Moments of Surprise

This is the display including that Hendrix. It was installed at the Chandler Fashion Center the day before Thanksgiving. What timing! It'll be up indefinitely too, so we'll see what kind of attention and business it brings.

It came about because of the fellow who had me do http://vinylart.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-stones-project.html?m=0 awhile back. He saw my exhibit years ago in a restaurant in Pacific Palisades, CA where I grew up. He then referred a couple other people who work with him and then had me paint the Stones. He works for Macerich, the company that manages a lot of malls on the coasts and in the Phoenix metro area, having bought Westcor. It turns out they are trying to soften the advertising feel with moments of surprise. My moment of surprise was the national SVP head of marketing contacting me to ask if I'd be interested in having my work on display in a local mall. Holy smokes. 

And this is the result. What's up on top is a BIG TV with my new Timelapse video of the Hendrix that they bought for the display. http://youtu.be/_o7zdo8_Aw0 is that video. It shows the full piece from start to finish in under 3 minutes. I love how the video came out. I edited it in Windows Moviemaker, of all things.

Along with the painting are displayed 2 stills taken in a photo shoot by my friend Zane Ewton of http://zefflerphoto.wordpress.com/ that show stages of the piece. Zane really knows how to tell a story with his work and the shots help to tell the story of my work in the display. 

I don't know what will come of this at all. They might want to do more at other malls, and I'm hoping to do one at the Santa Monica Place, again where I grew up. We'll see. Whatever is supposed to happen always does.

And that's certainly something for which to be thankful. So Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace.

The Stones Project

This is epic. This is the coolest piece I've done. This is the coolest framing job of my work. This is why I do these.

This is why the fellow had me do these:

As a kid I always loved the Stones … tried to learn everything I could about them: first it was Mick, then I started learning about Keith, then Ronnie … in the three of them, I see the flash, the grit, the fun … but the beat holds it all together.  

I read this passage and it stuck with me: "There's an old saying among those who have know the Stones a long time. It's that Mick wants to be Keith, and they all want to be Charlie. Why Charlie? Because he's genuinely hip, he's got innate good taste, and understands restraint. Charlie kept his family together, and he never got off on the star trip that the rest of them did. He's just Charlie Watts and when the job's over,  he goes home and feeds his horses."

Who knows if it's true, but it's a great reminder when I'm sitting in my office all day not to get caught up in the perks of being a corporate exec … do the job and go home spend time with my wife, call my mother more often, enjoy the sunshine and my garden. Work comes around again tomorrow … until it doesn't.

IFTTT

If this then that.

In my college course on artificial intelligence I learned how life can be modeled as sets of rules structured this way. Amidst the chaos it does seem that much of our existence can follow this structure.

It's just hard to follow, though. Like why Stevie Ray Vaughan ended up on that last minute fateful flight. Like why the piece I painted for Jason had to be of this portrait of Stevie Ray so that now I cry painting it because... well you know.

Anyway, IFTTT is easy to follow. And cool. It's a site/app/community thing that pulls together iOS functionality with lots of social media sites allowing one to create a 'recipe' taking the input from one 'channel' and generating output to another. It's very versatile and user friendly. I've scratched the surface with recipes to automatically spread posts to this blog on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. We'll see what else I might cook up.

Peace.

____________________________

creating art on the artifacts of creativity

http://danieledlen.com

Full Circle with @riozilla and @amoebamusic

Back in high school, I was friends with Rio Caraeff. He introduced me to some great music, including The The's album "Dusk" which is one of my favorites still.

Today Rio is CEO of VEVO, the company presenting official music videos and live shows through YouTube in the one way acceptable to the major record labels. Recently he commissioned the 4 above pieces: Michael Jackson, Beyonce, 50 Cent and Adele. Almost 20 years later, full circle.

Back in school, too, I took a family trip to San Francisco. It was around the time I was starting to get into my dad's vinyl: Brubeck, Beatles, Khachaturian and Mangione. We went to the Haight and I was introduced to Amoeba Records. Woah.

