Gallery 788 Show

It just got real.  Beginning this Thursday, November 4th, I will be displaying my latest work at Gallery 788 in Pigtown.  Located at 788 Washington Blvd., two blocks from MLK, Gallery 788 is a cool little spot with an edgy vibe consistent across it's monthly shows.  The month of November is a group show without a theme, so I expect there to be a wide variety of subject matter and media used.  The show kicks of this Thursday evening and runs through the 28th.  I will be up there for the first part of the opening. 

Also, a Ravens' tailgate party is being planned for the gallery.  More info on that to come.  Support your local artists and check it out sometime.  Flier below...



New York New York

Series #009 completed in 2010

Media: Acrylic and Canson Paper on Canvas

Size: 15" x 30"

Collection of June Marshall

Though this was not my first comissioned piece, it was certainly the most specific and challenging in terms of the subject matter.  My Aunt June, a big fan of the arts, asked me to compose a piece that represented her three favorite venues in New York City.  Architectural elements from the three places are represented and read from left to right as the Metropolitan Art Museum, Radio City Music Hall, and the Metropolitan Opera House.  I attempted to depict iconic and easily recognizable elements of each while combining them in a way that makes for an overall strong composition.  Definitely a challenge, but I'm please with the way it turned and I believe she is too.



Artdromeda Recap

I really enjoyed participating in Artdromeda last weekend.  Met some cool people and got great responses from everyone I talked to about my work.  There was a wide range of artistic styles and a variety of music as well.  Definitely a unique mix of people, but it worked.  I look forward to going back next year.

Big ups to all my friends and family that came to see it.  As this was my first show, I didn't really advertise it too much and yet the word got out.  Anyways, it was very cool having them there.

This event also marked my first sale of a non-commissioned or gifted painting.  My cousin Karyn asked to take "Core" off my hands as gift for her husband John.  How cool is that?

All said, this was a great event and a real confidence builder for me.  I've got plenty of more ideas, now I just gotta crank them out.

Check out the pics...

Artdromeda

Mark your calendars and save the date, because I'm displaying at my first art show next week in Baltimore!  More specifically, the 2nd annual show is called Artdromeda and will be held in Pigtown from May 6-8.  See the flier below!

Sleuth

Series #007 completed in 2010

Media:  Acrylic and Canson Paper on Canvas

Size:  20" x 28"

Collection of Michael DeGrandis -

In high school, it was noted that Mike was generally big, slow, and kinda lazy.  These traits were eventually defined as "characteristics of a sloth."  Thus, his nickname was born.  As is the case with many nicknames, it progressed and evolved into the current version of "Sleuth."  Anyways, I decided to create this tribute to Mike because his love of creativity and artistic expression motivated me to start painting again.  In addition to that, I have adopted a few of his works into my collection and feel the need to return the favor.  My inspiration for the background came from the digi camo that our military currently uses.  Its basically a pixelated interpretation of the forest canopy and sky beyond.  The layered paper effect used for the sloth was something I picked up from Dudecraft.com

 

Marlin

 

Series #005 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Dark Papyrus on Canvas

Size:  24" x 24"

Commissioned by Chris Perrini -

Soooooo Chris asked me to whip something up for him back in the Fall.   I did.  It's now February and he still hasn't picked it up.  In fact, he might be seeing it now for the first time!  Anyways, I was at the art store and came across a selection of crazy paper types and textures.  The one I chose for this one was Dark Papyrus, you know, like the Egyptians used.  The paper is very fibrous and tends to curl up on itself.  Cutting was not a problem, but pasting it in place was an issue.  The background of the piece is a sunburst based on a Japanese design everyone has seen at one time or another.  I used painter's tape to mask off the areas and get straight lines.  I might have a little bit of OCD in me, but im alright with that.  Overall, I'm happy with how it all turned out, and most people seem drawn to it.  Well, everyone but Chris to this point...

Watley

 

Series #006 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Dark Papyrus on Canvas

Size:  12" x 24"

Collection of Adrienne Gregorio -

Traditionally, I've never been much of a cat person.  I grew up with a dog and never had any friends or family with a cat.  At least not that I can remember.  Over the last few months I've gotten to know one Bengal cat in particular pretty well.  Mr. Watley, as he is formally referred to, is an athletic, graceful, and mischievous little guy.  The painting I did in his likeness depicts one of his favorite pastimes, chasing flies.  Only difference is that he is usually confined to an apartment as opposed to the dripping grass meadow I have shown.  Finally, I figured out how to use the water solubility of acrylics for good!  Oh yeah, and the papyrus begins to represent his uniquely striped coat, which is cool.  Watley is alright in my book, as long as he's not biting my foot or sticking his face in my food.  Then again, I can't really blame him.  He is a tiger...

Raven In Flight

 

Series #004 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Printed Canson Paper on Canvas

Size:  12" x 24"

Collection of Scott Zielinski -

After I completed a few paintings and established somewhat of a style, people that came through my house began to take notice of them and give me some props.  At some point, in addition to the comments, I began to get some suggestions and requests.  The first of which came from my long time buddy, current neighbor, and average at best golfer, Scott.  Haha.  I kid, I kid.  Anyways, he requested something related to the Baltimore Ravens cuz dem Ravens are real noice.  I decided to base the subject off of a Raven's head logo and then build the rest of the bird around it.  Being that the Ravens were named in honor of Edgar Allen Poe, I printed his famous Raven poem all over the paper.  Definitely an odd poem and weirder poet, but i digress.  The purple background is my new take on the gradient theme.  This was much easier then those before it.

Core

Series #003 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

Simply put, this is my take on a section through planet Earth.  It shows the various layers of crust and central core seemingly off kilter and out of balance.  Its pretty wild to think of the magma core and intense forces happening beneath our feet.  The first three paintings I've posted all include newsprint.  The print is taken from the Wall Street Journal... because that's what my roommate subscribed to and rarely ever read.  I sure as hell wouldn't pay money for all of that nonsense.  Anyways, the first two newsprint sections were selected for their layout and textural effects, while this one was specifically chosen to show stocks and bonds which in a way, really do form the world we currently live in.  I wouldn't call that a political statement or anything.  I just like it when art forces you to think or evokes some kind of emotion.  That's all I'm tryin' to do.

Can you tell what all the sectional elements are?  I have listed them at the bottom...

Clockwise from the top:  Manhattan Skyline, St. Louis Arch, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Great Wall of China, Black Forest, Eiffel Tower, Atlantic Ocean...

Angler

Series #002 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

I have always been fascinated by nature and all the living things that inhabit it.  One really cool creature is the Angler Fish.  This fish has adapted to develop a glowing appendage which it uses as lure to attract its dinner.  How cool is that?  Anyways, this is my representation of an Angler Fish with a little tweak on size and proportions.  The sailboat helps provide scale and a little bit of whimsy.  I like to think that the Angler Fish is considering the boat as an appetizer.

 

Birch

Series #001 completed in 2009

Media:  Acrylic and Newsprint on Canvas

Size:  16" x 20"

Artist's Collection -

This was my first formal painting in a while.  Over the last few years I have completed a pretty intricate Beer Pong table and constructed a custom trellis, but have not painted on canvas probably since High School.  My inspiration for the tree came from typical section graphics used by Landscape Architects.  I decided to do the background as a simple gradient.  As it turns out, Acrylic is not very conducive to this.  Damn paint dries out quickly!  Through trial and error I found that a misting of water helped extend the time I had to work with.  Overall, I am pretty pleased with the result.  For whatever reason, I haven't been able to recreate such a smooth gradient since.  Go figure.