Dino-Robo-Morph

Q:  What do you get when you cross a dino with a robo?  A:  A dinobot.

Dino-Robo-Morph, oil on wood, 5"x7" (individually), 2012

Dino

Dinobot

Robo

Done and dusted.

American Youth on Land, oil on wood, 50"x34", 2012

American Youth on Land is done and dusted.  First large scale work completed in 2012 and oh what a flippin' crazy ass year or two it has been.  This is the first body of work I've done in 4 yrs. that is non-bird-related.   That's big, eh?  I'd like to give a big shout out to New Zealand for making this work possible.  New Zealand, you turned me upside down and inside out, it was painful (still trying to right myself) but I needed it dearly...I will always love you for that.

Studio Stills.

So for the time being I'm calling the current body of work American Youth.  The toy collection is piling up around the homestead forming odd vignettes...in a good way.  I'm working on a 2nd painting which is focused on toy battles in the air.  The 1st one (robo/dino/cowboy/indian work) is on land and the 3rd will be at sea.  Self portraits and mega traditional still lives filled with cap guns, baby toys, and what not  are dancing through my head.

Dino Robot Morph (in progress) ROAR!

Dinos & Robots: Phase Two

Phase Two in full effect.

Dude, remember playing with these? Just to let you know...it's still fun.

Palette battle royale.

progress detail

C-boy and Indians made their debut to the Dino/Robot painting today. It's an epic battle - outcome...unknown.

Come on Down!!!

If you happen to be in the Fort Worth area

in the next few weeks,there is a stop you must make...

IN FIVES

AT THE FIREHOUSE ART GALLERY!!

MAY 1st - 26th 2012

OPENING RECEPTION: MAY 5th 6PM - 9PM

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Dinos & Robots

Dinos & Robots

(in-progress)

Dinos & Robots

(detail)

Working at the Science Museum is having a direct effect on my artwork. Hence, Dinos & Robots. Check out the new studio space. Got all my stuff back from New Zealand so this woman is ready to get her paint on. Let's do this.

More Tini Tiny Mighty Minis

Sandhill Crane

pastel & charcoal on roofing paper, 3"x5", 2012

Rock Dove

pastel & charcoal on roofing paper, 3"x5", 2012

Pink-footed Shearwater

pastel & charcoal on roofing paper, 3"x5", 2012

Blue Jay

pastel & charcoal on roofing paper, 3"x5", 2012

Peregrine Falcons

Here is the latest Peregrine Falcon chick that I've added to my art arsenal. Apparently I have a thing for these little guys. This is a 10"x10" acrylic painting on wallpaper adhered to a wood panel. If you look into his peepers too long you might become hypnotized. Or not.

I made this little dude in 2009 or 10. He was part of my exhibition, Aviary, and one of the experiments with sealing drawings with resin. I first drew him on a gessoed wooden panel with pastels and charcoal. Next...I poured resin on top. Every single speck of fragile pastel dust is sealed forever.

There are about 5 or 6 pieces that I've made that I cannot part with. The above Peregrine Falcon Chick is one of them. I finished him in one main sitting with maybe two 10 min. sessions afterwards. It's done in oil, charcoal, and graphite on mounted wallpaper. I'll never let him go.

Here is another experiment with resin and drawing materials. This is a small 5"x7" (part of the In Fives series) work done on gessoed masonite. It was done with charcoal, pastel, graphite, gouache, and acrylic paint. I nailed him into a frame and poured resin over the top, sealing him into the frame for all of eternity. I love the feeling that a drawing is ultimately protected.

Fake Birds.

Brown Ceramic Bird

White Ceramic Bird

Blue Ceramic Bird

Black & White Ceramic Bird

More Tini Tiny Mighty Minis! Today's topic: what's better than real birds? Well fake birds of course. Now there are many different types of fake birds...plastic flamingos, origami birds, children's toy birds, fake birds used for fashion or crafts, but my focus is on fake birds of the ceramic persuasion. They are forever standing at attention - unbelievably still and polished. Their un-realness only makes us think of their breathing counterparts. These decorative birds allow us to capture what can't be caught.

