Michael Tomasso
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I am a retired high school Social Studies teacher from the Pottsgrove School District. Following my retirement in 2005, I coupled a love of travel with a lifelong love of art into a second career. I am a self taught artist in the mediums of oil and pastels. Beginning in 1996, I began organizing trips to Europe on a yearly basis and I have used that travel experience to incorporate subject matter into my paintings. The most influential country in my travels is Italy which I have visited twenty five times and have used its natural beauty and diverse landscape as my major influence. The sunny climate of Italy has brought a brightness to my palette and has continued to influence this creativity through my paintings. On my recent trip to Venice, the startling uniqueness of this city captivated me and brought a change to my palette and my approach to capturing light. The artists, Turner, Whistler and Sargent, were intrigued by Venice’s beauty and they have greatly influenced my painting.
In recent years, I have traveled to Ireland and the Normandy region of France and these trips have given a different perspective on subject matter as well as a different understanding of color and light. Taking a cue from various world famous artists, I traveled the Atlantic coastline from Cape Ann, Massachusetts to Bar Harbor Maine gathering subject matter and inspiration for future artwork.
I was a member of the Chester County Art Association and have displayed works in various shows at the West Chester Gallery and in October 2017 was the featured artist at their Exton gallery. I have previously shown my art work in a shows at the Indian Valley Public Library in Telford, PA and recently at Stella’s Restaurant in Sellersville, PA. I have exhibited my works at the defunct Berwyn Art and Photo gallery. My paintings have been accepted into the annual juried Schuylkill River Heritage Art Show at the Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown and the Montgomery County Bar Association show, Courting Art, at the Blue Bell campus. I have participated in past Chadds Ford Gallery’s annual Christmas miniature show.
I reside in Harleysville