I have always had a desire to creatively record my perceptions of the world around me, to capture a moment in time as seen through my eyes.
My formal training in painting and illustration began at the Parsons School of Design. My experiences there helped me to develop a strong foundation on which I began my career. However, it was the encouragement of some very fine teachers, especially George Wybenga, an ever-growing circle of great artistic friends and 14 years of work experience with the Fire Island Tide Newspaper that has enabled me to turn my dreams into reality.
I find myself intrigued by the use of light and shadow. My paintings bring out a great depth of field no matter the scope or the intimacy. I do not paint detail; I paint the impression of detail; there is a difference. This technique allows me to create a sense of realism in my paintings, something I believe to be a special and unique quality in my work.
In the future I would like to focus on the exploration of various scenic landscape possibilities that highlight close up fragments of detail; this may lend itself to the creation of unique and exciting compositional designs. I would also like to explore and create new kinds of paintings using the often over-looked and unseen details that surround our lives, to exploit these areas in full grandeur using light, shadow, form and composition.
Creating additional dimensions to my artwork, utilizing all that I have learned over the years, this is my passion. In essence, I find art embedded in everything around me; it is in all that I see and all that I feel. It is what inspires me each and every day. Art shall never end for me.
-John Mansueto
