a pic from the vault from back in the day…being that it’s movember, i thought i’d unearth this hairy flick for you…

this is what i was putting together on the sewing machine…a custom free-standing giraffe for the homie’s galpal.

whilst preparing some backgrounds, this lil fella decided to dive bomb my situation…he has since taken one for the team and been glazed over…finish product pics coming soon…

collaboration with John Osgood for the “Incorporated” show that popped off a while back…”the birds and the bees“

a close-up of “the sweetest bee keeper“

“blossom buddies” edition of 12 signed and numbered handmade plush awesomeness. (some still available, holler at your boy) (they make great gifts…just sayin)

if you weren’t able to make it out to this show…here’s a little recap…you’re sure to see more of Gabrielle’s work soon!…

thee artiste hangin tough

main wall display. (collograph prints)

prep’n

…and the take down….to see more, check out Gabrielle Crowther.

big ups to ma dukes for kickin down the shelf!!!…now the Family Fortune wears is looking official! GET SOME!

if you missed this show at the Twilight Gallery, shame on you! (i still love you) here’s a few of the tasty morsels….

4 of 8 custom target posters (i’ve got a few left…holler)

some of the illustrations from the main wall…this series was a blast to research and paint.

“the messenger” *inspired by “ghostdog“

“rubbed out” *inspired by “miller’s crossing“

“right hand man” *inspired by “miller’s crossing”

“another qualude and she’ll love me in the morning” *inspired by “scarface” …i have a few pieces left from this collection…so if you want a lil g thang in your life, holla!

i got the studio clean just in time to have another art explosion! i’ve got about 5 projects cooking currently…stay tuned for the feast!

progress…no rest for the wicked.

i’m gonna end this lil buffet with a piece i commissioned from the homie, CASH.  i was lucky enough that he was feeling one of my pieces, so i was able to trade for this lil fella. I’ve always loved orioles, the team and the bird…now i gotta ill version for the crib!  THANKS CASH!!!

that’s all for now, thanks for sticking with me!…more to come!

Andy Miller, Ryan Henry Ward, Narboo & Dave Bloomfield

Written by Mellissae Lucia

You know those times when you meet people that you immediately like? Last night’s filming for the Painted in the Desert movie was like that. MK is friends with a wonderful group of gifted and inspiring Seattle  artists that have come together in a communal studio called Full Circle to support and enjoy each others creative lives. Each of the guys has their own unique style, yet as a group they  become something larger then themselves. Doing live paintings during band performances, or hosting public art making  at local community centers, these guys love what they do and they share it.

Leela taking production shots for the Painted in the Desert independent film about living extraordinary lives as artists featuring Mellissae Lucia

It was such a gift to be in the authentic enthusiasm and passion of people who have dedicated their  lives to inventing and exploring. Nothing escapes their creative impulses from scrap wood found on the streets to paint on, to the abundant stickers they post around the city. During the filming of the movie one of the themes that has emerged is the absolute necessity of having a community  to support the ups and downs of any creative life. This is a tribe who lives that truth, teaching the rest of us how much fun sharing our inspirations can be. This Friday October 14th from 6-11pm is the opening for their new space, Full Circle, in the Greenwood Collective building 8537 Greenwood Ave North {85th and Greenwood, Seattle}. Come check out this vibrant new center that is a vision of how we can create sustainable and fulfilling lives as artists. And much love to Brandon 13 FNGRS who was unable to attend the filming. See links to each of their sites below.

Dave Bloomfield/ Star Head Boy's wondrous inspirations

Ryan Henry Ward's Ballard mural

Narboo in Fremont

Andy Miller's Full Circles

http://starheadboy.blogspot.com/

/http://www.ryanhenryward.com/

http://mantisart.wordpress.com/

http://narboo.blogspot.com/

The crosswalk looked a little different today – it was a giant piano instead!

