31 Days of Halloween - Day 20

When I was a kid, the house with the most impressive collection of science fiction, horror and fantasy atrifacts was Famous Monsters of Filmland editor, Forrest J Ackerman's Loz Feliz home, the Ackermansion. Containing Lon Chaney's make-up kit and his hat and fangs from London After Midnight, original models and stop motion creatures created by Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen, props, books, and pulp magazines as well as walls completely covered in art and movie posters, it was my dream house. I remember studying photos of his collection with a magnifying glass. Alas, his collection is now scattered to the wind, and there are now much more impressive collections belonging to people such as Peter Jackson, Bob Burns, and Guillermo Del Toro. It is this last collection that inspires me the most now, and like my childhood self, I scrutinize the photos of his collection to try and see everything that's in it. here are a few photo's followed by a trio of video( the first of which which can also be found on the Cronos DVD and Bluray from Criterion) tour of the collection which has expanded rnough that a second house was needed to accomodate it (I can't wait for that video).

Much of his collection has been touring the United States, Canada, and Mexico as a museum exhibit called "At Home With Monsters" you can see what that was like below.

Crazy 4 Cult 12 Preview 2

Here's the second piece I did for the Crazy 4 Cult 12 show opening tonight at Gallery 1988. "Mosura praegrandis" based on Mothra (1961) and numerous Godzilla films. 3-D cut paper.

Crazy 4 Cult 12 Preview 1

Here's a look at one of the pieces I did for the Crazy 4 Cult 12 show opening tomorrow night at Gallery 1988. "The Bear Suit", based on The Shining (1980). Cut paper.

I'll preview my second piece tomorrow before the show opens.

Next Month...

I will have two cut paper pieces in next months annual Crazy 4 Cult show at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. I'll be previewing them a few days before the show opens on December 7.

In the meantime, Gallery 1988 still has a few pieces of mine, including inexpensive postcard prints, if you are looking for gifts. You can find them here.

Revenge of Frankenstein 200

Chogrin has curated a show which opens tomorrow at The Dark Art Emporium celebrating 200 years of Frankenstein. "The Revenge of Frankenstein 200" features some great artists presenting their interpretations of the Frankenstein monster in his numerous incarnations.

Here's mine:

This was constructed in 3-D cut paper. The 3-D is subtle, but as seen in the first two photos with the switch in lighting, still pretty apparent. If you are in southern California, stop by the gallery and see it in person.

Opening Friday

This Friday will be the opening for the "Revenge of Frankenstein 200" show at The Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach, California. I'll be previewing the piece I did for the show here on Thursday. For details about the show visit the website.

"Thirty Years Later" Now Open

"The Predator" is the 3-D cut paper piece I made for the "30 Years Later" show, celebrating the films of 1987, which is now on exhibit at Gallery 1988(West) through August 12, 2017. Visit in person, if you can.

Coming July 21st

Derry, Maine - 1957

For the Stephen King show, now on exhibit at Gallery 1988 (West), I told myself I wasn't going to do anything related to It. My decision had nothing to do with my feelings for the book (it's one of my favorite King novels), but because I figured Pennywise would be getting a lot of exposure in the show. However, when this idea occurred to me I had to do it.

The tower in the background, which features prominently in the novel, is based on the Thomas Hill Standpipe in Bangor, ME, which is the actual bit of architecture that King used for the Drrry standpipe in the book. In fact, if you visit the actual site, you'll find that the entire location is pretty exact to how it's described. I took liberties with the setting though.

The boy in the piece is actually based on a photograph of Stephen King as a boy and seemed like the perfect trusting, innocent little boy unaware of the horrors of the world (or those he'd later create).

I did try to give Pennywise the silver clown suit he wears in the book, but it just didn't look right. I ended up going with dark blue because the blue connected to the boy's clothes, only much darker, giving them a relationship. I don't think I need to go into any of the other symbolism in the image. It isn't subtle. I'm actually really happy with how this one turned out.

I Am the Doorway

The Stephen King show opens at Gallery 1988 (West) tomorrow night. I have two pieces in the show, including "I Am The Doorway" shown above.

My piece is 3-D cut paper and obviously based on the initial paperback cover of Night Shift with art by Don Brautigam (shown below with it's die cut outer cover).

Brautigam (1946-2008) created the covers for the paperback versions of some of King's earliest books, including The Stand, Firestarter, The Dead Zone, Different Seasons, and Cujo (as well as numerous other books and well known record album covers as can be seen here.) Even before I'd ever read a Stephen King book I was drawn to the covers. As far as I'm concerned none of the covers of subsequent editions has come close to recreating that sense of the uncanny that Brautigam's covers brought to King's works.


The covers for Night Shift and The Stand resonated with me the most, and I'd initially planned to recreate both of them, but time and life had other intentions.

Friday...

Thirty-Three: Celebrating 33 Years of the Independent Spirit & Sundance Film Festival

If you are attending the Sundance Film Festival be sure to stop by the Kimball Art Center to check out the current exhibit, "Thirty-Three: Celebrating 33 Years of the Independent Spirit & Sundance Film Festival" which runs from January 19, 2017 - February 12, 2017. Curated by Independent filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock and Jensen Karp and Katie Sutton of Gallery 1988, the show features some major contemporary artists. I'm honored to be a part of this and sharing wall space with some folks whose work I love. Thanks to everyone involved for having me.

You can learn more here.

At the Sundance Film Festival

I'm honored that filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock has chosen my cute paper portrait of Joel and Ethan Coen to be part of "Thirty-Three: Celebrating 33 Years Of The Independent Spirit & Sundance Film Festival" to be exhibited, in conjunction with Gallery 1988,  at the Kimball Art Center in Park City Utah. The show runs January 19, 2017 - February 12, 2017, during the Sundance Film Festival.

If you are attending the Sundance Film Festival, please check it out. There are some amazing artists participating.

For more information please check out the Kimball Art Center's website, or this article from The Salt Lake Tribune. 

Joel and Ethan Coen

Here's my cut paper portrait of the Coen brothers for the show dedicated to the filmmakers and their films which opens tomorrow night at Gallery 1988 (West).

Opening Friday...

A multi artist tribute to Joel and Ethan Coen opens this Friday at Gallery 1988. I'll be previewing my piece here tomorrow.

Next Month...

This is the next show I'm participating in at Gallery 1988. It opens December 9 and runs through December 23. Check back for a look at the piece I made for this show.

Visit Hoth

The postcards for the Second Annual Postcard Show at Gallery 1988 (East) are now up for viewing/purchase at their website. Included are my "Visit Hoth" postcard which is also available in an Aurebesh variant (scroll down to second previous post for a look). There are also lots of great pieces by some outstanding artists. They are all inexpensive, too.

Tonight

The Second Annual Postcard Show opens tonight at Gallery 1988 (East). It will feature lots of super affordable art by a bunch of incredible artists. 

My piece (shown below), inspired by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, can be seen below both in it's English and variant Aurebesh form. There's a discount is you by both.  The text (shown at bottom) is the same on both. 

Opening this weekend at Gallery 1988 (East). I have a postcard in the show which also is available in a variant edition. Check back for a look at both.

20 Years Later Now Online

All of the artwork for the 20 Years Later show, celebrating the movies of 1996,  at Gallery 1988 (West) is now available to look at and/or purchase here. The show itself runs through July 16, 2016, so if you are in the Los Angeles area, please stop by and see it in person.