Done Done Done! - OH, and Halloween!!

Oh joy - Tasks getting done for the Paranormal Scare Fest this weekend!

- Prints ORDERED (done by Thurs) - Local Printer: Simon Skjodt.
- Magnets are DONE!
- New Backdrop PLANNED!
- some small quick fan art done as extras

So... about the art hanging backdrop - I normally use a 7' lattice work with a black cloth to hang my work, but its so bulky and hard to fit stuff around it in my car when I travel. D and I had planned to create a new backdrop out of PVC pipe, but we delayed too long and I decided that I'll just take the lattice again. HOWEVER, Today D noticed a cheap portable coat rack that works perfect!! Its a little shorter, but its STABLE - I pinned a cloth to it and hung art on it and it works!!! So LIGHT and it packs down tiny!! We plan on testing it tomorrow as a taller structure by zip-tying the base to part of a break-down plastic shelving unit, making it about 8' high. YEAH! Tomorrow we get more coat racks and we will be good to go with a LOT more space in the car!!

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HALLOWEEN
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Ok, I have to at least mention the awesomeness that was this weekend, but its late and I havn't been feeling like expounding upon my experiences poetically - so expect a quick version~

First of all, on SATURDAY, D performed at the White Rabbit Cabaret with Taylor Martin, Berry Rice, and Gavin Rulon - I acted as his assistant. Also at the White Rabbit was the Hasenfeffer troup + http://www.whiterabbitcabaret.com/ - Excellent dancing/choreography!! Very clever. An Excellent Halloween show!!

On Sunday, friends of ours were getting married!! Dru and Maria at Garfield Park. What an excellent idea, awesomeness all around, very pretty, spooky and fun. Afterwards was the Reception at the Melody (reception hall) and the Mel itself hosted a Halloween goth party - also popped in there to see what was up.
I'll have to post more pictures when I get a chance.

(Lyd, D, Dru before the wedding - photo by Devon Kaser)

Afterwards, our good friends V and N stayed over where we ate pizza and discussed snakes, hermit crabs, various states to live in, fluffy bats, traditions, etc until 5 am. It was good.

connections and mental track hopping + update

I can't help getting excited when I make connections.

I was looking up free movies on Hulu and came across 'Lifeforce' -
I remember renting it a lot as a kid, but I can't remember it.
I really am hoping this is a movie that I have weird memories about, but for the life of me
I haven't been able to find - I explain things I remember, but no one else seems to be familiar with my description... perhaps I made up memories to go along with this movie.

SO. I go to look up a trailor and come across a foreign Lifeforce poster.
It looks REALLY familiar ... sorta like the Crimson Glory - Transcendence album cover.... I show D and he confirms that it IS the same image!

*brain jumps tracks*

SOOooo I go find the album and see that ~YES~ it is... I wonder if they had permission to use it? Because it definitely goes along with the theme of Lifeforce, so I'm assuming the poster came before the album. (by 3 years) They credit the artist of the Album (Takashi Terada), but thats all I can find.

*brain jumps tracks*

No longer concerned about finding more clips from the movie to see if I can find the lost images from my child brain, I go on an online quest to see if anyone else has noticed this connection.
I see one small blurb in a blog response and seemingly deleted entry on an IMDB discussion from the movie.

Anyway, here are the 2 images.


_
EDIT!
I JUST noticed this ALMOST goes along with the art of my previous post and my obsession about people in 'womb - like' structures. *excited, I just made another connection!... well, more personal mental connection. *
_
Update?

Today I spent time with my sister's family and went to Ethnic Expo in Columbus (IN.) - I experienced 'Rose Lemonade' from the Pakistan food booth - I don't think I'm ready to incorporate 'rose' into a drink flavor, it reminds me too much of purfume... or perhaps their batch just tasted a bit too chemical.

I'll do a bigger art update later.

people in wombs, again

I feel like sharing today's art. (and yesterday's)
Why am I obsessed with the image of people in wombs?
I know, its about growth and rebirth and the constant search to 'become' oneself. The incubation period, waiting to grow into this huge flowering flora. Thus, my dream to be wholly myself, and recognized for who I am, and the fact that I won't feel 'grown up' until I am making a living from what I ~DO~.

