NICK SPADAFORA  – Incurably Romantic

A native New Yorker, Nick Spadafora is currently living in New York City. He describes his style of painting as “incurably romantic.” Early exhibitions were staged in huge dance lofts, which abounded in the 1970s and 80s, especially downtown in Chelsea and Tribeca. As a child, his request from his parents for Christmas presents was always for art supplies.

After graduating from Queens College with a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, he moved into Greenwich Village. He instilled a love for art with the children at All Souls Unitarian School on Lexington Avenue and E. 77th Street (children ages three, four, and five years old). He also worked with older children in Chinatown, at P.S. 42 on Hester and Ludlow Streets, highlighted with a school mural of Picasso’s Guernica, painted on a school playground wall.

Continuing his education and love of art, he studied at the Art Student League (now celebrating its 150th year on W. 57th Street). Under the guidance of Professor Marshal Glasser, he developed a skill for large-scale figural drawing, which greatly influenced all of his work. His recurring themes focus on nature, portraiture, animals, and color abstracts. His signature painting is an abstract rendition of the Mona Lisa.

In his collection, “A Summer Garden,” the body of which is a study of plant life, the artist attempts to capture the vibrancy of their color. In a style reminiscent of Asian brush work, combining oil, pastel, and pencil for most pieces, a summer atmosphere prevails throughout. Using minimal lines and pastel shapes, he brings the atmosphere of nature indoors.

His most recent paintings concentrate on a Mythological theme. He draws inspiration again from DaVinci, in a 1504 black chalk drawing titled “Neptune”. Here, the ancient figure wrestles with sea creatures that are half-horse and half-fish.

Mythology continues to influence two other recent paintings titled “Covid,” represented by the figure of Medusa. Nick is currently working on a four-by-five-foot oil on canvas portrait of Neptune sitting on a cliff, featuring the Temple of Poseidon in Greece, with a rising Super Blood Moon.