a good plot twist? As you already know, there's nothing like reading a short story or a novel that has a terrific plot twist. Readers loves to be caught off guard. It adds fun and excitement to the end of the story. The author looks good, too. The reader greatly appreciates his or her talents. So, what's the secret for coming up with a twist that will make the reader buy every book you've ever written? Simple: You can't wait for inspiration to hit you as you're writing the story. You need to have the plot fully worked out before putting pen to paper, or fingers on the keyboard. You have to know what the twist will be before you write it. Then, like a great magician, you keep throwing the reader off guard with red herrings as you write your story. Mislead your reader. Take him or her down paths that end abruptly. Let them get lost in the maze of deceit. Finally, when the reader thinks he might know ev...