As seen in the July 2010 issue of. American. Collector

Transcription

1 As seen in the July 2010 issue of American Collector

2 UPCOMING SHOW Up to 25 works July 1-31, 2010 John Pence Gallery 750 Post Street San Francisco, CA (415) SHOW LOCATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA NICHOLAS HILTNER Figures in the land A mere twentysomething, artist Nicholas Hiltner spends his days as a Senior Fellow at Hudson River Fellowship and his Saturdays teaching at Grand Central Academy of Art in New York. This ongoing education complements his past studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the classical training he later received from Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier. With such rigorous training under his belt, Hiltner s work has been well-received and exhibited in various group shows across the country, most recently an exhibition of top figurative artists at John Pence Gallery. With that successful show behind him, Hiltner now prepares for his first solo exhibition at the gallery throughout the month of July. Best known for his figurative work, in this group of paintings and drawings, Hiltner combines figures in landscapes that are based on studies of rocks, trees and skies he rendered during annual summer treks to the picturesque Catskill Mountains. Those visual reminders help me generate ideas for a coherent scene in which to place a person, says Hiltner. For a while I was painting small-scale figures, having fun creating an intimate world with tiny brushes. More recently I ve been working on larger figures, around half life-size. These have required more intermediate stages, more planning for the increased scale. Working in a classical realist style, Hiltner presents a wide range of subject matter in varying sizes, including a self-portrait, a portrait of his brother, and a reclining figure set near Kaaterskill Falls, a two-drop waterfall on the north side of Kaaterskill Clove, one of his favorite spots. He balances the body of work with fruit still lifes of subjects he has never attempted before, like mandarins. Hiltner s main inspiration is the subject itself. He can spend hours, days or even weeks studying and understanding a potential model for his painting. This long courtship requires Forest Floor, oil on linen, 10 x 8" Figure Study for Twilight with Foot Detail, oil on linen, 11 x 7½" 118

3 Twilight on Calgauraidh, oil on linen, 34 x 30" 119

4 Mandarins, oil on linen, 9 x 15" The Gallery Says... Nicholas Hiltner is a young painter who comes out of the Jacob Collins school. A stand-out student, he has now assumed a leading role as teacher in the Grand Central Academy of Art. His work is stellar and his reputation is growing amongst discerning collectors of note. John Pence, Owner, John Pence Gallery Portrait of the Artist s Brother, Age 23, graphite and white chalk on paper, 11 x 7½" that he spend much time on each painting, making this show his first and largest to date with up to 25 pieces quite an endeavor for the young artist. On the upside, he says, the process reminds him to practice what he teaches his students about making sure each work includes different elements all while balancing deadlines. I hope when people look at my work they see that technically they re done well, the drawing skills are accurate, and I hope that they connect to the piece, says Hiltner. I want people to like my paintings and appreciate the different aspects of it. Hiltner begins by painting the figure first and later deciding the type of landscape to add as background. The detailed backdrop in Twilight on Calgauraidh required extensive planning and preparation by the artist. The nighttime seascape is based on a sketchbook filled with studies he did on location in Scotland. In traditional chiaroscuro fashion, Hiltner sets one of his favorite models against black rocks covered in moss with a starry sky above. I spent the longest time on Twilight because it s among the biggest in the show, he says. It was more challenging because of the background and all the landscape work. For a direct link to the exhibiting gallery go to 120

5 Forest Pool, oil on linen, 12 x 16" Forest Stream, oil on linen, 9 x 12" 121