It has been quite some time.
It has been a bit since I updated the site content, my blog or my secret blog......so, it's time to play catch up. Things have been steady as of late: Working 2 jobs, preparing for my solo, 2-man & various group shows coming up in the next couple months. Along with all this preparation, life has thrown itself at me pretty heavily with the passing of multiple family members within the span of a few weeks...this has kept me mentally busy. I am going to spend the weekend updating the site with content as well as updating my blogs with material. Thanks for the understanding.
Welcome to the new site.
Look around, check the new galleries and enjoy the visual stimulation.
So, the newspaper has been pretty slammed lately and I have been involved with a bunch of different projects that have been pulling me into every direction...
I am going to be included in a book about underground, urban painters, I designed a new shirt for www.acityinside.com, I will have a collab print with Project Detonate as well as some solo prints in the works. I also have been doing a couple commissions as well as preparing for my HUGE solo show next October. I am aiming to have close to 100 paintings for the show in October, but we will see....sometimes life gets in the way. I don't know that anyone actually reads this but if you do, I apologize for the lack of updates. Word.
So, I officially started my full time graphic design position on Monday....
I am a official ad designer for the Aurora-Beacon newspaper and it is pretty awesome. I am the youngest employee and very low on the totem pole, but I am super excited to be starting a career......and not just another j.o.b. Thanks to all the people that believed in me and helped to push me in the right direction, you know who you are. To Sheryl, Joe, Carol, Bob and all my other co-workers: Thanks for having me aboard.
If anyone ever reads this, you are probably asking yourself " Where the hell has this dude been, and why is he not updating? "
Honestly, I have been staying pretty low key recently trying to finish up paintings, toys and other random things that will be making their way to CHI, ATL, TX, WI and OH over the course of the next few months. I have alot of work to produce in a small length of time so, utilizing my time is key. The rest of the 2007 year looks pretty killer between the installations, exhibitions, figure designs and preparation for my solo show next year. The only major bummer is my best friend/creative manager is moving to the NY in only a few weeks. There are pro's and con's to this move but, it's always a bummer when your brother is halfway across north-america. I am looking forward to a big NY slice and some east-coast art exposure though.
Tons of new content.....
The show went great and Toby and I both sold some work. Built some great relationships with Josh(popthirteen) and Toby as well as talked about future business endeavors. 400 strangers, family, friends and homies showed up at Revolution Tattoo and Art Gallery on Saturday June 2nd to show some support and check out local art. THANKS TO ALL!!! Big props to DJ November for kicking out the jams all night and generating some sales. Two days after the show, I proposed to the love of my life. I am now off the market ladies and gentlemen so, mark your calendars for Halloween '09. One final thought........THERE ARE FINALLY ART UPDATES IN THE PAINTING AND DIGITAL GALLERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really need to thank alot of people that have been making things artistically possible for me.
There are so many great people that have been helping me with my art career I felt it was neccasary to thank them and make my appreciation aware. Steve has been busting his ass trying to get sponsorship for the show in June, which would not have been possible without Cheri and Ohms allowing Revolution Tattoo to host the show.( eternally grateful!!!) Toby was also gracious enough to join in the show with me and make the walls jam packed.( You are the best brotha, and Lisa kicks ass!!!) I also need to thank Josh Cole and the entire crew at 70star7.com, Popthirteen.com and Printwillkill.com for working on some killer releases of mine. The crew at Nori Toy also deserves some serious credit for choosing me as one of the five winners for the poster design contest. My girlfriend and pugs deserve the most credit for putting up with my moods and allowing to paint into all hours of the night( I love you guys so much.). Steven Wagner with Astropolitan and Deathjive has given me an amazing opportunity to do all the artwork for his upcoming album. Mr. Paul Fresno from the Circus Punks crew has also provided me with some amazing opportunities and for that I am eternally grateful. My family and friends for always sticking around, especially Ian and Lindsey for taking some killer photos...I love you guys. Along with the sponsorship search, Steve has also taken on the task of managing me and keeping my head checked.( Shirts today, tomorrow the world.) Finally, I regret to inform that Ava the little girl that I was designing a shirt for has Passed away. There is going to be a series of 10 shirts coming out over at http://www.70star7.com and all of the proceeds will benefit doctor bills and funeral expenses. Please show support if you have the ability to because it is a phenominal cause. Dark days such as this weigh down our hearts with sadness, however it is our significant others, friends and families that aid in lifting the anchor of despair. To all my friends, family and brothers( Toby,Colin,Steve,Jason,Chucho,Jim,Creepy John,Ian,A-Train,Will,Dizzy,Cole13,Cash and Lunchbox). I love you, and you mean the world to me.
