MAN OF MANY HATS

I'm often asked how I always keep so many things on the go and that I'm a man of many hats. Indeed, I keep the ball rolling in many courts, but I also try to keep it fun. Maybe I'm just a crazy workaholic. Maybe its that I'm doing what I love. You see for yourself in this monumental goal reaching Episode 50!

On with the show

Getting an exhibit ready takes time and effort. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to show at first. I knew I'd include some of the pieces I did while traveling abroad.

 I had new paintings inspired by my vacation in Puerto Rico. I wanted to capture the feeling and energy with the bright colours and nature on the island.

 I found some frames that fit the drawings fairly well and my helper did a fantastic job framing the work up for me.

 I also included some of my favourite images from Italy which allowed me to try out my new photo printer.

 I laid the work out at the New Edward gallery along the wall while Eddie and Karen were rolling out a final coat of paint on the gallery walls.

 They offered to hang the pieces as I had a lot on my plate and it was late, they did a great job!

Here is the Man, Eddie, in the space looking over the exhibition.

Here is a view with the lights on. I think it was a good amount of work and quite an eclectic collection.

The leaves are on the fruit and the fruit are on the leaves, what is it?

A pineapple.

In Puerto rico I saw these growing in pots in El Yunque and on peoples stoops in Old San Juan.
Here are some of the steps I took in creating one of my pieces for the exhibition I had at the New Edward Gallery this past week-end.

Hanging show at DSW

The busy man that I am I offered to help a friend to hang artwork for the final show at the current Dancers Studio West location titled: Remembering Amelia.

So I got this room to work in, had to remove a bunch of stuff from the walls with a big heavy drill and yet I am not allowed to use any nails or screws or create any holes to hang the show. Lamesauce.
I managed to beat the odds and hang the stuff even with annoying onlookers judging me every step of the way. Thats why I like to work alone. Me and my level.

It ended up costing way more in materials than it should have because the great way we had discussed for me to do it wasn't allowed once I got there. So I had to run out and drop tons more money on more expensive industrial strength velcro so as to not put any holes in the wall. Geez. Once over this hump and after dropping $100 or so. I finally got the pieces up on the wall. Save people knocking them down etc. I wish I could have just gone with the original plan and done it in the time allotted. Pain in the ass, but now that it is all said and done it does look great.

One more in the main entrance hall way. A few days later I get a call asking me to hang up some more new banners from the ceiling. Did I mention the ceiling is very high and I'm freaked by heights. Plus, I'll have to go up scaffolding after being tired from working every day and night and I have to do it after my day job shift on my only night off.

Well I got over it pretty quick, and being a tiny bit frightened up by the ceiling definitely opened my fatigued eyes in fear of falling.

I'm actually really proud of the job, everything worked out and is on the level.

The final printed banners are hung and ready just in time for the performances.

Phew. He wipes the sweat off his brow. Another Batista success!

Well hung.

I dropped off the work to the Stride Gallery last night and began hanging the work in the gallery today. It has been a strange journey to this point. I'm feeling remarkably vulnerable and a bit nervous about this opening. It feels strange, the work isn't exactly how I imagined it looking and it seems so much smaller now that is is out of my studio and in a big empty gallery.

Here my buddy Ben is putting the final painting into the studio freight elevator to bring to the loading dock.

It was a crisp and snowy Monday at around dinner time, the pieces are all lined up outside the loading dock.

We loaded them into the trailer. Each piece has a little foam separator between them and then the whole lot was strapped to the sidewall so they wouldn't shift in transport.

Went to Stride, measured each piece and spent some time figuring out where the work would go. This is the hard part of the job I didn't anticipate taking so much out of me, but in the end I'm happy. Larissa Tigglers is so extremely helpful in hanging the work - a real superstar! I greatly appreciate her experience and knowledge. We ended up hanging the works a little higher as per my desire at 60" from the ground to the painting center, that way you have to look up a bit at the deities.

More to come, Come out Friday!

Oilmen's review v.5

 3 rooms filled with artwork!

I will be showing three pieces here tonight and two at another private event.
If you are in and around Cow town I will probably see you there.

