Ramsey Dau

This Blog Is Shut Down. New Blog at...

2009-03-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the new home for my blog here. It resides as part of my newly re-designed wesite Comfy Chair Creative Superstore. Bye bye.

New Website Launch

2009-03-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is the official launch of the new Comfy Chair Creative Superstore website. Check out the featured portfolio, the DJ mixtape free downloads, or just cruise around and soak up the radness. Please leave comments on the news blog if you see anything that you like, or send a link to your friends or colleagues if you think they would be interested. I'd like to send a big thanks to Steve at 35mm Design who handled all the site development. Please stop by occasionally as the site will be updated with new works as they come in, and a store will be coming soon (please keep in mind that "soon" is a subjective term). Cheers!

Ramsey Dau

Wild Things

2009-03-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

I hope this is going to be good (Spike you better not have f'ed it up):

The Color Turning CD Single Font Design

2009-03-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Just finished this font design for my friend Steve's band, The Color Turning. Their new album is coming out later this year, and this is their first single off it. Check out more about them HERE

Egypt : March 2009

2009-03-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here are a few select shots from my recent trip to Egypt.

March 1st in Los Angeles...

2009-03-01T23:35:00.000-08:00

This was my favorite photo from today's ride around town. Longeries and Spicy Shoes.

See, LA has nice parks.

World famous Langers. Their pastrami is delicious.

I think that is Susan Summers after a stroke.

Creepy painting for a schoolyard.

This used to be the CNA building, but now it houses the LA County Superior Court ...criminal court, I believe. We used to skate here. The halfpipes couldn't be more perfect. However, the security was on it so you really only got maybe 2 runs.

Had I brought my backpack with me today, the cheetah would have been mine.

This place just doesn't look that "feliz" (happy) to me.

You Make Plans...

2009-02-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

You See Me Rollin'

2009-02-10T11:31:00.001-08:00

Punk Pencils

2009-02-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

This is a concept for a poster I'd like to print, hopefully soon. I'm working on a bunch of new art concepts in the "poster" format right now because it's something that I've always loved, but have done very little work in.

Find Yourself

2009-02-02T00:23:00.000-08:00

Went on a hike up in Chantry Flats (above Pasadowner) last weekend with some buds and saw this great sign. This is ODB pondering it's great wisdom. Peace.

Around Town Photos - New Camera

2009-02-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

So I just got a new digi. I was looking at the Canon G10, the Panasonic Lumix LX3 and the Ricoh GX200. After a ton of research and shooting the LX3 and G10 down at Samy's, I ended up going with the LX3. I am very happy with the purchase, although, I don't think I could have gone wrong with any of the above cameras. Anyways, I shot a few 'round town pics while riding my bike the last couple days. One day I rode over to my buddy's shop (Barracuda), with whom I'm working on a top-secret art project, and another day I rode with Jed over to the LACMA and checked out the current exhibit on cold war East vs. West German art. Not really impressed, but those Germans do some weird shit.

21st Century Politics, by The Electric Company

2009-02-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, I used to watch The Electric Company. I also watched H.R. Pufnstuf and Sesame Street and ZOOM and Villa Alegre (a bilingual kids program), Land of the Lost, Lost in Space, Sigmund the Seamonster, and a ton of others, some of which were educational and creatively expanding, and many more that were probably just a waste of brain real estate (that I could really use about now). Anyway, on The Electric Company there was one segment where two people spelled out words, like "ch" - "ange"..."change." You get the idea. Here's a clip:

Anyway, I thought it would be an interesting way to portray our last and current administrations. The paintings are acrylic on Arches Watercolor paper 15" x 22.5". In case you can't tell by the silhouettes, the green one is Bush and Cheney, and the purple one is Obama and Biden.

Graphic Designer Shigeo Fukuda Dies at 76

2009-01-28T23:56:00.000-08:00

JAN 11, 2009 - Shigeo Fukuda dies in Tokyo. I didn't know Fukuda by name, although I should have. I've seen his work and although I liked it, I never investigated who had done it. Sometimes it's like that for me with graphic designers. I usually do a bit of research on painters or illustrators when I see work that I like. However, when I saw Fukuda's yellow cannon poster (Victory 1945) in the obituary column, it was such a strong image that I had to do some looking.