So yeah. People in wombs, eggs, seeds and cocoons.... waiting to emerge.

Don't make me psychoanalyze all the earthy roots and striations in my work.

ANYWAY.
Thought I'd upload a recent drawing and a digital practice of nearly the same image - I anticipate making an oil painting of this image, and I'm playing with some ideas to solidify it in my mind before I throw myself into a full painting.

First is a 9" x 12" watercolor and ink on thick 185 lb paper (slight texture)
(I found a new love of paper, it comes in a pad labeled 'Acrylic' - reminds me of the heavy hot press paper I like, only this has slight more texture)

(by the way, this colorful watercolor and ink
brain explosion is available for $60.)

Then I decided to play around digitally, because I did not feel like painting quite yet - however, I think I am much better at traditional painting than digital painting. Plus I like physical work, but I do like to play with digital works every so often, I never know when I'll need to use it in the future. I started in Corel Painter 11, but this program frustrates me as I am not used to it. So, I ended up moving it into photoshop to finish it.

(this work is not available,
its digital and was just for practice.)

Ok, Enough blogging for today.

BANG!!

Now that I have your attention...

I just haven't updated for a while and felt it was TIME.
(also, copied from my dA account)

New work is on the way, as I have been busy in my NEW!!(or rather renewed) Leaky Basement Studio!... as I am no longer in the Stutz (my year of free studio ended, and I am not rich enough to afford an external space yet, although I'd like to go back as having a downtown studio provided some awesome opportunities I do not have now, like using it as a professional meeting place in which to show strangers my work.)

My brain keeps going back to stop motion action... maybe I'll have time to work on it one of these days.

I cannot wait for the Horror con shows in November.

SKETCHBOOKS
I have ordered a sketchbook from Art House Co-Op for the SKETCHBOOK PROJECT.
http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects
I finally gave in. I like the idea of it, even though I'm basically giving away free art for it. I am still in 2 minds about it, and not sure how my brain will conform to the idea of doing a 'sketchbook' with a specific theme vs. the random shit I throw in my sketchbook normally. At least most of my art goes along with the theme 'science project gone wrong' - also... I am torn between doing something really kickass and creative, or saving my super duper creative kickass-ness for something more ... sellable. I think I'll just put some crazy 'wrong-science' doodles in and send it in. I have till January.
BUT I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE regardless, I am a huge advocate of Sketchbooks as art. So, I consider it my donation to the world of sketchbook art ... PLUS it will be in their permanent sketchbook library collection, with a library code and everything. ^^
Tho, speaking of sketchbooks, I am inspired to start carrying a smaller mole-skine like sketchbook in which to do awesome work in for myself.

One of my inspirations for this is Nomi Chi - Her sketchbook work is Epic and awesome. Her art is kickass too, but I really really drool over the sketches.

COMICS
**I was included in an article about Comic Artists -
I may not really be doing 'comics' yet, but I slid in under the umbrella! Thanks to Stuart Sayger for leading the writer to me!

EVENTS
ART vs ART main event is this FRIDAY at the Vogue!!!

That is all for now!

Stutz Residency ends with a BANG! And an art show! Also other updates

SEPTEMBER 3rd - First Friday - 5-9 pm

See the Stutz Press Release for a great description of my and Patrick's work.

_____The Stutz Residency_______

In August 2009, so many of my career seeds sprouted at once, kickstarting this year into one of the best yet. I was offered 2 part time art appreciation Teaching jobs and I was one of the 2 recipients of the Stutz Residency Award - This allowed me to have a free studio for almost a year at the Stutz Building in Indianapolis.
My self drive went up, my professionalism spiked, and I met some pretty cool people while at the Stutz.

_____STUDIO?________

Now it is ending - I'm in the process of packing up the studio and bringing things home. (where am I going to put all this STUFF?! I have a big basement... but that means I have to organize, clean it again and possibly get a dehumidifier)
I'm in the process of talking with some buddies about possibly sharing a space, but the expense would be something to consider NOT lightly... I'm at a point where my art is just starting to take off. If this trend continues, and I do well at the next events I've signed up for - I shouldn't have a problem, but I don't want to make any deals I can't deliver yet.

