Saturday, May 16, 2009

My very first book...Moon Monster

Howdy... 
hangin' in Saluda NC teaching a workshop this weekend at Random Arts.
Great time as always.

In the mean time, here is a little interview I recently did for MMCA.  Learn all about my first book:  Moon Monster.


Here is the scoop on MMCA:
OUR STORY
We have no headquarters, which is good for the heating/cooling bill. We have no boss, no timekeeper, and no employee handbook. Then again, we have no fixed income. What we do have is group purchasing power in a world market. We are diverse. You will find not only full-time professional artists among us, but an arts gallery owner, a stay-at-home-mom, several savvy business women and more. Most of them would not know any of the others if they met in passing because most have never met face-to-face. Yet, many of the members talk daily about issues affecting their business and given that the art world relies on disposable income; there is a lot to discuss these days. A passion for adventure, exploration and art unifies the artists involved in the MMCA Marketplace, a virtual store that went up as the Dow was crashing down. MMCA Marketplace is a retail fine arts and craft shop. Its member artists make art cards, mixed media collages, floor cloths, jewelry, sculpture, paintings on paper and canvas, photographs and much more.


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE BEN!

As Al Pacino said in Scarface:  "Say hello to my little Ben!"...well, he said something like that.

So, I want to introduce you to my little Ben...Big Ben actually...Here he is....always prompt and timely,
 make no bones about it.  Doesn't he make you feel like the Abominable Snowman in Bugs Bunny cartoons..
.."I will name him George (Ben), and I will hug him and squeeze him and pet him and pat him..." 
I opted for a crustacean theme with ol' Ben
and to think he started from a roller skate, an alarm clock and a Goodwill dolly.  As my favorite Shakespeare quote goes:  

Full fathom five thy father lies, 
Of his bones are coral made, 
Those are pearls that were his eyes
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change 
Into something rich and strange

Yep...that's my Ben..



Saturday, May 09, 2009

Kali...Happy Dark Mother's Day


Last week I finished a piece based on one of the most complex Hindu deities, Kali Ma, the Dark Mother. 
 Of course she also has a benevolent side but usually when you see her she is in her dark mode of destruction.  Usually standing above the dead body of Shiva....don't worry he comes back.  He's a god after all.   She apparently also fought Sinbad...here she is now...
Thought I'd share some images of a piece I just finished.  This is my Kali, the Dark Mother.

She is life size and I am currently building a class proposal around this concept.  If you're in Missoula you can stop by the store Tsunami on Higgins Ave. and check her out in person.
 One missing feature that I deliberated long and hard on is the traditional Kali tougue. I tried it and it was too much for this particular piece.  Instead I sort of insinuate it.It is usually bright red and sort of like Gene Simmons.  In fact I really think that he used her as inspiration.  You compare and decide:

Kali:

 Gene:

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Everything coming up roses...

Once upon a time....
there was a little boy who like scary things ...his father read him scary books...his grandmother took him to scary movies... and he used to go to Disneyland all the time so that he could ride the Haunted Mansion ride.  That was me...yes indeed.  I spent much of my childhood in Southern California.  Born there in fact.  My grandparents had a contact lens biz "Crown Contact Lens" in Pasadena.  When I was a kid I remember going to the Rose Parade from there office.  The floats are amazing but really it is the smell that is spectacular. 
 Of course the didn't have any Day of the Dead floats, back then like they did in 2008.

So if  you're wondering why I'm being all nostalgic...it is because I will be heading back down that way to teach at Zinnia, 
I really haven't spent much time there since I was a kid, though, but it is always interesting to see how things have changed.  I'll actually be in South Pasadena though..close enough for me. 
 I'll be teaching Shoe Shrines, What a Relief, and Island of deMented Toys.  Should be fun.  Here's the contact:  

626 441 2181


Side-trip:

While I'm there, the Wynns, Jane
 and Tom, that is   will be in town for a friends art opening. 
His name is Chris Cooper and will be showing at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.  


ART n' SOUL VA
Just got back from VA Art and Soul.  Super swell time teaching, hanging, and yes I did have a martini or two while I was there.  Also quite the adventure at Harpoon Larry's for dinner.  Here is the motley crew now including: the WynnsKecia Deveney and her friend Jane, Stephanie RubianoDan Essig, and the irrepressible Susan Lenart Kazmer