21 Under 31 | Gregory Block

Colorado oil painter

Gregory Block, Bouquet, oil painting

Gregory Block, Bouquet, oil, 48 x 48.

Art Education: Self-taught.
Style: Style is not my strong suit.
Creative Spark: Plywood, broccoli, rain-smell, shadows, music, wine, and relationships.
Second-Choice Career: When I was young I wanted to be a hermit—to live quietly in a stone cottage nestled in a hillside and subsist on roots, berries, and fresh-caught fish. I tend to get a little cranky when I can’t paint, so if for some reason I couldn’t be a painter, it would probably be best for me to become a hermit for the good of humanity. Or since my degree is in biology, I might be a research biologist.
Best Advice Received: My dad always told me, “Whatever you do, do your best.” In painting and otherwise, I strive to meet that standard.
One Thing Most People Don’t Know About You: My favorite smell is the acrid scent of rock dust. As a kid, I spent hours banging chunks of sandstone together and collecting the fine red powder in little jars. Making art is like banging stones together: If you put your mind to it, you’ll stir up some noise, make a mess, and you might get to the center of what a rock really is.
Biggest Fear: Drowning or burning. Drowning in acid would be bad.
Pet Peeve: When you have to take the elevator up one floor because the stairs are only accessible through the janitor’s closet via the electrical room.
Future Goals: Make a better painting than this one.
Price Range: $300 to $4,500.

gregoryfblock.com

View other 21 Under 31 artists from 2012

Featured in the September 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
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