With Art’s non-correlation to traditional markets, an investment into art acts as the perfect investment hedge against market volatility. With full asset ownership, your funds are secured against a tangible asset with an inherent value.
Fine art increased in value by 141% over the past decade. With the long-term, worldwide trend of increasing wealth, alongside a growth in knowledge around Art, a much larger community has started to be interested in collecting and investing in the market. Read More
It used to be that we could differentiate art by the brush strokes, the detail, the realistic nature of the piece. Now we see contemporary blobs of color that auction off for tens of millions of dollars and most of us say “What is the auction house /art gallery thinking?” We are left asking ourselves is this piece really extraordinary? Read More
In the ever-evolving world of art, the boundaries between different disciplines are becoming increasingly blurred. Artists are no longer confined to a single medium or technique, but rather, they are embracing multidisciplinary approaches to express their creativity.
Multidisciplinary artists combine multiple disciplines in their work, creating a new field that may not fit easily into traditional art categories. They often have a broad knowledge of materials, how to use them together, and the processes involved.
Multidisciplinary artists may have started out in traditional disciplines like painting or drawing, but have since expanded into other art-related fields. Some say that multidisciplinary artists have more flexibility and can carve their own path, allowing them to approach their art in a way that's more authentic to their intuition. Read More
Art has always been a dance between reality and perception. It serves as a playground where artists can manipulate our senses. They challenge our understanding of the world around us. Illusion has been central in captivating audiences, from the trompe-l’oeil paintings of the Renaissance. Contemporary art installations also push the boundaries of creative expression. John Dowling a.k.a. John Dowling Jr. is a master of both traditional and digital techniques. He embraces the art of illusion. His works play with our perceptions. They invite us to question the very nature of reality. His paintings, photographs, and digital creations demonstrate art’s power to deceive and delight. They ultimately reveal deeper truths about ourselves and the world we inhabit. “Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” – Oscar Wilde Illusionistic Techniques in John Dowling’s Art John Dowling’s art employs a variety of illusionistic techniques to create captivating and thought-provoking experiences: Scotomisation: Hiding in Plain Sight John Dowling also employs a technique known as scotomisation. This term is derived from the Greek word “skotoma,” meaning darkness or blindness. Scotomisation involves strategically obscuring parts of an image. This technique creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. It may even convey a hidden message. This […] Read More
Beyond Texture: The Expressive Power of Impasto in John Dowling’s Art Impasto involves applying thick layers of paint to create texture and dimension. This technique has been a hallmark of expressive painting for centuries. While artists like Van Gogh famously utilized impasto to imbue their works with emotion and movement, John Dowling Jr. takes this technique to new heights, transforming it into a dynamic language of swirling forms and captivating textures. The Dance of the Shapes and Patterns Dowling’s approach to impasto is a symphony of controlled chaos. He wields his spinning art like a conductor’s baton, orchestrating a dance of thick acrylics across the canvas. It’s not just about layering paint. It’s about the movement and the rhythm. The deliberate application of circular motions creates a mesmerizing interplay of textures and depths. Circular Motions: A Signature Style: Dowling’s signature circular impasto technique is evident throughout his body of work. The swirling strokes remind one of a potter shaping clay. They also resemble a sculptor molding form. These strokes create a sense of movement and rhythm. This effect draws the viewer’s eye and invites exploration. These circular patterns create a tactile landscape on the canvas. They vary in thickness and […] Read More
Liquid Surrealism: John Dowling Jr.'s Digital Dance with Photoshop's Liquify Tool
John Dowling Jr.'s American Graffiti collection is a testament to his mastery of digital manipulation, where he transforms photographs into mesmerizing abstract landscapes using Photoshop's Liquify tool. This technique, which we might call "Liquid Surrealism," allows him to sculpt and warp images with an almost painterly fluidity, creating compositions that are both captivating and otherworldly.
The Liquify Tool: A Digital Palette Knife
Imagine Photoshop's Liquify tool as a digital palette knife, allowing Dowling to push, pull, and swirl pixels with the same freedom and expressiveness as a painter wielding a brush. He uses this tool to distort and reshape photographs, creating a symphony of fluid forms and abstract patterns.
A Meticulous Process:
Dowling's process is meticulous and time-consuming. He starts with high-resolution photographs, often capturing scenes from his travels or everyday life. Then, he imports these images into Photoshop and begins the intricate process of transformation.
Warping Reality: Using the Liquify tool, Dowling distorts and reshapes the elements within the photograph. He might stretch a flower into a swirling vortex, morph a tree into a fantastical creature, or transform a cloud into a cascade of liquid color.
Creating Depth and Dimension: He skillfully uses the Liquify tool to create a sense of depth and dimension, pushing elements back into the background or pulling them forward to create a layered, three-dimensional effect.
The Dance of Abstraction: Dowling's process is a dance between control and surrender. He guides the Liquify tool with intention, but also allows for serendipitous discoveries as the pixels warp and blend in unexpected ways. Read More
A thrill of excitement coursed through John Dowling Jr. as he surveyed the canvas, a vibrant tapestry of colors and forms that pulsed with creative energy. "It's finished!" he declared, a grin spreading across his face. After weeks of dedicated work, his latest collaboration with the immensely talented Tsvetan Mumdzhiev had reached its glorious conclusion.
Dowling, a man who thrived on pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, had long admired Mumdzhiev's work. The Bulgarian artist, known for his dynamic compositions and his relentless dedication to his craft, was a kindred spirit, a fellow explorer in the realm of abstract art. Their shared passion for visual storytelling and their mutual respect for unique styles had laid the foundation for a truly remarkable collaboration.
The piece, a mesmerizing fusion of Dowling's signature photographic abstractions and Mumdzhiev's bold graphic elements was a testament to the power of artistic synergy. Dowling had started with a layered photograph of Celine and Celine, two of his favorite models, their forms intertwined in a graceful dance. He then digitally manipulated the image, creating a swirling vortex of colors and textures that evoked a sense of movement and emotion. Read More
"No Ordinary Love": A Transcontinental Fusion of Abstract Expression
The canvas pulsed with a vibrant energy, a fusion of colors and textures that transcended continents and artistic styles. John Dowling Jr., the Long Island abstract artist, had embarked on a collaborative journey with Sheeba Khan, a rising star in the Dubai art scene, their shared passion for abstract expressionism bridging worlds and igniting a creative spark.
Khan, known for her bold acrylic paintings that explored the interplay of geometric forms and vibrant hues, had sent Dowling a collection of her digital artwork. Dowling, intrigued by her unique style and the cultural nuances embedded within her compositions, saw an opportunity to create something truly extraordinary.
He began by layering Khan's digital paintings with his own abstract photographs, a technique he had honed over years of experimentation. He meticulously scanned and manipulated his photographs, transforming them into ethereal landscapes of color and light. Then, with a digital artist's precision, he superimposed Khan's paintings onto his photographic canvases, creating a multi-layered tapestry of artistic expression.
The result was a mesmerizing fusion of styles, a visual dialogue between two artists separated by continents but united by a shared creative language. Khan's bold geometric forms danced with Dowling's fluid photographic textures, creating a dynamic interplay of shapes, colors, and perspectives.
This collaborative piece, titled "No Ordinary Love," evokes the soulful essence of Sade's iconic song. Just as the song explores the depths of a love that defies boundaries, the artwork delves into the complexities of human connection and the search for meaning in a world of fleeting moments Read More
