“The architecture of our present evolution is woven from the creations of our past.” 

Artist Joseph Skala uses old world painting techniques combining finely detailed representations of figures with cosmic flowing energetic patterns of light. He blends the metaphysical and physical realms into one; Drawing inspiration from the structures of sacred temples and the vibratory ripples of energy that flow through all life forms.

This common thread in Joseph’s art invites the viewers to tap into their imagination – to peer into the great mystery of the universe – and remember that there are infinite realities within ourselves. He weaves form into space as a way to describe the fact that the “space” is not void at all but indeed it is brimming with sound, light, consciousness and energy vibrations. Joseph uses texture, color, light, and electrically conductive materials to illuminate the energy that connects all of us. His dream-like art, carries with it the esoteric and fundamental sacred symbolism of divine spiritual beings embedded in relics of our forgotten past. The depth in his use of color, pure mineral pigments and precious metals creates a tangible feeling of energetic movement in the viewer sparking inspiration and ancient memory.  

The old master techniques applied with the minerals and metal pigments hold frequencies that transmit information beyond the visual physical experience.

Many layers of these light responsive pigments like lapis lazuli, malachite, mother of pearl, and 24k gold create movement for the viewer through shifts of perspective and lighting. Each piece is intended to empower the viewer to awaken parts of our forgotten past through divine wonder. Inspired by the processes of old world masters he utilizes a variety of mediums and methods to achieve buttery smooth stone-like finishes that stand the test of time and continue to glow with radiance for generations to come.

His paintings are a reflection of a deep curiosity of our ancient past. Where have we come from and why have we forgotten?  In ancient art it seems that worship, magic, and mysticism was of the most importance. Perhaps most commonly, the thread that carries deeper meaning in art through the ages is the connection to the divine. The image of God and Goddesses depicted in so many forms is scattered through humanity's eternal search for purpose and meaning of life.

“As an artist in modern time I feel a deep responsibility to tell a story of awakening that will touch the hearts and minds of the viewer, bringing them closer to their own divinity.

This is why I paint. 

To share with the world the visions that naturally pour out of me. 

I want to share the inspiration that flows through me. I've seen and felt how art has impacted my life, I want to expand how art can impact lives and transform consciousness as a human race emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Painting with this purpose is demanding of total presence, commitment, focus, patience, and surrender to the process. I strive to express truth and the sheer vulnerability in the embrace of life’s journey with passion and purpose.

The process is an ever-changing meditative and interactive mystery that comes from collective conscious and unconscious.  Each vision arrives before the preparation of the canvas and every action from the point of conceptualization either in the form of an unconscious impulse or calculated measurement is the eternal muse speaking through the conduit of the artist.

As I wittiness the unfolding of the beauty in life and the world around me I am reminded in every moment that we are all woven together with golden thread of consciousness, each one of us regardless of where we are from or how differently we may perceive the world, are truly connected. There is so much more to the creation than the final product. Everything I paint, the entire process of crystalizing a vision onto canvas is linked and related to everything else I've ever done and seen. All of it is a reflection of my relationship to myself leading me on a challenging and beautiful path of inward reflection and a state of peace and gratitude. 

I feel the lines that my brush follows are that of the river flowing like the blood of our mother and crashing like the waves of her oceans. The paint stroke is my nature when I strip down to bare skin and jump in. They are the ecstatic joy of love or the pain of a broken heart. So much is felt and lived through the process of creative expression.  Every minute of it is no less valuable than any other.”

Joseph’s first painting medium was watercolor which carries an illuminating influence in his painting now.  The love he had for the glowing luminosity achieved through watercolor painting has influenced him to relay a similar more archival effect with the much more open and malleable oil paint.

Joseph’s fascination with architecture ties into his pursuit of some of the greatest mysteries of our time. Growing up in southwestern Colorado, at the base of the Rocky Mountains,  near the ancient ruins of the Anasazi sparked an early interest in archeology. Upon finding out how little is actually known about the timelines of human evolution, he concluded that it goes far beyond what we’ve been taught as common knowledge. This mystery inspires him to use ancient architecture, sacred geometry, and thin glaze layers to create depth and dimension in his art while invoking these questions and fundamental human emotions in the viewer. 

He offers his art as his form of devotion to raising the collective consciousness of the planet in solidarity with making the world a more peaceful, beautiful, and harmonious place for all forms of life.