Represent! Recognize!

I'm trying to figure out which one piece of mine best represents what I do quickly. I mean which one would the most people look at and go, hey yeah! that's... and then think it's the coolest thing they've ever seen, the fastest.

I've learned from people's responses, people's questions, that my work has a bunch of stages to get past in people's perception and assumptions before they get to "I want one". It's tough when what you're doing is different from what people're used to, but also not completely unknown at the same time. Most people seeing my work know what a record is, they know what a painting is, and they often know iconic musicians on sight. But put that all together and recognizing what they're looking at can get confusing. They have to see who it is, that it's a record, that it's handpainted, that it's handpainted ON the record, that it's handpainted on the record by who it is, and then they ask the question "Can you do...?"

Yes. Yes I can, as long as vinyl pressings of their recordings exist.

Peace.

Cyclical Vs. Growth

No, this isn't about stock market investing, although the differentiation of companies based upon the same terms is in the back of my head. I used to pay attention to the market. Now our equity is in our house.

Anyway, our economy values growth, always looking for charts of earnings that go upward steadily seemingly to infinity. We also value growth as we try to achieve in our lives, always looking for charts of scores and measurements that go upward steadily seemingly to infinity. Doing better is the goal, making more, finishing faster, whatever. Comparison is the name of the game, comparison to the past, our past and the pasts of others. Judgement.

Then, there're cyclical things, like farming. Like the seasons. Like, well, life and death. There're no comparisons. Charts go up and down rhythmically, predictably within reason, with no better or worse. Certainly one can compare from one cycle to the next, looking at statistics that turn into theoretical scary situations like global warming or flu pandemics. Now this isn't to dispute those theories and their supporting data. But cyclical things are best lived in the moment. It's very Zen-like when allowed to be what it is. You plant, you feed, you water, you tend, you harvest. You eat. Trees don't seem to care about previous Falls. You don't hear trees complaining about how beautiful their colors were last year. Cyclical things are peaceful because they recognize existence is perfect simply because it exists.

My mind's a bit mushy today, with oil changes and cooking and art shows and especially baby on the brain, but I do know in my gut that I like cyclical things. They are Life, and if lived, they make the moments thereof full. This isn't to say I don't like growth, but charts can't ever really keep going on to infinity, can they?

Peace.

SOLD - Oasis 08/17/09

The Wind

I listen to the wind
to the wind of my soul
Where I'll end up well I think,
only God really knows
I've sat upon the setting sun
But never, never never never
I never wanted water once
No, never, never, never
I listen to my words
but they fall far below
I let my music take me
where my heart wants to go
I swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never never never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never

Copyright 1971 Cat Music Ltd.

Can't say more than that.

Peace.

Cat Stevens 08/07/09

Does Music Play In Your Head Too?

It gives you chills, that music you grew up with, that moves you. It's raw human emotion and memory. It's Life.

You know, the moments of sound that send waves down from your brain out to your fingers and toes. The kind that bring tears in concerts.

Could a painting remind you?

Peace.

Cyndi Lauper - 07/23/09

Gonna Live My Life

So slide over here and give me a moment.
Peace.
Available - Michael Hutchence 07/09/09

Art And Money Are The Same *GASP*

My friend Prince just tweeted this, an academic paper abstract discussing art and money. It says there is no inherent conflict with artists making money, with commerce in art.

Phew.

I was worried. The "starving artist" image still persists, but I've never gotten it. I thought maybe I was backwards.

Maybe I'm lucky because what I create has as its purpose human connection. It's hard in today's world, especially in capitalism, to connect without the sordid topic of coin coming into play. But it's all about stories, languages. Money is just talking. So is art. Why would they conflict?

The key for us all is to remember it's about people, about humanity, about culture, about creativity. How we connect is fundamentally unimportant, invisible in fact, if we communicate effectively and efficiently. A painting by Van Gogh still says what it always has, but people perceive it differently. Owning stock in a company still says what it always has, really, but people perceive it differently as well.

Think about it. What is the difference between taking your Life, working, earning money, and going and buying a taco & taking your Life, working, painting records, and going and buying a taco? Art and money are the medium for communicating one's humanity.

The rub, I think, happens when commerce is allowed to commoditize, flatten, and homogenize creativity. The fix is to re-humanize our economy, remember people. All of them. All of them involved in creating everything we have in this Universe. At its core, it's all expression, unfoldment of Life. It's all connected, with ripples of communication spreading, reflecting across humanity.

What do you think the current global economic upheaval is about? Right. Art.

Peace.

