Grace Mehan DeVito has had a deep love for the painted image that dates back to early childhood and expresses her gratitude to have painting be her vocation. She paints in the representational realist style and is equally adept in the genres of portraiture, figurative, still life and landscape. “The love of light and its effect on the form are my pursuit whether I’m painting a distinguished person or a humble plant,” says DeVito. “My desire is to cause the viewer to stop and reflect on the subject and see its beauty and significance.
Kayaks at Dusk, oil on canvas, 9 x 14”“Portraiture is a really exciting field to me, I get to meet such interesting people and their families and peek inside their lives for a bit. When painting a person, I’m looking to capture the character—their seriousness or playfulness, whatever it is that makes them ‘them’. I’m invited to observe and interpret onto canvas their essence, that is an incredible honor.”
Apple Blossoms, oil on canvas, 12 x 16”When starting a sitting session DeVito wants to put the person at ease. She takes a little time for conversation, perhaps over a coffee, and lets them know what to expect and that it can be an interesting experience. “We’ll discuss the purpose of the portrait, where it will hang and how the sitter may like to be portrayed,” DeVito explains. “I will look for the perfect setting in their surroundings and set to work doing a painted head study and taking reference photos that I will take back to my studio and design a number of compositions which will be shown to the client. When we have agreed on the composition I will do preliminary studies before starting on the final painting. When the painting is nearly complete the client is welcome to view in person or via email for feedback.”
Cotton and Oak, oil on canvas, 14 x 22”
Grace DeVito’s work will be showcased in group shows at Susan Powell Fine Art in Madison, Connecticut, from August 18 through September 23; and at the Union League Club in New York City from September 6 through 24. —Want to See More?
(203) 979-2472 | gmdevito@yahoo.com
www.gracedevito.com
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