eye should...

Juxtapoz exhibition and my YouTube Channel

2015-03-14T12:32:00.001-07:00

I forgot in my last post to tell you about another huge show going on. 20 YEARS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF JUXTAPOZ is happening right now, alongside the SLANG AESTHETICS! exhibit by Robert Williams at Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. Tons of great artists showing. You can check out the line up below...

Today at 2pm they will be hosting a free special talk with Andrew Hosner (exhibition co-curator / Thinkspace Gallery), Gary Pressman (exhibition co-curator / Copro Gallery), Greg Escalante (Juxtapoz co-founder / Copro Gallery owner), Robert Williams (Juxtapoz co-founder / featured artist), Gwynn Vitello (Juxtapoz’s current President + Publisher).

I also wanted to share that I've started a YouTube channel. I really love watching other artists' process videos. Whether it's a time lapse of them working on a piece or a tutorial with tips on certain techniques...I'm a bona fide YouTube art nerd. I figured I'd share some videos of my own with anyone who wants to learn more about my process. I'm still working out the kinks, so please subscribe and the filming will get better along the way ; )

You can check out my first process video below...

Feel free to comment or message me with anything specific you might like to see in my YouTube videos.

~ eye should figure out a better recording set up...my collapsible easel rigged with my iPhone is seeming just a bit ridiculous, ha!

Current Contemporary Art Exhibits in the LA Area

2015-03-07T11:43:00.001-08:00

Lots of exhibits to check out in the next few weeks...

A bunch of great artists are showing in DREAMLANDS, opening at Corey Helford Gallery on Saturday March 14th...Amy Sol, Herakut, Hannah Yata, and Kazuki Takamatsu to name just a few. Takamatsu uses depth graphing for a cool 3-D effect in his work. I stumbled across his art about a year ago and was hooked by his unique process. More info on the DREAMLANDS exhibit here.

Kazuki Takamatsu

The Hive has a group show opening tonight from 8-11pm. Lara Dann and Scott Holloway are a few of the artists showing, and this one runs through the 28th.

Lara Dann - Lovesong of Vengeance

LALUZAPALOOZA opened last night at La Luz De Jesus Gallery. This is their huge annual no-theme group show, which runs through the 29th.

Thinkspace's BEAUTY IN THE BREAKDOWN exhibit with Sarah Joncas and Camilla d'Errico will be up through March 21st. Anthony Clarkson's work will be in the project room as a sweet bonus. I'm really digging the new direction Sarah Joncas is going in lately, mixing in lots of graphic elements with her figures.

And one more to check out...Gallery 1988 (East) has a Meg Majewski exhibit going on now through the 21st.

~ eye should convince the kiddo to have an art day with me :D

Some art exhibits in the LA area

2015-02-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

Some great exhibits are going on during the next few weeks...

Tonight I'll be heading over to a sweet opening in my neck of the woods at Flower Pepper Gallery. Ania Tomicka, Susanne Apgar, and Graham Curran are among some of the artists showing.

Ekundayo has an exhibit that started last week and will be going on through February 21st...

Another really cool show to look forward to is opening on Saturday the 14th, over at Corey Helford Gallery. Both Richard J. Oliver and Redd Walitzki (two of my current favorites) will be showing new work. I'm really hoping I'll be able to check this one out...

Richard J. Oliver also has a pretty cool new interview on YouTube by SullenTV (a channel worth checking out if you're into tattoos and art in general)...

~ eye should squeeze some drawing time in before heading out tonight...maybe I can talk the kiddo into an art day ;)

new year's goals and progress on a colored pencil series

2015-01-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and I have tons of new ideas to try to implement to progress further with my art. I'm sure a lot of you also have that beginning-of-the-year-I'm-going-to-finally-get-my-shit-together-and-work-quickly-toward-my-goals kind of attitude. Well, it's nice that the new year prompts that kind of thinking, but it's so easily forgotten by February, haha. I'm making a month-by-month type of action plan and I'm pretty confident that it will hold me accountable a bit more throughout the year. This month I'm focused on simply putting the action plan together...yeah, I know, maybe that should have happened before January, but hey it's better late than never.

