Showing posts with label Open Mic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Mic. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

OSS, Samus Piece Sold, Stump 4.0, Ramblings and a Cookie!

Hey all... Let me start by thanking all the amazing folks that turned out for OSS part 3! It was another fantastic show, finished off by a legendary freestyle session that I'd like to see a video for. It was REALLY that good... In case you missed it don't fret my pet, the next one is on the 10th of October.

I sold my Samus piece (pictured below) to a gentleman from San Francisco, who happened to see it in the window at the IC gallery. It was one of my favorites, so I was sad to see it go, but I'm always glad to share my art with others who would appreciate it. So if you're reading this, thanks Rick! With all the excitement from OSS going on, I totally forgot that I wanted to get a picture with him, but in lieu of that, here's a photo of the painting.




Also, here's my latest update on Stump. Filled in more foliage, grass and background. Also did some minor detail work to the character in general. Like I said, this project was from a while ago, so the early stages were more about cleaning up the mistakes and refining the look, than making any drastic changes. Anyhoo... Enjoy! (Click to enlarge, of course!)



I'm going to warn you now, LARGE amounts of rambling are incoming.... if you make it to the end you get a cookie.


I've had the misfortune of attending two funerals within a span of a few weeks and amidst all the grieving and sadness, there's a newfound respect for life. I think every human, at one time or another contemplates his or her own mortality. These recent deaths have reinstated the dialogue I sometimes have with myself with a renewed sense of urgency. As I pile on project after project and goal after goal, I can't help but feel like this a drastic attempt to accomplish as much as possible in my infinitely small time on Earth. Not that I'm going through it, but maybe this is the true meaning behind midlife crisis... The struggle to leave a lasting legacy, something immortal, that will live on long after I'm gone. More marks made as proof of my existence.

As my horizons have grown, I've come to realize that the world is a huge immense place, with billions of people living their own lives, with their own beliefs, fears, hopes and dreams. Upon that realization, you realize how truly insignificant your part in this is. THAT was my realization that my life's affect on a large scale was impossibly small, and that more important was the the impressions I make on a smaller scale and the lives I could affect that were directly in contact with my own. This was a few years ago. And I think it's where most of us stand. We affect our own little worlds because that's as far as we can reach. It's kind of a microcosm of how we'd LIKE to affect the world. At least for those of us that think of it anyways.

I think, in some way, that by not being a spiritual person, I actually value life more than the pious. The religious folk I've had the pleasure of talking to, for the most part, believe in life after death. That there is a second life when they perish, which is what they are working towards. That is the life of true value for them. Their existence here is merely a means to that end, a test of their faith, to see that they gain access to whatever their religion promises. People such as myself, though, have it in their heads that this life is all that we get. When it's done, it's done, and that nothing will be left of us besides whatever memory we leave behind. When you realize that all you're given is all you'll get, I'd like to think that you value it more. Every second matters, not because its a chance to prove your faith, but because it's a chance to prove you EXIST in the first place.

I think this is why I try to do so much, and try to affect every person I meet. The term "validating your existence" is usually taken with a negative connotation in humor. I believe that in fact, it is our true goal. Once we realize that our time is temporary, we realize the need for the memory of our existence to be preserved. That, in turn, is why the arts are necessary. Why creative endeavors are so important. And why we should never balk at a fellow human being seeking to validate their existence.

It's the proof of our inner thoughts. It's the proof that we were unique. It's the proof we were here.

Here's your cookie:


Friday, September 25, 2009

Stump 3.0 and Events!


Here's the latest update for Stump! More tree detail, and I started the highlights... It's slow going, but keep in mind, sometimes I only get thirty minutes to an hour a day to work on my own stuff, so it takes a while to get a piece done. Trying to keep a consistent posting schedule of Monday, Wednesday and Friday is motivation for me to continue working on projects so I'll just keep em comin. But check it out and tell me what you think! I'm hoping to get prints of this guy in the future, along with some of my better digital stuff. As always, click to enlarge. Enjoy!



On another note... It's looking like a busy three days. Last night I got to kick it at Fluid in SF and watch 3 eye elephant paint live. Homeboys/girls Albert, Kris (Happy Belated!), Chris and Sadie (Did I spell that right?) were in attendance. The guys from 3 eye elephant are quickly becoming some of my favorite NEW artists. All three of them are great to kick it with and bring something unique to the group. Here's what they did last night (via crappy iPhone Cam)










I was also rewarded by Chris de Leon for doing some side work for their group with this awesome painting!



