“ABOVE THE ROOFTOPS”: This oil on canvas painting by Francisco Silva is part of “This Looks Familiar,” his solo exhibit on view at the David Scott Gallery at Berkshire Hathaway on Nassau Street through May 19. An artist reception is on March 23 from 2 to 5 p.m.

David Scott Gallery now presents “This Looks Familiar,” Francisco Silva’s first solo exhibition of paintings, on view through May 19 in the offices of Berkshire Hathaway, 253 Nassau Street. An artist reception is on Saturday, March 23 from 2 to 5 p.m.

After many years working as a graphic designer and web developer, 2019 marked Silva’s return to painting, primarily en plein air. He began with landscapes inspired by his backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail. Since then, his work has grown to include still lifes, urban and rural scenes, architecture and structures, and themes portraying the struggles of the everyday person. Silva’s influences include Edward Hopper and the social realist painters of the 1920s and 1930s. The rich textiles of his Peruvian roots inform his use of vibrant color, and his brushwork is a seamless combination of loose, painterly strokes and controlled detail.

“My painting is inspired by my surroundings and the daily interactions I experience within them,” said Silva. “I use color to express and evoke emotion, preferring to mix all colors from a limited palette. The process is analytical at first, striving to create a balanced composition as a foundation for the work. When painting starts, I apply loose strokes to convey movement and energy. As the painting evolves, I refine only certain areas for emphasis and to create contrast.

“Through my work, I try to connect with the viewer by sharing my personal moments in life. As their eyes move through the painting, I want them to ask questions about the subject matter, the location, and my interpretation of that instance. I want them to react to the canvases whether they’re large panoramic scenes, or smaller pieces that are more personal and intimate.”

“This Looks Familiar” attempts to cover the full range of Silva’s language as a painter of the “everyday.” Through Silva’s lens, the viewer is invited to engage with these familiar scenes and be guided from hiking trails to city streets, beaches to farmlands, and suburban sidewalks to corner bars. In his paintings, we are reminded of the very worthwhile practice of pausing to appreciate everything around us, no matter how seemingly ordinary.