Life is so fast-paced, it's kind of strange that most of us have to make an effort to stay focused on what we truly love to do or we might not make the time for it. Regardless of how busy things are, I figure even if you can only find 15 minutes a day...all those minutes add up in the end and get you closer to where you want to be.

I'm determined to make some quicker progress on this colored pencil series I'm working on. I have 4 girls sketched out and have started on paper with the first. Yesterday I spent a whole 15 or 20 minutes drawing...but at least I picked her up and made a bit of progress.

Today I'll commit to at least 15 minutes again, and hopefully I'll get in a flow that makes me forget to stop and take care of everything else for a while longer. It's too easy to get sucked into the whole mindset of having to get all of the day to day stuff done that we put off the things that feed our soul. But you know what, my house can be 15 minutes less clean, so I can spend that time doing what I love. Eff it ; ) Happy New Year!

~ eye should put on some Pandora, light my sweet aloha orchid candle and work on this chick's face some more.

latest pieces, more big-eye artists, and a series in the works

2014-07-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hoping to share a lot more new work soon...the wheels are definitely turning. Here are my two most recent finished pieces...

Valentine - mixed media on wood, 24"x24"

Pride - colored pencils on paper, 11"x14"

I'm in some sort of a transitional spot with my art right now. I took a lot of time off from shows to try to work on my skills. That helped me to have the freedom to change things up a bit and I've been leaning towards more realism and detail in my pieces. I'm finding though, that I'm kind of all over the place with mediums and my whole creative process. Going with the flow of each piece, I work sometimes in pencil, pastel, colored pencils, mixed media...and I've recently started using the computer more for my sketching process. Now I feel it's time to get more focused. I think it would benefit me and my art to stick it out with a specific medium and process for awhile. A small series would allow me to push the medium while getting a lot more comfortable with whatever it is I choose to use.

I also want to start giving myself some weekly homework to keep up the hand eye coordination since I'm putting initial sketches together on the computer more.

Time to share some work by others :) Here are a few from some more Big Eye Artist Collective members...

Oswald - Chris Hamer/Urbnpop

Diavolesso - Angelo Barile


Ice Bat Kitty - Jeremiah Ketner

Here's a little rework of my Red Riding Hood "sketch", though I'm not sure when I'll really start on her...

~eye should give myself a few deadlines...I'll narrow down my ideas for a series within two weeks, and homework this week...hmmm, I suppose I'll go with 10-15 anatomy-based sketches.

my process and a new piece in the works

2014-04-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

Thought I’d talk shop a bit since I don’t really go into my process much. I typically use several reference photos along with some lyrics or poetry when building a piece. I’d quickly sketch out an idea, get bored of sketching, and jump into the real deal. Just recently I’ve been trying out some new techniques for concepts and “sketching”.

I’m not very good at using Photoshop or similar programs, but I can make my way around…clumsily. Man, I’ve been really digging some of the perks a computer can offer…speed, special effects, and...the best-ever “undo” option...ahhh! Not sure why I didn’t think of it before, but being able to quickly put a detailed composition together and change it up if it’s going south without losing hours and hours of work is a pretty big perk.

Here’s a pic of a concept for a new painting…

So, I’m really into duality within people or different facets of people’s personalities and have been trying to figure out how to effectively illustrate that kind of idea in my art. I went through all sorts of ideas from layering a piece, using glass, plexi, resin, archival plastic sheets…but I wasn’t too thrilled about using any of those ideas at the moment. I just wanted to be able to make more subtle images to put on top of a main figure. This new process allows me to add the transparency I’m after…and hopefully I can duplicate the effect in my finished piece and be happy with the outcome.

In the painting from 2012 below, I added the second image, and to push her back a bit by adding some static or noise (whatever you want to call it)…I laid my pastel sideways and went for it right over her face.