SOLD - Elton John 06/11/09

The Story Of My Life

Last night on "House", Wilson asked House how he wanted the story of his life to go. It is in your control how you act, how you live. That is the free will we beings have. I've pondered before about whether we truly have free will or not, but it really came down to semantics, as philosophical ramblings usually do.

The bottom line is that we live as we live. Is as does, and it is by our actions that we are judged. The title of this post was just quoted by a friend and it, and something else big, got me thinking again about responsibility and how the story of our lives fit into the tapestry of humanity.

The Summit is so iconic, such a known part of our culture, because of their stories, their lives. I am sooooo humbled to have become a teency part of those stories as I shared in my first email newsletter. (If you haven't gotten that newsletter and want it, please email me and I'll send it to you.) I'm humbled because Frankie and Sammy are more than just entertainers in our culture. The way they lived changed our culture and did their part to change the way Americans live.

For me, big news is coming at the end of this month. Big. Life changing.


So please stay tuned.

Peace.

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.

Artistic Reinvention

No matter how many times she reinvents herself, she still has those eyes. Her soul comes through every time, beautifully.

Peace.

SOLD - Madonna 03/26/09

(W)rote Learning, Think About It

In answering a follow-up question from that UK graphic arts student, I realized I kind of take my process for granted. I don't talk a lot about it because I don't think about it much. It sort of just happens. Or at least it seems to, to me.

Think about what you do regularly "without thinking".

But it is pretty cool what I do. Every step of work on the actual piece is done by hand, and without stencil. So the value of what I do is both in the painting and the process. The same goes for you, I'm guessing.

Think about when you try to explain what you do to someone else. If they're going to do it too, they have to take notes or something, or learn it by rote.

This brings me back in my head to the realization that what I do is special, all of it. The inspiration for the idea came from a high school art project, but I came up with the process, the technique and the tools to use.

Think about what you've come up with, creating a new method or a new tool to get something done. Let's take a moment to give ourselves a pat on the back.

We're all here for a reason, to do something, to contribute to humanity in some way. Usually that something involves repetition. I'm liking the saying currently that "persistence expresses passion". People who make a difference for people are those that do, that create, that generate, that add to the world, and who do it a lot.

Just don't forget that even though you're doing the same thing over and over, it's new for somebody. It is special, each time.

Peace.

SOLD - Oasis 02/20/09

Nature Vs. Nurture

I'm loving getting these questions from artists and students! I hadn't thought I'd get to give back by teaching about what I do. It's an ego boost too, for sure. Also it inspires my inner dialog about being an artist. Oh goody, here comes more rambling.

I got an email yesterday from a graphic arts student in the UK wondering how I can do what I do so accurately. Going back to this post, this brings up the innate talent versus learned skill issue. I've long claimed, I guess largely due to my insecurities discussed in that previous post, that it's not something one is born with, this ability to do what I do. I say my accuracy comes from having simply done it for so long, a well-honed skill and facility with tools. People usually respond with something like, "Well, I know I couldn't ever do that."

I don't know. What do you think? Do people react to what you do the best like that? Do you feel like you're as good as you are because of who you are or what you've learned?

Or do you think this is a pointless question, that I should quit my rambling and just get on with painting?

Peace.

SOLD - Ben Gibbard 02/19/09

Trust In Art

Creatives should respect each other. Tom Jones sings other people's songs. The albums credit the songwriters and publishers. Simple. It's called not stealing. How can someone who truly believes in creativity choose not to willingly give credit where due? If anybody'd follow the ol' golden rule, I'd think it'd be people who supposedly create personal expressions for public presentation.

A very cool cat wrote about Fairey's Obama campaign image and the legal dispute between the AP, who owns the original photograph that Fairey manipulated into the now incredibly famous image, and the artist. Fairey redily admits that he used the image, but won't give credit substantively. Nice. Nice message.

Now, legally, I know I'm ok doing what I do vis-a-vis the photographer and publisher because I'm not infringing on the right or ability of the image copyright owner to sell and reproduce for sale the original image. Fairey took some else's photo and directly and indirectly created and reproduced products for sale and claims it's ok under the guise of political action. True, the AP hadn't used the image themselves, but Fairey did find it online, so it was published. True, the AP is only taking reactionary measures now that the image is part of pop culture, but there's no time restriction to contest a copyright violation.

Is it fair use though? Well, Fairey's done it many times, trying to make money behind a thinly veiled attempt at social commentary, and not giving credit. It's called give and take. He's even copyrighted his own images that blatantly use someone else's with simply his famous "OBEY" logo on it for mass reproduction. Nice. Way to be.

Now it may be that Fairey has not yet financially profitted from the image directly. Then it would fall to those who are, like the publisher who included the poster image in a book about the campaign, to compensate the AP. It's just a mess that wouldn't have been created if he'd been upfront.

