From the Jamwich Magazine archives…
If you are attending an electronic show in the northern Virginia area, especially at Martin’s Downto
wn or Sun Music Hall, you are likely to find Bryan Bailey pensively working a paintbrush across a glowing canvas as he bops to the beat. The multi-layered paintings flow in and out of his own three-dimensional universe, the stripes only giving you a peek of what may be swirling inside his Technicolor mind. Initially inspired by CrazyRedBeard to try live painting, the always creative Bryan has recently burst onto the scene and shows no sign of slowing down.
Growing up as a young adult, Bryan was always attracted to music and night life and felt an uncontrollable draw towards concerts and clubs. His first concert was Perpetual Groove and his current favorite band is STS9. Music with a good beat and some delicious bass gets him going creatively, and he prefers to live paint to these types of bands. He has also painted at festivals such as Pink Moon and Rootwire, and attributes his best experiences to Rootwire thus far. He enjoyed sharing space with “so many great and inspiring artists and getting to be a part of such a truly amazing experience.” He enjoys vending at any show or festival he attends, often walking around with a “goofy smile” and interacting with the people around him. He loves the face-to-face experiences and interactions that people have with his art, in contrast to the quiet solace in his studio, which consists of his room or office with different types of lighting set up to experiment with.
His unique style incorporating UV reactive paint, geometric shapes and central s
ubjects such as animals and people, is instantly recognizable amongst other live paintings. He draws inspiration from life and nature, rather than any specific artist’s style. At shows the vibrations he feels from the people around him shape his art as it flows to the music, and he also enjoys painting in secluded natural settings. He discusses his creative process, saying “I just breathe, let my mind go blank, and just try to feel and let what flows out come out. Sometimes take a little of that and just go with it.” The result is an interconnected yet wildly diverse painting that pulses with the rhythm of the music and swirls your eyes in colorful interests and balance over the canvas.
Bryan recently quit his day job to pursue his art full-time, and reminds us that it takes a lot of hard work, travel, and dedication. Though money may not come as easily with a career in art, Bryan is certainly happy to lose track of time while painting. “Life is what you make it. Your thoughts, what you put in and your mindset will be the outcome of your fate and future,” he says, understanding that he is truly grasping his destiny and living his dream. It is an ever-present theme, I’ve found, while talking to artists, that they couldn’t be happier when pouring all of their energy into their passion. Not one has regretted the loss of so-called “security” we are deluded into thinking 
consists of a 40 hour job, car payments, and minimal vacations. “I am doing what I feel that I should be doing, and progressing to do that while striving to be interconnected and loving experiences during this.”
Bryan has also made custom hats that are often also UV reactive and feature hand painted designs and swirling surprises on the underside of the bill. He is currently working on his hat collection and is also progressing towards making shirts. His advice to future artists is to “Do what you feel and go with it. Aspire to inspire.” You can buy his creations on his facebook page www.facebook.com/cloudybutclear. His current website www.cloudybutclear.com is under construction but should be up soon. Some of his products are also available at Ripple Roanoke Store, and his hats will soon be available through Grassroots California.
