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Drawn
to art as a child, Brian has been sketching and painting
for as long as he can remember. A Massachusetts native,
Brian grew up in Sudbury and only realized the beauty of
Cape Cod when he moved there as an adult. It was then that
he knew he had to paint it.
"It's
the light," Brian says simply of the artistic power
of the Cape and about the quality that distinguishes his
painting. And if the popularity of his work is any indicator,
others agree that he captures the essence of Cape Code like
few others.
Unlike
many other artists, Brian disdains working from photographs,
but instead prefers to take easel or pad to the locations
that he paints. In Brian's view, this traditional style
accounts for the sense of depth to his work that is hard
to recreate when working from photographs or even from memory.
"I like to get out at the traditionally special hours
for painters, early morning or late afternoon. If the weather's
bad, I'll work inside my Jeep. But I just have to get out
of the studio and paint. I need to see and feel the light."
Once he has captured the essence of the image, Brian can
take the work home and complete it in his studio at night.
Brian
explains his need to paint with a simple metaphor. "For
me it's like eating. I wake up every day hungry to paint.
Then, when I'm finished, it's like I've had a wonderful
meal. I feel sated. But the next day, I wake up hungry again
and have to pick up my brushes and go."
Regarding
his favorite paintings, Brian says, "I typically don't
get attached to one particular |
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that I've done. It's really about the process of painting
and less about the product. But if he had to choose,
Brian would rank his paintings that have been reproduced
on the MBTC holiday and note cards at the top of his
list in recreating the charm and flavor of Cape Cod.
Brian's
natural talents were assisted by his education at the Rhode
Island School of Design. At RISD, he was exposed to the
arts of others who still inspire him today. Edward Hopper,
Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth and John Singer Sergeant are
all influences. But ultimately, his style is fully his own.
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The Small
Schoolhouse Studio on Cape Cod, where Brian Bierig paints.
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