Those are cans of food, creating a super huge food pyramid:

Outside the dance studio, and instructor teaches kids how to dance to a pop song:

My fave of the night, Pourquoi Pas – French jazz music that made you feel like you were at a little French cafe:

WHOA! Food art display in the Tasty window.  That’s watermelon slices on the girl’s, ummm, buttock region:

At least one of the bands got people up and dancing:

Outside of the Greenwood Collective, artists spray painted a couple new pieces to an audience:

It’s been quite a while since my last post…sorry about that!  I was a lil pooped after putting on the Potluck show…had to take a much needed break from things!  A HUGE and HEARTY THANK YOU to everyone involved with the Potluck show!!!  Thanks to all of the great artists and businesses we were able to raise over 250lbs of food and just shy of $300 for the Greenwood/Phinney Food Bank!!! Truly epic!

Next up, I wanted to take a moment to show y’all some of the flicks that got taken of yours truly…I had the pleasure of meeting recently with Richard Darbonne…he is a top-notch photographer!…Richard is currently working on a project where he captures the essence of some of the local artists…through a series of portraits and whatnot, i think he’s hitting the nail on the head…enough with the talk, here’s the goods!

(paint by number wall in background courtesy of UrbanLight Studios in The Greenwood Collective)

hello…is it me you’re looking for?

solace is for the kids…he’s the dj….i’m the rapper.

sex panther!

Thanks again to Richard Darbonne for making me look like a pimp!!! Keep your eyes peeled too…there’s quite a line-up of artists that Richard will be working with….and maybe a book?!?!?

I wanted to take this chance to show y’all how i’ve been nestling into the new art diggs….as you may or may not know, i now have an art studio! (ooooh professional!) ….the fellas i share the space with and myself have finally settled on a name for the space…so stay tuned for all the news and goings on to come! here’s some flicks of my new nook:

here’s a lil sneaky peak of something i got in the works….

…and another lil sneaky peak

here’s one of the latest backgrounds i’ve been working on…spring is here…so the leaf pattern is back!

anyhoo…thanks for tuning in….just wanted to check in and update y’all!  there’s tons of stuff on the horizon, i’ll do my best to keep you posted!

Just a brief shout out, as i am running around like a chicken minus head trying to get everything in order for, “POTLUCK”….if you haven’t already heard the buzz…this is going to be off the meat rack!!!!  over 35 artists interpretation(s) of a subject near and dear to all of our hearts…FOOD!…come join the fun…and don’t forget to bring something to the table!……as this is also a food drive for the Greenwood/Phinney Food Bank!…here’s how you can help:

Donations NEEDED:

• canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon, etc)
• canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni & cheese, etc)
• peanut butter
• canned or dried beans & peas (black, pinto, lentils, etc)
• pasta, rice, cereal
• canned fruits
• fruit juices (canned, plastic, or boxed)
• shelf stable milk

NO TIME TO SHOP?…MAKE $1 DONATION!….$1 provides 6 meals to the community!!!!

Items that are NOT usable by the foodbank include:

• rusty or unlabeled cans
• perishable items
• homemade items
• noncommercial canned or packaged items
• alcoholic beverages, mixes, or sodas
• opened or used items

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!  I hope to see many of you out at UrbanLight Studios (Greenwood Collective) tomorrow night!!!

it will certainly be magical!!!

Lots to talk about…so right to it!…next weekend is the big ol’ Greenwood/Phinney artwalk of fury!…as you hopefully  know by now, “Potluck” is on the roster!….and showing in the same venue…a few doors down at the Bandvibes x BetterFriends Studio we have:

(i’m super hyped on this guys work…come peep the collection!)

…and if you haven’t already seen it on the tv or heard it on the radio…here’s the finale piece for the “Monsters and Aliens” show a la Zinn.

CLICK ME TO CHECK IT OUT!

(for some reason it wouldn’t let me post the actual video….ENJOY!)

Just recently I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Richard Darbonne. He’s an excellent photographer working on a project that captures some of the artists from around town…his pictures have a great feel to them…check it out!

…that’s all for now…more soon!

prost!

there you have it folks…names have been drawn…art has been given…stay tuned to see how the madness pans out!

(i’m hyped to paint an EGO pc!!!)

