Ricky Vernio
storyteller, author, artist
PAINTINGS: PRINTS
Josephine and Napoleon: Tea and Lemons
oil on canvas 20″ x 16″
For a long time, certain families considered it good taste to have a Napoleon’s (and, occasionally, Josephine’s) figurine on their mantelpiece. This included, quaintly enough, representatives of states that were, during Napoleon’s lifetime, his direct and implacable enemies.
For this still life, I had to resort, in part, to the ancient method known as verdaccio: an Italian term for the mixture of black, white, and yellow pigments resulting in a grayish or yellowish (depending on the proportion) soft greenish brown. Back in the day, it was used for frescos, as well as for underpaintings, but I figured, hey, it’s solid and time-proven enough to have value on its own. Verdaccio stops short of being fully monochromatic, which is a different method, known as grisaille, which is a lot more reserved, in my opinion.
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble. Just scroll down past the mugs and t-shirts to where the art print, canvas print, framed art print, poster, and similar options are, and choose your size.
French Breakfast in Brooklyn
oil on canvas 40″ x 30″
There is a lot more to this second most colorful New York City borough than meets the eye, where each neighborhood has its own stories to tell.
This little place is one of a dozen or so featuring that distinct French feel, and if you’re in the mood for a truly Parisian breakfast, you won’t be disappointed: you’ll sit in that café chair with the woven seat and back, resembling wicker but more streamlined, with that urban aesthetic; and have your perfect espresso with a fresh croissant, and perhaps enjoy some conversation with fellow connoisseurs.
Unlike my cityscapes, my still lives are usually smaller than this. I picked this size because the painting is more than just a still life. An ode to Brooklyn, perhaps.
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble. (Scroll down, past the caps and t-shirts, to the art print, canvas print, framed art print, and similar options).
Rendezvous in Philadelphia, 1776 (in Public)
oil on canvas 28″ x 22″
For the Philadelphia part of my Rendezvous series, I figured I might as well go full-on historical – why not? As another storyteller once said, “History is the nail on which I hang my novels.”
Outwardly, life went on as usual in Philly, even in the early days of the Revolution. Did people go on dates? Of course they did. Were sunny days just as enjoyable as always? Naturally. Besides, the Battle of Germantown, only a few miles from Church Street, was still a full year away.
Many of the buildings in this area date back to those days, including, thankfully, Christ Church, a portion of which you can see on the left.
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble. (Scroll down, past the caps and t-shirts, to the art print, canvas print, framed art print, and similar options).
Rendezvous in Philadelphia, 1776 (Molly's Secret Tryst)
oil on canvas 24″ x 24″
The other Philadelphia rendezvous (from roughly the same time period) is very private, taking place, as it does, on one of those streets carefully preserved over the years, making it the coziest (and, one might say, oddly secluded!) section of the former capital to this day. Everything here feels perfectly authentic – well, except for the interiors, of course, which now boast modern indoor plumbing and electricity (which, of course, is a good thing).
So, what’s Molly trying to tell the man? And who is he, anyway? Is he a soldier about to go back to where the cannonballs fly; or a British spy with a hidden agenda?
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble: just scroll down past the t-shirts and mugs and what not, until you see art prints, framed art prints, canvas prints, etc.
Pomegranates!
oil on canvas 20″ x 16″
So, where does this “partial verdaccio” come from, anyway? (Verdaccio: an Italian term for the mixture of black, white, and yellow pigments, resulting in a soft greenish-brown that can lean either grayish or yellowish).
Pomegranates have a way of standing out on their own and are always a joy to look at. But I wanted to take that effect even further—to make them really pop: wham!
It turned out to be a bit much, though, so I added some grapes to help balance the palette.
Prints of various sizes are available at Redbubble. Just scroll down past all those mugs and magnets to where the various forms of art prints are!
City Hall Park at Night
oil on canvas 30″ x 40″
The little park itself dates back to pre-Revolutionary New York City.
City Hall (hiding behind the trees here) was built in 1812, while the Manhattan Municipal Building in the background was completed in 1914.
The Croton Fountain, added in 1842, celebrates the Croton Aqueduct, the city’s first reliable water supply.
At night, when all is quiet, the park takes on an aura of romantic mystery, shaped by the many historical events it has witnessed over the centuries. I knew I had to paint it. And so, I did.
Prints of this painting are available at Society6
Rendezvous in Rome
oil on canvas 40″ x 30″
At dusk, Piazza Venezia in Rome is one of the most romantic sites on the planet. Historical buildings here are numerous.
This view, of Santa Maria di Loreto, a 16th Century church (and a portion of the forum, Trajan’s column and all, down below), is particularly captivating.
For this painting, I decided to combine impressionism and realism in order to better convey the fantastic atmosphere of the place.
Prints of this painting are available at Society6
Rendezvous in Greenwich Village
oil on canvas 24″ x 18″
This neighborhood, celebrated by poets, novelists, and musicians for over a century, has been a hub of romance for as long as anyone can remember. The cozy little streets, the cafes, the people, the atmosphere—it’s all here!
It’s especially inviting on a late spring afternoon, with the trees in full bloom and people partying – or just having lunch – at that famous Italian restaurant on the corner.
The couple is just finishing up their daily errands—putting the final touches on their to-do list—so they can be free of the mundane and start their romantic stroll, catch a show, and find a quaint spot for dinner as the sun sets.
Prints of this painting are available at Society6
Notre Dame at Night
acrylic paint on canvas 20″ x 16″
This was a spur-of-the moment etude, done almost entirely on location (hence the acrylic paint rather than oil).
Even before the fire that took out the roof: it was a peaceful moment, with the ancient cathedral that had witnessed eight centuries of turbulent history, was, for once, my main character.
I hardly ever paint cityscapes with no people, that’s not my style. But the sight of it drew me, and inspired me, and demanded I perpetuate it on canvas there and then. And so I did.
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble
Rendezvous at the Pantheon
oil on canvas 24″ x 20″
Is she early? Or late?
Regardless, this is her rendezvous with Emperor Hadrian – well, his legacy, anyway. He is the only known potentate in history who was also a professional architect. Being the ruler did not stop him from designing, and supervising, the construction of buildings throughout the Empire.
To this day, the dome over the Pantheon remains the largest on the planet that was put together without using reinforced concrete (no armature).
When, more than a thousand years later, Michelangelo was tasked with designing the dome for St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, and was told he had to make it “larger than Hadrian’s,” he merely laughed, saying, “We have neither the materials nor the know-how. Sorry.”
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble
The Monti Fountain
acrylic paint on canvas 18″ x 24″
The first major aqueduct restoration since the fall of Rome took place during the Renaissance, and this currently defunct fountain was part of the project. It was commissioned by Pope Sixtus V who was concerned about the fresh water supply in the neighborhood.
Today, the piazza where the fountain sits is a popular gathering place for young residents of Rome and her suburbs. The party is always on here, pretty much around the clock.
Prints of this painting are available at Redbubble
