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So I looked at the calendar today and had a mild panic attack. Needless to say graduate school has eaten up a lot of my creative time and I have put myself in a position where I need to finish some stuff and fast for the show in Seattle, and I think I have maybe a total of two days before I get a painting out to Astoria as well. I thought I was doing pretty well too. I guess noticing before they have to go out is better than noticing after they are supposed to go out.

All in all, figuring out that I need to get trucking has gotten me into a couple quick little robot paintings, however. And I do love some small quick robot paintings. Check em out.

I had done a couple sketches in the recent past of flying robots. I think the next couple pieces are going to have to involve interacting with something else though. Perhaps a bird or perhaps something completely different. We’ll see.

It has been so long since I’ve painted one of this type of robot. I really miss the soft looking robots. I hope you all are happy to see one too. I don’t know. I feel like I’d like to do some more. Kind of my emotional state robot you know?

And last we have a robot eating a cookie, because robots love cookies. Nuff said.

Peace
-Mike

So the last couple days of class I have found myself doodling a lot. I have doodled a whole bunch of cool stuff, and the coolest thing that I’ve been doodling is monsters. It has been so long since I’ve drawn monsters on a regular basis, but I dig it. Miss it. All that jazz, you know?

So here we have it, one robot painting for this fall’s show and a monster drawing. Just to give you an idea of the time in which this guy came about. I was listening to a very long winded speaker and my monster was much more attentive than me. What can I say? He was repeating everything that he heard. Here tis:

He’s happy though. Really. His race shows both teeth when they are happy and no teeth when they are unhappy. Don’t let that frowny looking face fool you.

And here is another small framed piece for the show in Seattle. At this rate the walls will be absolutely crowded, just as I had hoped. I want everybody to be able to walk away with something this time.

Hope you like it. Hope you had a good Tuesday. Not going to lie. I certainly did. Til next time kids.

Peace
-Mike

Graduate school is intense, and for the most part, they would prefer that I don’t paint here. Apparently they take that performance and installation as more valid than painting and sculpture as truth. I have to admit that that frustrates me a little. Though in two years I may be a performance and installation interventionist and look back on this laughing. Who knows? But I like paint.

Anyhow. I have one new painting to share today and a mock up for an animation. I hope you like them.

Another piece for this September’s show. I’ve been really digging doing the simple little guys in direct contrast to the thinking that is required of me in class. If only I could figure out a way to explain making cute things in an educated manner. That would be fabulous.

And here it is, the mock up for a future animation. I swear that it will get a bit more involved, for right now I am still trying to learn a bit more of this after effects thing. So keep your eyes pealed for new developments.

Til next time.
Peace
-Mike

Nope. This is not about Twitter. I use Twitter but that is not what I’m talking about right now. Earlier this year I made my first mobile, and this week I decided that I really wanted to put a couple of them together for my show this Fall. I cannot say that I really have time to put all of that together but, I do not mind the extra work. It keeps things interesting.

I hope people like these. I sure like making them. Sorry I’m not more verbose right now, grad school is kicking my patookis. Blogger doesn’t like my spelling of patookis. Tough beans, Blogger.
Here the latest mobile.

Enjoy.

I have a whole bunch more stuff that I should get around to posting. Really, one of these days I will scan it all in, and when I do, you will experience some serious sensory overload. Until that time comes, relax and enjoy your summer.

Much love and respect.
Peace
-Mike

It has been. It’s been one wild and crazy ride thus far. School is an amazing place, with so many books and teaching resources, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be here. I have not been scanning in any of my work, so I don’t have much to show today, but I do have one image of the mobile that I have been working on. Admittedly it is not the greatest image, though you’ll at least be able to get the idea of it.

It was not that well received in critique, which is a good thing really. I haven’t been pushing myself nearly as much as seems necessary the past several years. Perhaps I can get my artwork to a better level finally.

There will be more to follow.
Until my next date with a scanner….
Peace
-Mike

I am officially chest deep in acrylic paint at this point. I feel so busy, though most of my work has been placed upon my shoulders by me. This coming Friday marks the commencement of a new stage of my life, and I am not certain that I feel completely prepared for it. This fall marks a continuation and perhaps a culmination of everything that I have been doing for 7 years. I speak of course of graduate school and of my solo show at Blue Bottle.

I know that I am supposed to learn in graduate school and that there is no need to “be” a complete product when I show up, but I do, however, want to be in a proper state of mind, ready to learn, ready to paint at warp speed, so I have been practicing and reading and trying to expand my mind. The next 2 years will be the most rigorous of my life thus far. I am certain of that. My natural inclination is to take this sort of atmosphere and focus on it, and convince myself that I am behind and then focus on it more. I know this, this is who I am, and I am so looking forward to this.

In preparation of some new concepts that I have going on, I taken the train concept a little further. In sketchbooks it has gone still further and more paintings and perhaps combine paintings will be coming to fruition shortly. Here, however, is the beginning:

Admittedly this is not the greatest photo, but you get the general idea. It is all based off of the cover illustration that I did for OVS magazine, which by the way should be available for purchase from ovsmag.com very soon.

The second piece that I have for folks today is another from the series for “Wings of Fury”. This show is really turning into a marathon for me. I’m trying to finish as many small and relevant pieces as possible and it is making me focus more on the elements of art and production value than I have in the past.

