Monster Steez

I just saw that the last post I made was 3 weeks ago, seems fitting for how busy I have been in the last 3 weeks. Start up on a new construction project out of town has sapped a lot of my free time. The good news is work is going really well, I'm learning "trial by fire." as I have heard it put. That's the way I learn best.

I have managed to crank out some paintings in the last two weekends. Got the great idea with Jon last weekend to split a peice of plywood and go to town with some graff. (Jon tried to do bike trip america with CO's gang but a dodge pickup on hwy 26 ruined that plan. Jon came away from the accident with a smashed helmet and crunchy hip by didn't proceed with the bike trip.) Below you will see my peice "Monster" and Jon's peice "Evolve" I REALLY dig the colors in jon's peice.

This is some good practice for the Live August graffiti show at the bamboo grove. Sadly the show was supposed to be this friday but due to unforseen circumstances have changed and the show is in August. However now that Jon is back I think he'll get to do the show as well and it'll be good to have a friend in the show.

I've listed this practice board of plywood on craigslist with an invitation for an open offer. Monster is on one side, Steez is on the other. I don't know if I'm to the point of being able to sell a rattle can graffiti peice... but maybe.

P.S. I have a new song mostly written... just need to find a solid way to record my acoustic, and I'll post.

The Gladstone

The June showing at The Gladstone (39th and SE Gladstone) has been hung. Great Coffee shop with... everything you could want -Coffee Beer Wine. Bam. They also have snacks and comfy seating who wouldn't want to hang out and just kick it at a place like that.

This show took a little more prep work than some of the others I have done. However, I can tell that I am getting better organized and have more realistic expectations of what to expect. The Gladstone had freshly painted walls and I got clear hanging wire and I think this months exhibit turned out real clean. Besides the slightly frustrating plan B I had to go after discovering a mistake in my hanging design for the big "Strawberry Maniac" painting. As you can see

the big painting is hung off the loose center line the other paintings sort of adhere to... drives me crazy.

Also picked up some paintings that I hadn't seen for a while. They have been hanging out downtown at Kelly's. The lady Heidi that put the show together is a really cool local artist that has given me some sound advice. I have never seen her art, but hope to catch a show soon. Off hand I mentioned the Graffiti show at Bamboo Grove salon and she has both heard of the spot and knew of the show. Sounds like the show could have a good turnout and I've got a great couple peices prepared and I think I'm going to get to do a live peice. Drinks will be served (yer pay'n!) for those that show, June 21.... actually their website still has the old date June 6th, I have been told it was changed to june 21st.

Spur of the moment

Yesterday and today marked great days. When I came back from my week long beach adventure with Kim to Florida, I won't lie I was stressing for the fretboard. There were no guitars in florida that I could play, and it was brutal. I came home to very old strings, on both the Mistress and Redwood. A busy catch up from vacation/birthday celebrations/parents in town weekend did not allow for restringing. While I took the few spare minutes I could gather to break my fingers back in, my real urge had not been fulfilled. Until Yesterday and today. I love new strings.

I got a small off the cuff looped jam session, with myself. Don't have much to do? Listen to Wagon.

June Art show plans

So I believe I had two shows lined up for June.

Graffiti art and hip hop show at the Bamboo Grove Salon has been moved to June 20th. There will be graffiti artists, a DJ, calligraphy artists and more TBD. I plan on doing a live graffiti peice for the event as well. Some of the graffiti canvases I have will be on display for about a month or so. Give it up to Arianna Ninneman for hooking me up with the line on the show! It sounds like me and John Graeter will be the main artists. It's been a while since I have shown with John, but he is sure to steal the show... he is an amazing artist!!!

The Gladstone Coffee and Gallery is the other June show, and it's a short notice cancellation fill that seems like a pretty good opportunity. I don't know much about the space, I have a chance to check it out today. Sounds like they have big walls where big paintings look good. That's convenient because I love big paintings! There is a possibility of a first friday event on the 6th, but due to short notice of the show and the potential lack of interest generated it may not happen. We will see!

It's nice out, this is all for now.

New graff Peices!

Two in a row, Go me. May will be a good month.

New happenings don't stop just because I'm thousands of miles from home. What a great tool the internet is. The graffiti show at the Bamboo Grove seems like it's going to be a big hit. John Graeter is dialin' in for the show from what I hear and I can't wait to show with him again. There also will be a live performance aspect to the show, and I'm hoping to get in as a featured artist for a live installation segment. The show is on June 6, and regardless it'll be fun to go to so if you are reading this -> mark down June 6th as taken.

