Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the fifth Faces online art show for the month of July 2025. The show encompassed a range of artistic styles and mediums (acrylic, oil on canvas, charcoal, watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, photography, digital art). Each submission has been judged based on the following elements of artistic expression: orginality and quality of art, overall design, creativity, interpretation of the theme, demonstration of artistic ability and usage of medium. Out of all entries, 93 artworks were shortlisted for inclusion in the show. The competition attracted entries from many countries across the world: Poland, Australia, South Africa, USA, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Taiwan, China, Italy, Hungary, New Zealand, Cyprus, France and Romania. Enjoy the show and thank you for expressing an interest in our competition.

With virtually no formal art training, Dan has been drawing since childhood. His internationally award winning work has been exhibited in gallery shows in Palm Springs, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Ana, Pasadena, Long Beach, West Hollywood and New York. Dan has cultivated international clients and collectors in Europe, with shows in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and Luxemburg. Limited edition prints are now available of his best works. Dan’s charcoal drawings have also been published in multiple art magazines & books, both domestically and internationally.

"Faces That Tell Stories"
In this portrait series, I portray people who move me through what they do — actors, dancers, writers, performers. People who bring stories to life on stage, on screen, or on the page. They inspire me not only through their craft, but even more so through who they are. What matters most to me is the personal connection I share with them, and the mutual willingness to truly connect. I invite them into my studio, away from their usual surroundings, so I can show them simply as human beings — without roles, without distractions. In this intimate setting, I can fully focus on the person in front of me. I seek honesty and vulnerability in my portraits. It is precisely that vulnerability that makes us human. It opens the door to empathy, to softness, to connection. What fascinates me most is capturing the coexistence of opposing qualities within a single person. Strength and gentleness. Confidence and doubt. Light and shadow.
I look for a raw simplicity — a sense of humanity and authenticity.

I am a self taught artists working in water based medium, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and water-colour. I am a hyperrealism painter fascinated by the world around me. I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see them as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. Shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions….the light hits it and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface…people and animals especially the eyes...an artists dream! My future art plans are to paint the countless subjects I have chosen to become paintings and to share my art with as many people as I can. "To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self expression."

My art explores identity, emotion, and legacy. Through portraits, I capture not just likeness but essence, using bold palettes and textures to evoke nostalgia, intrigue, and reflection inviting viewers to connect with deeper stories. Legacy, history & experience that’s what makes the story telling, by way of oil & acrylic mediums, by Jay Johnsen approachable, relevant & enduring.