Troika Gallery Welcomes New Artist Armando Ortiz

(c)-Armando-Ortiz-'The-Crab-Claw-St.-Michaels' (c)-Armando-Ortiz-'Walking-ithe-Dog'Troika Gallery Welcomes New Artist Armando Ortiz

Troika Gallery is pleased to announce the recent addition of Armando Ortiz to the list of fine artists exclusively represented in the region by Troika Gallery. Ortiz recently received the 29th Annual Sam Hemming Award for Watercolor in the Academy Art Museum’s Member Show. Ortiz works in multiple media, including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pen and ink, and pencil; but his primary medium is watercolor. He paints seascapes, still lifes, figures, portraits, and—his favorite—landscapes.

Ortiz has been painting for more than 50 years, since the age of five. Although he was a computer scientist by profession, he says his passion for art and painting “has always been an intense parallel pursuit.” He studied with such esteemed artists as Edgar Whitney, Robert E. Wood, Skip Lawrence, and Charles Reid. He places a high value on the study of art history and the lives and painting philosophies of great masters, especially, he says, “those responsible for the emergence of new expressive movements.” Yet, despite this diversity of scholastic input, Ortiz says, “I truly believe that unrelenting hard work is the main component to becoming a successful artist. It’s not what you paint that counts, it’s how you paint it.”

Since retiring from his day job, Ortiz says he has been “a resolute, full time artist, exploring and exploiting the watercolor media for new and innovative ways to make an expressive statement.”

Having lived in the United Kingdom for many years, Ortiz had the opportunity to participate in numerous national and international exhibitions. As a result, his work has received many prestigious awards and his paintings hang in many private and public collections on both sides of the Atlantic. His paintings have been exhibited in the Singer/Friedlander Watercolour Show in London, the American Watercolor Show in New York, and the Baltimore Watercolor Competitions.

Ortiz has taught watercolor and plein air painting throughout the United States and England, as well as aboard the Cunard Cruise Liners. “I like to paint on location,” he says, “that’s my favorite way of painting.”

Jennifer Wharton, co-owner of Troika Gallery says, “We are very pleased to have Armando Ortiz’s excellent watercolor artistry as the perfect complement to our selection of the finest of fine art.”

Troika Gallery is the longest operating gallery on the Eastern Shore. Over the past 17 years, the gallery has developed a strong following of collectors and art enthusiasts. Jennifer Heyd Wharton is relocating to Beaufort, South Carolina to be closer to her family. Because of the move, Troika Gallery has been placed on the market for sale and will be under new management in the future. Visit the gallery soon while the original owners are still there. Enjoy the atmosphere that has created a loyal following and made this one of the Eastern Shore’s most beloved art galleries. Wharton and her gallery partner, Laura Era are both respected professional artists; they will continue to pursue their painting and portrait careers. Learn more about Jennifer Heyd Wharton at JenniferHeydWhartonFineArt.com, and Laura Era at www.AnnaEllaCarroll.com. For more information about the sale of the gallery, please contact Jerry Wilcoxon at 866-969-1115 ext 8 or jwilcoxon@wilcoxonconsulting.com.

Troika Gallery is located at 9 S. Harrison Street in downtown Easton. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am to 5:30pm, and Sunday by appointment. The gallery hosts a reception each month during First Friday Gallery Walk from 5-8pm. Artist portfolios and gallery information is available at www.troikagallery.com. For more information, email art@troikagallery.com or phone 410.770.9190.

Photos: Paintings by Armando Ortiz: “The Crab Claw, St. Michaels” and “Walking the Dog”