I'll be having a show with Erica McCarrens (friend and fellow MCA alumna) at the Germantown Performing Arts Center this month. The opening is on Friday Dec.5, 6-8pm.

Here are a few of my new pieces which will be on display-

Art show at Tart

I currently have a show up at Tart, a wonderful new cafe/gallery here in Memphis. This show was particularly interesting because the owner encouraged me to paint on the walls as an accompaniment to my hanging art. Most of my work tends to be rather small, so getting to create large scale drawings across walls was very different and fun for me. The show will be up until August 31st, so swing by and check it out! The food at Tart is also really good, btw.

 (please excuse the poor quality of my hasty phone photos)

Hans My Hedgehog

This guy is based on the Grimm's fairy tale "Hans My Hedgehog". The original is for sale in my Etsy shop here, and a mounted print is also available here.

Unveil South Main art show

I will be part of Unveil South Main this year! 20 different artists in spaces along South Main. My work will be next door to Hoot + Louise on G E Patterson. Opening is Nov. 30, I hope my Memphis friends can make it!

unveilsouthmain.com

New work and a show

I'll be having a solo show at The Levy Gallery of the Buckman Performing Arts Center and the opening is this Friday, September 14.  I made 6 new pieces for the show, and they will be displayed along with a whole mess of older work (all of them wood paintings).
Here's the new ones:

The Firebird

Arrival

Among the Cypress

Phoenix

Never Had Everything, but Always Had Something

We Were So Small

Horn Island 28

I went camping on Horn Island for the fourth time. Everything went really smoothly this year, once again the weather was merciful, and we had a great group of people.
The opening reception for the show will be on September 8, 6-9 pm, at Memphis College of Art (1930 Poplar Ave).
You can see my work form last year's trip here.

(Click for larger images)

Nesting Grounds

Housewarming

New Year, New-ish commissions

Happy belated New Year! I'm finally getting around to posting some commissions from the latter half of 2011.

The commissioner's (I like to say "commissioner" rather than "client" because it makes me feel like Batman) specifications for this piece were that it involve rabbits and have a fairytale-ish tone. I decided to take inspiration from the many rabbit/moon folktales.

The "S+D" couple used the color version on their wedding invitations and such.

Intended as a companion piece to another of mine  (Butcher Boy, first plaque pictured) that they already own.

I enjoy doing personal commissions. If any of you folks out there want something special, drop me a line!

2011 was a fairly busy and productive year for me, with lots of new experiences gained along the way. I'm still bummed that I fell off the Housing Project  wagon in September after making it all the way to 257. I'm wondering if I should just keep going to 365 anyhow, even though that violates the original "house a day" concept. Hmm. 

Cheers to a happy, healthy, and creative 2012! My resolution is to be less like this, and more like an artistic powerhouse. 

Good luck with your own resolutions, everyone!

A Tale of Two Cities

 I have some paintings on display this month at Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre. There is a gallery attached which features art shows related to the play running at the time. I was asked to create some pieces to accompany a stage adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities.
(click images to enlarge) 

"Power in Numbers"
24x24"

 

Rather than strictly illustrating scenes from the story, I decided to play around with some of the  themes and motifs. Here (below) I was thinking of the frequent use of contrast and doubles. I'm using rats as a symbol for the peasantry in part because they are often thought of as filthy vermin, but are really very intelligent and adaptable animals. A friend of mine once had a pet rat, it was adorable. Also, they fit well with a portrayal of "the masses". You may not think much of a rat, until you see that they are everywhere.

"We had everything before us"
8.5x11"

"We had nothing before us"
8.5x11"

Here I was thinking about the way Dickens portrays the Revolution, with each side capable of innocence and atrocity. There is no strict dualism, though the opposing parties may perceive it as such.

"Each the Other 1"
8.5x11"

"Each the Other 2"
8.5x11"

Here I was mostly thinking of drawing some frilly clothes.

"Best and Worst of Times"
24x24"

Don't let the door behead you on the way out.

"Chateau"
24x24"

Housing Project 248-254

A house every day for a year

#248- Lovebird house. Based on this one from a couple of weeks ago. Available for purchase in my shop here!

#249- Houseboat. Wall plaque versions of these necklaces from my last giveaway. 

Buy it here

#250- Haunted house. 

Buy it here

#251- Tree house

Buy it here

#252- Bird house

Buy it here

I am going to take the position that I put enough effort into the first 5 that it excuses the total lack of it in the last 2.

#253- Lazy house

#254- I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS house

Horn Island 27

Every year, a group from the Memphis College of Art goes to Horn Island and camps for about eight days. There are no man-made structures there, it's just us, our tents, and the island. Afterward, everyone makes art about it for a show at the school. This was the trip's 27th year, and my third time going. The show will be up from August 22- October 7, and the opening reception is September 10, 5:30-9pm. Come and check it out if you're in Memphis!






















"Shipwrecked on the Horn"






















"Night Terrors"
The weather was extremely merciful to us this year, the only storm we got was a really cool lightning show. Also no bugs and tolerable heat. I didn't go last year, but I heard stories of a solid week of tent-demolishing wind and rain.






















"Consulting the Sage"






















"Expedition"






















"Daredevil"
Rabbits are quite prolific on the Island, as are alligators. I didn't have any close encounters with the gators this time, but I did find tracks from one that had feet as big as mine.






















"Thief in the Night"
The raccoons were really bold. One little @#%$ actually ripped a hole in my tent and stole my bag of food. They ransacked the food supplies at base camp nightly and did not seem to be phased by the proximity of humans. Island Raccoon don't care.

Read a review of the show from the Commercial Appeal here.

I also designed this year's shirt (logo on the tree trunk by Don DuMont).