I spent some time with some cool people and great friends over the past couple of weeks.
Last week I hung out with Chicago artist David Rettker and discussed future collaborations and exhibitions while dining on tater tots. It was great to meet and converse with a like-minded and extremely talented artist. Look for great things from both he and I in the future, both solo and collaborative. i also had a chance to meet up with my friend CHUCHO and get some previews of some work for his upcoming exhibitions......great stuff(the bar has just been raised.) Finally, my good friend Toby and his blushing bride Lisa rolled through Chicago and got a tour from me. Toby is the other artist that will be exhibiting in the Revolution Tattoo Gallery show with me in June. I had such a great time with those two and my girlfriend....we painted this town red and I look forward to the day when I can see my friends again. Travel safe Sasquatches.
There is a ton of stuff in the works right now....
About 10 art shows, maybe some toys, more prints, a possible job for movie concept art, pug-hugs and an engagement.......soon, real soon. Watch your email and windshield for the postcard and flyer onslaught.
Spend the 2nd of June with artists Toby Stanger and myself.....
Here is the story: I had a solo show planned for June of 2007 in Denver, Co. Due to circumstances out of my control the Fakture Gallery is shutting it's doors after 4 years. I heard this news and was super devastated because I have over $500 in prints and have spent the past 4 months preparing for this show. I decided to ask The Revolution Tattoo and Art Gallery in Chicago if they would be interested in hosting this show and they were more than excited to do so( THANK YOU, CHERI!!!!) and both owners are really into my work. I decided that since Toby and I were doing a couple collabs for the show, switch gears and make this a 2 man show. Toby is down, I am down, this show is gonna be pretty killer. I have 28 paintings and 3 prints done thus far and I know Toby has 25+ paintings as well, we are still months away from the show. Look for about 70+ paintings total. If anyone has the ability to hit this show up, artwork will be pretty cheap and you can chill with the Sasquatch and myself. We are going to shred faces in Chicago!!!!
I got the best news today(sarcasm).
My solo show scheduled for June got cancelled. Awesome. I have 26 paintings and over 500 dollars in prints to go absolutely nowhere.
There is some great stuff going on right now....
I should be getting my silkscreened print back as well as my Letterpress print back in about a week or so. If you wanna check out a peek of what my silkscreen print is going to look like go to http://www.colintoke.com/365. My friends Colin and Kevin are screening these prints for me and they are doing a killer job. In the next couple of months I will be exhibiting some of my work in Conneticut, California, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Hopefully I will be doing a gallery installation in Chicago closer to October for all you Chi-town folks. More info as it develops.
I have not been adding too much new art to the site because my main focus right now is work for my solo show.
This work is going to stay tight lipped until I get word from the gallery that it is O.K to leak teaser photos. There will be teaser stuff hopefully on the Circus Punks, Rotofugi, and Kid Robot forums as well as plasticandplush.com and vinylpulse.com. As a sidenote, I have been getting alot of emails lately of people just discovering the site.....this is a good thing. The flood of recent emails have been real responsive to what I do....no hate mail yet. That's it for now.
So I have really been burned out for the past couple of days........
Seriously I thought I had mono or some other disese/virus that causes extreme sleepiness and weakness. I spent the weekend on the couch sleeping with my dogs or watching the Zao dvd. Finally, last night after a short nap, dinner and a hot shower I completed a drawing and outline for a new painting. I have also been working on designs for numerous prints I will have available at my solo show in June. Currently there are 16 paintings and 1 print completed for the solo show. More info will be available soon.
The new year is here and I am hammering away on paintings for the solo show........
