About Me
My name is Andrew McManus, and I'm a realist painter living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I started painting seriously a few years ago, after I completed my four years as an active duty U.S. Marine. I had the opportunity to see the Carolinas, California, South Korea and Okinawa, Japan. I also went to Fallujah Iraq for seven months, serving as the motor transport chief for a small detachment of intelligence Marines. I was relatively safe the whole time and I'm grateful my tour was as boring as it was.
I was always very impressed with fine art, particularly realist and representational paintings. I admire the skill, study, practice, forethought and discipline needed to craft a beautiful painting. When I began the application process to begin pursuing a degree I couldn't think of anything that I'd rather be studying.
I am not quite self taught. I've read and studied and practiced with quite a few essential texts that I'll review at a later time. Self discipline and continual focused, error conscious practice are far more valuable than a B.F.A. I am working hard and seeing results, and I should have the opportunity to study with some very good painters in the near future.
I'm currently enrolled at Penn State University at the Abington Campus, as a Junior in their Bachelor of Art program. The faculty there is great, and I've learned a lot from them. It's true that it isn't an art school, but I'd rather graduate with little or no debt than spend huge sums learning to pontificate about abstraction.
I was recently accepted into the Schreyer Honors College, a rigorous program comprised of less than two percent of current Penn State Students. I intend to make the most of the senior thesis project and the financial resources available to personally study with as many top contemporary realist painters as I can. I am excited!
And I'll close with a small note - I don't quite think of myself as an artist, primarily, but a painter. I'd rather be a good painter who may be an artist by accident, but not the other way around!
Image: Kiwi Slice - 2009 - 8x6" - Oil on Canvas Panel