Dragan Gilic
Novi Sad - Yugoslavia
Dragan Gilic - Fine Artist
Member Since: 12/21/2008
I was born in a small town of Kraljevo, Serbia, in 1960. Now, I live and work in Novi Sad. Although I didn't have formal art education, I studied and practiced techniques intensively, until the age of 30, and then I married, got children and worked in the family owned company as a graphic designer. During that time, I painted rarely and just for my own sake, using it as an escape of daily troubles. In 2007, I finally got the chance to start painting seriously again, and have been doing it professionally since then.
Painting is the only work that never bores me, which always pushes me to seek for the new horizons; it makes me learn over and over again, and before and after all, it makes me feel alive. I love to see high skills in painting and always try to achieve it. After my long withdrawal, my return to the world of art now originates from my life experience.
My inspiration comes from the love and passion for the natural world and sharing the urgency for its conservation and respect. I am fascinated by its perfect harmony, composition, movement, and light. I photograph natural scenes and beings. My friends make shots in nature for me. I compile images from TV, internet, magazines. However, my paintings usually do not represent the true moment but are the metaphors of my own contemplations on my inner states or environmental impulses. My creative process usually begins with a thought. Then I search through my image collection to find the appropriate representation. I use Photoshop to evolve images until they become closer to my initial idea.
I love the Old Masters, the play between light and shadow, action, real life presentation. I paint in pencil, pastel, and oils. My favorite technique is painting in oils, with numerous thin layers of paint diluted with oil. Each layer must first dry before the next application. This is a labor and time intensive method; however, painting oils in layers is the true project for me and a real challenge with unlimited options which allows me to express whatever I want.
All these are constantly observed and contribute to my eye for anatomy and movement. I am able to paint figures in movement equally as well as portraiture. My work is also noted for its use of colour and light, and my brush strokes.
In 2010, I decided to try to establish the international recognition. I have participated online and live exhibitions and my paintings have always been noticed both by critics and by audience. There are some of them:
At the website Paintings I Love, my painting “Elegance” is one of the paintings with most affirmative comments. http://www.paintingsilove.com/image/show/15086/elegance?path=artist&artist=gile
In July 2010, my painting “Nude” won the second place in the Art of Nudity FAA contest, among the 171 entries, voted by the general public
In February 2012, 5716 works attended February Saatchi online Showdown. Only 128 of them entered the finals. My painting 'Spirit' managed to advance among the 64 with the most votes.
In February 2011, my paintings, “Spirit' and 'Tzar”, received Jury Special Recognition in the 12th Annual Realism Juried Online International Art Exhibition, which was promoted worldwide on www.upstreampeoplegallery.com.
In February 2012, 5716 works attended February Saatchi online Showdown. Only 128 of them entered the finals. My painting 'Spirit' managed to advance among the 64 with the most votes.
In March 2011, I became a member of International Guild of Realism (www.realismguild.com). In May 2012, I participated for the Juried Annual Exhibition and my painting “Spirit” is accepted and was displayed at Jones & Terwilliger gallery in Carmel, California. I was among 75 artists selected. The artwork was among 100 paintings chosen for the Exhibition, through two stages of a rigorous jury process. The exhibition was held from September 7 – 30, 2012. http://www.jones-terwilliger-galleries.com/IGOR/openIGOR.html
In June 2012, I was invited by the executive director of American Academy of Equine Art, Ms Frances Clay Conner, for the Fall Juried Exhibition, and my work “Wind Hunter” was accepted. The Exhibition was held in Georgetown Arts & Cultural Center, Georgetown, KY, from September 15 - October 24, 2012. http://www.aaea.net/paintings/paintings/16141476
