the conformist

War Games

Installation
Themes: War, Death, Fear, Consumerism, Play, and their interconnectedness.

"BUG"

Installation
Theme: "Surveillance"

"Heath Ledger Died Today"

I did in fact make this piece on the day that Heath Ledger passed away. I had heard about it after I had finished though. Each of the red dots is an ibuprofen.

Scans

Open Your Eyes

(detail)

A Moment, A Shadow

photo taken in front of MACBA Barcelona (12/07)

"Pee Wee's Gun"

Originally titled "Expression Gizmo"
This piece was in a show awhile back and I overheard someone say "What is this, Pee Wee Herman's gun?". Needless to say I found that complimentary...thus the name change.

A Spirit

A mixed-media piece altered in photoshop to achieve a variety of delicate impressions.
The first one is my favorite, coming closest to what I had envisioned from the beginning.

Small Charcoal Studies

A couple 8.5/11 charcoal drawings I did recently.
I'm starting to really appreciate the atmospheric qualities that vine charcoal allows you to achieve.
I smudged the hell out of these drawings, yet I still managed to mold them into something I liked.
I'm determined to apply some of what's happening here to my painting and sculpture.
Stay tuned for updates on that in the near future.

The Red Hot Chili Puppets!

Anthony

Flea

John

Chad

Behind The Scenes

I love RHCP and I've been interested in puppetry for a long time now so it dawned on me even before this contest began that making puppets of them could be interesting. Originally my vision was more aimed towards full body marionettes, but once the contest came up I knew I wouldn't have time to produce four marionettes in 4-5 weeks. I spent a week researching different types of puppets and decided to move forward with a more "muppetesque" hand-puppet style. I knew going with this type of puppet would reduce the amount of time needed in the building phase, and it also forces you to simplify the character to it's essential features. I decided early on that I would focus on hair, noses, dress, instruments, and tattoos as the main elements of distinguishing their character and personality. I later found that another important piece of that puzzle was their teeth. I wanted to keep the eyes simple but still stay true to them in color and size relationship. Each tattoo was hand drawn and stenciled on by airbrush. Although it was fun to see the progression of these guys from beginning to end, there wasn't anything quite like performing them. I figured if I rocked out it would translate through the puppets...and it did. Just watch the video...you'll see, and if you already watched it...watch it again.

Thanks to everyone....even the spirits - Ian

RHCP Charlie Video - The Artists

While Mike was filming each artist I photographed them through the process. Just as in the filming I tried to capture a progression from beginning - middle - end. The photos are presented in the same order in which we filmed. I also included a few shots from the final shoot.

- Enjoy

Justin - Flea

Amy - John

Jon - Anthony

Sara - Chad

Final Paintings/Shoot

2 new figure studies

Charcoal - 35 min.

Charcoal - 30 min.

Good ol' Texas and such

Portrait Study : 30 min.

Sketch for "Texas Sayings"

Marker Color Study

Final Piece: Watercolor with Pen/Ink

The result of my most recent assignment: "Texas Sayings", which allowed us to pick from 10 different old-time texas sayings and illustrate one of them. I chose "He looks like the dogs have been keepin' him under the porch", which is just long for "That guy is damn ugly". Along the way I discovered that expressions for ugliness are the most common of all texas sayings.

hmmmm...
Anyway, I threw in a random figure study to mix things up.


Enjoy

couple sketches and a few figure studies

Charcoal - 30 min.

Charcoal - 10 min.

Charcoal - 25 min.

Sketchbook - Ink and Brush

Sketchbook - mixed media

Sketchbook - Ink and Brush

enjoy

Fire and Ice

Various Sketches for "fire and ice"

Poor duck

Thumbnail for "fire-crotch"

Sketch for "fire-crotch"

Final Piece

This project gave me the freedom to illustrate "fire and ice" or singularly fire or ice
in a single, square format, illustration.
You'll see here a few of the rough sketches I did based off of some initial ideas,
and the thumbnail for "fire-crotch" that lead me to the final outcome.

Enjoy

Exorcising My Vacation Slump

Watercolor portrait of Reagan from the Exorcist.

An interesting side note about this face is that the Horror and Makeup Show at Universal Studios, which is and always has been my favorite attraction there, has one of the rotating dummy heads used in the film. It's truly an inspiring piece of artistry, by none other than the amazing Dick Smith. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to take that head home with me.

