Fog City Artist Brings Fog to Canvas

Artist Gregorio De Masi.

By Rachel Michelle

December 15, 2012

Bay Area artist Gregorio De Masi blows away the San Francisco art scene with a unique punk style and bringing true craftsmanship to each of his pieces.

For art lovers, De Masi shows his true devotion to steam punk that extends beyond the brush and into the microscopic pores of the antique Victorian Redwood that frames his paintings.

De Masi was born in Los Angeles, raised in Europe where he was surrounded by fine-art culture. He wanted to pursue a career in art and chose to settle down in Oakland, California where he was inspired by Victorian homes and sounds of passing trains, horns and industrial machines. He uses these elements to push the envelope and develop new ways to view modern art in an antique style.

De Masi is a stand-out artist in the Bay Area and is recognized for incorporating the material of the steam punk era into his art. He builds his canvases from scratch. Sanding, staining, sealing and then collecting copper pipes, recycled brass lamp parts, and unique antiques that contrast rusted, industrial elements with an organic flow of dark oak wood. His natural craftsmanship is admirable, down to his easel is a work of art.

De Masi has created a mystical technique to his live painting events by adding an atmospheric fog machine to his high quality plywood canvases. This gives the illusion of his work coming to life and appear to be breathing while he paints in the grains of the wood. Watching De Masi painting is mysterious, dark and inspiring. He draws you into a distant yet familiar place where you can let your imagination wander or escape. He brings you into a different time by creating surreal, dream like images.

You can view De Masi’s dynamic and intriguing collection of works at various venues, galleries, art and music events, as well as his website. He also participates in the First Friday art walk in West Oakland, near the historic Jack London Square each month where he sells originals as well as prints.

Rachel Bonine is a noted art advisor and writer. One of her ambitions is to educate the people of the Bay Area in supporting local emerging artists. She does this by writing about upcoming artists and working with private venues, buyers and galleries to introduce these exceptional artists and showcase their work.

Rachel Michelle

Rachel is a noted art advisor and writer. One of her ambitions is to educate the people of the Bay Area in supporting local emerging artists. She does this by writing about upcoming artists and working with private venues, buyers and galleries to introduce these exceptional artists and showcase their work.

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