my painting lately has been sporadic at best. i think it is mainly my choice in subject matter. i got into a niche of doing portraits for a little while. more of a rut actually. and the last time i did a "show" i rushed through it. it was something of an accomplishment, but i did five portraits in two weeks. and i continued to break my own rule: don't paint poor people. i guess that is the crass way to put it. but at the end of the day, unless their is something unique about the piece or the person has a lot of friends, it won't sell. so then you are stuck with a bunch of paintings of friends. acquaintances. in the past, i have said fuck it and gesso'd the damn thing over. giving myself a fresh canvas.
lately, though, it is as though more people are asking me about my work. i don't self promote. in fact, i don't even like to call myself an artist. more of a hobby painter. yes, i know that is a reflection on the confidence in my work. whatever.
this weekend, a buddy of mine came into town for the holiday weekend. he used to live here, but moved to texas. as soon as he hit town, he wanted a piece from me. flattered, i showed him what i had at the house. he settled on my zack de la rocha portrait. he is a friend. it wasn't a commission. so, i feel weird that he is cutting me a check for more than three times what i quoted him for it. again, flattered.
the next day, i was talking to a friend that is head of one of my favorite local bands. i have supported them since they started and vice versa. he told me that they have been recording for the last two years and have a ridiculous amount of new material. four albums worth. then he asked me to do the album covers. all four of them. individually being able to stand on their own, but also being put together into a larger cohesive piece. holy fuck. daunting to say the least.
so here i sit, listening to the first three albums...