News and updates about the artwork of Greg CRAOLA Simkins, including gallery exhibits, events and new releases.
My new interview with my friends over at @bad_nwz is up now! Big thanks to @tallywood and @thekurse. Subscribe to their podcast, they put up great interviews :) #craola #badnwz #interview #gregsimkins #art #graffiti pic: @brozaphoto
Sometimes I make studies before painting, and sometimes afterward, but my last painting "Reunited" definitely inspired this piece. I began thinking about the number of toucans I have painted over the years and wondered why I was only highlighting the "Toco" species, when there are so many variations? It's the differences in each one's colors and patterns that make each one so beautiful in its own right. I am going to try to highlight some of the variety of Toucan breeds when I get time, but definitely wanted to share the first one with you here. - Greg “CRAOLA” Simkins
“Toucan on Lime”
18” x 12”
Acrylic on Paper
SOLD
A year ago, we lost our beloved friend, Morgan Walker. The 4th of July would have marked his 40th birthday. Morgan was a supportive, generous and hilarious rascal. Above all that, he was a kind soul and to honor him, I’m releasing this print from my painting, entitled “Flyer”. All the net proceeds go to an account set up for his kids. We love you and miss you Morgan.
“Morgan Walker, now a “Flyer,” left this world far too soon, but his legacy and memories of the amazing, funny, wise man he was will always be with us. He was a moral compass to those who knew him, which is why I put a compass in the wise owl pointing to true North. Morgan always liked my painting backgrounds where strange creatures swam through the sky. I wanted to include that element here to honor him. His love of hockey, hot rods, and punk rock music were really fun elements to highlight in this piece. The “flyer on the wall” is my idea of what would have been his ultimate punk rock show: Misfits, with The Deviates opening for them at the Wolves Den (an old venue in Manhattan beach that The Deviates and other friends’ bands used to always play at) on his birthday. His name on the flyer is painted in the style of "Minor Threat", another favorite band of his. Painting his Coupe on the wall was a particularly satisfying element. I don't think I've ever painted a car and I think he would have been really stoked the first one was for him. He was such a supportive friend as I transitioned from our group of young punks into the art career that I am still learning and growing in, always secretly buying prints and surprising me at my shows. I first met Morgan about 25 years again when our side of Torrance challenged him and and his best friends in the band “Deviates” (which all considered him the 5th member of) to a city wide water balloon war! We all became very close friends that summer and I will never forget our adventures for the rest of my life. REST IN PEACE my friend.” - Greg “CRAOLA” SIMKINS #RIPMORGANWALKER
"Flyer"
12" x 9" image size / 13" x 10" paper size
Giclee on Elegance 320g Cotton Rag
Edition of 100 (+10 Artist Proofs)
Signed & Numbered
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
UNFRAMED: $75 Reg. Ed. / $100 AP
FRAMED: $125 Reg. Ed. / $150 AP
Do you have questions about art? Greg gets lots of questions daily about art, his technique, etc. and it’s hard to get to them all, so he has a few time slots blocked out on his schedule where you can book a one-on-one, 30 minute Q + A session (face to face!) on ZOOM and ask your art questions! Limited spots are available.
I’m excited to share my newest painting and video, entitled “Reunited”.
Do you remember what life was like before the lockdown and before the words and phrases “quarantine", "social distancing", "COVID-19”, and before the poorly named “Corona Virus” was a part of our everyday conversation? Do you remember backyard gatherings, getting together with family, friends, and meeting new friends over some BBQ and good conversation without worrying if someone was closer than 6 feet away and wasn’t wearing a mask? I call this painting “Reunited” as a satirical, yearning look behind us at those backyard parties where the only "Corona" talked about was the cold refreshing one with its partner in crime, "the lime" nestled refreshingly in it. I look forward to a future where this can be the case again and we don’t have to be concerned about the large gathering and the Corona and lime will get back its reputation as a symbol of vacation, relaxation, hanging out with friends, and escape from the daily routine. Obviously, we need to do our part in stomping this virus out for the time being, but always with the goal in mind of bringing back the “good old days”.
“Reunited” by Greg “CRAOLA” Simkins
60” x 36”, Acrylic on Canvas
SOLD
We live in the strangest of times...historical times...times that we will all grow from and be stronger as we educate ourselves and reflect on the past and the mistakes we’ve made in society, and teach our kids not to repeat them. I conceived this piece at the beginning of the lockdown and proceeded to paint it once I had the drawing perfected towards the second month of quarantine. When the protests began in response to the treatment and murder of George Floyd and all the other lives of black men and women taken so cruelly and early, the historical nature of this time really became ultra-real. I felt like this piece that had made so much sense at the time, had already become outdated. Yet, looking at it now that it has finally been photographed, I know that I have to share it.
Like most of my pieces, I get inspired by what is going on in everyday life and run it through my pop surrealist, story-telling, “Craola-fying” filters. I am inspired by the momentum of change we see in support of our black brothers and sisters - the sketches are forming and the ideas are beginning to flow from there as well. I look forward to seeing the artwork that is going to surface from these times and am excited to see what artists have pulled off so far. I am also hopeful that the world my kids grow up in (and their kids) will be the least racially divided that we have known for ages. I want them to celebrate their beautiful differences, break bread together, enjoy backyard BBQs together, have a Corona with lime together, make art together, cure diseases together, and love one another. As a graffiti artist for the majority of my life and even before that, being raised by great parents, our lifestyle has always been all-inclusive, but that being said, I know that I have gotten the “privilege pass” handed to me on many occasions and could never fully understand the effects of systemic racism and the feelings that go along with having to look over your shoulder EVERYWHERE you go. It hurts me to the core seeing my friends of different ethnicities go through those struggles with fear and an unjust system that was slanted against them from the start. I’ve said it before and will say it again, our young generation growing up in this now and the future ones will set the tide in the right direction as long as they “love their neighbors (that means everybody) as much as they love themselves”. - Greg “CRAOLA” Simkins
Unruly Industries is doing a GIVEAWAY of my Starry Knights: Magi + Maret Designer figures!
