East Meadow Library Hosts DiNucci Watercolor Exhibit

You don't have to go to Rome to see the watercolors of Tony DiNucci.

While the deft, emotionally rich and evocative paintings of DiNucci may currently be seen in shows in Italy, they are also on view a little closer to home this month.

In the meeting room to be exact.

An opening was held for a library show featuring his paintings on Nov. 7, and DiNucci was on hand to show off his work and talk with visitors about his approach to art.

On display in the room are a number of scenes that reference the natural beauty of our region -- waterfowl on open bays, beach scenes, bucolic country scenes and even busy fishermen's docks along the wharf area of Freeport. But DiNucci's interests vary widely. A number of scenes from his vacation spot up in Maine make their appearance, in the form of some very attractive lake scenes in different seasons.

Tony DiNucci began his art training at the High School of Industrial Art in New York City. He supplemented his art training by attending sketch classes at the renowned Art Students League.

During his college days he began working as a graphic artist at the American Weekly Promotion Department, where later he was promoted to assistant art director.

In 1960 DiNucci established his own graphic design studio, which he ran for more than 30 years. His background in graphic design provided the strong foundation on which he built his sense of design and composition.

Perhaps that also explains why several of his works use a minimal palette.

"I like to work with limited colors, I guess I'm old school," he said. "It goes back to the old days in printing where it cost more to use additional colors."

In fact, one of the particularly powerful works on view, ducks on a still bay, is done almost entirely in a monochromatic fashion in watercolor, but gives the appearance of a charcoal drawing.

But there's more to it than saving money -- DiNucci says he also likes to mix his own palette from six basic colors, rather than buy dozens of ready made paints, because the individuality and nuance, not to mention the craftsmanship, appeals to him.

While it may be a stretch to get to Italy (some 80 miles south of Rome) to see more of DiNucci's work, luckily he's also exhibiting in New York City these days. A member of the distinguished Salmagundi Art Club on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, a few blocks from Washington Square, he is participating in a show there at the moment, and in another that goes up in late November and runs through the first of the year.

To learn more about his work, or the show at the East Meadow Library, visit

http://www.eastmeadow.info/ or http://www.tdinucciwatercolors.com/Home_Page.html