A Note From Brian
Painting in New Hampshire.
Color. Composition. Creativity. It all happens in the moment, when I’m in front of a canvas. And I’m thrilled I discovered that painting brings me such a great deal of joy. What else brings me joy? Nature. Travel. People. Animals. Other art forms: Dance. Sculpture. Theater. Storytelling. And these subjects often (always?!) find their way into my paintings.
Process-wise, I either paint en plein air or from photographs. (I have to be looking at something when I paint.) My work is representational, and I strive for it to be realistic with a bit of heightened emotion, either from vibrant color, close-up composition, or surprising contrasts.
I studied at the New School with my painting mentor, artist Betty Tompkins, and traveled with her and Arts Pro Tem, as she taught outdoor painting workshops in New Hampshire, Montana and Scotland (I’ve never seen so many sheep….). To this day, I do an annual retreat to New Hampshire with the same group of roving artists: we all take our painting seriously, but not ourselves. We call it Art Camp for adults, and it’s been a highlight of my year for over 20 years now.
Betty recommended me to New York University’s Continuing Education division, where I’ve now been an adjunct faculty member for 15+ years. I teach Studio Painting indoors, as well as a summer course, Landscape Painting in Central Park. For me, painting and teaching are incredibly complementary. When alone in front of my easel, I’m having a conversation with my painting about what’s best in the moment to achieve the ultimate creative expression of whatever idea I’m developing. As an instructor, I’m having that same conversation, yet with other artists on their behalf. Both pursuits are equally fulfilling.
The groups of paintings introduced here represent glimpses from three of my best travel experiences: hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, to celebrate a friend’s birthday; a journey to visit a friend’s home turf in Istanbul, Turkey, and; on safari, exploring the Serengeti with travel writer Kevin Richberg in Tanzania. I hope seeing my paintings might encourage you to go visit these places for yourself some day.
If you have any questions about particular paintings or potential commissioned works, feel free to contact me. In the meantime, thank you for visiting my site and enjoy exploring BrianMcCaffertyWorks.
Process-wise, I either paint en plein air or from photographs. (I have to be looking at something when I paint.) My work is representational, and I strive for it to be realistic with a bit of heightened emotion, either from vibrant color, close-up composition, or surprising contrasts.
I studied at the New School with my painting mentor, artist Betty Tompkins, and traveled with her and Arts Pro Tem, as she taught outdoor painting workshops in New Hampshire, Montana and Scotland (I’ve never seen so many sheep….). To this day, I do an annual retreat to New Hampshire with the same group of roving artists: we all take our painting seriously, but not ourselves. We call it Art Camp for adults, and it’s been a highlight of my year for over 20 years now.
Betty recommended me to New York University’s Continuing Education division, where I’ve now been an adjunct faculty member for 15+ years. I teach Studio Painting indoors, as well as a summer course, Landscape Painting in Central Park. For me, painting and teaching are incredibly complementary. When alone in front of my easel, I’m having a conversation with my painting about what’s best in the moment to achieve the ultimate creative expression of whatever idea I’m developing. As an instructor, I’m having that same conversation, yet with other artists on their behalf. Both pursuits are equally fulfilling.
The groups of paintings introduced here represent glimpses from three of my best travel experiences: hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, to celebrate a friend’s birthday; a journey to visit a friend’s home turf in Istanbul, Turkey, and; on safari, exploring the Serengeti with travel writer Kevin Richberg in Tanzania. I hope seeing my paintings might encourage you to go visit these places for yourself some day.
If you have any questions about particular paintings or potential commissioned works, feel free to contact me. In the meantime, thank you for visiting my site and enjoy exploring BrianMcCaffertyWorks.