The opening exhibit at The Gallery Zero on the third of this month was great. I exhibited four paintings. One new painting I finished the morning of hanging the art. However, if the painting does not sell I want to go back to it and add and subtract to the painting. The galleries interior is completely red and adds a great dimension to the work. The magenta hues alter the experience of viewing the art, as opposed to more traditional art galleries with white walls. The red walls were mostly covered with large canvases that the curator/gallery owner Randy Young encourages and which I think is refreshing. The paintings in the gallery are more graphic oriented, so if you are a graphic designer, as my wife is, you will probably dig the work. Come check it out and see what you think. Thanks, as always.
Howdy everyone. Winter is almost here although in Portland piles of white puffy snow are swapped for grey clouds and a continuous wet dreariness. But not freezing! I am very much glad to tell you that I will have four paintings in an exhibition in Portland at The Gallery Zero. The show opening is Saturday, December third; 6 o’clock pm-10 o’clock pm. The address is 935 SE 34th Avenue, (a block from Belmont). I would love to see you there. There should be snacks and drinks, at least I hope so. Black friday is practically here, sales on paintings, email me for details. There is no better way to show your love than giving art. Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, what ever you celebrate next month. Thanks, goodbye.
Hello folks. Have just returned from a trip to the Midwest. Fourteen days of driving to small towns, little and medium large cities, in two states for very short visits to family and close friends. While in Ohio Heidi, my wife, and I had discovered a treasure trove of decades lost art in the basement of my grandfather’s house. Many drawings and a few paintings were created by my family members going back all the way to my great grandmother, my diseased dear grandmother’s mother. I also found art created by my grandma’s brother, my great uncle Gordon, who died in world war two. He was in the navy and lost his life within six weeks of service. His drawings that I now possess are of specific war planes. Some drawings go back all the way from his grade school days. The drawings are accurate representations of the airplanes. There are drawings of dog fights and battle scenes in the air that remind me of drawings that I did during class in grade school, (my images were influenced by GI Joe). I found unbelievably beautiful sketches that my great grandmother made, (who was a housewife). I also have a couple of paintings and drawings that my grandma’s sister made, my Great Aunt Nancy. She passed a way about a year ago. She was the first person (besides my best friend) who acknowledge that I was an artist and encouraged me, fueling the confidence I desperately needed. Here are some images of these pictures. If I have any artistic talent, it is because of them.
My Uncle Gordon Faulkner
My wife and I went to the fantastic Cleveland Art Museum. It had been several years since my last visit. It was great seeing those canvas old friends although I did not find an old girlfriend of mine. I wonder if she’s still hanging in the museum or has been moved to another collection. If my recollection serves my right I believe every time I had seen her I wanted to go back in time to kiss her hand, hold her tight close to my body, look in to her eyes and listen to every word she says. Of course that wouldn’t be the case now since I am married to a beautiful woman who I want to kiss her hand, hold her tight close to my body, look in to her eyes and listen to every word she says. After the short but sweet meeting, the two of us went to Grand Rapids Michigan to see her best friends. There is an art competition in Grand Rapids which is called Art Prize. It is a month long exhibition which the city is the the art gallery/museum. There are art works everywhere, grocery stores, restaurants, churches, murals and other public art. The juror is the public. Each person has a say and a vote. The top ten artists with the most votes win cash. First place is 250,000 dollars. It is certainly a sight to be seen, and my artist friends you should grab a venue next year and show your best. I do have to say that it didn’t exactly meet my expectations but to be fair I didn’t see all of the art. It is a pretty decent size city after all. I did go to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The whole first two floors was devoted to Art Prize. I did look carefully at the art and went to the third floor to compare it to the museum’s permanent contemporary art collection. I want to know what is considered museum worthy. I continue to wonder.
