|
Not satisfied with the limitations, Greg began to study in other materials and techniques producing world class art in Marble, Stainless Steel, and Wood. Many times combining two or more materials together to achieve a particular effect. In 2004 with nearly 30 years experience working in many disciplines with a variety of materials and techniques, Greg once more faced a clean white sheet of paper, this time there were no boundaries, no prerequisites, no preconceived notions, just a blank sheet where a new and innovative expression of beauty was to appear. Greg called on his whole life’s experience to design these latest pieces. Beginning with form, adding color, texture, and finally the jewelry like finishing touches, Greg succeeded in creating that “completely new visual and tactile experience.” |
|
Greg is convinced this setting combined with his Mother and Father’s nurturing and encouragement contributed significantly to his desire to work in art. Greg began to study illustration and design in his early teens. At the age of eighteen, jewelry design had captured his eye, after a decade and a half of work in all aspects of jewelry design and craft, Greg began to sculpt. First in figurine sizes and then life size bronze, Greg quickly mastered realism in human and animal form. His first commission, a portrait of an Indian chief for the tribe’s council chambers, established his ability in bronze realism. Later works in wildlife won Greg the award for design of a flying bald eagle for Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. |
|
Greg explains how the pieces are made, “They are a built up work, using a traditional steel or wood armature and sculpting techniques. Then the sculpture is transformed at the surface level by modern materials and resins applied in a technique that I invented to achieve an otherworldly smoothness and liquid flow in form. The fully refined animal sculpture is then lacquered in a multi layered technique borrowed from ancient oriental lacquering methods, but using modern polyurethane coatings. The color is applied one layer at a time polishing between each coat and then a special layer of clear is applied with a final hand polish that can take many hours to finish.” The result is a glass like appearance with color and durability not possible just a few years ago. |
|
Once the form is complete and its finish perfected, Greg embellishes each piece with design elements created by hand in his studio. Using his knowledge of jewelry design and construction, Greg applies as many as a dozen or more handmade jewelry elements to each sculpture. This wonderful marriage of materials and methods old and new, jewelry elements, form, color, and finish come together in a harmony that defines the unique beauty of the art of Greg Neeley. |
|
G R E G N E E L E Y s c u l p t o r |
|
The Artist |
|
In the world of contemporary art you will find everything from new variations on an old theme, to innovative use of everyday materials, to art that is so unusual as to defy ones ability to define what it is they are viewing. It is here that you will find the work of artist, designer and sculptor, Greg Neeley. The first time one studies one of Greg’s pieces they are at a loss to explain what it is they are looking at. As Greg himself puts it, “I want to create a completely new visual and tactile experience”. It is this passion for breaking new ground in design and artistic expression that inspired these latest works. From his earliest memories, Greg has known art was his career of choice. Born in 1956 in rural southwestern Colorado, Greg was surrounded by the beauty and wonder that few places on earth offer. |
|
All Designs, Photos, and Drawings in this document and on this web site are the property of and copyrighted by Greg Neeley and may not be copied, reproduced, or used in any form without the express written consent of Greg Neeley. |