THE MAGICAL WATERS OF ADRIANO MANOCCHIA

by John F. Apgar

Everywhere water is a thing of beauty, gleaming in the dewdrop; singing in the summer rain; shining in the ice-gems till the leaves all seem to turn to living jewels; spreading a golden veil over the setting sun; or a white gauze around the midnight moon.

A Glass Of Water.

John Ballantine Gough (1817-1886)

The importance of water in all our lives goes without saying, however for Adriano Manocchia it takes on an even greater significance. Since childhood the rippling streams, peaceful ponds and the sounds of the ocean surf have had a hypnotic and calming effect on him and in the past several years he has learned to utilize this element as his own natural tranquilizer. He confides that often when he gets an idea for a painting he has difficulty controlling his impatience for not being able to create it at a faster pace. He realizes that when this happens he needs to get out and take a walk near water. One of his favorite spots is the Croton River near Brewster, N.Y. Because water plays such an important part to his well being it is only natural that it would play a special role in his paintings.

Adriano was born in the Bronx, N.Y. in 1951. Throughout his life he has always been an overachiever, constantly seeking new challenges to overcome. A good example was when he was completing his B.A. degree in Journalism at Pace University in 1973, he was drawn to photo-journalism and became so good at it that his first job after college was a five year stint as head photographer with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. In record time he received numerous awards, one of which was for a photo essay on the Sweat Shops in the back hills of Tennessee.

From these experiences he decided to take on another challenge, to run his own Photo-Film Agency covering the news for European and U.S. Television. Included among his many unforgetable episodes are, the photo reportage of the Jimmy Carter Presidential campaign tour in New York City, Mid-air Refueling Missions on the aircraft Carrier Nimitz and making photographic records of the Indianapolis "500" and the Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit.

Even with these accomplishments, he felt there was still something missing in his life so he began setting time aside to learn how to become an artist. The more he pursued it, the more satisfied he became. From his experiences in photography he had developed an understanding of composition as well as the importance of light and contrast. It was however a long slow process learning the fundamentals and techniques of drawing and painting.

In late 1983 he felt that his skills had developed to the point where he could take on the challenge of painting full time. Always experimenting, he produced his first lithograph "Skirmish in the Tall Grass" depicting a pair of pheasants fighting. This print was created for his first one man show in 1984 to benefit the Special Olympics for the Handicapped. This lithograph which was cosigned by Mrs. Eunice Kennedy is now a "Collectable". The remaining years of the 1980's found him still searching for the best medium to express himself in and during this time he experimented in creating porcelains, bronzes, and prints.

In 1986 his oil of an eagle was featured on a limited edition plate and poster to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. The same year his oil depicting a Beluga Whale was reproduced into a poster entitled "Save The Sound".

While gradually gaining National recognition he was featured in 1987 on the TV program the "Wood's n' Water Show" and later that year on the NBC Today Show.

Each year he journeys to some of the great rivers of the world to record their individual character on canvas. He is an artist but also an outdoorsman who has felt the fatigue of long treks in the wilderness, the joy of catching trophy size fish and eating his catch along the river banks.

His award winning art has appeared in dozens of publications which include "Fly Rod & Reel", "Wildlife Art News", "Atlantic Salmon Journal", "The Conservationist", "Fly Fisher (Japan)", "Premier (Monte Carlo)", "Pescare (Italy)" etc. In 1990 three of his oils were selected by the U.S. Department of State "Art in Embassies Program" to be displayed at our Embassy in Ankara Turkey.

He feels he may have finally found his forte which is depicting the waters of the earth which are so much a part of him. His unique style of contemporary realism takes the viewer vicariously into his "waterscapes" whether it be a river in Alaska, an English stream or the blue green waters of the Caribbean. His work is represented in many private and corporate collections. Among them are: The Pitman Company Collection, Totowa, New Jersey; Tudor Farms Collection, Cambridge, Maryland; John Dreyer Collection, New Jersey; Fly Fishing Federation Museum, Wyoming; Paul Jones Collection, Florida; National Park of Abruzzi Museum, Italy; U.S. Embassy, Ankara, Turkey; Precision Valve Collection, Yonkers, New York; Punto Studio, Italy and the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont.

Adriano's sporting scenes have attracted attention not only in the U.S. but in Europe as well. His work is sold and represented in Holland, Italy and Japan and his artwork is reproduced into limited edition prints by Rosenstiel's Fine Art of London, His original oils can also be seen at J.N. Bartfield Art Galleries in New York City.

Adriano Manocchia has created a niche all his own in American Sporting Art which is being well received by the critics and the sporting art enthusiasts. His gift of conveying the water's magic through his art is making a meaningful contribution to today's art scene.

John F. Apgar is director of

The J.N. Bartfield Galleries, NYC

ŠThe Fine Arts Trader 2009