Momentum

I dropped off my second dragon painting to Motion Gallery down at Eau Claire market for the Momentum show.

Before leaving the studio the other night, I sat for a moment and gave a good look at my work, to see what remained to be completed. I made a list. The next visit I would be far more effective in executing the steps necessary to bring my vision to fruition. I do this often, this scrap has the initial inspiration for my design.

So I got on it. The first step was a ding a light violet highlight as a centre line to each strand of hair and to the fuzzy hands and tail as accents.  I then trailed a thin line of pearlescent silver to add a dull sheen along the elbow and face hair like bits. Paynes grey right out of the tube joined the party. I confidently drew around the knuckles and blocked in the claws to further flesh them out.

I did a graduation of red to orange to yellow on the nails to echo the fire and facial elements. I used the silver to add a highlight across the nails as well as purple and magenta sparkles in Gac 100 to all the parts with purple.

Jumping ahead a bit..........I signed my name after completing everything else on my list signifying completion. However I think I may add a few more things before I give it the final protective coating.

Here is a snapshot that shows the dry brushing I did to flush out the flaming eyeballs ad over the nose.I added a variety of layers and spots to unify the face. I used colours on hand as they came about for the iris details. I used transparent purples to firm up the nose. I splattered gold into the mouth and used white to highlight the fangs.  I used a mix of two types of green sparkles in a clear liquid acrylic and applied it over the face.

I hung up the work, the lighting is much lower in Motion Gallery, the sparkles catch your eye straight on.  I am really happy how the pieces look.  I am going to rephotograph them and rehang them side by  side.  i am not including a picture of the entire work here. I want you to go and see it in person to really get the feel for it.

Enjoy and thanks for following me on this journey ;)

What I do for fun....

Slave away.

During "reading week" I've been teaching and moonlighting in the studio. Tonight, I teach an animation class, afterward I intend on crossing the snowy street to my studio to do some more work on my dragon painting.......... it could be a late night. They will be showing this Saturday at Motion Gallery at the show below:

Hey, I didn't know this was a ticketed event?!

Regardless if you come in before 6 or on Sunday you can be one of the first to see and experience the new and improved dragon paintings in person.

Plus: There is a story in this weeks FFWD about Motion Gallery check it out in print or online here.

Double Dragons

Chinese new year quickly approaches and this year is the year of the Dragon.

I decided to make two large paintings of dragons.First, I hope one gets selected as a design for this years Taoist Tai Chi society T-shirt.  I have done their shirts for the past two years and hope that they use an image created by me again this year.  Second, I plan on exhibiting these new pieces at Motion Gallery in the New Year, and if I'm lucky they will sell quickly.

This is a dragon slayer! Dj LurkN spinning tracks in my studio. 

 I created an original drawing to base them off of. This is the first of many in my newest Frosst Books sketchbook. I stretched two approximately 4 foot square canvases after my canvas building workshop. I acquired the frames for free and bought the 10 oz. canvas on the roll, way back.  I stretched them  and I gave them three coats of Chromacryl Gesso (the thick stuff) and sanded in-between each layer. It took about 5 hrs. total to create the surfaces in which to work. I sketched out the design in charcoal and gave it a light spray of workable fixative.

I worked in white gesso to blend in the charcoal and create some initial tone to work with.  I decided to do something a little different than I normally do, and work with a palette knife. I applied a red hue and blocked in the background. I applied it heavy and had fun doing it.  I even applied the paint around the edge of the canvas since I didn't think I'll be able to afford a frame for a work this large any time soon. Meanwhile, Cosmic and I were having an awesome time jamming out to his tunes.

I flipped over the original drawing and broke in my new animation light table for the first time. I loosely traced onto the back the initial drawing so that it would face the other way. Once this planning sketch was done, I was still on a roll...... I sketched in the second dragons body onto my other canvas.  Instead of blocking it in with the white gesso as I had done with the previous canvas, I just sprayed it down with fixative. My studio was too stinky to continue working so I left for the evening.

I blocked in a blue background on the second piece in with a palette knife. It wasn't my intention to be his and hers (Blue and Pink) but it was my intention to do a yin and yang thing.  The second dragon was painted in black with black Gesso made by Golden. I used a 2 inch brush to do it, it went very smoothly.

At this point it was getting late and I was loosing my edge. I painted in the claws but they looked so bad I had to paint over them.  Painting is largely experimentation and discovery. I don't even know where it will take me, I just show up and allow the process to unfold.  I decided to get into it and end the night off with some splatters and drips and blow off a little excess steam so that when I return I'll have new challenges to deal with in the creative process.

The red piece got the same treatment, I also used the black gesso as an underpainting for the fiery elements around the limbs and  the tentacle bits. I also sprayed some fluorescent pink marking paint to break up the space ad ant a little crazy with the splatters. A huge glob of red hit the eye and spilled down. Nothing to worry about. I spritzed the whole surface with water to soften it and allow for greater transparency of the dripping hues.

I am excited to see how these pieces develop into the new year, keep posted to see my progression =;)

The Motion Gallery opens it's doors.

The first exhibition, a huge success!


I'd say that the Motion Gallery's opening and first exhibition exceeded my expectations,  it's hard enough to get an audience to attend an art opening, but combine that with X-mas season parties and it was a Friday night, making it even more exceptional.  Motion = momentum. 
Here are some of my pics taken with my sh*tty iPhone camera.

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  That's what I like to see, people engaged with my work!

  

  and people chatting, connecting and enjoying themselves.

  

   The name "Motion Gallery" is inspired by the  principal of Newtons first Law 'Objects in motion tend to stay in motion'.   This Gallery, like it's artist's, are in motion: Creative, active, and proactive!