Seeing that place got me seriously started hanging out in West L.A. record stores like Record Surplus, Moby Disc, Rhino Records and Penny Lane. I spent countless teenage hours crate digging. Some of the records became my first canvases.

Today, Amoeblog shared http://www.amoeba.com/blog/2012/11/jamoeblog/daniel-edlen-s-vinyl-art-creates-on-the-artifacts-of-creativity-.html about me. Another pretty cool full circle moment.

Nice day, today.

Peace.

____________________________

creating art on the artifacts of creativity

http://danieledlen.com

Am I Good?

If you have passion for what you do, put yourself into it, care, then you've asked yourself this question.

Does it show self-doubt? Does it encourage discouragement? Does it mean you aren't?

I think all it means is that you're human. And humans are good. By definition.

Yes, like all artists and those who take care in what they do, I am racked by self-confidence issues every once in awhile (like today). It's not rational or reasonable, it's not predictable, it's not preventable. It's just an emotion that overtakes us who live.

Give it its due. Value its purpose. You needn't look outside yourself for the answer. You needn't look inward either for a response. That's its value. It is. As are you. Let it serve as a reminder that we are simply living, being the best beings we can be, and doing as we are.

You are, after all, the only you that will ever be. So, of course you're good.

Peace.

SOLD - Paul Brady 11/20/09

Giving Back(spacer)

This piece is another for the fellow who commissioned these. This one is for his wedding's MC.

An artist friend asked if she could interview me. Today she sent me a list of really good questions about my art. Really good. I'll definitely share her post when she's got it up.

Answering her questions left me very excited about my artwork. See, I love culture. My parents exposed me to all kinds of creativity, both seeing and doing. I saw museums, plays, musicals, concerts. I did art, piano, writing, gymnastics. As I grew up, I kept adding to my creative aesthetic. Listening to Pearl Jam's "Ten" as a teenager, the perfect timing for the explosion of grunge in my life, left an indelible impression.

Contributing to that culture which has enriched my life is one of my main goals with my art, both Vinyl Art and Liter(art)ure. I love the idea of giving back. Getting to paint Eddie Vedder on the band's new album, inspired by a photographer's captured moment is a dream.

And goals and dreams do come true. I'm proof as so many projects I'm involved with right now have to do with giving and celebrating our shared culture. I hope you share it with me.

Peace.

SOLD - Eddie Vedder 11/17/09

'Tis The Season

As we near my wife's due date, time is getting wacky. It's almost my birthday! Then all the holidays. Man.

Imagine throwing a wedding into the mix?

The fellow up in Canada who has commissioned these pieces is getting married early December. My wife and I got married late December, but we did it in Vegas, baby! He's apparently doing the whole deal as these four are for his groomsmen. How cool! What a neat idea. All get basically the same thing, but personal for them. It adds that edge of thoughtfulness.

I am finding that my Vinyl Art makes for a great gift, for any occasion. People seem to feel much better about splurging on art if it's for a loved one.

I certainly know I'm thinking pretty much only about things to give Abbey once she's born!

Peace.

SOLD - 11/05/09

On The Wall

Jon was kind enough to send me a shot of the 4 pieces he commissioned as they hang on his wall. This is a cool layout! It's a nice alternative to the square. Even though it was really hard to sell these, I'm so glad they've found a good home.

I love getting to catch up on the story of my pieces, following them where they go. I've talked about this before, missing out when I consign pieces because I don't know who buys them, or when pieces get bought at charity auctions. But I have been lucky enough to have several owners send me pictures of their Vinyl Art.

If you own one or gave one to someone, I'd love to know what people think, and a picture would be awesome. If you can send one, just email it to me!

Peace.

I Know They're Out There Somewhere

This Iggy Pop was a gift from a wife to her musician husband, a friend of mine from grade school. Here is my original post featuring the piece. It looks awesome right above a light like that, between more art even! Sid Vicious, Iggy Pop and the White Stripes. Doesn't get much better.

