Today’s Artsy Fartsy Artist is Maria D’Angelo. Maria and I met through a mutual friend on facebook. Her profile picture caught my eye, because it’s one of her pencil drawings of a Native American. So, of course I had to contact her and compliment her on the wonderful art. Then I swooped in and asked if she would be interested in being a featured artist on the blog. She graciously said yes and sent me some wonderful pictures. One of the great things about being friends with Maria on facebook, is she is always posting pictures of new stuff she is working on.
Dog Soldier
Trump
Maria and I have emailed quite a bit back and forth. Talking about art, and things in general. I would absolutely call Maria a new friend. Isn’t the internet grand?!
Big Daddy
Maria sent me some information about her and the great art she creates.
Maria D’Angelo has been drawing since she was a child in Staten Island, NY. She says that she feels like she was born with a pencil in her hand and everyone that has known her since that young age agrees. Although she was born and raised in the east, it is the American west, particularly the Native American cultures and the western horses, that she chooses to capture on paper. These subjects have always been of great interest to her and what Maria loves most.Maria studied fine art in college, but she feels her talent is natural and she considers herself primarily self taught. She spends many hours at different events taking hundreds of photographs from which she works from. Her works usually start with one of those photographs that inspires her, then evolve into compositions in which light against dark and fine detail are the primary focus. Maria says that it is the fine details that her clients most often remark about when they see her drawings. “The detail in my work is usually the first thing that draws a person to it. They are always amazed by it.” While she has worked in different media in the past, it is the pencil she always comes back to. It’s her tool of choice, she says, because it gives her great control and versatility.
Cheyenne
“To me art is a synthesis of my personal feelings, a subject that inspires me and my materials and techniques. Realism is my primary goal. I want my subject to look as though it will come to life and canter or walk off the paper.”
Dixons skip a rock
I strike first
Awards: 2010 “WAOWing the Golden State” – Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation award 2010 NJ State Fair – 1st place drawing 2009 Horses In Art cover competition – Honorable Mention 2009 Western States Horse Expo’s Equine Dream Art Show – 1st place drawing 2000 NJ State Fair – 1st place drawing
Pride of the Nez Perce
Exhibits: 2011 Mountain Oyster Club Art Show, Tucson, AZ 2011 AAEA Fall Open Juried exhibit, Georgetown, KY 2011 Western States Horse Expo Equine Dream Art Show, Sacramento, CA 2011 American Academy of Equine Art Spring Invitational, Lexington, KY 2011 Western Spirit Art Show, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
2011 In The Company Of Cowgirls Art Show, Pendleton, OR
2010 Heart Of The West Art Show & Sale, Lander, WY
2010 HITS on the Hudson Equestrian Art Show, Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock, NY
2010 WAOWing The Golden State Art Exhibit, Wieghorst Museum,
2010 AAEA “Salute To The World Equestrian Games” Lexington History Museum, KY
2010 Rocky Mountain Horse Show Denver, CO
2010 Empire 100 Art Show Tucson, AZ
2009 NJ Equine Artists Assoc. Fall Invitational
2009 Western States Horse Expo Equine Dream Art Show
Tried and true
Publications: Horses In Art Magazine Spring 2011 PKA’s Advocate April/May 2011 and Aug/Sept 2011 covers Western Horseman Magazine May 2010 Sidelines Magazine October 2009
Memberships:
NJ Equine Artist’s Association
Women Artists of the West – associate member
American Academy of Equine Art – associate member
Galleries:
Mountain Trails Galleries, Sedona, AZ
Common Ground Art Gallery, Red Lodge, MT
Be sure and visit Maria’s website for more of her great art. mariadangelo.com
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oh my! I am sitting here in complete AWE! Maria’s work is simply amazing and I can see how you had to send her a message once you saw it.
My father was an Editorial Cartoonist and I used to be an Art Major. My material-of-choice was also pencil but I never, EVER created ANYTHING as superb as the portraits that are shown above.
They DO appear as if they will jump off of the page, they look like photographs only with more detail. I cannot begin to imagine the incredible talent it takes to create such wonderful masterpieces. Maria truly has a gift! Thank you for sharing her “gift” with all of us!
Caren, you are welcome. I love to be able to share these great artists on the blog. Art is meant to be shared after all.
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