On a not-so recent trip to SF.

quick study

Jflinn gallery show on Nov. 10th

I appologize for not keeping current on my blog and not responding. I've been off trying new things and it seems to occupy most of my time. No suprise that I'm promoting my own show the day of. How pathetic, right? But anyways, I will be at the Jflinn gallery show entitled "The Strangest Life I’ve Ever Known". The exhibit showcases artists tapping into people’s fascination and ties to folk tales, oddities, myths, legends and mysteries. I'm mainly focusing on mythology similar to the previous show. This piece here is my version of the celebration of Baccus.

I'm honored to be shown with artist such as Matt Groller, Seth Drenner, Sue Blanchard, Ron Velasco, Thomas Broersma, John Quinn III, Thomas Lee Bakofsky and Jeff McMillan. The show runs from November 10th, 2007 through November 24th, 2007. The opening artist reception will be on November 10th from 7pm through 10pm.

Here's the contact for the gallery:
JFlinn Gallery
2950 A Randolph Avenue Costa Mesa CA 92626 Tel 714.708.3504
Come by to the opening if you can.

digital alla prima

Just practicing with photoshop while painting a model. I think I used mostly the dry media brushes.

Guys guys show at Gallery 1988

So I was in another show at gallery 1988 last week. Been too busy and tired to post anything during that time. Thanks to all those that came out for the support.

I chose to have a running theme through my pieces...and the theme is Greek and Roman Mythology. I always wanted to tackle the classical themes. Here is is one of the paintings I did for the show. This is my version of Hercules and the Nemean Lion.

deviant

Jeff McMillan has a blog

Hey, if you want to see some hilariously wonderful paintings, check out my buddy's, Jeff McMillan, new blog. Well, it's not new but I think there's a lame story to it.

His work always makes me scratch my head and wonder how this guy thinks. He renders very well and it's chalked full of bizarre and funny narratives that only can come from his deranged imagination. Certainly, there's plenty of artist who's work anchors on the strange and outrageous but Jeff's work seems to be genuine to me. His humor is who he is and it seems to be his reflection on pop culture, which just strikes a chord in me. Anyways, go say hi.

This first post is one in a series of belt buckle paintings.

bond girl

quick studies from a costume workshop (roughly 7-10 minutes poses)...the theme was the "BOND GIRL". I think the model was Italian and looked just like what I imagine a bond girl to look like...WOW! Bikini and guns, what a perfect combination.

stigmata

I'm in another group show at Gallery 1988 San Francisco this weekend.

thailand

Baby E.



Sunny Bangkok morning.



Trekking through the jungle



long boats



our guide

hiking up to halfdome

I'm aching for the great outdoors, again. Every year I would go to Yosemite at least 2-3 times. It's already June and I haven't visit once. This weekend will be the first trip of the year.

Here are some old pictures from a few years back where we packed up to Half Dome. We left the campsite (little yosemite valley) at 4:30 a.m. to be the first on the rock. Unfortunately, it was late october and the cables were already down. Nonetheless, it was still well worth it.


Here is Half Dome in the distance taken from near glacier point.




On the way up...this is where we stop and have breakfast. On the left is North Dome and on the right just outside the top corner is Clouds rest. What a beautiful morning.








View of Halfdome herself. I have been at the top only once. This time around, the cable were down.



from the valley floor at dusk.

Luchador

Here's a quick sketch of a Luchador done at the Drawing Club.

Pooh Bear

These two pieces were done for the Pooh's Eightieth Anniversary book awhile back. They were also featured in the "Remixing the Magic" show at Gallery 1988 last year.

Sushi of Naples

drawing while eating sushi...

"Trash to Treasure"

...another show from the guys from ISM. We were to pick something from the trash, garage sale, thrift store, etc. and breathe life into it again.

I found an old ukulele at a swap meet and thought it'll be fun to paint. it was pretty beaten up with parts missing. I sanded it down and just started drawing in one corner, letting it take me where ever it would go. I soon ended up with this image. It was so much fun, I'd do it again.

