Saturday, October 29, 2011

Contemporaries

I have been a big fan of my fellow Tyler Alumnus Lisa Yuskavage for a long time. A contemporary American painter, her work focuses on distortion of the female form. She utilizes a delicious palette of candy and pastry colors.




 John Currin is another artist I love. His work also distorts figures and has a similar mid-late 20th century cartoonish quality. 




Thursday, October 27, 2011

Monster Mayhem

In a horror movie the monster is the star. The more grotesque and horrific they are the more memorable they become. Sometimes the monster is a creature, sometimes it's mankind. Here are a few of my favorite "monsters"
One of the most impressive and influential creature special effects by Rob Bottin and Stan Winston.

I don't know many people who don't absolutely fucking love this movie. While I attribute my initial interest in Christian Bale to Newsies, most recognize this as a landmark role in his career. And what a mighty fine performance he gives.

Modern Korean Kaiju

This is an example of a man who becomes a monster. More specifically he becomes a monster whenever he gets a boner. It's strange to see that this movie was rated PG-13, because I distinctly remember being really turned on by it when I was 6. 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Body Horror

I just saw the 2011 movie "The Thing". I am a big fan of John Carpenter and the 80's version of "The Thing", and I have to say that the 2011 movie is pretty good. It holds up to the original's impressive and creative monster design. Gone are the puppets of yesterday, replaced by modern CGI, but the look and character of the creature are pitch perfect. It's not without a few flaws but over all it's a definite success for monsters and horror.

Here is a Jeremie Perin music video for DyE's "Fantasy", 
I think this video also exhibits a similar style

Sing little bird

Another saturday night with the Karaoke Blvd. family. This weeks songs include Franz Ferdinand's "Michael" and The Jam's "Beat Surrender"

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Deadlines

I found out that there is a pre application portfolio review for the grad program I am interested in. And it is to be submitted online by monday. Normally it's my own fault when I procrastinate, but I only found out about this yesterday. Here is some more Colby art and some other work, I hope it's up to snuff. I wish I had more time to do new work.




Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Colby Keller!

If you've spent any time talking to me within the past year or so, I've probably told you about Colby Keller. Artist, anthropologist, porn star, sex god, and all around cool guy, he is everything I strive to be like. And he is an absolute sweetheart. About a year ago we began an internet correspondence after meeting at a bachelor auction fundraiser. Initially it was just me drooling and saying things like, "I think your cool" but I  eventually was able to channel my infatuation into a more productive outlet. I began drawing pictures of him from images I found on the internet, and he posted them on his blog bigshoediaries.blogspot.com. Which only fueled the flames of my desire, and increased my production of drawings.


A muse in the truest sense. My interest in Mr. Keller has facilitated a good body of work, and more so it has pushed me to go further. I've begun creating different kinds of art that I didn't know I was capable of before. It has also given me a focus that I've lacked artistically. A focus that shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. Today is Colby's birthday, interestingly he was born one day, one month and one year before I was. Happy birthday Colby Keller, you da best!

Monday, October 17, 2011

One From the Queue

Thank goodness for Netflix. I love rating movies on there because it helps the fancy computer program determine whether or not I will enjoy something. A recent suggestion was the Bruce LaBruce film, "Otto, or Up With Dead People". The movie is described as a German, gay, zombie, porn. Do they know me or what? It is a fun and entertaining movie, the "artistic" flourishes are downright silly, but that does not detract from the film. I'm only slightly familiar with LaBruce's work. I've seen L.A. Zombie which adheres to a more traditional porno style, whereas Otto has pornographic elements but isn't explicitly porn. Consider me a fan cause I am on board with this.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Karaoke Blvd.

Most saturday nights you can find me in the Ruby Lounge at Voyeur nightclub, singing karaoke. It is from the lovely karaoke blvd. family that I received the name 1F Jef. This week Natasha and I did the Pete, Bjorn and John song "Young Folks". There is a little skip in the video, but that's ok cause I think you can still tell we had fun

I also did the Scissor Sisters' "Paul McCartney". This is one of my regular numbers that the audience always tries to get me to strip to. Last night I was just a tease, but it looks like Thing from the Addams Family was into it. Cheeky Thing.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Midnight Movie Scream-a-thon

Here is a list of horror movies I recommend this week. I'm starting off with some classics, but expect to see all manner of funny, gory, and ridiculous movies throughout the season.
Hellraiser
 Clive Barker had a huge influence on me as an adolescent. His books and films fit right into one of my favorite genres Splatterpunk. A genre that is, like myself, born of the 80's. 


The Monster Squad
Another 80's classic. Are you beginning to question my definition of classic?


The Exorcist
Standard family viewing in the Kolman household. This movie single handedly filled my nightmares between the ages of 5 and 12. 


Now most of you will attribute the king of Halloween to Michael Myers. But Freddy has always been my main man. If it isn't apparent why from this video I don't know how else to convince you.

