If you've voted YAY on Urban Wave, you'll be happy to hear that you can finally hang it on your wall!

Urban Wave by deyaz is this week's winning artwork, so it's now available for sale in our shop!

Deyaz is an artist from Indonesia, who has a true knack for creating art that everyone loves.

Snag this piece at it's biggest discounted price and check out his other pieces in the shop!

Congratulations Deyaz!

Thank you to all of you YayArtisans for your tireless efforts to fill our shop with amazing pieces by casting your votes!

We'll be selecting another art piece to enter the shop next week, based on the highest number of user votes, so get your votes in now!

If you've had a thorough browse through our art shop, you're definitely familiar with the artwork of this week's interviewed artist! Meet Fawaz AlOlaiwat, the master behind 3 different art pieces in our shop - Tree Of Life, Can you Hear Me?, and Sad Mountain!

Sit back and enjoy discovering how growing up in the Middle East and later studying at the Art Institute International in Pittsburgh, U.S., has created a distinct, blended artistic style in Fawaz AlOlaiwat.


Q: Background information?

Name: Fawaz alOlaiwat
Age: 33
Country: Bahrain
Occupation: Art Director, Freelance Designer, Visual Artist, Tekno DJ & Producer, and Writer

Q: How did you discover YayArt?

I saw a post about the competition on artbistro.com.

Q: As I understand it, you are from the Middle East and have been studying in the US. How do you think these two different cultures are reflected in your style?

Mixing the 2 cultures together is actually one of my main themes. Islamic art is amazing, but it's not funky. So I use what I learned to create a new style based on mixing the 2 cultures together, or using Islamic art as backgrounds or even small elements, to maintain the feel of my culture in all of my work.

Q: What do you think are the biggest differences in these two cultures, and what are the biggest similarities?

They're different and similar at the same time.
The differences: language, mentality, history, accepting new trends, going out of the rules
The similarities: challenges of life, love for art, appreciation for creativity, and the way each culture observes art.

Q: The three pieces you have in the shop are quite different, yet still all powerful in their own way. How would you define your style?

My art is a combination of styles. I don't think of a certain style when working on my art, and I usually mix a few styles together.

My focus is on the message, the style is always defined by the message. Some of my pieces will have (illustrations, photos, hand drawings, calligraphy, typography and abstract textures) all in one piece.

It's not easy for me to define my style and I'm always exploring new styles and techniques, but it's all in the category of Visual Art or Illustration.

Q: Why do you think so many of your pieces end up in the shop? And do you have any tips for upcoming artists?

("Can you hear me" & "Sad Mountain") I think because the pieces are very emotional and speak to the heart. These 2 pieces have had a mezmorizing effect on all the viewers.

In "Tree of life" I believe it's the color combination, the simple use of brush strokes, and more than anything it's the simplicity of the concept. But I think these feelings are different from one person to another.

My advice is:

Rules: You have to know all the rules, then you have to work with all the rules, but not be tied down by them. Try to create your own as you go along.

Color: Always explore exciting and effective color combinations. Look at other artists and try to dig deep into their concepts. Don't copy, just observe and understand. Always add a personal touch to help create a unique style. Practice and practice and experiment.

Q: What are your main influences?

Salvador Dali, Picasso, Frank Miller, Comics, Horror, Fantasy & Sci-fi stories, Movies.

Q: Do you have any favorites in the shop?

Don't Mix Colour, Pseudo Phantasy (All the work of Antonella Spagnoli), Suffering in Silence, Ideas, Junkie, On the Verge of Stars, Pain

Q: Are you working on any new, wonderful art pieces we'll be seeing in the future?

Yes, I have a number of pieces.

Q: How do you like being an artist for YayArt?

I like it a lot. This is a great artists community!

I'm always excited about submitting a new piece because of the exposure and profits. Plus, I have gotten a number of projects and loads of contacts with buyers and artists.




We really appreciate Fawaz taking the time to share his story, influences, and even some artistic hints! We hope you got a good feel for how his background inspired his 3 winning pieces and who he is as an artist.

As always, recommendations for the next interview are very welcome :)

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY :D

Excellent work!

