First Friday December 2nd, 2011

It's the last First Friday for Fredericksburg of 2011! I have had a lot of opportunities come up this year in terms of my hopeful future art career. I have made a lot of talented friends that share the common interest of art. And I have gotten a spot at Libertytown Arts Center too.

Every First Friday I try to rearrange, add and take away my art. The idea that someone will come in and see my space look exactly the same as the previous month, concerns me.

I am working on a new series. A little different than my normal "style". Just some things I have learned over the last year, different styles I have been studying, a new medium. I am trying to seamlessly connect my old style with the new. Here's just a taste of some of the new things I have been working on. It's called "distressed" and is oil on canvas.

If you feel a tugging of slight familiarity, I am currently and obsessively studying up on Lucian Freud. An artist friend of mine, Bill Harris loaned me a large book of his works and I haven't been able to put it down. Quite an interesting character as well as an amazing artist. I love his ideas about art, it's definitely ideas that I relate to.

Come check out the rest of my new "stuff" next weekend, First Friday at Libertytown Arts Center.

A lot to be thankful for!

My family and I had an amazing Thanksgiving. I think it was one of the best ever, actually. We had so much food we were all stuffed and uncomfortable after and the leftovers were enough to feed two more families.

This really got me thinking....

My 9 year old daughter was riding in the backseat of my car the other day when we saw a homeless man. He was noticeably cold and trying to stay warm. Myndee said to me, "Why is that man homeless?" I didn't know how to answer. I thought of how I should explain hard work can mostly prevent homelessness, love and support of family, maybe mental illness, the recession, hardtimes in general...I just answered, "I don't know, Lulu."

But she wasn't asking how he had gotten himself into that predicament...she clarified her question, "No, I mean...why is no one helping that man?!"

Wow! Out of the mouths of babes.

Within an hour, Myndee had saw a problem and "solved" it in her child's mind. She has decided to collect socks, gloves, hats and mittens to give to the homeless people so they can stay warm.

Sometimes your children teach YOU a lesson or two. A small gesture CAN and DOES make a difference. You see a problem in your community? Get off your butt and fix it!

I have an application in to the FXBG homeless coalition. I am hoping that I will be able to start teaching art classes to homeless/near homeless children on the weekends. I am already getting together some lesson plans in anticipation and am praying everything goes well.

Art really can heal. This is a proven fact. A lot of people don't know how I started my passion for art. I had a traumatic childhood event happen at an early age. My mother took me for help and I was very hesitant to talk. I was a bottled up mess. Finally, I was taken to a therapist who specialized in art therapy. It was there that I learned that I could vent and deal with all my problems with a little bit of creative expression. I've been using it ever since. It has gotten me through a lot of rough times and who knows how I'd be if I didn't have it.

So, cross your fingers, say a prayer...I am hoping to be approved and start soon so that these children can have an hour or two to escape and just be creative, uninhibited children for a little while.

Ugh! I have a "carnover"...

I am a vegetarian. I am not vegan. I eat eggs (they specifically must be labeled as organic and cage-free) and do consume milk (Horizon, again organic)..and, oh...copious amounts of honey. But meat, nope. I am pretty strict on this. I don't eat anything with gelatin (a lot of candy has this ingredient). I don't eat cheeses that contain rennet. Rule of thumb for me? Anything that had to DIE in order for me to eat this meal is off limits.

As a vegetarian, it's hard to go out to restaurants and get a good meal. You can go and get the side salad, you can ask for the fish and potatoes platter "but hold the fish"...I have even gotten a McDonald's cheeseburger and told them to "hold the burger". But that gets old, it never feels like a good satisfying meal afterwards.

So this week, I decided to try the ethnic restaurants in the area to see if I could find a better chance of getting a well-balanced meal. I thought I had found it! Tuesday, we went to this little Afghan place. I was so happy to see that they had great customer service, a clean little dining room AND a pretty extensive vegetarian menu! Signs boasted "Halal meals!" all over the place. I KNEW I had found the diamond in the rough! If anyone understood not mixing unwanted meat (in their case, pork) into meals it was the Muslim guys. I had a WONDERFUL, filling meal that was so big in portions; it took me 3 different tries to get it finished.

