John “Just “ Filandro

I started my interest in art in High School during the 1950s. I won a scholarship to Pratt Institute in New York. Instead I went to Farmingdale A&T on Long Island. I left College before I earned a Degree. This was the extent of my formal training. I then pursued a career in Lithography. I was creating a printing Hi-Quality Lithography in New York City and Manhattan. I was employed in various printing establishments in this endeavor through the years. I used my knowledge in art to create some advertising within this venture. I continued in this venue until my retirement.

My daughter had pursued Art in both High School and then in South Hampton College. I used my art knowledge to guiding her on her path. Six months before her graduation, by a brain injury. After many years of rehabilitation, she started to take art classes as therapy. It was there I started again. I would sketch her pictures to enable her to paint them. I assisted her to remember her color and brush techniques. Her teacher liked my sketching and challenged me to take some classes with him. He challenged me to show him what I could do. After 45 years I picked up a brush and pencil again. That was in late 2002.

I have been a part of Bill Haney’s classes trying to improve my skills. Currently I have paintings of lighthouses in the East End Seaport Marine Museum located at the Greenport Dock. These were my second attempt at watercolor. They saw the paintings I had made for the East End Lighthouse Preservation Association. They asked me if I would do some for them to display. There currently is painting on display at the St. Johnland Nursing center in Smithtown, LI. My works have been in Galleries on the East End, Mattituck, “St James Mills Pond House,” The Art League in Dee Park and The Phoenix Fine Arts Gallery. I am in private collections in Cuba, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, Washington and Mane, California, NY, NJ and others.

The Fire Island Restoration Society had my paintings for their exhibition and has requested I submit three for their next exhibition at the Fire Island Lighthouse. I agreed. The next Exhibition is July 7. I had a private showing, January 06 to April 06 at the Apple Bank in Smithtown. That produced great write up in the press. Thanks to STAC who sponsored it, I gave them two of my paintings. I will be featured artist in July 06. The Hicksville Chamber of commerce, Mill Pond, East End Galleries and Islip Art Museum will have my work in June-July. I am now 66 years old and will stay with watercolor. I try to accomplish this to the best of my ability. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to cerate something that people take pleasure in viewing. Piquing there curiosity to see beauty in other works and life around them.

I can be reached at justjohnfilandro.com

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