Artists, Street Performers, Musicians
For over 15 years, Ra Superstar has painted in acrylics, stone and sand on Venice Beach. He told me this story:
One day I met an artist from NY called Pep while I was drumming and sleeping on the Brooklyn Bridge. Pep wanted to learn drumming so he gave me a meal at his home which was filled with art. It was then that I was first inspired to paint.
For over 12 years ArtByNonya has been showing her acrylic paintings on the Venice Boardwalk. Next time you’re near the Waterfront Cafe whimsy by.
Novik (Nakhapet Tcholokian) is an acrylic painter who’s been associated with the Venice Beach Boardwalk for over 16 years. He’s originally from Tbilisi, Georgia. In the eighties he had several exhibitions in Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia and Italy.
In addition to his website link above, you can also watch a slideshow of his work on YouTube.
Salvador Dali–There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.
Welcome to the world of Gary Soszynski. Gary’s been painting with oils on Venice Beach for over 32 years. Originally from Yonkers NY, Gary started painting at age five. Check out his surrealistic visions such as ”I See You” or the whimsical human-like animals of his Cartoonees at his website.
We are here to be of service to one another…our planet…and all her creatures.
Riannon Marhi’s an acrylic painter who’s been exhibiting her art on Venice Beach for over three years.
Art is meant to beautify the world…not destroy it.
I caught up with Justin Case (as he likes to go by) on his second day on Venice Beach. Originally from Oklahoma, Justin paints because “it’s fun…I like the smiles.” He’s a green artist specializing in water soluable–environmentally safe materials. Latex paintings also have other unique qualities. For example, if different liquids touched the outside of the finished canvas it wouldn’t hurt the work of art.
Twenty-three years ago Sid Abel went to Yucatan, Mexico and discovered an underwater world of Carribean colors while snorkeling that has influenced her as an artist to this day. She’s an acrylic painter who’s been creating art in Venice for over 11 years while living on and off on Isla Mujeres (“Island of the Women”) in the gulf of Mexico–a small fishing village where she sold her first painting.
I met a street artist when I was four or five years old and I knew painting was what I wanted to do; it’s one of my first major memories.
Brian Mylius has been associated with Venice Beach for over 12 years. He paints mainly with oil, but also does some acrylic work. As you can see, there is great variety to his themes.
You can see the influence of Greek-Italian Surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico in his work.
Juan Lopez (left) and Wilan Carrillo (right) are oil, acrylic and watercolor painters who have been showing their work on Venice Beach for about four months. Their theme is California. Juan is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico and Wilan was born and raised in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. You can see more photos on Wilan’s MySpace page.
De Miranda is an oil painter who was born and raised in Los Angeles. He started painting, he explains, “to escape.” You may find him painting on a wooden easel near The Waterfront Cafe.
Dutch oil painter Rembrandt (1606-1669) is his greatest inspiration.
I’m not trying to make a profit; I’m trying to turn the people into prophets.
Tony B. Conscious is an art activist, rapper and modern-day hip-hop renaissance man who’s been creating original works of art on Venice Beach for over nine years. Born in Seattle, Tony uses spray paint and handmade stencils to create what he’s named “Fly Dye Art” on wood as well as fine-art canvases.
In Tony’s art you can see the influence of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) , a resident of Venice in the 80s who was known for incorporating words into his art which is dense with surface writng, collage and imagery. Tony is a spoken word artist who improvises rap lyrics in real time as he promotes his art:
For you, Mama, no drama.
I know you ain’t got a budget, but you gonna love it.
It’s mind over matter…if you don’t use your mind, it really don’t matter.
So cruise on down to the edge of Amerikkka and check out some fly dye!
