Len Cicio – Q1 Art Competition – Artist Portfolio Magazine

• Artist Portfolio Magazine – Q1 Art Competition
• Len Cicio – New York, NY

My background in textile design, helps me see patterns, textures, forms and movement, in the landscapes and architectural subjects I draw. Living more than 20 years right next to Inwood Park, the last natural forest of Manhattan, I found a rich primal and supernatural quality in its landscapes, which I’ve explored with quiet joy.

However I’m increasingly drawn to the structures of the NYC subway system, with its powerful blend of dramatic, gothic and sexy qualities. Both the man made subways and landscapes of nature, hold intricately woven patterns, filled with myriad details. I want to encourage people to rediscover their surroundings and really see the subway platforms, visually elevated to a higher level, and their walk through the park as entering into a live piece of art work. When the sunlight hits the cold steel structures of the subway, it brings out blues, purples and reds that light up the surface. My goal is to make an analytical study with an attempt to show a deeper, more supernatural vision behind our natural world that we see everyday. The Creator stamped the color of love into the life, movement and power of His creations, including the subways and landscapes of New York City.

My long- favored drawing instruments are colored pencils, pen and ink, soft/oil pastels and wax art bars. I intermix these to achieve a detailed surrealistic vista. Artists whose work continues to influence and inspire me, are Vincent Van Gogh, with his use of strong vibrant colors, and Lyonel Feininger’s towering architectural forms, aspects of which often appear to be viewed through cut-glass, or stained glass windows, highlighted by the sun.