I loved it SO much, in fact; I went again today and brought a friend! I decided to branch out and order something totally different this time. I got the Vege Aushak. It was number 4 listed under the "Vegetarian Delight" section of the menu. Scallion filled dumplings topped with fresh homemade yogurt and mixed vegetable sauce (or meat sauce), sprinkled with dried mint. My keen eye caught the "(or meat)" reference so I reititerated that I did NOT want meat. NO MEAT! Only vegetables. He acknowledged my request by repeating "NO MEAT! Got it!".

Flash forward about 5 minutes. We are innocently eating our choices. I notice what appears to be a TINY slither of chicken, like so tiny it would easily fit on the edge of a dime. I showed it to Brian. He said, "Looks like a piece of chick pea to me". I wasn't completely convinced so I put it aside. I eat two or three more dumplings before I see another stray chicken shred. I REALLY start to inspect now and realize that the sauce has quite a few little chicken shreds. It's MEAT sauce. And my dumplings are COVERED in it. I can't finish it.

Now, listen. I am not one of those vegetarians who can't stand the smell of meat, who get sickened when a friend sits beside me eating a bloodied steak. I am not one that throws red paint on fur coats and tries to push my agenda on everyone else. I could care less what YOU eat. You can eat Gorrila poo for all I care. I just don't like it that people advertise VEGETARIAN! then throw meat sauce on it. And I REALLY don't like it when I fall for it; hook, line and sinker.

I did say something. Not in a mean way because like I said before, they had great customer service and were super sweet. He did notice I was tossing most of my meal though and asked. I told him that there was meat sauce on it and I couldn't eat it. He seemed embarassed and upset. I ended up consoling HIM.

I felt sick afterwards. I don't know if it's in my head (I did picture the chicken all chock full of hormones, dirty, feathers matted in mud, weird growths on its body..being carried to slaughter) or if my stomach really was pissed at me.

It happens to the best of us. There's nothing that can be done, short of regurgitating it right there in the restaurant, except to move on..lesson learned.

So, on a lighter note:

First Friday is almost here! I actually got both pieces I submitted into the 6X6X6 show at Libertytown. I am excited about that, fo SHO!

BUT! Another good thing about this show is that the pieces are small..which usually means the prices are too. If you have been wanting to start or add to your collection of original art, this is your chance. We all are having to tighten our belts with this economy but it's good to just L-I-V-E once in awhile. This is an inexpensive way to do it. Come down tomorrow night from 6-9 pm. Meet the artists, see what you'd like and grab a piece or two. And I'm sure I've mentioned before...free wine and snacks!

Via Colori is finished for 2011!

It's over for the year! Whew! Via Colori is an awesome experience, and very draining at the same time. I can only imagine how Sue Henderson feels right now. I personally feel a little sad yet relieved.

The above pictures are just a few that I got of some artists working. The above artists are Jams Bauguess (me), Nick Candela, Jeremy Gann, Mirinda Reynolds, Jeff Gulick and I am not sure who did the American Gothic rendition but loved that one, as well as the Ice Cream cones.

It was a good weekend. Not nearly as hot as last year. It seemed a lot more organized and everyone seemed more prepared. There were a few sprinkles here or there but nothing that ended the weekend.

Usually, I am working in my own private space busting out the art so it's a different experience to have people come right up and watch, giving feedback. I had one person who said, "I don't get it" and another 5 year old boy said, "I no like dat! It's for girls!"..but otherwise, I happily got a lot of "thanks!" and "I love the colors, eyes, awesome!" I even had a few people recognize my style and straight-up ask if I was the artist named Jams Bauguess. That was a HUGE compliment to me.

I don't know if everyone heard, but there was this very nice lady who came up while I was working with hand-outs. It seems they are trying to get every artist in the Fredericksburg area on this online directory. Their goal is to have every artist, in every style and genre to be in this thing. She wanted me to pass the word along. I will post the web address later as I don't seem to have it on me at the moment.

I am definitely looking forward to next year!

