It took me two years of being a full-time artist to understand how a single painting could span multiple years. Sure, some large-scale works just take time. Others, like in the case of the Metropolitan Museum of Art — I simply looked at it for 18 months and simply determined it was finished. After the jump, the full process as written in 2009.
Shawn Corey Carter at birth, Jay-Z upon arrival. A man who crafts, packages and delivers words by units of millions eventually becomes the message.
It’s gotten to the point where the Minnesotans in my life, insist I bring snow to Minneapolis. Now, if you know anything about the climate in Minnesota, this is quite the powerful statement. Well, true to form, we arrived Friday for the Arbit wedding, and no sooner did we put our bags down, did the snow begin to fall.
Every now and again, you have to let the beast out of the cage to roam free through the wilderness. As an artist, that beast is experimentation. With this painting of The Depot, in Minneapolis, I decided to merge two collage techniques I have been working on: Photo Transfer, and New York Post Headline collage-painting.
Two years ago, Howard Krulewitz launched the Hakker Short Film Festival. During the first edition, I was a bit actor in Taunt’s Hard on Ice, the eventual festival winner. This year, I teamed up with Greg McMahon and Nick Mahoney to take home the title, with the aptly titled: New York Post. The Hakker Short Film Festival donates half its proceeds to the winning film maker, and the other half to an excellent charity — The Jack Krulewitz Ice Cream in My Mustache fund; with all proceeds going directly to cancer research.
When Josh Krulewitz and I began planning this painting, he told me it would be a surprise for his wife’s birthday. Under the circumstance, we had to be extra stealthy and diligent to create a meaningful piece on the sly. After numerous back-and-forth emails, we decided on a three-framed image featuring meaningful photographs and locations in their life. In the upper left quadrant, there is a “scrap booked” section featuring family photos.
My brother’s best friend of 20 years got married this weekend, so I decided to commemorate this special moment with a painting of The Bryant Park Grill. There, Chris and Ann exchanged vows — and I, amongst many other guests, enjoyed several adult beverages. Understatement.
Erin and I spent the weekend chillaxin in Chester Massachusetts, population: few. We stayed in this sweet country house, which has the feel of a cabin, yet handles like a full blown house. After the jump, the painting process, along with the not-so-subtle note that this house and its 5 acres are for sale. Jump!
