Bob Santandrea Exhibits in August at Richard Boyd Art Gallery on Peaks Island, Maine

PORTLAND, Maine - June 25, 2014 - PRLog -- A reasearch scientist and patent attorney by training, Bob has been drawing, painting and sculpting on and off for 30 years. In Bob's words, " for many years, my primary artistic interests were in the human figure and portraiture. During that time, I worked mostly in charcoal. After moving to Corning, New York, I became interested in landscapes and re-discovered my love of pastels. I now primarily work in pastels. I usually begin my pastel paintings with an under painting of watercolor or oil. The softness and brilliance of pastel colors mixed with other media provides my work with a degree of luminosity, and allows me to take a more impressionistic approach to my subject. Much of my work has its start en plein-air and is a reaction to what I see in nature. The scene itself may be rather mundane on its face - such as a roadside view in a small town or an outcropping of rocks along a trail or shore- that evokes a sense of something noble or unique. Seldom does a man-made structure appear in my paintings, if it does it is often well weathered, suggesting the impermanence of our works with respect to those of nature.

Art was never part of my formal education. I have lived in and visited a variety of places, and the different experiences, tastes, and cultures have influenced my work over the years. My artistic education has included workshops, working informally with experienced artists/teachers, life drawing and plein-air groups, and self-teaching. I had the opportunity to paint with Thomas S. Buechner for a few years and have taken workshops with master pastellists to learn new approaches and techniques. I have enjoyed pursuing art simply as a means of self-expression and for the joy it gives me. It's a welcome change from my day job!"

The exhibit is on view free of charge to the public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily through August 31, 2014. The public is invited to meet Bob at a reception on Saturday, August 2, from noon to 3:00 pm at Richard Boyd Art Gallery, where he will be available to discuss his paintings. The gallery is located on Peaks Island, Maine at the corner of Island Avenue and Epps Street, in the first building on the right on the first floor. For additional information about the exhibit or reception please contact Pamela Williamson at the gallery by phone at 207-712-1097, via email at info@richardboydartgallery.com, or visit www.richardboydartgallery.com .

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