One day, when he was 11 years old, Victor Bokas’ life took an artistic turn. After riding his bicycle to an outdoor art festival, young Victor bought a raffle ticket for a dollar and, to his surprise, won a painting. He admits now that the painting changed his life. “Call it luck or destiny, but if it hadn’t been for that winning ticket, I’m sure my career path would’ve been different,” he muses.
Bokas’ parents were happy to support their budding artist, and the town of Gulf Breeze, Florida was an ideal place to glean inspiration. Bokas was fortunate to grow up in proximity to several artists; during his middle and high school years, he took lessons from Margaret Look, Betty Shea, Evelyn Neal and Dianne Curington. “All have unique styles,” he notes. “And the tropical landscaping [of Florida] was inspiring.”
After working in design roles for several years — he earned a graphic design degree from the University of Florida — Bokas transitioned to creating art full-time at his home studio. Design, however, remains an important kernel for Bokas, who points out that artful design is the draw in everyday products and items. “Art is everywhere, even when we take it for granted,” he points out. “Most everything is based on design. You’re attracted to a certain car, home or piece of furniture because of design. Books, menus, posters, logos, magazines — I could go on. It’s all art related.”
Bokas affectionately describes his studio as “chaotic.” The colorful, eccentric space is located in the garage – without any air conditioning, Florida summers be damned — typically with wide open doors facing the backyard (“So I don’t scare the neighbors,” he quips) and brimming with the musical sounds of anything from Elvis Costello to Billie Eilish or The Smiths. From wall to paint-splattered wall, the studio is humming with the playful, vivid colors for which Bokas is known – not a boring neutral gray or beige in sight.
Artistic tools are not limited to the typical brushes either; anything from brooms to twigs to books filled with wallpaper samples can be found in the studio. Yellows, pinks, teals, emeralds and all other bright, fanciful hues are Bokas’ favorites to work with — and never the same way twice. “I’ve always liked bold, bright colors,” he says. “I love going to the art supply store and picking up colors I’ve not used before. When working on a painting, I try to use a variety of each color. For instance, I’ll never use just one shade of green and never straight out of the tube. I always experiment and create variations.”
A collector of kitsch since his early years, Bokas finds inspiration in unique, found items. He describes his favorite shop as a child, Allen Davis Seashell Souvenirs, as the place his love for oddball treasures began. Now, Bokas has a vast collection of all sorts of items, from snow globes to antique furniture to vintage state plates. “Every inch of my house is filled with my art or collections,” he says. “For me, it’s a scavenger hunt. Things that might get discarded, I find a way to incorporate into my collages or just enjoy their tacky beauty.”
Because Bokas has relatives living in Birmingham – a sister and brother-in-law, as well as nieces and nephews — it didn’t take long for him to meet Libby Pantazis, founder of Canary Gallery and family friend. In fact, Bokas came up with the gallery’s signature logo, featuring a yellow canary perched upon a paintbrush. Visitors to Canary Gallery can view new work from Bokas through June 16. “Birmingham patrons have been supportive of my art, and I’m excited to show my new works,” he says. “Besides an opportunity to visit my family and friends, Birmingham also has amazing restaurants and bars.”
Despite the allure of completed masterpieces and art openings, Bokas is, more often than not, simply in his studio, working hard on future visions. Like many artists, he doesn’t have a planned schedule for painting – inspiration could strike at 8 a.m., or it might strike at 3 a.m. The important thing, in his view, is engaging with the work.
“I try to paint every day, but not every day is successful,” he says. “Sometimes, I’m happy just making marks or scribbles, mixing paints and tearing up paper. This becomes the foundation for many of my works and can change the whole direction of the painting. That’s the joy of painting for me.”
“Art can be healing, therapeutic and visually entertaining,” he adds. “When we create art, we elevate our mood, improve our ability to problem-solve and open our minds to new ideas.”
“Most everything is based on design. You’re attracted to a certain car, home or piece of furniture because of its design. Books, menus, posters, logos, magazines — I could go on and on. It’s all art related.” - Victor Bokas