Urban

The precision and clarity of John D’Antonio’s diverse urban subjects lend startling immediacy and  impact to his paintings that interpret creativity from the street. John’s urban work lacks limitation— and arguably results in a more authentic — work of art. John D’Antonio’s elaborate multicolored graffiti painting subjects created on building walls and subway cars continue to define the urban landscape. His interpretation of graffiti scenes captures the stage where color, vibrancy, sharp outlines and the placement of drips, result in a decorative appeal. The locations he paints include faraway places  such as Genoa, Italy, and Paris, France to closer to home in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

D’Antonio combines multiple photos of his subject, figuring  out his compositions in underpaintings using oil, acrylic paint, and  airbrush. He moves elements  as he begins working to strengthen his compositions and more closely  control the effect.  As a result, when  people try to match his paintings with  the actual location, they often discover  surprising inconsistencies as a result of his interpretation.

D’Antonio produces paintings in which  there are multiple focal points. Instead of using classical Renaissance-like perspectives, viewing a D’Antonio urban  painting feels like one is constantly changing vantage points; like the effect of squinting or covering one  eye, then the other, and seeing how that  changes one’s view.