Creep Machine Magazine – Contemporary Art & Culture

Blog

  • How to Throw a DIY art show that doesn’t suck

    How to Throw a DIY art show that doesn’t suck

    Here is an article that was submitted by Molly Crabapple, artist, writer, and creator of the very cool Dr.Sketchy’s Anti-Art School. If there is anyone with the knowledge to help make your art shows more of a success than they normally are, it’s Molly.

    Like many artists, you may be tired of waiting for a gallery to sweep you off your feet. You’ve sent your slide packets, you’ve written artist your statements, and you’ve received only discouraging silence in return.

    At this point, like many artists, you decide to grab fate by the balls. Why wait for a gallery to notice you when there’s wall space in the local cafe or club, practically begging to be filled. So, with courage and a portfolio, you approach the proprietor. And, unlike those galleries, he’s overjoyed. Of course you can have a show!

    You go home, head buzzing with visions of selling your artwork, and telling that gallery to go jump in a lake. But why is it that for all their promise, shows in non-traditional venues so often end in failure?

    Bad publicity, bad communication, and lack of confidence. And, using examples from my own life (some happy, some less so), I’m going to give you a roadmap for making sure your DIY exhibition ends in sweet victory, rather than my cheap-gin tears of defeat.
    (more…)

  • aotd: “Beanstalk”

    beanstalk.jpg
    Todays piece is from an illustrator that was born in Kiev, Ukraine and is now living in the midwest. Tanya Pshenychny a great style of drawing and really knows how to control watercolor. She really builds up the watercolor to come up with these dynamic images that I don’t always see when someone works with watercolors.

    Along with illustration she also makes these great hand-bound sketchbooks. It’s always good as an artists to have loads of sketchbooks around and ready to be filled. I also like to have some really high quality ones, they often cost more but these are the ones you want to fill with your top notch work. Or take one with you on a vacation. Head on over to check out her site and maybe pick up one of her cool Skullfly sketchbooks.

    Razorberries Website
    Skullfly Sketchbooks

  • Now Online: Viner, Remmers, Ben Tour & Stan Lee

    bloodline_framed_thumb.jpgSome really great shows are now online for your viewing pleasure. All shows that are viewable online will go in this new section.

    First is Jonathan Weiner’s solo show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery. He is such an amazing painter and his new work is spectacular. All of the works are also massive in size. The one shown is 48″ x 36″. You can also check out a duo show of Esao Andrews and Xiaoqing Ding. I really dig the work of Esao, the contrast and colors are very amazing.

    Then at the Copro Nason gallery you can check out Joey Remmers. He was just featured in the new art magazine “Stretching Canvas” that is put out by the same folks that give us International Tattoo Art magazine. It’s an excellent new mag so be sure to pick one up. You can see a taste of Remmers work in the mag and some of the same works at the gallery.

    At Gallery 1988 in L.A, the Stan Lee tribute show is up as well. The show features some really great work. Much like the Crazy4Cult and I am 8 Bit shows that 1988 puts on, this one is also filled with a huge variety of art coming from all sorts of artists. My favorite piece of this show has to be the Craola piece.

    Finally my favorite show of the bunch is the solo show of Ben Tour. This show is at the Fifty24 Gallery in San Francisco. I was able to check out the show in person and am now even more hooked on his work. The pictures of the work on the site are great, but nothing compared to seeing the art in person. His work is so intense and so detailed that I was shocked. If you love energetic, textural work than look no further than this.

  • aotd: “Insight”

    Insight__by_kainwhite1.jpg
    Todays piece is from Australian artist Kain White. He is quite an exceptional painter. This piece is oil on canvas, and follows the same colors that he tends to use but not as brushy. He has some work where you can see how gooped on the oil is. It’s great. I do however like that this piece is not that thick, it fits how delicate the face is.

    The contrast that the face has against that background is perfect, a nice glowing effect. I’m not sure how this looks like in person but I imagine that this picture is a good representation of the painting itself. For more of Kain’s work head on over to his profile. His homepage seems to be down at the moment, but I would still keep checking it.

    Kain White profile
    Kain White homepage

  • Lineage Gallery closed, new gallery soon

    The Lineage Gallery was one of my favorite sites to visit. I have never seen the gallery in person, I planned to one day but that’s over with now. I found a lot of great prints for my articles from the Lineage Gallery and they just had some really great shows there.

    One of the founders of the Lineage Gallery, Joshua Liner will be opening a gallery in New York it looks like. So this might be a good thing in the end. I remember when the Tin Man Alley Gallery closed it gave birth to the Jonathan Levine Gallery, so let’s hope the same success meets Joshua Liner.

    Check out the new site here: Joshua Liner Gallery

  • Amy Sol original plus variety of prints


    There is an Amy Sol original painting for sale. I like the idea that the seller gives provenance of the painting. Showing us where it was bought. More art sellers on auction sites should do this.

    Along with the Amy Sol original there is a Stella Im Hultberg original, an Amy Sol print, a David Choe print and the “Smitten” show print set. This set includes prints by Amy Sol, Stella Im Hultberg, Audrey Kawasaki, Brandy Milne and Kukula.

    All of these from the same seller, not a bad haul really. Head on over and take a look.
    Amy Sol prints and painting

  • “Sour Hearts & Sweet Tarts” d.Errico & Joncas

    This is a two person show featuring Camilla d’Errico and Sarah Joncas. Sarah was one of the first artists that I interviewed, and I’m very excited about all the great shows she has been having. I should have been a little faster and bought some of her work, I know it would get to the point that her work would sell out at every show I just didn’t think it would happen this fast.

    The show opens on January 11th at the Thinkspace Gallery in L.A. The reception is from 7pm until 11pm. If you can head to the show, take some pics and share them with me. I’ll be at home looking at the pics of the show on my pitiful little monitor.

    “Sour Hearts & Sweet Tarts”

  • Letter Pressed’s New Artists Series Store

    terror_thumb.jpgThe very cool Letter Pressed has now opened an artist’s series store. They have released some very cool artist series letter press prints in the past, such as the Brian “Candykiller” Taylor prints.

    Now they have a whole new section dedicated to artist series prints. So far they have one by Travis Lampe, Michael Sieben and one final print left of Candykillers “Unspeakable Terror” print (shown). There will be some more prints from Candykiller, but this one is very smooth and only one person has the chance to grab it.

    Either way keep an eye on this site, I imagine there will be some very killer prints coming from this shop.

    Letter Pressed’s Artist Series Store