Gallery of the Absurd

Back Soon, Must Recover From Extensive Cosmetic Surgery

I'm taking a few weeks off to recharge the batteries and indulge in a little excessive hedonism. Much thanks to those who came out to the art show - it was so much fun meeting you. If you're in the mood for a lively debate over whether drawing Sarah Jessica Parker as a horse might be considered cruel, head over to E! Online's Ted Casablanca column and join in on the fun. I'll be back with regular postings and new paintings soon.

2 Girls 1 Gallery

Final Announcement, More Details and Price List for June 5 Art Show

All are invited to the WOW Storefront Gallery's opening reception this Friday. I've finally finished all my work and will be showing the 40 bits of absurdity I've been working on these last couple of months. While it was originally going to be a solo show, I'm happily pleased to announce that B. Calinsky, an LA-based artist is also joining me, hence the official name of the show: 2 Girls 1 Gallery. Calinsky explores the phenomenon of pets as accessories by demonstrating how cuddly creatures take on a different role when coupled with more provocative subjects. The show will open with an open bar, and continues for 2 weeks through 6/15. Hours are 12pm - 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday, during which artworks are available for purchase.

List of Available Works by 14

A list of work along with prices is available here. Just click on the thumbnails for more details.  I've included everything from paintings, to sketches and hand-painted one-of-a-kind prints. If you ever felt the need to own the original sketches for Gary Busey: Deranged Lunatic or Britney Spears: Photoshop in a Can, then this is your chance.

Buy me or else I'll unleash deranged outbursts upon you! 

About the Gallery

Co-curated by James St James, Steven Corfe and Thairin Smothers, the gallery has celebrated pop culture in a multitude of mediums. “From high art to low brow,” the gallery always strived to set itself apart from the cold, impersonal elitism of the current art scene, by introducing new artists and giving local personalities a platform and a voice in which to be heard. In my experience, WOW Gallery has always been more fun and more professional than some of these so-called "bigger name" galleries I've shown with, so I'm saddened to announce that this will be their final show.  

I'm glad to be finished with this GOTA 1.0 body of work featuring paintings from my four year project of observing and documenting the narratives of celebrity gossip.  I'm taking a little travel break and will return soon to start posting several series of new work I'm planning for GOTA 2.0. Hope to see you at the show!

Karl Lagerfeld's Leetle Teddy Bear

I am not a materialistic human being. I never want the latest designer purse, could care less about fancy cars and watches, designer clothes, or the latest in modern kitchen appliances...but I simply MUST have a Karl Lagerfeld Steiff Teddy Bear. I would treasure it above all trinkets and would perch it on an alter in my art studio and gaze upon it in utter waves of joy.

Thanks Mark!

Paris Hilton Fresh Off The Easel

Finished just moments ago, here's a revamped version of American Royalty. I always wanted to make a larger, more loosely painted version of the original, so I went ahead and had some fun with it. Lovely Paris is shown posing seductively as she prepares to stuff a sizable hunk of meat between her parted lips while gobs of mustard drips onto her exposed thighs. Her throne is painted with fine gold metallic paint as homage to her royal heritage. Too large to scan, I had to rely on my camera and bad light, therefore, here are a few close ups of the scariest parts:

Medium: An enlarged black and white sketch affixed to African paper and then painted over with acrylic.

Brooke Hogan's Album Cover Illustration

I was flattered when Brooke phoned me up and begged me to illustrate her album cover, but imagine my dismay when she coldly rejected the finished product (above) and went with another artist (below) instead.  I followed all her guidelines and direction too. She wanted to be portrayed as an angel ascending from heaven, her snowy blonde hair flowing in the celestial ether, sparkles and glitter swirling around her as rays of ethereal light bathed her exposed skin with an angelic glow...but it just wasn't good enough. Brooke Hogan has high standards, and I failed. 

Source of inspiration: Dlisted.

Gallery of The Absurd Art Show Opens June 5, 2009

If you are in the Los Angeles area, please come to the opening of my art show on June 5th at the WOW Storefront Gallery in Hollywood.  I'm showing over 35 works, including original paintings, prints and sketches as well as a few experimental pieces I've been working on lately. A partial list of available work can be found here.  I can't seem to stop painting, so more images will be added over the next week or two. More information about the show, the gallery, and other details will be available soon, so please check back.

UPDATE: Special appearance by Jeff Polage, Unemployed Actor on opening night.  Come meet the handsome rubber-faced gentleman in person!

UPDATE: Added Miley Cyrus, Spiedi and McCain, and Burt Reynolds images to list of available work.

Gallery of The Absurd Art Show: The Process

I've missed blogging so I took a photo of the current state of my studio and am posting it in order to get my fix. Jocelyn Wildenstein is being repainted on a larger scale and with better materials while a ladylike image of Paris Hilton and Crabby waits on the sidelines to be finished.  Okay, that's all. Back soon.

Karl Lagerfeld and His Leetle Dolly

Aside from traveling during my Spring Break, I became completely obsessed with the image of Karl Lagerfeld holding his Karl Lagerfeld Barbie Doll and painted multiple versions of it.  On top of that, I was offered a SOLO show at a LA gallery set to open in approximately 8 weeks. Gulp.  Needless to say, I'll be spending the days leading up to the show working on new pieces, completing older works I never bothered to finish, and UGH, all that matting and framing and shipping.  SInce it's April Fool's Day, I may be joking. Only time will tell. More details soon. Medium: Gouache on paper. Original sketches may be viewed here.

Here's another version of the image as it currently hangs in my studio. I wasn't kidding when I said I became obsessed. Medium: transfer sketch, collage, gouache, acrylic on paper affixed to the wall with Lagerfeld-esque tacks I created from tree pods. Happy Birthday Molly and others who were born on April Fool's Day.

Spring Break!

Gallery of the Absurd will be on temporary hiatus until April Fool's Day (April 1) due to unforeseen forces of debauchery.  On top of that mess, I've also been working on a rather involved and likely over ambitious project that has taken me away from blogging for a while.  I'll share it soon.  Meanwhile, please visit my other blog to see the newest portraits from the Glistening Super Stars of the Internet series - a new one will be posted each day this week.  Oh, and one more mess: I accidently deleted close to 200 emails I hadn't had the chance to respond to yet.  I always get loopy in the days leading to Spring, so please write back (especially the person who wrote about the t-shirts).  Above: Morose Priscilla and the Dirty Laundry Basket.

Guest Artist: Sometimes Celebrities Are More Interesting From Behind

My pal Charles Frazier drew this picture of Michelle Trachtenburg as she was walking away because he finds her more eye-catching from behind than in front.  I never really noticed her before he sent me the drawing, but it's good to know that at least one person in Hollywoodland has some va va voom curves instead of the typical bony flat caboose so often seen these days. Medium: ink on paper.