I had a lot of people asking about being a Via Colori artist. So for those who know, you can skip ahead: Basically, like the Via Colori Fredericksburg FB page and you will receive updates. When they start opening up the volunteer page for next year, all you have to do it submit your information and BAM! you are now the owner of a small piece of property in Fredericksburg for a few hours to paint what you want (within reason). There is no cost to you except your time. They supply everything and you do not have to be a professional artist. A family can sign up for a square for the fun of it.

Another cool thing that came out of this? I spoke with one of the artists for awhile and we are considering getting together a lowbrow art show for Fredericksburg. Kinda like a mini-Urban Decay show just to get this amazing art style out there. And for me, it's always awesome to meet these type of artists! Art, booze, music and more.

Stay tuned for some new paintings I am putting out. I am actually painting a man or two these days, along with fish skeletons, plastic moustaches and cross-dressers!

Second annual Via Colori Fredericksburg!

It's almost here! The hour is upon us!

This year's signature artist is Mirinda Reynolds. Here is the piece she will be doing. You think it's amazing and colorful now? Wait until you see this spread out before you on asphalt with chalk! It's titled "Reverie" and is currently at the Ponshop for the City Colors exhibit.

Via Colori is a volunteer driven arts festival. All funds raised will be put back into the community. Each square is sponsored by a business or organization and the proceeds, after expenses will be used towards art-based educational programs.

So what can you expect?

Via Colori means "Street of Color" and originated in Italy, centuries ago. Artists would lay out their chalk boxes and create art, most always religious while collecting money in their boxes. (We don't accept money in our boxes because it's free for the public!)

Saturday-Sunday, September 24th-25th. Sophia Street and a few other side streets in downtown Fredericksburg will be shut down for artists to create their masterpieces directly on the street. You can walk around and watch how the art progresses. To add even more "spice" to this festival; there will be live music, food carts and much, much more. There's even a spot set up for children to try their hand at street painting!

I am not clear on how many artists will be there but I believe in the range of like 50-75? Basically, a lot of art that can be seen during one nice stroll.

Another cool thing is that not every city has the opportunity to indulge in this centuries old arts festival! We are the only city in the surrounding area (even state of Virginia) that does this annual festival. I have heard tale that people from all over come to see this awesome art form.

So, bring the kids and come on down this Saturday or Sunday between 10am-10pm! Support your local artists, support Fredericksburg and have some good, clean fun. (For the children, one rule for the artists was to choose a piece that is "family friendly").

Stay tuned for photos and reports from how it went. I am excited and honored to be one of the participating artists again this year and hope to see everyone there.

Book review ~ Juxtapoz Erotica

Yes, I got it in! Unfortunately, I had to hide the cover and its contents for about 7 hours since it came to my office (I thought I had changed my amazon.com shipping address, guess I didn't). Juxtapoz Erotica is yet another title in their series of books.

The title says it all. I knew it would be erotic art, but Lawdy!!

I really liked the part where they made a very powerful argument on the distinction between pornography and erotica. Warning: Flashback circa 1996 coming your way....

As a freshmen at VCU arts program, I had this asshole professor. I really loathed this dude. He was pretentious, stuck-up, thought his shit didn't stink; just an overall douchebag with a capital 'D'. One of his favorite forms of entertainment was to embarass all his newbie art students and make them feel like AFO (Arts Foundation) students were too wet behind the ears to yet be considered artists.

One day, he put on a slide show. Some of the pieces were well-known works by reputable artists like Salvador Dali, Van Gogh, Schiele, Frida Kahlo, etc, etc; but, every once in awhile he'd throw in a noticeable picture straight from a porno movie. Dead on crotch shots, hairy gum drops wrapped in 550 cord, very detailed penetration scenes. At the end of this slideshow he paused and asked, "So are these sexual scenes art or pornography?" Now I just felt, as I looked around the room at my fellow classmates, that this dude was a pervert on a power trip who wanted to terrify these 17-18 year old girls who were out on their own for the first time. Some of these chics had never seen a pair of testicles before in their life, let alone a pair so violently restricted!

Everyone knew by now that this question was a set up and didn't want to answer outloud. He continued, "Anyone?!" getting noticeably agitated that no one was falling into his trap. Me being the outspoken type, I answered, "I thought it was pornography. Art, even sexual art can arouse and even sometimes shock, but there is a creativity to it, a skill, an appreciation for human sexuality, a message. These pictures are snippets from pornos and are not art...they have one function, foreplay."

