Sunday, March 12, 2017

Caniglia - Guillermo Del Toro Exhibition

This past week I spent some time in Minneapolis. I love visiting my sister and her amazing family. We went to The Art Academy in which I was able to talk to the upcoming artists and the Atelier’s master instructors Sarah Howard and Jim Robison. I also experienced the wonderful baristas and coffee at Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Company.

One of the highlights of my trip was the galleries and Museums of Minneapolis. I had the opportunity to go to the opening at the Minneapolis Institute of Art of “At Home With Monsters”, a new exhibit from the collection of Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.  The exhibition is incredible and was packed with lines all weekend. Del Toro has created a timeless horrific visions of the past and future.

Del Toro had some incredible insight and quotes about current events in the United States and around the world. He talked about how current society has dismantled the difference between “truth and lie” which has caused society to lose sight of our compass as humans. He also talked about the idea of Imaginative realism and fantasy.  He said, “For me fantasy is a way to make peace with a whole side of our existence and our cosmos that any other sane thing does not deal with. We have many dimensions in our lives. One is social, one is political. We have to be involved in that. One is as a citizen and another is as an artist.”

The exhibition features hundreds of items from his personal treasure trove which included many of my fellow friends and artist. Tom Kuebler, E. M. Gist, Travis Louie, Bernie Wrightson and Edward Gorey. The paintings, drawings, sculptures and books are from different time periods of the World of macabre works. Some are inspired by imaginative realism, Kitsch art, Surrealist, animators, illustrators, dark art noir films, classic movies, and literature that have inspired Del Toro’s journey. It was nice to see the Minneapolis Museum exhibit works of fantastic and imaginative figurative art in a major showcase event.

If you get the chance, try to see this exhibition or by the catalogue which is well worth the price. I have included some pictures from the event.


Caniglia









Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Caniglia Landscape Paintings


I have been doing some landscape studies over the past 3 weeks and I thought I would show a few of the paintings as well as my sketches. These will be part of a gallery exhibition in NYC this summer. When painting landscapes, I do not use a lot of bright hues. I love to use subtle earth tones, like browns, blacks, and other neutrals on my palette. I love nocturne landscapes with subdued color. My goal is to create a cohesive work of tonal harmony by composing my works based on values, as opposed to color. I also push the soft edges and try to get lost in the mood of the trees and atmosphere and the poetic side of what I see in nature.  Melancholy, misty, and atmospheric effects are the goal in any timeless landscape.

I will post more updates soon.

-Caniglia