studiobrian

gallery news

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 06:47:00 +0000

I've recently created two "grand exposures"...they are on display and are for sale at saferis art gallery in bartlesville, ok...

"road's way" 257" x 79" (21' 5" x 6' 5") 10 panels

another route 66 inspired composition...as you may have guessed route 66 continues to be one of my favorite subjects...driving the old road has a hypnotic effect on me and my work...it is almost as if I am transported to another time...it allows me to slow down to wander and explore...I was even able to follow a portion of the old road on my way to the gallery in bartlesville where this piece is on display (bartlesville is located about 40 miles north of tulsa, oklahoma)...

on this trip I discovered an original stretch of the old route I had previously missed (and it is very easy to miss)...the first time I came this way I almost stumbled upon it, but thought I was lost, so I turned around and wandered in another direction until I ran into a more recognizable section of the old road...heck, you find yourself on a mostly gravel road almost too narrow for cars to pass, it was raining and it was dark...turning around made perfect sense...what I didn't realize was that this was part of the original one lane road...they only had enough money to build one lane from one end of oklahoma to the other or build two lanes half way...they chose one lane...and this was part of that original one lane...of course, a number of accidents, the popularity of the road and other factors remedied this short coming rather quickly and the second lane was added almost immediately...however, the road was being constantly rerouted so it appears this was one of the earliest sections to be bypassed...so there it was, this single lane of patched concrete flanked by gravel wandering about five miles through the middle of nowhere...it was a slow go, bouncing along at about 5 mph, and, as I was about to find out, the perfect route for tractors involved in last minute harvesting...at the end of this section I was rewarded with a faded "route 66" insignia painted on the old concrete...it was not a dream...

"elevated blues" 129" x 72 (10' 9" x 6') 7 panels

the el, chicago's elevated transit system, is supported by an impressive steel structure...it is the very symbol of industrial might at a glance...the broad beams with seams of rivets dwarf the cars, people and buildings it nudges out of its way as it winds through neighborhood after neighborhood, racing toward the loop, a section of central downtown chicago nicknamed for the way this very structure "loops" it...at its core, "elevated blues" features all the elements that make up this grand structure...you can see the beams, the rivets, the paint, the ironwork as it pushes itself from one panel of canvas to the next...

check out additional examples of "grand exposures"...

holiday wishes to all

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:03:00 +0000

the holidays have become such a hectic time...it is important to stop and catch our collective breath and remember that this is the time of the year to remember others and how they have impacted or lives...I want to thank all my fans for their kind words and support for my artistic endeavors over the past year...I look forward to connecting up with all of you in the new year...merry christmas, happy holidays, season's greetings to all and to all a happy new year...

buy my art

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:57:00 +0000

trying to keep up with all the artwork I have created is a fulltime endeavor...in an effort to organize and make my artwork available (almost at the drop of a hat), I've created a number of galleries at imagekind.com...the following link will get you there...

gallery opening

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:04:00 +0000

check out metaphors gallery...I will be at the opening...come take a look at some of my art and the art of other fine artists...see you there...

RSVP BY PHONE - 847.259.9900

or by Email:
Tom@metaphorsgallery.com
Gino@metaphorsgallery.com

Covered parking available 1 block south of gallery, on Vail Ave.

press

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:04:00 +0000

the october 26th edition of the chicago tribune featured a story about the flourish cafe with a special mention of my artwork that hangs there...check out the article...below you will find a photo similar to the one that ran in the printed version of the paper...

15 panels: 396" x 80" (33' x 6'8")

yum

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:28:00 +0000

chicago takes its hot dogs very seriously...drag it through the garden, add mustard, but don't even think about adding ketchup...ketchup is for the fries...the only exception to this rule is if you are under the age of twelve...it is a known fact that taste buds do not fully mature until then...well, at least that is what the keepers of all things hot dog serve up...

vienna beef owns the chicago hot dog...it says so right on the side of their trucks...you can find their chicago dogs served at over 1200 hot dog joints scattered throughout the city and suburbs...below I pay homage to vienna and their chicago hot dog...so if you are in the mood for some art with your dog, head over to the vienna beef cafe, located within the vienna beef corporate headquarters and processing plant at 2501 north damen avenue in chicago, to sample one of the few multi panel pieces I have created that requires nothing special to see, except perhaps an appetite...hours of operation are monday - friday 6:00 am - 4:00 pm, saturday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm...

