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Sleep.. Need.. Sleep

2012-03-14T14:59:00.002-07:00

Still Life Oil Painting - Aluminum Sculpture - Fear and Loathing Stencil Painting

One of my biggest inspirations getting into stencil art, was Ryan Case (Casetronaut Artwork) from Maysville KY. April 16th, he's showing his work in Louisville KY. at the Heine Bros Coffee Shop. If you're within driving distance, that's an opening you won't want to miss!

This is probably the busiest I've ever been. "History of the Universe" cosmology class, four studio art classes, including sculpture, oil painting, upper-level graphic design, and design for the web. Top that with a part-time job, and my new job on the side doing freelance web, logo, and other areas of design jobs at an up-and-coming studio that just opened in the area. If that weren't enough, I'm working with Rick Lewis of thatstencilguy.com again (see PRHBTN 2011), on an even bigger collaboration, which will be the biggest thing either of us have done so far. The daily schedule is hell, but if I'm neck-deep in the fiery pits, you better believe I'm going to keep trudging though until I'm free. It's all part of the path toward the place I want to be, so cheers!

So as you might gather, I haven't had a lot of time to pursue my personal work, but I have managed to pump out a few stencils on stickers to get the packs out I promised. My pack came in from Australia's Post It Sticker Exchange, and I'm loving the sticks. I'm building packs to go out to Bomit and Post It again, and a few individual trades to Smeagol Filth in New Zealand, and Graham Allen, just down the road in Richmond KY.

I finished up a commission for 5 more of the 11x14" "Teebowie" paintings. I'm hoping to get a few larger scale, custom commissions from those Jimmy Falon lovers, but we'll see what happens. I can do the same thing all day if you ask me to, but I really love working and painting new things when I get the chance. My homage to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the late, the great, Hunter S Thompson was completed on a 20x30" stretched canvas, and is up for grabs in my etsy store, along with plenty of my past work I'm willing to part with.

So back to what I mentioned about working with Rick Lewis on the biggest, most exciting project we've been involved with.. Well I can't give away the details yet. We're still working on some conceptual and physical issues with our involvement, but we're talking about an event with 4,000 people and at least $50,000 going to charity. More hype on that as we hammer it out!

New work, commissions, downloads.

2012-01-09T00:42:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, if you're a facebook user, take a moment to "like" the the new Stencil Killer Art facebook page!

That's the first stop for new art, downloads, news, and ramblings. Everything posted there is linked to post on Twitter if you use it. Follow @StencilKiller

Winter break has taken it's toll. 3am feels like 6 in the afternoon, but on the up-side, it's a great time to get things done. It's also a great time to play Modern Warfare 3, but I won't get into that here. I've found the time to do something I've been interested in for a while. My work is inspired largely by street art, but not only stencils. I love graffiti; burners, tags, stencils, wheatpaste, murals, and a form I've always been keen to, sticker slaps.

There's a whole world of stickers artists, and it's amazing how many you can find online, and a lot of them are more than willing to trade. I've made a few stickers in the past, but I got into a real grind with it recently. Sticker Robot ran a promotion to send out free sticker packs in exchange for a self-addressed stamped envelope in another customized, envelope art piece.

Since then, I've handmade about 50 stickers, creating the process as I went. Bomit runs a pretty legit sticker exchange program, where you send a pack of your own, and get a randomly assembled pack from various artists in return. Post-It is an alternative sticker exchange based in Australia, and they ship internationally, so I've sent a pack to them too. Waiting to get my packs back from them. I'm hoping to find some sticker artists to trade with in the UK, and more-so snag some Snub23 stickers for my own collection.

As for stencils, I haven't been as productive as I'd like to be over this break, but I still have a little time left. I finished a 3x4' wood, 16x20" canvas panel, a 18x24" stretched canvas, and three 8x10" commissioned pieces before Christmas.

