Toronto Artist Offers Illuminating Perspectives in Author Chase Maenius’ New Book on Art

Toronto, Canada, January 04, 2016 --(PR.com)-- According to Los Angeles writer Chase Maenius - "Haunting, cold, eerie and unmistakably beautiful... Toronto based artist Troy Brooks’ work is an intricate weaving of elements that simultaneously shock and delight."

Maenius and Brooks tackle several interesting themes in Underground Publishing's 2015 release, The Power of an Image.

When asked about what art does, Brooks states "That’s a big question. There’s a wide range of potencies. Some art can be for posterity, or purely decorative, some art challenging and provoking. I think right now the reason nothing is happening in fine art is because everyone seems to be putting gimmickry over substance. A lot of artists I see these days think that if they come up with a new slant they don’t have to worry about technical ability. For me, if art is too cerebral, I’m not interested. If I have to find out the artists intention to feel anything or get invested in it, I’ll take a pass. I want to be able to feel something instantly. So I would say, in the age of spiraling technology, the biggest power of art is to make us stop and reflect. Can people stop and reflect on a static image in the age of YouTube and mobile devices? Absolutely. I get the most incredible feedback from people who see very personal things in my work that they feel relates to them. People tell me that they see vulnerability in my work, especially the clear plastic ones – they see people suffocating and suffering but it is out in the open because it is a clear plastic bag; people tell me how drawing that can be."

The Power of An Image is available on Amazon as well as in bookstores around the United States.