Summer Teaching at the MAG

Two classes I taught this summer at the Memorial Art Gallery's Creative Workshop were "Botanical Drawing: Observing & Drawing Nature" and "Your Radical Work: Risk-Taking Artmaking." Each of these classes met five times a week, for one week each. I found both classes very enjoyable.

"Botanical Drawing: Observing & Drawing Nature" took place from July 10th - July 14th. The class was composed of adult students who were all already interested in drawing, and wished to focus on plants, leaves and flowers in their artwork. To my surprise, each of my students coincidently had a background in education. As a teacher, I believe I am always learning, and this class was more proof of that than ever! I also had a returning student who had taken a couple of my classes before, and it always feels great to have a student who wants to keep studying with me.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Botanical Drawing Class Demo, 2017, Mixed Media, 8 1/2" x 11"

"Your Radical Work: Risk-Taking Artmaking" is a two-week long class. I taught the first part last week, July 17th - July 21st. This class was composed of teenage students who worked on creating at least one portfolio based, mural themed piece.

In addition to working on their solo project, I had them work together on a group mural. Each student was given a 12" x 15 1/2" piece of watercolor paper. Then they were given a mystery image, that was a small part of larger picture, and they had to fill their watercolor paper with the mystery image. Once everyone had finished their individual section, all parts could be put together to solve the mystery.

Thomas Hart Benton, Boomtown, 1928, Oil on Canvas

Sketches of Monet Paintings

These are sketches I made based on paintings by Monet.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Sketch of Monet's Snow at Argenteuil, 2016, Pencil on Paper, 7" x 10"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Sketch of Monet's The Magpie, 2016, Pencil on Paper, 7" x 10"

Here is a video I made that shows my sketch of Monet's "Thaw in Argenteuil" being made.

Hundred Acre Pond

My latest painting, titled "Hundred Acre Pond," started as a plein air oil painting.  It was started the same day I did my Plein Air Lily Pads Pastel Drawing on 10 May 2015, on location in Mendon Ponds Park. After bringing it home, I continued to work on it in the studio until it was finished. These photos show the progressions of this piece, from a strictly plein air painting, to a finished studio painting.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond Underpainting 1, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond Underpainting 2, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Hundred Acre Pond, 2015, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Plein Air Pastel Dawings

This spring, I've created pastel drawings en plein air. These drawings were made outside, on location. After I painted a wash of semi-transparent orange watercolor paint over the surface of my paper inside, I would start, and finish the pastel drawing outside.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, View of the MAG, 21 April 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Outside the MAG, 23 April 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Plein Air Lily Pads, 10 May 2015, Pastel on Toned Watercolor Paper, 18" x 24"

Pastel Practice

This summer, I will be teaching a pastel course at the Creative Workshop titled Pastel Drawing En Plein Air. In order to be ready, I've been practicing my pastel drawing of local landscapes outside, on location. These are three of my practice drawings:

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Outside the Coffee Shop, 2014, Pastel on Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2" 

Joseph D. Tarantelli, The Horse and The Garden, 2014, Pastel on Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Flora, 2014, Pastel on Viridian Paper, 10 1/4" x 16 1/2"

Space Monkey Episode 1

The Bots 1

Fall Oak Print

My latest piece is titled "Fall Oak Print." It is a 4-Color Intaglio-Type Drypoint Print. In order to create this piece, I needed to carve four separate printmaking plates. The journey started with a colored pencil drawing of my subject as the guide.

I cut four plastic plates to the same size as the colored pencil drawing. After that, each plate was assigned one of four colors: Yellow, Red, Blue or Black.

With this in mind, I began to scratch lines into each plate with a Drypoint Needle. The plastic allowed me to see through the plate in order to carve the correct color in the right spot. For example, anywhere I saw yellow (or a color with yellow in it, like green or orange) in the image, I would create marks on the plate that would carry yellow ink from the plate to my printmaking paper.

Once every plate was fully carved, it was time to ink them. Starting with the Yellow plate, I carded the ink onto the surface.

