John Caggiano
Rockport, MA
John Caggiano was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied pre-engineering at Brooklyn Technical High School. He received a BA degree from Brooklyn College and an MFA from Pratt Institute, Both with honors. His education was supplemented by courses at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Studio and Forum of Stage Design.
He relocated to Rockport, Massachusetts in 1980, drawn to the physical beauty and unique quality of Cape Ann’s light. Aside from participating in up to twelve plein air events a year, John travels both here and abroad, painting on location. This plein air approach enables him to capture the essence of time and place that he interprets into his bright and colorful “Impressionistic-realism” style. The work is further enhanced by his use of a palette knife, enhancing the effects of his brushwork. “Painting for me is the bold and dynamic use of color that infuses life into the subject of the painting. Color is the lifeblood of the painting. Nothing stimulates more than its pleasing harmony, whether strongly applied or toned and tranquil.”
Professional Affiliations:
John is an elected Signature Member of American Society of Marine Artists, Academic Artists, Hudson Valley Art, Lyme Art, Northshore Arts, And Rockport Art -Associations, the last of which he served as President and a Board member for sixteen years. He also holds memberships in the American Impressionist Society, Maine Plein Air Painters, Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Oil Painters of America and Outdoor Painters Society.
Selective Recent Awards:
Best of Show & Alden Bryan Gold Medal, “Land and Light” annual juried show, Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT, 2016
Third Place Quick Draw, Easton Plein Air, 2016
Artist Choice Award, Finger Lakes Plein Air, 2016
Texas ranchland Award, En Plein Air Texas, 2017
Alden Bryan Landscape Award, Academic Artists Association, 67th National Exhibition of Traditional Realism, 2017
Guerrilla Painter Award, Wayne Plein Air, 2017
Art Spirit Award, Cape Ann Plein Air, 2017
Best of Show Paint the Town for a Cause and Third Place, Solomons Island Plein Air, 2017
The Stobart Foundation Award, 39th Annual Mystic International Exhibition, Mystic Seaport Museum, 2018
Best Architectural Award, En Plein Air Texas, 2018
Popular Vote Award, Northshore Arts Association, 2018 (and 2016)
Second Place Award, American Waters Exhibition, Lyme Art Association, 2018
Jack Richardson Award, Richmond Plein Air, 2018
Honorable Mention, 85th Annual National Juried Show, Hudson valley Art Association, 2018
Lydia & Chester Roberts Award, Outstanding Traditional Work, Rockport Art Association, 2018
Award of Merit, 97th Annual Elected Artist Exhibition, Lyme Art Association, 2018
Publications
A Gallery of Marine Art, featured artist, by Jerry McClish, Quarry Books/ Rockport Publishers
Monhegan: The Artists’ Island, by Jane & Will Curtis and Frank Leiberman, Down East Books
The Best of Oil Painting, by Tom Nicholas and John Terelak, Quarry Books/Rockport Publishers
Floral Inspirations: A Collection of Drawing and Painting Ideas for Artists, Quarry Books
A Trip Down the Loxahatchee, by James D. Snyder, Pharos Books
PleinAir Magazine, featured artist, “How to Successfully Create an Artist Retreat” March 2016
PleinAir Magazine, artist profile, September 2017
OutdoorPainter.com, artist profile, April 2017
Fine Art Connoisseur, featured artist, “Art for the Other 99 Percent,” February 2018
PleinAir Magazine, featured artist, “Beaches and Coastlines,” September 2018
PleinAir Magazine, featured artist, “Doors, Windows, and Passageways,” January 2019
PleinAir Magazine, featured artist, featured artist, “Seascapes,” May 2019
Website: www.JohnCaggiano.com