Tad Retz (Taddeus W. Retz b. 1996) resides in Syracuse, New York and embarked on his artistic career directly upon graduating from high school in 2015. In those years, his drive and daily focus on his craft has resulted in a precipitous rise in national art circles. In 2021, Tad was listed in “10 Artists to Watch” in PleinAir Magazine and his work continues to evolve with a sophistication well beyond his years. Two years before that he was featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 under 31” article on up and coming young artists.
Retz travels widely and paints alongside artists he admires, and has 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 surface quality. He attempts to capture the timeless atmosphere of old American, Russian and European 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.”
