The artwork of
Michael Vincent is a unique collaboration between painters Michael
Maselli and Vincent Silvano. Together, the artists achieve a
remarkable and impressive quality of work, merging and enhancing
two unique styles.
Collaboration has always existed
among artists in some form. Art history has many examples of
famous collaboration - from Rembrandt with fellow Dutch artist
Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp; to Gauguin and Van Gogh (where the artists
painted together and inspired each other’s work). Famous
artists of the Renaissance and other eras had “studios”
where much of the actual work was done by teams of large apprentice
artists. In recent years, there were a few amazing collaborations,
including Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Francesco Clemente’s
joint painting efforts. Many
art critics still believe the first impressionist painting of
the Seine was a collaboration between Monet and the old man
that he would frequently visit in England (British master Joseph
Mallord William Turner)
It is possible that destiny
brought Michael Maselli and Vincent Silvano together, as the
two seemed to be living parallel lives with poignant commonalities.
The two met at a blues guitar jam session in Los Angeles, and
had an instant connection. It was soon discovered that their
grandfathers both hailed from the same province outside of Rome,
Italy. Both were born and raised on the East Coast, and their
wives lived blocks from each other in New York City during the
same time in the 80s.
In the past decade Vincent Silvano
has received tremendous recognition for his life size murals.
He studied at the Cal Art Institute and Art Students League.
Michael Maselli has been actively involved in tandem painting
and drawing sessions with several well-known contemporary artists
over the past 15 years, but considers himself a self taught
artist.
Maselli and Silvano share a
similar aesthetic vision and affection for figurative painting.
While their individual styles vary (Vincent Silvano leans toward
a refined, classical technique, while Michael Maselli paints
in an exuberant abstract-impressionistic style), together they
merge beautifully.
They are highly skilled in their
use of “Chiaroscuro”, an Italian term describing
contrast between light and dark, to achieve a sense of three-dimensionality,
especially in regards to the human figure.
Their paintings are heavily
textured and modeled after the old masters. Each painting begins
with a drawing in pastel pencils, and is slowly built up. The
result is luminous and captivating, fusing modern impressionism
and classical technique. This unusual partnership between the
artists is based on mutual trust and appreciation, a perfect
and unselfish balance.
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