He waved me off, rolling his eyes very dramatically and stated, "What do you know? You're not an artist until I tell you are!"

I couldn't believe this shit. I couldn't believe that someone would ask a question and then wave off a response. I couldn't believe he was telling me that he was the god of art and I wasn't in his "book" yet.

But I digress. This book is art. Now don't get me wrong. I wouldn't say this is your typical coffee table book. I wouldn't let the little kiddies peruse the pages. There are pieces where one artist paints herself in very erotic, sexual and completely nude scenes with past presidents (in chronological order of their presidency). One was Abraham Lincoln as never seen before! There are shiny, swollen asses in latex. There are little forest creatures splooging on faces. It is definitely debauchery. But a good, down home, make you laugh out loud, shock you through and through kind of debauchery.

Once you get past the subject matter, take a look at the techniques and ideas of these artists. Very unique. Each artists' section has a small interview about why they do what they do (I believe only one admitted to being a disgusting pervert too!). The rest just had a fascination with human sexuality or other completely normal, innocent questions they were answering through their art.

Can't wait to collect yet another book from this series!

Got an interesting opportunity for artists tomorrow night (Wednesday, Sept. 14th) at Libertytown Arts Center.

Bill Harris has gotten two artists (male and female) to model using the entire Arts Center. Bring your camera and it's ten bucks at the door. The models will be taking direction, using any props you have in mind and etc so that pictures can be taken for future painting reference.

I think it'll be pretty cool. If even just an opportunity to get inspired and chill out with like minds.

So from 8pm- whenever, I'm heading over to Libertytown with my props, camera and hopefully....creativity to come up with some cool ideas to paint. Right now, I am leaning towards something involving those plastic glasses/moustache combos.

The money collected will go to pay for the models' time.

"Lulu's Soda" by Jams

So I have been taking this class "An Easier Way to Paint" by Bill Harris.

He has opened my eyes and mind to what I believed before as me selling out.

What's important in painting? The end result or how you got there?

I still plan on doing my normal style. It's fun and unrestrictive. I can let lose and get some feelings out. There is always some "stress" I am dealing with when I paint my distorted human figures with the swirlies in their hair, the big eyes and weird situations. And yes, once in awhile I will probably still sell a few.

But I can't lie. I love that I have this more realistic portrait of my daughter for the living room. It was definitely fun to challenge myself with this one and I find myself wanting another challenge.

Not to mention, these types of paintings are more of the "money makers"...where I'm from anyways. Looks like I will be doing some commissions here shortly and just in time for Christmas. Smaller versions, that is.

About this painting: My daughter, husband and myself were sitting at one of the outside tables of Kybecca in downtown Fredericksburg. She ordered a cream soda and was really enjoying it. I mean, ENJOYING it. Luckily, I had a camera on me because the way her brow was furrowed and her lips were wrapped around the mouth of the bottle...I could see the intensity in which Lulu does everything. Even drinking this soda. This was one of my most favorite pictures of her. It really sucked in her personality for me.

Anyone who is familiar with my work and my taste in art, knows I don't like fruit bowls and seascapes. I feel cold when I look at these images I have seen over and over again in just different takes. I like to feel something, I like to wonder what the artist was trying to say and imagine the story behind the painting. Fruit bowls don't ever do that for me.

I learned a valuable lesson from taking this class with Bill Harris. Realism doesn't have to be about fruit bowls and seascapes. You can take the tips from the old masters, incorporate those in your own style and still get an emotional piece, one that tells a story.

(For those who'd like to come and take a few classes with Bill Harris: $125 for 5 classes, he has two different days a week that he offers times...I take mine on Sunday 2-4pm. The price includes supplies. He is an amazing, very strong artist who will give you pointers without imposing on your own style, offer advice without being pushy and encourage ideas. Very cool.)

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Libertytown 6x6x6 ~ Call For Artists

Libertytown Arts Center located in downtown Fredericksburg is having it's 6x6x6 show starting on October 7th and going until October 30th. Deadline for entries is October 3rd.

