Acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas

18" X 36"

artist Ricco DiStefano

The Shadow Men Series

"I just love these pieces. They result from layers of color and shape being worked and
reworked with no goal in mind, except to catch a spirit. I chose to make the beings more of a feeling or reflection of a mood. To me, they all have very distinct personalities, and are as complete as any detailed illustration could ever be.

These paintings were born from my respect for, and the desire to honor my ancestors. I
believe they are watching over me. Like to name just a few as an example, Martin Luther
Essick and his son, Michael Essick whom both served in the Civil War on the side of the
North. Michael, known as the Honest Lawyer, was instrumental in helping to free slaves
through his involvement in the Underground Railroad before the war. His father, a
senator from Illinois, was an active member of the Black Republicans, a group that
championed equal rights for African Americans. I feel that in some way, the people in my
lineage who stood for good while watching over me expect me to be the best citizen that I can. Another is my grandfather and his mother on my father’s side. Carmello
DiStefano, the son of a single mother who immigrated from Sicily to Brooklyn, NY, and
after his mother sacrificed to send him to medical school, became a physician
committed to providing half his time working to serve people who could not afford to pay for their healthcare. These are just a few of the colorful and significant members of my heritage. " - Ricco