I paint everyday, even if only for an hour so it makes sense that I have been cranking out a new painting every 2 days. Mixed media, Acrylic, Ink, watercolor, Stain, you name it I have been painting with it. I need to send a huge shout-out to my lady Jenny and our 2 dogs for making this past year so great and showing tons of support for my career. Also, no shout-out would be complete without thanking my best friend Steve, he has spent much of his freetime promoting me, booking shows and helping to organize the 2007 year for myself and November leaves. Keep it real, I am going to get a sammich' from Potbelly's.
Last night was extremely productive.......
Cleaned the studio, the girl made some killer turkey burgers on our new George Foreman grill and then I painted until about 11:45pm. I finished two paintings and threw some basecoat on a new piece. Today, the menu looks the same more painting and the House of Blow demo track on loop, with some Murder City Devils to mix up the music a bit.......Keep it real.....suckas.
Last night was Glassjaw at the HOB in Chicago, and this band is still tight as ever and did not miss a beat.
Here was the set list: (You Think You're) John Fucking Lennon, Tip Your Bartender, Mu Empire, Star Above My Bed, Ape Dos Mil, The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, Pink Roses, Jesus Glue, Pretty Lush, Stuck Pig, Two Tabs of Mescaline, Natural Born Farmer, Siberian Kiss, *ENCORE* Motel of the White Locust and Babe (You Think You're) John Fucking Lennon and Jesus Glue were both new tracks and, if this is the teaser of the new album's content, I am stoked. Daryl seemed so happy and stoked to be up on stage with GJ again, let's hope this trend continues. House of Blow needs to come out as well.Word.
Tonight at the House of Blues is the infamous Glassjaw, and my ass will be there with Chanel earrings on.
Besides Glassjaw tonight, I have been working heavily on paintings for the solo show in June and the body of work is coming along well. There will be watercolors, Acrylic on wood, Custom toys, skate decks, digital and linoleum block prints along with some other possible suprises. There will also be two collaboration paintings with artists that I really respect and enjoy. That is it for now, I should go paint.
Here is what has been going on lately.......
I am slowly getting prepared for my first solo show in June 2007. I have about 9 pieces done so far and a ton of stuff in the works. This should prove to be a visual onslaught. Alongside the preparation for the show, I am also getting ready to graduate in about 3 days(if I pass my political science class) and we are less than a week away from seeing the mighty Glassjaw at the House of Blues. I can't wait until Christmas is over so, I can really dedicate some serious time to preparing for the show. That's it............piss off.
I apologize to anyone who actually reads this, for the lack of visual and verbal updates.
I am back from California and I must send out a huge thanks to all the people that made it a great time. Jryde hauled around Steve, Dizzy and myself all weekend and proved himself as a real friend and trooper. We had a killer time, spent alot of cash and secretly destroyed some hotel furniture........it was pure madness. I also had a chance to meet the makers of GWINS and talk with them about the possibility of future endeavors. I also was fortunate enough to spend about an hour and a half talking with artist Luke Chueh about being an artist today and the buisiness aspect of it. Luke offered me so much advice and really taught me some great things in this small ammount of time, he is hands down, one of the nicest artists I have ever met. I am hard at work on my material for my solo show in June of 2007. This should be amazing. *NOTE* Photos from the show should be up very soon.
The Circus Punks show at the MIXI-BANG gallery is getting close and the excitement is building.....
I am eager to meet up with some of the CP board members/artists and just chill and I know Steve needs the getaway for sure......he has worked 40 hours in the past three days. It will be good to hang with Dizzle and just b/s because he is always so busy he can't talk for long. Californis is going to be amazing and hopefully this 'pushes' my art career further.*In other news Steve worked his promoting magic and got me a solo show in June '07. I cannot release what gallery it is but, it is out of state and I am following an amazing show previous to mine. Once again it amazes me how far people will go to promote something/someone they believe in. Thanks for all your help brother.
Major things have been happening for me lately as far as my art career goes.....
I am featured in a hardcover book about vinyl toys and artists that customize them. The book is called 'Dot Dot Dash' and can be found at almost any online book retailer. From this book coverage I was asked to be featured on a french website about toy customizers: http://www.kitoy.fr Thanks to the dedication and footwork of Steve, I may be part of a major gallery event in 2007. There will be more information on this and other events as I am available to release details. It looks as though 2007 is going to be a crazy year and the trip to L.A. is only 10 days away.