Fukuda was a master of graphically simple, yet creatively complex posters and graphic designs. He was a follower of the Swiss Style, a Western design style from the 40's and 50's known for it's minimalism. He worked mostly in the realm of political and social issue advocacy, as opposed to the commercial world.

He has this great quote about his view on design – I believe that in design, 30 percent dignity, 20 percent beauty and 50 percent absurdity are necessary. I'm sad to see him gone, but he's left a great legacy and will continue to be an influence and inspiration to future designers.

Above is a spoof I did based on the satirical poster that caught my eye, and below is my sketch idea and process for making my drawing. Also below are some other samples of Fukuda's work, including his amazing shadow sculptures (created from trash and found objects).

DFA Party Flyer

2009-01-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

I just finished this flyer for a party Scion is throwing with DFA next week. I'm not sure what a mango has to do with The Juan MacLean, but that was one tasty piece of fruit. Unfortunately they changed the lineup last minute after everything was approved and went to press. The new lineup features a live performance by Yatch and dj sets by TNT (Tim Goldsworthy and Tim Sweeney) as well as The Juan MacLean. It's going to be a good show, Thursday, Jan. 15th at the Roxy. You can RSVP for the party HERE.

Poster: Business/Personal

2008-12-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Sketchbook: 12.18.08

2008-12-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some weird drawings from my sketchbook. There's no real rhyme or reason to why I put these up today or in this grouping. I'm just eating a slice of guava cheese cake (it's a pastry, not a cheesecake) from the Cuban bakery down the street and I thought I would upload a few things. I'll post some other ones later. I don't want to blow your mind all at once.

Ralph Ginzburg and Herb Lubalin: A brief look back at a publishing collaboration decades ahead of it's time

2008-12-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

I first became aware of publisher Ralph Ginzburg and designer Herb Lubalin, through the Avant Garde logo Lubalin created in 1968 for the art magazine of the same name (the logo would later be released in full typesetting form by Lubalin's own International Typeface Corporation as ITC Avant Garde – one of my personal favorites). Anyway, Avant Garde was the third title published by Ginzburg and art directed by Lubalin, and like the previous two titles before it (Eros and Fact), was fairly short lived. After 16 issues, censors shut it down because of an art spread of an alphabet spelled out of nude bodies. Eros (a magazine focusing on the burgeoning sexuality of the '60s) was shut down after just 4 issues, and landed Ginzburg in jail for 8 months on federal obscenity charges. Fact (a humorous satirical journal of society and culture) lasted a bit longer – 5 years, before it was shut down by a lawsuit from Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater (who sued over a particularly scathing article on him).

All of Ginzburg's publications had a heavy focus on sexuality and controversial politics. Here's a nice quote from him on pornography: "'Obscenity' or 'pornography' is a crime without definition or victim. It is a bag of smoke used to conceal one's own dislikes with regard to aspects of sex."

Over the years, I've acquired a few issues of each of these magazines, and have been struck by what Lubalin was doing with design and fonts almost 40 years ago. Magazines today should definitely take note. I'm hoping that the current state of the economy and advertising in the internet age, do not put a one-two punch to the world of print publications. Clicking back through blog archives is nothing like flipping through the yellowing pages of a 35-year old magazine.

Here are a few Lubalin designed covers from Fact:

Here is the cover of Avant Garde issue 5. The illustration is by Tom Wesselman, an amazing artist who's career spanned 4 decades. His pop beauties are among my favorites. Honor Fraser Gallery in Culver City recently had a show of his work that included one of his nudes on shaped plexiglass that was really cool.

AG issue 8 is entirely devoted to Picasso's erotic gravures. The issue was published in 1969, and Picasso's gravures are dated 1968. It's weird, Picasso seems like an artist from a long time ago, one of the masters, not someone who's current work would pop up in a contemporary magazine.

Eros issue 3 (1962) contained a feature on the last studio portraits of Marilyn Monroe, shot by Bert Sterns 6 weeks before her death. The orange crosses on the contact sheets were photos Monroe did not like.

Here's an illustration by John Alcorn which accompanied an article in Fact entitled "A Glossary of Homosexual Slang." Did you know that a Basket Day is a period of mild weather that permits men to wear garments light enough to reveal the contours of their baskets (the male genitals and region immediately surrounding)?

