Artist Greg Vega attracts onlookers at the Melrose Trading Post with his alluring, vibrant paintings

By Kaelie Macaulay

Staff Writer

Melrose Trading Post features a broad cultural spectrum of arts, cuisines, vintage collectibles, acoustic and classical melodies which all showcase the community’s expertise in uniting people from all life forms.

Greg Vega, a fighter jet mechanic who spent seven years in the U.S. Air Force, now positions himself at the Melrose Trading Post to showcase his alluring, intricate and delicately designed paintings. Vega’s artistic range features refined monochromatics and exquisite uses of vibrant colors.

Vega’s exemplary artistic ability blossomed during his time spent in film school. His overall ambition is to use his artwork to signify and inspire truth, beauty, and excellence. He seeks to mirror the paradoxical relationship between art and war.

Among all the vendors and booths at the Melrose Trading Post, Greg Vega’s exhibit was enticing due to the orderly display of canvases of assorted sizes and geometric shapes. The finishing touch to the booth was Vega himself doing a live painting session and eagerly interacting with pedestrians.

Channeling the discipline he accumulated from the Air Force, Vega sought to be more attentive to enhance his artistic ability. Beginning in April of 2016, Vega began to broadcast his art throughout the Southern California area reaching from Venice Beach to Hollywood, utilizing social media as well.

Greg Vega showcases a time-lapse video, allowing viewers to catch a glimpse into the life of an artist. This video illustrated the process of creating a mural as well as Vega’s natural talent. Video by Greg Vega.

Using his objective approach to capture light and how it reacts, Vega’s artistry, professionalism and strength as an artist is represented in his knowledge of luminosity and contrast. Vega displays perceptions of shadows and various angles with great finesse.

Among his monochromatics, Vega incorporates splashes of colors and proves that he is a well-rounded, skilled artist. Vivid and dynamic saturations augment his paintings to an extraordinary depth. The sophisticated integration of color compliments Vega’s assortment of black and whites.

The simple layout of the acrylic paintings aids the eye towards the subject of the image. While keeping a sense of simplicity, Vega’s subjects are often multidimensional, providing an image that is open to interpretation. Vega manages to maintain the eye’s focus on the object while including different dimensions without it being chaotic.

Vega’s versatility as an artist as well as a person is well represented at his booth in the Melrose Trading Post. Greg cordially conversed with people passing by and freely shared his ideas and hopes, as well as offering a deeper meaning to his paintings.

As a whole, the Melrose Trading Post was a phenomenal platform for local businesses and Greg Vega’s personality and artwork was a delight to all. Greg Vega is available for commissions, and he can be contacted through vegavisuals.com.