  
  

  

  Motion Gallery has a diverse collection of art from new and veteran artists, that  appeal to any taste.

  
  

  "Engage yourself in culture. Take in some Art."

  
  

  If you couldn't make the opening, go and take a walk around the huge gallery space.

  Motion Gallery is located at 200 Barclay Parade SW, on the main floor at the NW end. of Eau Claire Market.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

The Motion Gallery opens it's doors

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  I'd say that the Motion Gallery's opening and first exhibition exceeded my expectations and is therefore a success!

  You know... it's hard enough to get an audience to attend an art opening, but combine that with X-mas season parties and it was a Friday night makes it even more exceptional.  Here are some of my pics taken with my sh*tty iPhone camera.

  

  That's what I like to see, people engaged with my work!

  

   The name "Motion Gallery" is inspired by the  principal of Newtons first Law 'Objects in motion tend to stay in motion'. 

  

   This Gallery, like it's artist's, are in motion: Creative, active, and proactive!

  
  

  

  
  

  Motion Gallery has a diverse collection of art from new and veteran artists, that  appeal to any taste.

  
  

  "Engage yourself in culture. Take in some Art."

  
  

  Please go and take a walk around the huge gallery space.

  
  

  Motion Gallery is located at 200 Barclay Parade SW, on the main floor at the NW end. of Eau Claire Market.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

MOTION GALLERY opening Tonight 7pm!!!!

I made it down to the Motion Gallery to put on some finishing touches on my display, like write ups and pricing. We didn't have at all enough ladder or I would have adjusted the lights too. Here is a sneak preview in case you can't make it down.

Here are a few views of the gallery from Tuesday night while we were starting to set up, it looks even better now!

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TONIGHT 7PM Motion gallery opens!

Its in Eau Claire Market, right near the Sumo Lounge.

Come by and check out this rag tag band of artists from all walks of life.

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Tune in to Arts Link on CJSW, Tuesday 8-9 to hear more about Motion Gallery by the man who got the ball rolling, Rob Dodds.

Here is one of his pieces, putting his metal working and welding skills to good creative use. Rob also has as an assortment of masks and other cool stuff for sale as well.

While you are visiting plug in a one of a kind hand made instruments and give it a strum. They are made out of cigar boxes and all have a unique sound. At only $290, its like stealing. I want one soooo bad, and I don't even play, these are awesome! They just look cool. I met the creator, Mark Kost, he works at SAIT, awesome guy. It turns out he recognized me, couldn't place how he knew me, but he new my face. Then he told me his daughter was Hannah Kost, the author of the recent article in The Calgary Journal. Small world!

Here is that article:  http://calgaryjournal.ca/index.php/calgary-arts/309-canvas-stretching-not-just-a-hobby

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TONIGHT 7PM Motion gallery opens!

Its in Eau Claire Market, right near the Sumo Lounge.

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Local-Motion

So come on, come on, view some local artwork with me........

I have the rare opportunity to hang work in a new development in the Calgary art scene.  A new gallery is opening up in Eau Claire Market called Motion Gallery. "What is in a name, that we are thus or thus?" Well...... Motion: because it had to come together quickly. Maybe in hopes to moving lots of artwork. Hopefully not because the gallery will be short live and have to move. It is a huge space where artists can buy in for $50 and hang their work with little restriction.  There is a lot of space, but I know with my artistic drive I could personally fill it if need be.  If you are an artist reading this and are interested, get involved. Hang beside me. Drop me a line and I'll point the way.

Dealtails for fellow artists and creative vendors: 
The gallery takes a 15% commission on top of the membership fee, they provide staffing daily so you can drop off your stuff, put up a price an cross your fingers. Its only $50 to take a chance. The downside is that it is the slowest time of the year for Eau Claire Market and there is virtually no advertising or marketing plan for the gallery. The upside is the location. I am told that many business people go there for lunch and browse around during their break. This alone should promise some traffic. If you have seen what kind of trinket stores are in there, an art gallery should have no problem opening its doors, people will hopefully browse the collection in droves.  In my experience, as long as you keep getting your work in front of peoples eyes, you can find someone interested in buying work and/or supporting the arts.

I threw up these three pieces quickly. I will be dropping off more works in the days to come.

The gallery has sufficient track lighting suspended form the ceiling. In order to create a sense of uniformity before the opening all the information and sales tags including artist CV's and bios will be created by the gallery. As soon as the gallery gets filled, the doors will open. 20 is the perfect number of artists to have on the roster for a space this side but I am sure more can be accommodated. By the looks of it, there will be an opening party this Saturday, but I will keep you posted as things develop.

There are patterns everywhere. I made the observation to my room mate yet again that the magic of observation and what we say often comes to fruition, but in far more eloquent terms.  The other day while at EMMEDIA, I was talking to Noel about the stretchers I bought off of his mom Carol Green.  I told him that I needed larger stretchers for the work for my show next year at the Stride Gallery. He asked if I got the cedar ones he made with the smooth bevel. I didn't.

I was letting my friend into the studio to move his stuff again last night and I noticed some frames sitting by the elevator. I asked them if they were theirs. They said "no" they have been there for days. it didn't take me a second to grab up that opportunity. This is why I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.  Not only did I score some free stretcher bars of unequivocal stability and quality for nothing, but they are the exact size I need, and potentially the exact ones we were talking about a few days prior.

If there was an series of steps,
it might look like this.....

1) Put it out there (make a wish)

2) Wait

3) Observe and listen for a response or an Opportunity,

4) Act. Jump on it!

5) Continue to make wishes