Raleigh Can’t Get Enough of the OG
This moment is surreal.
As dreams and reality unfolds, this phenomenal artist displays her art pieces at the exciting music venue, The Ritz in Raleigh, NC, July 19, 7 p.m. Thanks to the talent indie showcase organization, RAW Artist, the setup of the Raleigh Connect Showcase consists of many charismatic people who were gathered together to show their visual talents. RAW Artist is an organization that provides artist with educational resources so that they can thrive locally or globally.
First, imagine being a part of the Panic of the Disco music video. Immediately, once you look down at the checkered floor, and look up again, the atmosphere instantly reveals a beautiful chaos at The Ritz. As bodies filled the room with an explosion of different colors, textures and clothing designs, fashionistas and gurus made sure that their work was presented well. Great performances by Lux Posh, and other music artist set the ambiance where the audience could take the time and enjoy the moment. Also, dance performance artists expressed themselves through ballet, crump, and other intense movements from the great energy that the atmosphere had.
But the main entrée of the night was Gray’s artwork. Formally known as Olivia Gray, or informally known as OG, or ORGRAY, usually come up with her extravagant ideas based off human emotions. As a highly sensitive person, she feels that her work will unfold unto what she is going through. “Going to a new place where I am around a lot of people I can feel that and it does affect me, and that is kind of like what my art represents… it all goes unto paper, and it is like I don’t have to feel it,” Gray said.
Her passion for abstract painting all started in her youth drawing art. Later as an adult in 2016, she created a YouTube channel that fuel her passion to another level. The channel consists of intensive technological research, including her artwork where she later decided during the Summer of 2016 that she wanted to expand her hobby into something more. “I just been trying to develop my style and I feel like I am at a place where my style is where I want it to be and I feel like it really represent my voice, and what I am trying to say, “Gray said. Think of Gray’s YouTube channel being like the famous painter, Bob Ross who meets well-known YouTuber, Jaleesa Moses. Pure wonder and joy. Her video tutorials are of her painting at a high speed that shows different techniques and paint styles that anyone could learn.
Besides her emotions taking the lead, many influences such as Vincent van Gogh set the structure of how her art work is alive today. “Vincent van Gogh…he was this broken artist, and I’ve always related to his story,” Gray said. Her boyfriend and family also inspire her work too. “He’s great. He is the first guy who really likes me for me and that means a lot to me…when I was younger people just liked me for the wrong reasons,” she said.
Gray received her bachelors at William Peace University with a degree in Communications in 2015, and her masters at Elon University in Interactive Media in 2016. Gray values her education and accomplishments; however, she urges many with a warning to take heed. “Don’t go to school, it’s a waste of money. That’s how I feel about school, “ she said. Gray was warned by her sister’s best friend who earn her masters in journalism, who is now focusing on full-time photography, and not a career that she was promised to get. Unfortunately, wishful thinking led to finding out the challenging way of searching and obtaining a job today. “I went straight to school after high school, I wish I have taken time to figure out who I was and the things I wanted to do.” Gray believes that the creative fields were an outlet for anyone to not obtain a master since it would be easier to create a portfolio and move forward. However, Gray is now a contractor in design work, and paints on the side.
As to all the “newbie artist”, she gives this great advice. “Just paint. Do it…keep going, and block out all the haters. Keep going, keep developing, find your voice, find who you are, and you’ll be successful because someone is going to like it,” Gray said.
Gray does see herself branching her artwork through different states at different art galleries. One of her passions is to further her art outside of North Carolina. After all, she tries every day to meet her goals while enjoying her life, although she does have her moments of setbacks. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Because I’m hard on myself… you just got to lighten up because you never know where you are going and that’s okay,” she said.
Her artwork cost varies from prices ranges from $5 up to $150. Feel free to catch updates of her work on her Instagram, Facebook and her website. Also subscribe to her YouTube Channel for more updates and great tutorials on how to paint with acrylics with smooth tunes at a face speed.
