Cynthia Perrino paints uniquely engaging female personas that defy the expectations of formal portrait work. Her forms are based on women that emerge during her creative process, and influenced by her roots, travels and intuitive, sensing skills. Artists have mentioned Cynthia’s paintings bear the spiritual likeness of Italy’s Amedeo Modigliani.
Cynthia wants to catch our eye, provoking us to ask, “Who is this woman? What is she feeling?” and most importantly, “Who is she deep beneath the surface?” And ask ourselves those same questions.
Nowhere near photorealism, Cynthia’s oil and acrylic women take on a life of their own. Her play on perspective illustrates our humanity; crooked poses, smiles, imperfect noses, all of the women are only paint-deep to the eye, but much deeper in reality.
Artist Statement
Women. Complex, compelling, emerging.
I always begin a new canvas with reckless abandon, using colors, textures, layers which speak to me in that moment.
Within all of that chaos, there is inspired purpose – penciled words, or a sentence, maybe a thumbprint, poetry or lyrics. These elements are hidden to the naked eye, but roil beneath; They remain as the soul of the painting, the soul of the woman.
Begging the emerging, that soul’s face will appear, as she speaks to me of what she wants the world to see –lips graced with a smile, perhaps a knowing smirk, sparkling eyes, lovely skin, polite conversation and layers deep beneath the surface, her truest self – our truest selves.
Capturing every woman at any given moment at any given place in time, it is my honor to bring their characters to life for you, to continue their dialogue.