ICON6 / Illustration Conference

Howdy. Here is a picture I did recently for freedomig.com. Groovy. Lots o' stuff going on. Top of my list is working on paintings for my La Luz de Jesus Show in April 2009. It is going to be GOOD! I'll keep you posted on that.

Secondly, I am heading up the transition team for ICON6! The new board was just announced too, so start saving for 2010. Location and dates to be announced later. It will be a FANTASTIC conference if I have anything to do with it and since I am on the board I WILL have something to do with it. Here is the new Board:

Alex Bostic
Soojin Buzelli
Fernanda Cohen
Troy Doolittle
Michael Fleishman
Andy Hayes
John Hendrix
Melanie Reim
Mark Todd
Jaime Zollars
and moi

Fernanda Cohen, Mark Heflin and I make up the Transition Team. Mark Heflin is going to be the new permanent Director of ICON. Check the ICON website for updates and info.

Lastly, I am traveling fool. Going to Pittsburgh (10/28 - 11/1) next week and then NYC for the American Illustration Party (11/11 - 11/15). Yeehaw! Call me if you want to meet up.

SALE! Art makes a great gift!

It's time to clear out some inventory, so I am offering a special deal on FREEDOMWIG. Buy two pieces of art by December 10, 2008 and get one FREE! Holiday shopping! Support the arts! Yeehaw! Email me if you are interested.

826 LA / Poketo Fundraising!

Hey I did two wallets for Poketo that are being used to raise funds for 826LA. The wallets are only $20 bucks!!! Your purchase of this wallet will support current and future 826LA programming. Other artists who designed wallets are Mark Todd, Esther Pearl Watson, Tim Biskup, John Pham, Rama Hughes, Christine Castro, Leah Chun, Chris Bettig and Keith Kneuven.

To purchase the above wallet just click here!

Perfect is Boring

This is some art I did today for my freedomwig website. I am trying to figure out why being perfect is so desirable? Why do the magazines correct the naturally beautiful women they hire to model and make them look fake and weird? The touching up of women has gotten more extreme and unnatural. It is wrong.

Don't you get annoyed with people who are always trying to be perfect. They make you feel bad about not being perfect. How about Eva Longoria telling everyone she is still a size 0 even though she has gotten "fatter." Annoying. Jeez, size 0 shouldn't even exist. Invisible is size 0. Zero equals NOTHING!!!

Frankly I don't trust "perfect" people. That striving for perfection is usually a cover for some serious character flaws.

I prefer people who mess up, get back up, dust themselves off, learn from the mess up and keep going. I prefer people who accept their lack of perfection and get on with life. You know? Maybe this is stupid to be talking about in the middle of all this bank crap and insanity. OK I'll stop.

Road Trip New Art

Here is some art that will be in a show at Jonathan Levine gallery in September. Jordin Isip put together another one of his Panorama Projects. The opening is September 6, 2008 from 7 - 9 pm. Coolness.

So I am still on my road trip. Tomorrow we leave for Paris. I uploaded a fews things on freedomwig.com today too. YAY. Hopefully I can write some stuff while in Paris.

Later!

New blog

Howdy. I set up a new blog just for our trip.

Can't wait!

Cool News! ROAD TRIP

Esther Pearl Watson and I applied for a research & development grant and we got it! Starting on August 15 we are driving across the country to interview people about their personal ideas of beauty. We are going to let what people tell us drive the images and direction of the project, trying to not have too many preconceived notions. This came about because living in L.A. can warp your sense of what is beautiful. You can lose your idea of what is "real" here.

We'll be taping, filming, writing, drawing and painting for a month from Los Angeles to Maine thru the middle of the country, then down the east coast to Atlanta and back across the country via the southern route and ending up at home in September. When we get back we plan to produce a multi-media exhibit about what we found.

If you are interested in being interviewed, let us know and if we come thru your town we'll look you up. We want to talk to men, women, teens, kids, from all nationalities, artists, business people, student...as many different people as we can. Cool beans!!!

Palm trees and foolish shoes

Even though I have lived here for almost 13 years, there are days when I am shocked to realize that I live in frickin' California. What the hell? There is a dang lemon tree in my yard. Free damn lemons! When you grow up in Philly this is a big deal.

Yesterday was one of those days. Somehow Robert Festino (recent ditcher of the east coast) got me to go running with him at the freakin' beach and he got me to run faster and farther. How he do dat? It must have been his crazy yeller shoes. So very coolio. After running, we grabbed brunch in Venice beach, sat outside on the breezy sunny patio, watched the hipsters (including Tom Hanks) walk down the palm tree lined street and (nerd alert!) critiqued the use of arial on a gallery sign.

AND right now I am dog sitting for Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson. I'm using their house studio to work so the dogs will have some company. The window of their studio overlooks their POOL and a bunch of banana trees and there is a flock of wild parakeets flying around so I am still freakin' out a little. Sometimes life is very good. You dig?