And here are some really nice illustrations (also from Fact) by Jerome Snyder. I like his hand-drawn fonts.

And some by Simms Taback (Fact):

If all Herb Lubalin accomplished in his life was the creation of the font, Avant Garde, I think that would have been enough. But after his collaborations with Ginzburg, he would go on to spend 10 years creating U&lc (Upper and Lowercase), a notable typographic journal which would set the foundation for experimental typography, and pave the way for titles like Emigre and Ray Gun. Lubalin's mastery of fonts and simple, restrained design is a big influence for me. I place him up there with Saul Bass and Paul Rand. Below is an amazing piece of sculpture he worked on with art director Lou Dorfsman in 1966 for the CBS studios cafeteria. Lubalin designed the type along with collaborator Tom Carnase. Unfortunately, CBS discarded the 35 ft x 8 ft structure in the early 90's (It was rescued and is currently being restored by the Center for Design Study).

New Painting: The Great Swindle

2008-12-03T00:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a new painting from the series "Goodbye George." Mixed media on Arches watercolor paper 22" x 30". It's going to be weird not having George Bush and Dick Cheney in the White House. It's just so easy to dislike them.

Mark Whalen (Kill Pixie) Studio Visit

2008-11-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

Mark has a show at Merry Karnowski's gallery in Berlin opening this Saturday, Nov. 22. I went by his studio to shoot a preview of his work and talk to him about the show. Here are some of the photos, but for the full story, check here: Anthem Magazine

Ed Templeton: Studio Visit

2008-11-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I hooked up with Ed at his HB home studio to check out the work for his upcoming solo exhibit at Roberts & Tilton. The resulting photos and interview are posted here: Anthem Magazine

The Golden Age...long since gone.

2008-11-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

Starman

2008-11-03T13:36:00.001-08:00

Shine On

2008-10-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

These are just some doodles I did yesterday.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

2008-09-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

New Painting Finished : Fear of Change : 09.15.08

2008-09-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

I just finished a new painting. Acrylic and ink on 22"x30" Arches Watercolor Paper. The title of my latest mixtape was taken from the concept of this painting. It's a concept that has affected my life for as long as I can remember. I think it is a dilemma that is common to the human experience – you're not content where you are, but you don't want to loose what you have. What do you do? Hopefully you figure out where you want to be, do the research on how to get there and start making moves. Is contentment even really desirable? Wouldn't life be pretty boring if you didn't have anything left to strive for. Well, anyway, I really like how the geometric pattern came out on this. It's a bitch to paint straight lines, but the finished product is rewarding.

Weekend Art Shows : SEPT 5 & 6

2008-09-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

I hit a few art shows this weekend. Friday was a small show that my friend Amber from Busy-Being helped put on at Fresh Pressed (a new retail screenprint shop in Silverlake). There was a small selection of original art and signed prints from Andy Mueller, Kime Buzzelli, Sean Cassidy, Rory Wilson and Frohawk Two Feathers, as well as the opportunity to make your own prints using screens from these artists. We'll have to keep an eye on this space and see what it does next.

Saturday was a huge night for art shows. I had to pick a couple to go to and forget about the rest. I hit the first show at the new Roberts & Tilton Gallery. The show, entitled Macrocosm, had work by artists: Ed Templeton, Barry McGee, Matt Leines, Jimmy Baker, Delphine Courtillot, Noah Davis, Jeremy Everett, Eberhard Havekost, Adam Janes, Titus Kaphar, Thomas Kiesewetter, Becca Mann, Faris McReynolds, Ellen De Meutter, Adam Pendleton, Peter Rogiers, Andrew Schoultz, Kehinde Wiley, and Ai Yamaguchi. Ed's wall of kissing teens was nice and the huge portrait by Kehinde Wiley was the definite standout. I also really love the precision and detail of Matt Leines work.

After that show, I headed over to the Scion Space for The Art Of Music. This was a cool show too and I especially like the works by La Boca (who do all the artwork for DC Recordings, home of The Emperor Machine), //DIY and Artus de Lavilléon. My friend Kill Pixie was there and introduced me to his friend Stefan Marx who was exhibiting at the show and has some really cool work as well. His work for the show was inspired by dance music clubs - blackness and strobelights, smoke machines and bright flashing lasers.

