My primary interest in art is to be in love with my next painting. A personal satisfaction is achieved by combining the beauty of my surroundings with the integration of color and brushstrokes.
My impressionistic style in oil painting evolves from particular imagery which I project upon the scene I have chosen to paint. In other words, combining the realism of the actual subject with the images of what I feel, I am able to paint the visible reality and that which is not so visible. This is commonly known as the creative process coming thru as my interpretation of the dramatic play of light upon the water, landscapes, and buildings onto canvas.
Using only the primary colors (blue, red, yellow, plus white), I find a challenge in creating, not only upon my canvas, but first upon my palette. Searching for lights, shadows, and values, the colors emerge from my palette onto the canvas in brushstrokes. As an accomplished draftsman, I find drawing directly with the oil paint adequate thus avoiding a “heaviness” to the essential lightness of my paintings. This allows me to paint quickly and move on to the next painting that much sooner.
The light of the Cape Ann area and Gloucester in particular is very important when painting outdoors and I strive to go directly to the scene to paint the light as it happens out there on location. I make an effort to capture the schooners when they are in GloucesterHarbor with the idea in mind that they won’t be around much longer. When a Captain of a vessel comes in to the gallery and exclaims, “there’s my boat”, that's the highest praise. Each painting of a particular boat has the name of the boat inscribed in the back of the canvas. This makes it possible for the history and stories of that boat and the men who sailed her to be looked up by the owner of the painting down the line. Upon request, stories can be written for the painting's owner. Just ask at Inquire@johnnesta.com
The lure of the light of Gloucester has drawn artists to this area for over a century. I often feel I am actually painting a portrait of the light itself, using the various subjects of my location to achieve this. I ask myself questions such as “What happens when the light is interrupted by this building or that boat.” Or “What happens to the light when it meets water and the reflections of the boats, wharves, buildings”. Or “What is light anyway?” I have learned to paint quickly to capture the ever changing light. It is very exciting to me to see if I can capture what I see. Early morning remains my favorite time to paint. Sunlight in its many guises has remained a subject for lifelong study.
Because I paint on location in all types of weather, from the comfort of my studio on wheels, I paint the same scenes in different; seasons, differing lights, and dramas as they appear. These challenges combine to create entirely new paintings every time I approach the canvas. It is always new, always fresh. I love what I do and feel very lucky to earn my living painting.
ARTIST BIO
John Nesta is a native of New England. He studied painting and fine art at the VesperGeorgeSchool of Art in Boston. Since 1968 Mr. Nesta has maintained his own gallery starting in Revere and moving on to Salem and being a co-founder of the Salem Art Association. Since then, the lure of the Cape Ann light has held him captive of Gloucester where he has remained working in the oldest art colony in the United States, the Rocky Neck Art Colony.
