ZOMBIES!!!

Necrophobia or Zombiephobia
Model: Me




A Blanket for Warmth...or Death and Christmas
Model: Husband

High

Are you high, or am I high? Cause I can't tell anymore.

That phrase is usually reserved for Senecal because of the absolutely mind-warping conversations we have. Or monologues he has with me as his captive audience. His latest involves feedback on an icon set that I put together. Sensing the idiocracy of it all, he goes on a diabolical sketching mission (on 3x3 post-its, as per usual) and sketches people hugging rockets that are blasting toward the moon, and talks of how to incorporate Sasquatch into the mix. The elusive Sasquatch.



I just got done painting a work that I want to call The Place They Landed. Kind of inspired by the airport shutdown in China that was due to a UFO hovering over the airport on 9/11/10. Not sure of which airport. Feel free to use the power of Google to sate your thirst for that knowledge. It's the one on the right.

I went out last night to a place called Sushi Rock (aka high-priced, uber-trendy restaurant where all the pretty people like to go to look at one another...) The shot above was me just fucking around with Photo Booth and Photoshop (curves). i.e.PROCRASTINATION. And thinking, wow, I want to check into my studio and just paint tonight...as per usual on Fridays. But, it is good to get out there with the friends on occasion.

But later last night, back at home and feuled with a couple cups of coffee, I got down to business experimenting with a couple new mediums (clear tar and various hues of interference.) All in all a good night.

Check out Sublime Rush - Issue 005!!

Brave Brave Birdy

As I sat out on the patio at a restaurant in Grandview, this brave, brave birdy paid us a visit. All she (or he) wanted was a little bread. You have to click on the photo above to really enjoy it. I think that little birdy would have plucked the bread out of my hand to get what it wanted.

So, I've decided to take myself out on the road more. Of course it is the same ole pattern. I find a place I like and I return. My goal for next year is to find a gallery in Scotland and in Asheville, NC, in addition Susan Kristjansson Gallery to the in Sarnia, Ontario.

And I hereby officially retire from what I called Biz shows...or the "art unexpected" scene. It was a nice run...a necessary run, and I appreciate everyone who wanted to show my art along the way.

My last "biz" show is at Cafe Brioso on Gay Street. It should be up for the rest of this month.

Show Name

"Documentation For My Unauthorized Autobiography"

I think it is rad.

I am also planning a series of paintings based on camo patterns. Is that lame? It is all about hiding out in the open and being a ninja.

My poor poor man

Yeah, I have been taking a lot of time to get my hubby back to a healthy condition. Thankfully for you I did not take a pic of his eye yesterday. I have not seen anything so gruesome in my life. Yowza. Instead I will show you a far less disgusting (and simply beautiful) shot of Sarnia, Canada. I'll be returning for my show this weekend...

Turtle!!!

Zoey clued us in on this little box turtle that was in my back yard yesterday morning. Cutest little thing, but I think his eyes say, I want to bite your finger off.

2011 Calendar Line Up

JAN - Pink Noir
FEB - SPMTSAT
MAR - Collected Energy
APR - Disintegrating Sea Creatures
MAY - WAHALLA
JUN - The Joys Of Decay 1
JUL - It's Coming For You
AUG - Volcanic Rush
SEP - Turbulent Ocean
OCT - The Glowing Wood
NOV - Great Cities
DEC - Fire on the Lake

The Origin of Lola

My nickname Lola came about on my 35th birthday. That year a bunch of my friends and I went out to Easton to Bon Vie and then to the Cabaret show. Love that place, btw...the cabaret. Well, I decided to steal the flower off of the table at the french restaurant and wear it in my hair, tucked behind my ear. My friend Isolde started calling me Lola that night... it has stuck...even more so than Pegalicious.

Little Little Kiss

Sure, you've heard of Kiss, and maybe you've heard of Little Kiss, but have you heard of Little Little Kiss???? Hell yeah.

Studio Work - This weekend

A painting I worked on through last week and finished yesterday. I love it. It is calming to me.
Which is a good thing...life has been chaotic as usual between work and home and body. I had to chase off a creeper this week. My SB guy Ron introduced that term to me. A creeper is like a stalker, except he is casing the neighborhood. Granted, I will not do this again. Next time I promise I will call the cops. Pinky promise.
So yeah, introducing the rounded shapes into my work, what with all their straight, clean edges. That's new. Almost like bringing order to chaos, because the chaotic process is in there with it. And now that I wrote that, I think that is true. I believe everything I read, basically.
On another note, I basically avoided most things this weekend. I did manage to pick up my art, drop off my entry to OAL, and have lunch with my friend Karan. We went to my fav consignment shop Wholly Craft, where I found Little Little Kiss (this will get its own post) and a mag called Worn, which is very rad.

