Art makes us confront issues we may not wish to face. If you hate a piece of art, it says as much about you as it would if you loved it. 

The Art of Bijay Biswall

"Rain, Train, Etcetra"

Artist: Bijay Biswall
Website: http://www.biswaal.com/
Process Used: Acrylic on canvas . 36x70 inches

Bijay has the most amazing eye for detail. Nothing has escaped his notice as he created this piece. Even the clothing of the people has detail and depth. He's also created movement through the whole piece, from the reflections in the wet pavement, to the slow movement of both train and clouds. Last, note the near perfect symmetry of the piece. This is difficult to do on a rectangular surface. I see a lot of talented artists, but in Bijay's case the composition of all of his work warrants that other artists should study him carefully. They could learn a lot from his work. ~G~

Attention to Detail

Someone asked me today why I was spending so much time on the small details of the City Lost project when the whole sculpture was just going to be put outside and allowed to fall apart with nature. 

My response even though I knew it offended him was "this is why you are not an artist". 

Artists pay attention to every little detail. Its what we do to make sure that our work is the best it can be. If we are not paying attention to detail then our work becomes sloppy and ends up ultimately to be found in a Goodwill store next to the old silverware a stereo that died in 1978. 

The Art of Michael Kallstrom

"Suspicion"

Artist: Michael Kallstrom
Website: https://michael-kallstrom.pixels.com/
Process Used: Digital Art hand drawn and painted on the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil.

Michael's process fascinates me. Too many digital artists rely just on their equipment and never take the process out of the digital realm. The fact that he hand draws much of his work before moving it to the digital format gives it an added dimension that is immediately noticeable when you view his work. His color vibrant schemes are also to applauded as they draw the eye into the art. Definitely check out his site and see his other work. ~G~

Our work defines us. If its without meaning it stands to reason that our lives will mean nothing. If your doing something just to make money then that is the limit of who you will ever be. 

A Look at the City Lost

Some views of raw images taken of the City Lost.This is scale model of a dead city encompasses several different distinct art concepts. City Lost focuses on urban decay and urban ruin. Other areas that are being explored in other series include a body painting series. A graffiti series and a surrealism series. 

A First Look at the Kowloon Imperial Hotel

A first look at the finished urban ruin of the Kowloon Imperial Hotel. Once it transferred to the outdoor set  and the plants start to grow around it, it should look great. I've left lots surfaces for graffiti to be added also. Tomorrow it will get moved to its new home. At this time it stands about 5 feet tall but other than the base weighs very little. 

The Digital Art of Simone Morana Cyla

"She Comes From the Stars"

Artist: Simone Morana Cyla
Website: simonemoranacyla.wordpress.com 
Process Used: Digital Paintings and photo manipulation printed on photo paper

It is extremely difficult to find digital art that really takes advantage of the format. This piece by Simone Morana Cyla is a fantastic example of all that digital art can be. Note the layering effect that gives the piece depth and three-dimensionality. As a side note, also notice the attention to professionalism. All info is self contained beneath the piece and the artists signature is off to the side so that it does not in any way impede the viewing of the art. There is no massive watermark and even the color schemes for the border and fonts compliment the image. Excellent work. 

Additional Info:

This piece can be purchased at: https://www.artfinder.com/simonemoranacyla#/

I would rather give a poor person a piece of my art rather than have a rich man buy the piece. Who would respect that art more? The poor person who may see very little beauty in their lives? Or the rich person who surrounds themselves with so much beauty that they lose their ability to cherish it?

The Fluid Art of Christina Montoya

"Eruption"

Artist: Christina Montoya (Toya Kisora Designs)
Website: https://m.facebook.com/TKD5639/?ref=bookmarks
Materials Used: Stretched Linen Canvas, Acrylics, Water, Coconut Milk Serum, Floetrol


I've seen a lot of examples of Fluid Painting but I find that this particular piece is a great example of movement. What makes this one different is that the flow is very uniform, moving from left to right. The trouble with a lot of fluid paintings is that the movement dead ends. It stops abruptly or pools up in one area of the canvas. Movement is symmetry. If the symmetry is off in a piece of art it can throw the whole piece off. Fluid Painting has its own rules as its sometimes hard to control the movement, but the rules are the same. The better the symmetry, the better the art. 

Additional Info: Christina Montoya, affectionately known as Toya, is an up-and-coming abstract artist based in Denver, Colorado. She creates multimedia and visual art through specialized media such as watercolors, inks, acrylics and pouring mediums. Toya was drawn to these media as they allow for a greater freedom in experimentation and allow her to create unique pieces of art. She began painting in the fall of 2017 after a life altering liver disease diagnosis and has found that her art is a gratifying way to not only relieve the stress that her diagnosis brings, but it also enables her to share her heart, soul and struggles through the world of art.

The Work of Artist Jen Lightfoot

You Strike With Dry Poison
Artist: Jen Lightfoot
Artists Website: https://www.jenlightfoot.com/
Note: Currently available in Strange Dreams Surreal Art Collective's 'Studio Sale auction (from April 15-April 22) Strange Dreams Surreal Artist Collective

This piece intrigued me from the moment I saw it. I think its because the color scheme is so uncharacteristic of a horror piece. It makes it stand out immediately. The problem with a lot of horror related art is that artists think they have to conform to a set of rules for how it should be created. The result is that every piece, no matter how well done, eventually becomes boring because it hasn't stepped away from conformity to do something new. this piece has. 

Whats in Grey's Studio Tonight

We have two projects underway tonight. The first is the fourth Urban Ruin for the "What Could Be" project. When completed it will stand about 8 feet high and be composed of girders made from foam. This photo shows it in its early stages. It will be 2 feet long by 1 foot wide. 

The second project is an abstract piece done on a 4 foot by 2 foot canvas. This is more of an experimental piece using human hair (not included yet, and yeah its my hair). I'm not really sure where its going yet so almost anything may happen. 

Never forget to experiment. You never know what you may end up with.

Every revelation you have as an artist is unique unto yourself. It is a combination of all you have learned and experienced, coupled with a skill level that only you posses. The spark of creation is in all you do because it cannot be replicated by anyone else. 

Tips for Creating an Art Series

What is a series? A series (by my definition) is 5 or more pieces of art that share a common element. Anything less than 5, at least for me, may have a theme but it has not yet reached the level of a "series". It has the potential to be taken to a higher level and evolve if I choose to do so.

I can't tell you how many artists I've spoken with over the years who were pissed off because some gallery asked if they had other pieces of the same kind. When they said "no" the gallery lost interest. The gallery wanted a series that had some common bond that they could exhibit rather than two watercolors, a pastel and a pencil drawing. Galleries ask for a series for reasons. Its not only to help their marketing of your work, but its to show your development as an artist.

The Work of Artist Anya J. Green

This acrylic painting by Anya J. Green has a beautiful symmetry to it. The way the two figures merge into each other lends a surrealism to the piece that would have otherwise been missed if they had been sitting independent of each other.  

You can view more of Anya's work at her website at: https://www.anyajgreen.com/