HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MORE PAINTING AFTER THE HOLIDAYS!

I posted this ad last year and I still think it's great. I found this in a medical journal from Christmas 1952. A new diet drug Desoxyn also known as Methamphetamine.
The illustration is classic. Now as I dive into more fruitcake...

YES I WILL STEP BY STEP ABOUT PAINTING!

I have been asked a couple times about my painting and why don’t I do a step by step like I do for my sculpture. Sounds like an easy thing, but I guess it come down to my personal feelings about the two mediums. When I create a sculpted piece it almost always comes out the way I envisioned. Not to say that there aren’t problems to solve, and aspects of the piece that get reworked and changed. It’s just that I find that my painted work is just more difficult for me to create that picture i see in my head, and i don’t have as many tricks for problem solving or achieving are certain effect like I do with clay. That said I’ll be glad to spew out all I know, and let you read about and see as I stumble through the process. Not as much pressure doing a “here’s how I paint with acrylics” as opposed to “The definitive way to paint with acrylics by Dave Pressler”

I paint with acrylics, I like Liquitex Acrylic and Golden Acrylic Paint. Most of the time I paint on wood; Masonite it’s sturdy one side smooth the other rough. I cut 1” X 3” inch beams to create a frame, then glue and power staple the masonite to the frame. It’s like a really skinny box. To finish before the painting begins, power sanding, then 2 coats of Gesso are applied. I leave plenty of brush strokes in the gesso for texture and “Tooth”.

Most of the stuff I’m working on now is blimp and sky related. The first phase is to have an idea of what the final piece’s color theme will be, warm, cool, then do an under painting in the opposite or complimentary color.



This painting is being started over an old piece that wasn’t quite finished, but it wasn’t working out. Not the way I planed. Out with the old!

This piece will have a an over-all warm color scheme. So the Gesso coating will have a greens and blues. I mix up gesso with the colors and just start brushing it in no
particular pattern, very abstract more about creating a texture and under painting that will give the next layer of paint something to play off of.



I have a general idea of the finished piece in my head, the main subject the “Blimp” is very specific. The idea is a old fashioned yet scientific monster hunting machine.



The original drawing itself is small, so I scan it and re-size it in a larger print out. Then I position the print on the board, just so it’s easier to visualize the finished composition.



Everyone has a size they draw their best work. When I first started painting large canvases I would try to freehand the art onto the larger surface using the original sketch as reference, this was always frustrating. Best to just scan and enlarge the print, then get it onto the board by graphite transfer, not ready for that step yet.

Now with the cool base color of gesso dry, I’ll start to layout the sky. I want it to be orange and stormy, so again with out over thinking it I just start to brush in the colors with the ideas of forming the various clouds, and areas of light and shadow. At this point adding retarding medium to the paint helps for smooth blending. I always have a plastic container with a good amount of premixed retarding medium with the paints.



I use a criss-cross brush stroke to blend the colors.



This is the first finished phase, now it has to dry or the brush will just start lifting the previous paint layers. Next Clouds!

THE TREASURES OF LONG GONE JOHN!

This is a great documentary about one of the most interesting guys I know, and a good friend. Long Gone John founder of Sympathy for the Record Industry, and obsessive art collector (Understatement) also founder of Necessaries Toy Foundation. Directed by Gregg Gibbs this a documentary gem that is slated for wide release next year.
It includes interviews with many cool artists, somehow I got in there. John was the first guy to hire me to sculpt vinyl toys. We always got along and he was a constant source of amusing enlightenment.
The Treasures of Long Gone John makes a great stocking stuffer!

UNTITLED LOVE PROJECT BOOK SIGNING!

What a great time! I always love to get out of my little studio and meet fellow artists and fans alike. Not to sound too overly dramatic but it can sometimes be a solitary work life painting designing etc. Getting out there and meeting everyone is always amazing.
Many thanks to Kevin Staniec for pulling this whole project together. I was happy with the many different takes on the subject of heart break and love.

KOIBITO IN OUR POOL!

I love the new Koibito. When Zury from Munky Kiing called to see if Brian McCarty could do the Koibito shoot in our pool I was more then happy. The heater had not been on since August! So the team was very brave. Brian is a super talented photographer, and I’m always “down” with the MK. Check out the Behind the scenes of the shoot on the High Fructose Magazine site. Also you can download a nice screensaver of the shot.

MONKEY KING!

I finally picked up and unpacked my Nathan Jurevicius Monkey King vinyl.



A fantastic piece, great work by Munky King on the paint job and the packaging. Also an amazing sculpt!



Nathan was also kind enough to do a doodle on the back.



I placed what was left of the sculpt with the finished vinyl. I always keep whatever is left of the sculpt after the molding process. Maybe I'll do a photo project with various toys with their sculpted ghosts.

UNTITLED LOVE PROJECT BOOK RELEASE!