…just in time for spring…i’ve got a spankin new batch of the minion pillows!…these lil fellas are a side character that’s cropped up in many a painting…i started doing floral versions of them and thought it fitting that they be made 3-d! each is individually signed and numbered! there are only a dozen…these WILL go fast…get yours!!!

happy spring from the crew!

i also wanted to take this opportunity to show off one of the fabulous prizes for the “potluck” artshow/food drive raffle in May…

THANK YOU BOUNDARY BAY BREWERY!!!!…as usual, y’all are way too kind!

that’s all for now…back to the grindstone…

In case you missed the “Monsters and Aliens” show that was curated by 7yr old mastermind Zinn, here’s the pieces i rocked and have yet to post…

“the intergalactic score keeper”

“warts and all”

“roses for the piano, tulips for the organ”

“eyes without a face”

“the pineapple pearl snake”

…if you’d like to see these in person (and/or purchase) along with Justin Hillgrove, Kevin Gosselin, and John Osgood‘s work…it’s still on display at Bherd Studios for another week or so….GET SOME!

I thought I’d start off with the goods this time! Here’s the flier for the Potluck artshow/food drive May 13 and 14.  It’s a food themed artshow with over 35 contributing artists!  What’s even more special about this event is we’ve teamed up with the Greenwood/Phinney food bank to make for a more meaningful experience.  In addition to a kick-butt artshow, we’re also conducting a food drive in the form of a raffle.  We have several local businesses and artists who’ve donated graciously to our raffle!  To get in on the shwag and help support the food bank…bring cold hard cash or a non-perishable food donation…ALL (100%) OF THE MONEY AND FOOD RAISED FROM THE RAFFLE GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GREENWOOD/PHINNEY FOOD BANK!!!

cooks in the kitchen:

179, Andrew Miller, Cameron Hawkey, Carlos Aguilar, CASH, Dave Bloomfield, Davin Spridgen, Duffy, Ego, Grym, Hera, Inq, James Sutherland, Jeremy Gregory, Jesse Link, Joe Vollan, Joey Nix, John Osgood, Joseph “2H” McSween, Kali Meadows, Kinoko, Lil Jen, Mat Savage, Matthew Lewis, Narboo, Pgee, Paper Marbles, Que Sera, Quincy Quigg, Redd Walitzki, Rob Ripley, Sensei 23, Slightly North, Sly Cooley, Solace, Xavier Lopez Jr., Zach Bogenkamp, Zelot…and more!!!

…and THANKS to the sponsors!:

Vans Shoes, Boundary Bay Brewery, The Snowboard Connection, Mighty-O Donuts, Nectar Lounge, Scream Salon, Family Fortune Clothing, Electric Coffin, Paper Diamonds Clothing…and more!

I thought I’d lace y’all up with some photos of some food I chef’d up recently…just to get your mouth watering and get you inspired!

baked salmon with a ginger sesame rub….seared albacore tuna atop fresh organic greens….with a side of grilled mushrooms, onions, and asparagus! DEEEEEELICIOUS!

had to get the brew shot too! this (coney island lager) was a good compliment to the meal…nice and robust without being too complex…perfect with the meaty fish and greens! pinkys up!

here’s even more goodies for you!…

some sketchbook love for ya!

See you May 13 (friday) 6-9p and/or May 14 (saturday) 12-4p @UrbanLight Studios (Greenwood Collective)

I asked Osgood how this all came about.  “Zinn saw me painting in Pioneer Square a couple of years ago,” he said.  “He came right up and started asking questions.”  Since then, John and his wife (and co-owner) Michele have kept in touch with Zinn, and it was Michele’s idea to bring him in to curate. 

Zinn sums it up perfectly when asked the reason behind the theme:  There is no wrong way to draw a monster or an alien. 

Not sure where to find Bherd Studios?  Neither was I – it’s a hole in the wall on the outside, buried near the Green Bean Coffee Shop on Greenwood Ave.  But once you step inside The Greenwood Collective, you’ll find four galleries and eight artists sharing an enormous (and creative) space.  The Greenwood Collective participates each month in the Phinney-Greenwood Art Up Art Walk.

