for ev er

August is almost coming to an end, and I have to say, it's been a great but BUSY month! I'm looking forward to fall, the smells, the sounds, and a lot of great concerts coming up! Coming up this Saturday is the Spokes and Ink bike party, where you could buy posters done by yours truly! Be the first on your block to collect all three!!! A word about the Genesee Arts Center, they're awesome if you haven't checked them out. I'm hoping my winter will slow down enough for me to take a letterpress class there.



I have six new paintings on display at Lento! The paintings are no longer for sale, they are a permanent collection there, which means they will be there FOREVER!

Say it with me now;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Q7b-vHY3Q&feature=related
Jenna has been finished! I'm very pleased with the results:



Last but not least, working up an image for the autumn Rochester Tweed Run!

Whale fight!!!

I've been catering a lot lately, lots of parties poolside. The heat is relentless, and it hasn't really rained for three weeks. Today we had two teaser rainfalls, followed by insane heat and humidity. It's really becoming hard to work late in the studio while you're sweating profusely. Below, a piece inspired by the catering, and my absolute love of Julia Child. I'm thinking that My Life in France will be my next read :)

Some new (rough) sketches for the bike show. BIKE SHOW! I need to have a mailer piece by next week, because I want to start distributing mailers in August. I'm thinking this tour-de-France gentleman may become a lino, racing with others.

A lovely lady on the pier. Something funky about her foot to work out.

Finally, some gramophones sketches for a music festival logo :)

I don't believe in believin' in nothin.

Forgive the lack of blogging, please! I finished up the logo for Roni Kobrosly's Rochester Study of Healthy Minds and Bodies. This project was definitely a departure from what I normally do, and it was a great learning experience for expanding my repertoire of projects. I'm really happy with how the final image came out!

I'm working on my next show, slated for September, which is bike themed. I actually drew this sketch out on a day where I was a bit stressed out about cycling.

Now it's in the works to becoming a multi layered window piece! Yay!

The final will have the stone wall, and a bright sky background. I want to utilize some new medias for this piece.

Finally, I rode the 65 mile leg of the Rochester Sage-Rutty Tour de Cure for Team Chain Reaction this past weekend! The completion of this marked the first team sport that I've actively participated in since I played soccer (very badly) in 6th grade. I feel like it was a milestone for my personal athleticism, and it definitely made me want to participate in more tours... both in Rochester and elsewhere. There's something to be said about experiencing an area with just you, your bike, the countryside, and your thoughts. Some might say it's my personal zen.

be the good little soldier

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend! After hanging a show last week, I took the weekend off for visiting family, old friends, and one new (to me) absolute amazement in the culinary world. I speak of, ladies and gentlemen, Strong Hearts Cafe, located in none other than Downtown Syracuse! I'm always the first to bash Syracuse youth culture, but this all-vegan cafe made me envious, we definitely have nothing on caliber with Strong Hearts in Rochester. Great theme, amazing and creative dishes, and I didn't even try a milkshake! I only wish I had taken pictures of our food :)
Sometimes it takes a trip home to really appreciate how far you've come since moving away. I had one of these realizations the other day... now if only I can hold onto that for the serious career/life-path disgruntled days, I'd be all set.

So... I hung my show at the brand-spanking new Roc Brewing Co. last week. I can't wait for them to open! The beer is great, the atmosphere is awesome, definitely something new and unique coming to Rochester. You can join me for a pint when they open, which will be VERYSOON!



Some sketches for my next show in September at Orange Glory Cafe, which is bicycle themed :) Yes, I haven't drawn in a week. Yes, I am rusty.

Seersucker Preview

I had a great Seersucker Social this weekend, thanks to all who attended, and helped out! Here are a few of the photos, more available on Joe's Flickr account. Also, a big congrats to Joe, whose photos from the fall Tweed Run have recently earned him some international attention, and who will be photographing the NYC Tweed Run in the fall! YAY!
Below, Jason and Kellie on the Schwinn Twinn:

Karl and Janelle at the beach:

The group turns (see if you can find me!):

Our most Dapper Dandy and youngest rider! BOYS RULE!

you, to me, are sweet as roses in the morning.

I've mentioned it before, and I will again, I absolutely love drawing hair and the wrinkles in clothing. Recently, I received a beautiful gift of a book about (what else?) the history of bicycles. I was amazed to find vintage bike posters by such prominent artists as Mucha (MASTER OF HAIR AND WRINKLES IN CLOTHING) and Toulouse-Lautrec. These posters were made before cars, even! An example of a Mucha below:

Is there a point to this rant? OF COURSE THERE IS! I recently slated an ACTUAL OPENING date for a show at Orange Glory... AKA A DEADLINE. God knows I needed one. Thinking of the first piece for the show (which will also be the promotional mailer) I thought back to all of the times that I have skipped bike events for the studio lately. I guess this is my retribution. The final will most likely be mixed media.

A final thought, one that has recurred about five times to me today, "We always condemn most in others... that which we most fear in ourselves." Working on not being as judgemental of others...

you've got a strange magic

I celebrated this Labor Day by begrudgingly going with my parents to the New York State Fair. I had the mindset of a cranky teenager... I had seen it all... I was way too cool for the fair. Growing up in Syracuse, we went every year. I went to high school behind the fairgrounds. I was SO OVER IT. I went... and... I actually had fun. GOD FORBID! I got a lot of great photo references for projects there, I never realized there were so many animals there that I don't get to see in everyday life. Goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits... and this cool guy. Look at the edging on his feathers, how they separate into beautiful shapes of their own. How beautiful is he, I can't wait to draw him!

Speaking of drawing, I have officially paid my first months rent and moved into my STUDIO SPACE OF MY VERY OWN (well, that I share). It's been two working nights here so far, and it feels great. Free from the distractions of home, I can make messes with ink and paint and not worry about them when I wake up in the morning. The only thing is... it does get a bit lonely out here. Come visit me!

FIRST linoleum block printed in my new studio!

Finished illy for the tweed ride flier! My friend Neeti is going to lay out the type for me, which helps a ton and lets me focus more on other projects!

A few new scans...

A few Langhorne Slim pieces that never made it to the web. Speaking of musical inspiration, there's a contest going on with Readymade Magazine for art inspired by music. Check it out, my fellow artists!!!