I love getting pics of people's pieces in place. I've only gotten a few, which you can see by clicking on "owner" in the label list at the end of this post.

I'd also dig pics of the stickers I've sent out, if people've stuck'em somewhere. My wife and I have ours in the corner of our rear windows. I'm looking forward to the day I first see one on somebody else's vehicle.

So if you have a piece of Vinyl Art or a VA logo sticker stuck and haven't sent me a photo, please please do. I'll feature you in a post unless you tell me not to, as well. Or if you know someone who has a piece, tell them! Thanks!

Peace.

Hard To Sell

I knew if I hung these up I'd have a hard time taking them back off the wall and shipping them off. I knew it.

Peace.

The Majesty Of Peter Gabriel

So a fellow commissioned 4 pieces today! He even knew which albums he wanted me to use. Check this out: Jim Morrison on "The Doors", Roger Waters on "The Final Cut", Jimi Hendrix on "Are You Experienced?" and Peter Gabriel on "So".

Right?

Even better Gabriel is his, as well as my, favorite artist. Of course "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" on MTV introduced me to him, and I know I've talked about him before. But here's why he's my favorite:

Shock The Monkey
Dancing With The Moonlit Night (Genesis live)
Digging In The Dirt (live)
The Rhythm Of The Heat

Peace.

SOLD - Peter Gabriel 08/12/09

Take My Time

Though similar to the phrase titling my post this morning, this time it is about you. You take my time by buying or commissioning a piece of art from me. Buying an already completed piece, like Vicki did with this Michael Jackson from Etsy, takes from my past. Commissioning a new piece for yourself or as a gift takes from my future. The post this morning was about my present.

And it can be a present to you from me, if you take it.

Peace.

SOLD - Michael Jackson

Speed Painting

I got the record really fast for this commission. That's always nice.

And speaking of speed, I received an email today that made me realize how fast I actually get these done. This fellow does pointillistic portraits on "At-A-Glance" desktop calendars of various famous subjects using fine-tipped markers. I did several drawings in high school using a rapidograph pen. Insane. They took forever. This guy says he puts upwards of 300 hours into each piece! Wow.

Yesterday, doing the cell phone shots of my painting as I painted it, I showed you all that it takes 1-2 hours for me to paint a piece. I don't do it fast intentionally. That's just how it comes out. I'm also not saying this to show I'm better or worse, or my work is better or worse than anybody else's. Or that I take less care.

I actually don't really have a point. Sorry, my brain is a bit scattered this week.

Good thing I don't have to focus for too long on a painting!

Peace.

Word Of Mouth

It's the best! It means so many good things!

So, I got a commission today from a lady who wants Sarah McLachlan. She found out about me from another lady who'd commissioned me to do Eddie Vedder for her brother. That lady had found out about me from a guy who came into her place of business who'd been given Zack de la Rocha by his girlfriend who'd found out about me from my TV interview!

Sweet!

Peace.

What's The One Album?

Paul up in Canada bought this early last year. His feedback is also on my testimonial page. He recently bought a Billie Holiday as well. Billie's music and the man who introduced him to her helped Paul see his way out of his "hopelessly mixed up" teen years. I'll share more of that story when he sends me a photo of the Holiday displayed in his home.

It was, though, the New York Dolls and this album in particular that opened him up to the vast array of "new" music, including jazz. In fact, this album on which I painted was his actual album, played so much that it wouldn't play anymore. What a cool way to remember his music, with a piece of art created with that music! And here it is, on his mantle.

For me, that one album was "Revolver" by The Beatles which really opened my eyes to the possibilities in music.

What's your one album?

Peace.

On The Cusp

I liked the inaugural poet's poem. It was oddly cold on the surface and warm underneath. It looked forward to the possibilities. I'm doing that now. Beck always does that with his music. He's one of those musicians, like Prince, who always sounds fresh. No matter what album you listen to of his it sounds innovative somehow. I love his uniqueness and creativity.