Basically, all pieces of art must not exceed 6 inches in any direction...and that includes the frame, folks! They are accepting 2-d and 3-d works.

This will be the first time I am submitting something (2 pieces, actually) and I am super excited to see the show.

Reminder: PONSHOP is having the opening of its invitational exhibit, City Colori on September 2 from 6pm to 10pm. Sounds like a lot of cool talents are going to be there so everyone should definitely go check it out. They are also allowing the public to come down and vote for their favorite piece so you should come around to 712 Caroline St. in downtown and have your say.

Looks like there were 18 artists that submitted 20 different pieces so there'll be a large range to take a looksy. All artists are volunteers in the second annual Via Colori street painting festival for September 24th and 25th.

I have my "Sleeps With The Fishes" piece in. There are a ton of other amazing artists so I am quite sure it'll be interesting!

Artist Interview ~ Katy Wiedemann

You like'n what you see'n? I do too! I was lucky enough to run into this artist about a month back at PONSHOP. I saw these amazing, kick-ass paintings and was searching around hoping to meet the dude who did them.

I asked Scarlet Pons (one of the owners of the PONSHOP) and fully suspected to meet this sexy, billy bad-ass dude with tattoos and a surly expression.

Instead, I met Katy! A cute, petite blonde chic but definitely fitting the description of bad-ass. Immediately, I could tell that there was some "layers" to this "onion". My first words to her? "You're going to be famous!". Of course, she was one of my first contacts made when I decided I wanted to do an interview. If you're anything like me, you want to learn more about this amazing artist. Here you go, my surprise artist and first interviewee. Katharina Weidemann!

Jams: Let's start at the beginning, tell us about "little Katy"...born? raised? education?

Katy: I moved around a lot when I was young, which, unlike most children in that situation, I loved. I was born in Baltimore, I lived in Ireland for a bit, then my family moved to New Orleans, then Dallas, and for high school I was in Philadelphia. Though I spent the longest period of time in Philadelphia, I consider New Orleans my home and I go back as often as I can. I now am in my third year at Rhode Island School of Design as an Illustration major.


Jams: How about a story about "little Katy" that in retrospect showed you'd be an artist when you got older?

Katy: I was constantly drawing and making things for as long as I can remember, but when I was about ten my dream job was to make anatomical illustrations for medical books. That year for my birthday I asked for an anatomical skeleton and anatomy textbooks. The skeleton still stands in my bedroom, fully dressed.


Jams: For those not familiar with your body of work, tell them what they can expect?

Katy: The main body of my work depicts female nudes, predominantly with shaved heads. The idea behind this theme deals with a woman’s pride in the natural beauty of her body as well as her sexuality.


Jams: What is the media you work most with?

Katy: I started out in high school working almost entirely with pen and ink, mainly because I didn’t feel comfortable working with color, but as my knowledge of color theory developed when I went to college I transitioned quickly into painting. I now work primarily with multi layer stencils and spray paint along with oil paint.

Jams: Where do you pull most of your inspiration from?

Katy: I pull a lot of my inspiration from both artists in the street art movement as well as artists from the German Expressionist movement, such as Otto Dix and Egon Schiele. I also adore artists such as Francis Bacon and Peter Paul Rubens, but the vast majority of my inspiration comes from dreams and personal experiences.


Jams: What are your goals in this "rat race" called life? If you could take your art talents anywhere, where would you be?

Katy: As of now, my ideal career would be to illustrate and design sets and creatures or monsters for films.


Jams: If you could spend the day with one artist, alive or dead, who would it be? Why?

Katy: That’s a difficult question to answer, partially because there are so many artists I would love to meet, but also because most of them were completely insane or in some way emotionally disturbed. But I guess if I could only choose one artist it would have to be Francis Bacon because I would love to understand the concepts behind his way of abstracting and distorting the figures in his paintings.


Jams: Describe your studio/work space in one word?

Katy: Unpredictable.


Jams: Think fast! Favorites:

Katy:

Color: Eggplant

Animal: Octopus

Candy: Salt Water Taffy

Word: Merkin

Place: New Orleans

Person: Tom Waits



Jams: Okay, here's the part where you throw in a gratuitous plug- Tell my readers where they can find your art (shows, exhibits, online, books?)

