Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Healing Power of Art



Here is what keeps me painting every day:

My best friend and wife of 25 yrs passed away from complications caused by Parkinson's Disease, an incurable illness.  The trauma during the illness and sense of loss after she passed was almost unbearable. Caring for her became my purpose for living. When she was gone I floundered and wandered almost aimlessly for two years. I sold, or gave away most of my possessions, and carelessly wasted my savings.

 
Accepting an invitation from a dear and helpful friend, I settled in to the pristine mountains of Southwest New Mexico where I started teaching art to kids and painting the awesome scenery that surrounded me. 


After two years of semi-solitude (no TV, no cell phone reception, 70 miles to the nearest town) and nearly a hundred paintings and sketches later, I can finally say that I am healed. It was the soothing properties of aesthetics that kept me going, and now I am ready to share that quality with whoever would like to repair or enhance their life. 


My paintings here represent the best of my best inspirations. The mountains, prairies, sunsets, sunrises; the many moods of the forest and the dressings of the seasons have brought me to the point of a need to communicate an exquisite feeling of exhilaration, and that is the art as well as the purpose of the art…..to share those emotions…that feathery touch of spirituality and exhilaration.

If you would like to learn more about me or my paintings, to purchase a painting, or to discuss gallery consignment, send me an e-mail….. fineartjp@aol.com

Meanwhile, scroll down to see my latest works.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Top Of The Mountain


"Top Of The Mountain"
impressionism
by
Jack Providenti


oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches

Davenport Mountain, New Mexico was a land of erupting volcanoes about 2 million yrs ago. This scene is near the top of the mountain...9ooo ft above sea level where the pines are thinner and the brush is thicker. While it's no longer barren up there you still get a strong sense of quite solitude.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Rabbitbrush & Woods


"Rabbitbrush & Woods
impressionism
by
Jack Providenti

8 x 10 inches, oil on board

Just finished re-working this painting of rabbitbrush. The colors and texture of this wild plant add something to the New Mexico landscape...especially, I think, in the mountains. They bloom in the Fall, but look pretty interesting all year long. The ones in this painting are roughly 5 ft in diameter. Painted with brush & palette knife.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sparkling Woodpile


Sparkling Woodpile
impressionism
by
Jack Providenti

8 x 10 inches, oil on board

The morning brought a hail storm. The layer of ice it left melted instantly with the rising sun and the steamy atmosphere created a prism for the sunlight to filter through. I took a few pictures of the event which were reference for this painting. Done with brush and palette knife.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Spirit Of The Woods


"Spirit Of The Woods"
impressionism
by
Jack Providenti

18 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

This is a larger and more vivid version of "Forest Enchantment", a study that I did a short while ago. Here the sunlight creates interesting effects. It pours and filters into the woods, penetrating foliage and reflecting local colors. This was painted with brush & palette knife.

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Forest Winter's Thaw


" A Forest Winter's Thaw"
impressionism
by
Jack Providenti
8 x 10 inches, oil on board

This scene is deep in the mountain forest. In the summer, downpours of torrential rain carve arroyos into the landscape. This one holds the only snow that hasn't begun to melt during a January thaw. I painted it using palette knife & brush.