My generation hasn’t had any significant progressive leaders that have served as role models in the public sphere. I’m pretty sure we can all point to people in our smaller circles that live their life in a manner that you try to live up to. But as far as progressive leadership with a substantial voice in mass media, nada. Michael Moore would be the closest thing to someone who consistently put himself out there to get people thinking, talking and inspiring organization. But at his core he is a movie …

In response to the BP oil spill that may effect the Carolina Coastline Solas Culinary and My Restuarant Guru are hosting a fundraiser for The NC Surfrider Foundation. It is our goal to help fund this non-profit so that it is prepared to deal with the effects of the BP oil spill on the NC coastline.

I will be showcasing in this rough and rugged art show in Orlando. I will be blessed to be showing with some powerful company. If you’re in the area, you need to check it out.

Very few objects can inspire feelings of excitement, adoration,fear, fantasy and conflict like a gun. “MY UZI WEIGHS A TON” is a traveling multimedia art exhibition that takes an artistic twist on guns in pop culture. The exhibition will feature the works of some of the hottest artists form the new …

Pabst Blue Ribbon will be sponsoring a rough and tumble, beer flavored art show called “The PBart Show” in Raleigh during the Cherry Bounce Festival on July 29th. Artists were encouraged to create PBR inspired artwork so I took it quite literal and create a few custom painted, full, unopened 22oz tall boys. I built the theme around the concept that “PBR brews very strange company”. This was my first crack at customizing beer cans and I think I have stumbled into an arena that I am going to be …

The first ‘bird in the ole’ A-hole’ that was created for the “Letters” show at the Lodi Project had sold at the opening. I know, the wordplay is endless…… Yes, my A-hole is hanging above the mantle someones house right now. The show was such a success that it is going to be traveling to Greensboro, NC. One problem. No A-hole.

Some of you may have noticed that the solo show I had been planning has recently been converted into a group show. Life happened and I needed to reach out to my crew for a hand up on this one. It is shaping up to be a kick-ass show no doubt. The showing will be created using a clean layout and Freight themed visuals such as model freight trains and drawn cranes at the dockyard. We got hot cargo ready to unload people! Let’s hook it up!

Matt Scofield, Victor Knight, Greg Davis and myself hooked up a show at the LabourLove gallery last year where we painted a set of panels in the gallery and pulled off a very cool show. We were approached by Kelly and John of LabourLove about showing the panels for a showing at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC). I love that building, inside and out. I was thrilled. So thrilled that I felt compelled to redo that panels completely. I was never really very happy with how my panels came …

I was approached by the Chair of the Art Procurement committee for Appetite for Art which is an annual auction gala that will support arts programming for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County. She wanted to know if I had any artwork that I would be willing to donate for the event. After thinking and debating on what would do well, I figured “screw it, I’m doing something fresh”.
Growing up I was a huge fan of Catcher in the Rye. Like most kids, I connected on an …

Hard to really know what to say about the show. A few things are certain.
1. It was raining like all hell.
2. It was ten time more crowded than I expected.
3. The show almost sold out.
4. Things got rough.

If you don’t already know, well, your about to know. The amazing $25 Show is this Friday! Damn, it has been a long time in the works. I messed around and took on double-duty while trying to organize a benefit for Haiti while prepping and helping to market this amazing showcase which pushed this post a little late. All good. The concept is simple:
Every piece in  the show is $25!
Every one.
The artist list is rediculous. Check it out:

I had misplaced this set after I downloaded them and ran across them this evening. Crazy late but great show none-the-less. Big shout to Ron Cox. Good people no doubt.

A few years ago I was walking through a parking lot in a strip mall. I looked up at the signage above one of the storefronts and noticed that a bird had nested in the recessed portion of a letter A. My pupils dialated, a smirk was crafted and an idea was born….. “There was a bird in that A-hole!”.
Years pass but that idea was such a little gem that I kept it on my low shelf. Easy to reach. Then one day I get an invitation to participate in …

My good buddy Matt Scofield scouted this well placed feature in this weeks Indy. Big and brazen, one of my favorite pieces of the show was a good surprise to see in the paper no doubt. The documentary is being finished up and I will make an announcement when the premiere event gets scheduled. Looking forward to it.

