About the Artist
Robert (Bob) Frascella has been intrigued by drawing and art from a very early age. Much of his childhood was spent with pencil and drawing pad sketching scenes from everyday life. In college he pursued a different path studying engineering and then worked for many years as a Civil Engineer. Throughout his professional engineering career, Bob continued to develop his interest in painting.
Bob has been working almost exclusively in pastel since 1997 focusing mainly on landscape and maritime scenes of New England. As he refined his individual style, Bob drew on his technical skills to capture extraordinary detail and thoroughness in each composition. Many observers comment on the nearly photographic quality of his images, which is challenging to achieve in pastel. “What I like about pastel is its luminosity and its ability to capture light in an way that brings a scene to life.”
Bob is a self-taught artist and has not had any formal art instruction. His work has been featured in many nationally recognized books and periodicals.
He is a juried artist member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA). He also an Exhibiting Artist Member of the Rockport Art Association and Museum, one of the oldest art associations in North America. In addition, he is a signature Member of the Pastel Society of Maine where his work was featured in five consecutive juried international pastel exhibitions. He is also a juried artist member of the North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester, MA and the Newburyport, MA Arts Association.
His original paintings are created using pastel medium on professional grade and museum grade sanded paper. In addition, a limited number of signed and numbered Giclee prints are available.
Bob and his wife Joanne are residents of Cape Ann on Boston's North Shore where he enjoys biking, kayaking, boating and photography.
Affiliations
Signature Member | Pastel Society of Maine | 2003
Exhibiting Artist Member | Rockport Art Association and Museum | 2019
Juried Artist Member | Shore Arts Association - Gloucester, MA | 2021
Juried Artist Member | Pastel Society of America | 2022
Artist Member | Newburyport (MA) Arts Association | 2023
Owner | Old Depot Virtual Gallery | 2006 - Present
Exhibitions
Fourth Summer Artist Member Show | RAA&M | August 2022
Artist Member Exhibit Three | North Shore Arts Assn.| July 2022
Artist Member Exhibit Two | North Shore Arts Assn.| May 2022
New Artist Member Show | North Shore Arts Assn.| October 2021
Exhibiting Artists Exhibition | Rockport Art Association and Museum (RAA&M) | August 2020
Welcome Back | Artists Member Exhibition | RAA&M | July 2020
New Member Show Juried Exhibition | RAA&M | 2019
Awards
Rockport Art Association and Museum; Robert B. Donnelly, Jr. MD award for Excellence in Any Medium (painting, graphics or sculpture), August 2020
Rockport Art Association and Museum; William Meyerowitz Memorial award for an American Scene - Painting, Graphics or Sculpture, July 2020
Special Skills
In addition to his fine art skills, Mr. Frascella is an accomplished railroad artist who has created numerous paintings depicting railroads across America. To view his railroad related art please visit his virtual gallery at: www.olddepotgallery.com