I’ve always loved sharing artist Gus Harper‘s work. Regardless if it is time-lapse videos of Gus working, photos our readers have told me ARE safe for work, or just news about a forthcoming show. This time I get to share something special! Gus painted the owl above for me, to fix my living room and get me out of a funk.
Commissioning a piece of art from Gus was a lot of fun! I was reluctant to give him any direction beyond showing him some photos of the wall in question and my living room, but thankfully Gus knew what he was doing. We talked about prior pieces of his that I particularly enjoy and focused on his paintings of Lions. I’m not the only one who loved that series, and one piece was featured in the recent biopic on N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton, decorating Dr. Dre’s office.
A lion, however is not the animal for that wall. Gus promptly noted that my shelves, and most every flat surface, were filled with owls that I have collected over the years. Serendipitously, Gus had just painted his first owl, ever, a week or so before, just for fun and was itching to work on a larger piece. Sketches flew back and forth, I changed the color of the wall the painting would sit on, and got a new rug. When Gus’ painting showed up, I knew my living room was right… for the time being.
Gus has been up to a lot more than just decorating Hollywood movies, and my home. The video below, by Taegen Carter, shows Gus at work and talks a little about what is influencing him. He recently completed a mural in our hometown of Santa Monica, to much local delight, and is showing work all over the place this year.
Thanks, Gus!