Back on track

I finally got some things taken care of that were hanging over me, so now I'm back to making art. I just finished this piece today to submit to A5's theme of "Remix." You were supposed to interpret a song you like and this is what I came up with. My song was "Faraway Swimmingpool" by Mum. It's actually instrumental but I enjoy it a lot. It's got a sort of underwater video game sound to it.

Book Doodle No. 1 - SOLD

Just sold this piece and it's off to Tucson Arizona!

Short break

Been kinda busy and not making art lately. I was just about to start a graphite drawing but had to put it on hold until I got some other things done. I have a few interviews I was contacted for, and one had quite a few questions for me to answer. When I say interview, I don't mean a job interview, but an artist interview about me and my work. I've done a few of these before, so it's not unfamiliar. I like to think that I'm getting better at them. I always struggle way more than I probably should in answering the questions. I think it's because I really have to think about how I am going to answer a question in written form. It probably wouldn't be quite as hard if it were just a regular in person interview, or at least I wouldn't have so much time to dwell on my answers. Either way, it takes me a long time.

I also am working some things out with selling a piece. So that transaction is in motion.

And I was contacted by The Washington Square Review to have my artwork in their publication, which I am certainly excited about. I need to send them a bio and images. It's black and white, so my work fits well. The magazine has a small circulation, but it publishes work by some of the most established writers of today and has national distribution, so that's all good!

Once I get all this taken care of, it will be back to the work table.

Two Collages

"Amber Moon"



"Blushing Moon"


I have completed two of the things on my recent list of artwork to make. Over the weekend I finished two collages. I have to say that not having done any in a while, it was a little bit tough getting back into it, and I spent a lot of time staring at the scraps of paper on my table. I'm happy with how they turned out overall, although of course I always see things I could have done differently. I sort of decided to make a diptych with these two pieces. I had so many wonderful paper scraps just waiting to be used, and I got to utilize them pretty well here. I spent a good portion of the time preparing my papers I was going to use for collage, and also preparing the old book covers which serve as my paper or canvas in this instance. I had a random assortment of paper that I wanted to alter the color of. For example, I had a navy blue shade of paper which I made a brownish-green by applying numerous coats of diluted bleach, and then applying numerous coats of strong coffee. It gave it a wonderful earthy tone. I did the same thing with the bleach on some dark brown paper which created the golden yellow color of the moon in one of the collages. Some of the paper was aged/stained paper from old music and book pages. It didn't need much altering because it already looked great. I also did some distressing of surfaces with sandpaper, but not too much. Overall, I did a lot of layering. Right now I have a big mess on the table to clean up, but with collage that's inevitable.

list of materials: India ink, graphite, gesso, coffee, bleach, cut paper, colored ink, charcoal on old book covers

Scraps

So in tackling my list of art projects, I was going to start with the graphite drawing, but decided to go with the collages instead. I may just be a little blocked right now as to what to do for the graphite drawing. Today I have been staring at scraps of paper. Doing a little cutting and a lot of rearranging. I think the thing about collage that takes a while for me is the endless sorting through of the infinite compositional possibilities (moving the paper around and rearranging the elements). When you're drawing, it's much more labor intensive to do this, or you just stare at the blank paper and try to imagine things in indifferent configurations. With this I can actually move things around with ease and contemplate them until my brain hurts. And it does.

I'm on the verge of something here, but not there yet.

Note to self

I always have little random lists of things to do in various lined notepads. They sort of get a little confusing from time to time because I forget to cross things off and the lists are not all in the same place. Anyway, I thought I would make a little list on here for things that I want to accomplish in the hope that seeing it typed out and recorded in a blog post will keep me on track better.

1. 1 small graphite drawing (portrait)
2. 2 medium sized watercolor and ink drawings
3. 1 medium mixed media piece
3. 2 small collage/mixed media pieces on old book covers
4. 3 large ink drawings (approx. 18" x 24" - possibly with color)
5. Do SOMETHING on mounted wooden panels with paint

That's about 10 pieces I'd like to tackle.

Faesthetic #12 is out!

Issue #12 of Faesthetic it out! Featuring the work of 35 artists (including me) with high quality 2 color offset printing!

Can't wait to get mine and flip through it!

Check it out! http://www.faesthetic.com/

Seattle Trade

I recently traded artwork with an artist named Darin in Seattle. Not only did he draw on the envelope (which I always like), but he also threw in two of his zines and a few stickers!



"Mask with Ducks"
check out more of his work on his WEBSITE and his FLICKR page


This is the drawing I traded him

No More Tears

"Harvesting Tears"
SOLD

Just shipped this piece to Italy the other day. Earlier last year this piece was one of three that was displayed as part of the "Bailout" show at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore. About a year later this piece was finally sold to someone across the world who saw it online. Hurray for technology!

Graphite (second attempt)

"Woe-Be-Gone Soup"
graphite on paper - 8" x 8" (circle measures 6" in diameter)

This is my second attempt at a graphite drawing with this style. I think I am getting the hang of things. I like the softness of the drawing, although I would say it takes longer to do than ink wash. Still a nice effect though.

Little blurb about the Launch Pad "Family" show

Thanks for posting this Mike!

http://dailydujour.com/2009/10/07/opening-photos-from-family-show-launch-pad/#more-16172

Unholy T-shirts follow-up

Hey all,

As promised, I'm posting pictures of the t-shirt I designed for the band Unholy a while back. Just got 'em today and I'm really pleased with the screen printing job!




Here's the band's name on the back (I did not design the type).

If you're curious about the band Unholy, check out their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/unholy

Pics from "Family" show @ Launch Pad

photos courtesy of Ellen

My work @ Launch Pad Gallery

As promised I'm posting a picture of my piece that is part of the "Family" show at Launch Pad Gallery in Portland OR. The show opened yesterday and is up until the 1st of November, so if you are in the city, check it out!





We were told that the artwork we made could be totally personal and did not have to be an obvious interpretation of family to the viewer. I think my work would fall into the category. Unless I told you, or you knew me really well, this image would probably not make much sense to you. But then, art is subjective anyway, and you'll interpret it how you want to. To each his own :)

Sneak Peek of New Zine

more photos to come