May 5th @ Mount Royal Village
OILMENS REVIEW v.5
Group Art Show &
“Inn From The Cold”

Here is the performance schedule



Here is the FB invite page: http://www.facebook.com/events/350321575024988/

"Inn from the Cold is proud to be part of Calgary’s 10-Year Plan
to End Homelessness. We work with the Calgary Homeless
Foundation, all levels of government and other non-profit
agencies towards the common goal of ending homelessness."

Full steam ahead

Comic Expo bound

Yesterday turned out to be "one of those days". In order to get my business cards which were held hostage in Vancouver I had to pay an additional $30, and hopefully I'll get the call soon that they have arrived. NOPE - BAd news, they forgot to pack my finished cards into the shipment and now I'll have no crds to hand out at the event :=( While dong my running around  I saw the flash of a photo ticket, adding insult to injury. Today I awoke from a dream where I removed a plastic layer over my entire teeth, I think the anxiety has passed.   No matter, the show must go on.

It is pouring rain and I have to load up my truck and set up my booth. I am going to hit a place where I can make many copies of my presentation notes. I need about 50 of each, they said 60 but I think I'm a bit more realistic in being conservative on attendance numbers.  It should be a good week-end though if this wet weather keeps up, people will want to spend their time indoors, and hopefully at the comic expo.

I have a bunch of stuff to put on my table, I hope I can fit it. Wish me luck!

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Come by and say hello my booth is F04 in ARTIST ALLEY at Calgary's Comic Expo April 27-29) under the name Artistavision Inc.

I will be giving two free panel presentations at this years event::

History of Animation Quickdraw Brian Batista
Room: Palomino C
SATURDAY Time: 4:00 - 5:00

When did animation start? How was it done throughout the ages? What exactly is animation? Brian Batista from the Calgary Quickdraw Society is here to answer all these questions and more.

&

Challenges in Independant Art Forms Brian Batista
Room: Palomino C
SUNDAY Time: 12:00 - 1:00

Traditional artist Brian Batista will delve into the challenges artists face in getting their work seen and sold. If you are a painter or an illustrator, a professional or just starting out, Brian will give you ideas on what it takes to transition to that "next step". 

The Final Countdown

As we quickly approach the opening of this year's Calgary Comic expo, tension begins to run high.

Mostly my stress comes from not knowing and time quickly ticking away. I'm kind of new to doing this sort of thing. I have run booths for other organizations in the past and had my booth for my Rooibos tea company for two summers. This is the second time I've operated a booth as myself, an artist. Once was at Market Collective. I just hope I don't suck!

At this event, I have a booth (F04) in Artist Alley to man for the three days plus set up and tear down. I am also giving two panel talks. With these talks I not only have powerpoint presentations to put together but also notes for every participant who attends. I need to have them done and printed tonight so I can make 60 copies of each on Friday before the expo begins. I am hoping to staple them together with my new business cards attached. I am waiting on a call to pick up my new business cards, fingers crossed. I was expecting to have them today, I hope they get them done in time or I'm S.O.L.

  I have to pick up exhibition passes, get set up, confirm a volunteer for my booth while I give talks, do I have to pay for a parking pass too all week-end?! I have to gather some random elements for my booth like safety pins and butterfly clips to hang some stuff like prints and signage. I will be offering some space on my table to friends. I will have the last 30 copies of Mr. Reaper Really Bad Morning with all the extras for only $10 each, there will be Versus handbills on the table to give away and Frosst Books business cards. I paid for the booth but am not really pushing sales, so its best that I get the most out of it! I will have my prints available at their regular price however I am not counting on earth shattering sales since it is a comic and not an art event. I'm going to have one copy of my book for people to peruse. What I really hope is to have an original painting or two at the table but that may not be logistically possible.

Trailer for Mr. Reapers Really Bad Morning.
 
For me, its going to be a great week-end to show up, get my name out there, talk to people, be in the excitement of the expo, meet other like minded individuals, vendors etc. Make a few sales. At least my expectations are not too high, I wont be disappointed since I will easily attain my objectives. I really hope I can drive some traffic to my site, get more followers on this blog and more likes on my FB artist page.

Stay tooned!