Giant Hawk Breaks Window

2008-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

It appears as though a giant hawk has crashed through the front window of our office. Actually it was probably just a rock or bullet or something, but it sure looks like a hawk.

Joe Willie : 08.14.08

2008-08-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

I went to a Ricky Powell slideshow event last month at the silent movie theatre in Hollywood that was put on by Altamont. It was one of the funniest things I've been to in a while. Ricky is a very entertaining MC and his documentation of the 80's and 90's NY street scene is great. He is no Glen Friedman, but his photos have a very real "street photographer" point of view. Anyway, Ricky was quite lit for the evening, and interrupted the slideshow on multiple occasions demanding weed. Interspersed between his grab-bag (and I mean that literally...he pulled his slides out of a plastic shopping bag) of early era NYC hip-hop, art and street scene documentation were numerous slides of one Joe "Willie" Namath, shot from the tv - 70's era broadcasts on ESPN Sports Classics. Joe is one of Ricky's idols, and as I just bought a print from Ricky (of 2 of my idols - Basquiat and Warhol), I decided to do a quick illustration for Ricky. Here it is.

Lynch Book Signing : 07.31.08

2008-08-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

I went with some friends to a David Lynch book signing / Q&A thing that was hosted by Design Within Reach over in Hollywood the other day. Lynch mostly talked about transcendental meditation. It sounds like one of those things that, if it really works, would be awesome; a great way to tap into creativity and peace. However, it's also one of those things that sounds suspiciously bogus. Anyway, I'll use this opportunity to post a more developed drawing of Mr. Lynch based on an earlier sketch (which you can find below on this blog). I think I like the quick sketch better than this more final illustration though. It's funny sometimes how when you try to draw something well and take a lot of time with it, sometimes it's just not as "good" as when you just don't really care too much and try to make something quickly.

Get Outdoors : 08.03.08

2008-08-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally got a good crew together up to the waterfalls/swimming hole up in the Angeles National Forest this past weekend. It's hard to believe that this is only a half hour outside LA. Anyway, the swimming was good, the wild blackberries even better, and the cliff jumps...well those are always fun. Maybe you can go next time.

EASTSIDE VS. WESTSIDE

2008-07-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

So I just finished these doodles and was thinking about making some t-shirts to sell around town. East VS. West. Cast your vote.

Herman Miller - Teneo

2008-07-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is a new line made by Herman Miller. It's called Teneo, and it's gorgeous. In the second photo, it's the cabinet over on the right. I've been looking for a small cabinet-table-type thing and this is perfect. Unfortunately it is quite expensive, and you can't find it anywhere.

ESPO? Nope, but still nice anyway.

2008-07-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Steven Powers (ESPO) got up on the back of this motorcycle repair shop by my studio. It's nice to see so many hand-painted signs around on this side of town. It's definitely a dying art, and it's replacement (vinyl stickers) is such a step down in quality and craft. I guess that's one of the problems with progress; like how particle-board laminate furniture (that falls apart in a couple years) replaced solid wood furniture (which got passed on from generation to generation), technology that allows cheaper, faster production always seems to supplant craftsmanship.

Sunday Downtown Bike Ride : 7.14.08

2008-07-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

So this past Sunday I was planning on going hiking, but things fell through, and when I found myself sitting on the couch watching Must Love Dogs on the Oxygen Channel, I knew it was time to get out of the house. So I hopped on my bike and headed downtown for a city tour. I'll share some pics from the trip here. There's a photo of the Department of Water and Power building. I like the previous name of that building (you can see the remnants of the letters in the cement) - Municipal Power and Light. There are some really cool buildings and parks and whatnot downtown. It's pretty strange to see it all so devoid of people. It will be nice if they ever build enough infrastructure down there to make it a really vibrant city, like Manhattan. I also stopped in at the MOCA. The air conditioning was very nice. On exhibit were selections from the permanent collection (1980-2005) which I saw last time I was there a couple months ago, and a new exhibit of works by Marlene Dumas. Some of her work was cool, but the majority was not up my alley.

