No Goatse, No Glory

This Spring, I was invited to customize one of Nathan Hamill's "Bellicose Bunny" toys for his "Bellicosity" show at Toy Art Gallery.
For my custom, I started by separating the carrot/rocket from the bunny and trimmed off its bottom fins. After filling  and sanding any plugs and holes from both the rabbit and the rocket I then cut a whole into the bunnies rear and sculpted a sphincter with Epoxy Sculpt. I then filled the body with brass bb's and resin to keep the body from tipping over and finished by inserting the carrot into its newly formed "anus".
Its title "No Goatse, No Glory" is a pun of saying: "No Guts, No Glory". 
For those not familiar with the word "Goatse", please click here.
"Bellicosity" runs from March 23rd through April 6th, 2012.



Just to clarify, "No Goaste, No Glory" is in no way intended to be a mallicious commentary about Hamill or his artwork. I consider Hamill a respected colleague and friend.

One Trick Pony (Juggling)

One Trick Pony (Juggling)

18" x 24"

Acrylic + Ink 

2012

"One Trick Pony (Juggling)" was inspired by my own fears and feelings that critics might consider me a "One Trick Pony" (ie. an artist whose abilities are limited to one specific thing. In my case that one thing would be my bears). 
The painting also features the bear juggling red spheres (or dots). The "Red Dot" is a symbol used in art galleries to announce that an artwork has been sold. 
To sum it up, what I'm saying is: 'Sure, I might be a one trick pony, but at least that one trick is my ability to handle these red dots'. 
"One Trick Pony (Juggling)" was displayed at Corey Helford Gallery's booth at Scope Art Fair, New York 2012.

The Making of "Jack" Part 4

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".

Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

NOTE: Due to the response we've experienced for "Jack", we decided to increase the production number from 7 pieces to final total of 10.

 

With each sculpture, we've included a certificate of authenticity. Each certificate is personalized with a drawing of Jack. The image was first hand traced from the photo of the sculpt. I then redrew the drawing onto each of the 10 certificates and finished them with ink.

The Making of "Jack" Part 3

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".

Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

After the "investments" (or molds) are formed, they are then heated in a kiln till the original wax positives are melted out. Molten metal (in this case bronze - a combination of copper and tin) is then poured into the mold and given time to cool. Once the metal has hardened, the ceramic investment is broken away to reveal the finished components to our sculpture.

The Making of "Jack" Part 2

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".
Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

A ceramic slurry is mixed from which a mold (or as they say in the biz, an "investment") is created around the wax. After the wax forms are dipped in slurry, they're coated with a layer sand/silica, allowed to dry, and the process is repeated several times. The finished product is a hard ceramic shell that forms around the wax. Later, these investments will be heated in a kiln and the wax will be melted out. 

The finished investments will serve as a mold for the molten bronze.