A. Andrew Gonzalez

A. Andrew Gonzalez (October 13, 1963) is an award-winning Visionary artist whose work has been exhibited worldwide. His artist father, Anthony A. Gonzalez, encouraged his early interest in drawing and painting, but gave him no formal training. In the year 2000, Gonzalez had the distinct privilege to work closely with the legendary Fantastic Realist artist Ernst Fuchs in Monaco and Austria.
Paintings
Michelangelo, the Italian renaissance artist, preferred sculpture to painting, because sculpture allowed him to simply reveal the form already hidden within the stone. Thus, sculpture can be seen as a subtractive process, whereas painting is typically an additive process.
Gonzalez turns this on its head. He achieves a sculptural look by airbrushing acrylics onto gesso panels, then lifting pigment with an abrasive eraser. This is followed by the application of transparent layers of paint. In darker sections, he may repeat these steps many times over. Claybord provides the best surface for this technique, but on rare occasion, the artist will use canvas.
Each meticulously crafted painting can take many months to complete. The level of detail often requires Gonzalez to wear a magnifying visor. His final pieces are a combination of pre-planned and spontaneous forms, the latter discovered as his eraser technique reveals hidden designs.
Influenced by idealism in the Mystical, Visionary and Esoteric traditions, the artist describes his work as a contemporary Tantric or Transfigurative art that explores the dramatic union of the sensual and spiritual. His work is akin to a revival of classical Neoplatonic ideals centering on the figure as both temple and vessel, sublimed by transformative forces. His best known piece is Unio Mystica (see photo).
Other media
Gonzalez's work has been featured in such books as [http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/books.php?id=603 "Spectrum 14, The Best In Contemporary Fantastic Art"], [http://beinart.org/shop/books-2/metamorphosis-4.html "Metamorphosis, 50 Contemporary Surreal, Fantastic & Visionary Artists"], [http://www.imaginaryrealism.com/index.php?optioncom_content&viewsection&layoutblog&id4&Itemid=55 "Dreamscapes 2, The Best In Imaginary Realism 2007"], [http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/APHR/cid/94 "Aphrodisia: Art of the Female Form"], "Drinking Lightning", "Eyes of the Soul", "Sacred Sexual Healing" and [http://www.jonathanevatt.com/site/peace-power-and-presence/20081109264/books/wisdom-for-a-life-of-freedom-series/peace-power-and-presence.html "Peace, Power & Presence, Volume 1"].
Amber Lotus is publishing his [http://www.amberlotus.com/10sm.html "Sacred Muse 2010 Wall Calendar"]. Magazine covers include MAPS and Gnosis. CD covers include , Mark Dwane, and Voidgazer. The "Galactik Trading Card" art card series has featured Gonzalez's work in several of their decks.
Alleged plagiarism of Gonzalez's work
In 2003, a slideshow titled Family Art Corner was released anonymously, alleging that a woman named Jan McRae had plagiarized the work of many artists, including Gonzalez, for reproduction in proselytization tracts printed by the Children of God cult. Gonzalez' work, The Breath of Dakini was compared. After the slideshow was released, Karen Zerby, leader of the Children of God acknowledged that McRae had copied the work of others, and McRae admitted wrongdoing.
Publications
* 2009 [http://www.amberlotus.com/10sm.html "Sacred Muse 2010 Wall Calendar"] (Amber Lotus) ISBN 978-1602372443
* 2007 - "Metamorphosis"' (beinArt) ISBN 978-0-9803231-0-8
* 2007 - [http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/books.php?id=603 "Spectrum 14"] (Underwood Books) ISBN 978-1599290072
* 2006 - [http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/DRM02H/cid/17 "Dreamscapes 2"] (Salbru) ISBN 978-8799063697
* 2005 - "Aphrodisia" (Aristata) ISBN 978-0975491225

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