Sorry for the downtime, I know there haven’t been as many posts lately as there usually is. I have been dealing with a handfull of trojans/virus, something that seems like a non-stop occurrence when it comes to Windows. So I finally just switched over to Mac. I am hoping this will allow to focus more on content, new projects I have in the works and of course studying.

I would like to thank last months featured artists Fred Harper and Adrian Borda. This month we have some sculptural works from Shain Erin and Jshea9. Both are very talented artists. Head on over to the featured artists area to see their work.

February Featured Artists

I just got word that Eclectix Gallery in El Cerrito is closing down. This has been a tough time for art and galleries alike. No matter how important we all know art to be, the sales have just not been enough to keep some galleries open. The gallery is having a clearance sale, all the fixtures, furniture and inventory is being sold 50% off. You can see what is being sold Here. Patricia, the owner, also posted a great comment on the site talking about the closing and details. Head on over and take a look, and if you live in the area make sure to stop by the gallery. There just might be something there you like.

Eclectix Gallery Closing

It’s a new year and there are some exciting artists lined up for the featured artists section of the site. To kick off the new year, I am very happy to introduce Fred Harper and Adrian Borda. Both artists are skilled oil painters, and have a surreal style that is just a blast to look at. I would like to thank last months featured artists, Jeremy Forson and Glenn Arthur whom are now in the featured artists archive. Fred Harper will also be showing at the Last Rites Gallery this coming February 6th, alongside Nick Baxter. For now head on over to the features and check out work from Fred and Adrian.

Featured Artists

I had contemplated making an iphone app for the Creep Machine. Something that would give users a more streamlined version of the site and be able to view the posts easier. In the end I decided against this, as there are many people who don’t use iphones. So the site is now enabled for the layout to change when being viewed from ‘any’ mobile device. If you happen to view the site through a mobile device, take a look and let me know what you think. If you are on an iphone subscribe to the RSS feed via one of the many feed applications that are available.

A Paper Tiger has released a new print by Melissa Haslam. “Finding a Pink Rabbit in the Flowering Undergrowth” is based off a painting (here) that was shown at Project:Gallery in LA last summer. The print is 8″ x 10″ on textured fine art paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 25 for $50.

Get it here: Melissa Haslam @ A Paper Tiger

Jeremy Brautman, Bay Area writer and “toy maven”, posted a great article over at Spanky Stokes about Kidrobot and the direction they have been going. I have read a lot of criticism about Kidrobot, vinyl collectibles and idea that the “art aspect” of it all is going away. This is definitely one of the more enjoyable articles I have read, and it worth checking out even if you could care less about vinyl toys. Here is an exerpt:

“Dear Kidrobot,

It’s been a while since we’ve spoken. How’ve you been? Not so great? Yeah, I know. A lot of us have been wondering basically what the hell happened to you since we met.

In January 2004, Wired ran an article called “The New Cubicle Commandos” that really resonated with me. You were mentioned in the story, which led me to visit you on Haight Street in San Francisco. Six years ago, the tiny Kidrobot shop was a cool place to go. Back then, you sold Qees, and I’d pick them up regularly. You had these glass cases in the middle of the shop, and the contents were like a mini museum. I chatted with Frank Kozik as he signed his first range of Labbits that year. He was grouchy. It was cramped. But it felt like something was happening. Something interesting…”

Head on over and read the full article: An open letter to Kidrobot… @ Spanky Stokes

Every year I manage to make a new design for the Creep Machine. I like the layout the site currently has, but felt that the graphics could use a “facelift”. So in the past few days I have updated the site will a cleaner feel and new graphics. I hope everyone likes the changes.

The featured artist for January will be updated in the next few days.

I hope everyone had a great time this New Years Eve. 2009 had some bumps here and there, but I have a feeling that this next year will be amazing. The site will have a slight facelift in the coming weeks, nothing major. A couple of new projects I have been working on will also be revealed in the next few months. I am really excited about them and hope that they work out just as planned.

The Creep Machine will be three years old soon, thanks for all those that keep reading the site, hope you stick around for the next three years.

Brandon Sopinsky, an artist out of Los Angeles that is quite hard to find sometimes, has opened an Etsy shop. This new shop was opened back in October and is now stocked up with some great original paintings. There is some older works for available as well, along with some of his newer work. Head on over and check out all that he has to offer.

Brandon Sopinsky @ Etsy