School started today, I'm teaching a third year illustration class at cca-
I feel refreshed and ready to get back into it... Not teaching over the summer for the first time in 7 years was a much needed break.
I'm working on a new series of paintings for the Tattooed Portrait series, picking it up a notch and hope to surprise a few people... Also working on a new book with 9mm books, due out in may of 2007- Tattooed Portraits (2)- it will have EVERYTHING in it, including some documentarty photos, more text, a few paintings with process photos and it will be a hardcover book...
The past month has been productive- I drove out to grass valley for two days to hang out with Aaron Cain and his family...
Aaron and I made a one of a kind tattoo machine together, I drew up a design- and he took the reigns and created an amazing piece of art- the machine is perfect! I documented the whole process, from start to finish- and will be integrating this unique experience into the new book... We also traded some work, he got the portrait of Grime, I got 4- one of a kind Aaron Cain machines- pretty crazy... His wife is a great cook, as well- definitely a memorable trip.
I'm on tattoo number 11- getting better every time. It's becoming much less stressful and the process is slowly becoming more comfortable...
For fine art, I have three Solo shows for 2007- In March at Lineage Gallery in Philadelphia with the Doll Series / in May at the Shooting Gallery in SF with the Tattooed Portrait Series / and in October at Invisible NYC with a new body of work, as well...
I will be in NYC october 26-29th for the grand opening of Strychnin Gallery NYC- a group show with some pretty amazing artists- the space is connected to Paul Booth's new shop- if your in town, definitely check it out... Miami Art Basel in December for two days- including a book signing with Robert Williams, Shepard Fairey, Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath, Niagara, Sas Christian, Yumiko Kayaukawa and more...
A few new articles are out and in the works- I just interviewd Mike Davis for the September issue of Juxtapoz magazine, also designed a small booklet for the october issue of Juxtapoz; I will be in Garage magazine fairly soon: just finished an interview with Empty magazine; Penthouse Forum wrote a book review on Tattooed Portraits....
Commercial work has been productive, as well- just finished 12, cheesy 70's style wildlife paintings for TBWA/Toronto and two collectible cups for Subway Sandwiches- Joe Torre of the Yankees and Willie Randolph of the Mets- these cups will be in every Subway in NY, NJ and PA...
EMAIL and MYSPACE- man, it's nearly impossible to keep up- I'm bombarded with it every single day and I can't reply to every email- Give me a call and it will be much more productive. AND- what is up with old students writing me years later asking for advice on how to make it as an artist? Did you NOT listen to me in class? DId you NOT pay attention to what they were saying in portfolio class?- There is no right answer for everyone- you just have to work your ass off and struggle to make it happen. No one is going to hand anything to you. Stop playing fucking video games and turn your god damn tv off. Sit down and create some art, go out into the world and try and promote yourself.
more news to come...
