Drew Scarpa
Fine Art
About the Artist
Born in rural Southern New Jersey, Drew was drawing at an early age. He began his formal training in art at Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University. While there he became fascinated with the abstract expressionists through Prof. Gerald Monroe and created boldly colored, loosely rendered landscapes in oil. During that time his design was selected for a large mural for the Chamberlain Student Center. He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He began showing his work in Southern New Jersey galleries in group, two man and solo exhibitions.
With formal training in art, along with a construction background, Drew made a living combining his skills by becoming an architectural draftsman. Drafting was a way of drawing every day and conveying 3 dimensional objects in 2 dimensional form. He created building elevations, and floor plans to detailed installation layouts of electrical work. Hand drafting eventually developed into computer aided design and his pencil was laid to rest. Drew became proficient at computer aided design and had a prosperous career.
Later he continued his education at the Continuing Education Department of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under Prof. Jill Rupinski and Prof. Joseph Sweeney. Through studio and plein air classes his focus became primarily on landscape, using pastels for their immediacy and rich color.
His work is inspired by many different artists: John Constable, Vincent Van Gogh, Giovanni Boldini, Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothco, Fairfield Porter, George Inness, Wolfe Kahn and Ives Klein, to name a few.
As an artist, he paints, in a realistic style, scenes that are inspired by actual locations. Sometimes very accurately rendered and at other times only using it as a starting point. The suggestion of detail is done by the scraping of pastel, a smudge with his finger, one color placed strategically beside another fascinates him. It’s that act of painting that interests him. The exploration of the surface versus the medium. In the end creating a record of the experiences that brought forth the finished piece. He attempts to control that uncontrollable accident and create works that the viewer can appreciate as a beautiful representation of a place or dig deeper, up close, and take in the painting for the abstract qualities, assorted colors and shapes placed in various ways on paper. As in all painting, trees don't exist on the paper, there is no sunlight, it's all about color and form.
Drew has been developing a body of work that represents the landscape of Southern New Jersey, where he lives, as well as other areas of the East Coast. He has won best in show and other awards. His work is in both private as well as public collections and continues to exhibit throughout the area.
Art Experience
2023
International Association of Pastel Societies
42nd Open Division Juried Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center, Millville, NJ
Associate Artist Show I
The Square Pear Fine Art Gallery, Kennett Square, PA
Seasonal Group Show "Stories We Tell"
Peninsula Gallery, Lewes, DE
Recent Work Exhibiting
The Square Pear Fine Art Gallery, Kennett Square, PA
Seasonal Group Show "Inside/Out"
Burlington County Library, Westhampton, NJ
14th Annual Gisela J. Bly Juried Show 3rd Place
2022
Riverfront Renaissance Center, Millville,NJ
Select 4 Person Associate Artist Show
Rowan College of South Jersey, Sewell,NJ
Solo Show
Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May Courthouse, NJ
Solo Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center, Millville, NJ
Cumberland County on Canvas 1st Place
Ellarsie Open 39, Trenton State Museum, Trenton, NJ
Regional Artists Juried Show
Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Solo Show
2021
Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Virtual Show during Covid with 30-minute talk
Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May Court House, NJ
Solo Show
The Village on High, Millville, NJ
Solo Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center, Millville, NJ
Cumberland County on Canvas 2nd Place
Riverfront Renaissance Center, Millville, NJ
Associate Member Show Best in Show Co-winner
Dr. Flinker Pavilion Gallery, Mount Holly, NJ
48th Annual Robert Rainsley Open Juried Art Exhibit Best in Show
2020
The Village on High, Millville, NJ
Solo Show
1988
Gallery 50, Bridgeton, NJ
Solo Show
1987
Gallery 50, Bridgton, NJ
Two man show
1983
Glassboro State College (Rowan University), Glassboro, NJ
Won mural painting competition for design. Painted mural 40’x20’ in Savitz Hall
1982
Cumberland County Library, Bridgeton, NJ
Cumberland County on Canvas Honorable Mention
Art Affiliations
Pastel Society of America Member
Society of New Jersey Artists Member
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts Associate Artist Member
Society of New Jersey Artists Member
Burlington County Art Guild Member
(above- "Untitled" Oil on Canvas 24"x46" 1985)
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