Geek Tatoos

"Geek Tatoos", nuff said.

This is Juan.

A bit of back story here, many years ago I was contemplating the possibility of creating a series of paintings that were just based on observation of my life. At the time, I was painting off of magazines such as COLORS, Maxim, Harpers Bazar, and other fashion/ world publications. The notion of painting from photographs of people and places in my life was unappealing to me. I found it more like a class assignment, novel, void of any kind of interest or fascination.

The painting above is my stepfather Juan. It was the first painting that caused me to think there is something here, a concept, idea, whatever that I can work on. This is the reason I am blogging about this particular piece in order to illuminate what is being sought after in my work. Personally I love working from him and he has become one of my favorite models. I find his expressions quite engaging and it also helps that I know him personally to an extent. The approach I used in this painting was that it originated from the photos of the Colors magazine. Many of the photos of people are taken in a face forward and a rather stiff stance. For me it always framed an awkward sensibility that translates well.

In the next couple of weeks I am going to discuss certain paintings I have done or are in the process. In full disclosure I will not go into too much detail on the person or place for two reasons. One it may alienate the audience in the sense that I rather have a person take something away of there own interpretation of the piece. Second, well these are real people that I am close too and I would rather not disclose all their personal information. So there will be editing.

Swoon

Swoon is a street artist in New York. I recently saw her work in the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art and found it to be worth the mention. There really isn't anything else to say about her so simply enjoy.

Beatiful Losers

I’m a bit hesitant about writing this entry on this documentary film Beautiful Losers about these mostly “West Coast Artists”. For some time now I feel as if I have had my lips permanently attached to their asses but the problem is that I simply can’t help myself. The film features favorite artists such as Shepard Fairey, Barry McGee, Margaret Killgallen, Mike Mills, etc... It’s a great film if you want to see the latest art movement from their beginnings in New York’s Alleged Gallery to where they are now and how they seem to feel about it.

However Mike Mills summarizes the film in the last two minutes by adding quite accurately that the audience should not believe anything anyone says in the film. Due to the very nature of documentary film; everyone has their own side of a story. It was a tongue and cheek cautionary note.

Art Basel Hangover

Well this past week and weekend is over and I have had time to recuperate from all the events and art. A bit of history, I’ve been going to Art Basel and its events since it opened in 2001. I have witness its evolution to what it is now. Which is to say it is a short time for a huge amount of artwork in general, good and bad depending what your taste may be. Personally, having been born here I am very happy to have one time in the year were a bunch of contemporary artist come to Miami to show off, it does beat the monotony of the summer. And in the end it’s great to see something different, kind of like a carnival. Although I have had years where I have been a bit annoyed with the events but I digress.

Last year was soooo over the top with the events that this year’s fairs are far more tamed by comparison but this is a good thing. There seems to be more quality work in my eyes and found Aqua Miami to be the best show this year from all the satellite fairs. Last year Pulse Miami was my favorite but they refined themselves in a bad way. There was not enough effort to show new work. I don’t know how balanced my opinion is due to the fact that I am bias to California Artists these days but I was very impressed with what I saw and just simply with the fact that it was all in one place.

One of this years surprised for me was the CIFO show of video art. The Bill Viola piece really snuck up on me. I remember going to a New York retrospective of his many years ago and felt that I have become quiet accustomed to his work. Do not misunderstand me, I really enjoyed the New York Exhibition but after having all the pieces together and seeing it kind of diluted me. Perhaps it’s time, but Viola’s video at CIFO was very good on a social level. More than other videos I can remember.

Last but not least was the graffiti around the City of Wynwood which is always impressive. The Primary Flight exhibition was awesome. It is nice to get in your car and drive around and see really cool stuff on the walls. Also it’s an exhibition that truly does not close so I recommend anyone to take a look.

Norman Rockwell finally gets some respect

Yes I know he is sentimental and yes he used photographs but so what, there are many other great artist with their own crutches. Not so long ago it was discovered that Vermeer used a camera and as for Norman Rockwell’s content, well it was a part of American History. His work is a time capsule perhaps not 100% accurate but it did capture what America wanted to be. It is clear that I am a fan of his work and have been very much annoyed that he has not been taken as seriously as he should be. I would not place Rockwell at the top of the great artist of all time but he does have a respectable place in art history. Right now there is a show over at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale and it's pretty good for South Florida and highly recommend it if you are a fan. Not to mention the "with you I want to live: Gordon Locksley & George T. Shea Collection", there is a Banskey piece that is pretty cool.

In any case here is a link to a story on NPR reporting on his current place in the art world and I am happy to say its in a better place now than ever before.

Norman Rockwell, Photorealist or Photoexpressionist or Photoimpressionist or whatever

Incoherent Ramblings

For some time I have been painting from photos of my family, friends, and places. In the past I would react to the images, basically throwing my two cents right away. Now I feel compelled to simply paint them as best I can without any obvious opinion of the images I decided to use. I suppose the only reaction would be my paint application and the choice of the picture itself. It has been a strange exercise/ compulsion to say the least. Just to simply observe these images longer than a minute has been a strange experience. I have never found my family or friends interesting enough to paint and I find the act seems more like a school assignment or something so fundamental that I never took it so serious. To write it now even sound rather trite, “Family Portraits”. But here I am painting and blogging about it, so why do it.

Over the past months of painting these people I have been noticing more things than I have before. I have yet to decide whether it’s because of my paintings or just simply due to age and wisdom; perhaps both. It is an odd thing, I feel at ease spending more time with them. I feel a genuine interest in getting to know them better but with some habitual caution, old habits, still justified to an extent. It has been and I am sure I am not alone, that one should keep a distance to an extent from people. I have yet to find anyone who is 100 % open with another person. However I do look forward to the day if it would exist.

