Ray Caesar is a Toronto-based artist who creates worlds populated by pale beauties straight out of the gilded Victorian Age. His characters almost glow with a flawless, almost porcelain beauty, staring from cold, impassive eyes that project an eerie, sinister attitude of confidence and defiance.
But look closely and you soon see that this is no pastoral wonderland, as glimpses of tentacles, spider legs, bats and red-suited catwomen bring a Baroque darkness to his surreal worlds. It’s this literal and figurative interplay between light and darkness that is at the center of his work as bucolic scenes often have horrifying undertones.
Caesar’s strange visions may come from a past career in the Art and Photography department of the Hospital for sick Children in Toronto where for 17 years he documented horrifying cases of murder, child abuse, reconstructive surgery and premature infants in sketches.
If that weren’t enough, Caesar’s mother and sister both succumbed to cancer within six months of each other, but Caesar has used his many traumatic professional and personal experiences (along with a life-long battle with Dissociative Identity Disorder) as impetus for his art, which he sees as therapeutic. “In my work I create a window into a place that is a sanctuary or small heaven, or Eden, for troubled memories and disquiet spirits. A place where man and nature can never hurt them again.”
Amazingly, while Caesar’s work may look like classic oil on canvas, it’s all digitally created; in fact, Caesar has long been celebrated as the “grandfather of digital art.” He creates his dream-like images with a 3D modeling software called Maya, a program he mastered while working as a digital animator in the film and TV industry from 1998-2001.
This is just a small collection of the works of this demented genius, so check out more at his website (where his humorous bio recounts his birth and life as a dog) and a quote-filled BuzzFeed page that gives better insight into the traumatic experiences that shaped his life and his art.
Check out the gallery after the jump.
They say that some people with creative abilities often come out of great suffering either personally experienced or witnessed.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
HI Francine … I firmly believe that. I admire how he has turned such terrible tragedy in his life into something positive and life affirming. There’s a big, big message behind his work that says don’t ever give up, positive things can happen.
I agree with you. .
I’m going to share this post with my son who is a visual effects artist and works with Maya. Caesar is really a Maya master.
Hi Patricia … yes, please do … I was shocked to discover that all of his work is digitally produced. he’s a real whiz, because they look like oil paintings to me!
Haha, I love his take on Jean-Honore Fragonard’s “The Swing”! Beautiful work and yes, I completely agree with what Francine said.
Hey there Impybat … it goes to show that it’s true what they say: What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
His career at the Children’s Hospital had to have definitely made a deep impression on him; and was this the cause of his Dissociative Identity Disorder? Very interesting artist.
Hi Angeline … I believe it’s a condition he was born with, and something that has always fueled his creativity. agreed, VERY interesting!
Just amazing. Thanks for sharing, Stephen.
you’re welcome! i found his work to be some of the most interesting i’ve seen in a while, so i was happy to share!
How gorgeous and creepy at the same time! I think it’s the surface textures, or the apparent surface textures, which make this art so startling and so memorable.
Exactly! I also love how he uses light to emphasize mood and the creepy feeling you mention that is definitely a part of all of these. really, really interesting artist.
Incredible!!!
Hi ilargia … I’m glad you liked it! Very cool art going on here!
Amazing creative art work! Admire his strength!
I do too, Amy! it’s awesome that something so positive has come from all that adversity!
Wonderful find again … very interesting artist – even if I wouldn’t like any of his art on my walls … if I had to pay for it. A bit “macabre” for my taste, even if I see beauty in this are too. Like you top image. By the way .. the top one I would love to have, if I had the money. It’s truly stunning. Her pale skin against that midnight blue ..
“macabre” … exactly!!! yes! the top one is the one I would most likely like to hang in my home! just love the lighting in that one!
Amazing art! xxx
Thanks, Constantinos … and I appreciate your visiting my blog. Hey, being a dedicated follower of fashion and style, I like your blog a lot!
Amazing what a creative genius can do with digital art. I find it beautiful but quite disturbing.
agreed and agreed!!! his work does have a macabre edge to it, which i like!
Interesting paintings and post. Thanks for sharing!
you’re welcome, cardinal guzman. and, as usual, thanks for dropping by!
These are weird and attractive. Thank you for showing Stephen 🙂
yer welcome, paula. excellent choice of words: weird and attractive, because that’s exactly what they are! glad you liked, and thanks for the comment!
Any time Stephen 🙂
Reblogged this on Swackhammer and commented:
These are just gorgeous!
hi there c3design: thanks for reblogging and for visiting!
Very interesting artwork here. Thumbs up! Thanks for the share!
You’re welcome, julian. i appreciate your visit and your comment. And I like your blog a lot. you’ve got a great eye, mate. excellent photography!
I’m glad you like my blog, thanks so much for taking the time. Take care, Stephen!