Felix Chevrolet Neon Painting by Borbay

Felix Chevrolet Los Angeles Painting by Borbay

If you find yourself in Los Angeles, head over to 3330 S Figueroa Street at dusk… look upward… and soak in Felix Chevrolet’s majestic sign. If the movies have taught us anything, it’s this — product placements are everywhere. E.T. could have desired M&M’s… but Mars dropped the ball, and he got them Reeses. For headaches, Wayne Campbell prefers Nuprin, for they are, “little, yellow, different.”

Yes, the 80’s, 90’s and today… era’s so ripe with brand crossovers — it has become the norm. Now — turn back the clock to 1921, and imagine how innovative the collaboration between Pat Sullivan’s cartoon cat Felix, and Winslow B. Felix‘s car dealership was? Brilliant. And so, please join me on a creation adventure, shared through pictures and prose.

The Western Motel, Sayre Oklahoma — A Route 66 Painting

Western Motel Painting by Borbay

Ready for some random trivia? I’ve driven across the United States seven times, and spent at least two nights in every state (save for Alaska — I’ve never been).

During those adventures, I’ve traversed every mile of Route 66… also, affectionately known as ‘The Mother Road’. So, when a gentleman with a Route 66 email address signed-up for my newsletter — I had to find out more. Following a brief correspondence, I discovered Robert Gehl is on the Route 66 Association of Missouri Board of Directors… specifically, Advisor for the Neon Heritage Preservation team. It was through these conversations that Robert put The Western Motel, in Sayre, OK on my radar.

2020 Year In Review

Ah, retrospect. This is how I kicked-off the year. On the precipice of 2021, we now know the answer is “less of 2020.”

Friend — destinations to digest the horrors of 2020 are legion… worry not! This is a happy place.

So grab a cocktail (you deserve it), kick back, and let’s have a look at some quarantine-driven creativity.

Hotel Chelsea Painted by Borbay

Several beers deep, meandering past the Chelsea Hotel… I was beckoned — “Hit the bodega. Buy a sixer. Come inside.”

Make like a dealer, avoid eye contact, get to the elevators… climb stairs, lose yourself, absorb art…mingle with ghosts. On the roof, crack a beer, grab a hammock, take in the washed out stars… what does it all mean?

If you told me I’d paint this picture in my 40th year, living in Idaho as a father of three…

Introducing my latest, a 20”X20”X1.5”, acrylic and enamel painting of ‘The Chelsea’. Of late, I’ve been compelled to experiment… put away the ruler and paint with emotion. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Golden Bell, #12 at Augusta National, The Masters — a Painting

Golden Bell Painting #12 at Augusta National The Masters by Borbay

Golden Bell, aka hole #12, may be Augusta National’s shortest par three, but it has teeth. With three challenging green-side bunkers and Rae’s Creek, this 155 yard beauty has brought the world’s finest golfers to their knees.

When it was announced that The Masters would take place in November for the first time — I decided it was time to capture this legendary slice of Augusta. This is the result… let’s see how we got here.

Tis’ The Reason…

…The Reason, to Season the Wall… with an original Borbay. Here is the 411 for acquisition during the 2020 holiday season.

Pandemic Guggenheim

Only 113 days remain in 2020. This 366 day lap around the sun is about ceding control. And so, while creating the 12th work in my 20-year Guggenheim Painting Series — I embraced our new reality, and went rogue. This was painted entirely with my left hand. First with a brush, then with a palette knife. There was no plan… like 2020? It simply happened.

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear, well, he eats you.

https://www.facebook.com/JasonBorbet/videos/10108198608120410

Being surrounded by the wondrous art created by my children, the importance of spontaneous creativity is palpable. Art, like life, is about routine, protocol, strategy… and sometimes, you must eschew the standard, and simply create.

A Collage Painting Portrait of Bene by Borbay

I’m delighted to share my latest portrait — ‘Bene’, an 30″X30″, Acrylic Collage-Painting on Belgian Linen. A dear friend, Bene and I met out on the golf course… and, for the record — if I’m within 15 strokes of Bene, it’s a damn good day for yours truly.

Here is the entire creation process captured in time lapse… come for the visuals, stay for the mellifluous soundtrack, courtesy of my new friend Kaze. (check him out!)

Borbay Featured in Teton Valley Magazine

Thank you Teton Valley Magazine for this wonderful feature in your Summer 2020 Issue. You can scroll through the gallery, and/or click on any image below for a closer look. 🙏🏻 Thank you for the wonderful writing (Jeanne) and beautiful photography (Camrin).

Radio City Music Hall Neon Painting by Borbay

Back in 2011… I created a painting for Advertising Week on commission. The work ran as full-page ads in Ad Age, Ad Week, Bloomberg’s Business Week and was animated for play in the back of NYC Taxi’s. During that whirlwind week… Lord Matthew Scheckner, Global CEO of Stillwell Partners, rolled out the red carpet.

We spent an evening with Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil (I took notes); attended countless cocktail affairs, and sat front row to witness Cirque’s Zarkana at Radio City Music Hall.

On our way in… I looked up, and snapped this picture… one I would paint nine years later, living in Idaho. Of course, when I kicked-off this 60″X60″X1.5″ Acrylic on Belgian Linen canvas on January 21, 2020… I had no idea what the world would look like on May 5, 2020… when it was completed.