Aleada Aine Siragusa -
Plein Air Painting in Florida
Artist Statement:
While Plein Air painting, focusing all my energy on the task at hand is as refreshing as it is demanding. Painting on some level is a meditation and when painting I often experience transcending thought and yet I am intensely aware, this is called, "being in the zone". Being in the zone is often described by runners and others who are able to engage totally in an intense activity. I hope my art will help people to see the nuances of color and rhythms in nature through the eyes of an artist.
Biography:
Aleada Aine Siragusa divides her time between Tampa Bay's Sun Coast in Florida and Florida's Atlantic Coast around the Orlando Florida area.
Embracing a different environment from Ohio's gorges and deciduous woods and snowy winters of 26 years ago was a wonderful adventure. How easy it was to adjust to Florida's brighter sunlight and rich viridian sea. Florida has a unique semi tropical environment which is a virtual cornucopia of nature's bounty. Studying Florida's eco systems with it's great variety of flora and fauna has enriched my life and has given me an appreciation for what I see when I approach Florida's environment to paint plein air.
Plein Air Painting Florida's natural beauty in oil is now my main focus, although I also enjoy plein air drawing with pastels on toned paper and plein air painting miniature water colors and I also continue to work in the studio part of the time.
Learning Experience:
Aleada Aine Siragusa created her first oil painting as teenager. It was a small plein air painting in the woods in Akron Ohio.
I recieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Akron, Akron Ohio, majoring in Painting with a minor in Sculpture and Art History, while there I studied Plein Air Painting with Judith Myers
Individual Study, Judith Myers
Oriental Painting, Mitsuko Sakata, Ohio
Oriental Painting, Diana Kan
Portrait Painting, Daniel Greene
Oil Painting & Miniature Painting, Joan Willies, Clearwater FL
Oil Painting & Miniature Painting, Jeanne Dunn, Largo FL
Oil Painting - Figure and Portrait, Cristopher Drake, Morean Art Center, St Petersburg FL
Mixed Media, Jack Barrett, Morean Art Center, St Petersburg FL
Exhibitions and Shows - Selected:
Sumi e Society of America, Salmagundi Club, NYC
International Miniature Art Society of Florida
Morean Art Center Members Show, St Petersburg FL
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, St Petersburg FL
St. Petersburg Peir Aquarium, Florida
Sports Collectables, St. Petersburg Pier, Florida
Pinellas County Pierfest, St Petersburg FL
Fall Art Harvest, Dunedin Art Center, Dunedin FL
Senator Gerald Rhem, Dunedin FL
Poodle Club of America, Maryland
Sarasota Dog Show, Sarasota, Florida
National Silver Poodle Club, Maryland
Emily Davis Art Center, University of Akron,Ohio
University of Akron Graduate Show, EJ Thomas Hall, Akron Ohio
Teaching:
St. Petersburg College, Florida
Eckerd College Elder Hostel Program, Florida
Pinellas County Board of Education, FL
A Very Spcial Arts Festival Program, St. Petersburg FL
Lectures and Demonstrations:
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg FL
Treasure Island Community Center, Treasure Island FL
Burdines, St. Petersburg FL
Suntan Art Center, St Pete Beach FL
Pinellas Park Art Society, Pinellas Park FL
Garden Club of St. Petersburg, Florida
Awards:
International Miniature Art Society, Oil Painting 3rd, Clearwater Fl
Selected Commissions:
Memorial Challenge Trophy, Tampa Bay Poodle Club, FL
Memorial Challenge Trophy, Orlando Poodle Club, FL
Silver Club Continental Show Trophy, Maryland
Silver Club Puppy Trophy, Maryland
Challenge Trophy Tampa Bay Poodle Club
Challenge Trophy for National Chinese Shar-Pei Club
Baseball portrait presented to Barry Bond
Logo for Medicine Horse Therapeutic Horse Camp, Florida