I will be at the Untitled Love Project book release and artist signing this Saturday December 13th 7pm to 10pm @ Cerasoli : LeBasse Gallery 8530-B Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 900232. Hope you can come by and say hi! There will also be a ton of other cool artist there too.



This was the piece I made for the show titled:
“The Journey We Must Take Alone” Inspired by the Life and death of Pam Roberts. This was probably the most personal art project I’ve ever been involved in. The original art has been sold. A high quality print is available through Thumbtack Press Hope to see you at the signing.

GIVE LESS FRUITCAKE BUY MORE ART!

I have a new piece of art in this show at T&P Fine Art in Philadelphia PA. On Dec 5th. Unfortunately I will not be attending but if you are over that way check it out. The piece is “Lucky Tiki Is Rescued From The Island Of Unpleasantness.” It just so happens that I have prints available of this piece on my website. Also just for the record I love fruit cake.

ANGRY CLOBBER MONKEY UPDATE!

Well this year has proven to be a wild ride even in the most basic terms.
The good thing is the Angry Clobber Monkey is coming right along. We didn’t make the original estimation of a Oct / Fall release, but sometimes these things happen. Patrick over at Munky King has, as always been effortless to work with, right now I think we are looking at a Feb / March release.



Here are some pictures of the wax master from the factory. This is the refined casting from my resin master that I sent to Hong Kong. It is made from a hard wax that can be further polished, and detailed.



This is what will be used to make the master molds for production vinyl casting.



The red parts will be roto-cast in vinyl, the end up being hollow. The white parts are for injection molding. Those parts will be made of a solid stronger plastic



I’m excited! I will always keep making resin originals, but having my first wide release vinyl toy is amazing.

ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON!

Finally I can talk about one of the cool projects that I’ve been working on.
Team Smithereen is a new puppet project that I did the character designs and co-created with Dan Clark and Don Asher. A hapless stunt team these four characters: Whoop, Thrill Kat, Brave Little Frances and Stunt Pig have all the bravery and none of the brains to try and perform some of the most outrageous stunts. They always end up getting blown up smashed, crashed and creamed.



We have an amazing team working on the show, check out the TS blog for more info pics and behind the scenes video.



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Some of the same processes that I use to sculpt toys goes into the sculpt for a puppet.
Always with consideration to the end product being able to perform. I learned quite a bit about sculpting puppets early on in my special effects days. I sculpted puppet characters for various shops like the Chiodo Brothers the Jim Henson Company, and our very own productions.

Always I use a water based or oil based clay. The end piece will be molded so the puppet can be made out of a more malleable material like silicone, foam rubber, or latex.



I made the test puppets out of a very stretchy silicone it was the consistency of a wacky wall walker. The puppets for the actual shoot were made by the talented team from Monster FX.

SKETCH FOR CHANGE!

I have donated a piece of art to Sketch For Change Art for Obama.



The piece is titled: "The End Of Cowboy Politics"

NEW PRINT!

I’m offering a new print.
“Lucky Tiki Is Rescued From The Island Of Unpleasantness” A nice 13” X 19” print image size 8” X 18” on nice heavy stock ink jet paper signed by me, and mailed to you in a sturdy cardboard envelope. This one will be an open edition, but check in again soon I’m working on a limited edition set of a different piece that will be available just in time for the holidays.



Only $35 that includes S & H. Go to the Boutique section of my website to order!

MY LEFT FOOT!

Well lately I haven’t been posting much about making things. The things I’ve been making lately I can’t reveal yet (Although I would love to!) I think the last big step by step I was going through was the Angry Clobber Monkey prototype. The vinyl toy is slated to come out around December. I can’t wait. Currently the non-commercial art I’m working on is painting. Doing a Step by step about my painting process doesn’t appeal to me as much. There’s some artists out there who are more amazing with more technical know-how then I , plus I still have a hard time with some of my pieces and feel that when they work out it’s mostly dumb luck after much trail and error. There going to be some new sculpted pieces I will be covering soon.

In a month or so I will be more mobile. I’m recuperating right now from a long needed foot surgery. I loved to jog and was pretty committed to it for 11 years. Unfortunately after much pavement pounding and some bad genetics the cartilage in my big toe joint all but disappeared. I stopped running and picked up other exercise routines, but the deteriorated joint lead to daily foot pain. After dealing with this daily pain for several years and starting to walk like an old cowboy it was time to lean into it.

Last Thursday I final went in for the surgery.



The idea was to grind down the excesses bone growths (Bunions) that appear when there is too much wear on a certain area, and to take a small amount out of the middle
of the 1st metatarsal bone to shorten the length. This would create space so the my big toe could actually flex again. It worked out great!



There are two pins holding the new bone alignment in place.





Today I went in to have the bandage changed. This was my first time seeing what it all looked like. So I decided to share! Just in time for Halloween.