Finally, I have to say that I finished and attached my most recent public painting. The small painting is on another abandoned building downtown on SW Park Ave nearest cross street is SW Morrison St. I believe. I am concerned with the size in relation to the door. I feel like I need to add another piece to somehow connect to the small painting. Here is this painting. (If some law man or woman is reading this, just joking not mine.)
How do you do folks? Sorry for the lapse of time for an updated website entry. I would like to mention that my wife, Heidi and I apartment has been featured in Apartment Therapy. The link if interested is http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/house-tours/heidi-and-davids-downtown-portland-lofthouse-tour-149101 There you can see our home and a couple of paintings hanging on the walls.
Thursday August 4th was the 7th annual rooftop Exhibition at Everett Station Lofts, (also where I live). Here are a few pictures of the show and the painting I relentlessly worked on specifically for the show. The painting is the view of the street corner from my window where there are a cast of characters presumably selling not so legal items. I also had shown Badlands a painting I completed last summer which was hung next to the fun piece that Heidi finished for the show. I wanted to say thanks for all the friends who came out to the show old and new. I will make sure I will try to write here more often.
It’s finally out! The newest issue of RAIN Magazine. I have three images of my paintings in the book. Two of the three are placed in color. I’d like to thank the folks at Rain Magazine for inviting me to contribute to their publication.
RAIN Magazine
Clatsop Community College’s Literary Magazine
RAIN Magazine is an annual production of students and faculty at Clatsop Community College in Astoria, Oregon. The RAIN staff changes every year, with every class. Some of the editors stay on longer, but the group is selective.
Bubble Rapture is my newest three dimension concoction. It happens to be my first public expression since my less than articulate teenage spray paint days, when my best friends (who still are to this day) had things to say on the back of buildings such as the National Guard building, the old Jr. High school and the city republican party office. I attached the piece to a plywood boarded door on an abandoned building. It’s across from the basketball courts located at the end of a small city park. My intent was to make something for kids and for grown ups. Do you enjoy the pictures of Bubble Rapture? If you live in Portland please visit it at North Park Blocks. I also should mention that my wife and I will have our apartment featured in Apartment Therapy very soon. Apartmenttherapy.com Thank you. Have a nice day.
Hi folks. I recently went hunting in the desert forest of Antrimsten. I came across a Manticore and it’s cub. The adult Manticore was digging in to the ground in search of Lamed Wufniks I had gathered. The beast screeched it’s awful trumpet like voice expressing it’s desire to capture innocent creatures. While the Manticore was preoccupied, I shot the cub several times in it’s belly. It’s head is now mounted on my wall. Here is a photograph of it. Those bastards! Do remember to read the conversations with Marc Spanjers below. I will add the next section soon. Again his website is www.marcspainthing.com. Thanks as always.
March 26 2011 Entry
I am happy to announce that three pictures of my paintings will be in the Spring of 2011 edition of RAIN Magazine. RAIN Magazine is a literary magazine published by Clatsop Community College. The Magazine has been a fixture in the cultural community of the Oregon North Coast and Southwest Washington areas since 1973. The three paintings that are to be represented are “Outer Libations”, (weird bar painting), “Breathing Heavy”, (western painting) and “Finding Astoria”. (other worldly view of Astoria with two creature characters). Thanks to RAIN Magazine for the opportunity to exhibit my paintings in their magazine.
Below is a segment that I have been wanting to do since the birth of my web site. It is about artists and other interesting folk that I believe should be recognize and also to publish conversations that I have with them. The first artist is Marc Spanjers of The Netherlands. It is a brief exchange that we had almost exactly a year ago. My good friend I have been discussing on the subject as of late, so I believe it is relevant to that discussion. Again it is brief. Thanks.
The Artist To Know: Marc Spanjers. The Netherlands. www.marcspainthing.com
Painting, graphic/prints, photography, comics, writing etc
“Been drawing, painting, making a mess since I was born. Painting on the street since 1989. On canvas since 1996.
