“With every painting I'm interested in the color and light of the subject matter. Intrigued in the abstract shapes that present themselves in everyday scenery, I like to push shapes into caricatured silhouettes with intense outlining and abrupt edges. I've been experimenting with collaging and masking off areas to get these very sharp and abstract shapes as well. Along with the graphic qualities in nature I’m also inspired by the unrefined. The soft edges of a stormy sky or foggy coast line. With this appreciation of the full spectrum of edges, I paint scenes with a strong sense of place and mood no matter where my travels take me."
Tad Retz resides in upstate New York and embarked on his artistic career directly upon graduating from high school in 2015. His drive and daily focus on his craft has resulted in a precipitous rise in national art circles. In 2021, Tad was listed as one of the top plein air painters to collect by PleinAir Magazine and his work continues to evolve with a sophistication well beyond his years.
Retz travels widely and paints alongside artists he admires, and has more recently begun teaching workshops throughout the US. His most recent body of work is a result of his desire to experiment with paint manipulation and to see what different tools can do to the look and shapes of color. He attempts to capture the timeless atmosphere of old American, European and Dutch Masters of impressionism, of which he devoutly studies.
Reflects Retz, “The feeling of being surprised at the end of each painting session is invigorating. Through using new tools, thicker paint, and fast drying mediums, I am discovering new ways to suggest reality in my paintings. Through the act of scraping paint off, applying unmixed paint with palette knives, calligraphic brush marks, dragging tissues through the thick wet paint, and so on; I am able to achieve the look that I have been striving for – a look that is timeless and poetic and more in line with who I am as an artist.”
Featured in the Artist’s Magazine: “The Storytellers” March/April. 2022
Artwork featured in HGTV “Good Bones” Season 6, 2021
Featured in Pleinair Magazine: “10 Artists to Watch: Plein Air Painters You Need to Collect Now.” 2021
Contributor to “A Landscape Painter’s Workbook” by Mitchell Albala. 2021
2020 Self published book of art: 200 sold worldwide
Online Article for 300MAGAZINE https://300magazine.com/glorious-landscape-paintings-in-the-art-of-tad-retz/
Blog article for Fine Art Shippers https://fineartshippers.com/compelling-landscape-paintings-by-tad-retz/
Royal Talens North America Interview https://www.facebook.com/royaltalensna/videos/891831914924282
Southwest Art Magazine “21 under 31” https://www.southwestart.com/featured/21-under-31-young-artists-to-watch-in-2019-tad-retz
“Lasting Impressions” Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, OR. 2023
“Solo Show” Folly Cove Fine Art, Rockport, MA. 2023
“Holiday Small Works” Aguiar Fine Art, Portsmouth, NH. 2023
“144” Paul Scott Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. 2023
“RAA&M National 2023” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2023
“4th Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2023
“The White Mountains and Beyond” Aguiar Fine Art, Portsmouth, NH. 2023
“Return to Camden” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2023
“Locals Only” Baldwin Avenue Gallery, Sierra Madre, CA. 2023
“Spring Open House” Hamilton Center for the Arts, Hamilton, NY. 2023
“New Juried Members Show” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2022
“RAA&M National 2022” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2022
“3rd Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2022
“Stonington and Beyond” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2022
“Modern Masters of Impressionism” Folly Cove Fine Art, Rockport, MA. 2022
“The Desert 2.0” Sentient Academy, Provo, UT. 2022
“Storytellers Pop-up Show” Heirloom Art Co. Provo, UT. 2021
“2nd Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2021
“Pas de Deux” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME. 2021
“The Storytellers: The Desert” online exhibition, Spring 2021
“Plein Air Exhibition” Sugarlift Gallery, New York, NY. 2020
“The Storytellers” Heirloom Art Co. Provo, UT. 2020
“Three Part Harmony” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2020
“Grand Opening of Vining Gallery” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2020
“Adirondack Inspired” Keene Arts. Keene, NY. 2020
“Biophilia” Sugarlift Gallery. Brooklyn, NY. 2020
“Landscape Today” Harrison Center. Indianapolis, IN. 2019
“Shadow and Light” Hueys Fine Art Gallery. Santa Fe, NM. 2019
“When Artists Come to Visit” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME 2019
“Painting The Town” Gallery Nucleus. Los Angeles, CA. 2019
“In Open Air” Clowes Memorial Hall. Indianapolis, IN 2018
“The Artists Journey” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME. 2018
