Salvatore graci

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In his first year in high School, Salvatore discovered comic books but especially loved the art and artists qnd dreamed of drawing comic books. In his late teens, he was influenced by Pinup art, fantasy art, and movies. Salvatore went to college at the New York School of Visual Arts. He received a BFA in Illustration. He was enamored with the painting style of Michael Deas, an instructor who painted realistic oil paintings on wood panels. Salvatore would adapt these techniques, thin layers of oil on wood panels in his future paintings. After college, Salvatore opted for a career in graphic design rather than freelance illustration. He painted, creating a series of movie poster-based art. He was seeking a career in movie art. When poster art went digital, Salvatore needed to find a new direction. It was this time that he moved from Graphic design to digital imaging. It was in digital imaging that Salvatore learned Photoshop, which would be a valuable tool in the creation of all his art. With three new paintings in hand, Salvatore was hired at Jeff Koons Studio. His years of work there would enhance his technique and help him implement some new ones. He traveled taking thousands of landscape photos, a main part of his paintings. Salvatore found new direction his paintings would take, figurative art. It was during this time that Salvatore was diagnosed with exposure to toxic mould and high levels of cadmium. This had devastating effects on his health. He is recovering, through years of living a healthy lifestyle, but still struggles. Salvatore no longer works at Jeff Koons Studio, and now freelances while focusing on fine art.