Also, I finished up a pencil drawing of a new graffiti peice. I have lately felt the need to get back to the roots that inspired and started my passion for art. "Mister" is new as of today, "Hustle" is one that I dug out of the sketchbook from a few months back. These aren't the best versions of sketches I have drawn, but what do you want from me I'm on vacation! Let me know your thoughts on the new works!

Vacation

As I sit under a fan in a small bedroom holed up just south of West Palm Beach, I can't help but be amused that I'm watching t.v. and writing in a blog. I'm not crazy, it's just that my skin is scorched, I'm exauhsted, and I have had so much fun this last week I need to chill for minute. For this past week I have been living in Del Boca Vista being amazed that Seinfeld nailed all the Floridian jokes as well as they did. I really can't complain becuase I have been hanging out at the beaches in boynton, del ray, lantana and west palm. I got to take the reigns of an airplane for the very first time as we flew in gramps private plane for a one of a kind lunch adventure. This has been quite the vacation, and when I get back to Oregon I will be sure to post a ton of pictures.

I'm told, by my highly professional internet council, that I'm supposed to write in the Blog a few times a week as opposed to once in a few weeks. I'm also finding that the reader base has grown from one or two people to apparently 5 or 6. That's a growth rate of like 600% depending on how you skew the data! I'm also told I'm supposed to keep this short - That's really the hard part.

For a quick update I want to share a couple things. I still have paintings up at the Kelly's Olympian downtown. I haven't had any sales, or any interest really however as the coordinator got extremly busy days before we were supposed to change out art, I wiggled my way into another month of showing. I also changed out some of the paintings hanging over at EastBurn. I have had a pretty good response from the EastBurn, and I must say I love the bar, the food and the people. If you haven't checked out EastBurn at 1800 E Burnside, do it. Lastly, there is a graff art show in the works at the Bamboo Grove Salon that I am really excited about. I believe it's in June but I will keep you posted!

Mellow Mood

Hello you. Yes you. You are the only one reading.... seriously. Don't leave. That's not the answer. Oh, I asked no question? You must think you are pretty clever. How's that working out for you... being clever?

Now let's start with a joke. Why'd the chicken cross the road? He heard they had black butte porter across the street. Who wouldn't cross the road for such a fine brew? I know I would.

SO, it's update time.

I have now been in portland for almost 7 complete months. So far I feel like I have accomplished... a little. I'm breaking in. There is so much for me to learn, experience, and strive towards. I have been in a handful of group shows, both month long and one night only. My paintings have seen the inside of many different portland locations. Some galleries, some restaurants, some coffee shops and I even made a sale! "Black Napkins" the Frank Zappa painting sold for a one of a kind valentines day to some dude who really has a killer wife. Also had some success with the axe as well. I got to play live with the local musicians of First Name Michael all way from a gay bar in Olympia Washington, to the killer 15th st. Pub in Vancouver. At one point we played out 3 nights out of 10... pretty fun time.

It's interesting... after 7 months, the biggest thing I have noticed is these artists in Portland who put their soul, their lives and every ounce of their energy out on the line to take a chance get taken advantage of left and right. Whether it's the story of a group of musicians who put nearly ass in a chair at a bar only to be handed 3 dollars (seriously.) Or if it's the rich hollywood elite who actually visits portland, gets hammered and rudely nabs an artists' off the easel painting and skips town without paying the tab. It's a weary life for most, to strive for the elusive creative force, but I'll be damned if it's not worth it the moment you step back from the perfect ending to your painting. It's worth it the silent beat after the last note of the take.

We are where we are, we can only move forward from here. I got a new project down in corvallis, it's the day job (which interestingly enough I absolutly love it) had to back out of First Name Michael. There are only so many days in the week. I won't stop playing my guitar; painting and Pistol River Music Project will become more active. I also got back to drawing, shout out to CO for the sketch competition link. This competition the word is "dives" I am going to submit the drawing at the top... I think the other people will blow me out of the water, but I whipped this thing up we'll see what people think of it I guess.

Song for Week 5... or 6. Just song of last week, I am not keeping count. This week I'm changing it up. "Found," the other song I'm working on is developing arrangements and pretty soon it will be time for another instrument paired with it to see where it really heads off. For now, check out this song that I believed developed as my odd short little explosions/hendrix/jack white type... vibe. This little jam came to me over the course of two nights; one writing, one recording. I like it, sometimes I listen to it twice. There is still a little feed back, and I know it's quiet.... problems of a home studio.