About

head shot of the artist

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michael Berardesco has been creating art professionally for over 50 years. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art where he earned a BFA cum laude in 1973. While still in school he started his commercial art business, creating highly detailed airbrush renderings for local architects and designers. Upon graduation, with his business firmly established, he was honored to be offered a teaching position as a visiting professional at his alma mater.

For the next few years, he divided his time between architectural rendering, teaching and fine art. His business eventually grew to employ five artists and draftsmen providing rendering services to many of the largest design firms on the east coast.

As his commercial studio prospered, available time to paint became scarce. Realizing he could no longer give painting the attention required, he reluctantly put his fine art career on hold.

The introduction of computers changed everything. Michael mastered the new technology and his business was transformed. Within months, he was doing all his work on computers. Remote communication allowed him to relocate his studio to a small town in a rural part of the state.

Now, surrounded by rustic farms and scenic vistas, and missing the tactile feel of creating with traditional art mediums, his desire to paint was rekindled.

In 2018, he picked up his brushes.

In addition to his fine art, Michael continues to create architectural renderings and illustrations.  He is the current Vice President of the New Jersey Watercolor Society and teaches drawing and watercolor at the Whitespace School of Art.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

When I find something that might be a good subject for a painting, what really grabs my attention is the story it has to tell. I want to know what series of events led to this moment in time.

Many of my paintings depict utilitarian objects and structures…things designed to enhance someone’s life. I want to know what inspired a person to invest the time, energy and resources to build it. Was it created simply to make their life easier and more enjoyable? Or was it an important part of their livelihood? Did it represent survival?

When you look at what they built, you get a glimpse of how they thought.

Many of their creations continue to function, while others sit abandoned, weathered and rusting, stripped of their usefulness by shifting demands and new technologies. But they all display nobility of purpose in their existence.

They are expressions of human ingenuity and intellect.

This is what I want to capture in my paintings.

SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIPS

  • New Jersey Watercolor Society
  • American Artists Professional League

AWARDS

  • 2024
  • The Anne H. Hanifan Memorial Award – 36th Annual Skylands Regional Juried Exhibition
  • 2023
  • The Anne H. Hanifan Memorial Award – 35th Annual Skylands Regional Juried Exhibition
  • First Place – Sussex County Arts and Heritage Center – International and Global Juried Art Exhibition
  • The Peter Meadowsong Memorial Award – New Jersey Watercolor Society 81th Annual Open Juried Exhibition
  • 2022
  • The George Morville Sr. Award – 34th Annual Skylands Regional Juried Exhibition
  • Fine Art Connoisseur Award of Excellence – American Artists Professional League 94th Grand National Exhibition
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society Award – New Jersey Watercolor Society 80th Annual Open Juried Exhibition