Sacred Craft Art Show

I’ll be attending Sacred Craft this year with the Surf Story book. I’ll have a few paintings on display, and may be doing some live painting on the premises. That is if I can overcome my fear of being a focal point for people. It should be a really fun event, I’ve wanted to attend since I first heard about it. A number of other artists will also be in attendance and possibly painting. They are Robb Havassy, Russell Crotty, Charlie Clingman, Chris Pederson, Drew Brophy, Wade Koniakowsky, Ron Croci and Matt Beard. Come out to show your support and buy our art.

Still Wet

Here’s a new painting I just finished for someone in Amsterdam. I’m not sure if I’m done yet. I think I’ll let it dry and decide if I’m going to do more to it or not.

The Head

Here’s a fun cartoon I found on Cartoon Brew this morning. It was made by designer Matias Vigliano and animator Dante Zaballa from Argentina. Enjoy.

20 min live set by The Dead Weather

Courtney tuned me into this site called From the Basement. It’s an incredible time waster. Whatever you do, don’t click this link: Live performance of 20 min live set by The Dead Weather. This video is one example of the addictive nature of this site. Love of good music is my drug, and I was hooked on this site in the first 20 seconds.

1…2…4…7…Oh, I Give Up

I really love animation from the 60’s and 70’s. One day I hope to make an animated short, and it will probably be heavily influenced by this time period. I spent some formative years learning to count watching toons like this on Sesame Street. It’s fun to go back and revisit some of these old shorts on YouTube.

I wonder what was going on with this particular animator. There’s a three-headed monster that seems to check with his two other heads before he eats you, the devil, two racing/getaway scenes, and ten undercover agents. O.k., so some drugs were probably taken and paranoia has set in. I see that theme. How does the guy juggling the three balls that become three blind mice fit? Oh, he’s probably the dealer, and the mice represent his customers! It all makes sense. I should probably write a disclaimer now with some sort of official sounding language thats meant to be mumbled at a high rate of speed: I don’t condone drug use, or the paranoia that ensues. Parents, don’t worry about your kids watching Sesame Street. They won’t pick up on these themes. They just like counting and fun colors. No really, don’t believe me? It’s taken me 30+ years to pick up on a theme here. I’m a little slow though. 🙂

First Things First

I woke up this morning with Joy Division in my head.

Backward Living

My friend Justin and I were talking the other day, and we both felt there are three predominant emotions you have as a freelance artist or graphic designer. First is fear (if you’re in-between jobs), second is very temporary joy (at pay-day), and lastly, pressure (to get the work done yesterday!) I’ve been in the pressure phase for a little while now (which is good, I know, no complaining), but I’m feeling the need for a break, at which point I’ll stress about a lack of work. It’s a vicious cycle folks.

I also know this about myself, I’m disciplined enough to work during the “work day”, but I have the most fun and the most productive in the off hours when it’s “free time”. Ugh! I think this is fairly normal with artists, but it’s backwards.

The Weekend Away

San Francisco was a great little getaway. I don’t think relaxing would be the appropriate word to describe the time though. We kind of played tourists, which is fun to a point. Many places we visited we arrived at before the great hordes of romantic young lovers, Japanese tour groups in silver reflective jackets taking picture specimens, and hipster clones with the outfit of the moment.

We ate some amazing food, had some great hosts (Stacey’s aunt, uncle, and niece), and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The curtain of rain that has saturated the air on the west coast parted for just the weekend. We were able to just wear t-shirts every once in a while.

Here are a few shots I took. It’s hard for me to not look at vacation pictures and have a Bruce Brown narrative accompanied by some Herb Alpert trumpet background music.

Golden Gate Bridge Patrol car. I feel so safe.

A photo I took of the Golden Gate Bridge. I would get mild vertigo when I would look up. If I were able to overcome my fear of heights, I think it would be amazing to be a bridge worker.

The city from Coit Tower.

This city has no shortage of fascinating nooks and crannies.

A very classic San Francisco scene.