Close-up and personal — distinctive portrait shows in St. Pete and Ybor


Two art shows give us a different type of close-up than we’re used to from Bryn Alan and phone-posing real estate professionals.

Local painters Robert Phelps and Ron Satlof put their own spin on human and animal portraits at the Studio@620 Friday night. You might recall Phelps’ colorfully vivid dogs at ARTicles Gallery or his John Waters portrait for TIGLFF. Satlof paints portraits of subjects who interest him in a style that offers “something more.” Opening reception for both is May 8, 6-9 p.m., at the Studio@620 in downtown St. Petersburg. Show runs through May 13.

At Ybor’s Silver Meteor Gallery the following night, It’s Okay To Stare spotlights the portraits of Emiliano Settecasi paints with saturated, contoured and offbeat strokes. Settecasi will also create a gallery-exclusive mural for show. Reception is 6-10 p.m. May 9; runs through May 17. Silver Meteor Gallery, Ybor City.