Art by Neil Garrison

Neil Garrison is an award-winning surrealist artist from Indiana with over 40 years of experience creating thought-provoking paintings and drawings. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana State University in 1984, he has developed a diverse body of work that explores color theory, portmanteau concepts, and the merging of technology with history. His creative process involves using various mediums—including acrylics, watercolors, and even duct tape—to transform original ideas and sketches into expressive visual messages.

WINDMILL FARM

2014 / Prisma Color on Illustration Bd (NFS)

Many of my surreal images transpose eras 

by taking new technology back in time.

HARDWARE

2020 / Prisma Color on Illustration Bd (NFS)

For this surreal image I merged cold machine parts with human anatomy to become a

message of humans and machines becoming one.

OCTOPLUG

2010 / Screen Print

Many of my images look like something else. In this case, an octopus’s head looks like a light bulb. From there, I transformed the tentacles into electrical outlets. I hope to develop this image more in a future painting.

$150

POP ART

2011 / Duct Tape on Illustration Bd (NFS)

I created several images using colored duct tape as an art medium. This image is one of my favorites. It includes bottles of soda or “pop.” And I wanted to execute it in a pop art style.  All of this is created with cutouts of colored duct tape. 

THE STONES TAPES

2006 / Duct Tape on Illustration Bd

I created a few Tape Drawings after noticing different tones when the drafting tape was overlapped. This image of Mick Jagger includes draft tape and duct tape. Together they appear to be a sepia tone image.

$250

CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

2019 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

I spent a lot of time around the printing industry. I was always amazed how most printed images were interpreted by four colors. This image focuses on the sunlight being transformed through four filters shown as symbolic trees.

WAR-HOL

2018 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

While I was working on the large Coca-Cola bottle painting for Terre Haute, I had an idea to create a portrait of Andy Warhol. I emphasized ”War” in his name and dressed him in a military outfit. I also changed the helmet to resemble a bottle cap. The painting consisted of bright and complementary colors that a pop artist might use.

BRAND CYCLE

2014 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

I wanted to paint something very reflective and thought the front of a motorcycle would be a challenge. It was! I think artists can learn from every painting, and I certainly did on this one. It ended up being one of my favorite images. The title ties in with a marketing term, and Harley-Davidson was certainly a strong brand.

ON THE BANKS OF THE WABASH

2015 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

I was inspired by the growing interest in Riverscape! I photographed the image at Fairbanks Park facing north. You can see the smoke from the power plant in the distance, which has since been removed. I used the pointillism technique for this painting of the Wabash River.

CHEVY PICK UP

Newport Hill Climb

2011 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

I have always loved older cars and trucks. I wanted to paint a series of older cars and trucks found at the Newport Hill Climb in 2011. This one shows three historical vehicles waiting in line to race up the hill.

1957 CHRYSLER

2011 / Acrylic on Canvas

I used to build model cars when I was a kid, and I guess it stayed with me. I love the old cars and trucks! This painting was the second in this series. 

$250

1978 CORVETTE

Hulman Building

2012 / Watercolor

I created a few watercolor paintings of classic cars parked near historic buildings in the Terre Haute area. This one is of a 1978 Corvette parked on the back lot of the Clabber Girl Building.

$220

STEVEN TYLER

2024 / Acrylic on Canvas (NFS)

In 2024, I thought I could use some practice painting portraits, so I started a portrait series that included several entertainers. This one of Steven Tyler became one of my favorites.

JOHN LENNON SONGWRITER

2024 / Acrylic on Canvas

In 2024, my entertainer series had to include at least one Beatle, so I combined some images to create this small painting of John Lennon. This was the first in the series.

$265