On a personal note. The reason I call the solo show at Blue Bottle a culmination of the last 7 years is because, when I started this, 7 years ago, I was submitting work on consignment to Blue Bottle and wanted very badly to have a show there. I felt that if I did have a show there that that would mean I was finally successful. Well, I guess this September under those beliefs, I will be successful. But as one race is finished the next starting line is waiting right around the corner.

It has been a long crazy ride. I am sure it will continue to be so. Here’s hoping that it remains interesting for all of you to stay on the train.

Peace
-Mike

I have been working feverishly enough that I am having trouble keeping track of time. Here is the fruit that I bore so far today. Hopefully I can do some more after I am done with the day job today. Sometimes I feel so exhausted afterwords that I have nothing left.

I think this is done. Not sure yet. I’m going to sit with it and see tomorrow. But for now, it’s at least come a long way.

More to come soon. Keep checking in people.
Peace
-Mike

The onslaught of small paintings continues. I am really digging working tiny. I’ve been working on small paintings for the past five years, but these are tiny paintings. I love it. It really allows me to focus on character more and plot less. Plot is great, but I’m feeling more interested in 1 shots right now. The goal to completely litter the walls of the Blue Bottle, I think is completely attainable.

Here is a piece in progress. I drew it out a few times before I arrived at this particular composition, and I’m glad of it, because I think it is more successful than when I started.

To be honest, I don’t think, I know. The original was truly a concept drawing. So static. I’m glad that Beth advised me to sketch more. It has really helped.

I love the simplicity that I feel I can get away with in these smaller pieces. There are a lot more in the works. I don’t think any of them are going to cost more than 50 bucks either. So those of you with a budget like mine, that have been wanting a piece, pay close attention to the Blue Bottle website once September rolls around.

Til next time.
Peace
-Mike

It has been busy in Lewis Acrylics land. Very busy, and it is time to catch folks up just a little bit. First off, the Goonies Reunion show in Astoria at Lunar Boy Gallery was an incredible success. I sold both pieces that I had hanging in the show. That’s better sales than I sometimes manage in a solo show. There are still some great pieces available in the show though, so be sure to check out some of the other Artist’s work here.

Second. Paying for school is crazy beans. I’ve had trouble convincing the loan company that I live where I say I live. I thought that this was because of my PO Box, but now realize that originally I had started looking at MECA while living at my old place in Ashland a little over a year ago. MECA still had what seems like an address from months ago and were in turn sending the wrong address to JP Chase. It goes without saying that that wasn’t going to work, but now everything is fine and in a mere 2 weeks I will begin attending classes at MECA. Woot!

Third. I have 2 weeks until school, which leaves me a very limited time period to finish my show for this September, but I have been putting in a grueling effort and think that I will manage just fine. Last night I pulled together 3 small pieces. I’ve decided to keep most of the paintings in this show very small and to do a lot of them on paper in random thrift store frames. Barry McGee style. If you don’t know Barry McGee, check him out on PBS’s Art 21 site. He’s amazing.

Anywho, here is the first piece.

This is Rita, who I painted in a more transparent acrylic manner. It’s kind of nice for a little change, and gives me a chance to do some ink work, which I haven’t worked on since the first time I was in college.

I call this one, “Here to Save the Day”. I’m having a bit more fun with the actual paintings of the Mighty Lark now. If you’re interested at all in the Mighty Lark too, there is a comic that is going along with this show in September. Page 2 will be going up tomorrow. Mightylark.blogspot.com

This is Albie, Rita’s hubby. I’m really enjoying trying to carry my characters a little further here. Albie is a carpet bagger, hence the derby and the carpet bag.

There is more to come soon. Stop back often.
Peace
-Mike

I am starting to gain a little bit of momentum. Slowly but surely I am digging my way out of this hole that I’ve created for myself. Sometimes I bite off a bit more than I can chew. I will be the first to admit that.

I’ve settled up with MECA, though seeing the numbers in front of me definitely made my heart take a flying leap and dropkick my brain, but I’ve survived that and have moved on to the creation of more work.

Today was the first day of the “Wings of Fury” saga on Mightylark.blogspot.com. I am stoked to be working with the Mighty Lark again, and am progressing much more smartly with the web comic this time. I already have the first 3 pages drawn out, but am posting 1 a week. Just to be certain I don’t miss a week, and that there is a little more suspense and room for revision. The show that is going in tandem with the comic has also taken a very positive turn.

I have started working a bit more feverishly while at the easel and the results have left me immensely pleased. Here is the first piece that I cranked out with a bit more energy:

The scan is not great, but you can get the idea from this image at least.

I’ve also started doing some really small pieces for the show. The majority of these are going to be on paper and framed, Barry McGee style, crowding the corner of a wall. I want to really unload a lot of paintings on the Blue Bottle this fall. I have so much pent up nervousness and energy, it seems better to unleash it on art. Here is the first out of that series:

I am really stoked about this little paper piece. Beth made me draw it several times before the finish. It was flat and awful with a decent concept, now not flat and awful and I am very pleased with it.

Lastly, I finished my Sean Astin portrait for the 2nd piece in the Goonies show. Now I just need to pack the box and get it out.

Awww….Mikey. Now that I look at this piece a little closer, I should probably have put the inhaler in, but as it is I am pretty pleased with one of the first portraits I’ve painted in several years.

For now that is it, I must get back to work. So much to do and so very little time.
Til the next time.

Peace
-Mike