15 - pastels on wood, 24" x 24" (available)

While there’s definitely excitement in taking risks when you’re in the moment, it’s also cool (when you’re 20 hours in) to be able to know you can pretty much execute the rest of the piece as you had imagined it in your head.

~ eye should make a little more time to sketch random things for practice if I'm going to continue using this process to start my pieces.

social media and some more sweet big eye artists

2014-04-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been plugging away at the social media and trying to get my work out there on several sites. I've recently joined Instagram and put my art up on Pinterest. I have a Society6 and Fine Art America shop and now I'm working on opening an Etsy account. Sometimes it's a struggle to know which direction to go in, if some of it's a complete waste of time, and how to make my art a full-time gig as quickly as possible. I'd rather just create and not have to focus so much on the business end of it...but it will make success so much sweeter I suppose.

On another note, The Big Eye Artist Collective is getting much bigger ;) Lots more crazy-talented people have joined our group...Colin and Sas Christian, Anarkitty (Emma Geary), and Emma Mount to name just a few. Here are a few pieces from some more great artists in the collective...

Alysha - Loretta Gonzalez

Loteria - The Art of Sketch (Oscar Navarro)


The Fool - Misty Benson, Morbidly Adorable Creations

We should have more albums uploaded on our page soon :)

Here's a little progress shot of a piece of mine in the works...

Playing with some different techniques on the background with this one. I took some time this weekend to kind of test out some of my ideas out and I'm pretty happy with where it's going. Hoping to finish her up soon.

~ eye should try not to get discouraged...I've come a long way with my art in the last few years, and I'm sure I'll someday make a living at it.

a few more artists to share

2014-03-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a few more artists from the Big Eye Artist Collective that I've recently joined.

Fade - Kendra Binney

Golden Days - Jessica Grundy

Look! Ugly One Horned Mule - Sugar Fueled

Loving the variety in the group more and more. In less than a month we've reached almost 2000 fans...which is pretty mind blowing. We're having our first auction in just a few days. Had a few more great artists join today. I'm really excited to see what this group turns out.

~ eye should make time to finish the second piece I have started for the auction...with one day left, it's going to be close ;)

big eye artist collective

2014-03-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

Joined a great Artist Collective about a week ago. Click here to check out our Facebook page. Loving the 14 artists that we have at this point and we're looking to bring on a few more. Here are just a few pieces from some of our artists...

Memories of a Broken Heart - Scott Rohlfs

My Skellyfish Friends - Jaz Higgins

REDRUM - Marie Noëlla Mélanie Nadeau

The group is all about showing a huge range of big-eyed artwork and will be doing monthly themed auctions that should be pretty fun. Our first auction is at the end of the month.
I'll share a few more artists from the collective next time around.

Ahhh, look...I'm already getting better at this blogging regularly, hehe ;)

~ eye should start working on my auction piece tomorrow.

some new girls

2014-03-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

Been making more time for art and less time for blogging, haha. I'm determined to get better at this one day soon...but for now, it's a little sporadic.

Here are some new finished works...

Windflowers - colored pencil on paper, 11" x 14"


Lucky - pastels and colored pencil on wood, 11" x 14"


Walls - pastels on wood, 8" x 8"


Six of Swords - acrylic and ink on wood, 11" x 14"

and a work in progress...

I'm just allowing myself to go with the flow on this new one. Have a few different ideas for the background at this point. Pretty sure I'm going to leave some exposed panel though. I've been using colored pencil so far, but have a feeling I'm going to add some pastel and charcoal...we'll see.

I've just added a bunch more prints to my Society6 shop. Click here for $5 off each item and free shipping worldwide through midnight pst on March 9th.

~ eye should be a better blogger...I'm sure I'll get more consistent soon ; )

a few available pieces, WIP, and a sweet mad hatter exhibit

2013-11-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

So, I've sold most of my pastel pieces...yay! I do have a couple that are still available...


