After a heavy investment of time to get prepared for Mantis Eco Festival. Everything is finally set to go! I'm pretty excited about the selection that Kim and I are bringing. All natural bug repellent, puppy paw balm, refresh-mint lip balm. Along with some of the best granola you'll ever find and non-gmo caramel popcorn. Quantities are extremely limited.... so, don't sleep!
I'll be displaying a couple new drawings of mine for the first time, as well. Did a limited run of reproductions for each piece too. Along with a selection of other works to brighten up our space and hopefully inspire others creative vibes. Have a great Saturday everyone and hope to see you at Boler Mountain
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Summer is def in full swing, which makes it hard for me to comfortably sit in front of the laptop long enough to write a blog. I don't have pads and touch phones and I must admit.... the necessary arms length detachment from technology feels great! However, I don't wanna ramble on about how free it is to not have on digital handcuffs... but, I'm always happy to have great discussions with those willing to get deep. Anyway! Been super busy in the studio, working on various projects. Recently finished my commissioned group portrait, I started live at Sunningdale golf course and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. The painting is apparently going on tour to visit different hospital sites, before it comfortably lightens up a staff room @ St. Joseph's. Also, working on lots of my music these days. It's time for me to put out a release and I've been holding onto lots of new tracks with purpose of doing so. Just finished a new one the other day and I'm happy to share a piece of it. This particular song was composed around a recording I did. With a good mate, Andy Welbourne, aka.Slither and I playing djembes inside of a cenote in Mexico. By far the most amazing musical jam experience I've ever had and there will be plenty more songs to come from the both of us, involving the many great recordings we did. Check out some of Andy's groovy original music on his soundcloud page. Or, my mixcloud page, which is full of our live music. We've been jamming together for years and plans are bubbling for perfromance outside of the studio. Stayed tuned for more about the tunes! Hope you enjoy. https://soundcloud.com/slither-76 https://www.mixcloud.com/TaToE/ https://soundcloud.com/tatoe Last, but certainly not least!!! It has just been confirmed that Kim and I will be attending the much anticipated Mantis Eco Festival!!! We saw the potential to become part and feel it's going to be right up our alley. Everything there is made by local Artists. With great focus on everything being grass roots and real... meaning and thankfully, nothing you would ever find in a plastic made commercial store! Means a lot to us, to support local as much as possible. Or! do it ourselves. Which brings me to the exciting announcement that we will be debuting a selection of the all natural products that Kim and I have been making for ourselves, over the last 3 years or so. Featuring our all Natural bug repellent, lip balm and puppy paw protection rub! As well.... some of the most delicious granola bites and gmo-free popcorn you've ever tasted, Lovingly made by Kim..... if I don't eat it all first, haha.
This all takes place on August 8th at Boler mountain, here in London!!!! Come check some of my new pieces on display and for sale. Hope to see everyone that can make it out. Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely smoking hot weather that is anticipated all year round. Only last so long before we're back into..... I don't even wanna say the nasty word. Big Ups!!! http://www.bolermountain.com/event/mantis-arts-eco-festival/ Playing music is always important for the Soul. Doesn't matter if everything is perfectly on time, or always on key. I feel that some of the most important expression comes from just raw sound output with not much consideration to formality or structure.
This is sort of the way my Pops and I jam together. Morphing from abstract to dub, prog rock... whatever, I'm not much about labeling sound. So! He has a modest drum kit and I bring over a selection of my set up. Includes a bunch of midi controllers, a synth, laptop, external sound card and a TON of cords. It's forever a moment of victory when all is connected, putting out sound and recording fairly clean. Here is a drum piece of a epic session we had going this evening. Just might have to go on tour soon! :) What an awesome day! Such positive vibes to interact with all the cute puppies and their passionate companions. Weather couldn't have been better too! Think I've really fallen in Love with drawing puppy portraits. Allows me to present Art in a more accessible fashion and promote my work in a comfortable manner. Def like scaling down my set up and keeping it Live!!!
