Introducing the art of Gerald Stein (Interview)

GERALD STEIN

DESTIG TORONTO - ART | DESIGN | TRAVEL - ISSUE 09 / JANUARY 2021

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"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