Mind out of gutter...

My attention span sucks, but whatdya know...the words "Black Cock: Call for Art" caught it and held for about 2.2 seconds. I can't seem to complete half of the things I do, but boy did I make the effort simply because this band's name is "Black Cock".
I'm: Sad. Pathetic. Crass. Childish. Etc.
I know:|
But it ISN'T actually dirty, guys. They just identify with roosters. Black ones. Get your mind out of the gutter.
Here is my submission for their album artwork. Its doubtful I will win...its not even very original...but it gave me the chance to experiment with some different materials, including my beloved glass balls!
I will also be posting on www.rarebirdart.blogspot.com just to make sure my black cock gets seen. Oh stop!

*If you would like to attend the gallery showing and party for the band at Mohawk this Thursday July 9th starting at 8, please RSVP to rsvp@blackcockrock.com
There will be free food and drinks and a DJ and other goodies....plus Black Cock art, yay! These guys are loud, a little punk, a little electronic...super nice peeps too:)

Cock-a-Doodles

I did 2 sketches before I started on my rooster painting to submit for album artwork...I couldn't even sit still long enough to complete one:|
Ugh...I have serious focus issues.

Paint Failure Frames

Just some frames I am messing around with right now....Layering them with separating, dripping, peeling, aging, paint...who knows how they will eventually turn out..hopefully closer to pretty rather than ugly. These are the risks.
I'm working on pushing forward...even if I think I might ruin something. I've held back for so long out of this whole "what-if-I-make-it-worse" fear.
Failure can be a good thing...or so I keep telling myself.

Rat: Painted

In an earlier post, I described my new venture: Paper Mache. I call him, "Ele' Fant" (I once named a pet snail, "Giraffe"...deal with it.) He's kinda a creepy little dude. But I like creepy...he will evolve into various postures and sizes for K's Halloween extravaganza. Gonna work on making these eyes a little less albino-ish.
Anyhoo, here's what he looks like painted.

All the Rage: Patina Fingernails

They're hot...I know...I'm such a trend-setter.

Tree Gate Progress

So the gate is getting there...slowly but surely. I did some samples, playing with paint failure and oxidation and then sealed a part. I'm hoping I won't be sorry using these unorthodox methods on hot rolled steel.
Speaking of hot...this sucker heats up like a frying pan. In order to work on it, I had to get up before the sun blazed its heat upon my tree. Could only work a little at a time as it starts affecting my application process. I'm liking it though..and D likes it.
I will post some more final pics on www.rarebirdart.blogspot.com

Scatter-Birdie Jukebox: The Knife

http://www.myspace.com/theknife

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Knife/+videos/3099854

Their sound to me is both creepy and uplifting at the same time...Kinda like when I watch a solid horror flick. I can't help but want more even though I know the images are scary and grotesque...there is beauty in fear and pain. I feel like I can hear that in these siblings voices.

Also, check out their fairly recent and more morbid sounding latest project: Fever Ray.

http://feverray.com/

Say yay to freaky swedes!

Scatter-Birdie Cinema: Bottle Shock

If you are a wine lover...this is a great DVD to check out. It really makes you appreciate all the artistry and science that goes into making a great bottle of vino. Plus it sticks it to those Frenchies;)

Be sure and check out the Bonus Features for an interesting "infomercial" on the actual vineyard.

Custom Tree Lady WIP

Varnishing this sucker and hoping to ship it off this week...hip hip hooray.

Scatter-Birdie Cinema: Gran Torino

I'm surprised that I just now watched this movie.
If you haven't seen it...go rent it now. Clint Eastwood still kicks some serious A.

Shanna's Sloooww Goooin' Paintin'

Ever heard of Slow Food...well, this is Slow Paint...except not as healthy, organic or yummy.

I told my good buddy Shanna I was doin a painting for her like 3 decades ago...its been a start and stop and stare and stop and stare process.

Anyhoo, it's evolving. I need Miss M to come by the house this week and give me input on where we wanna go with it.

Trashcan? ;)

Boobie Debaucle

So last week I walk into the KACC gallery towing along my rather large painting. My mom and I stroll over to the counter to register it for their show called "Images".

The room goes silent.

