GERALD STEIN
DESTIG TORONTO - ART | DESIGN | TRAVEL - ISSUE 09 / JANUARY 2021
BEST OF 2020 | TODAY'S GREAT CANADIAN ARTISTS | SPECIAL ART FEATURES | HOT PICKS
"HOW MARVELOUS THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH SUCH MAGNIFICIENCE FROM THEIR BRUSHES AND CHISELS." - ANONYMOUS
"Foremost I try to evoke the experience of a place and what I find exciting as a source of inspiration. Many of my paintings feature the unique polarity between city and countryside, the contrast between the natural space of the landscape and the urban space defined by the architecture."
0202 FO TSEB GITSED
I paint what inspires me and try to capture the
different composition ideas as well as colour schemes in
experience for others to appreciate. Currently my
watercolour to gain confidence on the path chosen.
motifs come from medieval French and quattrocento Italian scenes I have encountered while travelling.
You have spoken about many of your paintings having as
I was educated at MIT and UC Berkeley before
their subject: 'the architecture of cities'... Please explain.
emigrating to Canada. For many years, I was a
Cities are shaped by imagination and collective memory.
partner in a successful Toronto architectural
My experience of how architecture has shaped urban
practice.
form and landscapes is the subject of many of my paintings.
You are a successful career architect, painter, and writer... What similarities are there in your approach
You focus on Italian and French cities... Why do they
to your creative pursuits?
particularly appeal to you?
There is the initial excitement of sketching ideas and
My interest in Italian and French cities started with
trying to express what I find interesting. But I explore
studying Renaissance art and architecture in university.
this in different ways before committing to a
Later when I was able to travel I became inspired to
particular approach. In painting this means trying
sketch and paint various scenes, initially to capture the
"For me architecture begins with sketching ideas and then refining and developing them in a more precise way. So in a sense it's similar to how I approach painting."
experience and eventually to also express
materials. Initially I was drawing with
its beauty. To me there is an emotional
charcoal, pencil and ink and found it very
response where the built form engages
enjoyable, but soon wanted to use colour
the landscape, climate and light of its
as well. That led to pastels where I could
place.
quickly add colour without having to mix or use water. I found sketching captures a
How has your architecture background
vitality, energizing the drawing and
been advantageous to your art?
painting in pastel offered a wide range of
For me architecture begins with sketching
expression.
ideas and then refining and developing them in a more precise way. So in a sense
How did you develop your skills?
it's similar to how I approach painting.
I had taken a challenging free-hand
Furthermore many of my paintings
drawing course at university that was
involve buildings in a cityscape so it helps
more art-oriented as opposed to the more
for
technical
me
to
know
how
they
were
constructed.
drawings
required
for
architectural studios. Afterwards I would occasionally take life-drawing classes to
What sparked your interest in painting?
keep up my skills. Although largely self-
I was able to travel for work and vacations
taught in pastels I have taken pastel
to interesting places and I would always
workshops with Margaret Evans, Wolf
bring a notebook and some sketching
Kahn and Terri Ford among others.
"There are still smaller towns in Tuscany and Umbria that I would like to explore and sketch."
"I feel mostly joy in working on something that I love. At the same time it's always challenging, constantly aware of how the painting is developing and knowing what to do next. I feel the painting may never be finished but if I have expressed what I have intended then it is time to stop."
What thoughts and emotions do you want to evoke in
What are some of the main challenges you encounter
viewers of your work?
when painting these cities and how do you overcome
Foremost I try to evoke the experience of a place and what I
them?
find exciting as a source of inspiration. Many of my
Painting in larger cities can be daunting. I try to paint
paintings feature the unique polarity between city and
earlier in the morning when there are fewer people
countryside, the contrast between the natural space of the
around and children are in school. If I'm sketching in a
landscape and the urban space defined by the architecture.
notebook I can usually find a bench or ledge to work
from. Painting in smaller towns is much easier. I can set up an easel or spend longer working on sketches. People will approach and say a few words but I've never had any difficulties. Share with us some insight into your process. I have a few processes that I use. For plain-air pastels I apply the pastels directly on a sanded surface, usually a 9x12 inch surface. For plain-air sketching I use a 9x6 inch pad and apply watercolour over a pencil sketch. In both cases I'll try to do a complete composition without too much editing. When working in the studio I will use the on-site sketches plus photo references to make thumbnail sketches and larger watercolour studies to work out the composition, value studies and colour palette. These in turn form the basis of larger studio pastel paintings where I freely draw and paint with pastels building up the layers often using watercouler as an underpainting. I find there is an interplay between the underpainting, the absorption of pastel by the paper and the surface reflection of pastel that is fascinating. What do you feel when you are painting? I feel mostly joy in working on something that I love. At the same time it's always challenging, constantly aware of how the painting is developing and knowing what to do next. I feel the painting may never be finished but if I have expressed what I intended then it is time to stop. What can we look forward to from you in 2021? Hopefully later in 2021 travel will become possible again. There are still smaller towns in Tuscany and Umbria that I would like to explore and sketch.
"Painting in smaller towns is much easier. I can set up an easel or spend longer working on sketches. People will approach and say a few words but I've never had any difficulties."
"To me there is an emotional response where the built form engages the landscape, climate and light of its place."
What are you proudest of in regards to your painting
"I am proud that my paintings have been well received by the public and fellow artists."
career? I am proud that my paintings have been well received by the public and fellow artists. It is reassuring that the thoughts and feeling I have put into paintings have been recognized. Which Renaissance painters particularly inspire you and why? There are many but certainly Raphael, Leonardo and Piero della Francesca stand out for their paintings, architectural ideas and innovations in perspective. There is a boldness in their sketches and paintings that has remained fresh to this day. In pastel I think the work of Degas and Monet showed the potential for the pastel medium to be inspiring. I have also found the work of less well-known nineteenth century French artists such as Leon Augustin L’Hermitte and Henri-Jean Guillaume Martin interesting and helpful in my development. Website: www.geraldsteinfineart.com