Object Series | JEFF DEL NERO

Galerie U7 in Frankfurt

January 25, 2020July 20, 2018 by Pixel Janitor

In 2003 I was included in a show with a painter from Germany. This was a chance to show my work in a really new situation for me—internationally! The situation was a great opportunity and a real learning experience. Below is a rough translation from an article about the show in the Frankfurter Neue Presse. … Read more

Life Remote more

January 19, 2017October 25, 2015 by Pixel Janitor

Life Remote

These are in progress. I have somewhat of an idea that is not quite ready yet, but I am still working on this concept. To me it’s like a poem of words that we use in an automatic way. I think it can be a fun idea to think that our lives are managed in a “remote” kind of interaction.

We sit in one place and try to make things happen in another place. Using this bit of technology to assist us. This is our phone or our computer that becomes an extension of us. Although, many times there are not buttons for the things we wish could happen. Or events that we cannot control or undo.

My goal is to have the surface of this allude to life. The worn, random effects of living through life. The inevitable wear-and-tear that happens to us.
Because UX (user experience) is important to us in our daily lives, and my job many times is largely associated with a user’s experience, I wanted this to be less user friendly; on/off buttons are randomly placed in the midst of banks of buttons. Also, purposely dis-organizing usage, so it would be work to locate the correct button for the desired result. Chances for errors are increased.

Origins of my Object Series

December 1, 2016February 9, 2013 by Pixel Janitor

When I had the opportunity to visit the Eastern Caroline Islands the island of Pohnpei, (location of Nan Madol) where some friends have lived their whole lives. They were taking me to the village where the carvers were. I had no idea that this particular trip would influence so many of my paintings in the … Read more

Still life painting of a prickley pear paddle and one of those decorative small pumpkins

Prickley Pear with Small Pumpkin – sold

December 7, 2016February 17, 2011 by Pixel Janitor

Have you ever wondered what it is like to go to an artist’s studio and browse through the artwork? Not only on the walls, but in the studio racks that contain all of the artwork not currently hanging. It can be a ton of fun for an art appreciator and the artist too.

This Painting recently sold to a friend who was in Phoenix visiting family. She had simply called to see if Mary and I were available to have a studio visit on a Saturday morning. We said to come by and see what we have in the studio you may like.

It was quite a great experience for us to have a nice opportunity to sit down and spend time with someone curious about our work. Usually at an open studio we don’t get to talk about some of the subtleties of each painting. Last Saturday morning was different in that we had the time to discuss some very specific items that Caroline was interested in.

The warmth of his home and his person seem to manifest in each piece.”

“I first saw Jeff’s work several years ago and had the opportunity to hear him talk about his inspiration and the ‘layers’ he puts into each work of his. Labor, spirituality, everyday objects– he incorporates these into his pieces with such humanity and artistic talent. The warmth of his home and his person seem to manifest in each piece.

I took a liking to a still life of a prickly pear leaf and a pumpkin- somewhat similar to Morandi’s still lifes but with obviously a local uniqueness to it—I was told the prickly pear leaf and pumpkin were found laying around the Del Nero’s desert house one day. Also Jeff described the flat rendering of the background -where the vertical and horizontal planes are indistinguishable- as another distinctive element of the painting. Keep at it Jeff, your work is just awesome!!”

– Caroline Colangelo

Judgement Seat

December 1, 2016June 10, 2010 by Pixel Janitor

Judgement Seat from Jeff Del Nero on Vimeo.

How do you depict forgiveness? How do you show the regret for sin? I have this painting that has a bird on a chair. In the both the Old and New Testaments there is reference to birds being used as sacrifices for certain types of sin. This painting is a very simplistic way of me showing Christ as that sacrifice. The bird is on the “Judgement Seat” and is free to fly away at any time. But there it is, willing and ready to be the sacrifice.

This painting has features that I love about being an artist. You can put images together, and people can react to them. I have heard the gambit on this one, from “depressing to hopeful.” Another element that I love about a painting is its confined area. In this size of a canvas all there is to consider is what is listed before you. I have a composition that aligns all of the elements towards the center. Definitely inspired by Giorgio Morandi, there’s no hiding that. He had his ways of grouping elements into a very challenging composition – usually it is more aesthetic to place objects in still life’s in a manner that gives rhythm and space to appeal. I like the in-your-face way his compositions say; “this is what I want to show.”

Painting is a great way to tell a story, because the viewer can spend as much time or as little time viewing (investing) to figure out the “story.” Books and Film are not as cooperative with your schedule. They say people spend less than 30 seconds looking at a work of art at any given time. One thing I hope to have in my work is enough to come back to and surmise about on the next viewing.

Twin Hearts concept sketch

July 19, 2021May 30, 2010 by Pixel Janitor

Unframed, but here is a link for framing. A 20″x32″ collage and mixed media drawing/painting on black museum board. This concept sketch is from some time around 1991 when I was working on my ”object series“ which included many works dealing with Volkswagen engines. At the time, we owned two VWs, A 1969 type 2 … Read more