By Lauren Schiavone
Hometown Weekly Staff
Art has a way of connecting people unlike anything else, but artists George Connelly and Paul Cornacchini, have taken it to another level.
Connelly and Cornacchini share canvases and work in tandem to create incredibly detailed portraits. The duo, known professionally as Partners in People Paintings, currently have an exhibit on display at the Westwood Public Library.
The partnered portrait work is something to be admired.
The duo met at New England School of Art & Design and collaborate on oil paintings that hang in gallery exhibitions all over New England.
Connelly and Cornacchini weave human emotion into their interpretations. Some familiar faces, like those of Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin, and Miles Davis, make bold appearances. The unforgettable color mixing in the background of these images, which contrasts beautifully with the black-and-white subjects, is a unique style that the duo has mastered.
These known faces also put smiles on more casual viewers' faces and provided an easy way into the art. Westwood Public Library patrons smiled and sat at tables next to the oil portraits, glancing over from their laptop or books now and then; some patrons even took photos on their phones and shared the art with friends, making for a fun, unexpected cultural interaction in their days.
Other works of the duo, like “Young People”, depict everyday people full scenes. Facial expressions are meticulously rendered, daring the viewer to wonder about the full story behind the images. The attention to color and spacing subjects makes viewers want to jump right into the paintings. This realistic aspect comes from Connelly and Cornacchini’s unique brand of collaboration.
Twelve amazing pieces of art by George Connelly and Paul Cornacchini are on display at the Westwood Public Library, and they are not to be missed. For more information, visit www.westwoodlibrary.org/news/art-gallery or www.partnersinpeoplepaintings.com.
