BIO:
Antwan started his career as a caricaturist. Learning the art of portraiture as an adolescent, he put himself through art school drawing people face-to-face. Antwan studied art in Southern California in a classical atelier. Under teachers with extensive experience in their fields, Antwan’s aspirations were leading him toward concept art for film and TV. His classes were rich with fundamental drawing and painting, giving him a strong understanding of the disciplines of representationalism. After several years of working as a professional commercial artist for companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Universal Studios, and Pepsi, Antwan began to oil paint on location while hiking and traveling. Over time, Antwan became acquainted with the wonderful plein air community and was inspired to begin painting full-time in 2016. Originally from rural Wisconsin, Antwan has always been inspired by nature’s beauty and relishes the time on location, sketching and observing the essence of the moment.
Antwan is a full-time painter, winning numerous awards as a signature member of The Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. splitting his time between the studio painting for galleries and plein air events around the country. He loves to paint during his extensive travels, but spends most of his time in his studio in central Florida.
Artist Statement:
Painting in traditional oil, I take a modern approach to classical representationalism. With avant-garde techniques in mark-making, I look for more than “idealized” subject matter; I observe the dynamics of shapes and light to reveal a more “overlooked” beauty. I like to tell stories of ephemeral moments by capturing atmospheric light that evokes emotion and connection. I am always looking for the subtle poetry of each subject, trying to paint the "adjective," not the "noun,” of the scene.
Please contact Antwan for commissions and price inquiries.
I am represented by:
Coco & Salem Gallery in Key West, FL
Lily Pad West in Milwaukee, WI
Wantoot Gallery in Mineral Point, WI
J.Petters Gallery in Suagatuck, MI
A selection of my work can be found at their galleries.
If you have questions about a specific painting, please contact me
Awards and Recognition
Best New Artist to Easton, MD - Easton Plein Air 2024
Best Water - Smokies Plein Air invitational 2024
Honorable Mention - Door County, WI Plein Air invitational 2024
1st place plein air painting, Oil Painters of American national convention - 2023, Charleston, SC
Artist Choice + 3rd place overall - 2023 Shadows on the Teche, LA
2nd place artist choice award - 2022 Telluride, CO Plein Air
Best Urban Landscape - 2022 Lighthouse Plein Air. Tequesta, FL
Best Louisiana Landscape - Shadows on the Teche Plein Air. New Iberia, LA
Contemporary Impressionist solo-show at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL. April/May 2021. See video here
Award of excellence Nation Oil and Acrylics Society national show Sept 2021
Best quick paint award - 2021 Plein Air Texas, San Angelo
Best in show - 2020 Mineral Point, WI Plein Air
Plein Air Magazine’s best plein air painting Aug/Sept 2020
Best in show - 2019 Cedarburg Plein Air
Cover artist of the year - 2019 NSB, FL paint out
Best industrial scene - 2019 Dubuque, IA
3rd place - 2019 Oshkosh fine arts plein air event
1st place - 2019 St.Augustine Plein Air
1st place - 2018 New Smyrna Beach quick-paint
1st place - 2018 St.Augustine Plein Air
Best in show - 2018 Tarpon Springs Paint Out
Artist choice award - 2018 Plein Air PalmBeach
2nd place overall – 2018 Plein Air Palm Beach, FL
Best Nocturne - 2018 Mineral Point Plein Air
Best in show – 2017 Tarpon Springs Paint Out