I'm actually looking forward to working at home for a while, and have all of my supplies in one place. My biggest concern is keeping a downtown presence. Having a professional space to show people my work is a huge advantage. In the meantime, I will start looking for businesses in which to hang my work (cafes, shops, etc)

____CONVENTIONS, Especially horror ones_________

My biggest focus right now is finding events to vend at. Specifically Horror cons. Financially, I tend to do best at these events so far, and I really love the people at atmosphere. I have truly found a big branch of my family in the horror entertainment industry! I am not surprised by this, as I have been mad about dark and scary things since I was a little child. YES, its true darnit. I remember drawing monsters in kindergarten. Sure, they look like squiggly lines if you can find those old drawings, but I remember they were monsters.

This last weened I was at Paranormal Scare Fest (in TN) - while it was small and poorly attended, I'm not complaining. I'm not sure if it was fluke, mistake, luck, or talent, but I managed to do quite well at the event while around me I heard many grumblings and vendors were leaving early. I ended up spreading my prints out on the empty table next to me and stayed there till I was the last one.

_______Non-Money Talk________

I find myself talking lot about vending and events and advertising and building funds, etc. Sometimes I feel I've lost touch with expressing experiences and emotions. Perhaps my dilemma is the fact that I don't like to talk about specific people online without their permission. I don't speak other peoples business. And I havn't been in the mood to express my own emotions and/or personal stories online. I almost feel that it is a 'chore' to relay these experiences, so I stick to the basics of what, where, and when. Then, when I AM in the mood to ' blog' or whatever, I'm way behind on my stories, and there is too much to tell in one post, so I simplify it too much.

________ANYWAY____________

thats about it.

New Prints Available

Greetings Friends!

I have created a website where you can buy prints directly through paypal.
Easy Peasy!

These are good quality gloss prints on 100lb card stock.

If you have any requests or questions, don't hesitate to send me a message. I can make prints of almost anything I post here, and I may already have a print of something that is not listed on the print page.

GO HERE FOR PRINTS!!

Big Weekend - Gencon and Fringe Lightbox

This PAST weekend was, to put it simply, Awesome.

I had an art table at GenCon, and it was the best yet in presentation and in sales.
Photos can be found on my Facebook page.
Our 'weekend' Started on Wednesday - we set up in the afternoon, I went to work for a few hours, and then we went to the first night of the Dark Mardi Gras gencon club night, run by friend Rony. (I also did the flyers) Xiting the Systm played - their music was great, and they had an awesome lightshow. I bought a CD.

Thursday was the start of the show. D was my helper, and our table neighbor was David Wong, friend and unofficial business adviser. (lol) One of my heads "Rotted Screaming Bad" sold, and that made my day!
That night we went home briefly and back downtown for another Dark Mardi Gras after party. Bottoms Up Burlesque showed, along with Fire Dancer Neris and Molly WyldFyre.

Friday was a big day - The show went pretty well - We had a LOT more prints this time. Especially more choices for 11" x 17" prints. (Available prints can also be seen on my facebook page HERE - Although I do plan on making a page for them on my website that will make them easier to pay automatically, with paypal buttons and everything. Maybe in a week or 2.

FRIDAY EVENING - Over to the historic Firestation - on the side of which is a 29 ft across lightbox - This year, it features my artwork done for and inspired by the IndyFringe Festival!
Friday night was the unveiling of the new art!
A Small article on the Nuvo Site explains it briefly: HERE.

We pulled some people from GenCon, dad showed up and several others. To celebrate the new art, Fringe organized snacks and a firedancer troup! It was awesome.
Thank you to everyone that came out and to all the supporters out there!

Now, onto Saturday, and the rest of this post will be quick and brief - as I had this drafted for about a week and I want to get it posted. (I'm behind on social networking, lol)
- Pretty good day at the con.
- Get to have sushi in the evening with some very good buddies - good food and good stories and good business advice!
- After food, got over to the Hyatt to hang out with more art and convention buddies.
- drove home late, passed out.

SUNDAY:
- another great day at the con, sad to see it end, but ready for it to be over. It was very busy and the most successful con yet!
- After packing up, we head over to a huge art party at the Spaghetti factory - the traditional gencon ending, complete with food play and food sculpture.
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I'm sure there is more, but that is all for now.

The latest news was that D took me on a Gondola ride for my 30th birthday. Hurrah! What fun!