CONTEMPORARY ARTIST
Eric von Seibert Eric von Seibert embodies the coastal lifestyle through his persona and his work. Originally from San Diego, von Seibert began painting at the age of three, and is now a professional contemporary artist spending his days in Rockport, Texas. His work ranges from abstract landscapes to portraits of pop culture icons and interpretive designs. While using his talents in sculpting neon, painting with metals, and grinding aluminum as creative tools, von Seibert has amassed a beautiful portfolio to show for his decades of creativity. Considered a neon master, von Seibert refined his skills over the course of 25 years. He taught neon art at the University of California at San Diego, and discovered how to create beautiful effects and textures using a high-grade diamond abrasive. When creating with high-grade aircraft aluminum, von Seibert explained, the process is fragile and his approach is calculated, for every step has to be precise. The aluminum he works with absorbs oils, and any imperfections or foreign contaminants can ruin the piece. He carefully lays his initial drawing on the aluminum and applies his dyes to add color – a process making him both an artist and a chemist in his studio.
44 The Bend
His illustrations with aluminum have a shimmering effect due to the texture applied from his techniques. At times, the product resembles clear ocean water on a sunny day, interacting with light in a manner not unlike the slow pulse of the tides. The effect can be intense; the artist says probably 1 in 1,000 people have had some degree of seasickness due to the rich colors and intensive texture produced from the aluminum art. His spontaneous and vibrant colors result in works rich with depth, drawn from his life, interests, and surroundings. After living in the Hawaiian Islands for 30 years, he credits the natural beauty of his locale as a source of inspiration for his work. "My studio has to be near water, preferably saltwater," says von Seibert. Recently, his work has been expanding beyond coastal themes and nature. While getting to know one another, we discussed Porsches and how his interest in cars has opened an avenue for new creative ventures; von Seibert recently created an aluminum Porsche art collection that was met with a positive reception. His illustrations of the famous cars mix his signature texture and use of colorful dyes, producing unrivaled car art. This initial step into car art has opened opportunities for the artist, too – he will now be creating NASCAR and F1 car illustrations on his signature aluminum style. Rockport’s proximity to the Circuit of Americas and Texas Motor Speedway will give von Seibert yet another lane to showcase his talents and share his creations with the masses, and he’s excited about these new opportunities.
