Marc Dalessio
FINDING BEAUTY IN ORDINARY PLACES
by Amy Stockwell Mercer | above: Cafes in Hvar
Marc Dalessio believes it’s the painter’s job to see beauty everywhere.
“If people can see the beauty in the world around them—not just the obvious beauty of our great parks or an incredible sunset, but the beauty in the small, mundane locations that they pass everyday—then I believe their lives will be more fulfilling.”
Painter Marc Dalessio
Based in Croatia, Dalessio travels extensively throughout the year, and the “mundane locations” he captures include villages and towns in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Africa. His love of travel is most likely part of his genetic makeup. Born in Los Angeles, from the age of 6 to 10 Dalessio lived in the Fiji Islands where his father was a regional director of the Peace Corps. The beauty of Fiji and his native California instilled a love of the natural world. After studying art in college, he moved to Italy and trained at Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence.
This spring Dalessio will be on location in Charleston for his show at Ann Long Fine Art.
Mali Ston
Working in plein air is Dalessio’s method of choice, and while his travels sound inviting, painting out in the elements is not easy. (Think of lugging around heavy equipment and standing for hours at a time in good and bad weather.) When Dalessio was working in Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, the weather was so rough with rain and high winds that he had to paint for hours at a time holding the canvas in one hand. Working in the Austrian Alps required foul weather gear to keep his hands and feet from going numb. A lot of time is spent scouting locations by car or boat, but the reward is worthwhile. “I was trained with an Impressionist methodology of sight-size, which requires the subject to be in front of the artist. My philosophy on painting is to take a humble and reverent approach to viewing the natural world.”
The Cathedral, Dubovnik
The painting Cafes in Hvar was painted while Dalessio was sailing around the Dalmatian Islands and captures a picturesque scene of a quiet afternoon under the sun. Dalessio spotted a village on the island of Vrnik from the sailboat that inspired him to return the following year so he could recreate the view. “I think it’s important both
Tina in a Turban
to paint a specific landscape as well as convey the emotion it generates in me. I spend a great deal of time looking for a subject that will work for my purposes. Once I’ve found a view that I feel a strong reaction to, I then try to transfer that emotion, via good draftsmanship and clever use of composition, colors, and paint handling, into a work of art that will resonate with other people. The training I went through and the skills I’ve acquired are the means to this end. What’s wonderful about this is that, ideally, anyone who sees the work of art will experience it through the eyes of a professional painter whose job is to see beauty everywhere. That’s what I strive for.” The large-scale landscape painting of Vrnik is a great example of this intention. The sun-dappled island with lush green trees, a clear green blue sea, and a mountain range in the distance depict a scene of tranquil beauty.
Dalessio will visit Charleston in advance of his show at Ann Long Fine Art in May. He will paint in the city for a week, and the country for two weeks, where he will work under Charleston’s warm sun to capture the unique beauty of the Lowcountry.
Vrnik
Marc Dalessio’s Charleston
MAY 27 – JUNE 30, 2016 | Ann Long Fine Art
54 Broad Street, downtown Charleston
annlongfineart.com
Opening Reception Friday, MAY 27, 2016
immediately following the Spoleto USA Opening Ceremony, approximately 1 – 3 PM.
Visual Artist Profile
Townsend Davidson: Unexpected Relations
Collector’s Feature
The Home of Janet Porcher Gregg
Spring Festival Guide
Spoleto Festival USA
Stay Connected:
Comments (0)
No comments yet
The comments are closed.