I read on Glassjaw.net that the band has not broken up.
My friend Jim always insists that this band broke up but, it was never offically released. I also read on this website that although the current members are busy with other projects, there may be a new GJ release in 2007. Let's hope. This band is so godamn amazing. I am painting as usual and my girlfriend is obsessed with Gears of War on Xbox360.
Here is whats going on recently.
The customs for the show in California on December 2nd are done and preparing to be shipped, the griptape for the show in North Carolina on December 1st is complete and shipped to it's destination, Jryde should have his care package within a few days and I purchased a new vehicle(2006 Scion Xb). The future looks busy as well: Finish the custom Circus Punk for Jryde, complete the custom Munny for Steve's friend , complete the Fear of Halloween painting and begin producing watercolors for the Monster Bash '07. Steve and I also decided to embark on a business partnership in hopes to better promote myself, White Devil and produce some amazing products in the next year. The California show is less than a month away-let's hope I make some money.
Slowly but surely, I am completing the upcoming show pieces as well as back-logged custom toy orders.
Today, I finished up the custom Circus Punk for a CP board member and finalized the last of the 15" Circus Punks for the Mixi-Bang show in L.A. I still have to finalize the 30" punk and begin work on the griptape painting which needs to be at it's destination on Nov. 11th. After these are complete I have to bust out a custom Munny for Steve's friend. I have alot of work ahead of me in the next couple of weeks......thank heaven for Monster and the new ISIS and Converge albums. Thanks for the burn Stevil....better late than never.......bitch.
Well, Steve keeps naggin' on me to update more so....
I am in the middle of finishing up the Circus Punks for the December 2nd show in California. I will have 5 possibly 6 pieces depending on time constraints. I am also going to be included in a skate show, where artist have to paint on a sheet of griptape. Steve, Dizzle and I are all set up and confirmed for the flight out to California and it looks like it should be 4 days of chaos. My friend Jryde is picking us up and showing us the "real" L.A. and I am super stked and humbled by his generosity. I also found out that we are going to be rooming with a bunch of rad cats....I think 7 0r 8 deep so far. Recently, I had the ability to talk with Jryde over the phone and he has a large ammount of faith in my talent and future success in the art industry and this truly means alot to me. To have an almost complete stranger believe in you and be willing to help you along is an amazing thing and revives my faith in the world. In other news here are some new albums that are amazing: Converge "No Heroes" My Chemical Romance " The Black Parade" Steve- Where is my fucking ISIS disc? Jryde- Thanks for the white punks.
I have mentioned this before, but I am sayin' it again: Colin Toke is a rad artist.
Colin Toke is an artist,web designer and photographer from Cleveland, Ohio- I had the pleasure of hanging with back in May for a show we were both participants in. We hit it off and I did some artwork for him and he did the coding for this site. Colin is in the middle of the 365 Project: A photographic journal that documents a year of his life. Some of these photos are seriously amazing so, go check them out at: www.colintoke.com He is also working on some other projects as well.....where is my cloudy damn you!??????? * As a sidenote...The new My Chemical Romance and Converge albums drop on Oct. 24th. New ISIS album comes out on Halloween. I am stoked.
Finally, after slightly under a month the 30 Custom Production Circus Punks are complete.
I was really afraid I was not going to make the deadline, but with a little sleep deprivation and alot of MONSTER energy drinks....I got it done and these little bastards are on their way back to Fresno, California. Now it is time to prepare for a show in December, finish a Munny custom and the Custom Circus Punk for Bobbleheadfreak. Things should be steady until the end of the year.word.
Shit has been chaotic as of late.
