gawloskiART

Larry Gawloski Artist Biography

History
In the summer of 1980, I had the opportunity to spend the last semester of my Architectural graduate program in Florence, Italy and the surrounding area. It was there that I discovered my passion for sketching. Every day, our band of 10 students would head out to a new destination, sketch books in hand, and record the effort. In the years that followed, my wife and I would travel extensively throughout Europe and the United States. Photographs taken during those trips became the basis for many of my sketches.

After graduation, I would go on to work at Architecture offices in New York, New Jersey, and Texas. During my 45 years in the profession I  would witness the change from analog to digital. Pencil and pen became obsolete as computer drafting and rendering became the norm. While highly efficient, it lacked the artistic element. Some of us at the office recognized this and decided to keep the tradition of hand drawing alive by implementing a weekly Sketching class. What started as a modest 30 minute session soon evolved into something much bigger. We would meet every Thursday after work and sketch a subject that was selected by a member of the group, be it a building, city scape, or landscape. The responsible person would research the subject and give a presentation while the others started sketching. The event would often be accompanied by food and wine from the region. Members of the group were free to employ any medium they were comfortable with. While some preferred pen, pencil, and marker, others were more comfortable with watercolor or pastel. The resulting work was often quite extraordinary with many pieces showing up at silent auctions for various charities. The section of this web page entitled Early Sketches and Studies showcases work from that period.

Since retiring in 2021, I have continued to travel both regionally and abroad, finding inspiration around every corner.

Technique
My sketching has evolved over the years through experimentation and education. The technique I have developed is a result of trial and error and peer critiques. Initially, my sketches were simple, hastily drawn black and white sketches that were charming but lacked depth. They have since evolved into more intricate, detailed compositions that employ a mixed palette. I start by selecting a photo taken during one of our trips and use it as the basis for the sketch. The image is then sketched out with a #2 pencil. Next, I sketch over the pencil image with a fine tip black pen, adding detail and texture. The pencil is erased, leaving a fully rendered black and white composition. Color is then added using marker, color pencil, and watercolor.

 My works are currently on display at Red Trillium Gallery in Troutdale, Oregon (www.redtrilliumgallery.com) and The Spiral Gallery in Estacada, Oregon (thespiralgallery.com) available as both originals and signed and numbered prints, framed or unframed. I am also available to do commissioned pieces.

Below, are recent sketches and older studies. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Larry Gawloski
gawloski@gmail.com