Greetings from Philadelphia

[Garth Herrick]

Hi everyone,

My name is Garth Herrick, and at 46, I am beginning to get by as a full time portrait painter here in Philadelphia, after more than 20 years of portrait commissions. I have also begun sculpting portraits. I always felt encouraged to explore as an artist while growing up, and my first portrait commissions were in pastel when I was about 10. In my early twenties, I attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, receiving a Cresson Traveling Scholarship in 1984, and a certificate in 1985.

Between 1988 and 1991 I was engaged as the sculptor of the world's largest bronze horse in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, in an airline pilot's life-end dream to re-create the unfinished for 500+ years Sforza equestrian monument of Leonardo da Vinci. Well, I got this sculpture off to a very good start, but another sculptor finished the 24 foot tall horse that was unveiled in Milan in 1999. Returning to painting after such an immersion into sculpture was difficult, but I have persisted.

Along the way I married my PAFA sweetheart Jilliann, and we have a daughter Lachlan 7, who is apparently doubly endowed with art genes.

Anyway, I am embarrassed to admit I was unaware of the vast resources and vital artist community present in this forum until I stumbled upon it yesterday! And wow, do I feel humble in the presense of all the amazing talents here. There is much that I hope to learn in this forum from everyone, and there are probably a couple tips I can share too. I am looking forward to everyone's unveilings, critiques, and experiences. This is a great forum and I am honored to be included here as a new member.

I will attach a couple of pictures of my more accomplished work. The First is the official portrait of Mayor Edward G. Rendell, who has since become our state's governor. This is oil on linen, 50" x 38" in size, to blend in with all the other mayor's portraits hung since 1701. The second image is a terracotta sculpture of a three-year old subject. Any type of feedback is welcome. Thanks!

[SB Wang]

Welcome to you, Garth:

Very nice! My brother and one of SOG member were from Temple University.

Please tell us something about what you've gained at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

[Mike McCarty]

Garth,

The Governor was instantly recognizable, what a terrific painting. I think that kid lives just down the street.

Welcome to the forum.

[Kimberly Dow]

Welcome - I love that portrait and especially the background.

[Garth Herrick]

Thanks everyone,

SB: Who is the other SOG member from Temple (Tyler School of Art)? I know little about Tyler, but many artist friends and co-workers studied there. I have to confess it was love at first sight at PAFA. I actually first fell in love Frank Furness's amazing architectural masterpiece of 1876. Gradually I realized the instruction was pretty good too. Arthur deCosta was the main instructor who was upholding the legacy of Thomas Eakins as well as all the extant knowledge of the old masters. I think he taught me more than any instructor, and I was one of his esteemed disciples until he perceived that I was defecting to the modern camp. Anyway, this May 7, with the opening of the annual student thesis show, Arthur deCosta will be receiving the Academy's top honors along with a retrospective exhibit at the Woodmere Museum of Art .

Mike: Thanks! I may not realize how recognizable Ed Rendell is outside of Pennsyvania, although he is enormously popular here. The thing is his campaign staff usurped the reference photo I had taken of him and used it 10 million times over in campaign literature. So when the portrait was finally unveiled, there was no real shock or surprise because it already was a familiar household iconic image in Pennsylvania, just like Lincoln on a penny!

Kim, thanks too! The background was an element I added to fit, since my reference picture was taken in Rendell's campaign office with a plain white wall.

Garth

[Michele Rushworth]

We're delighted to have you on board, Garth, and look forward to many postings from you!

[Garth Herrick]

Thank You Michele, I know I could gain a lot from the business practices forum you moderate.

Garth

[Chris Saper]

Dear Garth,

A belated but warm welcome, you are such an appreciated addition to the Forum.

I see that there is a great deal of wonderful information in your welcome thread - particularly in the sculpture and photography topics. I would like to invite you to begin a new thread, perhaps in the Techniques area, for the scupture information, since it is likely to be helpful to many members, and they might not think to look here for the topic.

I look forward to getting to know you and your work,

[Jim Riley]

Garth,

Let me add my welcome to the Forum.

I worked in the Allentown area for a while and had an opportunity to visit the de Vinci horse project sometime in the early 90's during an open house. It was very impressive. Perhaps our paths crossed at that time. I would love to see the fininished work.

I also use digital information for my work and often build my compositions in photoshop. Especially when working with young children.

Good Luck!

[Garth Herrick]

Chris and Jim, Thankyou!

Jim, I would like to think our paths have crossed, but if they have not, perhaps they will. I am frequently in Reading, which is half way to your studio.

What year did you visit Capt. Dent"s Dome (Leonardo da Vinci's Horse, Inc.)? I finished there in May, 1991, but it had been my home and studio for three years, as I sculpted the Horse. I really felt like I was time travelling to the 15th century in there. There were over 800 small Italian bronze figurines on display, and tidbits and scraps of such painters as Manet and Cezanne on the walls (for those who were never there, the "Dome" was a scaled down Roman Pantheon, with an oculus at the top as the only source of natural light). All of it is gone now, save the shell of the Dome.

The Horse I sculpted mainly survives in photographs now. Here's a pic from May, 1991 when (imho) it looked it's best:

Garth