A cool thing about this record, which I bought new at a local record store, is that it came with an access code to download the album recorded at the highest quality possible for an MP3 directly from the vinyl master. So I get the record and the MP3s, which works out since I painted on the record. I did record the record with my iRecord as well.

I've sent the Santana and the Lennon to the gallery, and I'm waiting on the Mariah Carey record. It's certainly a relief to have the details all worked out. Now it's just the time pressure, which the gallery is feeling more than me because they still have to do the reproductions. So I sent the first two before physically receiving the contracts and initial deposit to give them more time. They did send me a scan of the signed check, and they still need the last portrait, so I felt okay about it.

I'll bend over backwards to be able to say "yes" to someone who wants my art. As long as you're on the up and up and I trust you're not trying to take me, I'll try to make it work. All you have to do is ask.

Peace.

Beck 01/28/09

Progress

How do you measure progress? Is it always judged by goals achieved, destinations reached, ends?

If life is a journey, then progress is inevitable, uncontrollable even. Whether you like it or not. All you can do is choose how to react. All you are really responsible for in this life is your actions. Again, I think that's why the Tao Te Ching is mostly about action.

So, I'm making progress on Twitter. To me, big progress. But then I don't have a frame of reference. I'm like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie...

All I know is a coupla guys I really respect have, in one way or other, become followers of my stream there. They didn't have to listen. They still might not, especially if I ramble too much there like I probably do here. They're certainly busy enough that they have time to complain about having too much to do. But for now, they're helping me spread knowledge of my art, genuinely. They really do like it!

That's progress, the bottom line, the goal. So people come back around and remember, oh yeah, that guy who paints portraits on records. Like the lady who commissioned the Marley and above Beatles pieces.

Speaking of The Beatles, you'll notice that the photo is a screenshot of TwitPic. I decided to try it for this piece so I could show the progress as I paint the multiple portrait piece. The site works really easily, connecting with a Twitter account so you can upload images and have a status update generated automatically with a link back to the image.

So you can watch me progress.

Peace.

You'd Think I Was A Boyscout

Preparedness. You never know when you'll need what you'll need whenever.

So, a woman who'd picked up my business card, which I stick to the back of every framed piece, at Red Dog Gallery months ago contacted me yesterday about doing Tupac. Sweet.

Then, another woman who'd seen me on TV, which I have online, on Channel 3 months ago contacted me today about doing Marley and The Beatles. Sweet.

And me with albums of all 3, and images ready to go. Still hopping with the Christmas gifts!

You've got time. I'm ready.

Peace.

SOLD - Tupac Shakur 12/09/08

Out Of The Dark

Yesterday, we were surprised by the early arrival of family. So now I've got my neice next to me playing LPS with her new friend Blueberry. Not quite sure what that is...

Also, yesterday I got that Jerry Garcia commission and one for the Smashing Pumpkins. Here's James Iha to start. Who's next?

The trip to the record store for those two was very exciting. I also picked up a bunch of Tom Waits, which you don't generally run into, an Iggy Pop, which I've gotten a couple requests for, and several other cool finds. All from cleverly positioned boxes, right under the front counter. I love it.

Peace.

In The Dark

Do you like surprises?

Jenn and the girls are here! Jason's family showed up for the wrong holiday! They're here from Texas for Thanksgiving and then they'll be here again for Christmas. Woohoo!

It's hard to focus on my art on a day like this, but I've got commissions! This Jerry is a gift from a woman to her husband for Christmas. He's a Deadhead who'll flip over this and she wanted to make sure it'll be a surprise.

My wife and I are terrible at keeping things like gifts secret. We just end up telling each other way beforehand or even giving each other the gifts right when we get them. I don't know what it is about secrets like that, but I've never liked them much. It's more fun just to give the present for me.

Can you keep secrets?

Peace.

SOLD - Jerry Garcia 11/24/08