Katy: I currently have a few pieces and prints of my work at PONSHOP Studio and Gallery on Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg and my current body of work can be viewed on my website, www.katywiedemann.com.

Sleeps with the fishes ~ Ciotti Colori show at Ponsshop

This is my new piece called "Sleeps with the Fishes". My submission to PONSHOP Ciotti Colori show.

I never like getting into the "story" behind the paintings I do. I prefer to let people guess, amazingly they are usually right on with at least the "feelings" of it all.

In this one, you see a corpse of a girl just beginning to deteriorate. Suspended in water, surrounded by fish waiting to feed on her flesh. Floating in nothingness.

I could have gotten my message across with a more specific painting. One of me sitting at a desk in an office at the USDA. Irritated with a job that I don't feel means much to me. Doing what I need to do to pay for those things my child needs; which is a lot. But what would be the fun in that?

The term starving artist does not sit well with me. Refusing to give into "the man", not selling out, spending your energy and time on your art. I can see the romanticism in it. And if I didn't have a little tiny person who depends on me, I might just do it. I can't see myself feeling very creative if I'm looking at my child's face begging for food though. So I sit day in and day out at a job I hate wishing I could be somewhere painting. I steal moments here and there, breaks and lunches to sketch or read about art. Like the subject in my painting, I feel suspended, dead, predators eating chunks out of my life.

Unlike the girl in this painting, there will be a happy ending for me though. I will get to where I want to be eventually it'll just take a little more time. Meanwhile, I will paint out my frustrations and I hope people will appreciate the stories.

Slap this on your coffee table!

Just got this book and loved every minute of it! I still find myself cracking it open and looking at the art everytime I glimpse the cover.

Pop Surrealism- The Rise Of Underground Art has essays by Robert Williams, Carol McCormick and Larry Reid.

In a nutshell, they write about the origins of Pop Surrealism art and what it has evolved to. The book boasts of over 150 full-color images and being the "first book to offer a comprehensive survey of this fascinating new art movement and its top renegade artists." In my opinion, they definitely delivered what they promised.

Some of the artists featured are Don Ed Hardy, Mark Ryden, Liz McGrath, Camille Rose Garcia, Kalynn Campbell, Robert Williams and much more.

If you want to get the skinny on this somewhat new art movement than definitely pick up a copy. It does more than educate on the origins (which was interesting all on its own); it also talks about the pattern of being unacknowledged by the artists that might be considered (for lack of a better word) "highbrow". It really inspires us "renegades of the art world" to continue at our craft, not be caged in order to be accepted.

I personally have this mindset with my own art so definitely a book chock full of affirmations for me.

(Stay tuned for a book review of Juxtapoz Erotica as well as an interview of a surprise local artist!)

Beauty and the Meats ~ Mark Ryden

I am sure those of you who do not live under a rock have seen this painting somewhere. This is "Rose" by Mark Ryden. Right now, he has just put out an enameled metal pendant with this piece. I love it and for $99.00 I can own it.

Anyways, a little bit about Mark Ryden. Another Los Angeles-based artist. I personally consider him one of the "godfathers" of lowbrow art. Again, this is when the term "lowbrow" seems almost offensive. The skill involved in his pieces are insane! A lot of his techniques have a similarity to the old masters. His subject matter? Madness! You see these beautiful children; big eyes, pouty lips and all in disturbing situations. Beautiful Rose here is bawling blood tears. Another piece (from the same show, Blood) shows a little blonde-headed girl in bed, wearing pink fluffy pajamas, staring down the foot of her bed at the enormous severed head of Abraham Lincoln himself...aptly entitled "Lincoln's head".

Wanna' see something really cool? Follow this link to a time lapse painting of "Incarnation":

http://boingboing.net/2010/04/01/time-lapse-of-mark-r.html

Wednesday's Painting by Jams

One of the perks of doing my own art blog is that I can actually showcase my very own work. And I will be doing just that every week.

So, this week we have "Parenting Classes" currently at Libertytown Arts Center in my little rental space area. I always have a hard time describing the "feeling" behind each of my paintings. This is one of the many reasons why I am an artist. I have a hard time talking out feelings, it is always much easier to show. But let me give it a honest shot.

