New Work IV

It has been awhile since I have written a new blog about the Crateart. Been a crazy past few weeks. So without any more small talk, let me jump right into the newest developments in the Crateartist Laboratory.

“Noel as the Zeus of Manhattan and the Poseidon of Brooklyn” (first illustration) has been going slowly, as always. I fear that the piece may not be ready for the next photo shoot and website update I want to do in February and that it may have to be held until the next photo shoot. Despite this, I also feel that it cannot be rushed. I really was ambitious to even begin such a huge project as “Noel as Zeus”, but that will not deter me from finishing, it just may be finished behind schedule. However, I am sure that when Noel is finished, it will be the finest, and certainly the grandest, Crateart created. The first Noel is nearly complete, soon the Manhattan landscape will be added in at the bottom and I can begin with the second portrait of Noel on the opposite side. When viewing this picture, please keep in mind that the surface area of this piece is the largest Crayola painting I have ever done. “Noel as Zeus” is Crayola on a piece of crate that measures 8 feet by 2 feet. Highly detailed Crayola painting will cover almost the entire surface, front and back.

As for the drawings that I discussed in my last Crateart blog on the First of this month, I have completed a new one titled “Portrait of Honey Hollock, Queen of the LLB” (second illustration). This newest drawing is on wood panel and is the same size as the others. I still plan on making many more of these drawings.

The next drawing I want to present is “Portrait of Matt Puckett” (third illustration), which is the large drawing I had begun and mentioned on December First’s blog titled “Crateart drawings”. I began this drawing as I have all the others only larger. This piece presented new challenges due to its shift in size. Normally, I keep a lot of control over my work, trying my best not to stray from the original plan, yet with these drawings there is not a normal plan and I allow myself a lot of freedom. So due to the spontaneity of the drawings, I broke out my oil sticks. The statement on http://www.crateartist.com speaks on this a little, but I used to be an oil stick painter a number of years ago. Oil sticks are a large reason I became the Crayolaist I am today, but my vast collection of sticks have been stored long ago and have not been picked up until this piece. So, I am happy with this piece’s progress, and I am thrilled with the fact that these drawings have pushed me back into the realm of paint. “Portrait of Puckett” is still not complete, there are some things I still want to do with it, however it is well ready for viewing. This piece is roughly 36” x 48” and is masking tape, Crayola, oil stick, spray paint, and marker on wallpaper which is mounted on panel.

I also wanted to show everyone the new and complete Play-Doh bicycle for “Portrait of My Big Orange Bicycle as the Embodiment of All Things Nice and Happy” (forth illustration). I spoke about this in an earlier post, and showed a half complete image. Well here it is finished. This new bicycle is beautiful and juicy. It looks even better in person than it does in the picture and still I am not sure which bicycle I would present, the new beauty or the old one I fell in love with. Maybe I’ll just hang them both up.

Now for the big talk. I have, in the last couple of weeks, been working quite a lot on the piece titled “Portrait of Mary Boone as Marilyn Monroe with Oscillating Fan Set to Speed Number Three”. This piece is now nearly done. Just this last Thursday, Jason Szalla and I went to the framer to get his oil painting portraits of the Mary Boone framed so they can be mounted on Crateart. The paintings will be ready in early January, and the Crateart will be waiting for them. This is the first ever Crateart collaboration, and hopefully it will be the first of many, I have enjoyed this project very much. I have displayed two images of this piece in progress, one of the wall where the two framed paintings will be hung, and one of my wife, Evelyn, standing in front of it to give an example of its size. The piece is still missing the two paintings, which are being framed, a plant table (yet to be presented here), and of course the oscillating fan.

The next week is Christmas week, and I doubt any gallery will be bringing on any help. That means lots and lots of studio time. The big project for this week is Fruit Loops, but that is for the next blog.