Art Seen – Artist, Anthony Tomaselli

Artist, Anthony Tomaselli is constantly at work in his studio and the Providence Art Club. Both are filled with a new vitality, energy, life and atmosphere. Twenty years at the Art Club with many new memberships and successful classes – a great old organization made new again with a new vitality and some new blood. It’s a full circle from its humble beginnings.

Tomaselli has moved to the “Fluer du lys,” the first such artist studio in America’s distant past. It’s an amazing and delicious space beaming with creamy northern light and maintained in wonderful condition. It’s part of the Providence Art Club’ s complex and added new facilities. Tomaselli proudly gave me the 50 cent tour, energized with the same boyish enthusiasm that he exuded when I met him more than 40 years ago. He turns 60 this year. Tomaselli is the real article. He’s hungry to paint constantly and oozing with creative notions about teaching, art and philosophy. In earnest, he’s a loveable character by any measure.

Twenty years ago when the old Providence Art Club did an outreach for much needed new blood when the old was waning, Tomaselli may have been one big fish that they reeled in whether they knew it or not. He wasn’t alone and I’m not trying to imply that, but Anthony is highly motivated, creative and productive, and he creates positive energy from dust. And that boyish smile is worth a lot in a world often filled with dark moments – nothing negative here.

His painting classes are popular, his work sells, and his personal style is well received. Just in the short time I was there, folks dropped in to his studio – clients, other instructors, old friends. Anthony Tomaselli is well respected in the art community and gallery scene, and all for good reasons.

He outpaced most of his peers and developed into a Rhode Island-made success story as a loving husband of 31 years, a father of two adult children, a restaurateur with three to his credit, and an accomplished painter. I once dubbed him, “The Providence Painter,” though he paints more than scenery.

Tomaselli’s most recent 60 paintings, all works in oils, are his best, and his show will be at the Providence Art Club from October 20 thru November 8 with an opening reception on Sunday, October 20 from 1 pm to 3 pm. It’s sure to be a fine opening and a successful show. The work is on an entirely evolved plateau from earlier works. The heavy techniques-painting has been replaced with bolder, more abstract structure and filled with atmosphere and ambiance. It is very artfully done, and an impressive collection of his work.

Having followed Anthony Tomaselli’s work for nearly 40 years, it brings me great joy to feature him in Motif.  I hope that the readership will experience the paintings first hand and catch his upcoming show at the Providence Art Club.