| DREAMING AVIATORS, OIL, 62 x 88. |
By Bonnie Gangelhoff
BORN: Houston, TX.
ART EDUCATION: Graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, self-taught in oil painting, then studied under master painter Odd Nerdrum in Norway and Iceland.
STYLE: “Classical pop surrealism.”
MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY YOU WORK: “Before I paint an image there has to be a reason for it. My paintings have to have meaning. I don’t just paint a landscape, still life, or portrait; I’m expressing something in every painting.”
FIRST ART SALE: “After my first show last year, DREAMING AVIATORS sold for $14,000. I was blessed.”
SECOND-CHOICE CAREER: Sculptor or animator.
OTHER PASSIONS: Sculpting figures, music, movies, and sports.
MANTRA OR MOTTO: “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, but you have to be willing to pay the price.”
QUIRKIEST TRAIT: “Dancing, singing, and acting like a fool when I paint in my studio and no one is around to see me.”
BIGGEST FEAR: Losing a loved one, and not finding real love.
FAVORITE STUDIO MUSIC: Hip-hop, trance, movie soundtracks, and lately Kanye West.
BEST ADVICE: “‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ Sad, but it seems to be true.”
PET PEEVE: “Designers like Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons who pay others to do the work, then take credit for it and call themselves artists.”
FAVORITE ARTWORK BY ANOTHER ARTIST: THE NIGHT GUARD by Odd Nerdrum.
PRICE RANGE: $4,000 to $18,000.
NEXT BIG GOAL: Being represented by a well-known art gallery or dealer.
CREATIVE SPARK: Going to galleries and seeing another artist’s work, or watching documentaries about artists.
I’LL KNOW I’VE MADE IT WHEN: “I’m recognized by the New York City art world and am selling to big collectors.”
GALLERIES: Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, TX; www.camargovalentino.com.
Featured in our annual “21 Under 31” article in September 2008