I also signed onto Twitter after a long, long hiatus. Sure, my FB fan page feeds it, but I had not posted any twits on the tweet site/app for a while. I am calling them twits on purpose - I know they are tweets, but that is fucking lame. I signed on to watch the antics of CatBagLady. Her quote is "I have momentary abberations. We all do." Yeah, we all do, so quit acting like you're so goddamn special. Although, the real cat bin lady is a horrible, horrible woman. Who the fuck puts a cat in a trash bin for fun? That is just psychotic. Which is why it is fun to watch people poke fun at her. Good times.

So, as you can see in the second photo, I am working on the next one, and have divided the canvas horizontally and added a lot of acrylic medium, both a hi gloss paste and a fiber paste, alternating them...smooth to rough. I want to apply the same flowing shapes to this one. I am trying to purvey chaos and control here to, along with some masculine and feminine aspects. Yeah...that sounds sufficiently full of it. lol

BIG Hair

This is all you need...well this and some Aveda hair spray. Then you are good to go. Get it here.

Toothiness

I had this root canal and crown put on around 6 or 7 years ago. It is now sitting on a pool of decay. Totally asymptomatic...does not hurt at all, which surprises the doctors. It does not surprise me since my nerves are for shit. Prolly just not getting the signals to the nerves in my brain. I'm a bit like Kick Ass...damaged nerves = no pain.

The one bad thing is that this bit of decay has eaten away at the bone. If left this way, eventually my jaw bone will deteriorate and then one fine day BAM!!!! Broken jaw....which would be gross since parts of the bone would be gone and that infection would get everywhere. Nastiness is what it is. Pure fuckin' nastiness.

Studio WIP

Nothingness

You smiled...

...then I laughed so hard, I cried.

The end.



Note to any restaurant: Do not use romaine with lettuce wraps.

Energized Radiance - The Summer Exhibition

I have a few pieces in the Energy Art Movement Summer Show, Energized Radiance. I am very excited about that because the artists who are participating are excellent. It is an honor to show my work along side them.

Here are a couple of slide shows with the art and Fifty-Six Gallery in Memphis, TN, plus the work I have on display there.

Energized Radiance - The Summer Exhibition on PhotoPeach

Listen (2009), Watercolor on board.

The Glowing Wood( 2010), Liquid Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

Aurara Borealis (2010), Acrylic Mixed Media on Stretched Canvas

The Fifty-Six Gallery Unpacking Art for the Show:

New Statement...

New artist statement:
"I do this because I love it."

Sublime Rush - Issue 004 is out!

Sublime Rush - Issue 004 is out now. I have three items in it this time around. An interview with Lolita Agogo, an interview with Giorgio Vaselli about the Energy Art Movement, and a little coverage for the AbX: Visual Rhythms show that took place at the end of May. Plus there is a ton of stuff worth checking out.

The Cynical Optimist + Ms. Voyuer

I think it is a fallacy to assume someone is negative just because they choose to question someone's perception of reality...or their reality. A cynical optimist simply looks at the big picture...

I have not posted anything for a bit...I started writing what is above weeks ago...and got bored. I am currently researching two artists who just amaze me with their talent and skill. WOW. It will be wonderful to have them as part of the next issue of Sublime Rush for sure!

Getting ready for the Image Optical opening reception in August. Doing some smaller works to sell that night. Also need to get my list of contacts together and start a quarterly news letter. Update the CV...work on Pattern Changes...plan the Folio project...and so on and et cetera...plus a thousand more things.

An Understanding

One of the best things one of my art instructors taught me was that you need to understand reality before you can paint the abstract. If I had more time I would do more line drawings and more still life to practice painting.


"I am not here to fulfill your expectations. If I fulfill your expectations I will never be able to transform you. I am here to destroy all your expectations, I am here to shock you. And in those shocking experiences your mind will stop. You will not be able to figure it out - and that is the point where something new enters you." Osho

WIP - Cocoon

I think this is almost done. It is 36" x 48".
May just need to up the contrast in the bottom portion and adjust some stuff.

Accidents and Fairy Tales To Leave The Country

'Tis done now and submitted to the gallery in Canada...along with my CV...which keeps on growing, thankfully. I think I may put it into categories, versus just chronological.

Update: She is going to Sarnia. Ahhhh, Sarnia has sort of a fairy tale ring to it.

WIP - Accidents and Fairy Tales

My latest work in progress that I intend to enter into a juried show called Wowza Effect at a gallery in Sarnia, Canada.

Hopefully this is "wowza" enough for the jurors. Lately my work has been influenced by the oil spill off the coast. I could also call this calamari and add some green peppers into the composition. Mmmmmmm Q2 and squid...yummy!

Now I am hungry.

...