More chemistry

I had to share these I got today. These are verbatim. I didn't correct anything.

nice,sweetguy knows how to treat awomen with respect.she has to be beautiful and attractive,as long she knows to respect
im simple guy ,attractive,nice,family oriented,honest,sense of humor,sensitive,loooking for a simple girl that i want to spent the rest of my life,hopefully she knows how to cooks,house experienced prefered.

Horny and looking for sex without committment
Just an average guy looking for an average lady who needs more sex than she is getting. Not looking for a permanent relationship although it's not out of the question. Prefer someone who is a good conversationalist and can start up the conversation (I'm not good at starting, but can hold my own once my partner indicates an interest in any subject).

Crocodile Tears

Hey I am in a show in NYC this weekend. Here are my pieces. If you live in NYC check it out at Giant Robot.

There are a ton of good artists in the show. Everything is 5 x 7 and smaller, so should be affordable.

So buy some ART! Recession Shmesession. These are each $400 buck-a-roonies and are 5 x 7 mixed media on wood. They have sparkles on them (the words) which you cannot tell from the scans I did. They would totally look great on your wall, especially together!

Also I started doing a painting-a-day again, but only Monday thru Friday. Check it out on Freedomwig.com. Thanks.

My soulmate

The ice cream picture is random. I took it when I went to Coney Island on Monday.

I know I said I'd write about the Illustration conference but I don't feel like it. Sorry. Go to Drawger and you can see what people had to say about it. It was good thing. I might write something next week.

OK so I am still doing the online dating thing for another month (They don't give refunds). There seem to be a few normal nice guys amongst the countless FREAKS, but I don't think it is where I will find someone groovy to hang out with. Thankfully the freaks are providing me with hours of amusement. Yes I feel a little bad making fun of the profiles I get, but I can't help it. They make me sad and amazed and a little scared.

One more thing, what is the deal with the obsession with "soulmates?" Did I tell you I can't stand it when people say they are looking for a "soulmate." Jeez-loo-EEZE.

OK so which one of these fellas should I date? I have so many to share. I'll post more later.

"I am handsome, attractive, self confident, charming, spontaneous, young at heart, fun, outgoing, witty, established, focused, and strong willed rolled into one. But, who doesn’t claim to be all these things on this site? The truth i that I do possess all of these qualities; although I am human and they may not all be apparent all of the time. Your friends and family will love me, and I believe you could grow to love me too. But, let’s not rush things. I don’t even know your name yet?" Enough about me. So what do you think about me?

"Gifted Man seeks Gifted Woman. I'm an easy going debonair man of many talents. But I don't take myself too seriously. I am passionate about passionate people. I love to have fun and I’m very spontaneous as well as a great dancer. I can dance to any style of music, but being from Chicago, I truly love a strong ballad to slow dance too." Is Chicago known for men slow dancing to strong ballads they truly love?

"Don't worry, be happy! Lets see I'm a single hispanic guy. I have NO skeletons in the closet and NO criminal record. I like going to the movies, the theatre, traveling, outdoors, wine tasting. I don't like smokers, lies, confrontations. I collect coins and cookbooks (Yesssss I like to cook). I like music, pretty much all types, but classic rock is my alltime favorite. Simple guy huuu!" Thank god, NO criminal record huuuu!

"I love children and have adopted a kind and gentle princess (see pic) who is 6 yo. My princess’ royal court includes a nanny and grandma, who lives a mile away. I’m looking for a nurturing, slender, sensual, intellectually curious woman, who will be my life partner. My idea of fulfillment is connecting with my soul mate, working on my research, spending time with family, and eating hot apple pie with mounds of half-melted vanilla ice cream. You, my future partner, understand that your support and passion allow my creativity and productivity to soar, making you a partner in the successes of my research and clinical programs. In turn I try to take care of you in the ways important to you. What quirks do I have? Well…..I love hot, steamy showers. I deal with whatever issues bubble up. It’s also my most creative time. If the womb was any thing this, it’s no wonder that I was two weeks late!"
What the HELL? This one scares me the MOST. You should see his picture. Truly disturbing.

Home

I just got home today after being in NYC since last Sunday. I plan to write some stuff about the Illustration Conference tomorrow. Need to get back on Cally time today.

Gawker

Hey my art is on Gawker. Well indirectly, thru YouTube. I did some illos for Rob Kutner's new book "Apocalypse How" and he did a YouTube promo using them. Does this mean I am hip? Heck YEAH! I am particularly fond of the human shirt illo. Borderline genius. Ha.

New York / ICON5

Hey I am going to be in NYC from June 30 - July 8 for the Illustration Conference. If you are going Angela Edwards, who is going to the conference, but has never been to NYC, set up a forum for people attending the conference to touch base and share tips etc. Click here if you want to sign up and share.

