My Open Studio

I did my first open studio during this year's Mott Haven Open Studio Tour. It was great to be able to show all the work I've been doing over the past year and hear people's comments. I got some great feedback, plus I got to hang out with a lot friends, drinking wine and enjoying the weekend.

Costa's Open Studio, Part 2 (yes, that's PAINT)

Even more impressive than his studio is the work itself. Layer upon layer of meticulously mixed paint create the illusion of space, not only through color and value, but also through the very texture of the paint film. Costa's painting is the type that can never be fully experienced except in person because its illusion is sculptural as well 2D. I took some detail shots because that's about as close as you can get to the real thing.

Costa's Open Studio, Part 1

Costa Vavagiakis is an amazing artist and teacher who I was lucky enough to be able to study with for nearly five years. An observational purist of sorts, he works only from life and memory to achieve an intense level of realism. It's hard to imagine what kind of dedication is needed to create his paintings (which sometimes take years to complete) but looking around his home/studio gives you a pretty good idea. This man lives and breathes his work. More than just passionate about his art, Costa lives completely immersed in it.