Photo by Brandon Sullivan In the home studio of painter Gennaro Garcia you will find his latest works of art, including an oil on canvas illustrating Archangel Gabriel. Measuring 5' x 8', the painting features a patina as well as 24-karat gold leaf for added luster. Behind the artist, on an easel, is a hand-carved headboard decorated with saints and crosses.

A WORSHIPPER OF RELIGIOUS ART, GENNARO GARCIA DEPICTS ICONIC MOTIFS IN HIS PAINTINGS

For some, traveling offers a time to lie back and relax with a romance novel. For Ahwatukee, Ariz., painter Gennaro Garcia, owner of Artegennaro, it’s an opportunity to find inspiration, learn new techniques, and start the process of sketching works of art.
 
That is exactly what happened a few years ago. After a trip with his wife to New York City in 2004, Garcia was spellbound by the art he saw in old churches and experienced a spiritual transformation. He quickly switched from his abstract painting style to concentrate on iconic motifs and began seeking destinations “where we could see art related to religion,” he explains. So far, the passport of this eager traveler has been stamped in Latin America, Africa, Spain, Italy and France.

The results can be viewed in the painter’s studio, where his favorite work to date is displayed: It is an oil on canvas depicting Archangel Gabriel. The piece has a crackled patina enhanced with 24-karat gold leaf. Garcia also has painted such religious subjects as the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, Archangel Raphael, nuns and monks. His studio is full of other treasures as well, including the retablos and crosses he makes with his father, Luciano; Garcia does the finishing and painting of the wares that Luciano hand-carves.

 The majority of the artist’s customers are homeowners in Scottsdale, but he also delivers pieces to clients in places like Mexico and San Diego. Donna Valdez of Ahwatukee has one of Garcia’s angel paintings in her living room and says she has plans to hire him to create a mural. “He paints with extreme passion and emotion,” she offers.

This passion for art has been present from the time Garcia was a young boy growing up in an artistic family in Mexico. He built his own toys, imitated his brother’s paintings, and eventually earned a degree in graphic design in Tijuana. Nine years ago, he moved from Mexico to Arizona to make a name for himself as a painter. “Like everybody else, I wanted the sueño Americano [American Dream],” he confides.

Photos by Werner Segarra Top: Cristo de Oro, a hand-carved retablo (above), shines with gold leaf detailing and has been distressed to achieve an aged look. Bottom:  El Cristo Guadalupano is a hand-carved cross that shows Jesus Christ with the Virgin Mary in his heart. It was created with a combination of acrylic and oil paints and finished with a patina. Both the retablo and cross were carved by Garcia’s father, Luciano, and painted and finished by Garcia.

The transition wasn’t easy, however. After being homeless for a week, he returned to his previous career managing restaurants. Painting in his spare time, he got the chance to display some of his pieces in local eateries. One day, Mia Pratt, president and owner of Old Pratt Studio—a Phoenix firm specializing in wall finishes and murals—walked into one of those establishments, fell in love with Garcia’s art, and hired him immediately. Remembering his “big break,” he says that Old Pratt Studio “helped me understand the schemes of colors and textures.” He established Artegennaro in February but still works for Old Pratt Studio as time allows. The Catholic artist’s main focus these days is depicting religious motifs.

Calling painting addictive and therapeutic, he relates: “For me, it’s the best way to communicate everything—the way I feel, the way I think, and what I love.”

To attend one of Gennaro Garcia’s exhibits or to commission works of art, contact the painter directly by visiting his Web site, artbygennaro.com.

DIVINE DESIGN
Gennaro Garcia points out attributes of the saints that are most popular for home display.
Saint Anthony: This saint is for those who are single, notes the artist, adding that it is supposed to remain upside down until someone comes into your life.
Saint Domingo Savio: This saint is thought to take care of your children; so the painter suggests placing it in their rooms for protection.
Saint Pascual: To bless your meals,
showcase this saint of cooking in your kitchen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Garcia calls her “the mother of all Mexicans” and says she is a crucial element in a Mexican-style home.
Saint Christopher: Bidding you a safe journey, the travelers’ saint should be displayed by your entry door.
Saint John the Evangelist: The artists’ saint belongs in the creative area of your home, such as a studio.