International Artist magazine

So sorry for not posting in a long time! I have been so busy trying to run my new company, Big Lava Chop, Inc. It is a concept art company directly connected to video games. I plan to expand it further out into animation, architectural and industrial visual design. That's my plan, we'll see what the Big Boss in da sky does.

Anyways, the latest is that I got into the latest issue of Internationl Artist magazine: http://www.international-artist.com/

Also, my wife and I are also planning to drive out to Missoula, Montana because my painting got into the 17th annual OPA juried show. This is exciting as I never got into any juried exhibitions before. Thank you, Eric, for encouraging me to do this. Oh yeah, you too, Terry!

Do I deserve all this? Not at all, I'm just blessed. I have a very supportive wife who also is an artist. She's putting her art endeavors on hold because she is so dedicated in being with our children Kinda neat to see that dedication in her. As for me, trying to balance between the two different industries of art galleries and entertainment design is challenging. At this point, I am far behind in painting but I plan to get back on the canvas real soon. Thanks for reading!

Laundromat 007

This is a laundromat based on references I took in Burbank, California. It was finished with an Indian Yellow glaze. (oil on panel, 12" x 48")

Kitchen with Red Floor

This is a back kitchen based on a local bakery/diner here in Bend, Oregon. In reality, the kitchen was probably one third the length shown in the painting. I just made up stuff everything in between to justify a panoramic painting. I normally use Indian Yellow to glaze over my finished, dried paintings. I decided to use a new color: Transparent Red Oxide. (12" x 48", oil on panel)

Red Sea Tube

I am sorry that I haven't posted in a while.

This may not be scripturally accurate, as it does say ' and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.' (Exodus 14:22). But wouldn't have been cool if they walked through a giant tunnel of water just like those aquarium walkways? I did this in Photoshop on and off in the last few months.

Liquor Stores & Laundromats

I was having a conversation with a buddy today and he pointed out a connection with one of my favorite rap groups, Jurassic 5 and my leanings to certain subjects in my paintings. Of all my urban themes in my paintings, the spaces that I am most interested in are laundromats and liquor stores, specifically. I don't fully understand why to this day, as I have been painting these sceneries for about 11 years. The point of this trivial post is merely that Jurassic 5's song 'Remember His Name' includes the following line recited by Zaakir:

'Oh man, where have I seen this brother before, man Well it was either at the liquor store or laundromat. Seems like everybody I know know dude, but can't nobody remember his damn name.'

That's all, just a tiny observation. Sorry, I don't have any completed paintings to post...

School Bus Row

This one I'm not so proud of, but hey you be the judge. (72" x 14", oil on canvas)

Trolley Square 002

Water tower converted to Hard Rock Cafe in Salt Lake City. (12" x 19.5", oil on board)

Wild Oats 009

This is another one from the batch of paintings I dropped off at my gallery last week. Before they were delivered, however, I took it in to a local photographer to get it documented in digital files and photo slides. And he gave me a compliment on this painting in a form of a question. He asked me, 'What made you want to paint that?' And I was truly flattered. Conventional compliments and kind words are always nice, don't get me wrong. But this question that he asked assured me that my paintings may not be the prettiest, or the best crafted or the best-composed, but it at least does initiate discourse. (72" x 14", oil on canvas)

Laundromat 004 re-submitted

This is a painting I did in 2005 and it sat in my gallery for a good year. I was asked to take it back. Well, this painting sold after 2 days I dropped it off the second time. I am so thankful! It goes to show you that perseverance does pay off even after a few rejections. (48" x 13.5", oil on canvas)

Two Liquor Stores 002 Done

Here it is finished, the 'Two Liquor Stores 002' that I revisited. This is 7 feet long and about 14 inches tall, oil on canvas.