Unlovable Pathos - pastels and acrylic on wood, 24" x 24"

Red - pastels on wood, 24" x 24"

Starting to go in a different direction with some black and white work. The one below is slowly coming along. The blasted "rat race" has taken over recently, and I'm determined to get back on track, making consistent time for my art.

WIP - graphite, carbon pencil, charchoal

Got out to a great opening last night at Flower Pepper Gallery. It was awesome to see work by so many artists that I follow in one place. Ixie Darkonn, the curator (and artist herself), did a really good job putting this one together. The exhibit runs all the way through January 24th if you want to check it out.

~ eye should set aside an hour a day to get some art in. It's too easy for us to say we don't have time for what we really want to do. Need to make it happen.

First solo show tonight!

2013-06-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Have a solo exhibit at Kroma Studio in Downtown Upland tonight. Opening reception is from 6-10pm, and the show will be up for the month on June. I'm so fortunate to have people that want to show and enjoy my art! Please come check it out if you're free...

I'll be showing lots of new pieces, and I even pulled a couple from last year that I haven't displayed yet.

I'm really excited about some new ideas I have in the works...thinking my art is going to be evolving a bit in the next few months. I'm going to dive in and try my hand at some different mediums and techniques that I've been putting off because of time constraints. It's time to make time!! ; )

I'm also going to be getting some more prints made and should have my art available at some different sites soon. I'll keep you posted.

~ eye should soak it all in tonight...going to be a good time!

my first show...

2013-01-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

So, a little change of plans...this month I'll be the guest artist at Urban Coral Gallery. Saturday is the opening night (from 4-9:30pm) and there will be music, good company, and lots of artists showing work.

Came across an artist from Italy, Allesia Iannetti, recently that I thought I'd share with you. Love the crazy details she puts in her pieces...

Doll Parts - by Allesia Iannetti

Here's a pic of one I finished late November...

15 (pastels on wood, 24"x 24")

I may have wrapped up another a few nights ago, just have to look at her with some fresh eyes tomorrow and see if she seems complete. Got started on another panel about a week ago, which is going to be a triptych...final size will be about 2 x 6 with the 3 panels. I'll probably post a progress pic soon either here or on my Facebook page.

Hope to see you at Saturday's opening!

~ eye should keep dreaming about making art full-time. Being in a show at all seemed pretty far-fetched last year, but I still put it out there in the universe...ask and you shall receive ; )

Yay...my first show is coming up!

2012-12-13T21:45:00.001-08:00

Well, I've been totally slacking on the blog...but, life happens right? Anyhow, super excited to have made several awesome contacts at the last Artists on A Street event I was a part of. I have some originals hanging at Kroma Studio in Upland through the end of the year and prints up the street at Atomic Boutique. Both are definitely worth checking out if you're in the area...love the whole vintage/retro vibe they've got going on.

And...I have my first show ever coming up on January 19th in Ontario with Loft Beats! Click here for more details, and I'll post updates soon : )

Here are a couple of the latest paintings I've finished up...

At Sixes and Sevens

Whistle in the Wind

I'll post a pick of my latest finished one soon...still lagging on getting it on my computer.

~ eye should start keeping up on this blog ; )

Caia Koopman & Sarah Joncas exhibit and some panel making progress

2012-06-22T21:40:00.001-07:00

Made it out to the Caia Koopman and Sarah Joncas opening on Saturday. I really like the little bits of gold Caia used in her paintings (hard to see in pics online), and the space invaders she incorporated into her backqrounds. Love her girls, but equally awesome was her my little pony unicorn taking on a dragon, haha. It was also cool to see one of her laser-engraved skateboard decks. Sarah Joncas had some cool pieces in the show as well. Here's some pics...

Adamantine - Caia Koopman

Endangered - Caia Koopman

Epic Battle - Caia Koopman

Liberty and Blaze (triptych) - Caia Koopman

Liberty and Blaze (detail)


Pussy Gives a Hoot - Caia Koopman

Scarlet Effigy - Caia Koopman

Scarlet Effigy (detail)

Masquerade - Sarah Joncas

Ophelia - Sarah Joncas

The show runs through June 30th at Thinkspace for anyone who wants to check it out.

