Metamorphic Art

Metamorphic art cleverly catches your attention. It transforms from one image into another right before your eyes; although,
more accurately, it's "you" that changes, that is, your perception of the work. Metamorphic art also imparts important lessons
about life. It shows us first-hand that appearances can be deceiving; instructs us not to fall prey to stereotypical thinking, but
rather, to keep an open mind; teaches us that in order to understand a subject you must scrutinize it from all angles and up close.
The eyes and mind can all too easily be tricked into a false or inaccurate perception. Take, for example, this still life of a skull:
Such double imagery is discernable up close, but not when diminished enough, viewed at a distance, which is
why it's crucial when buying this type of piece to avoid purchasing too
large a print. Anything 8" x 10" or larger will not trick someone entering
a small room like a smaller print will, one in which you must get closer in
order to perceive the other imagery in the art. If you have a spacious room
or foyer that warrants a larger print, you may want to consider the largescale metamorphic work of artists such as Salvador Dali and Octavio
Ocampo.* However, before embarking on a search for metamorphic art,
there's more besides size to keep in mind.
Nudes, skulls, and faces such as this one were common metamorphic motifs that flourished in postcard form in the late 19th and
early 20th century. Multiple nude or scantily clad women were often morphed and twisted into awkward, unnatural positions in
order to form a face or skull. Clearly the more artistic license taken, the less impressive a metamorphic work. But in the above
image, the mishmash of characters is to be excuse somewhat since they presumably are related to the life of the person
depicted. The piece though has other shortcomings. Shading is a common technique of metamorphic artistry and emphasized
here. The left of the face is drawn lightly and the right darker to suggest a light source coming from the left and shadowing the
right side of the face. So far so good, but looking closely at the outline of the top of the head notice how only the left side
meshes with the characters. A woman's thigh, hip, arm and hair form the top left of the head but the top and right side of the
head are simply formed by an arbitrary background. Compare this to the outline of the skull in the still life previously
considered in which the entire skull's outline meshes perfectly with the woman's nude crouched figure. Moreover, while the
right eye also forms the eye of someone else's profile, what the left eye comprises is unclear and certainly unconvincing. Those
are the sort of elements to analyze when looking to buy a metamorphic piece.

Octavio Ocampo
Artist Octavio Ocampo was born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico on February 28,
1943. He was educated at the Fine Art Institute, Mexico City and the San Francisco
Art Institute, graduating in 1974. He has been exhibiting since 1972.
His work is in major collections in Mexico, the National Palace and the collections
of the last three presidents. In Europe that great collector, the late Florence Gould,
had a landscape of the New York skyline from her apartment, at her house at Cap
D'Antibes; H.M. The King of Spain is also a great admirer. Ocampo is the master
of his mtier and unique among today's painters.

The talents of Octavio Ocampo were not limited to painting and sculpture but also
extended to acting and dancing. While at the Art Institute of San Francisco, he
studied all these disciplines and pursued both a film and theater career. In 1976 he
began to devote himself solely to painting and sculpture.
Celebrity portraits for which Ocampo has been commissioned in the United States
include President Jimmy Carter (commissioned by President Lopez Portillo and
was presented as a gift from the United Mexican States), Jane Fonda, Cher (for the
front and back covers of her latest album), and Cesar Chavez.
Ocampo now works and resides in Tepoztlan, north of Mexico City, it is considered to be one of the most magical places on
earth.
He works primarily in the metamorphic style - using a technique of superimposing and juxtaposing realistic and figurative
details within the images that he creates.

"Absents of the Mermaid"

Original Oil
20" x 28.5" Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas
8" x 11" Signed Gilcee on watercolor paper

"Forever Always"
Open Edition Prints
8 x 10, 10 x 13, 24 x 18

"Buddha"
21" x 25" Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas
8 x 9.5 Signed Giclee on Watercolor Paper

" Friendship of Don Quixote "

18 x 25.5 Limited Edition Giclee on
canvas
8 x 11.5 Signed Giclee on
Watercolor Paper

"Lady in Field of Lillies"

Open Edition Prints
8 x 10, 10 x 13, 14 x 18

"Nativity"
Open Edition Prints
8 x 10, 10 x 13, 14 x 18

"Madonna Rocaille"
Open Edition Prints
8 x 10, 10 x 13, 18 x 24

"Mona Lisa's Chair"

Open Edition Prints
8 x 10, 14 x 17

"Patron of the Homeless"

16" x 20" open edition print

"Visions of Quixote"
Signed Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas: 30" x 36"
Open Edition Prints: 8 x 10, 10 x 13, 18 x 22

"Sunlight's Kiss"
Limited Edition Giclee on Watercolor Paper: 20 x 28.5
Signed Giclee on Watercolor Paper: 8 x 11.5

"Run With The Herd"

Original Watercolor
Limited Edition Giclee on Watercolor Paper: 20 x 28.5
Signed Giclee on Watercolor Paper: 8 x 11.5