Something Irks Me

I am beginning a series of new paintings loosely influenced by the Preraphaelite Brotherhood and impressionists.  Working in oils, I tend to render these pieces in a soft and organic style giving them "romantic" feel.  I intend to give these classic looking subjects a modern flare with bizarre expression and strange gestures.  I am pretty much happy and finished with a painting if there is something "off" about it, but totally makes sense me.  The composition is good, the color is bright, the subject matter is grounded and balanced but something irks me.  That's when I am most satisfied with my paintings.  Here are the beginnings of the first few pieces.   By March I plan to have a series of 12-15 finished.

The Most Interesting Man in the World

I was asked to do a painting of the Most Interesting Man in the World (the face of Dos Equis) and Barry Andrews.  Barry's company Andrews Distributing successfully distributed over one million cases of Dos Equis recently.  As a thank you reward, I was asked by Mirrorball, a creative marketing firm who's client is Dos Equis to make a 30" x 40" painting of the two men toasting.  I had about a week and a half to work on the project, but as always I did it one shot.  I began the painting at 7pm Sunday night and finished it by 9am Monday morning. Went a little nuts but they were very happy with the result.  The piece is being framed and shipped for a ceremony to Andrews this week.  Thanks Dos Equis and Mirrorball!

Latest Paintings Shown in December 2011

Three works shown this past December. 
Peruggia's Three Months
Invisible Girl
Jamie

Songs says it all

Sinking Thinking Evolving

Last few months or so I have been showing my work in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  I had been wanting to show my work in this area to a different audience.  It has opened the door to a few great things including participating in the NADA art fair this year through Panda Gallery.  In addition on December 8th I will be showing brand new paintings at One Art Space gallery on Church and Warren on Tribeca right around the corner to Zukati park which set the stage to the Occupy Wall Street Movement.  This charged to world resulting a lot of tension with the corporations, police and the wealthy businesses.  For some reason its giving me a push to show my work in Lower Manhattan, a place to the voices of people to be heard all over the world.  Its hard to explain, but the exhibiting works that reflect on the culture, is a protest in itself.  Artists, musicians and writers don't have to do what they do. Its a calling similar to the protesters and revolutionaries who made a decision to attempt to destroy old ideas and evolve.  It's and unexplainable force in human nature which re-writes history over and over.  

The new works below include, "The Doubtful Guest", "Hunter Thompson on Acid", Hybrid of Warhol and Hawkings" and the Sculpture of the "Tower of Babel"

Crack Is Wack

When I drove south on the Harlem River Drive along the East River in New York in 98', I noticed  a mural that stood out.  It was located in a  playground and had few stylized cartoon figures graphically painted.  The piece was painted a neon red-orange and it read "CRACK IS WACK".   Years later I realized how important the piece is and how relevant it was in its creation in 1986 by Keith Haring.  It wasn't just sending out and anti-drug-message.  It was leaving the artist's presence in a lower class neighborhood in the Harlem of which many had been ovelooked.  Haring understood that one of the ways for thousands and thousands to see his work and hear his voice is to bring it to the streets.  This attributed to his raw, cartoonish pop style.  In the mid 80's his free-form style was grabbing the eyes of young urban kids, artists, art dealers, and the media.  His imagery became iconic through its simple form and color.  Everyone recognized them and loved the simplicity and flow.  Haring's works throughout his lifetime tackled political and social issues in the 80's that he struggled with in his personal life.  The drive to try to defeat these issuse an enlighten people made one of the most prolific artists of his time.  The humaity expressed through symbolism in his painting is nothing short of genius.   The documentary called The Universe of Keith Haring gives you insight on his courageous journey as an artist in a decade where material posessions began to dull our imaginations.  Inspired by Haring, recently I began playing with some imagery on paper which broadened my creative process.  These works are more intuitive and subconscious.  Here are a few new drawings and watercolor I've been experimenting with. 

Drinking with Magician Shane MacGowen

So I have seen the Pogues three times in New York on St. Patty's Day.  This year I wasn't able to go to the concert, but I don't feel like I missed out.  I met the crazy bastard and hung out with him and his gang at a local Lower East Side bar on St Patty's Day.  After a few words and his incoherent laughter I mentioned to him that I made a portrait of him in 2007.  He hissed and giggled and shook his head and giggled and hissed again.  Not sure how that translated I spoke to his tour manager.  She told me to bring the watercolor to their hotel the next day...so I did.  That evening at the same bar, she told me he received the piece and had a laugh.  Happy to say that one of my heroes of music, and a person who is considered as one of the most influential poet rebels of our time owns one of my paintings.  The image below is from the documentary "If I Should Fall From Grace" which you need to see to understand this man. Portrait of Shane MacGowen watercolor 15"x22"

Jeremy Malafa, Cleveland Legend

I met Jer in high school. His energy was contagious.  We were in an advanced art program together at the time and bonded over music, skating, and being misfits.  We played lots of jokes on people and even the "good" kids started following the stupid things that we would do.  Over the years he hung out more and more and became a strong fiber of what the Cleveland scene was.  He became really close with a mutual group of friends that have always lead the scene in music, skating and who are leaders not followers. These are people that I have known for 10-15 years and are doing the same thing they were back then.  No regrets.  I think Jer had a ballsy reckless image, but was really genuine, caring, smart and fucking funny.  He was not destructive, rather brave in the way he lived his life and I am proud to have known him throughout the years.  You'll be missed brother...

Painting below is called "2012" dedicated to Jer

The Avengers album was on his record player last.  I think "We are the One" defines who he was.  Scroll down to play the songs LOUD and watch the video of Jer ripping it up!!! Pretty F-in cool