What Does The Artist Do On A Crappy Day?

Um, art. What else?

Peace.

Steven Tyler 04/20/09

EMIN3M X Vinyl Art

"X" means more than just putting things together. Multiplying creates more than adding. Em knows how to create something more than just the sum of its parts. "Sing For The Moment" off of The Eminem Show contains elements of Aerosmith's "Dream On" creating a brilliant mashup that makes my toes tingle.

Maybe we can call my Vinyl Art a visual remix or an artistic crossover. Whatever. Just don't use a "+".

Peace.

EMIN3M 02/26/09

Dude (Remember When MTV Played Videos?) [EC]

Growing up in the 80s, my taste in music was pretty well influenced by MTV. The artistic and sexual aspects of video both caught my eye as a young teen boy who took a lot of art classes. For better or worse, music videos helped form my visual aesthetic and expanded my musical appreciation.

Aerosmith was one of those bands that I got into probably mostly because of their videos. I'm glad because they've put out solid albums for a long time. From Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" to Tool's "Sober", here're some other musicians that I don't know if I would have given much attention then if it hadn't have been for MTV:

Peter Gabriel
Madonna
Guns N' Roses
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Michael Jackson
Prince
Metallica
Depeche Mode
Faith No More
Red Hot Chili Peppers
U2
Talking Heads
R.E.M.
Devo
Jane's Addiction
Blind Melon
INXS
Eurythmics
Cyndi Lauper
Dire Straits
Billy Joel
Tool

That video of "Sober" still gives me chills. I stopped at '93 with MTV's yearbook because that's when I graduated high school and started getting most of my new music from random finds in record stores and the radio.

I know there're a lot more videos that were instrumental in popularizing certain groups. Who wouldn't you be a fan of if it weren't for MTV?

Peace.

It's Yours Take It

Love that huge mouth of his. Aerosmith was one of the first heavier rock bands I got into as a teen when I started collecting vinyl. I loved the classic rock stations in Los Angeles and "Sweet Emotion" was one of my many favorites. This portrait of Steven Tyler is on "Toys In The Attic" with that song on side 2.

I did this piece for It's Yours Take It in Boston this summer. I got a kick out of sending 3 pieces to the Free Art Seattle Exhibition, which has its second installment soon too. I thought I'd participate in this global idea again. Check out the Flickr group if you want to join in too.

Nick hasn't set a date for it yet, but if you're around Harvard Square one hot day and see a bunch of art, make an artist happy and give a piece a home.

Peace.

GIFTED - Steven Tyler 06/10/08

First Commission Of The Year - Run DMC!

I remember seeing "Walk This Way" on MTV with Run DMC and Aerosmith. Broke down all sorts of commercial and pop cultural barriers. I just thought it was cool at the time. So a friend of ours is getting this for her husband who is about the same age as me. Came out pretty cool. I just used the image from the back of the album cover. Sort of reminds me of the portrait that Rob and Big got done with Meaty. Do work! New episode tonight!

So, I had my first sale last week and now my first commission is out of the way. Who's next? I've got my records all alphabetized and ready to go: Janis, Jimi, Sammy and Sinatra. Try and stump me! Well, that won't be too hard, but I've got more than I knew anyway. And I can always find what you want. Got "Raising Hell" in a week's time through eBay. For other examples of who I've painted,

CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE AT: http://www.vinylart.info/

and scroll through the Online Gallery page. What do you think of the last one?

SOLD - Run DMC 01/15/08