Reader's Poll...1985

2008-06-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some old magazines recently and found this snippet for '85. It's the reader's poll from Freestylin' Magazine. This mag covered freestyle bmx, which was a lot of flatground endo's and jumping around and bar spinning. It was a cool mag and kind of picked up after BMX Action. I remember looking longingly at the adverts for Redline Flight Cranks and Racing Inc. aluminum frame sets. Well, from the looks of the top 10 results here, '85 was pretty boss.

Volcom Shirt : Skate Taco : In Stores NOW!

2008-06-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

So this is a shirt I drew for Volcom a while back, and it's finally hitting the stores. It's called Skate Taco, and, well, it's kind of self explanatory. I'm sure you can buy one at the Volcom store on La Brea in LA or at another fine retailer near you.

Sunday : 06.08.08 / Updated : 07.22.08

2008-06-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

I finished a painting based on the study I did previously (below). It's acrylic and ink on Arches watercolor paper, 22.5" x 30".

I hung out with my friend John from Dita today. We had breakfast at Cayenne Cafe on Beverly. They have delicious banana pancakes. We drove around Hollywood for a bit in John's restored '67 Malibu and stopped by the Barracuda store on Melrose where John introduced me to the owner, Miguel. It's a cool store, you should check it out. Anyway, the drawing I have posted today doesn't really have anything to do with what I did today, but I like it and I wanted to share it. The quote is actually something George Bush said about the war.

Animated Graffiti

2008-05-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

This Italian artist (Blu) is really amazing. He creates these graffiti animations that leave a fresh buff in their wake.

Pettibon Tribute 05.23.08

2008-05-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

I like Raymond Pettibon. Some of my work has a similar aesthetic to his, and although I don't try to draw like him, he is definitely an influence. Anyway, there was a paparazzi photo floating around of Angelina and Brad that was very similar in composition to the illustration Pettibon did for the Sonic Youth Goo album, which was based off another paparazzi photograph from 1966 of David and Maureen Smith. Maureen Smith (Maiden name Hindley) was the younger sister of Myra Hindley, who, along with boyfriend Ian Brady, was found guilty of the British Moors Murders (brutal torture and killing of 5 youths).

Study 05.22.08 / Updated 07.22.08

2008-05-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the finished painting to the study I did previously (below). It's acrylic and ink on Arches watercolor paper, sized 22.5"x30". The quotes are all from President George W. Bush. I think that in the future, parents with "special needs" children will be able to look their kids in the eye, and truthfully tell them, "You can be anything you want. Maybe even president!"

So this is a study of a new piece I'm working on. I'm compiling work for a future show entitled "Goodbye George." It will focus on America in the early 21st century and a somewhat cynical view of the culture and politics of the time.

Saturday's Lesson: Let It Go

2008-04-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

When Jed and I were DJing at the Adidas store today on Melrose, Mike Mills (the director/artist, not the dude from REM) came in and bought a pair of shoes. He wore them out of the store, leaving his old shoes there (in the trash I assume). Wow. That's a cool lesson in sparse living. I've heard of people doing that with jeans too. Just wearing one pair every day until they wear out, then buying another pair and discarding the old. You don't see many snakes slithering around carrying their old shed skin now do you? Unfortunately, I don't think I can head this lesson, but it's something to admire. Or maybe Mike just stepped in some dog doo out on the sidewalk and didn't want to bother cleaning his old shoes.

Also. Jed rides his bike to work every day and takes the metro. This allows him to see parts of the city that you don't often catch in a car. He documents many of his finds on his blog La Bande Wagon.

ADIDAS DJ Instore 4.19.08

2008-04-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be DJing on Saturday the 19th with my friend Jed. It's at the Adidas Original store on Melrose in LA from Noon to 4pm. I am considering adapting a new moniker. Bobby London. There is a Korean bar/club or something not too far from my house called Bobby London's. It has struck me for some reason.

Anthem Magazine Coachella Party Flyer 2008

2008-04-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

I was commissioned to illustrate and design this year's flyer for Anthem Magazine's Coachella Music Fesival party. My friends at Anthem said, "Make it sexy and Spanish.." And by Spanish I think they meant Mexican but without wanting to sound so, I don't know, "racialist?" Anyway, if you are going to be in the desert April 26th and 27th, you should come by the pool and have some fun. There are going to be some super heavy DJs there and every year has proven to be an amazing party. You can RSVP by going to www.anthemmagazine.com/rsvp.

