Artist's Statement

Galleria Giovanna Fine Art

Artist's Statement

Giovanna Lepore Bio

Born in Gardiner, Maine (b.1954) Lepore began formally studying art with Edna McGrail, a student of Andrew Wyeth. Lepore was inspired by the open untouched places in Maine such as confluence of Merry Meeting Bay in Dresden and Aroostock County’s, Great North Woods. The light of Maine influenced her early watercolors and oils in the” big sky series”. Lepore started to travel to Italy in the 60’s where she was exposed to the masters as well as Greek, Etruscan and Roman architecture on the mainland, and the islands of Capri and Sicily. After completing her degree in studio art from Lake Erie College and the University of New Hampshire, Lepore moved to Sicily where she continued to draw, paint and teach art. From Italy she traveled to Tunisia to see Carthage and the Bardo, known for its early Roman mosaics. Returning to New Hampshire she bought a 100-year farmhouse to renovate into a gallery and studio. Here she works on her linear color rich and earthy paintings combining the wilderness of her habitat and her wanderings from sun drenched Maine to the deserts of Africa.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Nature has a sublime detachment and is always changing. When I work plein air I feel that I am part of that cycle of change by interpreting the way space moves in the landscape, the feeling of the air, wind and temperature, as well as the color, line and texture. Starting with drawings I translate the linear energy from the natural chaos, then add color. Building on the fluidity of watercolors I then transition to oils to make realistic forms more abstract and expressive but remain true to a balanced composition and draftsmanship.

I draw inspiration from the masters as well as children’s work. Children have an innate looseness and natural balance of color in their compositions. I like the challenge of creating a harmonious balanced work that also shows discord –the push/ pull of Hans Hofman is one of my ideals.

The themes of my work, painting the remote wilderness reflects my wonder at these isolated places and all the expressive energy that is there inhabits my work and me.

GIOVANNA LEPORE

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

June 2001, “Haptic Lovers “ the Artpost, Orford, NH

September 1999, Red Roof Gallery, Enfield, NH

February 1996, Thetford Public Library, Thetford, VT

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

August 2005, Canaan Meeting House, Canaan, NH

March 2004, Cooler Gallery, White River Junction, VT

May 2003, two woman show, The Artpost, Orford, NH

TEACHING

September 2005-2006 worked with the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire to incorporate the fine arts in the Head Start preschool program and coordinating live performances at the Head Start sites.

June 2004 worked in art therapy with parent / child recovering from traumatic illness, The Artpost, Orford, NH

June 2000-June 2002 Taught adults and children plein air watercolor techniques, The Artpost, Orford, NH

May 1994- April 1995 Taught disabled adults and children plein air painting,

Caltagirone, Italy

COLLECTIONS

Henry Isaacs, Sharon, Vermont

Private collections New England, PA, SC, France, North Africa and Italy

PUBLICATIONS

“The Valley News, “ Scenes from a Moving Landscape” by Rebecca Denton

EDUCATION

University Of New Hampshire, BA studio art 1976