At this point I have painted enough of these to begin to react to them to an extent. It will be a gradual process. Now I have been at this point before, I remember mentioning the city paintings and have yet to really dive into it. But this goal seems to be a more viable one. I believe it will happen subtly. Maybe in one or two paintings out of seven or ten. I want to use my reactions sparingly, it has to feel genuine, justifiable.

Gene Simmons and Terry Gross in Love

I remember hearing a rebroadcast of this interview on Fresh Air/ NPR about two years ago. Currently, for some reason, it's not available for streaming on NPR. But getting right to it this is by far one of the best interviews I have heard on radio for obvious and subtle reasons. To simplify the reasons for this choice is the dynamic of a serious interviewer and a seriously obnoxious guest, which Mr. Simmons provides in such an amazing way. It’s like hearing a horrible car crash but much better.

In full disclosure I am a big fan of Terry Gross and Fresh Air, not so much Kiss. This was the first time I have really heard Gene Simmons interviewed and although I still feel the same way about Kiss I have discovered a new found respect for him that was absolutely surprising to me. He really does seem to worship himself in a way that demands a concentrated opinion and mine leans on the positive. Well without any further introduction and if this still holds your interest here is a link to interview on YouTube:
Gene Simmons interview on Fresh Air

Happy D.B. Cooper Day!!!

If you dont know who he is here's a hint: D.B. Cooper

Chloe Early

I felt compelled to mention this particular artist not simply due to the fact that she is talented or cleaver but knowing full well that I have attempted this same technique before. She is much better than I am, at least for now. I admire her approach and present it to anyone who cares to see it because that is what I do in my blog. I have read her explanation of the work and find it mildly interesting but it does remind me why I stopped approaching my work in this way. Bringing so much imagery and paint application has been too much for me, again at least for now.

Which brings me to Early’s work which I cannot say too much about except that I do enjoy the airy sensibility and look forward to her continuing on this path. It does inspire me to do the same.

Here is a Link: Chloe Early

Weezer Snuggie

Yeeeaaaah... the Weezer Snuggie. I just thought it would be something notable.

Here is a link to the infomercial:
Weezer Snuggie

Natalia Fabia

I have been sitting on any kind of comments about this artist for quite sometime. It's not that she is not good, which she is, but I had to find a way to really look at her work in a critical way.

First I feel compelled to talk about her technical achievements which are substantial. In her site she has her older work (something that most artists including myself do not do.). Work from years ago and they were technically simple and even folksy but with a valley punk girl sensibility. I appreciate her early work in its balls to the wall attitude. Over the years her punk girl concept has evolved both technically and conceptually which brings me to her Hooker Dreamscapes series.

Gone is the crude teenage punk attitude in this series only to be replaced with soft surreal sensitivity. Do not get me wrong, I love the punk in her and it is by no means gone at all. In fact it is celebrated with such a soft touch I found myself weeping in its longing as trite as it sounds. Pieces like Sugar Rush, Patty Cake, and Pizza Party illustrate my point. Only because of habit I am trying to see a negative perspective in her work both technically and conceptually but I find myself more willing to celebrate her achievements and waiting to see what she will do next.

Link to her work. Natalia Fabia

Crumb finally finishes Genesis

I remember a while ago, when watching the Crumb movie, that here is one of the most perverted little men in pop history. It is a absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend the film. It was near the end of the documentary/ bio pic when he was talking about the last project which would be called Genesis. He was in the process of Illustrating the Bible. At the time, I thought he was out of his mind and of course this left a good impression for me.
Well it has finally arrived and its official, Crumb is out of his mind. Not in a playful way, or creative way, or clever way, but in a genius way. He has illustrated the entire book of Genesis straight thought without any opinions or loose comedy.

If anyone would like to read the Bible now would be the best time to do it.

Gaetan Henrioux

I found Henrioux work to be inspiring along with his candy acid palette.

Here is a link to more of his work if your interested to check it out:
Gaetan Henrioux

DISPLAYING PAINTINGS

I thought this would be a nice way to display my work.

...

I'm having trouble.

Apparently taking photos outside of certain areas in the city where it is not designated for pictures is frowned upon. Not that I'm terribly surprised but it is disappointing. I'm going to have to see how I can find a way around this without pissing people off too much when I take photos. There seems to be a bit of hostility with photographers.

I gonna try something

Well, it has crossed my mind to see if I could start on something new in approach. Not to radical but it will push what I have done in the past and may or may not be a good idea. Im going to concentrate on individuals and places for a series of paintings. Friends and family of course but it will be more concentrated on the individual photographing them for a certain amount of time. As for the places I have already started with a broad stroke for Miami, but there are certain parts of Miami that can be addressed well, such as Hialeah, Coral Gables, Homestead, etc... I have my reservations whether it will work but at the very least it will be a stepping stone to more interesting things. I shall see....

Robert Rauschenberg Graffiti Artist

Small Works Show

I submitted three paintings of my niece Amber to a Small Works Show that Utrecht Art Store is hosting. If any one in the area wants to check it out or submit work it's the one on US1/ Dixie Hwy in Miami.

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival

I'm going to painting at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival on the 14th of February.  Come on by and check me out. 

Recent Upload

The sketchbook paintings have been uploaded to my site and they look pretty nice if I do say so myself.

Contemplating

I have spent the last couple of weeks working on a small series of paintings in my sketchbook.  These sketchbook paintings are from photographs of family members and friends.  I will soon be done with it and hope to work on a more experimental approach in the book before I move on to canvas again.  I am very much conscious of an X factor to excite my concept even further.  It will be evident in the weeks to come.