[Spotlight Post] Vincent Villafranca – Bronze Sculptor
A couple of weeks ago, Jimmy and I headed up to Sanger Texas to check out the Bolivar Street Art Gallery. WHY? Because it was the opening of the Vincent Villafranca and Scott Winterrowd. Vincent is a good friend and phenomenal bronze, 3D artist — and my first Spotlight. His exhibit at the gallery runs until May 12th – so if you’re in North Texas or Southern Oklahoma, go check it out.
Since I’ve been with Jimmy I’ve had my “Art Horizons” broadened exponentially. I’ve talked on writer blogs about how writers should befriend artists because your covers MATTER. And the better the reputation you have amongst artists, the likelier you’ll be to have awesome covers.
Jimmy Discusses Vincent's pieces with a patron.
But that doesn’t necessarily apply to Vincent Villafranca who’s truly introduced me to the amazing talent it takes to do bronze work. I’ve been aware of the Western bronzes for…well, ever. You can’t spend any time in a “Western” state and not. But the SF/F spin that Vincent puts on his work just propels it to a whole new level.
It does help that Vincent (and his lovely wife, Michelle) are genuinely nice, caring, compassionate people. It’s always easier to support an artist that you like as people. But Vincent’s work is so much more than that. It’s cute and weird and amazingly detailed. I’ve seen and fallen in love with his work through various SF Convention Art Shows, but this gallery show did something for me that I’ve not had happen with 3D art before…the display showed me a STORY.
Jimmy and Vincent talk art in front of hanging pieces.
I’ve written stories based on art before. I will again, but that’s been paintings and prints. I’ve never looked at a SCULPTURE and asked myself, “What’s your story?” Until the opening of Vincent’s exhibit at Bolivar Street Gallery. He has these awesome cyborg…creatures that just speak to me. It helps that my favorite sports paper and pencil. The pencil was the first thing of his that ever caught my eye. In fact, it was the beginning of my Bronze Pencil ratings on the pen blog. But put that critter with a Mage/Seer/Religious leader looking critter and a cyborg satyr? There’s STORY there. I just don’t know what it is yet.
There is story here....
That’s why I spotlight Vincent Villafranca this week. Because artists that can make me want to figure out the story behind the pieces (whether it’s the story the artist intends or not) give me a warm, happy feeling. And I’m starting with those pieces. His cute little pieces and his other creatures? Equally incredible.
If you haven’t been introduced to Vincent’s work before…GO. Go check it out. You won’t be sorry.