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Billy Blake
bblakela@aol.com
www.billyblakephotos.com
Photographic and Mixed Media Photo Artist
Billy Blake studied Art History and Photography at New York University. Strongly influenced by the work of the Impressionists, he is fascinated by the unique and transient nature of light, a fascination that is evident in all his photography and mixed media artwork. There is a ‘trompe l’oeil’ quality to much of his work, a distortion of perspective that deceives the eye, causing viewers to figure out the source of the image while also asking them to re-think standard perceptions.
In 1977 Billy set out with his Nikon to photograph and create his personal visions of the world in black and white and Kodacolor. His photography is infused with a painter’s palette for color and an architectural eye for composition and form in black and white.
The subjects range from highly colorful impressions of beauty and nature to the harsh realities of life in New York City where he spent much of his life; they are landscapes, architectural cityscapes, they are about people and cultures, they also include black and white fine art nudes – the subjects are rendered in his distinctive style that varies from contemporary to modern impressionist. The result is a body of multi-media work of closely framed shots where color is heightened and sharp contrasts of shadows and light add an almost surreal dimension to the whole composition.
After exhibiting in numerous group shows and three one-man shows in New York, Billy Blake moved to California in 1995 where he has worked as a film producer while continuing to develop his career as a photographer and mixed media artist. After recently losing his home in Malibu in a fire, he has re-launched his work in a different direction, creating a new abstract style of mixed media art.
Enthralled by the possibilities of digital photography, he personally supervises all aspects of the photographic process and hand-signs each limited edition print. His photographs are a single layer image, where the true ‘magic’ happens in front of the camera and not through the ‘magic’ of the computer.
“Blake's transformative art exhibits mysteries for the viewer to decipher and exemplifies a fresh technique for enthusiasts to enjoy. His subjects range from highly colorful impressions of nature's beauty to the fanciful juxtaposition of found objects or situations.” (In Hollywood Magazine –inmag.com)
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2009 (Oct 15-Nov30) Backdoor Art Gallery, 287 S. Robertson, Beverly Hills, CA
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* None of the artworks may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Artist