Any photographer or publisher who has a problem with my painting a portrait based on their photo, I'll respect to the utmost. I'll credit them, stop painting that specific portrait, license it, whatever within reason. Not because what I'm doing is wrong. Because giving due credit is right.

Peace.

Tom Jones 02/06/09

Space And Time

Beautiful song from an amazing band. The Verve have joined with a bunch of other largely British bands to fight for more equitable contracts with record companies. The middlemen are becoming commoditized, yet still vital.

I began to think of how amazing it is that I can reach so many so fast with my art all seemingly on my own. In this amazing world at this amazing time, individuals can make a difference much more massively and more quickly than ever before. Distribution of content has definitely changed. It's shifted from tell me to show me.

But it's not true that it's all on my own. I've hired a webhost to store and distribute my website. Yes, this blog is free through Google, but I have to pay my cable company for Internet access to publish it.

They aren't book publishers and libraries, but they are distributors and infrastructure. Without them, this modern world just might disappear.

Peace.

SOLD - The Verve 02/05/09

It's Everyone's Responsibility

So here it is! The last painting for this. I was nervous painting this morning! That doesn't happen often. I think the last time was when I painted Marley for him about a year ago. I hope this is as big a deal as it feels like. I know I'm excited.

I hope they come out good as reproductions. After I send this off this afternoon, it'll be in the hands of the gallery. We'll see!

That brings up something interesting. As an artist, usually I'm the only one responsible for my product. If the frame gets damaged somehow, en route, I am responsible for fixing it. I don't have to rely on middlemen to take the blame if something goes wrong. I like that.

This project makes me nervous because there're steps between me painting and the client receiving the art that I'm not controlling. Surprise, surprise, I'm a control freak. Like you didn't know already.

But this world, this human experiment, really is everybody's responsiblity. Yes, technically you are only responsible for yourself and your actions. But those fit in with everybody else's. Every person-to-person moment of connection ripples out into the cosmos. This is very evident publicly right now as President Obama begins his term. From executives giving huge upper-level bonuses right before declaring bankruptcy to corporations being bailed out actually ordering jets, we're taking notice. Our country, indeed the world, needs to realize our place as individuals, as part of the whole. Both matter.

Play nice. Be understanding. Realize that it's not all about you. Really. It's not. Yes, you belong in the world. Yes, you have your unique contribution to make in Life. But if it were all about you, there wouldn't be any other people, would there? Life reflects, Life puts other people in your experience for a reason, always.

How does this fact affect your day?

Peace.

Mariah Carey 01/30/09

How Dare I?

Paint on a Nick Drake record? Am I nuts? Well, it is a reissue, but still! It's my one reservation about what I do, rendering records unplayable, at least on one side. Especially when it's music I love. So how do I justify it? How can I say I love vinyl so much that I ruin it?

Well, I can buy another one on eBay for $25 since it's a reissue. But, more importantly, I like what I create. I'm repurposing something mass produced into a unique piece of art directly celebrating the original art of the album. To make the record collectors out there gasp, after all it is just a record. It's not like I'm depriving the world of Nick Drake's wonderfully wispy voice. Also, there's something cool about using a physical representation of the actual music, the record, to pay hommage to the creator of said music with another physical representation, the portrait.

This past week I've been prompted to rethink the idea of reproducing my work. Sort of paying hommage to my own creation? Seems egotistical a little. I'm still not 100% sure. I'm opening up to the idea of editions of prints limited in scope and number, on something other than vinyl, by a very reputable outfit. I wouldn't want it done on records. I know that. Not on random records, blank records, or records by the subject of the painting. Maybe on wood panel or metal? How would that even look, a record with grooves printed flat?

It would open up the possibilities for more sales, more quickly. But both of those aren't really my end goal though. My goal is to make individual meaningful connections that give people a way to share their music, their culture. More more more, faster faster faster isn't my style. Hmm, in the right context maybe, so it's different sales, with rigorous quality?

I'm just not sure. What do you think? Is it selling out in the short term or smart business in the long term? I'd really appreciate help here!

Peace.

SOLD - Nick Drake 01/13/09

Words Are Trouble, But Where Would We Be?

