Today we’d like to introduce you to George Chiavelli.
George, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have always been a creative in some form or another from when I was a child. Although growing up I never knew I was an artist. Coming of age and going to University, I was at a loss for direction and after a year and a half of floating through general courses, I was on the brink of dropping out. At this point, I had been introduced to the world of tattooing by a friend who was an artist. I was instantly drawn to it. I would just go and watch him work for hours, this led to the purchase of my very first set of paint (some watercolors). I began to explore the idea of painting for the very first time and while I had no idea what this all meant somehow I knew it was important. Back to University, when it came time to re-enroll in courses for the upcoming semester I was not enthused but my father convinced me to go back and sign up for an art class. And my life would never be the same again. Slowly but surely I became more and more aware that this was the thing that I had been missing from my entire life. All of a sudden painting had become the most important thing in my life. I was basically living in the studio in my last year of school. I graduated from William Paterson University in 2014, and my life was turned upside down again as I moved from the group studios at school to a private single studio in my hometown of Wayne, NJ. My everyday life became that of isolation when I was so used to the social situations that were offered at school, but this change became the freedom to create without limitations because there was no way of anyone seeing what I was doing without my permission. As someone who grew up very introverted and shy, this new found privacy would give me the room to grow and push boundaries as an artist. I am still working in the same space now four years later.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work is predominately mixed media paintings on canvas or paper. My primary mediums are a combination of oil paint, spray paint, oil pastels, charcoal, and airbrush. I work in a very intuitive manner and normally can be found working on 10-15 paintings at any given time, My work is primarily very abstract using either gestural or geometric marks or a combination of the two. It is very bright using bold and saturated colors,
I paint because I have to, it is the one true thing that defines who I am as a person. I draw inspiration from everything around me, I am constantly looking at artwork from the past and the present as well as studying life as it unfolds before my eyes each day.
Much of my work is about the explorations of the unknown, and one’s inner spaces. I want each person that sees my work to have their own unique experience as each new set of eyes has the potential to see something different and new.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I think the role of the artist has always been to be at the forefront of every change and evolution of mankind. I think art is more important now than ever before as it can be used as a catalyst to address all issues across the spectrum.
I believe that people need art more and more now that our daily lives have become bombarded with advertising imagery everywhere we look its buy this you need that. Everything is go go go, no one has the time to stop and look and reflect anymore. Art gives us that needed moment of reflection and contemplation in our lives. If we had half as many murals going up as we have billboards, the world might just be a better place if at least just a more colorful one.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The best and most up to date way to see my work and to keep track of what I am doing is through Instagram, @chiavellig. I usually post daily updates of studio progress as well as behind the scenes and in progress action of my current projects. I can also be found on Facebook @ArtofGeorgeChiavelli. If you are interested in purchasing work you can see what is currently available at etsy.com/shop/ArtofGeorgeChiavelli. I am also available for private commissions and murals, feel free to contact me with any inquiries at chiavellig@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/shop/artofgeorgechiavelli
- Email: chiavellig@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/chiavellig
- Facebook: facebook.com/chiavellig
Image Credit:
Annette Szproch
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