Multi-tasking!

I've been doing some MAD multitasking in the studio this week.
In addition to the flavor and cocktail series and what I'm posting below, I also have 3 "fish" paintings going (don't ask, you'll just have to wait and see), 3 more miniatures and a few ornaments.

After last week's creative slump I'm extremely happy to juggle!


Woman and Guitar 2
Acrylic on canvas/10x10"


Minty (this is a very poor photo, I will have to re-shoot)
Acrylic on canvas/10x10"


Profile with Flower
This is a very tiny piece (haven't measured but maybe about 1 1/2 x 2" image). When I come across cool little frames I like to pick them up and tuck them away for later use. If they come with something already in them, I usually paint over it, rather than tear the backing out and replace the support. They make good "gifty" inventory with the upcoming holidays.

Have a great weekend!

Fierce Fridays: Halloween Edition!

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!



Fierce because:
Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) has hypnotized and tantalized more men and women with her Haunted Hills than any ghoul on the face of this earth.
Not to mention, she's a drag icon!



Want to channel your inner-Elvira?
It's easy! Here's how:



Sorry boys and girls, ginormous tits NOT INCLUDED!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Candy Corn

Candy Corn
Mixed media on canvas/10x10"

I'm working on a series of flavor themed abstracts (along side a possible cocktail-themed sister series, see yesterday's post). I will post them right side up (for me) but might begin to sign these in the back to allow the client versatility when hanging.

Straight Up, Two Olives

Straight Up, Two Olives
Acrylic on canvas/10x10"

Save Marriage! Ban Divorce!

If banning same sex marriage is an effort to preserve its sanctity, why not ban divorce while we're at it? I mean, if it's really all about preserving the institution...

While I don't seriously advocate such a ban, I do wonder what percentage of folk against same sex marriage are/have been divorced. Hypocrisy is so unattractive!

VOTE NO on Proposition 8!

Here's a painting about gay marriage I did a few years back.

"American Wedding"
Acrylic on canvas/24x30"

Happy Write to Marry Day!

I'm going back to women!

Well, in a sense. I love women, but let's not get carried away!

I've had terrible painter's block over the past few days.
It began when, in efforts to produce some "gifty" items to put at the galleries for the upcoming holiday season, I decided to paint some switch plates (I should know better).
I did this once, a few years ago, successfully. I kept them very simple at the time. This time I tried doing some more complex abstract work on them...quite unsuccessfully. There are so many layers of thick paint on a few of them, that I don't even think the "texture" thing will work.

In any case, I've gone 'round and 'round with these little shits for two days now! Arrrrghh!
I desperately want to paint, but nothing is coming out right.

Solution: going back to what I love painting most...WOMEN.
Female faces and forms are almost always subjects I can return to for some centering and regrouping.

Here are a few "loose" faces and two not-quite-as-loose ones:













All are acrylic on canvas board/ 5x7"

Write to Marry Day!

Join bloggers from all around the country and the world on Wednesday, October 29 to blog in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and against California’s Proposition 8.
Click on the image below to visit Write to Marry Day's main post and for details on how you can participate.

Weekend Flashbacks!

I'll start with one every artist (or artist-at-heart) should remember:

Fierce Fridays!

Nikka Costa



Nikka is perhaps best known for the catchy hook from "Everybody's Got Their Something", which was used in a few advertising campaigns, including...ugh...K-Mart. But let's not hate on this vastly underrated songstress. Everybody might have their something, but everybody's also got to pay the bills!
Her excellent new album, "Pebble to a Pearl" is out now. I recommend it.

"Stuck to You" from Pebble to a Pearl:


Fierce because:
Soul, Funk and Rock. Part Janis Joplin, part Prince: How can you go wrong?

Looking Ahead (with fingers crossed)

On Monday, I had a meeting with the Gallery Manager at Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington, MD. I had submitted images via email back in June and he called me in to show a few samples in person and for me to view the actual space.
I was thoroughly impressed!
The gallery space was beyond anything I could've imagined when I first submitted. I envisioned a theater/symphony hall lobby space. Instead, it stands up, in scale and layout, to most "high-end" gallery spaces I've visited. I continue to be pleasantly surprised (and impressed) by the amount and quality of art spaces in this region. Perhaps it has something to do with being so close to our nation's capital.
The space is huge! The current show consists of 40 paintings. The full-on gallery is located directly across (in the same building) from the theater/concert hall. I am absolutely in love with the layout. It's so often that art galleries are one big open area where you basically see the entire show (not in detail of course) upon entering the space. This space is open, but twists and turns, allowing the artist to build narrative (or at least I would) within the show and strategically place some visual surprises around corners. My mind is brimming with ideas.
A solo show would not come without it's challenges, that's for sure. If granted a slot, I anticipate countless hours at the easel (and floor and wall and table... depending on the piece). I would have to operate on a clear and rigid schedule and set the show's pieces aside, until late '09/early '10, no matter how tempting it may be to sell any of them prematurely.

But with challenge comes opportunity. I would finally get to work on some over sized pieces knowing they will be displayed. This would be an important show in my career as an emerging artist. It would mark my most significant show (in sheer quantity and scale of work alone) to date. I had a 30 painting showing in Belgium, but have never exhibited that amount in one single show in the US. In addition, everything (and I do mean everything from transport, installation, promotion, reception, catering...) is handled entirely by the gallery. A nice break for any artist! This show would truly allow me to concentrate solely on the artwork, giving me the freedom to make the type of strong statement I wish to make as an artist.

