TONY SALADINO

TONY SALADINO, who lives and works in Hurst , Texas, began his association

with Gallery Shoal Creek in the 1980’s. First showing his mezzotint prints,

his focus turned to painting by the 90’s. In his paintings, one saw the same

landscape and still life compositions present in the mezzotints, yet in a large

scale format. Soon, those landscapes developed further as the artist moved

towards more abstracted imagery—landscape elements that were depicted

with the mere suggestion of form and geometric references. “The evolution

has been fascinating to watch,” says the gallery’s owner Judith Taylor. “Over the

course of twenty years, the need for structure has given way to spontaneity.”

I leave out a lot of visual information while retaining what is essential to

convey my reaction to a subject or scene, knowing that the viewer will

f il l in the spaces and hopefully will engage with the work on a personal

level. In the Earth Forms Series of both monotypes and the large works on

canvas, I seek to contrast the f lat vastness of the landscape and the detail

of what is near. The cooler pieces describe visually how water on the land

changes with the sun’s light and how the wind creates water movement or

placid mirror like surfaces.

I go from working with the inks of printmaking in doing the monotypes

to the paints that have a much more f luid response. I enjoy the challenge

of moving from one to another medium. As in everything, there are

connections. The pigment left on the plate I use to make a monotype

often leaves cognate images upon which I start another piece getting

many serendipitous passages. Similarly, when painting, I wipe my leftover

brush paint on the next blank canvas providing an amorphous background

spread undeliberately over the new canvas. As I paint , I move between

brush and spatula - consider the areas that need to be more quiet and

peaceful, using them to juxtapose the detail and highlights of a focal point

where I want the viewer’s eye to travel.

l - r: Earth Forms I, II, III, monotype, image size, 32” x 22” front cover: Land Forms VI, acrylic on canvas, 44” x 40”

s t ruc t u r e ha s g i ve n wa y t o spon tan e i t y

2832 E. MLK Jr., Blvd #3 Austin, TX 78702

512.454.6671 galleryshoalcreek.com

TONY SALADINO

Tony Saladino was born in New Orleans. He received a BS degree from Louisiana State University.

He is featured in the 2013 book “Contemporary Art of the Southwest” by Ashley Rooney with foreword by Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tucson Museum of Art.

His work is in numerous public and private collections, including:

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC, Memphis, TN

Seton Medical Center, Harker Heights, TX

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC, Fort Worth, TX

M D Anderson Hospital, Houston, TX

Texas State University, San Marcos, TX

Bank of Laredo, Laredo, TX

Fort Worth Library Foundation, Fort Worth, TX

Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Austin, TX

Winstead P.C., Austin, TX

Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center, Wichita Falls, TX

National Museum of Fine Arts, Hanoi, North Vietnam

Land Forms IV, acrylic on canvas, 48” x 24”