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My gallery art has evolved into photorealism after working in illustration over the years. Specializing in painting reflective surfaces, my goal is always precise color and precise detail.
World known and internationally published photorealist Bob Petillo has had an extremely diversified painting career as a fine artist as well as an illustrator. His photo-realistic nostalgic and historical work bridges the gap between the two genres.
Bob graduated William Paterson College in 1972. He taught elementary art in Stillwater, New Jersey for 32 years. Aside from his love of teaching children, Petillo has always been driven to develop his own work. Always influenced by classical art by Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Michaelangelo as well as the classic illustrators such as N.C.Wyeth, Max Parish and Howard Pyle, he was naturally attracted to the work of photorealists such as Estes and Close.
His illustration career started in 1978 when he met the accomplished illustrator, Greg Hildebrandt, who taking an encouraging interest in Bob's work, boosted him to working in the industry. Since then, Petillo's work has diversified into a number of different directions. He's been published in science fiction, fantasy, children's literature, and industrial illustration for the past 40 years. His science fiction/fantasy and children's book illustration has been published internationally. Along with book and magazine illustration, he has also worked in the music industry designing concert T-shirt art for rock bands in the 80's.
From 1998 to 2006, Bob illustrated Magic the Gathering game cards and Harry Potter game cards while sharing a studio with Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.
Recently, Bob focused on a series of photorealistic historical recreations.
Now, with his recent work, Petillo created a masterfully painted series of nostalgic keepsakes painted with a remarkable attention to detail. Bob is painting his "Reflections of America" series, another photorealist nostalgic view of American icons as reflected in the LUSTER of great looking classic cars. That glistening effect is also captured in his photorealistic "Classic Hood Ornaments".
His ability to capture personality in his "Man and Machine" portraits creates a family keepsake that will always be treasured.
Bob is a member of:
IGOR International Guild of Realism
AGNJ Artist Guild of New Jersey
AENJ Art Educators of New Jersey
Website: www.bobpetillo.com
Email: bpetillo@embarqmail.com |