Starry Knights: Magi and Maret are the sworn protectors of your collection if anything were to happen - but what if they could only guard three things? For a chance to win these mystical designer toys by @Craola, tell us what those three prized possessions would be! To qualify officially, follow the rules at the link below….
I have a feature in Worldwide Ink Magazine that is now available for purchase as a physical copy or download here. I talk a little bit about my journey as an artist, my first commission and influences.
We are excited to announce that my new STABBY designer figures by Unruly Industries™ / Sideshow Collectibles are arriving THIS SUMMER! These collectible figures are a limited edition of 350.
Knife to meet you! The adorably vintage Stabby designer figure by artist Greg “Craola” Simkins is sure to look sharp on any collector’s shelf.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who purchased a neck gaiter! The net proceeds of your purchase were donated to Direct Relief, an organization that coordinates with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses in the U.S. and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19).
For this video, I thought I would take a walk down memory lane to 2016! It includes sketches, time-lapse painting videos, as well as some of the paintings I made that year. I also included some behind the scenes family stuff which may give some insight to some of my inspirations. I hope you enjoy!
The game of passing notes and having them safely delivered is of the utmost importance to our hero, Phen-Joi the Conqueror and his traveling companions! - Greg "CRAOLA" Simkins
"Phen-Joi the Conqueror" - Editions on Paper
32" x 24" image size, 35" x 27" paper size
Giclee on Elegance 320g Cotton Rag
Edition of 75 (+10 Artist Proofs)
Signed & Numbered
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
UNFRAMED: $350 Reg. Ed. / $375 AP
FRAMED: $520 Reg. Ed. / $545 AP
"Phen-Joi the Conqueror" - Hand Embellished Editions on Aluminum
40" x 30"
Framed Giclee on Aluminum, Hand Embellished
Edition of 5 Trial Proofs
Signed & Numbered
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
$1,600
I’m relieved and happy to announce that my Facebook Page is up and running again! It was hacked but it’s great to delete all those videos I didn’t post and to continue posting content you can enjoy and hopefully be inspired by. Thank you for your patience and continued support!
We have lots of colors and options to choose from! If you order, please post a pic and tag @craola on Instagram and we will re-post!
We are excited to announce that we have face masks / neck gaiters now available!
100% of the net proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.
Please note: Our manufacturer is experiencing some delays due to COVID-19 and the standard order processing time can be up to 12-16 business days. Your patience and support is much appreciated while our team is safely operating during this time.
His last memory haunts him, mainly because it’s his only memory before he became a ghost. It is a memory of a shrill scream from a queen dressed all in red, and the last words he heard were “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!” Now he wanders through worlds like this, that, and the other…trying to remember his name. He has stumbled upon new friends when appearing in “The Outside”, mainly Ralf and Breeze who nicknamed him FANTM, but it was his new pal Solitaire who sent him to the moon bunnies with a special gifts. Let’s hope they can help him remember who he was… -Greg “CRAOLA” Simkins
I’m excited to share my newest video of my painting, “FANTM” which was inspired by a doodle in my tattered sketchbook…
His last memory haunts him, mainly because it’s his only memory before he became a ghost. It is a memory of a shrill scream from a queen dressed all in red, and the last words he heard were “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!” Now he wanders through worlds like this, that, and the other…trying to remember his name. He has stumbled upon new friends when appearing in “The Outside”, mainly Ralf and Breeze who nicknamed him FANTM, but it was his new pal Solitaire who sent him to the moon bunnies with a special gifts. Let’s hope they can help him remember who he was… -Greg “CRAOLA” Simkins
These two acrylic paintings were made to complete a triptych for the owner of "Foggy Knight". The idea was to bring two of his best friends who have passed on, into "The Outside”. “Max, the Great Dane” and “Bear, the Mastiff” now have a permanent place in "The Outside". All my paintings are made with Trekell brushes.
A breed popular during the early 1900's "Prohibition" era, “Dogtopuses” would guard both ships and trucks of moonshiners as they carried their wares across state lines in the dark of night. Their ability to move on both sea and land made them highly sought after. Their agility with a "Tommy Gun" made them creatures of legend. - Greg "CRAOLA" Simkins
"Newton’s Law"
12" x 12" paper size
Giclee on Fine Art Paper
Edition of 100 + 10 APs
Signed & Numbered
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
UNFRAMED: $65 Reg. Ed. / $90 AP
FRAMED: $110 Reg. Ed. / $135 AP
FREE STICKER with each order!
They live in the wetlands, the dry lands and sky lands of “The Outside”. Maybe you will be lucky enough one day to catch one out of the corner of your eye!
9 x 6 in.
Graphite & gouache on paper, framed
$650
SOLD
8.5 x 9 in.
Graphite, framed
$775
SOLD
9 x 7 in.
Graphite on paper, framed
$750
SOLD
7.5 x 6.5 in.
Graphite on paper, framed
$550
SOLD
My Facebook page has been hacked and we appreciate your patience while we work with Facebook to retrieve it back. We will keep everyone updated but in the mean time, please follow me on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest as I will continue to post new content there.
