influences part one

Maira Kalman. What can I say? This woman is a genius of the quotidian. Everything she does is perfect. I have imaginary conversations with her in my head. On the decision of what to draw, she explains that she looks for things that are a little bit funny and a little bit heartbreaking at the same time. I think she and I agree that that is where the spark of life's meaning can be found. By all means look at her blog for the New York Times at the link above. It will probably change your life.

More Gallery Info

So, you can look in the windows of the gallery any time you want, but I'll be opening it up for close-up viewing

Friday, April 22 from 5-10PM

Friday, May 22 from 7-10PM

Friday, June 24 from 7-10PM

Friday, July 22 from 7-10PM

I'll just sit in there and draw with the doors open and my ipod on and if you missed the opening or you want to check out the new objects that have come in, you can stop by.

Again the address of the gallery is:

101 N. Brand Avenue Suite 230 Glendale, CA 91203

Its right next to the California Pizza Kitchen, you can't miss it.

Thanks Chester

So far, this is the only submission that has come in through my special art project mailbox. And it is totally worth it.

In case you can't decipher the handwriting, the envelope is addressed to Anna "Blowing Marxism to Pieces" Magnuson.

I'll keep the contents of the envelope a surprise because I haven't done the drawing yet. Really I should just draw the envelope.

The Process

I don't know about you, but I really like to look at works in progress. I like to see the process and the bones of a drawing or painting before its skin is all properly arranged.

And you can see that I really have been working on the project, not just taking your precious objects and hoarding them like Scrooge McDuck.

The one I'm working on here is a Shaquille O'Neale basketball card. I was a little intimidated by this one because it's flat and small and something that would never have occurred to me to draw. But that's the beauty of outsourcing all the thinking to my audience. It turned out well and I have a new and deeper relationship to Shaq than I ever expected.

Pardon a little digression, but since I'm talking about process I'd like to explain that relationship a little.

Whenever I draw anything, or anyone, it changes my relationship with my subject. I look at it/him/her so carefully and so objectively that I start to feel a love and connection with whatever it is. Its like meditating. There is a compassion that comes from being fully present with someone or something. Usually this kind of concentration is hard for me. In drawing I am at least fully connected to the surface of a person or thing.

The Opening

Well, this isn't exactly up-to-the minute news. But in my defense, I've been doing a lot of drawing and slacking off in the reporting/blogging department.

The opening went beautifully. So many cool people showed up and brought me really cool things. I can't believe I thought I would actually be drawing during the opening; I spent the entire time talking to people about the project. The amount of interest and support and positive energy was amazing! Thanks everybody!

Tucker's photos and description of the show are on the GATE website.