It's been a strangely warm winter so I've had a chance to work on some pieces of my own since finishing the commissions. I started with an 18x24" piece of Betty Page, the 1950's pin-up model, and then tried it again experimenting with some texture. Evidently, my experiment was a success. Within 15 minutes of posting the picture online, I had two people wanting to buy it, so I'll be making one more run of it soon. I also had someone interested in the HST piece from the PRHBTN show in November, so I did a 16x20" of that design, mocking but not quite the same as the one from the show. I did another experiment; my first stencils on vinyl records. I like the results, so I'll probably be doing a few more.

I plan on starting my next 3x4' piece on wood. I have the designs ready, just need to figure out the logistics, and get ready to make the stencils. That's probably the only part I don't enjoy about working big; dealing with huge stencils in a small space. I'm hoping to find a new place sometime in the next few months, hopefully with some extra space I can convert into a studio area. I love working big, but I need a little more space to do it comfortably.

I should also note, I finally got some business cards printed up by Vistaprint. They're pretty nice, and they're going to be good to send out with purchases from the etsy store, and all of the general purposes you'd expect.

'Tis almost the season.

2011-12-02T14:08:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since my last update, but I've been busy!

PRHBTN was an amazing success! Rick Lewis (thatstencilguy.com) and I teamed up to do a collaborative live painting demonstration for the opening night show of the gallery. We decided to go with a theme of famous Kentuckians. Rick did Harland Sanders (KFC founder) and Johnny Depp. I did Muhammad Ali and Hunter S. Thompson. We went big and did each on a 2x4' section of plywood. My HST piece sold before the paint was even dry! Sadly though, during the music event that night with a DJ set by Passion Pit, my Trent Reznor stencil portrait was lifted from the wall. I guess I should take that as a compliment..

We were lucky enough to show our work next to big-time street artists Lefthand Wave and Dronex. You can check out Rick's interview with Mike Dronez of Dronex Inc on his site. We had some great media coverage of the show, and a lot of interest in our live painting. We were even asked about doing something like it again at the Beaux Art Ball in the spring! More pictures can be seen featured here at kentucky.com and here at youaintnopicasso.com. Robert Bruner has an album of photos from the night, and Rick Lewis has an album courtesy of Brittany Gallagher on his facebook page.

In all, the show was a great time and opportunity, with great people, and a lot of support from awesome people in Lexington who love these off-beat styles of art, and know how to appreciate the work we create. Jessica Case and John Winters deserve my humblest gratitude for organizing the event and letting me be a part of it. They've pushed me further than I've ever been, going bigger, better, and setting new standards for myself and the art I create.

'Tis the season of giving.. and supporting your local artists and businesses!

It's becoming a busy season with commissioned work and I'm loving it. I finished a 16x20" portrait for a friend that's going to be someone's Christmas gift, and I'm lining up a few more at the moment. I've taken on my largest scale commission yet as well. A 3x4' section of plywood that's going to become a 5 layer stencil portrait of a few friends! I won't disappoint.

"He's heating up!"

2011-10-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

Oh so much to do, so little time!

New Stencil Art

Guess who got a "featured artist" interview on the Burtonyin View? You guessed it. Thanks for the hook up Chris! Check out the post if you're interested in my art work. I talk about everything from my influences to the way growing up in Southern Ohio effected my interest and work.

Now for the most exciting news I've had in a while..

I'll be displaying my best at the PRHBTN gallery show!

"PRHBTN is a celebration of art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized, and underappreciated in the mainstream, featuring an exhibition of these works in a warehouse space that complements the raw, powerful nature of the message and the artistry of each piece. Between November 11, 2011 and November 18, 2011, at 1211 Manchester Street – in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky’s burgeoning Distillery District – PRHBTN will bring together a regional community of seasoned art lovers and those new to the genre of so-called “street art” by showcasing local, regional, and national, artists, musicians, and businesses intrinsic to urban culture."

