Not much has been happening of late, just in the studio working away.
SABATO, EL NUEVE DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Yesterday afternoon, we met up with the crew and went to the Renaissance Fair at Sunset Park, just South East of the airport. The fair goes for 3 days and has stalls, fair rides and lots of 'medieval' eats. Here's me with turkey leg. Two of those and your blood turns to gravy.
Yesterday afternoon, we met up with the crew and went to the Renaissance Fair at Sunset Park, just South East of the airport. The fair goes for 3 days and has stalls, fair rides and lots of 'medieval' eats. Here's me with turkey leg. Two of those and your blood turns to gravy.
VIERNES, EL OCHO DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
I've been thinking about this whole 'left-handed' thing that I've been blessed/cursed with. Of course one of the most important texts on the subject, is in storage in New Zealand, so I'll have to make do with the internet, but will have to cross-reference everything as the internet is notorious for factual error, well, not the internet, but the people able to upload to it.
I've decided to start curating an exhibition about the subject. A mix of extant works I know of and works I'd like to commission by artists who I think will tackle the subject interestingly.
When it comes to being left-handed, I usually think of the negative things that annoy me, such as smudging ink while writing, sports equipment and, as you can see in the last post, guitars.
I'm painting a larger painting at the moment based on the theme of 'wrath of the left-hander'
(below) an ex-voto celebrating Left-Handed day in 2007.
I've been thinking about this whole 'left-handed' thing that I've been blessed/cursed with. Of course one of the most important texts on the subject, is in storage in New Zealand, so I'll have to make do with the internet, but will have to cross-reference everything as the internet is notorious for factual error, well, not the internet, but the people able to upload to it.
I've decided to start curating an exhibition about the subject. A mix of extant works I know of and works I'd like to commission by artists who I think will tackle the subject interestingly.
When it comes to being left-handed, I usually think of the negative things that annoy me, such as smudging ink while writing, sports equipment and, as you can see in the last post, guitars.
I'm painting a larger painting at the moment based on the theme of 'wrath of the left-hander'
(below) an ex-voto celebrating Left-Handed day in 2007.
JUEVES, EL SIETE DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Speaking of left-handed retardedness, my new guitar arrived yesterday - a cheap Silvertone that I picked up for a very cheap price. I found a 40 watt Fender amp at a thrift store a couple of weeks back so it made sense to buy a guitar for it. I like the guitar, it's got the faintest twist in the neck, but the intonation is good and the tuners are solid, the humbucker pickups are grunty, especially through the amp, so it'll do me fine for noodling around. In the picture on the right, you can see a couple of retablos with left hands in them. It's a theme I've been looking at for a while now. I'll elaborate on that a bit later on. (photos by JK Russ)
Speaking of left-handed retardedness, my new guitar arrived yesterday - a cheap Silvertone that I picked up for a very cheap price. I found a 40 watt Fender amp at a thrift store a couple of weeks back so it made sense to buy a guitar for it. I like the guitar, it's got the faintest twist in the neck, but the intonation is good and the tuners are solid, the humbucker pickups are grunty, especially through the amp, so it'll do me fine for noodling around. In the picture on the right, you can see a couple of retablos with left hands in them. It's a theme I've been looking at for a while now. I'll elaborate on that a bit later on. (photos by JK Russ)
MIERCOLES, EL SEIS DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
A photo by Jo, looking through my studio window a couple of weeks ago. The wall behind is now full of half-completed retablos. Danger, Left-hander operating stick with hairs attached.
A photo by Jo, looking through my studio window a couple of weeks ago. The wall behind is now full of half-completed retablos. Danger, Left-hander operating stick with hairs attached.
MARTES, EL CINCO DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
I received the image below from Stephen via Facebook, who had visited the Wallace Art Awards in the new location at the old Pah homestead in Auckland. He had this to say about the placement: Matt, I found the hanging of this exhibition very odd. In your work, for example, your signature was at my eye-line. I'm 6 feet tall. Go figure.
I received the image below from Stephen via Facebook, who had visited the Wallace Art Awards in the new location at the old Pah homestead in Auckland. He had this to say about the placement: Matt, I found the hanging of this exhibition very odd. In your work, for example, your signature was at my eye-line. I'm 6 feet tall. Go figure.
LUNES EL CUATRO DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Juan Muniz painting in reverse-glass technique on Gina Quaranto's office window at Blackbird Studios.
(photo: JK Russ)
Juan Muniz painting in reverse-glass technique on Gina Quaranto's office window at Blackbird Studios.
(photo: JK Russ)
DOMINGO, EL TRES DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Here's two artist's work I'm interested in here in Las Vegas. Enrique Nevarez (left, who also runs La Gloria Clothing label) and Tod Mitchell. Nevarez uses screen-printing and stencil techniques to render assassination victims with their killers emblazened on a standard underneath the portraits. I met Tod at a screening of Car Wash a couple of Friday's ago. The work behind him is from when he was younger and had a Pettibon feel to it, except it elaborates on his personal experiences. Tod's obsessed with Surrealism, so we get on well!
SABATO, EL DOS DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Last night was the Zombie Apocalypse / First Friday exhibition openings in Downtown Las Vegas. We started of at Blackbird Studios where Jo and I both had work in the exhibition then we walked around all the other exhibitions at the Arts Factory and on Casino Center. First Friday is getting so big now that it's near impossible to see everyone and every show in the night.
