ROA Outdoors, December 2nd 2012
With Dean Sunshine
Get more... HERE
Friday, 7 December 2012
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Off the Wall
Kelly Allen
Interviewed
RDC: It's really great to finally meet you Kelly can you tell us how San Francisco inspires your work? Are you currently living in the Mission District? Tell us a bit about that.
Currently, I am living in Oakland. I am part of the mass exodus of artists who are moving from San Francisco over to the East Bay. It was tough leaving the city that I love so much, and I am indeed inspired by San Francisco, and I always will be, but the availability and affordability of space in Oakland is where it's at for artists these days. Oakland is great in it's own way. It has a lot going on, and it's always sunnier and warmer than SF. But I used to live in the Mission District in San Francisco and loved every minute of it! I really love the mix of people who live there- artists, actors, musicians, food vendors, Latino families, crazy drunk bums... It's such a colorful neighborhood, both literally and figuratively. I love the special events that pop up, like the outdoor markets every weekend at the Bart Station, the random Sunday Street parades, the Critical Mass bike rides at night.... there's always so much going on. It also has some of the best weather in the city. While it will be gray and cold over in the Upper Haight, it will be 15 degrees warmer and sunny in the Mission. I'll always be inspired by the feeling of freedom that San Francisco offers. You can wear or do or eat or say anything, and be as outrageous as you possibly can, and no one will give you any grief about it. There's a woman who walks around the Mission with a 3 foot wide poster of her own smile. She just walks down the street, with her ginormous smile, just to get a smile out of others. Things like that inspire me.
RDC: We noticed you use many different types of media. Is there any one kind that is your favorite? What is your thought process when selecting a medium?
I need to have a variety of media to work with to keep myself excited and happy. I like each one for different reasons. Oils are so luscious and luminous, but the painting process is very slow. Gouache (which is opaque watercolor) has an amazing capacity for capturing detail. I love the opacity and the ability to paint little tiny things like whiskers, eyelashes, and the like. It also dries very fast, which is nice. Colored pencil is great for working larger on paper than I like to with gouache, and by layering the colors before blending them, it kind of feels like I'm painting, but without the whole paint-mixing and brush-washing part. It's immediate and I can work very quickly.
Different compositions will lend themselves to the various media I work in. I consider the size I want the image to be, and the feel I want it to have. Also, it's really refreshing to be able to complete a colored pencil drawing in a few days or a week after working on an oil painting that took a month or so.
RDC: What can we look out for in the future?
I recently began experimenting with combining my current approach with non-objective painting, so that there's a dichotomy of photorealistic painting combined with energetic strokes of pure color and amorphous form. It's a really exciting transition, and I look forward to exploring this direction further.
Interviewed
It's always nice to see some fresh ideas and with Kelly Allen you won't be dissapointed. With her inventive use and mixture of images she sure puts a refreshing slant on things.
We had to meet up and have a chat, this is how it went...
RDC: It's really great to finally meet you Kelly can you tell us how San Francisco inspires your work? Are you currently living in the Mission District? Tell us a bit about that.
Currently, I am living in Oakland. I am part of the mass exodus of artists who are moving from San Francisco over to the East Bay. It was tough leaving the city that I love so much, and I am indeed inspired by San Francisco, and I always will be, but the availability and affordability of space in Oakland is where it's at for artists these days. Oakland is great in it's own way. It has a lot going on, and it's always sunnier and warmer than SF. But I used to live in the Mission District in San Francisco and loved every minute of it! I really love the mix of people who live there- artists, actors, musicians, food vendors, Latino families, crazy drunk bums... It's such a colorful neighborhood, both literally and figuratively. I love the special events that pop up, like the outdoor markets every weekend at the Bart Station, the random Sunday Street parades, the Critical Mass bike rides at night.... there's always so much going on. It also has some of the best weather in the city. While it will be gray and cold over in the Upper Haight, it will be 15 degrees warmer and sunny in the Mission. I'll always be inspired by the feeling of freedom that San Francisco offers. You can wear or do or eat or say anything, and be as outrageous as you possibly can, and no one will give you any grief about it. There's a woman who walks around the Mission with a 3 foot wide poster of her own smile. She just walks down the street, with her ginormous smile, just to get a smile out of others. Things like that inspire me.
