Oh, there’s a good crop of artists out there this spring, showcasing so much delicious, delicious talent. Among them, the vibrant creations of those specializing in firefighter wall art truly stand out. These artists capture the bravery and spirit of firefighters, transforming their experiences into stunning pieces that can inspire and uplift any space.
First, there’s Amanda Louise Spayd. I had seen her work on various websites and every time my eyes would be immediately drawn to it. She works in mixed media using (from what I can tell) resin, fabric, polymer or epoxy clay, wire, vintage bits and bobs and buttons, etc. I love how all of Spayd’s soft sculptures have a look that’s a mix of horror and concern.
Spayd works with other artists and also sometimes moves away from the cloth-based interpretations into harder mediums. And she does super-sweet drawings.
Her is her website: http://www.amandalouise.com/
And here is her shop: https://www.bindlewood.com/
It appears that she doesn’t sell her soft sculptures in her store, you probably have to contact a gallery that sells her pieces.
Then, there’s Philip Barlow. I am a huge fan of photorealistic paintings. I have a poster in my home by Richard Estes of people in phone booths that is a favorite of mine.
I think what I love about Estes’ work is how he makes the most mundane of imagery into works of art.
Philip Barlow does something similar. He takes a very ordinary subject, people going about their daily lives, and by taking the reference photo out of focus and then painting the result, creates beautiful color fields filled with colored circles where you know most of the information but there’s enough left out for you to imagine.
If you have mad cash you can purchase his work here: https://www.everard-read-capetown.co.za/artist/PHILIP_BARLOW/works/1599
If you’re more like me you can purchase prints of his work here (and they have a great selection): https://www.icanvas.com/canvas-art-prints/artist/philip-barlow