the art blog of robert amador

blast from the past

2012-01-24T17:49:00.001-08:00

Organizing my digital life last night...came across these images from a sketchbook I was working on 2006-2007ish. I was moving back into Broadway Studios at the time, and on my first Art Hop/ Open Studio, the sketchbook went missing. Wish I had scanned more of the pages; it was all red and black ballpoint pen and white and blue gel pens on brown craft paper.

drawlings in a tin shed

2012-01-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

"Assembling the facts, Dismantling the truth"-one of my favorite pieces from Michael Garcia's show, "solace in a tin shed". Couldn't help but sketch it quickly so I could keep some part of it forever. Unless of course, someone wants to buy a couple paintings from me so I could take it home?
You have to see it in real life, not photos, to really get a feel for it...so much detail and hidden gems in this monster.

Another sketch of a Garcia piece. This one of the show's title piece. So much texture and detail to try and capture in a quick and small drawing. I tried anyway.

Been mailing out these care packages of the new zine along with postcards, stickers, reciepts, posters, or whatever else I can find laying around. Some with extra doodles and whatnot. Get 'em while they hot.

Solace/Diem

2012-01-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone that came out to the closing reception for Michael and my show the other night; Solace / Diem was amazing.
Thank you's are in order for Frank, Nancy, Elva, and the entire Artes staff.
I was met with open arms the entire time I was there. Top Notch, these folks are.

If you missed it, there was music, poetry readings, and artist talks (Michael is a great speaker with a voice that shakes the walls, while I just rambled and talked shit in my nasally tone).

I also had a zine I just made available, and some other Amador goodies, which are available by clicking the dead bird in the corner.

Twenty Eight

2012-01-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

tell me, are you single yet, my hearts as big as Texas...

Thing 1 & Thing 2 (new zine)

2012-01-15T13:23:00.002-08:00

The kind folks at Arte Americas let me use their copy machines last week to put together a zine of drawlings. It's been years since I made a book of drawlings without any sort of planning or theme, or layout before hand. I used my sketchbook from the past year; all the greatest hits and fan favorites; so these pages are filled with failed ideas, sketches for paintings, grocery lists/to-do lists, drawings of dictators, a few jokes, drawings of the downtown Fresno landscape, and lots of other goodies you'll have to see for yourself.

Sneak Peek;

3 dollars each or both for 5. send 5 bucks to my paypal, and i'll send you both plus goodies; obamador@gmail.com

also available here.

Dead Bird Pillow

2012-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to make pillows with drawings printed on them for years now. So a little before the holidays, I started printing these things up, and recruiting family members to help me stuff and sew them. I'm really happy with the results, and wanted to keep them all and just sleep on my drawings.

Put a bird on it, call it art.

Also, if you didn't know, the dead bird on the upper right hand corner takes you directly to my shop. And also, if you didn't know, the apple pies at McDonalds are made with potatoes.

Dylan's Wiener (Farewell Twenty Eleven Part Three)

2012-01-11T11:23:00.000-08:00

My friend Dylan commissioned me to make a dachshund pull toy in the style of the unicorn pull toy, as a xmas gift for his lovely wife. I was pretty happy with the outcome, and I think they were too.

I made 3 total, just to keep my options open incase one didn't come out perfect, fortunately,they all came out looking good. By fortunately, I mean, for you, my faithful readers; you can purchase one, or both of these left over dachshund pullies for yourself, or that wiener dog lover in your life! They'll be available in my Etsy shop today.

Also, if you're in the area, I'm going to be sitting in on my gallery show at Arte Americas today, and for the rest of the week leading up to the closing reception this Sunday...see you all there!

Michael Garcia's Tin Shed (Farewell Twenty Eleven Part Two)

2012-01-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

A little before the Christmas rush, I made the short drive to Madera, to visit my dear friend Michael Garcia's art studio. I've looked up to Michael and have been a fan of his, since I first laid these old eyes on his work. He is a sort of Jedi Master in my eyes; all knowing and all encompassing. I love seeing where other artists work, and Michael's process is so interesting, I was dying to see his fortress of solitude.

He was in the process of painting a doggie door when I got there. We had some beers, chatted for a while about art, life, love, mistakes, regrets, processes, and whatnot. After it got too cold to stand in a tin shed, we went inside and Michael cooked steak for dinner while I chatted with his lovely Aunt.

