Interview with mixed media artist Greg Beebe

Meet Greg Beebe. Greg is a self-taught, mixed media artist who describes his work as ͞amixture of abstract expressionism, pop and graffiti street art. The Miami-based artist is alsoa successful financial entrepreneur that approaches his art practice with the sameintention as he does his business interests...with an unstoppable impulse to create.

Greg Beebe - Art and Life Knows No Separation

With artwork featuring Playboy models to Einstein, the general theme that infuses his work is one of positivitywhere the specific message, elements and composition in each piece is fresh and handled differently each time.

"Positive or energetic messaging is my key focus. I want to create artwork from a personal feeling of motivation orpositivity. For example, seeing people work hard or working hard myself and achieving something is gratifying tome, so I want to create a piece of artwork that might give the viewer a piece of what I’m feeling.”

He achieves this through a mixed media style comprising multiple layers of pop culture imagery, graffiti, collage,photography and resin. Continue reading to learn more about Greg whose art and life knows no separation.

Your pieces call to the level of intensity, drive and motivation one has to have to fully follow a dream, how do you decide which character eg: Marilyn Monroe; Betty Boop etc will best represent your message?

Typically, I decide on an overall theme first, then Ifill in the pieces of the puzzle with complimentingimages, messages and representations. My artworkis done in layers with each layer supporting, insome manner, the overall theme, the main layer iswhere the focal point, or in the case of thequestion, where the character resides.

I use characters the viewer can quickly relate to, but also characters that bring something extra to the piece, something inherent but intangible in the actual artwork.

“You A Star” by Greg Beebe, mixed media (acrylic, spray paint, air brush, resin) on canvas, 2016

Marilyn Monroe literally changed the behavioral patterns of an unquantifiable number of humans and altered the way we see beauty which separated her from the norm and saw her entering an iconic category. That ambiance is what I want the viewer to feel whilst also promoting a positive message of which the viewer can relate to. The piece “You a Star” was created theme first with the message being everyone is a star in their own way, you may just need to break through some barriers (which is why fists were used and Rolling Stone covers). Marilyn perfectly complimented the theme.

Arty-Fact: 'You A Star' celebrates Marilyn Monroe's natural star power delivered in a pop / grafitti-esque style. Seton a backdrop of Rolling Stone magazine covers, the work also celebrates the star power of numerous othercelebrities. Motivation is the message.

“Dreamer II” by Greg Beebe, mixed media (acrylic, spray paint, street posters [source: Wynwood Miami],photograph, resin) on canvas, 2018

Is the ‘hero’ in your artwork a representation of you?

If we define the “hero” as the primary take away, it’s a representation of what I want to do more of, or a message I want to give myself. Creating art with motivational themes serves as a tool to help me become the “hero” I want to be. Unless it’s a commissioned piece, I create art for myself, if people want to bring it into their life that’s great.

Arty-Fact: This piece calls to light the level of intensity, drive and motivation one must have to completely follow a dream. With so many self or societally imposed walls and obstacles, rights and wrongs, one must be a superhero to rip past everything and follow a dream. Anarchy signs are shown throughout the piece particularly in the Superman "S" furthering the point that one must ignore the "taught" and think independently and outside the norm to achieve a dream.

When did your art practice start to become a business?

I’ll answer the question a bit differently thaninquired because I don’t know if I really look at theart practice as a business per se (which is ashortcoming and of course an opportunity), I dohowever sell artwork. I have a very difficult time“selling my art-self” even with my businessbackground. There’s something about creating apersonal handmade work and then trying to sell it.Becoming a successful artist is all about business,selling and self-marketing but I’m terrible at it so Ijust don’t really do it as much as I should. Ileverage those good at the craft to help me out.

I began selling art around three years ago. It wasn’t really a conscious effort but one of those situations where friends see the work you’ve created and want it. The feeling of selling your artwork is rush so I began making more and more selling it online, then galleries and it went from there.

“Blood, Sugar, Sex Magik” by Greg Beebe, mixed media (acrylic, spray paint, sugar packets [source: throughoutEurope], photograph, resin) on canvas, 2018

How important are travel, exposure to modern and pop artists in part of the inspirations to your creative artwork?

These elements are hugely important to thedetails in my work. I source materials from mytravels (for example, Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magikfeatures sugar packets from across Europe) andexposure to other artists means I get to seedifferent techniques, media and innovations all ofwhich influence how I approach my work.Personal experiences, and simply paying attentionto my own life is where the messages and themesare derived for my art.

Arty-Fact: This work is inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" album. The infamous Betty Boop is wearing the vintage Mickey Mouse sorcerer hat ("Sex" and "Magik"), with a background of various quotes by Betty Boop and others. In addition, Betty Boop stands next to a bloodied skull ("Blood") which hints she's been on a hunt - the cash surrounding the skull indicating exactly what she was hunting. The base of this piece is made from actual sugar packets collected from various locations throughout Europe ("Sugar").

What is your advice to someone who is up and coming, and desiring to be an artist like yourself?

For those who have an equal passion for art ANDsomething else (in my case business) it’s as simpleas just doing. Get active in what you have apassion for, post your work online; enter artcompetitions and shows; get your friends to helpyou out and give support; be proactive and reachout to galleries and outlets you think can helppromote your work. If you have a main source ofincome then use some of it to help you grow yourart career, for example, hire representation thatcan help get your work out to a broader audience;enter fee-based larger scale art shows to getaccess to galleries, etc.

Use the assets you’ve already created to help fund and support your dream.

“Be First” by greg Beebe, mixed media (acrylic, spray paint, air brush, resin) on canvas, 2018

If you’re plan is to be a 100% self-employed artist then get comfortable being the CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CIO, Board of Directors, Human Resource Manager, AP Manager and Crew off the jump. You can’t just sit around and paint or you won’t eat. I think artists often just want to be artists but unless you’re an employed artist taking the easy, comfortable road won’t work. Networking is probably the single most important thing in a successful artist’s repertoire then comes artistic talent. Whatever stage you’re in as an artist the hustle must be 1,000,000%.