Watercolor by Ralph Acosta, Great Catch, Salmagundi label, c1993

Frame: 26 1/8" x 20 1/4"
Watercolor: 20" x 14"

Ralph Acosta
(Source: acosta-r.com) Ralph, an accomplished watercolorist is a native born New Yorker. His ethnic background is Spaniard/Puerto Rican/Taino Indian.

He grew up in the Fort Apache neighborhood of the Bronx, one of the worst neighborhoods in the country. He realized he had the ability to draw and art became his escape from the crime and drugs on the streets.

In his early teens having received a gift of oil paints he painted portraits of family and friends. Becoming hungry for other subject matter he also painted copies of the early 'masters'. Having obligations to support his mother & siblings, he did not have the financial means to study art formally.

Wanting to remain in the artistic field he became a freelance display designer in New York City for major boutiques such asBonwit Teller, Bergdorf Goodman, Bendells and various interior decorators. However, those jobs dwindled in the early 1970's due to a slow economy. He then became an insurance salesman and stayed in that business for many years but still his passion for art remained.

He left the insurance business behind although it was financially very difficult and decided to pursue that passion. He sought out those in the art field by attending drawing classes.

In 1979 he was eventually introduced by another fellow artist, Irving Kerr, to the teachings of Edgar Whitney, the renowned watercolorist who conducted weekly workshops at the National Art League in Douglaston New York.

Having only been self-taught in oils, watercolor painting was a new medium challenge. Through Whitney's direction he felt the freedom, transparency and spontaneity of watercolors and continued to study with Whitney for several years until his death at the age of ninety-six.

Having been inspired by Whitney's intense love of teaching and needing to make an income Ralph felt the need to teach others Whitney's design laws. Ralph eventually gained a following which allowed him to teach at the National Art League for 18 years along with performing many workshops and demos at many other art leagues as well as conducting many en plein air classes throughout Long Island.

He also conducted a New England 'painting cruise' as well as a workshop in Puerto Rico.

Ralph is an impressionist and purist in the way of saving his whites - he does not use white or black paint. His work has been described as loose and juicy. Most of his paintings begin with a very loose sketch because he does not want to become a 'slave to the line'.

He is known for his use of a two inch brush with which he completes almost ninety percent of his paintings. His subject matter is not limited; he enjoys painting whatever inspires him. His demos are known to be very informative and entertaining.

He also traveled much of the northeast doing outdoor art shows for thirty years.

Ralph and his wife moved to Stonington CT in 2005; two years later building his post and beam 1000 sq. ft. 'dream studio' ( a far cry from his small, dark basement on Long Island where he painted, matted and framed his own work). He continues to teach classes at his Stone Eagle Studio in Stonington and still mats and frames his own work.

He does now and has in the past shown his work in several galleries in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts.

Ralph is a member of the National Art League, Hudson Valley Art Assn, Mystic Museum of Art-Elected Artist, Lyme Art Association-Elected Artist, CT Academy of Fine Artists, Academic Artists Association, CT Watercolor Society, R.I. Watercolor Society, Core Artist of the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport and a former member of Salmagundi Club in NYC.

He has participated in many exhibitions and has been the recipient of many awards throughout his career.

Good condition overall