"chicago's hot dog" 11'6" x 5'4"

one of my favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 07:52:00 +0000

I've been asked from time to time, "do I have a favorite image"...I have a few, but here is one of my first favorites...it was sometime in 1997 and I had just bought my first digital camera...prior to this I had (and still have buried in the attic somewhere) an olympus 35mm film camera...but digital...yeah, no more film, no more film processing, freedom to just shoot and shoot and shoot...if I didn't like something, all I had to do was hit the delete key...what a rush...

for those that don't know me that well, let me try to put things into perspective...in 1979 I started my graphic design firm...you know, designing brochures, ads, direct mail stuff, logos, basically anything that might be printed on paper...that's what put food on the table (and occasionally still does)...so here I am just minding my own business, designing away...life goes on, some good, some not so good...bumble, bumble, bumble and all of a sudden it is 1997...I am getting restless, bumble turns to stumble, my design is stagnating and I am just not feeling the burn...I realize there is something missing and before I begin to see myself turning a corner...convergence is starting to catch up with me...what I think I mean is, computers had become very sophisticated design tools, digital cameras were the new toy, the digital revolution was in full swing and all of a sudden I find myself just falling into an exciting new way to be creative...the missing pieces just magically appear and the puzzle is starting to put itself together...you might notice that I've made no mention of being a photographer...design is what I did and do...the camera just became an extension of what was missing in my head...this was my missing link, so to speak...I could now take my design further than I had ever done previously...the camera was a sort of hand held scanner...it gave me a new way to approach my design work...somewhere over the next five years my images became my first priority and the path to where I am today was formed...

I consider this my first digital art success...I created it for no other reason than to please myself...then when I purchased my wide format printer it was the first large piece I output...it hangs on the wall behind one of my work tables in my studio...I still get a warm feeling everytime I look at it ...

"broad shoulders"

something current

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:34:00 +0000

one of the reasons I created this blog was to be able to put new stuff out in a timely manner...and if you subscribe to my blog (see subscription panel near the upper right of this page), you will be sent an update whenever something new is posted...so here is some new stuff...enjoy!

kicks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 07:02:00 +0000

route 66 has been a fascination of mine for quite some time...over the years I have wandered a few miles here and there, but last year I finally got the chance to do it all, almost twice...it started in march 2005 when I offered to deliver a friend's car to phoenix (from chicago)...that got me approximately 75% of the way (chicago to flagstaff)...then in july, I was able to do the entire 2448 miles from chicago to los angeles...for anyone who has contemplated this trip, it is amazing and one I would encourage you to make the time to take...while much has been lost, there is still nothing like it...the good news is that with all the renewed interest in route 66, some almost lost icons are getting another well deserved chance at survival...

"cars" the new pixar animated film from disney revisits the old route and will surely create even more interest...here are a few images from my travels...all my images are for sale, so if you have an interest, please contact me...

art deco conoco station, shamrock, tx

launching pad restaurant, wilmington, il

sleep in a wigwam, wigwam motel, holbrook, az

buick super, williams, az

studiobrian, the blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:43:00 +0000

studiobrian, the blog, may become my alter ego of sorts...this is the place where you can discover a little about what drives me...mostly creative, but I'm sure it will extend beyond just that...I'll try to stay on point and not ramble to far from my intended course...for those that already know me, this should prove interesting...come back often (or subscribe), let me know what you think and, most of all, enjoy!

one of my goals is to frequently post new images here...above, for example, is "urban water," a four panel composition consisting of 3# 18" x 60" panels and 1# 24" x 60" panel...I began this composition this past spring while in phoenix...

keeping my website up to date has proved a bit challenging...this blog should go a long way to solving that situation...which, as it happens, my website is going through a tremendous overhaul, so soon I will be unveiling a new look with a new emphasis...you can always stop by studiobrian.com to see if I've gotten beyond this simple promise and have actually gotten something new in place...

...later