HUG LIFE : 4.14.08

2008-04-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

Haven't been drawing much lately. I don't have my studio setup, so it's a bit tough doing "art." I went to LACMA on Sunday to try to get out of the heat a bit. A nice big air conditioned museum was a nice place to hide out from the 100 degree weather here in LA this weekend. The contemporary exhibit in the BCAM wing was really good. They've got some nice Lichtensteins, Warhols, Basquiats, Ruschas, Twomblys, koons, etc...

There was also a pretty cool exhibit of Chicano art. This guy, Julio Cesar Morales had some cool watercolors of illegal aliens smuggling in car seats, trunks, etc.

I saw some "thug life" graffiti and something was blocking the "T" so it looked like "hug life." Way to keep it positive Tupac...

Scrabble Saint Patrick's Day

2008-03-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

We played scrabble last night. I didn't win, but I also was not last (I'm looking at you, Fonz).

NEW DJ MIX!!!! : False Future - Risk Homeostasis

2008-03-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

Listen to my NEW DJ Mixtape 5: False Future - Risk Homeostasis

New Painting Finished 03.03.08

2008-03-03T18:20:00.001-08:00

So this is a large piece I just finished. It's 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. That is a George W. Bush quote. Yes, he actually said it. Sorry the photo's not so great, but it's night right now so I shot it indoors. Hopefully I can get a series going on Bush quotes. These things take a long time though at large size. Anyway, sorry I haven't been updating this blog much recently. I'm in the middle of moving my home and business up to Los Angeles, so it's a bit hectic. Man, moving is the worst.

SF Party Flyer - Moroder Lives!

2008-02-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a flyer I just finished for the upcoming Scion/XLR8R House Party. If you are in the SF area, you should go to this. It's Feb.25th at Slide. You have to RSVP so get in and get that handled. I saw Switch play at the Echoplex and although I really like his music, it's a bit much to only hear his music. I have not seen C.L.A.W.S. before, but hopefully it's a nice mix. If you can't tell, Giorgio Moroder was the inspiration for this illustration.

Super Tuesday Batmobile!

2008-02-05T11:56:00.001-08:00

On my way to work today, after voting at my local polling place (which by the way had an oceanfront view, ridiculous), I saw the Batmobile driving down PCH. Not a car painted to look like the Batmobile, but the actual batmobile (or replica of) - the one from the television show. The bastardized Oldsmobuick with fins down the back and red piping around the headlights and whatnot. I guess that's all I have to say about that. Hope you voted.

Public Radio

2008-01-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

So I haven't posted this week yet. Work has been busy. Plus, I played hooky yesterday with the Anthem Magazine crew and went snowboarding up at Snow Summit. Anyway, if you live in the LA/OC area and listen to KCRW on 89.9 (or on the web at kcrw.com), then you should subscribe to Public Radio. Call: 800-600-5279 to make a pledge. This is an amazing radio station. They have shows for music (from indierock to electronica and dance, as well as classical stuff I think), news, arts & culture, plus they broadcast This American Life (Ira Glass' show) on the weekends. You can podcast all their shows too. Really, you should donate. If you do, you get a membership card that gives you money off at bookstores, restaurants, and hundreds of other stores all over LA/OC.

Booty Friday

2008-01-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

"What's that you say Ms. Streisand's booty?"

Daily Sketch: WED 01.23.08 "Lynch's Hair"

2008-01-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

So, I was going to draw a picture of David Sedaris since I saw him last weekend, but to be honest, he doesn't have a very distinct look. His appearance is very much that of an everyman. In fact, when he took our tickets at the door of the theatre, I at first didn't recognize him. Broek had to point out that it was him. Of course, when he spoke, his identity was unmistakable. He was going to go to Amoeba Records in Hollywood, and was wondering if anyone knew how to get there by bus from downtown, because he doesn't drive. Anyway, part 2 of the "Day of David" was David Lynch's documentary, so here's a quick drawing of Mr. Lynch. He has fantastic hair.

New Painting - TUE 01.22.08

2008-01-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

This is a painting I did yesterday and today. I might ad to it a bit more, but I like the simplicity of it. Besides, since I was working on this today, I don't have a daily sketch to post up. So this will have to do. Also, I went to the art store today and got two 48x36 canvases and some other art supplies, so I can start on a new big painting.

