Artist Spotlight: Andrzej Dragan

Andrzej Dragan, a quantum physics expert, from Warsaw, 30…. yeah… he’s 30! Getting multiple accommodations and prestiges, this young artist if spilling from the brim with skill. His photography has a very unique quality to it that’s sure to be emulated, replicated and stolen. But isn’t that when you know you’ve made it as an artist? The point where people want to have “your style” and their works are just “Dragan-like”. I know it’s my goal as an artist. Maybe i’m a special snowflake… nah!

Dragan uses and extremeness quality to his photographs, capturing extreme contrast while maintaining quality of light and shadow. Most of these works look like some sort of HDR hybrid, not quite HDR, but all the qualities of lighting found within them. Busyboo has posted a quick 10 step tutorial showing how to try to emulate this process for use on your own photography (see, once you’re good, people want to look like you)

So, if you’ve got an extra couple thousand dollars lying around littering the very ground you walk on, you too can be the owner of your very own Dragan print. Hell, at that price tag he’ll probably even sign it and seal it with the blood of his firstborn. Well… maybe just the signature.

Ohh, and P.S. his website is AMAZING! runs a bit slow in full screen, but other than that it’s one sick display of photography!

Thanks Abduzeedo for the Best of link!

Artist Spotlight: Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas

Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas - Experimental 1Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas - Experimental 2Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas - Experimental 3These images just happen to be a VERY small portion of what this artist has to offer on his website. They just ended up being my favorite of his series, which is a VERY tough comparison with so much captivating artwork.

With one of the sickest portfolio design websites i’ve seen and some killer artwork, Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas is by far one of the most talented artists i’ve seen. His style reflects the type of art and visuals that muse me and drive me to create. Great find thanks to Why Me? via Pristina.

Surely to become a frequented artists page that i keep up to date with!

In a different series, pictured below, is hands down my favorite piece from Mañas. Must be those birds. HA!
Arnold Gustavo Lopez Mañas - Rockmantic

Artist Spotlight: Scott Wade

Scott Wade - Dust Car Art - Pet FestScott Wade - Dust Car Art - Ford Escape 1Scott Wade - Dust Car Art - Ford Escape 2Scott Wade - Dust Car Art - Ford Escape 3Scott Wade - Dust Car Art - Birthday Bob

“Uhhhh, yeah… das dustgusting” – Leon Phelps, The Ladies Man
c’mon…. anyone… anyone get that reference? haha

So, growing up in the desert and delivering pizza for the latter years of my high school career (and, cough cough, a couple college years as well) gives me a little bit of knowledge on the accumulation of dust on the back windows of cars. Dirt roads were no stranger to me. Mostly we’d just write obscenities on our fellow co-workers back windshields in mirror, so they could get a nice “how do ya do?” when they go to check their rearview, but this is ingenious! Scott Wade uses his artistic talent to “paint” murals on the dusty windows of cars… apparently living down a dirt road was some sort of inspiration for him as well! My inspiration was mostly dirt bikes and jumping the “doodle bug” out in the sticks… but who’s really quantifying talent here… wait, i am… fail!

Visit Scott’s web page to see more of these amazing artwork pieces. Discovered through Studio 83 (Beta) via Neatorama

Artist Spotlight: Art & Ghosts

Art & GhostsClick… oooh. Click… Ahhh. Thank you NotCot! Taking an evening break on Memorial day to check what the web has to offer, and to my surprise it’s been a very busy day. I Guess some people never take a holiday!

So, through the blogs and the superbad, a little sliver of dismay caught my eye. (via Art & Ghosts) The series, Séance, Can be found through Art & Ghost’s Photostream on Flickr for better resolution and to catch an eye on all the fascinating textures. This beautiful artwork is darkly inspired by the book ‘The Other World’, as the artist states.

On a personal note, i love when an artist can find inspirations and turn them to a reality. Working for the magazine that i do, i’m constantly looking through any publication for the smallest bit of inspiration, and today i found that on a cover of SPIN magazine. Keep your eyes peeled, you never know when your muse is going to give you the cattle prod you’ve been waiting for.

Artist Spotlight: Albert Szukalski

My parents recently took a trip for their 31st (i could be wrong on this, great son, i know…) anniversary through california up into Nevada. On their trip they passed through a little ghost town in the middle of nowhere, in Death Valley, and got some amazing shots of some artwork that, unknown to them and myself, had a series of sculptures to follow up the series. Artist Charles Albert Szukalski (Born April 4, 1945, Furth im Wald, Poland — Died January 25, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium) Had a sculpture of “The Last Supper” (Pictured Above). When my parents were showing me the photos i was blown away by them; one, that my folks were savvy enough to capture such great photos (i kid, i kid), and two, that something so amazing would be set up in the middle of the desert, without graffiti, intact and seemingly unguarded. When i got near a computer again i started to do a search for “Death Valley Last Supper” and discovered the other sculptures in the series.

UPDATE: After doing a little bit of research, i found out that this isn’t just ome random little ghost town in Death Valley. It’s actually called the Goldwell Open Air Museum.

Watch the video of the artist and a little of how he made these sculptures.
Video after the jump… JUMP!

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