Jeremiah Maddock is one of my favorite artists that has shown multiple times at Anno Domini. I have to say I love finding artists who don't have websites. Contrary to the modern popular belief that you have to put yourself out there, I find it to be so pure (or lucky?!). If you want to find out more about him, check out Anno Domini's site or this interview on Beautiful Decay. Jeremiah Maddock's show We's Gonna be Fine was spectacular. His intricate line work and details are amazing. Surreal and symbolic, you can fall into his work and find more information the longer you look. The images I have included here are just an example of his work. He also focuses on figures, but my phone was too full to take more photos:) Here are a few images from the show.
Shelter art show at The Citadel and Works Gallery
in My Art Shows
I'm happy to announce I will be participating in a dual art exhibition titled Shelter. The artists will each be creating a 10x10 installation at the beautiful Citadel Gallery. Each space will be related to their artistic workspaces and creative inspiration. The show at Works Gallery will be more traditional, with each artist contributing one artwork. I hope you can join me at one or both receptions!
American Arts Incubator International Art Progam
in Sketchbook, Ramblings
Yesterday, I applied to be an artist in the American Arts Incubator program. It is a partnership between ZERO1 and U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). This incredible opportunity chooses artists to travel to Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines or Papua New Guinea to collaborate on an art project with locals. The community-driven project address a local issue culminating in a digital or mural art project. The selected artists will work with underserved youth in the communities through workshops and projects. I hope to be a part of this life-changing program. I have been dreaming of participating in an international community art project and this would be the perfect opportunity to fulfill it.
The project asks artists to state a preference or tie to Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines or Papua New Guinea. My tie to Papua New Guinea is through my grandfather. He lived there for six months after he met my grandmother in Australia. He wrote her letters, courting her from PNG. I would love to the opportunity to travel to the place he loved so much and work with people to creatively educate the community.
Rey Giese, sign painter show at Kaleid Gallery
I was relieved I was able to make it in to Kaleid Gallery before the closing of the Rey Giese show. If you don't know, Giese was a sign painter from San Jose. We don't have too many claims-to-fame here beyond computer chips so it was a real pleasure to pop in and see the walls covered in vintage signs painted by Giese. If you have the time, the show is open until tomorrow, February 28th noon-7pm.
Rey Giese installation. You can see the incredible variety here.
Rey Giese was incredibly prolific. Born in San Jose in Sept. 25, 1919, Giese passed away just last year. He worked his way through a career in sign painting and it seemed if you were walking downtown in the 1930s, you would easily spot one of his signs. There is just something about dedicating your life to mastering a craft that I find so honorable. The focus and steady hand needed for sign painting is something to be admired as well. You really should go see this legend's work before the show ends.
The show also features some local artists and their super interpretations of Giese's work.
Read the write-ups in the images below for more information on how he got started. You can also read this article to find out more about Rey Giese.
How nice would it be to only have to use the Yellow Pages and your signature as advertisement?
Hilarious!
I need this one.
And this one too.
Dog Days and Total Reinvigoration
Dog Days refer to the hot middle months of summer. While it's not technically summer here in California, it has been remarkably warm and it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so that's why this post got that title. This is a portrait of Brutis, a very fine dog I had the honor of painting. It was one of a few Valentine's Day gifts I was commissioned to paint. He has the best color coat and sweetest disposition.
Brutis
I rarely get sick, but I managed to catch a mild cold this past week. While it's not been too bad, I'd prefer feeling 100%. I think all the homemade soup, mandarins and a few hot toddies helped me get over it nicely.
It's been a very busy week, but different from what I'm used to. I'm reorganizing how I schedule my finances, time and projects. I keep looking for the finish line, when it's done and I get to paint and experiment. I'm trying to be super organized this year and I'm learning to be less busy and scattered as I was in 2013. So far, I really feel the difference.
Midst all this planning, I have cooked a few amazing meals and spontaneously decided to paint the front door of our house. I allowed myself to only choose from leftover colors from a public art project I did last year. I went with 'Navajo Red', a reddish orange color. For some reason, painting the door caused a light bulb to go off in my head and I realized I want to be more creative in all aspects of my life, not just with my art making. I feel like I have been so bogged down in the little details that I have been largely ignoring all the other ways I can make life awesome.
The new orange door
I was too excited to wait until the door was finished, but you get the basic idea. It turned out more orange than the rust I thought it would be, but orange is the color of health, beta-carotene, passion, adventure, transformation and increases creativity and appetite. Sounds good to me.
What do you think?! I love it!