Scott Gillis
The work of American illustrator and fine artist Scott Gillis is rooted in fictional moments he creates—characters, environments, and action. His imaginative scenes are rendered in various media: charcoal, pastel, conté crayon, gouache, oil, pen and ink, and scratchboard. Gillis knows how to lure the viewer into his enigmatic pictorial world. He deftly uses contrast and light to dramatic effect. The eye is drawn to the rich black recesses of his scratchboard illustrations, for instance, or the muted tones of his oil paintings, as if searching for clues to a riddle. Gillis then holds our attention with subjects that appear to be possessed, make a vague gesture, or who seem to be looking directly at the viewer. His drawings and paintings depict the glances and poses of everyday people—some in exotic settings. Expressive portraits, as well as cityscapes and landscapes are made all the more intriguing by Gillis’ fluid, sensitive use of line work, intricate detail, and color.
Gillis’ work has been shown in exhibitions at Woodstock Museum of American Art, New York, Jonathan Levine, New York, CBGB Gallery, New York, Tower Gallery, New York, George Patton Gallery, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Australia School 33Art Center, Baltimore, Maryland, and Limbick Gallery, …
The work of American illustrator and fine artist Scott Gillis is rooted in fictional moments he creates—characters, environments, and action. His imaginative scenes are rendered in various media: charcoal, pastel, conté crayon, gouache, oil, pen and ink, and scratchboard. Gillis knows how to lure the viewer into his enigmatic pictorial world. He deftly uses contrast and light to dramatic effect. The eye is drawn to the rich black recesses of his scratchboard illustrations, for instance, or the muted tones of his oil paintings, as if searching for clues to a riddle. Gillis then holds our attention with subjects that appear to be possessed, make a vague gesture, or who seem to be looking directly at the viewer. His drawings and paintings depict the glances and poses of everyday people—some in exotic settings. Expressive portraits, as well as cityscapes and landscapes are made all the more intriguing by Gillis’ fluid, sensitive use of line work, intricate detail, and color.
Gillis’ work has been shown in exhibitions at Woodstock Museum of American Art, New York, Jonathan Levine, New York, CBGB Gallery, New York, Tower Gallery, New York, George Patton Gallery, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Australia School 33Art Center, Baltimore, Maryland, and Limbick Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Seibu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan, among others.
Courtesy of the Artist
