finished piece

Today I finished up the mixed media piece I've been working on.  Here's a pic...

Bygones

I'll post some more updates on some local art shows soon.

~ eye should make some time to start on several more this week...lots of ideas going, just have to get them down on paper.

A few more current/upcoming shows in the LA area, and a progress pic

Here's some information on a few current and upcoming shows...

Herakut, definitely my favorite street artists, have got a few events coming up.  "After the Laughter - The Herakut Exhibition", opens 2/25 at Le Basse Projects in Chinatown. Then they're also doing a live painting alongside the performers from Lucent Dossier on 2/17 and 2/18.  You can buy tickets online for $30 either night here.

Hera and Akut, a male and female duo from Germany, started painting together back in 2004.  I think their styles compliment each other perfectly in their collaborations.  Akut leans more towards photo realism, while Hera's characters are heavily stylized...they'll just alternate picking up where the other left off, covering certain areas and leaving others exposed.  It's awesome to watch them work together.  You can check out a video of them painting below.

If you can't view the video below in your browser, use this link.



View their website here.

Tara McPherson, Deedee Cheriel, and Lindsey Way have a group exhibit starting 2/4 through 3/3 at Merry Karnowsky Gallery.  I just came across Lindsey Way's art recently, and I'm really into it.  I've always had a thing for dioramas and layers in art, and right now she's showing a collection of 13 or so diorama-style works.

Another few I'll mention are over at the Corey Helford Gallery...Eric Joyner has a show going on right now...he's known for his reoccurring robots and donuts (often placed in unexpected settings).  For those of you into more retro-styled art, Shag will be having an opening there on 2/11.

Eric Joyner - September

Shag - Swamp Water

Been working on a new mixed media piece.  Getting along much better with this paper this time around...using watercolor paints/pencils/crayons, and a little gouache.  Here's a progress pic...

~ eye should get a babysitter and a pair of those Herakut/Lucent Dossier tickets before they sell out and I'm kicking myself.

small drawing

I finished a small drawing on watercolor paper today.  The grainy texture is throwing me off some, at least when using colored pencils.  It almost reminds me of coloring with crayons because of all of the little white areas.  While trying to fill in all of these voids (a bit OCDish), I think I came close to coloring right through the page in spots.

Here's a progress pic of a new one I started a few days ago.

~ eye should try using watercolors or maybe pastels and ink this time around...or go out and get some smoother paper (jeez, there's an idea).

back to my dandelion girl

Last week I started working again on my wishing weed girl.  I think it's sort of funny how I've come full circle back to her when a few months ago, I was thinking I may eventually paint over her.  Different phases and moods we all go through I suppose.  Here's another progress pic...

I'm thinking about adding some more depth by bringing in some background trees and upping the contrast a bit more.  I'll probably end up coating the top with resin and adding another layer of leaves too.  The weather, being more like summer than winter, is perfect for using resin...I'm hoping I can get this done before it changes again. 

I also dug some of my watercolor paper out the other day and cut it to different sizes to work on.  It's been a long time since I used it last (for illustrating The Quiet Lion), but I like the idea of drawing on watercolor paper.  It opens up some options of going back and adding paint or other mediums later if I choose to.

Audrey Kawasaki, one of my favorite artists, is on the cover of Juxtapoz magazine this month.  She has a unique way of combining flowing line work with subtle shading that I find really interesting.  I hope that my girls (though very different stylistically), will be just as engaging to some viewers.  

You can check out more of Audrey's work here. 

~ eye should try a drawing on watercolor paper in the next few days.  I'm hoping the texture works for me still...(I've been getting used to the much smoother wood panels).

latest painting

Here's a pic of the painting I gave to my sister for Christmas.  It was a real quick one that I made in the couple of days before Christmas Eve.

Much of a Muchness

Originally I was working on a painting of a tightrope walker for her, but it was way too involved to finish in time.  Hopefully I'll get to wrapping that one up soon.  Anyhow, I was pretty happy that I was able switch gears with this clown idea and get something done for her so quickly (even though it's really small...6"x 6"). 

~ eye should work on another small painting soon...it's gratifying to start and finish something in just a few days.

some current and upcoming shows

Like most people, I've been crazy-busy with the holidays and all that comes with them.  I did find a little time to paint a small piece for my sister for Christmas (I'll post some pics of it soon).  Now that everything's more mellow, I need to get back into the swing of things and make more time again for art.

Wanted to share some info for a few exhibits going on now and some that are coming up real soon...

Sylvia Ji is showing her new work at the Corey Helford Gallery now through the 14th.  Recently her day of the dead pieces caught my eye, but I'm especially liking the direction she's going in now.  Love all of the intricate patterns she's using and the detail work in her veils and fabric.

Sylvia Ji - Violet Rose

Check out more by Sylvia Ji here.

Esao Andrews has an interesting surrealist style, and is showing at Thinkspace Gallery from 1/7 - 1/28.  See his work here.  Allison Sommers is also showing there during the same time.  She has more of a Bosch-like, detailed style that you can see here. 

Ana Bagayan, (one of my favorites), is showing from 2/4 - 2/28 at Thinkspace as well.  I really like the soft details in her character's faces, and the interesting lighting and shadows she uses in some of her work.

You can find more by Ana Bagayan here.

The Hive also has a good show coming up from the the 7th through the 28th.  One of the artists included is Renee Lawter, who works a lot in watercolor, creating art that often speaks of environmental issues and usually features some unique looking creatures.  You can see more of her work here.

Another artist exhibiting at the same show is Brian Kesinger, who creates steampunk-style works in watercolor.  You can see some work by him here.

~ eye should definitely make it to at least a few of these shows.