Raffle for “Prototype for ‘Sonrise, Bay of Naples Italy’” Painting

Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win this “Prototype for ‘Sonrise, Bay of Naples Italy’” (10×30”, acrylic on board) by Geneva artist, Dennis Gramlich. Painting is currently on display with the Crèche.

Tickets $25/each or 5 for $100 and may be purchased here online or at the Geneva History Museum front desk. Drawing will be held at 4 PM, Friday, December 16. Winner need not be present. Proceeds benefit the museum.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

“This painting was inspired by a challenging request from the Geneva History Museum to paint a background mural for their crèche, displaying the birth of Jesus.  The scene they requested was 18^th century Naples, from where their crèche came via a circuitous journey.  I found Claude-joseph Vernet’s (1714-1789) “Bay of Naples from the North”, which depicts a sunrise view of the bay.  Since it is the background for the nativity, hence the name “Sonrise”.  Due to the size of the mural (approximately 50” x 174”) I switched media from watercolor to acrylics and from paper to a roll of canvas.  I did several value sketches, acrylic paintings to understand the paint, and practice watercolors to merge the colors.  Then as a final step, I painted this prototype to reflect as much as possible what I wanted the final mural to look like.”

Dennis Gramlich   dennisgramlichart on Instagram    dennisgramlich@gmail.com

Artist’s Bio:

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Dennis Gramlich attended The Ohio State University, earning a BS and MBA.  He served in the Air National Guard and was sent to Korea for a year.  After fulfilling careers in healthcare, he and his Italian wife, Silva, moved to Geneva to be closer to their daughter, Alexia Monaco.  Although always appreciative of and interested in art, he had never taken any classes or pursued his interest until 2014.

Dennis has exhibited at several local galleries and shows and won a “people’s choice” award at a Kane County exhibition.  After painting the background mural for the Geneva History Museum’s crèche, he became their resident artist (painting in their window for about a year) and painted over 30 Geneva scenes which he then donated to the museum for sale or marketing purposes.

“I call myself an emerging artist.  In the years that I have been drawing, sketching and painting, I have yet to develop a preferred style, subject or technique.  I am still experimenting and learning – most greatly (and gratefully) with Fatima Figueiredo, Robert Krajecki, classmates, and from the demonstrations and workshops I attend.  I’ve come to appreciate the uniqueness of every artist I encounter and learn something from each.  I am convinced that I really don’t want to settle into one style, subject matter, or technique, and want to remain ‘forever emerging’.”