The open house was a lot of fun no question. I didnt really know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at the turn-out, the positive feedback and the new connections that were sealed. One of the oddest things about working out of a creative collective is the fact that 99% of the time I don’t see any of the other artists. Granted, my schedule is downright unhealthy so it isn’t that odd that I wouldn;t see anyone else working at 3am so it was great to meet and …

The amazing Rob and Lisa King have been working hard on the documentary based on the collaborative art project “3 the Hard Way”. The project is coming to a close in the next few weeks which is a little bittersweet. It is coming together very nicely and is sure to be a highly engaging show. The trailer for the documentary has been sent to press and looks fantastic. I look and touch a touch smarmy but maybe thats because I have a bad smarmy complex.
Thanks so much guys. The trailer …

The dysfunctionally functional Bonded Llama family are opening the doors to their humble abode to showcase our artwork as well as our workspaces. Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-lost to me. We lift our lamp beside the Bonded Llama door!
Not that I am drawing clear parallels between the revolutionary American icon The Statue of Liberty but our torch does burn bright and we are kind of floating out in an island …

I was invited by the great Georges Le Chevallier and preeminent Paul Friedrich to participate  in a three man art show entitled “3 the Hard Way”. The concept behind the show goes like this:
Each artsist will start will three pieces. A 3×3, a 2×2 and  a 1×1. The medium and materials is of the artists choosing. Once the three pieces have been prepared and painted on, there will be an exchange and each artist will trade out the work he has for a set of the other artists. We will …

Damn these are late getting posted. The show came off really well. The weather was bad and there was a handful of other events going on at the the same time so the crowd that came was substantial. My sister was in town so I was finally able to show her what kind of work we have been doing. I love my sis. John and Kelly are amazing people who run a first class gallery, create amazing art, and give themselves to the art community in an amazing location. If …

If you are in the St Louis area, this is a must-see event. My man Dubelyoo and his right hand Jabari with the help of a Jack Daniels sponsorship hook up the hook up. Fresh artwork, live music, big crowds. It is really what I envision the future of the art scene becoming if it is to stay relevant in popular culture. I have a handful of my favorite pieces traveling in the show and I wish I could make it out to Missouri but life won’t permit that right …

Victor Knight inked me up with a true representative for Durham, Artie Barksdale. This guy is the real deal and that relationship that is forming will manufacture a critical bridge between the good work we are trying to do in Raleigh and the big things that are happening in Durham. He is well connected and talented as hell. Alone, Barksdale would kill it, but he is teamed up with the great Derrick Bryant who crushes as well. Barksdale and Derrick are not only planning things out and making them happen …

I know I am crazy late with posting these photos but its been a crazy time. This years Sparkcon was kind of fun as hell. They moved it to Fayetteville Street Mall which put it right out there in the middle of a main street that runs right through downtown. Most of the usual suspects showed up with a handful of new faces as well. There is a young scene rising and shaking things up a bit. Good to know that us old-schoolers won’t have to carry the torch all …

Great show at a killer gallery. Georges and Carrie and amazing people and deserve big things to happen with their gallery. Make sure and stay tuned with these guys to keep up on upcoming shows. While we are talking about amazing, Garret Scales crushed this show. Destroyed it. He is my favorite NC artist right now and he is on fire no question.

The arts scene in Raleigh/Durham was one that I hadn’t felt attracted to until we decided to dive head first into it as a unit. There is a collection of artists who I have been painting with in varying degrees of legalities for some time now. The group has grown in size, talent and vision. The group seems to have adopted a name to run with which will be “The Faculty”. Seems catchy and functional enough. We had our first unofficial-official group showing at the AhPeel Gallery and it really …

The day went great. Congratulations to Swoon Unit. Let’s go another 10.

My final piece for the show is completed. I have been a bit obsessed with Victorian and Elizabethan era explorers and the culture and lifestyle that surrounded them. These guys were half cocked off their asses. The world was an unknown. There was no real policing of any exploratory activities. These mutherfuckers would roll through and wreck shit. Claiming whatever they found as their own. If someone else had what they wanted, they would try and exterminate them. They would steal all kinds of treasures and riches and haul them …

Part of the BOMBED show will be a silent auction for these customized shoes that each of us hooked up.  The auction will be benefiting the Helping Hands Missions Shoes 4 Souls campaign. We were initially expecting the shoes to be some sort of white sneaker but when I went to pick them up I was surprised to see sparkling white bridesmaid dress shoes. After a few minutes I decided that this was a better idea anyways. A lot of people have been customizing sneakers but I really haven;t seen …

