original artwork • prints • giclèes
About
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Joe Masterson
Lives & works in Chadds Ford, PA
I've had a desire to create art since I was in kindergarten. As a young boy I never missed watching Jon Gnagy on television and asked for one of his drawing kits each Christmas. That began a life long journey into the arts. For me, nothing was more exciting than going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art or The Barnes Foundation and studying the "Old Masters". I'd look hard into their paintings trying to decipher their techniques. "Now I see" I'd say to myself, rushing back home to my canvas, only to find that...NOPE!...not quite grasping it yet.
The years moved along, and, like many, there was a family to support, so, painting became more of a hobby. Working in the graphic arts, I still was able to be creative, but, with a client to satisfy, you never really have the final say over the outcome.
About six years ago, I was able to devote myself, full time to painting and it's been blissful. I'm up before the sun and not eating dinner most nights till 10 but, I love every minute of it.
Even though I'd been at it for years, there were a lot more misses than hits. Out of my first 50 new paintings, probably about 5 of them remained in tact. The others were buried under fresh coats of gesso or completely reworked. It's the artist's curse...we always feel we could do that "a little better".
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On this site are paintings of people, places and ideas that inspire me. Each piece, an attempt to improve upon the last. As an artist, your rarely satisfied with anything you finish. Wouldn't be good if you were. Hopefully, with plenty of trial and error, you get to the point where your saying "NOPE" a little less often.