the last 25 or so paintings in retrospect...

...and where to go from here...

To get out of my little bubble I decided to take a trip to Philadelphia- probably the closest far place I can get to that has at decent pulse for art (and plus I know some people out there, which is helpful). I made the following discoveries, observations, and connections:

1- Newton was right; What comes up must come down- Taking a new body of work that I'm feeling proud of, lumping it together, and placing it under a microscope for dissection is really unpleasant. Sure, it's necessary (no learning and no growing=imminent death), but I for the first time actually made the connection that this is probably normal for both logical and emotional reasons, and that I'm not just bipolar. I guess that's technically a good thing.

2- Two steps forward, one step back is a group of dance steps I may need to get used to- I may not like it, but just because "I want it, and I want it yesterday" doesn't mean I'll get it. I'm an impatient bastard, but in the grand scheme of things it's not an issue I have the luxury of allowing precedence. The fact is that I've got some time to let everything congeal and am not really in any rush realistically. In this specific case, its a balance issue. In my last body of work, all of my concern was placed on how I was painting, and not enough though was put into what I was painting. I now feel that I found the right direction on the highway and just missed my exit. While it doesn't feel good necessarily, at least I know exactly where I'm going.

3- Isn't it funny how history repeats itself? Once again, for different reasons that I also don't completely understand, the word "illustration" was thrown around again. This time though the word "cartoony" came up a little too. Everyone who has ever mentioned my "cartooniness" as a negative point seems to be a big advocate of the validity in (my idol) Philip Guston's work. The part I find interesting is that when he came around to his figurative work post abstraction, that was universally the biggest complaint (and ultimately led to much of his rejection). I'm not putting myself on his level, but I have to admit that this puts me in a strange position. All the push and pull involved internally is serving for quite a bit of confusion... but like my girlfriend says "looks like you found something to search for".

No matter what I feel now, I realize that the only thing I can hope for is the will and the fuel to get back up, and start again. After all, a quitter makes for a terrible artist.

Yup.. theres more...

So, yes, I have a few more paintings done. I've even got 2 new drawings for the first time in a year or so. So here they go.


Compression, 24"x30", mixed media on canvas, 2010

Running on Empty, 24"x30", mixed media on canvas, 2010

Jerk, 18"x24", mixed media on canvas, 2010



And now the drawings....

Welcome to the Big Boy Table, 9"x10", color pencil on strathmore 64lb paper, 2010


Welcome to the Big Boy Table, 10"x9", color pencil on strathmore 64lb paper, 2010

New work, finally

So I finally got off my ass and took some pictures of new work (got 5 new babies). I will eventually, by the way, be re-shooting almost my entire 2010 body of work, though that will be strictly for my website: www.seagullscrapbook.com. In the mean time, here are the newbies.


Kick, 20x16, mixed media on canvas, 2010

Hostile, 18"x24", mixed media on canvas, 2010

Countdown to Closing, 30x24, mixed media on canvas, 2010

This or That, 48x36, mixed media on canvas, 2010

Ascension, 18x24, mixed media on canvas, 2010

All Nation

Hello all. Welcome to another segment of the scrapbook.

I have a few more paintings on the way for your viewing pleasure, but today I'm sharing music of my brother's band, All Nation. I just did the cover art for their 4-song LP The Road to Dutchington. Hope you guys enjoy the music and the art. You can find it at the following link:

http://soundcloud.com/allnation/sets/the-road-to-dutchington

News, updates, whatever

As I've posted on facebook, my featurette on Artbistro is now up (under the pseudonym "Seagullscraper", which was intendid to be "Seagullscrapper"). You can find it at the following address:
http://artbistro.monster.com/featured_portfolios/articles/10659-seagullscraper

It is also located in a rotating ad on the front page.

In other news, after getting a chance to hit up the affordable art fair and a great Picasso retrospective, I have another two paintings to show you guys...

Push, mixed media on canvas, 24"x18", 2010

Self-portrait, mixed media on canvas, 24"x48", 2010

The first of may

So, as some of you may already know from my status updates on facebook, the show at Columbia U came with a few curve balls. Having said that, the artwork from the show will not be on view until May 8th, as previously stated. Despite this, I at least have some new work to share with you guys. Enjoy.

Triptych, mixed media on paper, 1.5"x3" (3x), 2010

The Prisoner, mixed media on canvas, 30"x40", 2010

Face in the Sand, mixed media on canvas, 16"x22", 2010

Atlas, mixed media on canvas, 36"x36", 2010

New Painting

I've got some more paintings in the works, but I thought I would share another one of the recent additions.

This is titled Field II, part of my exploration of Easter Island-like "monuments".