The 30 custom Circus Punks are almost complete as well as a new painting that I have slowly been working on. This past Saturday I took a little time off from painting to go see some local talent at the Soundlab in Mokena, IL. There were 5 or 6 bands total but only two are worth mentioning.*First up-O Glorious Leader.....This band fucking destroyed. period. A violent yet emotional blend of Zao, Glassjaw, Botch and Cattle Decapitation. I really enjoyed these guys live and the demo is rad.......thanks for making it only 2 songs Brian, you asshole......joking, of course. Up next is DrowninginFlame-This band was on a 4 month break due to the fact their drummer up and quit. This was the first show back with the new drummer and in my opinion, they have not missed a beat. These guys were a full on assault on all the human senses. I would compare them to a sonic punch in the throat. If you are into bands that have unique sound and come from a backround of multiple influences....do yourself a favor and put down the fuckin' Evanescance Cd that is shitastic and listen to some new blood. Here is how to check both bands out: http://www.myspace.com/ogloriousleader http://www.myspace.com/drowninginflame
I apologize for lack of updates for the people who read this......
I have been extremely busy lately painting away on the 30 custom circus punks. Along with these I am also working on a new painting, collecting images for my small press book I am going to put out in the begining of next year and preparing for a MAJOR art show that I am a part of in California. I have made time to see two of my favorite bands-September 14th was Converge and Mastodon at the Metro. Converge never ceases to amaze and astonish me.(No Heros-Oct. 24th) I also caught an extremely last minute show on Tuesday-ISIS.....at the Beat Kitchen! This band played an off-date from their opening slot on the Tool tour and destroyed Chicago. ISIS went on at Midnight and played an hour and a half. desroyed. I will update soon. Keep it real bitches.
I have been working hard and neglecting alot....
but it looks like this lifestyle is going to pay off. I have been doing numerous custom Circus Punks for people that have contacted me through the forum and this site and the OWNER OF CIRCUS PUNKS-has taken notice. Paul Fresno has demanded that I create 30 near identical custom Circus Punks to be sold on the website. This is the FIRST custom production punk and I am stoked. I am also going to be involved in a huge show in L.A on December 2nd, but the details have not yet been released. Along with this my custom Teddy Troop has made it into a issue of PLAY toy magazine and is going to be included in a German book about vinyl. My best friend Steve also worked some magic and I will be designing a poster for the Mouth of the Architect show in Oct. I have been neglecting my girl and dogs but, I hope the understand this is my dream slowly being fulfilled. I have been cooking up some new sketches for the "Phobias" series and as soon as I get time I am going to begin work on those paintings. I got work to do.
Are you are a fan of vegan black metal?
Well, if you answered yes-then go immediatly to the nearest record store and pick up the newest release from Cattle Decapitation. "Karma Bloody Karma" is a brutal onslaught of musical chaos-so far the only thing heavier than this album is a dull cheese grater to the throat. As a side note* I think this release best captures the bands live performance.
Custom Circus Punks are wicked nasty.
I got a e-mail from aguy named chris who absolutely loves the custom Circus Punk I did. He asked me if I would do a custom for him? Of course I was flattered and said hell yea. 1 punk led to 4 and now this friend of mine is going to have the sickest custom collection ever. I dare anyone to try and beat his stock. All and all it has been a good week and the website launch has been successful. I am thankful for the peeps that enjoy my art enough to want to purchase it and I am glad I met a new friend through my creations. word is bond. Love, Rev-Run
I have uploaded some images in the Digital gallery.
Currently all of the galleries have content now. I plan on putting more stuff up next week sometime but right now I have to concentrate on the four paintings that need finishing. I have a show next Friday, August 11th at the John Galt Gallery. The people there have been super supportive and really enthusiastic towards my work, plus I have made both of us some money. I plan on painting all this weekend and I will keep everyone updated. " I say the future is ours, if you can count suckas."
I have been posting new images like crazy.
I Have spent the last two days resizing images and and getting them web ready in order to post them into their respected galleries. Most of the images that I posted are in the painting gallery because that is what the majority of my content is. Digital artwork and logo design will be the last gallery I add to because I don't have a lot of content ready for it yet. What you see online now is stuff I have worked on from 2004 til the present. Can you dig it? Suckas.
I need to acknowledge Colin Toke for making this site so badass.
Colin is a great friend and artist as well as being a phenominal web designer. He has made my job of adding the content extremely easy and painless for a graphic designer that knows little about web. Thank you again my friend, I hope we meet up again soon to unleash more art on the Ohio area.
Well, the site is just about ready to launch.
Be sure to check back often to see the site expand
