| Peter Sculthorpe's (1948-) paintings celebrate the rural landscape, particularly the stone barns and rolling pastures of the Brandywine Valley in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he resides. The quality of light in his compositions is pristine, yet the paintings suggest reality without being either sentimental or nostalgic. "My work is directly related to what I have observed in nature. The act of transcription is enhanced by what has been retained in my memory - the visual impact and the necessary elements. I feel the artist's true signature manifests itself when the combination of recollect and invention are tempered with reality." Qualities of ambiguity, complexity and tension that pervade his artwork give range and subtle inflection to his imagery. Using the demanding medium of watercolor, he manipulates light and form, giving his paintings a dramatic, romantic, yet natural tone. In addition, the artist is inspired by exploring a variety of other media including etching, monotype and stone lithography, each of which is related to his painting by virtue of his masterful drawing. Sculthorpe has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the American Artist Professional League Award in 1984, Philadelphia Sketch Club Silver Medal in 1985, election to the Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society in 1992, and National Art League, New York, First Prize, Oil Painting in 1993. His work is included in the public collections of the Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE, The Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA, the William Penn Memorial Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA, Nabisco Headquarters Gallery in New Jersey, Forbes Collection in New York, and the Du Pont Company in Japan. |
