"...I find a brute yet honest identity of my subjects..." states Rogelio Manzo. His journey as an artist began studying architecture, but the rigidity and formality of architectural practice led him to painting where he creates chaotic, dark and brooding, yet harmonious "portraits".  His past in architecture is not lost though, as geometric elements sneak into his paintings that are made of resin panels, silk and other fabric. His subjects faces are draped in sweeping swatches of blue, orange and vivid white hues while hints of their personality seep through.   rogeliomanzo.com

Bill Sussman is an illustrator originally from San Francisco and currently residing in Poland who portrays erotic art in whimsical juxtapositions. Warning these illustrations are NSFW. society6.com/billsussman

--- Art: noun \ˈärt\ 1: something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings. --- Can art be defined?  As an abstract concept possibly but on a personal level the definition of art can be as diverse as the viewer.  In that vein we have decided to ask some of our favorite artists to tell us what Art means to them.  Here's what they've said:     Kim Høltermand Previously featured: December 2012, January 2011, September 2010   Define art.  What does art mean to you?  What does it mean to be an artist? What is some work that has influenced you as an artist? What of your pieces have been directly influenced by other artists' work? Art is a feeling. Like being in love or sad. Art is my life. It is in me in my blood. I feel it all the time even when I sleep. Music is the biggest source of inspiration for me and "Hammock" has hands down been the biggest influence in my work. If you look through my portfolio a lot of my work has been prepared, shot or post edited while listening to the epic music of Hammock. In 2009 when shooting my series "Silo" I was lucky enough to get access to Valby Gassilo - an empty gassilo on the outskirts of Copenhagen and when I stepped inside this huge behemoth while listening to the track "Gold Star Mothers" by Hammock my jaw hit the floor and tears started rolling down my cheeks. That moment right there looking up at the light coming in at the top of the silo was nothing short of epic. I have walked around in endless amounts of desolate places, forests, parking lots, structures of all kinds engulfed in fog listening to Hammock. Hammock is my soundtrack.       Shin Young An Previously featured: October 2012, August 2012   Define art.  What does art mean to you?  What does it mean to be an artist? What is some work that has influenced you as an artist? What of your pieces have been directly influenced by other artists' work? I define art as life itself. Art means endless striving to develop as the same line of human being development. I have to open and honest even if its unpleasant as an artist for seeking true realities for future generations because history is that they cannot have a bright future without correct historical recognition and reflection. My "peace" series work were inspired by reading newspapers.       Alicia Martin Lopez Previously featured:April 2014, October 2013   Define art.  What does art mean to you?  What does it mean to be an artist? What is some work that has influenced you as an artist? What of your pieces have been directly influenced by other artists' work? To me, art grows in that Place that you own, that place where only you can access to whenever you have to. Sometimes it is messier, sometimes it is more clear, but it always needs to be fed in order to keep it alive. Being an artist means that you start seeing the external world with ‘new eyes’, so you can keep bringing elements to that Place to let them thrive, evolve, or transform. Then you suddenly have this urge to take something from that Place and bring it to the outer world. During that Process of Translation, some things are lost and new things are gained along the way, slowly unveiling and creating a beautiful journey. Art is that journey. I think Jenny Saville is one of the artists that most influenced me. I like many artists and I have always been influenced by several but I remember what I felt when I saw Jenny Saville's work, it filled me with energy and a strong feeling of inspiration to do my work. The fleshiness of her paintings, the strength and weight of her compositions, they were brave and provocative. My style has nothing to do with hers but she has definitely been an important inspiration for me.     Also Hieronymus Bosch and his painting The Garden of Earthly Delights. When I first saw it at the Prado Museum in Madrid I stared at it for hours. His inventiveness astonished me, his paintings are full of symbolism, fantastical animals and hybrid forms, so advanced for the time he lived in.     Probably my thesis project for SVA, 'Reminiscence', is a good example of the mixture of both influences.     ARTIST LINKS: holtermand.dk an-shinyoung.weebly.com aliciamartinlopez.com