It is an unofficial forum. Yeehaw!

Oh yes, I have decided to collect the best of my Chemistry matches. I don't know what I'll do with them but it is giving me hours of amusement.

Lates

Martha

MY perfect Chemistry match.

I apologize in advance for all the swearing.

OK. I think I am a pretty nice not so gross person, but goddamn it I can't take it anymore. I tried online dating one more time and for the love of god what the hell is going on in the world??? JEEZ USSSS. I need to swear. What the FUCK!!!!!????

Read the profile below that was sent to me today. It was sent to me because the questionnaire I took says we are a perfect match. The camel's back done be broke. This is not the first of these I have received. There's plenty more where it came from. This is the one that pushed me over the goddamn edge. It seems Los Angeles is jam-packed with single middle-aged sally TOOL men. I know. I am being so mean, but "sweetie" here has cracked.

So now I don't give a shit if I never go on another date EVER AGAIN for infinity. MOther F-ING G-D C-SUCKing SHIT CRAP Son of a BITCH. I am going to hell. Somebody put me out of my misery. PLEEZE! I give up. I am not bitter REALLY just gonna never go on a date again. This guy ruined it for me forever. Some booby renaissance milady needs to smack him HARD in his charming prince ASS libation.

Your Wish = My Command
Hi Sweetie, please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Prince Charming! Certainly, you be the judge.

May I have the next dance? But of course, coffee, tea - a libation - would be lovely. Now, did I mention that I'm extra funny & extra smart & extra handsome? Oh, yes, extra modest too. Downright self-effacing if you must know.

I have many sides - please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a renaissance man. I'm a seasoned actor of the stage transitioning to film and TV, happen to have an MA in Philosophy, graduated from Berkeley. I'm also a very successful advertising sales executive by day.

Right now my heart goes out to a certain dog in my life, but is poised for the companionship of a woman who is serene. As she cherishes, adores, and brightens my day with her smile I shall give likewise. Smart shall she be. With a sense of humor or I'll have none. Values her health and beauty. Likes movies, cooking together, dogs, music, the beach, exercise, the smell of eucalyptus in the forest, and her hair shall be of what color it please God.

Pictures from the Grasshut Show!

Please check out the Grasshut website and buy some art. There are some amazing Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson arts in the show. Do it now man!

Portland is FAB

Portland is an excellent place, I am here right now. The people are groovy and nice and they make you feel comfortable and at home. Please check out Grass Hut to see the art from the show tonight. I'll add pics of the nice people of Portland when I get back on Saturday.

Don't you need some cake and lobster art? I know I need it. That's why I paint it. Gol' dang it. You should totally buy these.

One-painting-a-day Revisited

Howdy peeps! I have decided to go back to doing my one painting a day thing. Doing the one painting a week wasn't working for me.

For some reason it is freeing having to come up with something new every day. Maybe because there is no time to think too much or to self censor and it appeals to my inner ADD. So please go to freedomwig on June 1st to see what's going down. Heck yes.

This art you see here is for a lovely job I did for the July issue of Bon Appetit magazine. Excellent people to work with!

Back in LALAdenarockville

Hey back home after a fabulous two weeks in Pittsburgh visiting my family with a side trip to Chicago for the show at DVA Gallery. Here is a picture of all of us artsy farts at a bar called Proust right next to the gallery.

We ate spaeztel and weird sour meatballs and I drank skunked wine from a dirty glass. I am so hardcore, man. Enjoy the weener plate picture, please. There were some sloshed frat and sorority types drinking brew from a very large glass boot across the room providing us with some lovely free entertainment. I feel that Chicago is a boozy place.

Speaking of brew, my brother's beer won a Silver Medal at the World Cup of Beer (check out category #74). This is a very cool thing. If you ever get a chance to drink any beer from Penn Brewery, do it cause it is real good. The Pilsner is my favorite. My brother is the Head Brewer over there. I wish they sold the beer in Pasadena. It is pretty much the only beer I drink. Here is a picture of the winning beer.

Backtracking. I wanted to go to the Carnegie International when I was in Pittsburgh but didn't get a chance. It looks groovy-- Doug Aitken, Barry McGee among others have stuff in it. I'll see it when I go back to the 'burgh in August. Also when I was in Chicago I saw the Karen Kilimnik show at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Her art rocks my world (I am embarrassed to use that phrase but I mean it). I got a little choked up when I saw it.

OK talk to you yinzers later.

Spring Cleaning Sale!

Howdy people. I decided to extend my Spring Cleaning sale on freedomwig.com until May 31. Some people emailed me asking to extend it so I am gonna do it! I'll update the website and my one-a-weeks when I get back to Cally next week.

Thanks!
Martha