Portraiture is an area of art that has been explored throughout history and continues into the modern era. I see myself as an artist continuing in this tradition by conveying my own admiration of the human form and facial character using a variety of mediums to achieve my images. I often use photographs to inspire my work because photographs have an fascinating power to evoke experiences of nostalgic sentimentality in viewers. My hope is to portray my subjects in a similarly personal manner, whether it be through their expressions or postures. My working pace tends to be fast as I combine charcoal, oils, graphite, and acrylics. As a result my works include both photo-realist representations and looser distorted images, depending on what I believe will be most effective in portraying each subject authentically.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2016 Part II Watercolor and Mixed Media Exhibition
Education:
2014 – MFA Drawing and Painting, State University of New York at Albany. (current)
2011 – B.F.A Studio Arts, Concentration in Drawing and Painting, State University of New York at Oswego.
2000 – Associates Degree, Fine Arts, Munson Williams Proctor Institute of Art, Utica NY.
Exhibitions:
2014 – LARAC 120 degree masters exhibition, LARAC Gallery, Glens Falls, NY.
2012 – Portraits (solo exhibition), Classic Styles Salon, Oswego NY
2011 – Student BFA Exhibition, Tyler Art Gallery, SUNY Oswego, NY.
2011 – Lakeside-Statewide Juried Art Show, Oswego Arts Association.
2011 – Best of SUNY Art Show, NY State Museum, Albany NY.
2011 – 48th Juried Student Exhibition, Tyler Art Gallery, SUNY Oswego, NY.
2010 – Student Exhibition, Penfield Library. (Faculty selected).
2000 – Student Exhibition, Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute:Museum of Art. (Faculty selected).
Related Work Experience / Professional Experience:
2012-2014 – Student Teacher Art 105 General Drawing, SUNY Albany
2010 – Commissioned large scale mural painting and full time design position, Green Planet & Mustard Seed Franchising Corporation, Syracuse, NY.
2010 – Commissioned mural (oil painting), Garafolo’s Importing, Oswego, NY.
Organizations:
2010-2011 – Member of The Student Association/Art Exhibition Committee at Oswego State University.
2000 – Self portrait selected as title piece for Pratt Institute, at Munson Williams Proctor Institute of Art Brochure, Utica NY.
Awards:
2011 – Honorable mention at the Lakeside Statewide Exhibition.
2011 – The Robert Sullins Studio Award for demonstrating growth and ability in the studio area.
Feel free to visit Dustin’s website: www.dustingarafolo.com