I believe good Art (which also can be “bad” art) is indeed something that is a long process within the artist itself and in big it reflects like nothing else the current time we live in. It is also a huge collaboration between human beings and a reaction to that society and the things that matter to the artist.
It should not become a trick or just something “nice” but a process, a fight between the painter and the Paint, to keep it really interesting. At the same time we can’t come up with something “totally” new every week.
It is a battle that is played out on canvas in where the painter also fights itself. It has to question what he/ she is doing and so can become one painting an answer to the other or a new vision etc. That is one of the reasons my works are often really different in “style” and expression. I will always try not put up the same trick every time and I will use the best way/form to express what I want to. Even if that means something completely new and I don’t know if it will be any good. I believe that’s at least a way to keep things happening and interesting. Keep on making this world a colourful one and keep your hearts alive.” -Marc Spanjers
Part of a brief dialogue between Marc Spanjers and myself on public art a year ago.
Mar. 15, 2010 07:08 pm
David:
There isn’t any thing I want more than to create my paintings out side in the real world, the real art gallery. Being a painter that doesn’t use spray paint makes it incredibly difficult to do this for me. And of course the materials I would use cost a lot more than spray paint. Submitting proposals to institutions for grants seems to be the most realistic avenue for me, but we all know how hard it is to receive one especially for some one that is outside of the art world and doesn’t have a name. I certainly want to participate in anyway I can. Thanks.
David
Marc:
Hello David, outside is wonderful..also you get more reactions and direct contact between viewers which can be fun. You can ask people with big walls if you can do them (maybe they will pay for the costs too). Out of ten times surely one will say yes often…so you might have to ask several people/walls. You can also ask for wall/tunnel or so at the local Authorities. Explain them the need for a legal place and the benefits. I’ve got experience with that so I can always help you with some advice/legal rights etc if you want.You don’t have to ask permission of course..like big billboards or wooden fences in the city..or wastelands, grey walls etc..you can just paint them. Its your world too (just don’t get caught hehe). My open call was meant as a sort of wake up call. They have taken away some many paintings/murals and graffiti here in the Netherlands..its a shame they wipe out culture like that..I’m not talking about some monuments they cleaned..no the viciously are cleaning it all..even great legal walls..because they give the “wrong”example to kids!!??? Can you believe that? They are making Holland a true puppet state.
The paint doesn’t have to cost more than the cans. just buy cheap (outside) Acrylic latex paint. You can mix the colors and do really big walls with it. Its also possible to use both on the same wall of course.
When I spray on walls I mostly paint the wall first with latex paint.So the paint from the cans doesn’t get soaked into the wall..colors are brighter etc. Maybe you can try it out in some old empty factory or so. (I’m also thinking about doing an group expo one time with just canvas paintings combined with mural painting etc on this subject..maybe you could participate too but I don’t have a true plan for that yet. I hope you keep on painting and remember..the world is yours too! Keep your hearts alive. Peace
Images of Marc Spanjers. More with Marc hopefully soon.
I was recently mentioned in an article about Astoria, OR in Sunset Magazine. Sunset is a publication distributed through out the west. It was a small mention, but I am humbled nonetheless. Here is the web site address: http://www.sunset.com/travel/northwest/astoria-day-trip-00418000070448/
I added more fun stuff in the treasure chest. Just hit treasure. I believe that is all for now. I will be back soon with updates, paintings, toys on the treasure page, and/or some kind of writing. Thanks to you all!
Also, check out my friends link: http://shaundoyle.blogspot.com/
Website entry February 16th 2011.
Hello. Last Saturday, February 12th was a romantic exhibition at the lovely Lunar Boy gallery. The theme was “Love Letters, A-Z.” Each artist was assigned a letter or two. We had to create a picture correlating to the letter and it had to deal with Love. The two letters I had were W and J. Images of the 8″x8″ paintings are below to give you an idea. My beautiful wife also participated.
February 12, 2011. Lunar Boy Gallery
Rebeca's smoking
Rebeca stares out into the cold night
