resplendent chaos

14 Releases Debut Album: 14 Ways To A Headache

I can't carry a tune. I don't really know how to compose or mix music. I have no idea how to play an instrument other than banging on drums. Does that stop me from doing it anyway? Of course not! I figure if Heidi Montag can release a single even though she sounds like a frightened rodent, why can't anyone do it? I decided to release a few singles off my much anticipated debut album 14 Ways To A Headache. Apologies to your ears in advance. Medium: Garage Band, no sense of shame.

Song Title: Zee Nature of Politics

Song Title: Lizard's Lament

Song Title: Gaseous Plasma

Skull Bunny Sad Because He No Scariness Enough Of

A while back I started creating a series of characters inspired by the cutsie cartoon creatures found on Japanese packaging. I've also added a little Engrish to the mix because I consider it a poetic literary art form and enjoy playing around with it. Skull Bunny was my first such character and many more are to follow. Look for "Art Deer" to be posted soon. Medium: Gouache on paper, digital color, Illustrator CS3

The Painting That Ended My Marketing Career

Back before I decided to toss the security of a steady paycheck out the window to become an artist, I used to work in the field of marketing. I'm not afraid to boast about my skill in the art of sales and marketing - I could sell anything to anyone. It doesn't take an MBA to figure out how to motivate people to buy useless things, all you really need is a sharp observation of human behavior and a little dash of predatory charm. Because it came naturally to me, my eyes would often glaze over while imprisoned in long and pointless product marketing meetings. While the team debated whether consumers preferred the red box or the blue box, I'd tune out and doodle in my sketchbook while blurting out "great idea!!" every 15 minutes to appear alert and give the impression I was listening. One such day, I stealthily sketched these images from news photos found in a Newsweek magazine lying on the floor next to me:

Something about the gesture of the subjects captivated me, so I began sketching line drawings and messing around with composition:

Unable to stop thinking of my sketches, I went home that evening, poured myself a glass of wine, and began making color studies of the images.

In a Bacchanalian frenzy, I drank the entire bottle of wine, dragged an empty canvas out of storage, and began painting late into the night. Never had I felt so alive. It was approximately 4:30 am when I decided there was no other choice but to quit my job. The finished painting is at the top of this post. Medium: acrylic on canvas.

Two of Hearts: Agony of My Heart

He broke my heart, but I got over it. Medium: ink and acrylic on paper.

Five of Diamonds: Buddha Fish

Dipping my toe into the pond, I was taken aback after the Buddha Fish lifted his moon face from the water and began speaking to me in his usual didactic tone.

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense," implored the Buddha Fish.

"I believe nothing and I believe everything," I snapped back at the Buddha Fish.

"Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence," responded the Buddha Fish before disappearing under the murky water.

"Okay," I replied, as the bubbles trickled to the surface. Medium:  ink and acrylic on special tactile paper.

Turn off the Computer and Go Outside

I've been lurking around on the Mendocino Coast lately and ignoring the computer, my email, the Olympics, the news, the mind-numbing entertainment being pumped out by the media and BOY do I feel better. Please take a day (or a few hours) to walk outside and appreciate the beauty. I command thee: Unplug yourself from manufactured reality and take a break. Above, view of the Mendicino Coast from the cliffs.

Ice Plant Carpobrotus edulis appears as flaming succulent jewels erupting from the sand dunes.

This is how the deer looked to me after indulging in some local Mendocino "medicine".

I stopped to watch the process of erosion unfold for a while, and then...

stared at the translucent glass-like sea kelp washed up on the beach for longer than I'd care to admit. I told myself I spend hours each day staring at a glowing box on my desk, so what's wrong with staring at washed up sea kelp for 30 minutes or so? In a state of content bliss, I was soon slapped back into harsh reality as I came upon this sight on the beach:

There they were, Brad and Angelina's 15 million dollar twins, staring right at me. There is no escape from them. Resistance is futile.

Nomadic Shepherd Seeks Your Lawn for His Flock

This is what  I imagined the person who created the flyer below might look like.  A nomadic "shepard", his small flock of sheep and a couple of Tibetan yaks were looking for a place to camp for the summer and if I didn't live in a glass and steel high rise, I would've happily invited them to camp on my front lawn for the summer. Screw what the neighbors think, I need yaks grazing in my front yard as soon as possible.  Medium: graphite and digital wool on moleskine.

Poster found on bulletin board near organic coffee shop in Mendocino, CA.  I really wanted to snag it for my collection, but didn't want to ruin the sheep herder's chance to find a home for the summer.  Mendocino is an interesting place - you'd think it was Amsterdam from the way the scruffy locals light up weed in the streets. 

Three Of Hearts: Can't You See I'm On The Phone?

Captivated over the beauty of his young bride, Neptune couldn't resist curling his tentacles around her slender waist and pulling her toward him. Suddenly he felt a sharp slap against his lower left tentacle. "Can't you see I'm on the phone???" scolded his young bride. Neptune slumped back into the water, grabbed his golden trident and swam away into the darkness. Medium: ink, glitter, colored pencil on paper.

Ramona Got A Makeover

She looks much better now after all those botox injections. Medium: Sharpie in sketchbook.