Iantorno is not only skilled at creating fine-art compositions but, as a musician, he is also familiar with song composition. Understanding the shared principles among these similar languages gives the artist a nuanced approach to line, value, and color. Additionally, he holds a degree in business, and he applies that skill set to his artistic pursuits in order to increase visibility and share his still-life, portrait, and figure paintings with a wider audience.
His efforts have paid off. He won the Gold Medal in Oil Painters of America’s Western Regional Exhibition in 2019 for his painting DELFT PITCHER WITH STONE FRUIT AND EUCALYPTUS. The painting showcases his ability to pull his subject out of the shadows and into the spotlight to tell a story. “It was a challenge to balance the foreground and background elements,” the artist says. “I spent a lot of time finding that equilibrium between emerging and receding elements, creating interest through the background tapestry but not letting it compete with the play of light in the foreground.”
Looking forward to the year ahead, Iantorno plans to spend even more time in his new studio. He says he will take with him the lessons from 2020, including eliminating distractions that stifle his creativity. He also has specific goals related to his technique. “I’d like to simplify the value structure in my paintings, to make color or temperature changes rather than value changes,” he says. “I would also like to cultivate more awareness through keener perception, as paintings are a direct reflection of an artist’s perception.” Written by Allison Malafronte, Southwest Art magazine