Like many parents, there are times when you just don't feel good enough for your offspring. You try and try and wonder if you are ultimately screwing up your kid in the end. Are they going to hate you? Are they going to turn into serial killers? Maybe they will be so overly protected that they are living with you in 30 years just sponging from the recliner in your den? Well, I don't know about other parents...I know I am constantly concerned if I am doing the right things to raise the most productive, healthy, well-rounded woman that Lulu can possibly become.

This painting shows an 8 year old little girl. Apparently, someone has taken great care in getting her a pretty, purple, foo-foo dress. She is wearing matching white knee socks with her cute little Mary Janes. Her hair has very carefully been pulled into curly little ponytails.

Unfortunately, due to lack of supervision; she is prowling the streets looking for trouble. She has an obvious drinking problem and an addiction to nicotine.

Upon closer inspection, you see that this parent of hers has gotten her a guard dog to make sure she is safe from child predators. No one is going to mess with her while she is in the company of a vicious dog! Oh? The dog is 4 pounds, soaking wet? Well, let's slap a very intimidating spiked color on it to beef it up. That'll do the trick.

I wanted to "voice" the concerns I had with my own parenting. Am I watching her well enough, am I protecting her, am I subjecting her to things that are to mature for her age?

Again, the goals I focus on the most when painting is not "does this look skillful to my audience? Will my prowess with a brush impress the pants off of them? Is my message seeping off the canvas and into their awaiting hungry eyeballs?". My main purpose is to get my feelings out and have an audience feel SOMETHING even if it's just a good laugh.

Gory details ~ Elizabeth McGrath

I have just came upon another artist that I am digging like crazy! The beautiful gem you see above is by lowbrow artist, Elizabeth McGrath titled "Honey Creeper"...ya, I'd say definitely a "creeper". I love pieces of art that make me think, "Where would I hang this piece in my house that won't make me too scared to sleep?". So a little bit about the artist:

Elizabeth is a California based artist who works mostly with sculpture and animation. Her work is "deliciously dark" (my most favorite kind) and due to this has picked up the name of "Bloodbath McGrath". Her talents don't stop there though, she is also the lead singer of a Los Angeles band called Miss Derringer. If you feel the influence of religion in her work, you're right on. She has said a lot of her inspiration came from a time in her life where she was sent to a Fundamentalist Baptist Correctional Institution at a young age.

Call me sexist but I love when I find these strong artistic forces (to be reckoned with) and they are women.

You can learn a little more about Elizabeth "Blood bath" McGrath here:

http://www.elizabethmcgrath.com/sculpture.php

Juxtapoz, blank decks and earthquakes

I am typing this blog entry with my heart still beating out of my chest. As a resident of Virginia for most of my life, I have had the luxury of never experiencing earthquakes...until today! I realize now that in an emergency I will more than likely freeze like a deer in headlights, run out screaming with no shoes on (once it sinks in) and just want to go home and crawl under the covers. Freaked out!!

Anyways, I have just today subscribed to Juxtapoz magazine. I have been meaning to do so for quite some time. I guess the threat of dying in earthquake rubble really makes you consider living life. I couldn't put it off a moment longer.

FYI: If you decide to subscribe to this amazing magazine; you can usually find some deals online. I got a year's subscription and a free book of my choice (I chose the Juxtapoz erotica) for $29.99. Basically, it's a magazine that celebrates the urban alternative & contemporary underground arts. Interviews and articles on amazing lowbrow artists and much, much more. And yes, for my literately-challenged friends...there are pictures. (Of course, if you are unable to read than you will miss this blog too).

I also finally got around to ordering my blank deck today. Should arrive in the next week or so. I already have a great piece of art in mind ready to come to fruition. Sneak "peek": It's all about feelings...or, actually...the lack thereof, depending on how you want to suck it in through your eyeballs.

I have my submission all ready with the exception of framing, to the Ciotti Colori juried show at PONSHOP. All entries are due this weekend. Any artist that has volunteered to be in the Via Colori street arts festival in September is welcome to bring in their piece and showcase their own art style. No other show guidelines except that. Artists- Come as you are! Opening night will be First Friday September 2nd, 2011.