This month, True Blue is excited to feature the work of John Schweitzer, one of our favorite customers. Please make a point to come and see his exquisite renderings this month during his show. All works are beautifully framed and available for purchase.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
In my work I try to portray the romantic as well as the aesthetic. Most of my work is figurative and representational. Using texture, color and delicate variations of shading I hope to capture the essential aspects of my subject.
I was educated in New York at the Art Student’s League and The New York Academy. I also attended The Pennsylvania Academy. Academic and classical realism has always been my greatest source of inspiration. I have also attended the Fine Arts League of the Carolinas located here the River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina.
The primary mediums I work in are colored pencil and pastel. They allows me to explore subtle textures and shades of color. I often work from digital photography as my starting point. I am never without my Sony Sure Shot 5.0. Often times when I am out for a local drive or RV-ing cross country, I’m clicking away to get a large reference file. When I’m back home in the studio I work out my composition on the computer. After I’ve worked out a pleasing composition I transfer a line drawing onto Mi-Teintes acid-free pastel paper. I prefer working on the warm gray tones. Later I render a grisaille underdrawing of titanium white and dark gray.
Prismacolor is my colored pencil of choice. I like their range of color and saturation ability. After the completion of the underdrawing; I begin laying on the color from light to dark. I blend colors using a Colorless wax pencil or turpenoid on a Q-Tip. I finish off my pieces with a soft layer of yellow ocher or Naples yellow to create a feeling of atmosphere and sunlight.
I thoroughly enjoy working in colored pencil. I find it very versatile in its ability to render high detail or soft lighting. I also enjoy using Prismacolor Neo-Pastels. I find them to be of great use when trying to get a lot of detail in a small pastel work. They also have excellent coverage and a great color range.
Please contact me for further information @ schweitzerarts@aol.com or call 828-258-6179