Next month, opening May 13th, will be their new SubUrban exhibit featuring the works of Greg Boudreau, Kellie Talbot, and Kate Protage.  But through May 6th, you can find the Monsters and Aliens exhibit Wednesdays through Fridays from 12pm to 6pm.  Here’s a look inside:

lots going on and lots of crazy cool stuff happening! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Firstly…

welly welly well! the keys to the new studio space!!! until now, i’ve always worked from the crib…this is gonna be AWESOME!

…and on saturday i made the trek to portland to scoop some artwork and mulah from the show i had at upper playground…i had a bite to eat at a place called, “Ping” with some of the homies… If you’re ever in the pearl district during happy hour, i highly recommend it! Big ass beers for $3 and tons of good food for cheap…perfect for sharing…and then it was onto Kinoko’s house for some drawring and such….Kinoko and Cameron showed me mucho hospitality and laced me up with some goodies!

a Kinoko print and 3…count em 3 zines!…Thanks y’all!!!

last but not least….

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!! Hope to see you all there!!! I think i’m as excited as Zinn for this show!

Caio!

tah tah for now…

some of you may have heard…for those who haven’t, I’M GETTING A STUDIO SPACE!!!…it’s been a long time coming and as of April 1 (no fooling), i’ll be in like Flynn!  it seems like the closer it comes to getting the new work space i’ve been getting more done at the current space…for example, here are 3 pcs in various stages of production:

only a background so far…i’ve been calling it, “orangina” …i don’t like blank canvases, so i always do a round of backgrounds to have until i’m inspired to finish.

we’ve seen this one before at an earlier stage…i’ve gotten the background as far as i’m gonna take it in preparation for the character elements.

“we ALL scream for ice cream.” finished piece for the “monsters and aliens” show i’m in next month.  this is the last preview image i’ll be showing…i’ve just been having so much fun painting for this show, i had to leak something!

enjoy!

the show will be amazing…i’ll be posting some of my sketches for the madness to show how the whole thing is progressing.

HAPPY LEPRECHAUN DAY!

ENOUGH ALREADY…..here it is…..

“the fur burglar cometh”

…the fur burglar is a pesky little fella that dwells in laundry piles and around washers and dryers. ever wonder why you always come up a sock short?…look no further.

“the one-upper”

the show is still up for the peepin for the next few weeks…get in there while you can, there’s some truly amazing work by justin hillgrove and kevin “sensei 23″…and of course, yours’ truly!

here’s yet another tasty show coming up real soon! “cereal killers” is a four man expo tackling the saturday morning culture. i’ve been having fun with this one…i feel like a kid again! i might just show up in a cape for old-times-sake!!!! i hope to see you there! (i’ve got something AWESOME in store!)

bring your apple jacks and lil slugger hats, this’ll be FRESH!

if you can’t find something to do this friday, you just aren’t trying!!! so much ill art and talented people struttin their stuff! come out and support these hard working cats!

Brand Vibes at the Greenwood Collective
8537 Greenwood Ave N, Suite 1, Seattle, WA 98103
Gallery Hours: Wed – Fri 12 noon to 6pm

Show runs through December

i’ve been absolutely terrible about keeping this blog up! things have been SO busy lately…(no excuses!)…there’s tons of stuff coming up…i’ll be sure to keep you posted!  in November i’m showing at Cafe Flora and Halogen Gallery…in December I’m showing at Flatcolor Gallery and Ego and I are co-curating a show at the Greenwood Collective (brandvibes studio).  there’ll be plenty more details soon…as for now…back to the salt mines!

lazer,

s

Cooper, a kittycat in Seattle, currently has a show up of his photographs at the Urban Light Studios in the Greenwood Collective. The gallery website.

His owners attached a small camera to his collar that would take pictures every two minutes. He wore it once a week for a year. Now, his best pieces can be viewed at the gallery or on the internet. You can even own a Cooper original for only $275!

The Seattle PI story.