ELUSIVE

Elusive, oils on luaun wood, 2000

This piece was done a decade ago when I was taking a painting class at Queens College. I was a grad student in the art education department but the school only let art majors in their graduate art classes, so us art ed majors were reduced to taking undergrad classes. Regardless, it was a good class. Elusive was painted very quickly and spontaneously on a large panel. Its sister piece, Totem Shield, was painted at the same time and actually fit together. One was about movement and fleeting moments and the other about being a rock, of stability and protection. I used Totem Shield on quite a few things- the All-Terrain show promo card, as my blog logo, and as avatars and such. I have to reshoot both pieces again, but here are the two as I have them in my files.

Totem Shield (detail), oil on luaun wood, 2000

COLLABORATIVE ART FOR AUCTION

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Board, 12" x 16" each

These two pieces were drawn by my AP Drawing class students. I painted them with acrylics on canvas board in about three hours. I asked my students to spontaneously draw whatever came to them, then pass it around to the next student. There were originally three boards but one is missing. After the period was over, I took them and briskly painted them. I made changes and painted over some things that didn't work, but most of what was drawn made it in to the final rendition in some form or another. We were watching the movie, Where the Wild Things Are while painting- not sure what affect it had on the drawings! Max and Carol sort of crept their way into the painting on the right.

Marlin Art Auction was to frame six student works for free for our event this Saturday. I dropped off six pieces, though only one was collaborative (painted by four students plus myself- didn't get a chance to shoot it). They were actually really nice about everything and were very informative about what they do. After dropping the work off, getting a brief tour of the place and speaking with them, they never gave any indication that they weren't going to frame all of them. I  found out the next day that they refused to frame the non-collaborative work because they are trying to encourage bidding wars between the parents. Well, little do they know, these students' parents aren't coming! Potential buyers will be coming from the community but most likely not from the immediate families. Marlin will auction the pieces anyway, but will not frame them. They would do a lot better driving up the price if they were in a nice frame! Hopefully, they will still accept these two new pieces and will frame them for Saturday.

NEW EGO

Gotta start the Ego project rollin' once again! Finally started a new page last night with Kid standing front and center. New Crash City will be behind him, the stage for a crazy cast of characters. Can't wait to record the music for this as well.

BARGAIN HUNTING AT LOKI'S

My wife's collectibles eBay store is back from hiatus. She sells toys, dolls, clothes, antiques and much more on the cheap. Buy some stuff and help us clean out the basement! Webkinz, Barbies, action figures, books, you name it, she's got it! Finding these items second lives and keeping them out of the landfills is so important. A little pocket change is good too! She's just getting the store back up so there's just a few things up now, but there will be lots more within the week. Save as a favorite seller and keep checking back. You never know what she'll put up next... sometimes things from my own toy collection! Here's the link: http://stores.ebay.com/bargain-hunting-at-lokis.

PS- I did the logo!

Loki

The grand opening of the new Art House Gallery was postponed until Saturday, March 6th, 7:00-10:00 pm, due to the snow. The Sketchbook Project Tour rolls on! The new gallery is located at 201 Richards Street #16, Brooklyn, NY, 11231.

Since I haven't been working on the studio lately (yes, I like feeling the tips of my fingers when using powertools), here's a pic of my awesome 100% recycled denim insulation. All cotton, nothing harmful to breath in... you can shove this stuff up your nose and eat it if your want to! Though, I wouldn't recommend it... Work will resume when it gets a little warmer!

The Sketchbook Project vol. 4 Library Tour stops at 303 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 tonight.


Dates: Feb. 19-21, 2010
Exhibition Hours: Friday, 7-11 p.m. (Q&A from 7-8). Saturday, 8-11 p.m. & Sunday, 12-3 p.m.
 
My book is in the "Friends of friends of friends" category.
 
http://www.facebook.com/arthousecoop?ref=nf

Flying Penguins, originally designed for Ironic Extinction, 2009

These are two cartoon illustrations I created for local tee shirt entrepreneurs, Ironic Extinction. I don't know if they ever used them or not, but they'll see the light of day oneday for something. Maybe a cameo in Isabella or Primetime. We'll see. I drew them traditionally, pencil on bristol, inked with Micron pens, then scanned and digitally colored in Photoshop.

Isabella at the Edge of the World; 11" x 14" pen, brush & ink on bristol

I believe it is a good idea to always remember your roots and to give back to where it is you came from... so here's my contribution to the annual Hicksville Faculty-Student-Alumni Exhibition, at the Hicksville Public Library, located on Jeruselum Ave. in Hicksville, NY. Hicksville was my home for sixteen years and I have always been extremely grateful for my life there, especially my artistic growth that was nurtured in the high school and later in art school (I lived at home during my college years). This show usually gets whatever work of art I give to my wife for her birthday, which is usually my latest creation. This one happens to be a little older, from the summer, but newly framed for the show. It is another illustration for my upcoming title, Isabella and the Terrapin. Up top, is the alumni wall at the time I hung my piece. This was before the opening so it may have changed since then. I missed the reception, so I will have to make a trip and maybe stop by Raimo's Pizzeria along the way. The work will be on view until March 2nd.

Inspire; acrylics, house paint, polyeurethane on plywood

While on the subject, this was the painting that was exhibited at this show, I believe, five years ago. I think the theme was "Inspire."

I never told you my New Year's Resolutions... 
1- Be more creative... make more stuff.
2- Write a letter to someone every week... not an e-mail.
3- Reduce, reuse, recycle more... keep things out of the landfill and finally master composting!
4- Get healthier... get to the damn gym!
5- Appreciate each moment even more!

I think that's pretty realistic... I'm hopeful!