Finally making progress on building some art panels...good grief, has that been a learning process! Now I know lots of things not to do the next time around ; )

I've been having a hard time trying to balance everything again...with work, family, and all that goodness. Need to get back to creating!

~ eye should get onto the next painting or drawing already...it's been way too long.

progress, a few shows, and a new piece

2012-05-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about how short life is and how important it is not to settle. I started this blog about six months ago and remember how not too long before that I had succumbed to a life with little creativity in it for years, not even realizing that I could be so much more happy. It's so easy to get caught up in the bs and to not take advantage of each day...not just creatively, but choosing happiness over negativity in all areas of life. Though it's still a work in progress (and always will be), I'm definitely able to say I'm a whole lot happier now since I've made more time for the things I'm passionate about.

Back in October, I had this big "plan" to try to have an art show by this summer...well, I don't think that's going to happen seeing that it's May already...haha. I am happy though with the amount of progress I've made in the last several months. I've realized it's more about actively pursuing something you love and not just going through the motions everyday that matters. Anyhow, I'll stop ranting now...

Some current shows...

You can check out "New Blood", an exhibit at Thinkspace through the 19th. Several current influential artists have hand-picked emerging artists who they think we should know about. A pretty cool concept thought up by curator, Morgan Spurlock. Some of the "old blood" artists include Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath, and Ron English.

Ron English - Morgan's Last Supper

Gallery 1988 has a show going on through the 26th called "Memes", where about 100 artists are paying tribute to internet jokes.

Darin Shock - You Are So Dumb!

Finished up another larger pastel drawing last week...

Second Thoughts

~ eye should get some rest...I'm tired and sick. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow.

street art, craola, and kmndz

2012-04-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Got to check out a bunch of art on Saturday : ) Was able to see Yosuke Ueno's show the last day it was up at Thinkspace. Then while heading over to the opening for Greg "Craola" Simkins and Johnny "KMNDZ" Rodriguez at Merry Karnowsky Gallery we just happened to stumble across some artwork by Herakut (my favorites) and Dabs Myla on some random buildings...

Herakut piece

Dabs Myla piece

I had an awesome time at the opening and have found a new appreciation for both Craola and KMNDZ. The detail work and what they both do with acrylic paint is amazing. I love how Craola can merge several animals, upholstery, and fine china, and make it look perfectly natural together. I really like the whole "Cloud Theory" theme he had going on for this show too.

KMNDZ's reappearing rosary beads seem to pop off the canvas and his knack for illustrating all types of metal surfaces is nuts. Definitely worth checking out in person if you get a chance...pictures and websites don't do either of these guys justice. Both of the exhibits run through May 19th.


Johnny Rodriguez - Nothing Comes From Nothing

Johnny Rodriguez - detail from Sucker Free

Here's a video of Greg Simkins working on one of the pieces in the show (click here if the video doesn't show in your browser).

Stuck Outside from Greg Simkins on Vimeo.

~ eye should head out to these openings more often...they're definitely inspiring and motivating.

a few more exhibits to check out

2012-03-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Another current show to check out if you can make some time...

Craww has some pieces in an exhibit over at C.A.V.E. Gallery now through the 7th. I like the way he distorts his figures and his unique use of lighting.

Craww - A Few Drops

A couple of shows opening at the end of the month...

Yosuke Ueno is showing at Thinkspace. The opening reception with the artist is on 3/31 at 5-8pm and his exhibit will be up until 4/21.

Yosuke Ueno - Spring

Corey Helford Gallery has a group show "Hookers" opening 3/31 from 7-10pm. Curator Natalia Fabia, whose work has been inspired by hookers and punk rock, will have some new paintings in the show. Her use of photorealism and unexpected details (like cluttered rooms and graffiti-filled walls) really pull me into her pieces. I'm also a big fan of Sean Cheetham, who will be showing there as well. I love the kind of dark portraits he often creates with lots of sort of gritty details. I've found it pretty hard to find much info on him, but you can see several awesome paintings of his here, or check out his blog here.