(all photos by JK Russ)
Last night was the Zombie Apocalypse / First Friday exhibition openings in Downtown Las Vegas. We started of at Blackbird Studios where Jo and I both had work in the exhibition then we walked around all the other exhibitions at the Arts Factory and on Casino Center. First Friday is getting so big now that it's near impossible to see everyone and every show in the night.
(all photos by JK Russ)
VIERNES, EL UNO DE OCTUBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Channelling Malevich again, different time, different country.
Channelling Malevich again, different time, different country.
JUEVES, EL TRIENTE DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Below is an image that was remembered in the comments section referring to the recent painting, 'The Good Son' (yesterday's post). I painted this painting in 1997/8 while at art school. I was interested in the personification of objects, which was of interest in art, both in NZ (with Peter Robinson and Tony de Lautour) and internationally. I had forgotten about this work until yesterday. It's amazing how things hang around in the back of your mind and then present themselves years later. Thanks David!
Below is an image that was remembered in the comments section referring to the recent painting, 'The Good Son' (yesterday's post). I painted this painting in 1997/8 while at art school. I was interested in the personification of objects, which was of interest in art, both in NZ (with Peter Robinson and Tony de Lautour) and internationally. I had forgotten about this work until yesterday. It's amazing how things hang around in the back of your mind and then present themselves years later. Thanks David!
MIERCOLES, EL VEINTINUEVE DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
New painting:
The Good Son
2010
oil on metal
200mm x 270mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
New painting:
The Good Son
2010
oil on metal
200mm x 270mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
LUNES, EL VEINTISIETE DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
New painting:
Renewed Commonsense
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
New painting:
Renewed Commonsense
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
DOMINGO, EL VEINTISEIS DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
New painting:
Neo Self-Portrait
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
New painting:
Neo Self-Portrait
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
SABATO, EL VEINTICINCO DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
New painting:
Planchette Snake
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
(a planchette is a small wooden board, usually heart-shaped with a hole in it, that you use in conjunction with an ouija board during seances)
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
New painting:
Planchette Snake
2010
oil on metal
295mm x 215mm
(a planchette is a small wooden board, usually heart-shaped with a hole in it, that you use in conjunction with an ouija board during seances)
*if you click on the image below, it will take you to a slightly larger image of the painting, then if you click on the image again, it will enlarge it to the full scale of the original painting.
VIERNES, EL VEINTICUATRO DE SEPTIEMBRE. VEINTE-DIEZ
Last week it was La Dolce Vita, this week it's Carwash. Brilliant!
(photos by JK Russ)
Last week it was La Dolce Vita, this week it's Carwash. Brilliant!
(photos by JK Russ)
JUEVES, EL VEINTITRES DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Took a day off yesterday to explore the local surrounding areas of where we live, especially Lake Mead Blvd, Tenaya, Buffalo and Smoke Ranch. It was good to have a bit of head-clearing time, as I've been 'angsted' up about my painting - that I don't feel like I'm getting enough work done. I looked at the architecture (all new) and all the junk caught in the rock gardens lining the streets. I picked up items such as a small green foam frog and some playing cards, got home and painted an ex-voto of them. This is the first ex-voto I've painted in months, so it's a good feeling that this could lead to more.
MIERCOLES, EL VEINTIDOS DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Yesterday, JK and I went into to drop off our works at Blackbird Studios for the Zombie exhibition opening on First Friday. Gina invited us to do some impromptu art, so JK painted a frame and I painted a toilet saint on an old 100-year-old manuscript.
While in the art mood, we also made our way down to UNLV to the Donna Beam Gallery to check out Able-Bodied - work from LA Louver Gallery at Venice Beach, CA. The show had some good painting in it, although it seemed to be using old buzz-words from the late 80's /early 90's such as multicultural artistic exploration and the like. Maybe multiculturalism has cycled back around into fashion again. Time for another Helter Skelter?
Gajin Fujita - The Saints.
Yesterday, JK and I went into to drop off our works at Blackbird Studios for the Zombie exhibition opening on First Friday. Gina invited us to do some impromptu art, so JK painted a frame and I painted a toilet saint on an old 100-year-old manuscript.
While in the art mood, we also made our way down to UNLV to the Donna Beam Gallery to check out Able-Bodied - work from LA Louver Gallery at Venice Beach, CA. The show had some good painting in it, although it seemed to be using old buzz-words from the late 80's /early 90's such as multicultural artistic exploration and the like. Maybe multiculturalism has cycled back around into fashion again. Time for another Helter Skelter?
Gajin Fujita - The Saints.
MARTES, EL VEINTIUNO DE SEPTIEMBRE, VEINTE-DIEZ
Another studio photo - I'm working away trying to get a set of backdrops finished and dried (not too much of an issue in this heat) so I can concentrate on constructing the paintings - deciding what imagery to paint on each retablo. Often, it changes halfway through the painting. You just got to let it do what it needs to do without forcing it. That's happened with the backdrops too. I was using images from my Thirty-Three exhibition from mid 2009 to base the backdrops on, but once I got into a rhythm, I was making up mew types of cloud-forms, new colour combinations and even decided to do an upside down saint for NZ. The red retablos will be painted in monochrome and will be paired with the colour ones so there wil be a colour one and a black and white one (just it keep it clear). I've been enjoying painting the monochrome ones, so I thought I'd do some more. I'ts a different kind of focus when you're not dealing with colour.
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