Gabriel Welch | AVAILABLE

How refreshing! In all my years of watching Gabriel Welch paint from coast to coast and online, this may be my favorite piece he’s ever done! Previously writing on the streets as Alpha, @omeka_one somehow continues to push the limits and get better and better. “Mahalo” is the Hawaiian expression of gratitude, and I am SO grateful to be working with this legend of the art community!

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For the creation of this tremendous tropical storm, @mad.house_art dove in and traveled from the snow-capped mountains of Colorado to the warm hills of the Los Angeles area for a visit with Gabriel in his studio and beyond. Hear me out; I’ve been admiring master Welch jam out live painting both in person and in short videos online for ages, but somehow, this was different. Elevated. The sheer hustle, dedication, extreme work ethic displayed gave me a new respect and appreciation for the always-flowing creative fountain that is OMEKA.

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This piece was created this winter, and while Gabriel will usually pull inspiration from his current environment, this time he decided to SET the scene, not pull from it. After cleansing the space with sage and placing a beautiful bouquet on an altar nearby, he baja-blasted right off with vibrant rainbow pigments, his flow one of controlled chaos. Quick, expressive brushstrokes, reminiscent of impressionist painters like Monet laid down the foundation of this lush stargate. He lacks hesitation but maintains complete control as he hustles hues onto the cloudy gray base. “Mahalo” is an exemplary piece of his portfolio, portraying a number of features that I LOVE:

•The “stargate” subject, with its biomechanical, blocky structures and recessed light source, is a frequently visited one by the artist.

•This piece is a prime example of “less is more”; it has the right amount of fine detail juxtaposed with loosely laid strokes, all laid upon a simple grey background. Gabriel has the ability to paint anything and everything, and he knew exactly how far to go on this one.

•The familiar floral subjects provide something earthly to observe as the portal takes you to another planet!