Frequently Asked Questions...
Q: How do I purchase original artwork?
A: Send my business manager a message via the Contact page of this site to access available artwork, or subscribe to my email list to receive info about upcoming exhibitions. I also post exhibition info on the News page.
Q: Do you do commissioned paintings?
A: Yes, on select occasions. I spend most of my time painting bodies of work for my exhibitions. When I take on commissions, I like to have creative control to ensure that the outcome of the painting is consistent with my artistic vision.
Q: Is there a book of your artwork available?
A: Yes, I have my new drawing book “Drawn 2 the Well” available on my online store shop.GregSimkinsArt.com. My other books are completely sold out.
Q: I’ve seen your artwork on shirts before. Where can I pick up some?
A: The best place is my online store here.
Q: Where can I find phone or laptop covers with your artwork on it?
A: I have tech skins available here.
Q: Will you draw a custom tattoo design for me?
A: I would love to, but unfortunately due to time restraints I’m currently unable to. Please feel free to use any of my artwork on this website to get tattooed on you. Send pics if you can.
Q. I want to get your artwork tattooed on me. What tattoo artists do you recommend to do this?
A. Here's a list of artists to Google:
1. Adam Hathorn
2. Gunnar
3. Gurutattoo.com
4. Alex Garcia
5. Jesse Smith
6. Tanane Whitfield
7. Kelly Doty
8. Jason Jacenko
9. David Gonzalez
10. Joe Capobianco
11. Jime Litwalk
Q: Who did your tattoos?
A: Nick Rodin, Gunnar, Adam Hathorn, Sparky, Joe Capobianco, Rich Cahill, Joel Bones, Mike Giant, Matt Shamah, Jeff Page, Mark Landis, Ian Cherry, Tanane Whitfield, Charles Hare and Pint.
Q: Will you design my album cover for my band?
A: It all depends on the project and my schedule. Sometimes licensing my existing artwork can be a good option. Please contact my business manager here.
Q: If I send you something to sign, will you sign it and send it back to me?
A: Sorry, no. It gets too complicated.
Q: I'm an artist just starting out. Any advice on how I can improve my drawing and painting skills?
A: The best thing you could do at this stage is really refine your drawing and layout skills. Set up still lifes to draw so you can learn light and shadow. Draw from a model or photos of people to get all your perspectives down. Once you have a good drawing base and good concepts, the painting will follow. I always found studying the old masters like Rembrant and da Vinci was helpful and still is. Look into Art History and the way they painted before even looking to what is going on these days. It is far better to learn from the past and work forwards.
Q: What medium do you use to paint with?
A: I use acrylics. It’s funny, people often assume I just use chipmunk blood or dirty water, but really – it’s acrylics.
Q: What kind of brushes do you use?
A: Trekell brushes only.
Q. What other art supplies do you recommend?
A: I have a complete Amazon shopping list you can view here.
Q: Do you use dirty water to mix your paint?
A: No. It was a joke I made in a video interview a long time ago.
Q: What or who inspires you?
A: Animals, Insects, sea-life, cloud scapes, plants, old button tuck couches, Caravaggio, Dr. Seuss, Tim Burton, Chuck Jones, Salvador Dali, Hieronymus Bosch, Albrecht Durer, Martin Emond, Walt Disney, SEEN, Mars-1, Walton Ford, Bob Ross, that guy who made the thing with that other thing, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Charles Schultz, Pixar and writers such as C.S. Lewis, Richard Adams, Alexandre Dumas, Rudyard Kipling…
Q: I love to paint and draw but I'm not sure if I have what it takes to make a career out of it. How did you know that art was what you wanted to do? Any advice?
A: I talk about my journey into my art career in a podcast interview which you can watch by clicking here. There's another podcast interview here as well. Visit my Media page for other videos and interviews.
Q: What kind of music to you listen to?
A: All kinds. My favorite though is playing “Puff the Magic Dragon” on repeat while I work. My favorite bands change frequently but include Jawbreaker, The Refused, Descendents, Underoath, The Bled, The Pharcyde and Mozart (turns out he’s a composer, not a band).
Q: You must have taken LOTS of drugs to come up with the ideas for your paintings. What are you on?
A: Nothing – drug free.
Q: How long does it take for you to create a painting?
A: It’s hard to guage. Each one has it’s own characteristics and time frame to complete.
Q: Where did you get your name “CRAOLA”?
A: Fell into a well full of corpses, or was pushed rather, and climbed my way out like "Wolverine" with crayons between my fingers.
Q: What role does your Christian faith play in your artwork?
A: I don’t think of it as having to paint Bible stories and what not, it is an over all worldview that plays out in my life not just my artwork. To better understand where I am coming from, check the writings, blogs, and websites of J. Warner Wallace , William Lane Craig, Greg Koukl, John Lennox, R.C. Sproul, Lee Strobel, Gary Habermas, C.S. Lewis, Alvin Plantinga, Stephen Meyer, Alistair Begg, and before those - the Bible, I like the new american standard, but NIV works for me.
Q: Can I come to your art studio?
A: Sorry, no. You might turn into a werewolf on me.
Q: Any advice for aspiring artists?
A: Talent is essential as well as dedication and hard work. Don’t expect success but work hard towards it. Try to make each piece your best. Also, watch how you treat people and your job, make your deadlines and don’t think you are God’s gift to art because there’s always going to be somebody better than you. After all…we aren’t curing cancer.