I am very excited and proud to be down with the BOMBED show at the LabourLove gallery in the Goldenbelt complex in Durham this Friday the 18th from 6 – 9pm. The show will feature Matt Scofield, Victor Knight, Greg Davis, Franco and myself. We did some live painting in the gallery last weekend which was a paint fume infested good time. I am still picking teal and baby blue boogers. The show will also feature  some digital illustrations, paintings and custom bridesmaid shoes… yep, you heard that right. There …

My main man Georges Le Chevallier and his wife Carrie are opening up a new gallery called the LoDi project. As part of their big opening  they are hosting a juried show featuring work celebrating the Dia de los Muertos. Cool theme, cool people. I had to throw my hat in…. even though this really is probably the busiest month I have had ever. Anyways, I’m pretty happy with it. I’d like to explore these colorful skulls some more. There is something attractive about them.

This art show-tribute to the culture of video games was a blow-out success. The place was packed, the art was top-notch. It was all around well done without question. Looking forward to what Adam and the guys have up their sleeve for the next round…..

I am going to be participating in an art-based fundraiser supporting Toxic Free NC. The event has two parts: a bug drawing competition on First Friday in August, as well as a month-long exhibit of mixed media art.
All proceeds from sales of the art will be going to support Toxic Free NC’s courageous work to fight pesticide pollution in North Carolina. More on that at www.toxicfreenc.org.
Should be a cool event. You know I am always game when there is competitive creativity in the mix.
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It took me a little while to …

I just put together an 8.5 x 11 flyer to help promote the Love Bug event on the 7th of August. We were asked to sketch up a “bug version” of ourselves so I ran with it a bit. After I finished up I realized the irony of the aresol spray can on a flyer for an event intended to fight pesticide pollution in NC….. so yea. My painting for the show is in a bit of a holding pattern due to the workload that I am carrying but we …

The show went well. It was an honor having my work on the same walls with so many incredible artists. Sincerely.

Hey guys. Tonight is the big night. I have been on a crazy work binge for the past two weeks and I am looking forward to enjoying the show, taking it in and relaxing a bit.  Although that has proven to be difficult these days.
The website has a cool flash bit on rotation that featured some nice shots of a few of my pieces.

The show was cool. I felt very honored to be among such talented company. And to add to the positivity, my piece won an honorable mention during the jurying process. I am so new to this art show world that I didn’t know what that meant and had to email the gallery to figure it out. That area on First Fridays has a very cool thing going on. Lots of music and people and beer. It’s good.
The night got interesting as hell but that’s what happens when Greg as around. …

I just received an email from the Visual Art Exchange looking for artists to submit a piece for the the May First Friday exhibit titled “Unfettered”. For quite a while now I have wanted to do a series of portraits that are painted on found objects from the birthplace of the subject. Given the title of the show and the geography involved, I am going to do a portrait of jazz legend Thelonious Monk. He was born about an hour from here in Rocky Mount, NC. I have gotten a …

I have been invited to participate in a fundraiser/silent auction where artists will paint/customize a ceramic pig. The proceeds will go towards the Whole Foods charity “Feed the Farm“. It is sponsored by Whole Foods and the auction will take place at The Pit on March 6th. It took me a day or so for a concept to crystalize but when it did….. oh yea. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be presenting to you…. the Notorious P.I.G.
Here goes nothing….
The Base
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This is what each of the artists starts with. The blank …

I was invited to showcase at a celebratory art exhibition to commemorate the innauguration of Barack Obama. I am extremely excited and have begun a hustle to push a brand new, rock solid piece in. I will be painting directly on wood and will be detailing the process (you know how I do). Stay tuned…
Wood prep:
I want the illustration to reflect distinguished character that Obama represents while staying true to his grass roots texture. I decided that applying a dark stain to a defined wood grain could set the tone …

The flyers just came in for the new art show. This group show is going to be very very strong. The main wall is going to showcase eight  3′ x 4′ panels in alignment. Each artist has been designated a color and can’t use white, black or any other color beyond what was assigned. I got yellow….. the same color as your belly.
Stay tuned for progress updates on the piece.

SPARKcon is a conference and showcase dedicated to connecting the local creative community in the Triangle area of North Carolina. In short it’s a platform for local talent to show their stuff and have a say in our community.
By talent, we mean scientific as well as artistic, geeky and musical. It takes a “creative ecosystem” to have a vibrant scene. SPARKcon’s aim is to recognize and support all the people who work to make local talent shine.
Check out the SparkCon site here.

Here it is. Check below if you want to see the “how this shit was made” progress post. See you all at FM Goods on Friday.