The opening night (11.11.11) will be complimented with a performance by Passion Pit and some of Lexington's best DJs. A little sample I'm definitely digging:

I've got to say, I'm thankful for the opportunity and to have a crowd of people in this area interested enough in this style of work to make a show like this happen. I see big things in the future because of this! It's inspired me to work harder and better to get my best on the walls for this show, and that's exactly what I've done. I've created my largest yet, a 3x4' canvas from four 18x24" canvases bolted together. I've got another solid 3x3' canvas waiting as I finish up the stencils.

Rick Lewis of thatstencilguy.com and I are teaming up and planning a live collaboration for the 11.11.11 opening night! I don't want to give anything away, but this one is for the locals *wink*

The work, the dream, and the owl.

2011-09-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

So how can the link be viewed between my stencil art on canvas and street art?

I've drawn heavily from the work I've seen in books and on the internet, and street art has been my greatest influence, opening my eyes to the possibilities stencil art holds. I see it as a style of art, separate from 'street art' as a term that describes so much more. Street art as a growing trend and as a culture, puts a lot of pressure on the other applications of the graffiti, stencil and sticker styles.

Banksy's work has influenced me personally, not as much in style, as in the messages he conveys in some pieces, through the visual composition. I don't want my work to seem like a copy or poor attempt at copying the style. Banksy is one of the greatest and most well known and praised, but he is not the first and certainly not the only artist to put paint through a stencil. Street art was not the first and is not the only application for stencil art and use. Though I draw influence from, and continue to watch in inspiration, my work is not street art and I am not a street artist.

I am an artist, and I've chosen to emphasize my strength as a stencil artist, working on canvas and movable surfaces because the streets and walls are not a feasible outlet for me at this place and time. I'm not cashing in on street art. I'm producing personal work of my own interests that those who hold interest in the growing trend of the street art stencil work counterpart, may also see as interesting or inspiring. My work is my freedom on a canvas, and I want to share that with others, even if that means being limited to the walls of a living room or a gallery. If I could, I'd take that freedom to the streets and share it with everyone, but this again, isn't the time or place.

My goal is to create something new and interesting, and share that. This is my dream as an artist, along with using my design abilities for the people who need them, making a decent living doing so. I don't dream of the fame and fortune people falsely associate with big names in art. I don't care about all that. I do want to live comfortably and humbly, whatever that may mean, and to be able to continue my personal work as an artist and a human being. I'm the type of person who puts everything into my work, if that's personal, physical, or whatever pays the bills, and if I'm fortunate, I believe that will pay off.

"The American Dream" has changed.

16x20" stretched canvas

Learning, Creating, Being Free

2011-08-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

With a short gap in commissions I've been able to sneak a few personal works in. I feel like I'm learning to color outside of the lines again, and it feels good! Don't get me wrong.. I love creating with a goal for someone else, doing what I do to make other people happy, but when I work for myself I'm free.

Part of what I love about creating things is that I am free, and the product of my labor is something meaningful to me. It is the visual representation of a small piece of my mind, in the best and most interesting way I can communicate it. Being an artist, creating, is my freedom. I often think about life from a different perspective, trying to understand how different people in different parts of the world have radically different ways of living, and some aren't so fortunate to have the freedom to express themselves, to be individuals, to know how and what it is to have choice. We have to understand that our circumstances in this life are fortunate, and I believe you're wasting a true gift if you fail to act on that.

And the beat goes on..

My other half has started a Halloween store through facebook, trying the internet marketing scene for herself. She's promoting my work as well, and I've picked up a few commissions for seasonal and horror themed stencil paintings. If you're the 100th person to 'Like' the page you'll win a free Halloween themed gift, and there will probably be other promotions later on. Check out Tamara's Halloween Shop on Facebook.

A few good souls have generously suggested stencilkiller.com to Stumbleupon for the rotation! It's appreciated, and I'll get a Stumble button up soon with the rest of the networking buttons on the home page (which you should definitely take advantage of).

Lighting things up.

