Artist Reception: Rocco Pisto, painter Back to the Origins, featuring musical guests Mary Sicilano & Julia Siciliano

Artist Statement: As a painter for over fifty years, I never tire of the experimental process of starting a piece and solving the design problems along the way to make it a finished work. Spontaneity, discovery, individuality, analysis, visual balance, contrast, and contradiction all summarize my thought process. I find that no two paintings are the same, and I cannot paint the same thing twice. My technique of painting abstractly by dripping, pouring, splashing, and brushing paint allows the work to evolve until it meets my criteria of what constitutes a successful piece of art. The adrenaline of marking pristine, white Arches Watercolor paper with paint is a euphoric process that never loses its newness or interest.

I attack each painting with somewhat reckless abandon, letting the emotional expression take over. No two paintings are the same. In starting a painting, I’m looking at color gradation to set a mood in the work. Using large mop brushes to dance over the paper, I create veil washes and let the paint dry in cloud like shapes. I don’t paint from sketches, or drawings, I paint directly on to the paper. If you ever saw the video of Jackson Pollack painting on the ground on a piece of glass – and then watched the splatters and drips – you can sense what I’m feeling.

My goal is to create spontaneous looking pieces that I will want to look at forever, never getting bored. Though the paintings have freedom about them, they are still controlled by an understanding of art design and aesthetic. Working with a large painting gives the sense of being in the painting; working from all angles, top – bottom – sides. I have no fear of destroying the painting if pushed too far. The piece has a life of its own.

I am not a timid painter – I am always trying to push the boundaries to create imagery pieces. These paintings are made up of pure color and form. The last few years my pieces have become a combination of abstract washes against straight edge forms. I use various tapes – from automotive detailing tapes to artist tapes – to create varying degrees of straight edges as well as bleeding and seeping painting.

I am looking forward to seeing where the paper, paint and brushes take me next.

About Rocco: Rocco Pisto has spent over 50 years as an artist, focused primarily on abstract watercolor painting. Rocco earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with post-baccalaureate studies and Master of Fine Art work at both Wayne State University and Eastern Michigan University. As a graduate student, Rocco was granted a teaching fellowship. Currently, Rocco is President Emeritus of the Michigan Watercolor Society (MWCS) after serving for more than 10 years on the board holding various positions. He also holds both a Signature Membership and Great Lakes Fellow designation in that group; as well as memberships in the National Watercolor Society, International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA), and the Brighton Art Guild. Rocco’s art work has won several awards from different nationally recognized artists that jury the MWCS Annual Exhibitions. He has also been asked to jury various community exhibitions and provide experimental watercolor workshops. Currently based in Michigan, Rocco has exhibited in a number of galleries in Ohio, Michigan and Arizona.