Joel Rea, a celebrated artist renowned for his surreal, allegorical paintings, merges hyperrealism, photorealism, and Renaissance realism into a distinctive style. Through meticulous brushwork, he explores social consciousness and personal introspection. Inspired by the enigmas of nature and the cosmos, Rea delves into the complexities of the human experience, presenting narratives that embrace existential turmoil and our primal instinct for survival. His work blends contemporary visuals with sublime qualities, evoking profound emotional responses. Themes include self-portraiture, tigers, dogs, celestial motifs, and turbulent waves inspired by Australia's coastline. Joel has a massive presence on and offline, and I've been following his work for years. In this episode we hear not only about the magnificent art he's creating but what makes up this energetic and focussed artist!