ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“It’s hard to say where an artistic inspiration might come from. When I was in art school, I envisioned a life of meeting deadlines, seeing my work mass-produced, making money and acting important. But none of these things would come to pass. Instead, I would realize a life of self-imposed misery and poverty; a life wrought with alcohol and drug addiction living on the street.

From the arms of countless prostitutes and dull heroin dreams was born an artistic obsession. You’re never more alive than when living in the midst of tragedy. Joys are rare and slight, perhaps, admiring warm afternoon’s light reflecting on an old car, or junk pile.

Please view my paintings with these eyes. Looking for their beauty in unexpected places, in the outskirts of the barrio, whether Tijuana, Havana, or Ensenada.”

PROFILE

Gregg was born in Glendale, California in 1952. His Mexican heritage and Latin culture influence his work.

Gregg received his B.F.A. degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1978. Following graduation, he worked as a free-lance illustrator for various Los Angeles magazines. Within a few years, however, he became an alcoholic, which almost ended his life. After a ten-year tumultuous existence and through people who cared, God’s grace and a twelve-step program, he became clean and sober in 1989.

In 1999 he entered the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, and became a professional fine artist. In a few years he has achieved many solo exhibitions, featured in the L.A. Times and art magazines, participated in art competitions and even realized a first place in Orange County Art Competition in the spring of 2001. In the falloff the same year he also received an Award at the 21^st International Watercolor Competition held by the San Diego Watercolor Society. One of his paintings was exhibited at the Albuquerque Museum in New Mexico in May 2002.

He continued to exhibit at notable galleries and institutions in the U.S.A. as well as in Mexico throughout 2002. His name is included in the artist registry at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, and he is a member of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild and the La Jolla Art Association.

Gregg creates a three- dimensional realism by combining sumi ink, transparent watercolor and opaque gouache. All locations portrayed in his paintings are actual and historical. He often includes local people or Latin icons in his works.