Eric Armusik

Hometown:

Hamburg, PA

Statement:

I am a representational artist that paints contemporary scenes in the manner of the Old Masters.  My paintings reference the artwork of the 17^th Century Caravaggesti to heighten the drama of my compositions and to infuse deeper meanings into the narratives.  My paintings express the emotions, energy, and strength underlying my experiences as an artist, a husband, and a father.

I use oil-based pigments on panels I prepare by hand.  Painting surfaces vary from oak to precious linens stretched over oak panels and all are sanded to a silky-smooth finish. I paint with traditional Italian and Flemish techniques, layering thin glazes of oil paint like the Old Masters. The end result is a glowing, vibrant surface, with richness and depth.

I graduated with a B.F.A. in painting and an art history minor from Pennsylvania State University in 1995 and spent a summer semester abroad in Todi, Italy, where I was introduced to masterworks by Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi, my major source of inspiration. In 2008 I began studies at Studio Incamminati, the atelier of the famed portrait painter Nelson Shanks.  In 2003 I was honored to represent the United States at the Florence, Italy, Bienniale. My work has been featured at the Salmagundi Art Club, Allentown Art Museum, Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College, Hoyt Institute of Art, State Museum of Pennsylvania, and Reading Public Museum.

Other: