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| by Bradi Masci |
Artist Spotlight
Bradi Masci
Bradi Masci's oil paintings and drawings / illustrations are of the kind of quality that inspire you to want to improve your skills. Oil painting portraits that show the subject's beautiful glowing skin with inquisitive eyes. This intense gaze makes the viewer feel watched. The figure drawings are not static poses, they look like they're dancing. Check out Bradi's instagram, there is a photo of a drawing of a coworker, a quick sketch with color pencils. The eyes are photo realistic. It elevates the piece in an otherworldly way. Oh my goodness, I am a big fan of the realism slash unfinished finished look of a drawing. It is an honor to share Bradi Masci's interview to learn about their thoughts on art, as well as the photos of their work. Enjoy!
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| by Bradi Masci |
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
(Jel Ena? Vincent Van Gogh, Charmaine Olivia, Gustav Klimt?)
To name a few, my influences include Jenna Gribbon, Aleah Chapin, Jenny Saville, Robin Williams, Laura Berger, Dorielle Caimi, Alex Kanevsky, Erik Jones (a mentor figure & friend who has taught me a lot), Mike Willcox, and Isabelle Feliu.
What is your favorite art medium?
(Photography, Paint, Pencils, Pastels, Musical instrument, etc…)
Oil paints are my favorite, but it’s been difficult for me to use them in recent years due to limited space and time. I’ve been using oil pastels to satisfy that desire for a more glossy medium that can be pushed around and manipulated the way oils can. Highly recommend for those who love oils but lack the ventilation/space they require!
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| by Bradi Masci |
What inspires and motivates you to create?
(Emotions, experiences, other people's art, going to an art store, etc.)
It started as an outlet as a kid and grew into something more serious by the time I got into my later years of high school. As a queer/female/non-binary artist, I feel that there’s power in depicting the human figure through a scope that is less historically recognized. Larger motives aside, I’m inspired by the intimacy, rawness and honesty that comes with the territory of painting people.
If you experience a creative block, how do you overcome it?
(Visit a museum? Take a walk? Social Media Break?)
I like to take a trip to a book store - preferably a used book store so I can bring a couple finds home on a budget. I love sifting through all the different genres of visual arts, sometimes for hours at a time. It always awakens a refreshed desire to reach a loftier level in my abilities.
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| by Bradi Masci |
Do you have any rituals to get you in the mood to create?
(For instance: Lighting a candle and playing your favorite music? A certain time of day?)
I attend weekly figure drawing sessions that keep my skillset up and allow me to experiment with stylization. Attending those sessions help me keep track of how my live drawing capabilities are progressing or even regressing. Both scenarios push me to keep learning, but I will say I have zero chill when I feel like I'm not advancing as I'm a very competitive artist. The weeks where I struggle with my hand are the weeks I'm pushing myself to take an extra couple steps forward with some extra sketching and studying.
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| by Bradi Masci |
Tell us about the art you create and what you want to achieve with it.
(For instance: To relax? Art activism? To make someone smile?)
I create art centered around people. Presently, a lot of what I make focuses on reversing the notion that nudity is inherently sexual and I try to render people in a way that feels (for lack of a better word) human. My hope is that my art may bring some healing and empowerment to those who are survivors of difficult experiences/thoughts born from toxic culture. I vividly remember not knowing what to expect during my first figure drawing class in college. I was just 19 and had very little practice drawing the figure and some baggage around nudity. It turned out to be a liberating experience for me to study the human form in a professional environment and it shifted my perceptions of what nudity could mean in art. That being said, sex/romance in art is absolutely just as important - I just think a healthy culture needs both.
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