Countdown to the end...

Forgot to tell everyone "Merry Christmas", mostly because I was too busy. So, "Merry (late) Christmas." If anything, I hope you all enjoyed your family, friends and food.

Nothing new to report right now, except 'good riddance' to 2009. 'Hello' 2010.

You must own this.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are by far the BEST American rock n' roll band to ever grace the planet. Argue with me all you want, you know it to be true. Just try to name me one other American rock n' roll band whose fans sing every song during an entire show; an American rock n' roll band that is still touring, mind you. Crosy, Stills and Nash? Doubtful. The Black Crowes? Maybe. Pearl Jam? Perhaps. You should give up...the answer is Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

December 1, 2009 saw the release of a long awaited live anthology collection, probably the best live compilation I've heard in a long time (maybe since the 'Jimi Hendrix Experience' box set from a few years ago.) It's a fantastic mix of well-known Heartbreakers tunes, mixed in with the obscure b-sides and awesome covers. Up until now, the only way you got to hear some of these selections is if you were lucky enough to attend a show in person. Thankfully, TP & Co. answered their fan's prayers. Thanks, boys. I can also say 'thanks' to artist Shepard Fairey for some awesome packaging design throughout. I see this picking up a Grammy for 'Best Album Packaging' in 2011...

Do yourself a favor...if you like rock n' roll, go out and pick this up, either on vinyl (like I did) or on CD if you are still stuck in the digital age. Either way, you won't regret it. This collection will make you want to re-listen to your entire Tom Petty catalogue for the next few days, even if you have some of the albums on repeat.

In other news...

Will be conducting more shirt printing over the next few days, as well as ripping through some commission jobs. I can't even really tell it's the Christmas holiday with all this work left to do, can you? Still a lot left to accomplish before 2009 draws to a close. However, 2010 might just need to be a fresh start for what has yet to go down.

It's the end of the week...

...I think. I dunno, my days are all backwards.

December is almost halfway over with (seriously?) and I'm sure I'm not the only one to say that 2009 has zoomed by in a flash. That's how it goes, I suppose. Looking forward to a new calendar year. It's said that is the best time to start a-new with everything. Perhaps I'll give it a thought.

While I await the arrival of art supplies for some jobs, I'm trying to utilize my free time to the best of my ability. So far, I've come up with some new shirt designs, been busting ass making The Soda Gallery what I want it to be, and keeping the creative mind fresh as much as I can.

It's no secret I'm a fan of Andy Warhol's work, both from an admirer's standpoint, and from another ambitious artist's standpoint of wanting to improve up his work (not that it needs improving upon, but it is interesting how you can take the exact same things and get different results.) I've had a request for a Marlon Brando painting, and coincidentally, he's been on my to-do list for some time. Building upon Warhol's image of Brando from the film "The Wild One", I created a mock-up of the piece I plan to do soon.

As a matter of fact, I liked how the prelim version came out, I made the image available as a print through my Imagekind site. I like the pseudo crucifix like red in the piece, totally unintentional, I might add, but one could argue. I'll have two sizes of this image (for starters.) A big one and a small one.

In other news...

Did I mention the new tee designs? I think I did...it's been a long week. I'm ready to call it a day, at least. It's been a good week, though. Busy. Interesting. Maybe the universe is testing me? Is there a grading curve?

Tomorrow is a new day. Will be gearing up to print some new tees this weekend.

Stay tuned...

This Man is a Genius...

...and you should wear him as a work of art.

Dennis Hopper has been one of my favorite people/actors/artists since I was a kid. The man is scary, brilliant, genius, rebellious and so-on and so-on. I'm turning him into wearable art. Behold...

"Rebel" (pronouced as ree-bell) detail.

This will be the second or third offering in my 'Deathray Select' line of hand printed art tees by yours truly, specialty limited edition art tees that will only have a few in circulation. It's like a fine art print, although you can take it out in public and show it off. This tee will probably debut early next month, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, I'll continue to stockpile designs.

