 July 2006 Beach Paper features Abraxas' 'Enhanced Reality' Enhanced Reality by Samantha Buford Abraxas is soft-spoken, you feel compelled to lower your voice and really listen to what he has to say. Though, people are often first interested in seeing what Abraxas has to say. Many are familiar with his pieces, First Light, Lookout, and Dawn Patrol. His use of surreal colors, light and shadow have been magnetic for those who love our area. He doesnt only paint our area, though, and has pushed in shadows and pulled out the highlights of areas all over the country and the world. Seascapes are only one of his many compositional offerings, he also does portraits, sketches, florals, and landscapes. Abraxas became serious about art when he was about 15 and he began to sell his work at outdoor sidewalk sales. As soon as he could pick up a pencil, he loved drawing and the inspirational, passionate artist has not stopped. He describes his work as enhanced reality, with the intent to provide viewers with a moment of stillness, moments of illumination. In our hurry-up-and-wait society, Abraxas produces paintings that take months from sketching to completion. He approaches his art as something pure, something that requires understanding to produce, though not to appreciate. This is due in part to his education at the Washington State New Renaissance Academy, where he took a 6-week crash course. After searching the world for a school, he decided on this one, with its foundation-based teachings. This school teaches its artists to understand why something appears to be white, to understand the reflection and absorption of light, to understand the science behind the art. He urges those with the artistic drive to do it. Artists can sit around and talk about being artsy, but unless ones life is committed to creating art, the artist will only be a hobbiest. . . The time spent at less fulfilling jobs could better be utilized perfecting ones craft, and working towards a more rewarding life as a professional artist. When he decided that he was going to become an artist, he bought a tent, so that way, Id never be homeless, he says smiling. People should embrace (their) interests, nothing will make you happier, he continues, we have the magic wand within ourselves to do anything we desire. We can make it happen. Not only does Abraxas encourage others, he gives back to the art community, teaching a course at DelTech for artists who aspire to make a living, sharing ways of getting your name out there and ways to make the dream a reality. He also was asked, shortly after his completion of the course in Washington state, to come back and assist with teaching. Though, with opening his own gallery, and his work with the Milton Arts Guild, he has not been able to return in a few years. His favorite subject to paint is the sea, and he always begins with pencil sketches, which he has lately been concentrating on. Those highly detailed sketches are now available for purchase, uniquely framed and at prices much lower than his original oil paintings. Abraxas recently switched to a non-toxic palette still within the Old Holland oil colors line, these paints, although the most lightfast available, are much safer for his health than the heavy metal based pigments he has used for 14 years. One of his more recent paintings is entitled, Artists View, in which he combined a landscape, still life and portrait. It is with his amazing ability to use composition and light, his dedication to the process of creating art, his enhancement of reality, and his keen eye that Abraxas art rises above the average to the great. Where does he see himself in five years? Pushing artistically, so that there is no complacency, really enjoying the opportunity to chronicle my time on earth as an artist. . . . . continuing to paint the evolution of the earth and the changing landscape. Abraxas studio is located at 515 Federal Street, Milton: or call, 645-9119. You can view his work at www.AbraxasArt.com. |