
After an extended career as a graphics designer, Tony Andrade shifted his focus onto art full-time, devoting his attention to exploring his love of both art and photography. Artscope Magazine editor Brian Goslow first saw Andrade’s work in the Copley Society of Art’s “Winter Members Show: Full Spectrum” exhibition, which he reviewed in Artscope’s March/ April 2020 issue. While he was fond of “Evidence of Growth,” a painting of Andrade’s that captured the exploding color and harvest of a botanical summer garden, it didn’t make his review because it felt separate from the rest of the work. Now, with all of us desperately craving a warm relaxing summer, it seemed that is was the perfect time for him to talk to Andrade about his nature-inspired artwork.
BRIAN GOSLOW: TELL ME ABOUT THE “EVIDENCE OF GROWTH” PAINTING IN THE “FULL SPECTRUM” EXHIBITION AND HOW IT WAS CREATED — MY FEELING IS THAT IT’S A PERFECT PORTRAIT OF A VIVID SUMMER GARDEN. HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
TONY ANDRADE: It is only the third oil in this series which I’m calling my “Garden Series” for now. It’s 36-inches square. I started doing these in watercolor approximately two years ago and switched to oils near the end of last year. I finished another in oil, which is 4” x 3”, about a month ago. I love having fun withbotanicals and working with patterns and movement in this way. I think whatever you see in the painting is fine and it can be yours to hold on to. I love that.