I'm (as usual) completely oblivious to the whispers and chatters about violations of gallery rules.
Apparently, the gallery does not allow nudes...ummm...seriously??
The entry form mentioned nothing of the sort. Plus, I've shown my work there before...uhh, like 90% of my pieces have naked ladies somewhere in them. Supposedly, these past nudes I had showed were more silhouetted.

There is mumbling and grumbling going on as I sit there...totally surprised that my painting was causing such a stir. Several of the artists that were standing around start migrating toward me...to meet me...pat me on the back...form some nude artwork commraderie! It was kind of a funny scene. I have no idea what I started, but the lady in charge of submissions finally said, "I'm going to accept it! It's about time Kerrville get over it." or something like that. I think her name was Marsha (Medford)? The piece she entered was one of my favorites there, by -the-way. If you go, look for a dark turquoise with rich, vibriant deep sea-like colors and a textural coral attached to it. Very cool.

A couple of the artists (also with cool works) were seriously high-fiving me because, "We hate showing here because they don't allow nudes."

Anyway, that's my story of the week. I'm off to take a dip in the baby-pool...

If you're in Kerrville: http://www.kacckerrville.com/

It's a great organization/gallery with some fantastic showings, so I mean no disrespect with this post...but I was a bit flabbergasted. I understand what they are trying to prevent, but its art...not pornagraphy.

P.S. The Gourd show was simply amazing! I had no idea a gourd could be turned into so many versions of gorgeousness!

Scatter-Birdie Jukebox: Ludovico Einaudi

This morning I am as usual: unfocused, fidgety and neurotic. What's new?

Listening to: Ludovico Einaudi (to soothe the frazzle *sigh*)

Free Download:
http://www.einaudiwebsite.com/

Ball/Sphere Obsession

I am enamored with these glass beads, nuggets and glitter...working on new applications and ways to sneak more spheres into my work. I mixed them into my gels and paints in the revamp of my lastest painting. Glass balls + Trees = Happy Scatter-Birdie:)



http://www.ceroglass.com/index.asp

Eyeballs!

More paper mache prototypes. K and I have already begun preparing for Halloween, which I am quite excited about! We've got a number of super cool ideas for the house and party this year. I have no problem starting on them in June either. Sept/Oct are always so booked with projects and its choas at the last minute.
I've infused a blacklight reactive paint onto these eyeballs called Wildfire: http://www.wildfirefx.com/
This is the Bad-A stuff that Blue Man Group uses in their shows. I'm sampling their products right now to confirm what we want to do for K's Halloween fantasma.
I just realized that blacklight i had from 1998 has gone missing. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to photograph this stuff under the blacklight. More on these ideas later...

Figure Drawing 2nd Session

My second time to go to a figure drawing session at the AVAA. I'm hoping to start going at least a couple times a month. There is so much energy in the room...3 hours of artists focusing on improving their ability to see and draw what is there and also developing their own way of seeing. I can't wait to go back!

I hope to give a little more time to the faces on some of the poses next time...I'm getting a little faster, but sometimes I just can't get it down before the 5 minutes are up!

Figure Drawing Session (Parental Discretion/Schlong Advisory)

These are from my first ever "The Full Monty" figure drawing session at the AVAA. Didn't get it at first that these sessions are all male. I'm such a ding-dong (no pun intended;) I was really proud of myself for going because

A.) I haven't drawn/painted with a live model since college.

B.) I am more comfortable painting females than males and this forced me to branch out

C.) I get nervous drawing and painting around others...trying to get over those fears.

D.) I rarely draw and sketch these days, so I'm hoping to ge back into sketching and illustration.

These sketches aren't the best, but I was rusty, the poses are pretty short (some only 5 minutes) I am super slow.

Revamped for the Good Ol' KACC

So I'm entering one of my paintings into this member show in Kerrville...because my mom insists upon it...otherwise, I'd just let them all gather dust.

I decided I needed to push myself a bit and make one of my more recent paintings have a bit more bite to it.

I swallowed my fear and went at it. Is it better? Worse?

I'm going to go into its explanation in another post. I'm going to finally open up and spill the beans on my meanings and intentions on this one(something I typically won't do)...but for now, it means whatever you want it to mean...if you want it to mean anything at all.