Voka - Artist Of The Week - July 31, 2018

7/31/2018

Bold colors and grand gestures are so inviting, aren't they? They are to me anyway.

I'm going to throw a one named person at you today. Let me suggest you explore the artwork of Voka.

Voka's work is often bigger, bolder, and more colorful than life. He creates his artworks with very saturated colors and bold marks. His paintings jump off the canvas (or at least off the screen). His studio and gallery are in the eastern Austrian Alps in a place called Puchberg am Schneeberg.

His paintings express what he calls Spontaneous Realism. If art is supposed to evoke feelings or emotions, his work does that for me.

His subject matter varies. He does everything from portraits of famous people to cityscapes and maritime themes.

I've watched his videos on YouTube to find out how he does what he does. It looks so easy, but I can tell you from experience that it isn't.

He is a favorite amongst wealthy investors and cultivates a bit of a celebrity following. He looks bigger than life. When you're in awe of someone's work you're liable to put them up on a pedestal. I don't necessarily think that's a good thing, but it does help him cultivate a pretty decent following.

I don't want to do that. I'm not a pedestal kind of guy. I love the way he uses color expressively and makes paintings on a grand scale. I do like his style.

Whadjya think, should I try a bit of Voka Style and make it my own? You know, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all. There is a book called Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon that advocates just such misbehavior.

Voka is one of my favorites from early on and I think he's worth a peek when you get a chance.

You can check him out at an internet location nearest you.