BLYSS STUDIOS: MEET THE ONE MAN ART STUDIO THAT DOES IT ALL

A GO TO SPOT FOR ANIMATION, CUSTOM ARTWORK, LOGOS, ALBUM COVER DESIGNS + MORE

When we featured the new comic "Meet Duncan" a few months back, the story was captivating no doubt, but what drew us in -- and hundreds of others who've seen it on their feed -- was the visuals. Before reading a single page, I already felt connected to the characters and wanted to know more. That is the kind of ability that Tony Wilson, founder of the one man Art Studio BLYSS Studios possesses. The self taught San Antonio artist has the unique ability to pull from childhood inspirations like Dragonball, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Samurai Champloo and reinterpret it into his own signature style. The result is a look that embodies the kind of swagger and Hip Hop culture that we dig here at Gritty Vibes. From album cover designs to animation, motion graphics and custom artwork, he does it all.

In 2017, BLYSS Studios was founded with a mission to stand out and in the years that have followed, it's done just that. Tony Wilson's use of light and shadows in his work helps create a unique cinematic landscape, often using neon lights and hazy, smoke filled settings to help set the tone. You don't reach out to BLYSS Studios to ask for some version of another artist's work. You reach out for a specific vibe that can only be captured by the mind of Tony Wilson. 

Tony has been creating art since age five in a variety of different mediums, and much-like his childhood pursuits, BLYSS Studios takes a similar approach: There is not much when it comes to visual arts that it can't do, or pick up on quickly. We reached out to BLYSS Studios to hear more about how it started, what they offer, and what's planned for the future. Tap in below & head here to check out more BLYSS Studios. Also, follow on IG here

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LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING! CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR UPBRINGING AS A SELF TAUGHT ARTIST IN TEXAS? WHAT WAS THAT SPARK THAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN THE ARTS?

I grew up in Windcrest, a little city in San Antonio. I stayed in the Camelot neighborhood, so it's safe to say I didn't have much growing up. I watched a lot of anime when I was really young, mostly Dragon Ball Z. Obviously I didn't have money for those big ol anime posters, I figured I'd just make my own, so my uncle would print me out pics from dragon ball z that he would find on the internet and put them in a folder for me, and I would trace those all day and then hang them on my wall. I used to put the pics on the patio window or the TV and use the light to trace, but my dad would get mad about me having my hands all over the TV, so I eventually had to learn how to draw without tracing, so I practiced my free hand till I got good enough where I could make things that were better than the posters I wanted.

"I wanted to make sure my art spoke for itself, like it was a part of our actual lives, something that couldn't be erased away."

WHENEVER I'M SCROLLING THROUGH THE GRAM, AND COME ACROSS SOME ART BY YOU, I KNOW IT'S YOURS IMMEDIATELY. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SIGNATURE DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF ART THAT YOU HAVE?

My style has always changed in a way, but somehow remains the same enough where people still know who it's by. But, I'm not 100% sure why that is. I study a lot of artists, some very known, some not so known, but I still get inspired by others to experiment with my style. I would probably describe it is a visual vibe in a way, because now matter what I do differently to my art, that instant feeling of familiarity and solace will always be the same vibe you would expect from my art.

WE FIRST GOT HIP TO YOUR WORK WHEN WE WERE COVERING MEET DUNCAN. YOU REALLY NAILED THE VIBE OF THAT STORY VISUALLY. HOW DID YOU GUYS LINK UP & WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT?

We met during our first lockdown here in Texas. We were just told to stay home and I was having trouble making money, passing my classes and coping with the reality that was setting in at the time. He hit me either through email or Instagram, but was offering me an opportunity to work on a project he had in mind, which turned out to be Meet Duncan. It was a learning experience for sure. I gained a lot of insights and exposure through that, and learned a lot about what it takes to turn an idea into a business. Jareal was a real one for sure, and helped me advance my dreams along, so I'm appreciative of the opportunity he gave me.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED, LET'S TALK ABOUT BLYSS STUDIOS. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR OWN ART STUDIO IN 2017?

My pure motivation was proving a few people wrong, and trying to one up a few people. I'm not ashamed to say that I was trying to be as petty as I could, and nothing was more petty to me than having an opportunity to have the last laugh. I had a few too many people tell me I wasn't going to be much in life, so I made to do something to throw that back in their face. In 2017, I went by NothingSpexial, and was just try to do something with my art. I drew Jamie Fox from Django on a bus ride home from college, and made an Instagram that same night and posted an ugly ol drawing of Jamie. It wasn't until around 2019, when I lost two years worth of artwork, that I decided to switch it to BLYSS.

I wanted to make sure my art spoke for itself, like it was a part of our actual lives, something that couldn't be erased away. I added the studios bc I'm basically a one man studio, there's nothing creatively I can't do.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT BLYSS STUDIOS OFFERS?

It would be quicker to tell what I don't offer honestly. But, I offer cover art services, logos, photo edits and photo manipulations, animations, motion graphics, custom artworks, video editing, you name it I can do it. And if I can't, it's not hard to learn.

WHAT KIND OF CREATIVES WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH/STORIES DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

If I could get something done with Mcflyy, that would be amazing. But, really I want to be like Virgil Abloah or takashi Murakami, someone who pushes the culture forward. I want to work with creatives who are trying to make their mark on the history books. I love making cover arts and all that, but that's not my only lane. I want to work with creatives that want to bring their visions to life. I want to be one of the best creatives to ever live. It sounds ambitious, but I'm going to at least try before it's all said and done.

ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO PROMOTE? WHAT'S THE REST OF YOUR YEAR LOOKING LIKE?

It is looking like it's going to be a good year. Got a few things in the works, and a few projects of my own already in development, one being a comic series called Liam, @saveliam on Instagram. I'm hoping people will look forward to what's to come next, I'm excited about what I got going.