Joseph Tratnyek

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Painter
Studio: 
310

Background

As a chemist I worked in industrial product development and technology for over 32 years.  Now retired, I can devote myself to visual arts.  Creative enterprise has been an important part of my life since childhood, and I have always been active in painting, photography, woodwork, textiles, and ornamentation.  My primary focus is oil painting and my studio at The Umbrella is devoted to that medium.

I have training in mechanical drawing and design, color theory and usage, and have studied painting with noted artists, including Wolf Kahn, Maggi Brown, Scott PRior, Frances Gillespie, Deborah Cornell, Wilfredo Chiesa, Ellen Kozak, and Maddine Insalaco.

Artist's Statement

As in my career in science, I consider myself an experimentalist.  I work in a range of styles from realistic to abstract, and am willing to experiment with materials and techniques in order to achieve a visual goal.  Application of color and color theory is important to the structure of my works.  Usually, my colors tend to be bright and direct.

I have applied my scientific knowledge to art-related matters, especially art conservation and resoration where the application and performance of art materials are of critical concern.

Credits

Paintings, woodwork, photographs, and textiles have all been selected for showing.  Shows inclue those at The Concord Art Association, the A-B Jamboree Art Show in Acton, the Tufts On My Own Time '89 Show in Boston, the Danforth Museum of Art Members' Art Show in Framingham, and shows at The Umbrella.  As a result of having works juried into three Members' Exhibitions I ahve been rexognised as a Distinguished Artist by the Concord Art Association.  Joe's Show at Norumbega Point in Weston was devoted to my paintings.

I have been the chairman of the Textile Conservation Center Committee at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, and also have been a trsutee of that museum.  I have maintained membership in The American Institute for Conservation of Hsitoric & Artistic Works (AIC), the New Endland Conservation Association (NECA), the Textile Conservation Group, and The American Society of Classical Realism.