Circus
Oil on Canvas
Circus is a spectacular original by Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1965 nominee Pascal Curaco. With his signature bold brush strokes and dramatic portraits with piece captures the style and vibrancy and power of Curaco.
About the Artist
The American Picasso
Pascal (Pat) Cucaro was a master painter in the West Coast San Francisco art scene during the 1960's and 1970's.
His painting style is characterized by a bold gestural quality, complimented by a thick application of paint. In some cases, the artwork has paint so thick it seems to have been applied straight from the tube. Although primarily inspired by Impressionists and Expressionists and such artists as Van Gough and Toulouse-Lautrec, he created his own style.
“I am my own school. I paint Cucaro style.”
-Pascal Cucaro
Favoring bright colors and a dynamic brush stroke, he would also incorporate linear definition and open perspectives in his paintings. He traveled extensively abroad to find new inspirations for his work -- to Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, China, Malta, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Tahiti, and all throughout Europe.
He explored a variety of subjects: abstract, crowd themes (what Cucaro calls "people-people" paintings), still life, marine and street scenes, portraits and circus life with mediums such as oils, acrylics, watercolors, tempera, etchings, india ink, ink/wash, lithographs and prints.
Among his notable admirers and collectors: Tony Bennett, Marlon Brando, Raymond Burr, Bette Davis, William Holden, Dennis Hopper, Liberace, Burgess Meredith, Jack Nicholson, Vincent Price, Grace Slick, Frank Sinatra, Jack Webb, Natalie Wood, just to name a few.
He was nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1965.
Cucaro passed away on January 31st, 2004.