I’ve been fascinated with medical stuff all my life. It’s not really about making anything this time, my doctor is doing the making, I’m just doing the healing part.

Hopefully I haven’t succeeded in grossing every one out. I’m very excited at the prospect of having a whole new foot in a couple of months!

NEW PRINTS AVAILABLE!

There are new prints from my "Navigating Imaginary Skies" show
available at Thumbtack Press I love these guys,they make fantastic quality prints. Check under "Browse Prints" I have a total of 10 pieces available.
Plus there are prints from many other cool artists available.

798 ART ZONE!

While I was in Beijing I visited the 798 Art Zone. Formerly a weapons and electronics factory complex now a sprawling gallery complex. It's evident that the art community in China has much to say and express. I wish I could have taken more pictures in the galleries to show more of the amazing work on display.


The Entrance, me blocking the sign.




Coffee On The Roof. Love this place, one of the many cool cafes in the 798 complex.
This one is like have coffee in a tree house.


Old Maoist slogans are still visible on the ceiling arches.


I lost the card from this gallery. Cool pop art sculpts, with various mythical Chinese character heads on Mao and communist worker bodies.

JUST BEFORE I LEFT...

I had the great pleasure to hang out with the pleasant and talented Nathan Jurevicius at Munkey King for the release of the Monkey King vinyl figure. The toy is amazing and it was more than a pleasure to sculpt and work with Nathan on this project.



And just to add to the event Robin Williams a big NJ fan dropped by to pic up his figures. Always happening at the MK Melrose.

I'M BACK!

Back from the wedding month. From the week of the wedding, to the honey moon, then to China for 2 weeks. Unfortunately I'm suffering from a bad case of "Mao's Revenge" and am not quite right yet. When I get my energy back this week I've got lot's to show and tell. From the 798 Art space, and old weapons factory that is now an amazing gallery art complex. To the The Gift Shop in Mao's Tomb, Very Classy!


Even in the heart of Beijing unintentional hilarity blossoms.

GETTING MARRIED!

Lisa and I are off to get married! See you all next month.

METAL MONKEY KING AT SDCC!

Unfortunately I won't be there but the fantastic new "Metal Monkey King" by Nathan Jurevicius will be. This vinyl turned out amazing! Thanks to the good and talented folks at Munky King. They will also have a full color prototype of the upcoming Angry Clobber Monkey. Check out Vinyl Pulse for the latest.

NO COMICON FOR US THIS YEAR!

It’s that time of year again. Right after the 4th of July San Diego Comic Con fever kicks into high gear. This year will be the first time that Lisa & I have missed SDCC since 03. We have a good reason though; we are running off to the mountains of Colorado to get hitched. It was difficult to pick a date that worked for family and friends as well as our own schedules. July 26th just turned out to be the perfect date. I will miss seeing everyone at the Con, but there’s always next year!

I LOVE SKULLS!

A majority of my art has a fairly whimsical tone. It may not seem obvious, but I’ve always been a big fan of skulls. That’s why when I discovered “I Want Your Skull” I was thrilled and even more so when they included some of my work on the site.

Since I was very little I always remember being in love with skulls, skeletons, anything anatomical.



Around my studio there’s a variety of skulls.



This is a ceramic sculpture my Dad made when he was in high school art class, it kind of reveals his state of mind around 1951.
This used to be at my grandmother’s house. It was used as a doorstop. When I was a wee lad I was equally freaked out and fascinated by this piece. I will always treasure it.

NOW WHERE WERE WE?

I think several months ago I had finished the demo of making the molds for the Angry Clobber Monkey. Go back to Monday, March 10, 2008 that was the last entry on mold making. Now the silicone has been poured, most of the time it takes 12 hours or so to set up depending on how much catalyzer you mix in. When it’s good and solid tear away the foam core and gently pull apart the mold halves. Pop out the clay sculpt and powder the mold. Now it’s ready for resin.





Resin is a pricey material, and on small budget projects we want to waste as little as possible. Here’s a technique for getting a good estimate of how much resin will fill the mold. Some people like digital scales, I’m a fan of the old school 3 Beam scale. Easy to use, I’ve had this one since 1995 it was around $200 then, and that was a big investment! It’s paid for it self many times over



Rice is a good filler for guessing weight. Fill the mold with rice, weigh the rice. I am casting the masters so I want the pieces to be solid.
When I make the prototype it will be hollow. Whatever the solid weight was go with 50% for the hollow weight.



Mix up your resin. I always add black pigment, the gray color helps to see imperfections, seems, ect. Even when casting a solid piece I always turn the mold. This action forces any air bubbles onto the center of the casting.



On the body piece the resin gets hot while curing. The hot air bubble creates a bulge, making a little hole to release the air while the resin is still soft then smoothing it down.



The finished body ready to be trimmed and sanded.