Year of the Dragon

For Giant Robot's "Year of the Dragon" group show, artists were invited to create a painting featuring a dragon. This is what I came up with.

Chasing the Dragon

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2012

Chinese Zodiac (Revisited)

For this Chinese New Year (January 23rd, 2012), I was invited to participate in "New Moon", a Chinese Zodiac themed group show hosted by the New York based gallery Myplasticheart.
For this show artists were invited to create works inspired by the 12 astrological animals featured in the mythology. I choose focus on my understanding and interpretation of "The Great Race", and how the Ox lost the race to the Rat. 
I would also go so far as to say that reason why I keep returning to this story is because I was born into the year of the Ox and this idea of loss befall the Ox suits my narrative style.

The Ox and the Rat (Revisited)

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2012

December 2011

This December, I contributed a couple paintings in two other group shows.

Arrested Motion curated a show "East West Connection", hosted by the Hong Kong based Above Second Gallery.

EVERYBODY LOVES PANDA

16" X 20"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

Copro Gallery celebrated the holiday season with their "Black Christmas" group show.

THE GIFT

6" X 6"

Acrylic + Ink

2011

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

Ink on Paper

8" x 10"

2011

Created for the Sweet Streets Art Exhibtion Co-Curated by Spank!, hosted by WWA Gallery. Sweet Streets is an artist management group that fosters talents from Japan and the United States. This relationship inspired me to create a piece that blended my own American/Lowbrow aesthetics with Japanese/Manga styling. The drawings title "I Think I'm Turning Japanese" was inspired by the hit single from The Vapors.

Kamen Rider & Super Sentai Anniversary Show

On 5th, November 2011 the Los Angeles based Q-Pop Shop, in conjunction with the JACCC and Anime Jungle are presenting a group show featuring art inspired by Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. For this show, I chose to create a piece inspired by Kamen Rider.

Kamen Triker

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

8" x 6"

2011

"Kamen Triker" was inspired by many different factors, some from the show, and some personal. What separates Kamen Rider from the rest of the or Japanese Superhero shows (also known as Tokusato - Americans might be more familiar with the show "Power Rangers") is the fact that the hero's signature mode of transportation is a motorcycle. I chose to parody this with a tricycle because the way I saw it, the show was designed to entertain children (ie. people too young to actually drive motorcycles). Another reason why I choose to illustrate a tricycle is because I personally do not know how to drive a motorcycle, and the way I see it, this painting puts into question my own masculinity, adulthood, and more.

"I Am Legion" Ashley Wood Custom

This November, I was invited to contribute to an Ashley Wood Custom show, "I am Legion". Artists were provided a "Bothead" to customize. The show was hosted by First Amendement Gallery, and runs from November 4th through December 4th, 2011.

I am Bearbot

Acrylic and Ink on Vinyl "Bothead"

Approx. 10" Tall

2011

 

When I looked at the Bathed, it felt like a collision of Steam Punk Robots with World War II sensiblities. And so, I did my best to capture these aesthetics. Specifically with the helmet, which was inspire the "jaw" of the Spitfire Mark II Tiger Shark.

I ended up spending a lot of my time working on the part of the sculpture that would probably be least featured: the bottom/neck. The neck featured elements that resembled a jumble of wires and springs, so I did my best to paint it as such.

Painting Update (November 2011)

My procrastinating has done it again. I'm totally backed up on paintings. So let's not waste any time and get on with the catching up.
Since I last posted anything created a painting for a Giant Robot group show "Robots". As the name of the show implies, the theme of the show was "Robots".

"The Bear Machine"

Acrylic + Ink

6" x 6"

2011

"The Bear Machine" was inspired by the band Kraftwerk's "Man Machine".

At the same time I created a couple paintings for an art fair in London with Moniker Projects, however, the work didn't get there in time. However, I was assured that these piece would find themselves in some upcoming events.

"The Hood and the Horns"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

12" x 12"

2011

"Face Paint (Revisited)"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011

Meanwhile, Stateside, I created a couple paintings that were featured in the "Beyond Eden Art Fair" with Copro Gallery.

"Drum Head"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011

"Pants"

Acrylic and Ink on Paper

11" x 14"

2011