This was also a 1st public debut of Simpatural. Some of the all natural products that Kim and I make and use. Brought just some of our bug repellant this time, but things are quickly shaping in a very positive manner towards releasing more. Keeping things Simple & Natural is extremely important with connecting to what truly matters in this experience we all share. Really looking forward to attending many more events in tune with our harmonies. Huge thanks to all who support and make such special gatherings happen. Especially Linda Collier, one the most dedicated people I know and who introduced me in the first place. It was an absolute honour to paint that sign of Blue. Hope to see everyone back next year!!!! With so much work just hanging around at any given time. It always means a lot to meet people that deeply appreciate my Art and connect them with a piece that will be lovingly displayed.
Last night, I had the oppourtunity to paint a live portrait at Sunningdale Golf Club. It was for an event in celebration of medical resident students. Really happy I had the chance to experience painting in a setting like that. I've been moving towards expanding into doing more live Art at other functions, like weddings, etc. Such a great way to capture the moment in a most original presentation. While supporting local Arts too!
Now,.I have a TON of painting to do in studio (nothing new I suppose). Working the details which are impossible to paint in such short amount of time while there. Not a bad start though and I look forward to presenting the finished piece soon. Much thanks to Dr. Roth for having Kim and I. Great things ahead!!!! :)
The scene was packed and painting intense!!!! This year a new venue change inside the Goodwill conference center was much needed to accommodate the increase of attendance for this fantastic evening.
Live Music and amazing food... especially the samosas! Most of all.... the massive amount of superb talent and all the amazing Art that was created to make this night so special. At the end, it's all about the kids and I'm happy to give what I can. Super honoured to have made it to the final round too! I had the chance to rock 4 paintings. The 3rd one I did of a sunflower field was the favourite. Last piece was all about fun, I did a portrait of the crowned Champion and one of my favourite local Artists in the show, Nic De Groot. Painting across from me the whole time! Once again, Huge congratulation goes out to Nic. Every Artist involved is a huge winner. It means so much to the kids that get to benefit from all the programs that this event helps. The figures were around 9,700 kids had the oppourtunity to experience creative learning last year alone. Def looking forward to returning for round 4! Already have a pretty good idea of what styles I'm going to rock too. Huge thanks goes out to everyone involved. All who attended in much appreciated support. Of course the sponsors and most of all... the volunteers. Their dedication and spirit of inspiration is so humbling. Massive thanks as always to my better half, Kim Doerr for snapping all the lovely photos you get to enjoy. Thanks for staying tuned, always more to come! Brush Off is tomorrow and I'm pretty stoked about my ideas for this year. Keeping it thick and colourful with inspirational themes. Really looking forward to seeing what kind of new styles the other Artist bring to the... and on the table. Work surfaces often become works of Art themselves. Here is a couple close up pics of some timed practice paintings from this year. I have a whole bunch of them taking precious space. So they'll be up for display on my website and available after the show. If you would still like to get tickets, here is the link for doing so. Would Love to see lots of familiar faces!!!!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-brush-off-2015-tickets-15599235734 Such a great time painting a lot of the Iglesias Crew at this year's Shock Stock! Had a few hiccups with the airbrush, but nothing that couldn't be worked out and I had a very talented up and coming make up Artist, Sam Boehler, working along side. We kept it moving! Def gotta be up on your game for smooth running of such a finicky tool. Huge thanks to Tammy Heisel for the extra light hook up in that dark stairwell we were pushed into for painting too.
Wish I would have captured more snaps, but was so over stimulated by the massive amount of cool things to look at. I even found a crystal skull!!!!! Been to Mexico many of times, always kept my eye open for one..... nothing! Anyways, so much I could try and describe about some of the awesomeness that is Shock Stock, but it truly is a "you have to be there" type of vibe. Massive shouts to everyone that makes such a specialized event go down. Especially the Grim Brothers Hope to return again next year with some custom airbrushed zombie attire! |
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