I'm gonna study it and steal his techniques Kakashi style! (Had to get my anime nerd on at least once in this blog)

Today, marks the opening of "Off the Wall" at Space gallery. Homies Dyno and Tim (DAT:AA) have pieces hanging and I'll be there showing support! These guys are some of the most talented and hardest working members of IC, so if you get a chance, head down to Space gallery in SF and show support for these Vallejo natives. Check out Dyno's site for more details. After that is my good buddy Kris Mestizo's birthday bash at Poleng Lounge in SF. He won't tell me how old he is so lets just say: Happy 88th birthday buddy!

I can't party too hard tonight though, because tomorrow morning I'm running my first double digit distance. That's right! 10 whole miles in preparation for the half-marathon (13.1 miles) I'll be running in October. I'll be going down to Long Beach CA with a few friends who'll undertake this adventure by my side. I'm excited and nervous at the same time so I'm just gonna focus on finishing. THAT will be an accomplishment on its own. Later that night is Open Session Saturdays part 3. The 3rd installment of Individual Collective's open mic extravaganza. You know the drill... OPEN mic, OPEN canvas, OPEN minds. Be there:

Individual Collective Gallery
419 Georgia St
Vallejo CA

You can check out details here or here.

PEACE!

Friday, September 18, 2009

OSS part 3!!!


That's right! Next week Saturday marks the 3rd OSS! We have Paulie Think and Spends Quality doing live performances and as always IC will be live painting during the whole thing! Come down between 6PM-10PM and get on the Open Mic and share your song, poem, rap or whatever you got inside! Or bring a canvas or paper and paint, sketch or draw with Vallejo's own Individual Collective. Tell your friends!

The Individual Collective Gallery is in the heart of Downtown Vallejo at 419 Georgia St. We're open during the Vallejo Farmers Market and welcome interested artists to join us during our meetings/sessions every Tuesday @8PM. Hit up individual.collective@gmail.com or 411@individualcollective.com for more info. PEACE!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

OSS 2

Open Session Saturdays 2, which was held this past Saturday was another great success... We had some open mic performers, and the talented guys from 3 eye elephant came across 2 bridges to get down with our live painting. I only have one photo from the event that I took with my iPhone before I got down to painting. This is our setup outside the IC gallery positioned so those who were watching the performers could see the paintings as they were being completed.


The theme this time around was for all of us to have a horizon line that continues through the piece from one side to the other. Then we'd connect all the paintings side by side making a long landscape. Below is my piece, "If it wasn't for the darkness of night, we'd never see the stars 2". We'll have some photos up soon taken by the talented Albert Lam, but until then enjoy more crappy iPhone photos!



I got some great compliments on the piece, especially from people who saw the first one that I did for BYOA. A couple of the guys said it felt like following a storyboard which got me to thinking of actually making a series out of my concept. Talking to Chris de Leon about the series he's planning and checking out the sketches in his book inspired me to possibly take the "stars" series a bit further. If you're reading this Chris, big thanks for sharing that man!

The next OSS is on the 26th of September, so if you missed the first two, don't fret. There's more coming around the corner! Hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Upcoming Events this week

Two really great events coming up this week gang.

The first is Independent Artist Week hosted at the Fillmore Center in San Francisco TONIGHT from 7PM-10PM! There's gonna be a TON of artists and performers in attendance, and it promises to be a great time out. Click for directions and for info.

Then on Saturday night, there's gonna be the 2nd Open Session Saturday at the IC Gallery from 6PM-10PM. ALWAYS FREE, Open Session Saturdays features open mics, open turntables, open canvasses, and open minds. So if you or anyone you know likes to perform poetry, rap, sing, dj, paint or if you just want to come enjoy the talent that Vallejo has to offer, be sure to be there. Sign up for the open mic, bring a canvas to paint on, or just freestyle with us at the end of it all. And if you, for some strange reason, can't make it this Saturday, we'll be hosting this event every other Saturday from here on out. We're located here, and check out the official OSS blog for more info. Can't wait to see you all there!



PS if there's anyone from IC reading this and you want to make prints of this flyer, e-mail me and I can send you a print-friendly version of this flyer. Peace!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

And I'll Form the Head!!!


hmmm... now what in the hell could this be?? Come on down to Open Session Saturdays, this Saturday @ the IC Gallery from 6-10PM to find out! We're located at 419 Georgia St. in Downtown Vallejo, and at $0.00 cover to get in, the price is right!. Go here for more info!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Open Session Saturdays!



Live painting by IC, and open stage for MC's, poets, DJ's, musicians, etc. Come share with us or sit and appreciate the talent Vallejo has to offer. Plus it's FREE!!!

In case you need more motivation: Paulie Rhyme, Hope Spitshard, Do D.A.T, and Jayne Rio are all gonna rip it on the mic. EMCEES and ARTISTS get ready! You can and will be heard too! OPEN MIC! August 29th. THIS IS IN VALLEJO! Show some love! :)

INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE GALLERY
419 Georgia St
Vallejo CA (map)
6PM-10PM
FREE ADMISSION!