Artem. Salvator mundi. How a Painting Saved a Life
Wandering Chicago and considering suicide, a young Bill Murray stepped into the Art Institute. What he found there was a simple image that became a lifeline. Explore the story of how art can meet us where we are and offer a chance to begin again.
The Weight of Paper: Your Guide to the Silent Collaborator in Every Artwork
Paper isn’t neutral—it’s a collaborator in every drawing. From the smooth desk of my first-grade classroom to the vellum that transformed my high school sketches, I’ve learned how the surface itself helps shape the art. That’s why I choose Moab Entrada Rag Bright 300 GSM for my limited edition prints.
Business and Art. What's Left?
The difference between being an artist and being an art business owner is drastic. For most of my life, I’ve simply been an artist — even before I knew what one was. I believe I was born this way, just like I was born left-handed. What I didn’t know at the time was that something as small as which hand I used would carry centuries of bias, superstition, and even suspicion — and, in its own way, mirror the challenges of turning art into a business.
What “Limited Edition” Really Means in the Art World
“Limited edition” gets thrown around everywhere—from sneakers to whiskey bottles—but in the art world, it carries real weight. In this post, I explore how limited editions evolved, what they promise collectors, and why I produce them with the same care as my original paintings.
The Legacy of Bible Covers: Reimagining Sacred Art with a Devotional Overlay
For centuries, sacred texts weren’t only read — they were dressed. From jeweled medieval Bible covers to embroidered Renaissance textiles, coverings gave Scripture presence and reverence. My Devotional Overlays carry that tradition forward as contemporary works of art in painted and gold-leafed canvas.
Mastering Gradients: The Bridge Between Flat Shapes and Rich, Dimensional Art
Mastering gradients was the skill that changed everything for me — the bridge from flat shapes to richly dimensional art. Whether in graphite, oil, or Photoshop, gradients remain my most versatile tool. Here’s how they can transform your work.
Mastering Line Weight: A Practical Guide to Stronger Drawings
A confident line can say more than a hundred careful ones. This guide explores how line weight—thick versus thin—can transform a simple sketch into a dimensional, intentional drawing. With insights from masters like Dürer, Hirschfeld, and Condo, you'll learn how to use pressure, structure, and restraint to lead the viewer’s eye and bring your drawings to life.
Can Art Save the World?
Art is not a repair kit. It doesn’t stop bombs or hold back floodwaters. What it does is to remember. To reshape. Art can show us the things worth carrying forward. I’ve seen firsthand how the act of making—even in the ruins—can recover meaning, reframe trauma, and push the sacred through a storm. Art resists. It survives. And it helps us do the same.
PAINTING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
When I was asked to create a showstopper for my first solo museum exhibition during Black History Month, I turned to Dr. King. What followed was a race against time, an unfinished painting, and a lesson I didn’t expect.
HOW TO START YOUR ART COLLECTION: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COLLECTING MEANINGFUL ART
Starting your first art collection doesn't have to be overwhelming. Learn how to trust your instincts, set a budget, and start building a meaningful collection filled with beauty and personal significance. Discover the simple joy of collecting artwork that speaks to you.
THE ART OF LIVING WITH ART
What does it mean to live with art—not just own it, but truly live alongside it? This essay reflects on the difference between originals and reproductions, the aura of the handmade, and how art—whether singular or replicated—shapes the spaces we inhabit and the lives we lead.
LAND O’ LAKES (LOL)
A long process of painting inspired by my summer in Minneapolis is nearly complete. What began as a sketch during my time at the Guthrie Theatre has evolved into a vivid reflection of that era. Stay tuned for the reveal!
RUBIK’S CUBE PAINTINGS
Rubik’s Cube series transforms the iconic puzzle into a bold exploration of order and chaos. These limited edition reproductions, crafted with precision are versatile and collectible.
ARTEM. SALVATOR MUNDI: THE HEART OF SHARP ART STUDIO
It is more than a lofty sentiment—it is the principle that drives my work and underpins the mission of Sharp Art Studio. Without art, humanity would lose much of its vibrancy, depth, and complexity. While survival might still be possible, the richness of human experience—our ability to dream, imagine, and connect on profound levels—would be severely diminished.
TRIPTYCH: BENEATH THE SURFACE
"Triptych” is three 15 inch by 15 inch canvases expressed with vibrant, dynamic, color, texture, and form. Each panel tells its own story while contributing to the symbolic narrative of the series.
SMALL ROTHKO RUBIK’S
See my small representational abstract painting at the Red Room Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA as part of 'Synthesia,' an 11-minute immersive experience where everything you see, smell, taste, touch, and hear is red!
EASTER MOSAIC
24” x 36” reproductions meticulously capture the essence of my original oil painting ‘Easter Mosaic’. As limited edition collectibles they are excellent additions to any portfolio.
ART AS DIALOGUE
The Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum is dedicated to the research, acquisition, and presentation of visual art forms relating to the life and culture of African Americans past and present.
TRUE STORY
Inexplicable occurrences sometimes remain a mystery that defies explanation. This event has made me question the boundaries between what's known and the mysterious. Whether you're a skeptic or not, this story will pique your curiosity and leave you, like me, with more questions than answers.
SHARON STONE AND JERRY SALTZ
At Vulture Fest, Stone and Saltz talked art practice and what music she listens to while working. Stone says a lot of the work of painting is about getting out of her own way. ‘There’s an angel that flies through you. Just get out of the way.’ - vulture.com