Natalia Fabia - Distracted By Shiny...I Heart Vodka

Sean Cheetham - Front Door

Lots of other artists will be showing work at the exhibit, including Michael Hussar, Kent Williams, and Tara McPherson, to name a few.

~ eye should start another painting or large drawing this week...been slackin' and only working in my sketchbook lately.

finished piece and a few more exhibits

2012-03-06T17:05:00.001-08:00

I finally got around to finishing up a pastel piece I've been working on. Work being crazy busy and a sick household have made it near impossible to work on any art the last couple of weeks. So nice to get some balance back and make a little time for it. Here's a pic..

So many interesting shows going on right now in the area...

Thinkspace has "Picks of the Harvest" going on now through the 24th. They're showing work from about 60 different artists that they've been watching over the last year. Some that I've been eyeing myself...Anthony Clarkson, Caitlin Hackett, DAL, Glenn Arthur, Michael Shapcott, and Nathan DeYoung.

Anthony Clarkson - Sorrow's Song

Glenn Arthur - She Takes Flight on a Loveless Zephyr

I just came across David Walker's art, who's also showing at the "Picks of the Harvest" exhibit. This guy's technique for layering spray paint is awesome. Jason Thielke is another pick who's style is really unique.

David Walker

Jason Thielke - Come Back to Me

Amy Sol has an opening on March 10th at Corey Helford Gallery.

Amy Sol - Water Dragon

Also March 10th, NC Winters has an opening at Gallery 1988's Venice location. This is another artist that's new to me, but I'm happy to have come across. For the show, he's created some really detailed works that reference old school video games and movies.

There's a few more shows coming up in the next month or two that are definitely worth checking out. I'll post more details soon.

~ eye should make time to create a little art each day, even if I'm only able to squeeze in 15 minutes. It's probably good for my newly-aching wrists too, to get off the computer for a few and pick up a paint brush or pencil ; )

some more current and upcoming exhibits

2012-02-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

Wanted to remind everyone that Ana Bagayan's show at Thinkspace will continue on through the 25th. I'm hoping to get over there myself to check it out.

A few artists, including Christine Wu, are exhibiting at La Luz De Jesus Gallery right now through the 26th. Christine Wu superimposes several of the same figure in some of her work to create a sense of motion, which I find really interesting. Here's one of my favorites from the show.

Christine Wu - Tuberose

You can see more pieces of hers from the show here.

There's also an exhibit going on right now through the 26th that focuses on line work over at Gallery Nucleus. Caitlin Hackett and Brooks Salzwedel are among the artists showing there.

Caitlin Hackett working on Time in Captivity

Brooks Salzwedel - Building Scyphomedusae

Caitlin creates works primarily in ballpoint pen and watercolor, that focus on the relationships and differences between humans and other animals. Check out more by her here. Brooks use of resin and tape to create layering has interested me for awhile now. I love how his work has a foggy transparency to it that gives his pieces depth and a sort of dreamy feel. The juxtaposition of nature and man-made elements that he often uses adds to the surreal, dream-like qualities in his work. More by him here.

One last reminder, the opening reception for Shag's "Animal Kingdom" is this Saturday from 7-10pm at the Corey Helford Gallery. You'll receive a poster with one of his works if you're one of the first 500 guests to arrive. He plays with the idea of people wanting to return to their more animalistic nature with this exhibit, so all of the pieces shown will feature men and/or women in animal attire.

Shag - The Cat Carrier

~ eye should get it together and crank out some more paintings. Late last night and earlier today I had a little time to work on some things, but I was just feeling off and didn't accomplish much (just a little sketching on things here and there). Hoping to have a good late-night painting session tonight.

finished piece

2012-01-31T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today I finished up the mixed media piece I've been working on. Here's a pic...

Bygones

I'll post some more updates on some local art shows soon.