The Verve have become one of the biggest influences on my musical taste, especially since we saw them in London shortly before the release of this, their most recent album. Before my dad introduced me to music with The Beatles "Revolver" and his other albums, reading was the main form of human communication of which I availed myself. I have previously listed certain things pertinent to who I am as an artist and person. Here, then, are some of the more important influences on my literary and linguistic taste:

"Bloom County"
Edgar Allan Poe
Ray Bradbury
"Calvin & Hobbes"
"The Phantom Tollbooth"
"Peanuts"
Dr. Seuss
"Over Sea, Under Stone"
Mark Twain
Jim Kjelgaard
Robert Heinlein
"Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy"
Bill Cosby
"The Gnu And The Guru Go Behind The Beyond"

I've tried to keep this list restricted to those authors and works I discovered independently of school. For while "the classics" have their place, it's more of an academic one. These had lasting impact on my use of the English language, frought with peril as it is, for better or worse. Blame them for my ramblings. Blame my parents and childhood friends indirectly for providing me with such radical literature. I happen to thank them for it.

Peace.

SOLD - Richard Ashcroft 01/12/09

Knowledge And Remembering

After writing my post earlier today, I was driving to get some lunch. My head still full of pie-in-the-sky ideas, I couldn't remember where the Del Taco was (for some screwy reason I was craving their double cheeseburger and those crinkle fries AND the one that was next to the bank up the street went out of business) so I had to guess. Fortunately, I live in the east valley of the Phoenix metro area, Gilbert specifically. Cookie-cutter city, well, county actually. I happened upon an intersection with: Burger King, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Jack-in-the-Box, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, KFC/A&W, and, of course, Starbucks. Seriously! Right? But this isn't about that end-of-the-world scenario.

This is about the distinction between knowing something and remembering before you knew it. Before! Tricky! I "know" how to solve pde's from my classes in multi-variable calculus (yes, I got my sheepskin studying Physics and Computer Science). I don't "remember" how to, but it's "in" my brain. I suppose.

I guess I don't know. Oops, wait. I don't know if I remember. No, that's not it. What was I talking about again?

Oh yeah, tools. Techniques, and other things you can memorize, fade. Good. You don't need'em. A lot of eastern philosophies/religions have as a goal the unlearning of things, Yoda too. Cool guy, I've still got my little Star Wars action figure with the felt robe. Anyway, modern takes on old thoughts rephrase the idea of stripping away, reducing, unburdening ourselves of unnecessary stuff in our heads. I particularly liked don Miguel Ruiz's "Voice of Knowledge".

I don't know where that post earlier today came from, can't know, don't really wanna. What I do know is now I'm supposed to be where I am now, thinking as I am now, finding balance and love now in Life. Something the Maharishi probably "knew", but didn't "remember" or need to.

If you enjoyed this ramble, have a go at another.

Peace.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 12/12/08

Who Was On Your Wall?

I know Jeff had some cool posters. How about you? Any teen heart-throbs rolled up in your closet? Not literally, I hope.

After compiling my list yesterday, I tried to remember things I'd stuck on my wall with blue sticky stuff. Remember that stuff? I remember how it bled faint blue through the front and created little bumps in the corners. I think I even used it on my own art. That was dumb.

Oh, wait, yeah! I remember one. Not a poster. I actually did have a heart-throb in my closet! We'd found a life-sized Madonna cardboard cutout thing in the street, from her "Dick Tracy" look. I think she was missing part of an arm.

Right now we have this one hanging above our CD cabinet:

What are your fav past and present posters?

Peace.

SOLD - Rick Springfield 12/09/08

Sexells Doesn'tit

Is it always about sex? Well, I suppose on one level or another it is. Sex is primal, instinctual. Music is primal, instinctual. I wanna get inside you, let's dance. Feel the rhythm, see the sweat. Raw sex and longing.

Gwen knows, no doubt. Just you watch.

Peace.

Gwen Stefani 10/07/08

Break On Through

Ahh, the trials and tribulations of being a professional artist. I don't want to rant too much, but today was a stink-fest. eBay sellers dropping the ball, lying, and backtracking. DHL-to-USPS deliveries up in the air with possibly lost paintings. Trademark paperwork almost slipping through the cracks. Miscommunications with galleries leading to delays and maybe losing business. And don't get me started on people emailing me saying they want to commission work with specific requests and then seemingly vanishing.

This is hard, definitely. On days like this I give myself a philosophical head-fake to keep going. Randy Pausch put it that the walls you run into are there just to keep out the people who don't want it enough. A test of desire, basically. Am I passionate enough about my art to break through those walls?

As long as I get emails like the one I got a few minutes ago from another who is passionate about art and music, a director of a fine art gallery and a collector of music from an early age. He saw my work at the FMF 2008 Rock Walk in Orlando, really liked the Jim Morrison, reads this blog, and wants to connect. That's why I'm doing all this. It was nice to get a reminder of that. I don't know what'll come of it, but good things I expect.

Peace.

SOLD - Bruce Sprinsteen, Frank Sinatra 08/14/08