Four Bills

Woodpecker

White Duck

Turkey Vulture

Pied-billed Grebe

One of the most amazing things about birds is the variety of different bills they have...a different tool for different jobs. These little dudes are additions to the Tini Tiny Mighty Mini series. They may be tiny but they are mighty.

Home Series #8

I began this embroidery piece in New Zealand when I was in the depths of discovering and defining the idea of home. I finished it here on U.S. soil after finally feeling confident about my decision not to return to University in NZ this year. Some closure for sure. Still lost in what my next body of work will be. The home thing is feeling pretty played out. Don't know what I need or want to do. Art it out...art it out.

More Tini Tiny Mighty Minis

Hoary Redpoll

Hermit Thrush

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

More minis in the hizzie. Working small is a challenge for me. I miss making big marks but I'm learning a lot by making drawings this scale.

The Hogart Series

Madame Hogart

Madame Hogart is stern, quiet, and loyal...all necessary qualities for any good matriarch. Her family looks upon her with utmost respect. They know her love runs deep but if they were to cross her, they would be out of the will and ostracized from the Hogart clan.

Lord Bentley Hogart III

Good ole Lord Bentley Hogart III, humble husband of Madame Hogart. He spends most of his time in the library reading books of adventure. He is a gentle and kind man thought of as the silent partner of the Hogart empire. He both loves and fears his wife and is fond of his evening sherry.

Paisley Hogart

Paisley Hogart, the oldest child, can do no wrong. She is polite and soft-spoken like her father but there is no doubt that she could easily fill the shoes of her mother. She has many suitors but would rather spend her time alone, exploring the countryside.

Claremont Hogart

The middle child and only son, Claremont Hogart, is no doubt a mama's boy. He pities his father's docile nature and glorifies his mother's strength. He will never admit to his jealousy of his sister, Paisley, for she has both of her parents best characteristics making her the future air to the Hogart throne which he believes should be his title.

Sassie Hogart

The youngest Hogart, Sassie, is just that...full of spirit, bold, and forever chatting. Her good nature and mischievous ways are a welcome relief to the sometimes stuffy Hogart household. She has undying love for her two siblings, mother, and father and they love her immensely in return.

Minis, Yo.

Rufous Hummingbird

Little Auk

Eurasian Collared Dove

Emperor Penguin Chick

California Quail

Bridled Titmouse

Barn Owl

So in response to my transient ways, I've officially streamlined my studio so that it fits into a healthy-sized tote bag. We're talkin' wicked compact-style. I'm not saying that I don't dream to soon have a full-on proper working studio with every art gadget known to man (I will have you soon studio space!) but when you've been on the move and 97% of your supplies are strewn all over the planet you have to make due.

If I learned anything from the peeps of New Zealand, it is good ole Kiwi ingenuity. What kind of work does one make when your art gear barely fits into a breadbox? I introduce you to the series, Tini Tiny Might Mini! Above are wee little pastel, charcoal, and acrylic drawings...well kinda paintings...we'll say draintings done on gessoed roofing paper. The paper was provided by my bud, Rebecca and prepped in NZ. Before heading back to the States I cut them into 3"x5" rectangles. There are more to come and if you are in the market to decorate a doll house I'll be selling them on my etsy site...www.rowdystudios.etsy.com.

Christmas Commish.

Rowdy the Third

If the Price's were Chickens

I like to overlay the art world with the real world at times. Here is one example. I was lucky enough to have a couple of commissions this holiday season - thank you friends with money. Now, a big question I get is, "how much do you charge?". I would totally enjoy the question a lot more if it were rephrased a bit. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Eastbound and Down (if you are not familiar with this robust comedy...get acquainted) and it goes a little something like this..."So what's your commish? What's the damage?". That's what I'm talkin' about. Makes the conversation a little more casual.