After the plate was fully inked, the excess ink was removed by gently wiping the plate with a piece of cheesecloth.

I repeated the same steps using the Red, Blue and Black plates with their respective ink.

Finally, all four plates were inked. It was time to print all four onto the same piece of paper in the same spot in order to create the print. I cut a piece of watercolor paper to the right size and let it soak in water for over 20 minutes. Once it had soaked, the paper was blotted off to make it just damp enough to print on.

The plates were printed in order of light to dark using a Richeson Baby Press. First the Yellow plate was printed.

Then the Red plate was printed, after that the Blue plate and finally the Black plate.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Fall Oak Print, 2014, 4-Color Intaglio-Type Drypoint Print, 6 3/4” x 4 15/16”

I enjoy the results! This print, or an edition just like it, is available for sale on my website www.JosephTarantelli.com for $25.00. Happy printmaking!

Vitality of Color

Gallery r's Vitality of Color Exhibition in Saunders 3rd Floor Art Gallery at RIT includes my "Mendon Ponds Lily Pads" and "Perkins Stream 2" pieces.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Mendon Ponds Lily Pads, 2012, Oil on Canvas, 22" x 28"

















Joseph D. Tarantelli, Perkins Stream 2, 2012, Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Redefining PCP*: Students & Alumni interpret *Poetry, Craft, & Performance

My painting titled "Pine Tree" is up at the Redefining PCP*: Students & Alumni interpret *Poetry, Craft, & Performance exhibition at Gallery r.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Pine Tree, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 32" x 34"

Deconstruction of a Painting (Unfinished)

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Deconstruction of a Painting (Unfinished), 2012, Video

President's Office Exhibition

My painting "Perkins Stream" is up in Rochester Institute of Technology's President's Office Exhibition.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Perkins Stream, 2011, Oil on Canvas 20" x 24"

CIAS Faculty & Student Invitational Exhibition

Gallery r's CIAS Faculty & Student Invitational Exhibition includes my Oak Tree piece.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Oak Tree, 2011, Oil on Canvas 30" x 40"

21st Annual Members Exhibition

"Field Pastel" is included in Rochester Contemporary Art Center's 21st Annual Members Exhibition.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Field Pastel, 2011, Pastel on Paper 16" x 28"

Winter Exhibition at Liberty Hill Gallery

My "Pine Tree", "Winter Waterfall 2" and "Nancy's Garden" pieces are up at Liberty Hill Gallery, located at the house of the President of Rochester Institute of Technology.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Pine Tree, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 32" x 34"

















Joseph D. Tarantelli, Winter Waterfall 2, 2011, Oil and Glass Beads on Canvas, 20" x 50"






Joseph D. Tarantelli, Nancy's Garden, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20"

Maker's Mark

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters Maker's Mark show includes my "Oak Tree Colored Pencil" and "Pine Tree Pastel" pieces.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Oak Tree Colored Pencil, 2011, Colored Pencil and Ink on Bristol Board, 12 1/2" x 15 5/8"













Joseph D. Tarantelli, Pine Tree Pastel, 2011, Pastel on Paper, 16" x 17"

September Art Crescendo

"Mendon Woods Pastel" is up at The Mill Art Center & Gallery's September Art Crescendo show.


Joseph D. Tarantelli, Mendon Woods Pastel, 2011, Pencil and Pastel on Paper, 10" x 25 1/8"

Fall Exhibition

Gallery r's Fall Exhibition in Saunders 3rd Floor Art Gallery at RIT includes my "Winter Waterfall 2", "Pine Tree", "Nancy's Garden" and "View from the Bridge" pieces.

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Winter Waterfall 2, 2011, Oil and Glass Beads on Canvas, 20" x 50"






Joseph D. Tarantelli, Pine Tree, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 32" x 34"

Joseph D. Tarantelli, Nancy's Garden, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20"












Joseph D. Tarantelli, View from the Bridge, 2011, Oil on Hardboard, 24" x 34 1/2"