Frank Barreca’s highly detailed charcoal pencil drawings draw inspiration from Renaissance masters.
Hi Frank. We just love your work and are excited to hear more. So to start, tell us in what part of the First Coast do you reside now and how long have you lived there?
I’ve lived in St. Augustine for 4 years
How long have you been doing your craft or trade?
Over the years, I have tried my artistic hand at many things such as music, stage/TV acting and producing/co-hosting an award-winning TV show, authoring a science fiction novel, wooden shipbuilding, and even antique car restoration, to name a few. I drifted in and out of those artistic hobbies over 50 years, all while establishing a successful 40-year career in information technology.
What brings out your creativity?
My creative side is inspired by well-thought-out compositions of boats and harbors.
What does your work aim to say? Are you trying to bring a smile to someone’s face or add to someone’s home decor?
My work is designed to have the viewer carefully study the work and look for the stories. The more they look, the more they will see. I like to represent all the activities of life around ocean harbors. Anyone can paint a tree or a house. I want to tell stories by including people. My art has many individual stories composed into a holistic image.
Are there any spaces or designers that have influenced you?
I pull my inspiration from Baroque Era French and Italian Artists from the 1600s and 1700s along with a sprinkle of mid-century style artwork.
What is your favorite artistic accomplishment?
A Persian Harbor
Do you have a specific piece you would love to talk about or promote?
A Persian Harbor
What is the best way for artists to network?
Social Media
If you had a question you would like to ask another artist what would it be?
Where do you do your work?
What’s the best thing for you about living on the First Coast?
The artistic vibe of St. Augustine and the wonderful views of historical buildings.
Where can we see your work?
For more on Frank Barreca and his artwork visit www.pastagalleryart.com or on our https://www.facebook.com/pastaartgallery Facebook page.
About P.A.St.A.:
The Professional Artists of St. Augustine Fine Art Gallery on Charlotte Street in downtown historic St. Augustine, Florida, was founded in 1982. The gallery has served an international clientele with a wealth of local talent and award-winning local artists. The gallery’s mission is to showcase local and regional, art and to educate and encourage area artists.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
I did not connect with clay as an artistic outlet until mid-life. During a hectic and demanding career, while juggling family, job and my MBA, I needed a healthy outlet to release my frustrations while appealing to my sorely under-utilized creative needs.
One summer class gave me the impetus to redirect what little down-time I had into punching, pulling, coiling, pinching, slapping, and throwing this amazing and malleable material into anything my imagination desired. I found therapy through clay.
In the years since, I have received an Associate’s Degree from the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire, and set up my first studio in a basement of our house. Currently, my studio has moved above ground – to my garage, but includes a wheel, large Skutt kiln, slab roller and an array of clay and glazes that would make a chameleon dizzy. I am a proud member of the Professional Artists of St. Augustine Fine Art Gallery since October of 2021.
I work with a variety of clays and glazes – from mid-temp stoneware and shiny glazes to low-fire and matte underglazes. I find inspiration in nature, children’s stories and fables, and my own untamed imagination!
