Vincent Grey

I am a painter who explores a wide range of subjects and emotions in both representational and abstract styles. My primary goal in all of my artwork is to inspire goodness and gratitude for the life we have. I work to convey movement, capture light and time, and depict a spiritual presence or beauty I perceive in the subject.

Whether interpreting my life experiences, responding to nature or intuitively creating, I strive to make every piece a shared experience. I want to take the viewer to unknown places in time or space through the use of line, abstract form and beautiful color. Using different mediums offers me the opportunity to learn from different points of view and be inspired by new ideas. It also challenges me and keeps my interest.

My process and choice of medium depends on my inspiration and subject. I will explore color and composition and be open to changes as I create but in the end I strive for an expressive polished piece. A commonality in all my art is that I am very deliberate with my drawing, design and brushwork. One will find I work in pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic and oil and perhaps even mixed media at times.

A strong influence is my decades as owner and master framer of a professional picture framing business. The museum level framing is integral to the whole composition and its preservation adding value and a finished beauty to convey the importance of the work. I invite the viewer to find in my work, the peace, tranquillity and life giving energy available even in our time - but to have it within our grasp we must first internalize the possibility.

Lastly, a goal of every painting is to catch and hold the observer's attention with something that is interesting, memorable and different. Perhaps they will stay longer and ponder. Better yet, they find their own meaning in the work which enriches them.

After majoring in a strong high school Fine Art program at Clinton Central Schools, Vincent went on to be a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica N.Y. with an Associates in Applied Science- Advertising. His chosen major was in Drawing, Design and Graphic Arts. As a teen he found work as a paperboy, mowed lawns, worked in a fruit stand, later in a grocery store, then all through college he worked to support his education and soon to be family. He had many successful job experiences in his field of study including working at The Canastota Bee Journal learning the printing business in Canastota, the Pennysaver in Clinton, N.Y., Cooperative Extension in New Hartford. In 1979 and newly married Vincent worked an additional 5 years in the grocery business as Assistant Manager of a Foodland grocery store In North Utica, N.Y. An opportunity presented itself that changed his life. He went to work for La Galerie Rouge in New Hartford N.Y. For approximately 10 years he would learn custom framing skills, art restoration, museum and conservation framing techniques, gallery work and the art business. While there he also began a small sign painting business on the side. In 1988, with his business experience and art skills he opened The Frame Place and Art Gallery in Mohawk, N.Y., with the idea that “Framing is Art”. After 25 years he retired from the framing business and passed it onto his daughter Jennifer who carries on the quality and tradition still today.

Throughout all his life and decades of work he was always making art. He used his art and design skills for the gallery and framing business. He had countless commissions for both fine art and commercial art projects, and continued making commercial signs. Vincent was successful in art shows early on but business was good and time was short so his focus was on professional framing for his customers. Now retired, he can focus more of his attention on making art, doing commissions, and exhibiting throughout the region.

Vincent believes that making art for a purpose is an honorable profession. He says whether he has done commissions to fulfill a client’s vision or when free to create his own work in the studio, there is purpose and meaning in creating the art; suggesting perhaps the highest purpose is when one uses their talent to enrich other people's lives.