Atlanta Georgia Mural Artist Corey Barksdale Art Paintings Are Like 'Gumbo'

ATLANTA, GA, April 27, 2013 (Press-News.org) If the phrase life imitates art is true, then Atlanta Georgia mural artist Corey Barksdale is often imitated as he paints bold strokes across the canvas of life.

African American artist Corey Barksdale represents a growing trend in a new era of the arts where artists combine styles and mediums in creating their own original pieces.

My work is layered and very gestural, he says of his most recent paintings; his current work blends ceramic pieces with encaustic, a mixture of hot wax with oil paint, creating a new style in what has become unofficially recognized as mixed media arts.

Studying at the Atlanta College of Art, Barksdale worked to develop his skill as an abstract expressionist. There he learned the style often reflected in his work called free industrial, characterized by bold strokes with less refinement than other techniques.

Where is the creative fuel derived from? Barksdale says his original influences were his mother and grandmother. Around the age of nine his mother would encourage him and his sister to use their imaginations and draw to occupy their time during the summers. In addition, his grandmother was a quilt artist who had a particular artistic presence and influence on him early on.

Today, Atlanta muralist Barksdale rallies inspiration from classic jazz artists like John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. He places Coltrane at the top of his list referencing his Africa album as a continual inspirational source. Atlanta mural artist Corey Barksdales draw to jazz stems from the fluidity, experimentation and improvisation the artists took when creating their distinctive sounds.

Barksdale says his work is influenced most by Atlanta and New Orleans jazz musicians facial expressions. When they play their expressions are really intense, I try to capture that expression in my pieces, he says of his figurative art.

Like the pioneering jazz greats he listens to while creating his art, Barksdales work personifies a new frontier in visual arts as he seeks to break the mold pushing the limits of old traditions. His collection spans more than 30 unique pieces many on display in small, discreet venues throughout the city.

My life is constantly changing, my work is not about one particular thing, says Barksdale, so it's about my African American heritage " I guess, it's like gumbo.

Nothing could better sum up the unique creative talents of Corey Barksdale whose vision is to one day open an arts center for the youth while wearing the title as an African American Art Master in the arts arena.

For more information on Corey Barksdale visit: http://www.coreybarksdale.com/

Have you seen Barksdale's artwork paintings and videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_aUyAQlS4o)? If so, what do you think of it?

By Deronte Smith

Fine Art Creative Fine Art Paintings and Murals.