Syd Torchio, My Big-Time Art Opening, Oil Paintings, Vintage Wine Bar

“Miss this and It’s probably because I didn’t do a painting of you.” – Syd Torchio

Syd Torchio, My Big-Time Art Opening, Oil Paintings, Vintage Wine Bar

Syd Torchio‘s portraits have a liveness, a sensual realness, that engages the viewer in a conversation with a character. The paintings are exquisitely composed, the figure always has an emotive expression, the backgrounds are reminiscent of 1950’s abstract painters but the subject is contemporary. There is a timelessness to the work and that Philadelphia realness vibe calls out other portrait painters with passion and bravado.

Syd Torchio, My Big-Time Art Opening, Oil Paintings, Vintage Wine Bar

This is a bad photograph of a great painting. You can find better pics at Syd’s facebook page and his etsy site. The dramatic composition of the artist’s wounds being licked by a beautiful woman while a nude model glares from the studio is like Syd’s previous surrealistic paintings but now the fun house mirror is gone.

Syd Torchio, My Big-Time Art Opening, Oil Paintings, Vintage Wine Bar

Syd Torchio wisely put his paintings under glass since the space is open to the street and Vintage Wine Bar is a busy and vibrant restaurant serving the hip dining crowd along the revitalized 13th Street corridor. The paintings on the exposed brick wall and the wall covered in wooden wine crate panels looks beautiful and artistic. Portraits are a tough sell, as Syd joked about in his artist statement, but in the stylish surroundings, the portraits look accessible and desirable. The painting above is of Joe Tiborino, the connection with Philadelphia history through portraits is important and meaningful.

Syd Torchio, My Big-Time Art Opening, Oil Paintings, Vintage Wine Bar

My Big-Time Art Opening by Syd Torchio exhibits contemporary portraiture with an edge, divergent style and dynamic content. The artist captures mood, action and atmospheric realism in thoughtful yet astonishing brushwork. See it for yourself, they have happy hour 4 – 6:00.

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer

Like DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog on facebook

Follow the new DoNArTNeWs.com

Follow DoN on Twitter @DoNNieBeat58

DoNArTNeWS on Tumblr

DoN Brewer on Pinterest

@donniebeat on Instagram

Affiliate Marketing [disclosure page] Shop on-line and help support DoNArTNeWs