~ eye should make some time to start on several more this week...lots of ideas going, just have to get them down on paper.

A few more current/upcoming shows in the LA area, and a progress pic

2012-01-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

Here's some information on a few current and upcoming shows...

Herakut, definitely my favorite street artists, have got a few events coming up. "After the Laughter - The Herakut Exhibition", opens 2/25 at Le Basse Projects in Chinatown. Then they're also doing a live painting alongside the performers from Lucent Dossier on 2/17 and 2/18. You can buy tickets online for $30 either night here.

Hera and Akut, a male and female duo from Germany, started painting together back in 2004. I think their styles compliment each other perfectly in their collaborations. Akut leans more towards photo realism, while Hera's characters are heavily stylized...they'll just alternate picking up where the other left off, covering certain areas and leaving others exposed. It's awesome to watch them work together. You can check out a video of them painting below.

If you can't view the video below in your browser, use this link.

View their website here.

Tara McPherson, Deedee Cheriel, and Lindsey Way have a group exhibit starting 2/4 through 3/3 at Merry Karnowsky Gallery. I just came across Lindsey Way's art recently, and I'm really into it. I've always had a thing for dioramas and layers in art, and right now she's showing a collection of 13 or so diorama-style works.

Another few I'll mention are over at the Corey Helford Gallery...Eric Joyner has a show going on right now...he's known for his reoccurring robots and donuts (often placed in unexpected settings). For those of you into more retro-styled art, Shag will be having an opening there on 2/11.

Eric Joyner - September


Shag - Swamp Water

Been working on a new mixed media piece. Getting along much better with this paper this time around...using watercolor paints/pencils/crayons, and a little gouache. Here's a progress pic...

~ eye should get a babysitter and a pair of those Herakut/Lucent Dossier tickets before they sell out and I'm kicking myself.

small drawing

2012-01-16T00:26:00.000-08:00

I finished a small drawing on watercolor paper today. The grainy texture is throwing me off some, at least when using colored pencils. It almost reminds me of coloring with crayons because of all of the little white areas. While trying to fill in all of these voids (a bit OCDish), I think I came close to coloring right through the page in spots.

Here's a progress pic of a new one I started a few days ago.

~ eye should try using watercolors or maybe pastels and ink this time around...or go out and get some smoother paper (jeez, there's an idea).

back to my dandelion girl

2012-01-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last week I started working again on my wishing weed girl. I think it's sort of funny how I've come full circle back to her when a few months ago, I was thinking I may eventually paint over her. Different phases and moods we all go through I suppose. Here's another progress pic...

I'm thinking about adding some more depth by bringing in some background trees and upping the contrast a bit more. I'll probably end up coating the top with resin and adding another layer of leaves too. The weather, being more like summer than winter, is perfect for using resin...I'm hoping I can get this done before it changes again.

I also dug some of my watercolor paper out the other day and cut it to different sizes to work on. It's been a long time since I used it last (for illustrating The Quiet Lion), but I like the idea of drawing on watercolor paper. It opens up some options of going back and adding paint or other mediums later if I choose to.

Audrey Kawasaki, one of my favorite artists, is on the cover of Juxtapoz magazine this month. She has a unique way of combining flowing line work with subtle shading that I find really interesting. I hope that my girls (though very different stylistically), will be just as engaging to some viewers.

You can check out more of Audrey's work here.

~ eye should try a drawing on watercolor paper in the next few days. I'm hoping the texture works for me still...(I've been getting used to the much smoother wood panels).

latest painting

2012-01-06T22:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a pic of the painting I gave to my sister for Christmas. It was a real quick one that I made in the couple of days before Christmas Eve.

Much of a Muchness

Originally I was working on a painting of a tightrope walker for her, but it was way too involved to finish in time. Hopefully I'll get to wrapping that one up soon. Anyhow, I was pretty happy that I was able switch gears with this clown idea and get something done for her so quickly (even though it's really small...6"x 6").

~ eye should work on another small painting soon...it's gratifying to start and finish something in just a few days.