Learning about an artist’s background and passions can open up insight into his work. Philip Gangler’s artwork contains hints and insights in varying aspects of his life.

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Once known for his vibrant landscape and floral photography, Philip has embarked on a bold new chapter in his artistic journey. As a photographer, Phillp's work captures the fleeting beauty of the natural world, his images often imbued with a sense of tranquility and fragility. However, a growing desire to explore the tactile and expressive qualities of color led him to transition into painting.

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Philip's paintings maintain a connection to his photographic roots, often drawing inspiration from the landscapes and subjects he once captured through his lens. However, his new medium allows him to delve deeper into the emotional and psychological dimensions of his work. Through energetic brushstrokes and bold color choices, he now explores themes of beauty, joy, and renewal.

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Vibrants skies, textural coastlines, watery reflections and floral beauty: these scenes convey vibrancy, calm, solitude and beauty in varying degrees. Philip uses intense color and texture to bring his perspective on nature alive to the viewer. There are certain areas in each piece that have an aura of mystery, and are left for the individual to interpret. 

 

Philip has always lived in the same community of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, USA but his extensive travels throughout the United States, and international trips to Nicaragua, Mexico, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, and southern Europe can be seen in elements of his paintings.

 

Whether it was working one of many crafting projects, painting, or drawing he has always enjoyed the creative process. “One of my earliest memories of creating art”, Philip recalls, “is sitting on the grass in our backyard by the vegetable garden as a child and creating a pencil drawing of a deep red, velvety rose on the back of leftover textured wallpaper. My first real art supplies came from a Jon Gnagy “Learn to Draw” Kit, with drawing pencils and chalks, that I bought with S&H Green Stamps in the mid 1970s.”

 

In high school, Philip took his first class in graphic design. He began creating ads for local companies and the first of many logos. In the early 1990’s he completed a degree in Art & Design. In college Philip took several classes by renowned watercolorist Donald Lake, (a Watercolor Honor Society Lifetime Achievement Award winner), including an Independent Study course “Watercolor: Abstraction & Typography”, where Mr. Lake was his mentor. 

 

His education led him into 30-year career in graphic design where he built a strong foundation of line, form, shape, color, texture and imagery that he now incorporates into his paintings.

 

These same foundational elements he also brought to his Fine Art Photography which began in 2005. Philip traveled to many juried art shows, for several years, showing his work in festivals throughout Central Illinois and the Chicago suburbs. His work is still available through major online stock photography sites. During this time he won multiple First Place Awards at the annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show. He also has a large composite photography piece that was juried and purchased by his hometown and permanently installed in Uptown Center.

 

Now represented by Main Gallery 404, he continues to evolve as an artist, Philip's paintings offer a captivating blend of the familiar and the unexpected, inviting viewers to explore the intricacies of his visual language. After 30 years as a graphic designer and landscape/floral photographer Philip shifted his creative focus to painting. For the last several years he has worked on building upon his knowledge of painting from his days in college and honing his skills through numerous books, articles, and courses from Milan Art Institute.