2011-08-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

I've got to start this one by thanking all of the friends, family, and strangers who have been requesting work since I launched the site. I appreciate the business more than you may realize. Someone once said, "If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you." I take those words to heart, because this is my passion, what I love to do. I don't want to be the rich and famous touring artist art school teaches us to be, and I don't want to be defined by my hobbies. I want to create great things, and I want to share them with others. That's the goal, and the people who ask me to create for them help me do this more, learning and improving, mastering this trade so that some day, I can do this every day.

I'd also like to thank the people who have helped promote my work and this site. I've made it onto Sean Corbin's art and literary blog Electric Bluegrass, featuring a growing collection of writing and art by himself and others from our own little slice of academia we call Morehead State. Check it out and see what the minds of these people have to offer.

To follow up on the last posts, the 29 layers worked out better than expected! Believe me, it took some time to finish that project. Spraying on the two hottest days of the year didn't help either, but it was completed ahead of schedule and I can't complain about that! I finished up another commission today as well; an 18x24" pet portrait. Pictures of both projects will be added to the commissioned art page soon.

I've been innovating on my stencil creation process and with the help of my new LED projector from Favi Entertainment, I've cut the cost in half and doubled the speed! So far, so good on that. I've got one more commission lined up at the moment, so if you'd like some information on commissioning work, now would be a great time to shoot an email to info@stencilkiller.com

August 21st, Cincinnati Ohio. KMFDM is going to suck harder than ever, and you can bet I'll be there for it!

Launch Update and a New Commission

2011-07-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Well, this is as "live" as live gets.

The site is up and running, and only a few tasks left to do to make it 100%. I'll be figuring out how to fairly price and list the stencil design and cutting/shipping services through the Stencil Killer Etsy Store, putting more work there and on the Buy page, and adding more free stencil downloads to the Art page.

I appreciate the people helping to promote the site and get the name out there. I have to give some special thanks to Rick Lewis of thatstencilguy.com, and the guys at stencilpunks.org for all their help! Have an art, design or stencil related website? Let's trade links.

In news related to art and commission work, I've got a few jobs lined up, working on the first big project right now. I've got 29 layers ready to cut for eight 9x12" portraits on canvas panels.

A Launch Promotion

2011-07-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of a promotion to get a little help sharing the site for the upcoming launch. So far that's in the form of making some 1' x 6" Stencil Killer logos on wood that I could send out to the top 15 people who Tweet and share the site. Nothing extraordinary, but definitely a quality item that would look cool to display just about anywhere, and to show people you helped to support the site. When some revenue starts building from the site I may offer more of these for a small price on the "Buy" page. I've got a few more promotional ideas that I'll pick up when the funding is right. If I sent you a free 5 pack of QR code stickers would you slap them up?

Go ahead and try that out ;)

Site Under Construction

2011-07-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

All the bits and pieces are lining up. stencilkiller.com is my new platform to share my creations and promote my interests beyond the confines of tight-knit social networks, while using them to shift some interest here. The site is in a live-build stage until it's ready to launch, meaning bit by bit, you can check in and see the framing and creation of the site happening in real time.

I have a few goals in mind for Stencil Killer. The main focus will be sharing the artwork I've created and will create, as I create it, as well as promoting sales of and offering custom commissioned work to people who have an interest in my style. I hope to use Stencil Killer to benefit the stencil and street art communities as well, posting stencil downloads so anyone can grab, print, cut and spray quality stencil designs as they see fit. The site features this embedded blog which will be used to update the home page with information on my current projects, side-projects, completed works and new downloads. I also plan to use the blog to promote artists and events of interest to myself and visitors of Stencil Killer, along with other interesting links and posts.

The site went under construction July 8th, and should be completed by the end of the week. Check back often for new features and don't miss the launch of the completed site! Until then, you can follow StencilKiller on twitter, blogger, or bookmark the site and come back later. Thanks, and take care - Joe