The Gallery Director still has to bring my submission before a panel. All I can do is cross my fingers for now. What will be will be.
The verdict should be in by early November.

Below is the Harmony Hall Gallery layout:



From my Belgium show at Rollebeek Gallery 28:

Falling Behind

How is it that a day or two so easily and quickly become 3 and 4?

Since I began this blog back in June I have at times blogged more than once a day, taking off only the weekends (a habit I'd like to end). I have no idea what happened over the last 4 days or why I didn't blog.

Maybe I just thought everyone needed a mini-break from my ranting and raving.

Well, you're all out of luck. I'M BACK!

Small Abstracts

Today I worked on tiny little abstracts on paper, each just shy of 2" square, so chances are the image on your screen is larger than the actual painting.
They will go in small square black mirrored frames I purchased last year.
I did 10 of them in total.
I scanned them in and they seem somewhat off. The color looks almost too bright/intense and translucent in spots where the paint appears solid on the actual painting. I normally photograph my work and haven't figured out yet what adjustments I have to make differently when scanning. At any rate, here's some, you should get the jist of them:
















Have a great weekend!

Fierce Fridays!

Kelly Wearstler: Interior Design Goddess!















On the outrageous outfits she wears as a judge on Bravo's "Top Design":
“I never go out, but I have all these great outfits. So I was just like, Fuck it, I’m just going to wear them.”

Fierce because:
She proves that fearless design can be adventurous, glamorous and downright delicious!

Three Times a Lady

And the winner is...


They love me, they love me not, they love me...petals, petals and MORE petals.

Well, the Project Runway season finale has come and gone and for once, there are no "tragedies of the week". Three talented ladies put forth strong collections with definitive points of view.
The winner (though not my personal favorite after seeing the final collections) was Leanne.
While on one hand new and exciting, the whole petal thing got a bit carried away for my personal taste.
My favorite pieces in her collections were the ones where she injected her sense of sculpture but did not allow it to overwhelm the look.


Leanne at her best: Edgy sophistication.

Kenley managed to still rock, though it might have served her well to take Tim's advice and loose the black ropes on some of her outfits. Visually, they added nothing essential to the designs that donned them. I do think she has the potential to go very far. Perhaps not mainstream success, but I could see her dresses doing very well in chic/hip boutiques. As an artist, I of course loved the hand painting of the fabrics (though I found some to be executed more successfully than others).


My favorite look from Kenley's show.
The hand painted flowers fit the cut of this dress perfectly!


Kenley brought "bold" as well as "playful" to the runway, often in combination.

MY WINNER:
If it were up to me I would've given top honors to Korto. Though more organic than futuristic, she too offered impressive sculptural elements in her design. Her colors were inspiring and exciting. In addition, I thought her clothes were extremely wearable! Not to say that wearability alone is always the definition of good fashion, of course, but Korto's collection was suited for a wide range of body types without loosing any edge.


Beautiful, sophisticated, edgy and quirky...how often is a dress all of these things?


Fun and bold!


Did y'all catch Top Model's Bianca??? One of the "Make me a Supermodel" girls was in the model call as well.


Overly dramatic...in a beautiful way. This should've been Korto's wedding dress challenge design!

So that's it. Next season it's over to...ugh...Lifetime: television for aging women and sappy gay men. I am so so sad about that. Not that Lifetime doesn't serve a purpose in the universe, but let's face it, it's neither hip nor innovative.

Cat-Nap

Just a drawing (Sharpie on paper) I did the other day, while gallery-sitting.
Might turn into a painting...

Fierce Fridays!

Michelle Obama



I am almost as excited at the thought of her becoming our First Lady as I am for her husband to become President.

Fierce because:
All around class act!

Peeing Glamorously

Bravo Marjorie!



I'm glad to see her back on her awkward horse (and being less whiny).

I was surprised at the bottom two (didn't expect Lauren Brie there) and downright shocked to see Sheena stay.

Here Comes the Fierce Bride

Didn't I tell y'all??? Kenley's back! YAY!
Say what you will about the girl (her rude behavior in a few episodes pissed me off too), but talent is talent and she's definitely got some. It's good to see her back on her game, delivering a romantic, yet flirty and undoubtedly faaaabulous wedding dress!


Any doubt there will be an open bar at this wedding???

Not surprisingly, Leeanne also made it into the top three. Her gown (which this photo does no justice) was an intricate and sophisticated work of art.


Bad bad photo. Good good dress!

Tragedies of the Week:

Korto...oh Korto.
It seems clear by now that when Korto is not "feeling" a challenge, the task at hand suffers greatly. She is truly a designer who must work within her own vision at all times. The result was a dress that was completely overworked and didn't evoke "wedding" in the least.
On the bright side, what we got to see of her Bryant Park collection seemed quite lovely...Fabulous Afrocentric chic!


African Origami!

My suspicions about Jerrell's Church Hall Fashion Show aesthetic were confirmed in tonight's episode. The man has dreams of a retrospective of his work at the Met! It's good to have dreams, but...
Baby steps, Jerrell, baby steps. How about doing a few hair shows first? Almost every gown from his collection was just begging to be paired up with a braided sculpture.


Here comes the bride, all dressed in..WTF??!

Stupid Pet Trick

Disgusting, I know.
I assure you that we didn't place them there.
And I'm sure you're thinking "What's so impressive about turds on a bucket?"


Well, consider the low-to-the-ground turd-source.