Farewell Twenty Eleven Part One

2012-01-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

So I didnt exactly have a running rhino start on 2012; for the THIRD year in a row, I got sick right before New Years Eve, and spent the first week of the new year sick in bed, coughing up brownish green shit, and watching way too much t.v. They say how you end the year, is how you'll begin the next one; so I guess I'm bound to be stuck in this ground hog day type ill cycle forever.
I planned on writing up an extra long year end review type post, but of course being sick and trying to shake the holidays plus my laziness kept me from doing it.
Some belated "Carne Diem/Solace in a Tin Shed" opening night photos;

Good lookin' ladies at the merch table has been a secret weapon of mine for years...

Handsome Artist Club.

Didnt take too much photos, too busy hugging all my friends I hadn't seen for months.

Took the drive up to North Fork at the beginning of December, to visit our good ol' pal Terrance and to drop off a ton of art. I got some awesome shots, but unfortunately for you, my faithful readers, the majority of them are for private consumption only. Can't go around showing photos of the batcave, now can you?

The very awesome Buck Horn. If you're ever in the area, stop on by and have some clams and play a little shuffleboard.

We tried to get into the local dance club, but it seems they were closed for the day.

Some Hide and Seek goodness.

This is where Terrance sits on his porch and thinks.

Farewell Blue house...

XXX-mas card Aunna and I sent out for the holidays...if you didnt get one then maybe you need to start hanging out with us a little more this next year.

(almost) all photos by me, some by Terrance.

This Is Happening

2011-12-10T18:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight.

New Stuff On Etsy

2011-12-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

Putting this behemoth up on Etsy for sale. Trying to make room, and a little xmas cash to fill my stocking with wouldnt hurt.
Measures 32" by 40" total. 16 seperate glass framed panels in all.
Cross hatched to death, I made this in late 2009.

If interested, email me @ Obamador@gmail.com

Mural District

2011-12-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

Mural District from Mike Thiesen on Vimeo.

Mini-Doc on The Mural District by Mike Thiesen( pronounced "tyson"?), featuring lots of shots of my friends and my murals.

From the site;

"My class went on a field trip to Fresno's Mural District, and my original plan was just to take pictures which is why I had no way of stabilizing the camera or getting clean audio."

Well it doesn't show...good job Sir, good job.

Art Hop Tomorrow

2011-12-01T01:50:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, I sharted on my drive to my art show I was having at Teazer. It was a terrible way to kick off the festivities. But the night turned out great despite my traumatizing experience.
Tonight, we're having an "art hop" reception for my show, "Carne Diem" and Michael's show, "Solace in a Tin Shed".
Come join us tonight to make up for missing the opening reception. Or if you haven't seen the show. Or if you have a date and you want to take them to cool stuff thats free. Or if you want to save yourself thousands of dollars you would have spent on art school, and ask Michael a few questions; he gives all his secrets out for free.Or if you think I'm a jerk and you want to tell me in real life, not just on facebook. Most life long friendships start off with an argument.

Special Features; La Ballena

2011-11-29T01:09:00.001-08:00

Sketchbook Stuffings Part Deux

2011-11-28T22:25:00.001-08:00

more sketchbook stuffings including; a bunch of sketches using photo reference from an app that distorts your face, a drawing of willie nelson, and a disproportioned drawing of Aunnas legs I drew while I lay bored, next to her. The second drawing kinda looks like an Erik Beltran drawing.

Sketchbook Stuffings

2011-11-28T22:11:00.000-08:00

some color experiments from my sketchbook. I did these "straight ahead" gouache sketches to try and loosen myself up before I made actual paintings. Aunna said they look silly, but I kinda like them.

Salient Cues

2011-11-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

I drew this the day I ended up getting appendicitis. It is a drawing from the parking lot of the courthouse while I was waiting for Aunna to get out of jury duty.

Carne Diem Leftovers.

2011-11-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've listed some drawings on my Etsy page, that were edited out of the Carne Diem show. And, in the tradition of the "black friday/cyber monday" craze, I gave them pretty decent prices. I'll leave them up for a while, and if they dont sell, they'll end up as Christmas presents, or in my mom's hallway.
Go Check them out.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/robertamadorstore

El Pez

2011-11-19T20:22:00.001-08:00