Haley Collective Video...

Scion Installation Space in Culver City has finally posted a video about the Haley Collective and their "Travel and Document" show that took place in the gallery this year. I don't do so well on camera (I like to be behind the lens) so fortunately they edited my part down nicely. To check it out, click here. (Give it a minute and the video will load and play automatically)

On another note... fellow Haley Collective member, J.Shea9 has recently revamped his website. To check it out, click here.

Christmas in Turlock...

As I left my hometown, heading back to Santa Barbara on Christmas night, I was reminded of where I am from...

Merry Christmas...

...a couple of days early! I'm off to my hometown of Turlock, CA for a couple days to celebrate with my family.

HOLY F@%*#G S#@T!...

My kinda folks ya'll. If you are sensitive to foul language or the ways of the redneck, don't watch. If you can appreciate people just being who they are, like to see cars fly and need a good laugh... watch on!



Can you say, Chiropractor?

Like riding a bike...

It's been a loooong time since I've ventured into the darkroom to print color. Today I got a brake from all of the 1's and 0's and took a step back in time to make some 20X24 Type C prints for Susan Jorgensen. I am lucky enough to know the guy, Scott McClaine, who owns the nicest (and probably the last) color darkroom in town. If you are real nice to him, he'll rent it out to you by the hour. I was wondering if I'd remember what the hell I was doing, but once I got in there and got the smell of chemistry in my nose... it all came head-rushing back. I was also reminded of where Photoshop's roots come from and the similarities between traditional and digital imaging...
You need something to see the image...

You use tools to do color balance...

No good image is made without using the dodge tool a bit, but you can't turn this one into a burn tool or sponge!...

And of course there's the printer, this one's a bit bulkier than your Epson though.

Pyrostino!...

My friend Jeff Clark recently posted this video that I hadn't seen until now. It's a clip of a car he built, that spits fire to electronic beats delivered from a laptop, for driving around at Burning Man. He brought it out to the first "Works in Progress" art show (this was the show that inspired the "Haley Collective") that was held by racecar13, J.Shea 9 and myself at my live-work space (an old converted Mexican restaurant) on E. Haley St. It all went down in here in SB and there weren't no steenking paintings of palm trees at this show.
Enjoy the video...

Photography for reference...

My friend and fellow artist, Tanner Goldbeck/racecar13 called me up this weekend in need of my assistance. He has an idea for a painting and needed some photos for reference, so I agreed to help for the price of a burrito. The subject?... Gunther, Ricky's room mate. Tanner put him a gas mask, handed him a hammer and steel pipe and I fired off a few. We shot in Ricky's garage directly under florescent and tungsten lighting, Tanner didn't need anything fancy since the images were only for reference and he liked the moody shadows. I can't wait to see the painting when it is done. Afterward, I stuck around and watched Ricky and Gunther work on Ricky's 1969 Triumph in hopes of getting it ready to ride to a motorcycle show in Ventura the next day. Below are a couple of pics I snapped while I was there.
Gunther posing for one on his motorcycle.
Ricky and Gunther adjusting the timing on the Triumph.

Rooms with a view (on the inside too)...

Yesterday, I photographed Rm #6 at the Presidio Motel here in SB.It was the last of many I had photographed, for owners Chris and Kenny, after they were gutted, repainted, recarpeted and then decorated with vinyl sticker art by two local artists. I didn't do anything fancy with the photography, just tried to show the size of the rooms and what to expect once you are inside. If you know of anyone coming to town and looking for a place to stay or you just want to get outta your house for a night, may I highly recommend the Presidio? Laid back folks to greet you, big bright rooms (many with vaulted ceilings), plenty of art on the walls, a sundeck with lounge chairs and music, continental breakfast and... unsurpassed hospitality.