Introducing 'Deathray Select'...

So, I have this clothing line...and it's hard to keep on top of it because there is a lot of attention that needs to be paid to it. I don't always have the time. Thankfully, I have the swell fellas at Junkytees doing a lot of the hard work for me. However, I have some things I want to work on myself, some designs that are exclusive to only my hands, and thus I decided on creating "Deathray Select", a secondary label from my "Deathray of Sunshine" series that is done in strict limited editions, sold exclusively through Napkin Art Studios and Telephone Print Company.

I'm a big music fan, and have been seriously inspired by a little-known band called The Velvet Underground. "White Light/White Heat" has been a huge pioneering song. I thought it would be cool to see those words in another language, so this is what I came up with...

This is printed on Alternative Apparel's 100% cotton "Destroyed tee". It's a slim men's fit short sleeve solid color tee, where the collar, sleeve and bottom hems are worn and tattered with a special machine to create a uniquely worn and deconstructed look. It's a super-soft tee, one you'd probably want to sleep in...

(design detail - "White Light/White Heat")

As you can see, the design contains the catalog number for the original release of the VU's "White Light/White Heat" single, an interesting touch, if I may say so.

I plan on throwing this tee online for sale by the end of December, to kick 2010 in the balls and really hit the ground running. I have tons of plans and goodies in the works, just need to stay focused. Eventually, some help may be needed in the near future.

"Deathray Select" is going to be one heck of a pet project for me in 2010...

It was 29 years ago today...

Actually, it will be tomorrow, but I'm finished with this commission and I wanna show it off.

John Lennon was one of the most interesting minds to emerge from the 20th Century. It's a damn shame an artist of his caliber was taken from the people and the Earth too early in life. His music and his ideas still live on in the hearts and minds of others, though.

Was happy to receive this commission from a new client who walked into my gallery right off the street, and was ready to lay some money down. After a few minutes of discussion, this is what they wanted. The background colors were inspired by a recent collaboration piece between myself and my artist friend, Kat. Pretty happy with the way it turned out.

"John Lennon"

Acrylic and Silk Screen on Canvas

12" x 12"

(2009)

Private Commission

While I'm on the subject of 'Beatles'...tragedy struck Napkin Art Studios over the previous weekend, right before my birthday. My 'fab four' paintings were stolen while on display at a hotel event in downtown Dallas. Two other Kat/Kimbrell collaborations were also stolen, making six paintings in all. Needless to say, I'm pissed, but the silver lining is that I'm a bit flattered that someone liked my art enough to steal it. Does that mean you've really made it as an artist once your work has been hijacked? Looking forward to the insurance check that will be hitting my mailbox soon.

In other news...

Work life has been treating me pretty well, lately, better than when I first started out. But I won't brag about it. I'll just happily accept this fact, be thankful, and hope I continue to play my cards right.

Look for more work posting soon.

All Hail December...

It's my favorite time of the year, namely because it's my birth month and I love Christmas. I like to give unique gifts to my close friends and family, and I like hand made goods. With that said, my John Lennon Print is now available through my Etsy shop, as well as some other hand silk screened prints and canvas paintings. More to come soon, I can assure you...

In other news...

Well, looks as though a major commission I've been in talks about has finally been approved, and I can now get started! I still can't talk much about it, but I will say this is a giant step forward with my art career (at least personally,) and may possibly put me on the path of doing more larger projects in the future. Closer to completion of the project I'll let a few details 'leak'. But for now, it's time to get started. Let's just say that Gil Elvgren and Norman Rockwell are going to be major influences on this job...

Since this upcoming job is going to eat quite a bit into my studio time, some on going projects will have to be put on hold for a bit, like new graphic tee designs, prints and other commission jobs. I'll do my best to juggle this life I've carved out for myself, though.

Happy holidays, everyone!