"No Internet" Monday 01.21.08

2008-01-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

So when I got into the studio today, my internet was down. It remained down all day, so I couldn't post a new drawing. So Sorry. Right now, I'm at home on my laptop, and I don't have a scanner here, so I can't post a new drawing tonight either. Lest you think I am slacking-off on my "daily sketch" pledge, I can assure you that I spent several hours today working on new paintings, which are much more important than sketches, so that kind of makes up for it. However, that still leaves us with no "daily sketch" today. What I can do, is post a painting I did back in the Y2K, as well as give a little update on this past weekend's activities. Saturday was devoted to the Davids. We not only saw author/essayist, David Sedaris perform a reading at UCLA, but also caught a showing of the David Lynch documentary (intriguingly entitled, "Lynch") at LACMA. Mr. Sedaris was kind enough to scan our tickets at the door before taking the stage to share some excerpts from his new work in progress. It was awesome.

Daily Sketch: Fri. 01.18.08 "Welcomed"

2008-01-18T18:03:00.001-08:00

It's Friday. Gonna' see David Sedaris this weekend at UCLA. Very excited about that. I saw him last year, also in LA, and was very pleased. David Sedaris has nothing to do with today's drawing, but I couldn't think of anything to say, really, about this drawing. Have a good weekend kids.

Daily Sketch: WED 01.17.08 "In The Future"

2008-01-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

So David Byrne is pretty much a badass. He wrote this song in what, 1985? You are my drawing of the day today, Mr. Byrne. Congratulations. Oh, and I know your face is all messed up, but I was really focusing on the big suit. Besides, I couldn't find a very big picture, so it was a bit hard to see. Maybe I will try a better drawing for you another day.

Daily Sketch: 01.16.08 "We Are Now"

2008-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

I know today is the 17th, but I drew this last night and couldn't post it up until today. So technically it is yesterday's "Daily Sketch." So I'll have to get another one done later today and put that up too.

Daily Sketch: Tuesday 01.15.08 "Dude"

2008-01-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

THIS VIDEO is pretty f'ing funny. Yes it's scary that this is how teenagers of the world talk/act, but i just can't get over the gall of the newscaster. I also can't believe this is an actual newscast. I'd be like, "Hey, who do you think you are lady? You're not my fucking mom!...you're not the boss of me!" That'd learn her.

Sketch - Monday 14 January 2008 "Julius Shulman"

2008-01-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

Architectural photographer Julius Shulman. Just a quick sketch for Monday.

Portfolio - Update: Some of My Favorite Pieces

2008-01-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

These are some of my favorite pieces from my portfolio. The top one, "Sometimes", is from 2002. It's acrylic on canvas, 36" x 24". The next one, "Everything You Never Needed" is from 2003 and is 48" x 36", also acrylic on canvas. The multi-canvas one is from 2005. The nude is acrylic and ink on paper 22.5" x 30".

Led Zeppelin

2008-01-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Sidewalk art in Los Feliz. I think that's a guitar of some type. Either that or a summer squash.

Sunday Gun Club

2008-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

We went and shot guns again last night. 12-gauge pistol grip to the head.

Doooooodles...

2008-01-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

watch out lurkers...

Portfolio - "CarrieJoe" 2006

2008-01-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

This is a painting of my friend CarrieJoe. I joke with her that she is my muse because this is like the third painting I've done of her. It's acrylic and ink on cardboard. This art will be featured as part of Volcom's artist series of t-shirts later this year, so that's kind of cool.

Sketch "Bad Dreams" sometime in 07

2008-01-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

another old sketch from last year

Sketch - "Pink Nude" sometime in 07

2008-01-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

This is another older sketch. It's acrylic and ink. Just messing around.

Sketch - "Tree Bomb" sometime in 07

2008-01-11T16:09:00.001-08:00

Another upload of a daily sketch. Did this last year, and just uploading as i have time.

Portfolio - America X

2008-01-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

Since this blog is new, I'll be posting pieces (new and old) from my portfolio of work. This is a piece i did in 2007. It's basically about America the nation being sold out to America the corporation.

Sketch - "News Nude" 16 December 2007

2008-01-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

i'm posting a few sketches whenever i do them. here's a nude on the LA Times.