RDC: We noticed you use many different types of media. Is there any one kind that is your favorite? What is your thought process when selecting a medium?
I need to have a variety of media to work with to keep myself excited and happy. I like each one for different reasons. Oils are so luscious and luminous, but the painting process is very slow. Gouache (which is opaque watercolor) has an amazing capacity for capturing detail. I love the opacity and the ability to paint little tiny things like whiskers, eyelashes, and the like. It also dries very fast, which is nice. Colored pencil is great for working larger on paper than I like to with gouache, and by layering the colors before blending them, it kind of feels like I'm painting, but without the whole paint-mixing and brush-washing part. It's immediate and I can work very quickly.
Different compositions will lend themselves to the various media I work in. I consider the size I want the image to be, and the feel I want it to have. Also, it's really refreshing to be able to complete a colored pencil drawing in a few days or a week after working on an oil painting that took a month or so.
RDC: Can you describe your working process for us? Do you feel it's changed over the years?
I've been working within the same process for about 5 years. I collect imagery from old books and magazines, cut them out and archive them. Then I create collages as my sketches in a very intuitive way. I then decide what media I will work with and create a photorealistic drawing or painting of the collage. Then I take the collage apart so I can use the elements in future sketches. The process hasn't changed too much. I've become a more skilled painter with every piece image I paint, which is nice. It's more a matter of a shift in my subject matter and compositions. I'm shifting away from the animal-centric realm toward more of a human-centric realm with my new face/mask series. The reduction of elements emphasizes the importance of each one, and creates a different psychological feeling.
I've been working within the same process for about 5 years. I collect imagery from old books and magazines, cut them out and archive them. Then I create collages as my sketches in a very intuitive way. I then decide what media I will work with and create a photorealistic drawing or painting of the collage. Then I take the collage apart so I can use the elements in future sketches. The process hasn't changed too much. I've become a more skilled painter with every piece image I paint, which is nice. It's more a matter of a shift in my subject matter and compositions. I'm shifting away from the animal-centric realm toward more of a human-centric realm with my new face/mask series. The reduction of elements emphasizes the importance of each one, and creates a different psychological feeling.
RDC: Are you a pizza or salad person?
SALAD!!!!! I love salad. All kinds. Forever salad.
SALAD!!!!! I love salad. All kinds. Forever salad.
RDC: What can we look out for in the future?
I recently began experimenting with combining my current approach with non-objective painting, so that there's a dichotomy of photorealistic painting combined with energetic strokes of pure color and amorphous form. It's a really exciting transition, and I look forward to exploring this direction further.
RDC: Tell us a bit about the show you have going on right now at Bold Hype!
I have 33 new and recent paintings and drawings at Bold Hype. The show is a collection of the breadth of the style and process I've been working in for the past 5 years. It covers my animal-centric works, as well as my face/mask works, and also some of my latest realist/non-objective works as well. There are oil paintings on canvas and panel, gouache paintings, laser-cut wood work, and colored pencil drawings, both large and small. This body of work is rooted in the practice of honoring nature and human life through the meditative, time-intensive process of seeing and painting very deeply and intimately. I relate to the works as though they are totems, both personally and universally symbolic and celebratory. It's rather my form of spirituality.
I have 33 new and recent paintings and drawings at Bold Hype. The show is a collection of the breadth of the style and process I've been working in for the past 5 years. It covers my animal-centric works, as well as my face/mask works, and also some of my latest realist/non-objective works as well. There are oil paintings on canvas and panel, gouache paintings, laser-cut wood work, and colored pencil drawings, both large and small. This body of work is rooted in the practice of honoring nature and human life through the meditative, time-intensive process of seeing and painting very deeply and intimately. I relate to the works as though they are totems, both personally and universally symbolic and celebratory. It's rather my form of spirituality.
RDC: Any shout outs?
