Michael Vincent Manalo: " In Search of New Identity "

Born on 1986 in the Philippines, Michael Vincent Manalo is a self-taught mixed media artist, a photographer and a musician. The themes that are mostly seen on his work revolve around surrealism, pseudo-realism, nostalgic sentiments, and human emotion.

Michael Vincent Manalo is one of the primary contributors for advanced photo-manipulation tutorials for Photoshop Tutorials, and has created various artworks as album covers for international bands/musicians, and also as book covers for numerous publishing companies.

Manalo's works were featured in solo and group exhibitions at such institutions as the American University Museum in Washington D.C., the Art Dimensions Gallery in Missouri, the Art Museum of Chianciano Terme in Italy.

" Creating my artworks though my chosen medium was brought about my frustration in the traditional process of painting, which as a result has given me even more possibilities to recreate the visceral levels contained within the vast assemblage of my spirit."
~~ Michael Vincent Manalo

Courtesy Michael Vincent Manalo

" In Search of New Identity " is on view at the Tbilisi History Museum

May 9-May 16, 2011

Dog Days, Silly Dogs by Gandee Vasan

Being a dog lover, I can't resist blogging on the four legged creatures when I came across these striking images from award winning photographer and artist Gandee Vasan.

Gandee combines fine art background with photographic and cutting edge digital manipulation skills, specializing in expressive animal photography. Originally a talented painter, he uses his artist's eye to "paint in" the most subtle nuances of the animal's expression in post production, lifting a good image into something really impactful. Gandee Vasan has received numerous awards such as The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Prize, AOP awards and more.

Gandee has also published several books on dogs and cats. His work has been exhibited at the National portrait Gallery in London and the Association of photographers gallery and his limited edition prints are in private collections and galleries.

Gandee Vasan lives and works in London.

The best mirror is a true friend

Courtesy Gandee Vasan

Tom Chambers's Mexican reveries

An enchanting journey in the Mexican countryside with "Dreaming in Reverse," a beautiful series of photomontages by American artist Tom Chambers. Sensing that little time remains to photograph the beauty of Mexico, Chambers have created this series to express both his concern for cultural loss, as well as his appreciation for the inherent loveliness of Mexican life. Employing magic realism, an art genre used in the early twentieth century in Mexico, Chambers has attempted to create images of Mexico which seem true and believable, but also perhaps improbable.

Thanks to technology and digital manipulations, Chamber's photomontages of surreal imagery folded into rural Mexican scenes become persuasive dreamscapes.
"Dreaming in Reverse" soaks up the evocative richness of painterly light and color, expressing both appreciation for the beauty of the reality in the settings, and the possibilities of nudging into some "magical place."

Glass Flower

Presumptuous Guests

Afternoon with Octavio

Visions of Clemencia

Seabird Mimicry

Two Chairs

Tethered Aviator

Caging the Songbird

Stuck In The Key of C

Ring of Fire

Transfiguration

"Dreaming in Reverse" is currently on view at the Wall Space Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
All images, courtesy of Tom Chambers


This post is also featured on The Huffington Post