Joust v. 1.0-1.2

Here are my two pieces for the 8-Bit show. It's acrylic on untreated wood panel. I love painting on wood. It gives everything this warm earthy feel. I have notice that many people are also taken to this surface. It's becoming a trend of sorts (unfortunately for me).

The game I chose to re-mix was Joust. Loved this game as a kid but I absolutely sucked at it. I sucked at mos video games. My version is a bit of a mix between Medieval knights and WW1 flying ace samuria warrior dudes.

Another show at Gallery 1988 San Francisco

Well, I'm in another group show this weekend at Gallery 1988 SanFrancisco. It is the grand opening, so please come by check it out. These are the same guys who put on the "I am 8 Bit" show in L.A., which was an incredible event. I believe that there were about 1,400 that lined the streets to get in. They had media coverage from MTV, G4, Fuel, and others. I couldn't believe all this for an art show. I feel so grateful to have a couple of pieces in there. Thanks to Jon, Jensen, and Katie!

Anyways, I will also be at the APE con (Alternative Press Expo) to try to hock my latest stupid ideas. The rest of the Porcupines will be there representing as well. I think we have a table in the back corner by the bathrooms where they stick mutants.

I am 8 Bit

So i will be in the "I am 8 Bit" show in Gallery 1988 this Tuesday, April 17. It's a show remixing 1980's video games. I'll have two pieces in there...both of them are of the game "Joust". Got a sneak peek while I was dropping off the paintings and I promise it will be a really good show. So many good pieces.

Eric Tan and Jeff McMillan will also have their art there...That should be enough reasons to go, but I should mention that there's beer...beer! Anyways, I hope you all will stop by and say "Hi".

So finally my friend and co-worker, Eric Tan decided to put down the beer and put up a blog. Super talented guy who's work is not only illustrative but always so well designed. This is a silkscreen piece he did for our two man show last year.

Below is a rare sketch of him when he is actually awake at work. I had a one minute window of opportunity.

sf

Recently I attended the Illustration Academy in San Francisco. It was an intensive week long workshop with lectures, demos and assignments. My main draw for attending was to meet some of the heavy hitters of illustration like Gary Kelly and C.F. Payne and just to spend an entire week up in the bay area. It is definitely one of my favorite cities.

Unfortunately the workshop lasted 12 hours a day with only a break for lunch and dinner. I would return to my room by 10p.m. and would then start my homework. It was a real dissappointment not to be able to see more of the city, especially without the heavy tourist weekend crowd. I did manage to sneak off one afternoon to do some of my own sketches and ofcourse sketch during the demos.

All in all, the experience was great...I love the demos but wanted more personal interaction with the illustrators....for me just to be around the rest of the team from here and the U.K. office was the highlight of the trip. Here are some of my sketches from the trip.




The instructors: John English, Gary Kelly, Anita Kunz, Chris Payne, Sterling Hundley, Brent watkinson...
Mark English and Andrea Wicklund were also there but not in the drawing.



During the Gary Kelly demo. uber talented guy but works intuitively. Hard to get a full understanding of the decisions that he made.



Sneaked out to sketch for myself during a lecture. It was a beautiful afternoon. I could not resist.
Walking down a steep hill and found an interesting alley. I envision all the old noir movies when stumble acrossed this.



Academy of Art Building. The Acdemy of Art has several buildings spread through out the city. This is one where the Illustration Academy was held.








An ode to Stefan Kardos, a fantastic artist and a great guy. I absolutely love his drawings and his sense of design. Lately, he's been drawing old cars. This is my homage to him.



A painting done from a sketch. This is looking down California St. where China town borders the towering buildings of the Financial district.




early in the morning from my hotel window. I was working on my color comps from the night before so I still had my paints out.


I added on one more day in the city after the workshop so I can get a chance to spend some time outside the classroom. This is my view from the new hotel room. It had floor to ceiling windows. Unfortunately, the rest of my time there was overcast, cold, and wet. Everytime I busted out the sketchbook, it would start sprinkling on me.




The Redroom at the Clift Hotel. Modern and swanky...$9 for a beer...but it was a belgium ale.