I have to give a shout out to Eric and Shannon at Bold Hype for giving me the opportunity to show my works in their beautiful gallery in Chelsea, and for all of their kindness and support. Also, to my husband Jay, who has been the best assistant, sounding-board, and advocate of my work. And also to all of the collectors of my work, both old and new. Those who buy original artwork, for whatever price, are very special people. Making the leap from loving a work to purchasing it is symbolic and means so much to every artist they support. My gratitude is limitless.
I have to give a shout out to Eric and Shannon at Bold Hype for giving me the opportunity to show my works in their beautiful gallery in Chelsea, and for all of their kindness and support. Also, to my husband Jay, who has been the best assistant, sounding-board, and advocate of my work. And also to all of the collectors of my work, both old and new. Those who buy original artwork, for whatever price, are very special people. Making the leap from loving a work to purchasing it is symbolic and means so much to every artist they support. My gratitude is limitless.
RDC: Thanks for hooking up and 'all the best' from all of us at the Collective.
More from Kelly A... HERE
Also check her work at Bold Hype Gallery... HERE
Hang Outs... Oakland, CA
Preview: Friday, January 4, 2013 during Oakland Art Murmur
Opening Reception with the Artist: January 5, 2013 (5–8pm)
Exhibition: January 5–January 31, 2013
San Francisco born Ricky Watts is a prolific Bay area artist recognized for his passion to create with paper, canvas, metal,wood, outdoor spaces and anything he can get his hands on. As a child watts loved to draw and was attacted to illustration books, even ones he checked out from the library but couldn't read because it was printed in Spanish.
Watts went on to attend the Art Institute of California for graphic design. He is well known for the graffiti style productions he executes and the legendary graffiti crew of which he is a member.
ZeroFriends Gallery
489 A 25th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
510.735.9405 / ZeroFriends.com
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Off The Shelf
Hall of Fame
New York City
Publishers: From Here To Fame
Basically, we couldn't have said it better our selves...↴
Below discription taken from From Here to Fame:
New York City is the birthplace of style writing. It is here that young graffiti writers first began to transform letters from simple tags on a wall to elaborate, masterpieces of colorful letters embellished with characters which depicted friends, heroes and tributes to a wide range of cultural influences.
Since the days when graffiti first gained popularity in New York City, the schoolyards attracted kids eager to practice graffiti writing while hanging out. One of their favorite painting spots since the late 1970s was a schoolyard in Harlem, which later became New York City’s official Graffiti Hall of Fame. Its motto, “Strictly Kings and Better,” dared only the most accomplished graffiti artists to leave their marks, and over the years the word spread beyond New York around the world.
This book documents the legacy of the Graffiti Hall of Fame, which spans over 30 years, thus making this collection of burners a full-blown history lesson in New York City styles.
Big thumbs up to this ace book.
Right, lets go inside...
Right, lets go inside...
Find out how much on Logo
Monday, 3 December 2012
Street Shots... Melbourne, Australia
Roa Exhibition
With Dean Sunshine
Where were you on December 1st 2012 - we were at the Backwoods Gallery checkin out the cool collection from Belgian Street Artist Roa... have a look.
Pictures with spine.
Summer time... nice!
Lab Rats.
Want more, look... HERE
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Hang Outs... Los Angeles, CA
NOW ON VIEW
JASON SCHMIDT: SOME LOS ANGELES ARTISTS
Now Through to Monday, March 18, 2013
Since 1997, photographer Jason Schmidt has been making intimate portraits of artists around the world as part of his ongoing project Artists. Selected from over 500 photographs that currently make up this series, the 23 images on view represent several generations of artists working in an array of disciplines—painting, sculpture, video, performance, and installation—all of whom are based in Los Angeles. In photographs that are both portraits and environments, Schmidt captures artists in their natural habitats.
Now Through to Monday, March 18, 2013
Since 1997, photographer Jason Schmidt has been making intimate portraits of artists around the world as part of his ongoing project Artists. Selected from over 500 photographs that currently make up this series, the 23 images on view represent several generations of artists working in an array of disciplines—painting, sculpture, video, performance, and installation—all of whom are based in Los Angeles. In photographs that are both portraits and environments, Schmidt captures artists in their natural habitats.
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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