The winner is Ghost Ship by stormyuk

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Cheers

Hello all! We have a brand new inter"view" into what makes another one of our most popular artists tick! We hope you all got to know our first interviewee József Vass (jocokkk), from Romania! For our 2nd interview, it's been our great pleasure to get to learn about the nomadic artistic roots of the guy behind Vancouver Roots - meet our best selling artist Guy Browning!



Q: Could you please share a little background information with the audience?

Name: Guy Browning
Age: 24
Country: Spain, at the moment.
Occupation: Struggling Graphic Artist/Designer

Q: Do you think your Spanish background is reflected in your style? What defines a Spanish style?

Funny enough, I'm not even the slightest bit Spanish, besides the fact I've been living here for about a year. I'm British, but have never lived in the UK. I was actually born in Singapore and... ( place life story here) then ended up in Spain; kind of a Nomadic tale really.

To answer the question, I think bits and pieces of every place to which I've been exposed to, are instinctively, reflected in my style. Especially a place as beautiful and inspiring as Spain.

As for what defines a spanish style, personally I love the fact that nearly everywhere you travel there are the most stunning views and surroundings, architecture and cultures, people and ideas... Mix that with decrepit old ruins, tagged with some of the most breath-taking graffiti, and that to me, is a Spanish style. Everywhere from Barcelona to the middle of nowhere Benissa, the settings become a complimentary background for the art work.

Q: What characteristics define your style?

For the most part, I like to combine photography and digital manipulation with paint work and illustration. I absolutely love aesthetically pleasing grunginess because there is so much freedom to it. It doesn't matter if your paint splats, your ink drips, or if the paper crinkles and the color runs. It all adds to the energy and gives it an organic yet graphic style.

However I like to think my style evolves whenever I see something new and stimulating. Anything that sparks that intrigue and creativity, I try to take elements from and mingle them with my own style; so it changes over time.

Q: Do you have any favorites in the shop?

All the work in the shop is outstanding and I have a lot of favorites. When I first stumbled upon yayart, I was blown away with the quality of work everyone was producing. Its great to be a part of it.

These are some of the prints that I would love to hang on my walls:

A little thing, Ideas, Lost Memory, Tree of Life, and Typetree; although honestly, all the work is amazing.

Q: What are your main influences?

It's hard to pinpoint certain influences. I love everything from Banksy to Dali, M.C Escher to Ralph Steadman cracked walls and peeling paint, rolling mountains and gritty cities, Pop art to Street art, awkward moments to vivid memories, musical lyrics and instrumental tangents ... pretty much everything around me influences me in some way, shape or form.

I also think that, being lucky enough to move around a lot as a child, characteristics and cultures of each place, unintentionally influence my style and approach.

Q: How did you discover YayArt?

I think it my have been through a graphic design blog,that mentioned Yayart and the competition being held. So I took a little look and was amazed by all the quality work that was being created. I knew there was some serious talent and its great to be a part of it.

Q: Having the most popular art piece in the shop, why do you think it has become so popular?

To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I was pretty surprised myself. I think it may be because, even though it is inspired by Vancouver, its a design that represents "the city" in general. The splashes of colors and energy that are apparent in any urban setting.

Also, I personally think the colors and composition are quite inviting to any wall... I wanted to make it jump out; or it could be because of a tiny little thing called the Olympics? Or perhaps there are just loads of people who love Vancouver as much as I do. It is a pretty cool place.

Q: You have cashed out multiple times for the art pieces you have sold. What did you spend it on?

I think I spent most of it on wine, cheese and bread, and a bit of traveling with Ryanair.

Q: Are you working on any new wonderful art pieces we'll be seeing in the future?

Without a doubt. I'm always working on something new or revising old ideas, and I definitely think its about time to submit some new pieces to Yayart and see what you guys think.

Q: How are you liking being an artist for YayArt?

Its great being a part of such a talented community of artists. Everyone has great feedback and is very encouraging to all of the artists who submit their work. So cheers to everyone at Yayart and all the artists!



As for which artist is up next, please nominate one you'd like to see and I'll see what I can do :)

An awesome new artwork, from talented and original TanjaN1!

The winner is Na tankom ledu; On the cold, thin, ice by TanjaN1

Cheers!