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." — Marilyn Monroe

Showing at 83 Gallery for June Gallery Hop

Join 83 Gallery June 5th, for our monthly Art Tour! Start your night at the original 83 Gallery with the following artists: Greg Donchatz, Lisa Hartsell, Tom Grabinski, Peggy Mintun, Donald Cox, Arlo Moon, Pam Ashton, Royce Icon, and J.A. Kelly, with a joint porch exhibition of Joss Parker and Chip Cropper. After that, follow our crew to De Levee: Nick Stull, J.A. Kelly, Eric Paul Owens, Joss Parker, Alex Brown. Next is Max the Salon: Aaron Paula, Matthew Franklin, Joss Parker, Nick Stull, W.E. Arnold, Trevor Boyle, Chip Cropper, and Lea Gray. Then, Bernard's Tavern: Jamie Hittle, Nick Stull, W.E. Arnold, Lea Gray and Audra Cheek. Finish your night at Eleven at Hyde Park with some of 83's top talent. The show starts at 6pm at 83 W 1st ave, Short North. For questions please contact Geoff or Mic at 83gallery@gmail.com.

Whoa AbX!!!

OWNWTEOW (The End)
48" x 60"
Acrylic Mixed Media
Working title was: Old Wars, New Wars, The End of Wars
Was also called: Blue Bus and The Smell Of Napalm in the Morning.
Inspired by:
1. Nine Inch Nails - 12 Ghosts II
2. The Doors - The End
3. Nine Inch Nails - A Warm Place
Artist Statement: I think between my various titles and the choices of music, you can get the point. Not to be flippant about it all, but I think I would be over stating it. From a technical standpoint...I LOVE WORKING BIG now.

The Unattractiveness of Being Emo Past 22...

Yep, I said it. And I patterned the title after the usual cadence of a few Type-O-Negative songs. Seems like a person should have their emotional turmoil in check by sometime in their 20s. But no. Can you really come to know yourself until your 30s? Then, you get to know you in your 30s, and spend your 40s exploring what you know about you. I suppose, if you are derailed in this process, then you fall back on that gothy undercurrent. That is if you developed one sometime in your life.

Since my paintings are about some emotional explorations using color and shape, I tap into my "gothy undercurrent" on purpose. You never see it...unless you are in my studio- and really even then, you never see it. And what I mean specifically is that it is "emotions in the spectrum of negative energy versus positive". I will not apologize for this. It is what it is. Yes, it has manifested through events in my life that I will not share with you.

Just look at the art. Enjoy it. If it makes you feel happy, then kick ass. I always want it to be open to your interpretation.

That is, unless it is this piece:

Scooby Snacks VS Velociraptors.

Scooby Snacks VS Velociraptors.

This is the rating system that I have chosen for my blog. Why? It is pure nonsense. I mean, not that I do not care what you have to say. I do. I have people weigh in on what I do every single day. Everybody is an expert when it comes to visual design. People have opinions. They know what they like. I am fine with that. Subjective. Objective. No matter. Bring it.

To me Velociraptors are not a good thing. They will gang up on you. They are cold and calculated. They want to eat you. It's true. Or, it would be true if some dumb ass geneticist decided to bring them back and found a way to do it. But, since it is a fantasy, you may find velociraptors to be kick ass. I completely understand. I want to have one on a T-shirt with the latest quip. Why not?

Scooby Snacks to me, are fantastic. I love them. They are what makes me happy. They may not make you happy, though. And that is okay. I think we can agree to disagree and still get along.

So, if you want to rate, just pick your favorite or least favorite item on the list. Scooby Snacks, or Velociraptors.

Artwork: This is called Jungle Lizard. It was the closest thing I had to a velociraptor. The original art is gone. I sent original work off to a postcard show near Chicago and never got it back. AND I did not even get into the show. Grrrr.

WIP - Viva Mixed Tapes

This is my part of a collaboration with my friend Iaian. It is called Viva Mixed Tapes... I think it'll be fucking rad. Just sayin'.

Bonsai

Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing trees, or woody plants shaped as trees, in containers. The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower). It is taking something that, if left to its own devices, may grow into a rather large thing. But this is a controlled and manipulated version of a tree. I can draw parallels to a lot of things here, but I really just wanted to show these photographs I shot one morning last year at FPC.
The originals were full-color, but I found a lot more beauty in them with the shapes and the contrast when I desaturated the photos.

Sublime Rush - Issue 003

Check out the latest issue of Sublime Rush to see interviews with Iaian Greenson and Dave Senecal and much, much more.

Pink Flowers and Purple Highlights

If it weren't for the Scooby Snacks, I would have a lot more to say.

So Sad

I loved this man's voice! He was awesome.

Peter Steele of Type O Negative is dead at 48!! This makes me so fucking sad.

My favorite TON album is October Rust.
'October Rust' Track 15 (Spoken Word Outro) - "Well, that's about it. I hope it wasn't too disappointing."

I hope it wasn't for you, too, Peter Steele.

Photo OP

I was over at FPC last weekend...got many good shots to translate to wide format.