05/22/2026
THE HAPPY CRITIC
Karen Evans! Connector Curator Cook
HERE'S TO ART! HERE'S TO LOVE!
Art is essential to the human spirit. Art is vital to the quality of live in a community. Art increases performance, is good for business, and builds employee and client relationships. Art is essential for children because it stimulates both sides of the brain. Art lasts longer than most things. Art Matters!
I think Artist Greg Drew is an exceptional talent.......primarily his structural work.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: Tell us about Greg Drew!
ARTIST GREG DREW: I was born and raised in San Antonio and went to Churchill High-school. I like to tell folks I have been here for 70 years, and I may decide to stay! I graduated from SWTSU with a Bachelor's in Commercial Art. I chose this degree because I thought two things - It would probably be fun, and it might be easier than accounting or computer science. As it turns out, I was right on both counts.
I went to work as a stockbroker/financial advisor in 1983. I’m still in that business now as a senior partner of a local boutique firm. There are younger partners which allows me time to paint. Then something happened. In 2017 my youngest daughter moved out of her room upstairs. Since I had slowed down considerably at the daily grind, I now had a convenient art studio and I began painting a lot. During the past ten years I’ve sold over 110 original paintings and I’ve got more to do.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: Who is your most significant artistic influence, and why were you inspired?
ARTIST GREG DREW: My brother, who is three years older than me, was perhaps my first influence. I remember a science project he had that required an illustration. His illustration was quite good - it was draftsman quality. He went on to become a mechanical and petroleum engineer.
My inspiration today comes from images I see. I typically paint images that I really like. I paint in both water color and acrylic. Watercolor was my first love, and I have added acrylic only within the last five years. Acrylic paint allows me to do much larger pieces, and its far more forgiving than watercolor.
I do a fair amount of commissioned work. Commissioned work pushes me to paint people, places or things I would not ordinarily paint. One woman gave me a photograph of a scene she loved and hired me to paint it. I also very much liked the image. When I sent her the finished piece, she returned
it with the desired changes. I made the changes and sent it back to her. and again, she returned it with the desired changes. This happened a third time. After sending it to her the third time, she loved it and paid for it. Some artists have told me they would not have put up with this back-and-forth thing. My feeling is different. Since I do not want anyone to own a work of mine that the don't really love, I was happy to make the changes. And by the way, because of her demand for changes, the painting was a much better piece in the end.
I have an artist friend that says he does "fun-art," and I do "fine-art." He says this because he creates abstract art purely from his mind and has fun doing it. I on the other hand, almost always work from a reference photograph. My process usually involves a well-planned sketch and sometimes a smaller practice piece. And even then, it is a constant struggle and frequent problem-solving to get the painting to where I need it to be. I have to be happy with the end result.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: Describe the best piece of art you have ever created.
ARTIST GREG DREW: In the late 70's, I did sculptures. My sculptures were chiseled out of limestone using a hammer and chiseling tools. It was messy until I got to the sanding and polishing phase. Two of my sculptures were shown at the Sol Del River Gallery in Alamo Heights, owned by a lovely woman named Dorothy Katz. A man from Houston purchased one of the sculptures, and home builder Ray Ellison bought the other one. Both sculptures contained smooth, polished human figures and rough
untouched stone. I know they’re not paintings but these truly were some of the best pieces I have ever done.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: What is the best advice you have received as an artist?
ARTIST GREG DREW: Artists Steven DaLuz and the late Clay McGaughy always told me to remember a painting is just a painting. While it may sound simple enough, it implies a great deal.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: What do you like most about being an artist?
ARTIST GREG DREW: Perhaps other artists are like me in that I love for someone to notice and acknowledge my work. A simple compliment makes my day and keeps me going and striving to do better. I hope to be painting years from now.
THE HAPPY CRITIC: Ending this great interview, I would like to thank Greg for his inspiring and thoughtful words, and a special shout-out to all of our readers and art lovers.
His website is - www.gbdfineartstudio.com
There is Nothing More Inspirational than Great Food & Beautiful Art
Karen Evans!
Creator. Connector. Cook.
[email protected]
210-605-7062
