Nature’s Rhythm: Calm & Color

Explore the serenity and beauty of the natural world through these masterfully crafted painting in this two-person exhibition. Witness how the artists highlight nature’s harmony by showcasing the interplay of tranquility and vibrancy in their works.

Jim Militello- A current resident of Medford New Jersey, I was born and grew up in Brooklyn NY. As a child living in an apartment building, our family’s summer vacation weeks spent in lakeside bungalows upstate, or a day fishing on the beaches of Staten Island, being immersed in nature, was what I lived for.

I am a self-taught artist. That is to say, I have never received any formal training. However, I credit many generous teachers and great artists who I have learned from in attending workshops, in reading, or taking their courses online. Painting landscapes and nature painting is what I do. My work is inspired by my love (need) to spend time in natural places, forests, lakes, mountains, bays or beaches. For me, the time spent hiking, camping, or painting is therapeutic. It also brings me great joy. I hope this may also be true for those who view my work.

I paint en plein air whenever possible. Some work is completed in the studio when the muse calls during the dark evening hours, or I am creating a very large piece or when being outdoors is not possible. Defined, I would say I paint in a representational style. I strive to capture a recognizable landscape on canvas but with the goal of conveying the feeling, energy and life of a scene vs a photo-realistic rendering.

Sean Friel is born in Washington Township, NJ in 1978. He lives in Vineland, NJ and works at a home studio and plein air locations throughout South Jersey.

From a young age, Sean was fascinated with looking at and creating art. Childhood experiences in poster contests, drawing requests from fellow students, and drawing players from baseball cards fed an enthusiasm for art. Later, that led to pursuit of an art degree.

Time spent studying art in college broadened his interests in many styles of art, most notably Realism, Impressionism, and Abstract Expressionism. Artists that have influenced his art, which can be apparent or underlying, include Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Wayne Thiebaud, Janet Fish, and Anselm Kiefer to name a few on a wide spectrum. It has instilled in Sean a need to visit art museums while traveling, from New York to San Francisco to Amsterdam to Paris, and on and on.

Sean works primarily with oil painting. Studies for paintings include use of graphite, pen, charcoal, pastel, gouache, and watercolor. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rowan University in 2002. After graduating, however, Sean did not practice art for more than 15 years, save a drawing or painting here or there. At the urging of his father, Sean signed up for a class at The Barn Studio of Art in Millville, NJ in the fall of 2018 and has attended the Barn Studio - fall, winter, and spring - ever since. Sean has also painted with the Maurice River School of Painters each summer since 2019 and continues to explore the beauty of South Jersey while deepening his artistic roots.

Sean is a member of the Riverfront Renaissance Center, Gallery 50, and Perkins Center for the Arts, and he participates in area gallery shows and plein air painting contests throughout the year.