Vincent Giarrano: Tales of New York

Artist’s Biography

Vincent Giarrano is an American realist painter. The focus for his work is painting life in New York City. His work is also about contemporary women and their experiences in a city environment. Mr. Giarrano is represented by leading fine art galleries across the US, as well as some overseas. He has also exhibited in major museums, like the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Bio Source : Sugarlift

Interview
Artist: Vincent Giarrano

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

I’m from Buffalo, New York. I grew up in the suburbs just outside the city.

Where does your inclination for art come from? When did you decide or realize that you wanted to be a professional artist?

At an early age I started drawing, and quickly found that I got a rush from creating arT From then on, being an artist became my main focus.

You first started working for Marvel Comics; how did that happen and when did you decide to switch into realistic painting? What are your best childhood memories related to comics?

I collected comics and drew from them for a long time. In college, I majored in fine art. At first I explored many media , but then I gravitated to sculpture which interested me the most. I studied sculpture in graduate school too, but I continued to develop my comic art as well. I planned to pursue illustration because I didn’t see sculpture as a realistic career. My first comic book was published while I was finishing grad school. It was one of the Spider-man titles for Marvel comics. After college, I moved to New York City and started drawing books for Marvel, as well as DC Comics and Darkhorse. I didn’t begin painting until after I left comics. I felt there was something else that I was supposed to be doing. To figure this out, I started a process of writing, and that led me to painting.

Your art often references things, people, and places in SoHo, New York City. What is your connection to that neighborhood?

Yes, SoHo was one of the places I worked and hung out in when I got to the city. When I started to paint, my memories clicked for that as a subject. The more I painted it, the more it made sense for what I wanted to say about the city. From there I explored other parts of the city for subject matter.

Who are some of the artists, writers or musicians, either past or present, that have inspired you?

I strongly identify with art that’s about contemporary life: French painters like Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet of the Realism movement, and the Ashcan School artists, like George Bellows, John Sloan, Edward Hopper, and Robert Henri. I love many from the French Impressionist period too, like Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. For music, Punk and New Wave has meant the most to me.

Can you speak about your creative process and art making? How long does it take you from the moment of creation to the final result? What visual references do you have when starting a new project?

The amount of time varies quite a bit. I usually start by writing about ideas or who I’m planning to paint. I’m big on planning so I create many drawings and oil studies. Those steps really help me figure things out before I move on to a large finished painting. I never rush into a painting, and I only work on one artwork at a time.

Where would you most like to see your art exhibited?

I’m happy to exhibit in galleries or museums, wherever people can see my work. I feel seeing them in person is the best experience.

Is there one of your paintings that you feel particularly connected to? Can you share with us the story behind it?

I have a lot of favorites, but one I feel particularly good about is a painting of my friend Ashley. I wanted to create something that felt like a true contemporary portrait. I like to work in series, so for this series, I chose limited and definite parameters. It’s basically a full figure against a background.. I think it succeeded quite well. Ashley’s mood and clothing were strong and powerful, and the gritty background echoes her beautifully.

Do you have a studio routine? What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?

My years in illustration helped me develop a routine of working regular business hours. For studio items, I love my Hughes easel. It’s well-designed and many easels just aren’t.

What do you like doing when you are not painting?

Figure drawing with a nearby group is great fun. I also will occasionally create a piece of sculpture. I love cooking too.