A Man and his Bowling Ball

My favorite part of creating 3-d work is seeing it come to life through the whole process. Taking it from a drawing to a fully dimensional piece, which exists in real space, and then having the opportunity to take it back to a 2-d surface through photography is the most exciting and rewarding process I have discovered. With this project in particular I was aiming to replicate the mood/look of tintypes and other photography from the 1800's-early 1900's.

Enjoy

An Octopus

Acrylic - From Life

I missed a chance to paint fish from life last week so this weekend I decided to go pick up one up myself. Publix didn't have any whole fish in stock, but they did have mini octopus, which, if you ask me, are more interesting anyway.

A Chair

Acrylic - From Life

Apart from this chair's interesting shape and color, I was drawn to it by the shadows it casted.

The tooth of a...

Around 1997 I found this tooth on a hike in the mountains of Idaho. The guide I was with had cliamed it to be the tooth of an elk. For years previous to that I had been told great stories of an ape-like man that inhabited our mountains, but was seldomly seen. So, secretly, I chose to believe that this tooth belonged to that creature. Even now, part of me still likes to.

Portrait of Congo

Acrylic portrait of Congo the baboon.

A Jar of Nails

Fingernails that is.

The Elf-Man (Danny Elfman)

Final Piece - Mixed Media

Process Work

Danny Elfman's music is pure inspiration when I'm working on my art. Of course, I listened to it the whole way through this piece, and as usual the music repeatedly gave me the shivers, causing the tiny hairs on my arms to stand rigidly as if they were coming alive to the sounds. It happens everytime I listen to his work...pure inspiration.

Now Presenting: Gestures

A variety of recent gestures, which range from 30 seconds - 5 minutes. The first two sheets are solely charcoal, and the third is mainly ink wash. Enjoy!

"The Girl from 1858" - Antique Version

I decided to digitally antique this piece for fun, and I really like the outcome. The foggy glow present in this version is what makes the piece for me. It's definitely achieving the slightly haunting mood I was aiming for.

Now Showing: Oil-Rub Portraits

"The Girl from 1858"


"My Buddy Puddy"


These two portraits represent my 1st exploration of the oil-rub technique. In fact, "My Buddy Puddy" was a test piece for the larger and more involved "The Girl from 1858". Her ghostly appearance and haunting stare were fitting for this time of year. A tribute, I suppose, to my favorite season and holiday.

Allen Mitchell : Frog Enthusiast and P.A.A. (Passionate Amphibian Activist)

Allen has requested that all visitors to this web-blog be screened for valuable knowledge on the recent disappearance of his beloved blue-belly bullfrog, Zeke (pictured here). If you have any information regarding this injustice to humanity please contact Allen with utmost immediacy.

business contact: croak4life@aol.com

Watercolor Eric

Two watercolors of Eric. I've taken a liking to the close-up version.

Skull Studies

Life-Size skull studies for figure. Simply charcoal, eraser, and fingers.

Dino-Scratch

A classic Dino vs Mammal moment brought to you by means of scratchboard, and I have to tell you...I listened to the Jurassic Park Theme every moment I was working on it.

2/3 Watercolor Self - From Life

Messing around with my watercolors. This 2/3 self-portrait was done without a line-drawing. I just blocked in shapes and colors. The photo here is sized according to the original.

Specimen One: Cuttlefish

Number One in a series of Undersea Specimen
Illustrations. I plan to re-print the same corked
jar on each version, and all may have an associated
letterform to accompany. I'll make sure to share
when time permits.

Self In Hat

Graphite Portrait - Sept. 2006

The Birth of Slug-Boy

Portrait of Director Cam Archer

Produced during the True West Cinema Fest 2006
and given to Cam as a thank you for his beautiful film: Wild Tigers I Have Known

The Lincoln Fascination

The first of an extensive ongoing portrayal of our

16th President that will include many different approaches

to the visualization, of the fascination, that a fellow artist

and I share for this most unique historical character:

Abraham Lincoln

Fake Tattoo Night

August 2006

Finalized Toy Project

The Anxiety Doll

Final Figure Study

Final Study in Figure

More Figure Stuff

A Few Self-Portraits

Pen/Ink & Charcoal on Newsprint

Acrylic, Gouache, & Marker

Pen/Ink & Charcoal on Newsprint

Glazing Banana Still Life

Colored Pecil Underdrawing

Final With Acrylic Glaze

Jungle Gardens Landscape

Graphite Version

Ink Version

Some Figure Work