Artsy Fartsy

The variety of art that I like is as diverse as the variety of music that I listen to. In both cases I have interests spread across a variety of genres and distinctions. For instance I love comic books. To many people, comic books are not looked at as serious art, but I couldn't disagree more. Here is some work from one of my favorites, Paul Pope. http://pulphope.blogspot.com/

Paul Pope is a rock star as far as comic book artists go. His work is reminiscent of the great Jack Kirby (pioneer of american comic books). Pope's style has a controlled fluidity to it. His pen moves across the page in such a fashion that is altogether traditional and unconventional. 

Another one of my favorite comic book rock stars is Brandon Graham.  http://royalboiler.wordpress.com/
I actually discovered his work in a dream I had. I distinctly remember the cover to King City #1 (Image Comics) while dreaming, before I had ever heard of Graham or seen his work.





Graham's work is an amazing amalgamation beween graffiti and manga, that snap, crackle's and pop's all over the page. 

Sculptor Ron Mueck also rocks my world. His hyperrealist sculptures are arresting. They carry such presence in their construction and conception. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mueck







Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Bumping and Grinding

If you aren't familiar with Grindr, it is an app that is accessible on most smartphones. With this app one can create a profile and socialize with other gay men. It also gives you an approximation of their proximity to you. It is a phenomena that has changed the landscape of the gay social scene. A guy who would normally ignore you in real life, will be slobbering all over you in a series of dirty messages he sends you. But then disappear without a trace. A friend who you haven't spoken to in a long time, will request that you fill his dirty hole for him. Maybe your old math teacher from 10th grade will offer to suck you off in a Taco Bell bathroom. All of these experiences can be yours, they are just a tap of the iphone away. In some ways it reminds me of the early days of chatrooms. When the technology was becoming widely available, people first began developing their online personas. This allows many people who are otherwise too shy or not outgoing enough, to be the charming, confident person they always wanted to be. With hilarious results.
Initially I was convinced that Grindr was designed for the sole purpose of hooking-up with someone. And it pretty much is, but I have in fact met some decent people on there. Some not so decent too, but I have been surprised for the most part that no one has tried to kill me and use my body as a piece of furniture yet.

A Gay Holiday

 Today is national coming out day. A day when homosexuals are encouraged to come out of the closet, and live their lives proudly as they are. In honor of this event Philadelphia is home to Outfest. Usually celebrated on the accompanying Sunday to NCOD, Outfest is a street fair held in the Philly gayborhood. Of the three annual gay holidays, it is the most tolerable in my opinion. It is a collection of the more interesting things the community has to offer. Often the grouping of vendors resemble that of a flea market, coupled with games, food, mechanical bulls, performances, and spontaneous dance parties.


A Halloween Treat

Say what you will about Disney, but in the 80's the house of the mouse held it down with halloween specials. This is the first 10 minutes from one of my favorite childhood memories.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Am I too sexy?

These days my artwork walks a fine line between shameless self indulgence, and career advancement. On the one hand, most of my work consists of drawing/painting illustrations depicting superheroes and porn stars. Because that is simply what I like, and what I want to make art of.  And on the other I'm an educator who has spent the last three years teaching art to small children. I love teaching and believe that it is itself a form of art that is entirely selfless.
I've recently begun the process of applying for a graduate program. Specifically for art education, but I'd also like the opportunity to continue making art academically. I believe I may have found the program that will fit my needs. And now I need to put together a portfolio that will be accepted into this program. So I need to begin making work that is more appropriate and less vulgar for audiences. To which the selfish artist within me wants to shout obscenities at.
I firmly believe that there is nothing wrong with sexuality and the exploration of it. I'm also curious about defining what is considered perverse. I will be examining these ideas as I begin to create this portfolio and chronicling them here in a section called Portfolio Crit. Input is greatly appreciated.

A good man is hard to find

Like I said I'm recently single. To be more specific, after six years I am single. And before that I was never very much the dating type. A little too shy and not confident enough. But now things are different, I'm older and a little wiser. I'll be sharing my experiences using social media apps for gay men called,  Grindr, Jack'd and Adam 4 Adam. All the funny, weird, scary and bizarre interactions single life has to offer. As well as all the good, and bad luck I have dating.


These are the three pictures I use to get the fella's. Guys like the hip-sta-matic right?

Sunday, October 9, 2011

If you knew my story word for word, had all of my history

So I'm recently single for the first time in a long time, and suddenly people are interested in hearing about what I have to say. Apparently the stories and musings of a single, gay, artist on the verge of 30, are funny and interesting. I suspect it might have something to do with the fact that, most of my friends, are just now settling into long term relationships. But never one to follow convention, I've decided to do just the opposite.  
                   
Handsome guy, no?

Let's see how long I can keep this up, before I realize that my life isn't really all that interesting. Or until I  just don't feel like it anymore. So without further ado, on with the show....