Sylvia Spicuzza Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

The present work, drawn with black Conté crayon on a paper calendar sheet, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a rhythmic vision. The scene is dominated by the figure of a woman...

In this drawing, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a dark, subtle view of two apples, still clinging to their leaves. Examples like this show the ability of Spicuzza to draw i...

Art: 11"x15" Paper: 12"x16" Frame: 20 1/2"x24 1/2" Charcoal drawing, signature stamped lower left Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff Elementary School in Shorewood, WI. During this time Sylvia produced a magnificent body of work that was undiscovered until her death. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings, watercolors and prints from the 1920's to the 1990's. Her style ranges from early figurative drawings to regionalism, art deco, lyrical abstractions of every conceivable subject (both real and imagined), as well as figurative paintings that reflect the work of Picasso and Ernest Max in the 1930's and 1940's. Biomorphic and organic, Modernist images are presented with Sylvia Spicuzza's own unique sense of style, humor and fantasy. Exhibitions David Barnett Gallery...

This watercolor still life on paper is an unusual example of Sylvia Spicuzza's work, as most of her most significant output are geometric and biomorphic abstract images. The objects in the image - a sea shell, a pitcher, a heavy necklace - are objects the artist likely had at home and staged for the image. But of particular significance is the insertion of the artist's hand, as though she was reaching into the still life while she was painting. The hand has been a significant symbol of the artist throughout art history as a source of creation: Albrecht Dürer's 'Self Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Eight' (1500) highlights the artist's hand much like traditional images of Christ giving gestures of blessing. Likewise, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's 'Self Portrait as a Soldier' (1915) shows the artist in military uniform but with a severed hand as a symbol of helplessness during the First World War. Another important comparison, given Spicuzza is a Midwestern artist, is Ivan Albright's magic realist work 'That Which I Should Have Done I Did Not Do (The Door)' at the Art Institute of Chicago. The massive painting...

"Clown Close Up" is an original watercolor by Sylvia Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece in ink lower right. It depicts a clown in red in front of a blue background. 23" x 18" ar...

Art: 5 1/2 x 4 3/8" Frame: 10 1/8 x 8 1/8" Original color woodcut on paper, signed in block. Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff...

In this crayon drawing on paper, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a bust-length view of two elegant women dressed in East Asian costume. Their faces reflect the ideal of beau...

In this watercolor on paper, Sylvia Spicuzza presents us with a self portrait, constructing a mobile with one of her young students. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the stu...

In this monotype print on paper, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a scene of two young men relaxing within a pastoral landscape. On the back of the print, Spicuzza has left h...

"Woman in Coat & fancy Hat" is a graphite drawing signed by Sylvia Spicuzza. An older woman is sketched as she stands. She is wearing a winter coat and q...

"Bee Keeper" is an original black conte crayon drawing by Sylvia Spicuzza. The artist signed this piece lower right. This drawing depicts abstrac...

Art: 23" x 18" Frame: 33" x 29 1/4" Watercolor on paper, signed in ink lower right Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff Elementary School in Shorewood, WI. During this time Sylvia produced a magnificent body of work that was undiscovered until her death. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings...

Art: 10-3/4"x 8-1/4" Frame: 17-3/4"x15-3/8" Watercolor on paper, stamped signature Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff...

In this painting, Sylvia Spicuzza demonstrates her skill as an illustration artist, representing the Milwaukee character Billie the Brownie with a growing spring of a tree. An illustration like this could grace the pages of a children's book or illustrated magazine, or as an advertisement for Schuster’s Department Store. Watercolor, gouache and graphite on paper 8 x 5.75 inches, artwork 14 x 12 inches, frame Stamped with artist signature, below image, lower left. Presented in a new custom frame with a gold-finish neoclassical wood moulding, archival matting and mounting materials; and UV glass to inhibit fading. Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff Elementary School in Shorewood, WI. During this time Sylvia produced a magnificent body of work that was undiscovered until her death. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings, watercolors and prints from the 1920's to the 1990's. Her style ranges from early figurative drawings to regionalism, Art Deco, lyrical abstractions of every conceivable subject (both real and imagined), as well as figurative paintings that reflect the work of Picasso, Kandinsky and Max Ernst in the 1930's and 1940's. Biomorphic and organic, Modernist images are presented with Sylvia Spicuzza's own unique sense of style, humor and fantasy. Billie the Brownie was a multi-media star of Christmas in Milwaukee from the 1920s to the 1950s. Years earlier, the writer and artist Palmer Cox...

This is an excellent example of one of Sylvia Spicuzza's rare 'finger paintings': not only is it remarkably large, but it also shows her mastery of the...

In this intimate drawing, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a young woman crouched down in a garden. The image is framed by foliage and fields of color. 3.75 x 5.25 inches, ...

In this drawing, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a scene from the theater or opera, showing five women on stage. Three of the women have their backs to the viewer, while one...

The present work, drawn with black Conté crayon on a paper calendar sheet, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a rhythmic vision of an urban lakefront. The beach scene is domina...

In this drawing on paper, Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with a view of children jumping on a trampoline near the entrance to the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair...

In this drawing, Sylvia Spicuzza takes influence from the Fauvist works of Henri Matisse, especially his famous 1904 composition "Luxe, calme et volupté." This influence is more pron...

In this drawing, Sylvia Spicuzza presents us with something of a self portrait, showing an instructor at the head of a classroom, her students looking forward intently. Sylvia hersel...

"Dreaming of Paradise Island" is an original watercolor and pastel on paper by Sylvia Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece in the lower right. It depicts a large female figure overl...

"Playing Dress Up in the Attic" is an original graphite drawing by Sylvia Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features two children playing dress-up. 8" x 5" art 19...

"Five Faces #736" is an original black ink drawing with a stamped signature in the lower left by Sylvia Spicuzza. It depicts five female faces from a...