Geollyfish

bullet-proof book

2012-01-23T01:00:00.001-08:00

Painting is the path I most commonly take when trying to escape the things in this world that bring me down. I believe this to be apparent in the often sad expressions and always tired eyes of my characters. By the end of my process, I can usually find a way to smile and/or laugh again, and I think that is evident in the goofiness and bright colors in those characters. The feeling I get when I finish a painting and like it defines happiness to me. Nothing I have ever experienced compares. There are times though, when I can't seem to find where that path begins. When life traps me in an angry, hopeless mood that I can't paint my way out of, I write.

While my painting has a mix of emotions, 95% of my writing is simply a release of hate and darkness. Therefore, to protect myself from this darkness, I attached my writing to a black helmet, with black-framed goggles, in a black pack of cigarettes (which symbolize the deadliness of living with hate). Inside, is something very light. Keykey's dumb innocence and often trouble-inducing curiosity, more-so than her majestic coat, make her a truly beautiful creature. I don't want to run into windows when I see birds or anything, but these are qualities that I strive for. I want to push all the bullshit out of my mind and just enjoy life. I really hope to make 2012 another big step towards that goal.

cover

pages

inside

Big ups to Ruben for inspiring me to finally put this shit together and supporting it's creation! Even though a lot of the content came from suffering, the construction of this "book" presented a few challenges that I had a lot of fun conquering.

SUCH good writing!

2012-01-15T22:50:00.000-08:00

The following is a quote from the TV show, "Hell on Wheels." The completion of the first season solidified its position as my number one favorite show of any genre.

Reverend Cole: There’s a god, of that I have no doubt. But there’s a devil too, and you know what that old devil did? You want me to tell you about that? That devil, he cut off gods arms, and he hacked off gods legs, and he gouged out his eyes, ripped out his tongue, and left him lying in a bloody heap on the floor. But he left god’s ears so he could hear us down here when we’re wailing, and thrashing, and praying for his help. But brother, there ain’t a damn thing god can do to help us.

Bohannon: What are you saying preacher?

Cole: Just choose hate. It’s so much easier.

"This Will Be My New Home"

2012-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

This fan of Forest Whitaker is too small to only show part of, so I made the picture of him black and white. It took me almost as long to pick the colors as it did to paint him though. If you come to the show I'll be announcing shortly, you should be pleasantly surprised by them.

"The Day That Steve Martin Died"

2012-01-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

I think the new episodes of "The Office" are funny, but I really miss the ridiculous Michael Scott quotes. Steve Carrell plays that same character in everything he does, but it was actually funny in "The Office." I hope he realizes what a huge mistake he's made and goes back soon. Anyways, here's part of my most recent painting...

three months of monster evolution

2011-12-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

The past few months have brought about a more dramatic change in my style that any previous years. I may still be a wreck (or even more of one than before), but I feel like the improvement in my work makes up for at least some of that which I still need to make in myself.

things that are good

2011-12-08T23:41:00.000-08:00

The following is a short list of things that have been inspiring and influencing me lately. I hope you enjoy them even half as much as I do!

1. "Hell on Wheels"

"Hell on Wheels" is AMC's new show about the building of the transcontinental railroad and the extreme badassery of a man named Cullen Bohannon. Bohannon is a good man but isn't afraid to put his morals aside if they get in the way of his mission to avenge his wife, who was killed by Union soldiers while he was off fucking their comrades up super hard. He doesn't mow down as many people as I was expecting him to after the opening scene of the pilot episode (which was mind-blowingly awesome), but Cullen definitely makes it obvious that he's not the type to take any guff. Also, Common fucks a white hooker with face tattoos which stirs up trouble with some Irish prick.

2. "Celestial Lineage" by Wolves in the Throne Room

Early sunsets and cold weather make black metal so much more appealing. This year, Wolves in the Throne Room released an album that will be far from forgotten when springs returns the enjoyable weather to Southern California, or wherever I am when that time comes. "Celestial Lineage" is a breath of fresh air in a scene that often seems to be nothing more than corpse-paint, pentagrams, and triggered drums. These Washingtonian farm-dwellers prove once again that they'd be fit to share the stage with any Norwegian act of the 90's or ambient groups like their fans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Put your headphones and a thick jacket on, hike out into the woods on a rainy day, and blast this shit!

3. "Spit and Argue" by The Greenery

I recently got the chance to see The Chariot throw a party on the side stage at Soma in San Diego. One of the last things I expected when I arrived in SD that night was to see some hardcore skate-punk. That's what happened though, and I loved every second of it. The Greenery are from Long Beach and they bring the noise in a very serious way. "Spit and Argue" makes me want to swing a skateboard at a crowd of assholes and knock out at least sixty teeth by doing so. I bought this album no more than five minutes after their set and am pleased to announce that the members of the band I met seemed like really nice kids. Please join me in supporting them.

tidbit

2011-12-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

I have a big event coming up in a few months and because of this, I won't be posting as much work as I'd like to. However, every now and then, when I'm really into a piece, I'll post a picture of part of it. Hopefully that's enough to keep you intrigued so that when I announce the details about the aforementioned event, you'll want to check it out. Either way, here's the first one.

"Goodweather"

"Horse Thieves"

2011-11-22T01:25:00.000-08:00

A tragedy that occurred almost three years ago has haunted me every day since. It gets a lot worse around the holiday season and I often become crippled by the depression. I'm blessed to have a few close friends and the outlet of painting, both of which I would not be alive without. This is my first year getting through the struggle sober and it's been hitting me pretty hard, as proven by my most recently-finished work.

Thank you to the afore-mentioned friends and to everyone else who's supported me at any point during this never-ending recovery process! From the bottom of my heart and with all of it, I fucking love you!!!!

something I wrote a long time ago

2011-11-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

As I was scrolling down in the document in which I write all my thoughts about things that suck, I read a couple older entries and this one stood out. It's about people who are full of shit. I think most people are, but that's probably just because I'm from California.

One day someone will tell stories
Of our lives and the movies we thought of them as
But extras with big names are all we’ve been
So let’s just raise our drinks to what little we have

This scene has been lost
That year was forgotten
Take this opportunity for a re-write
Make their hearts race
Only I will know the difference
Only I will know you're no different
You’re not a shining star
and neither am I but I’m still me
Just more miles in these shoes
and a few bad reviews
of the heart that still beats on my sleeve

Also, I know I haven't posted any art stuff in a long-ass time. It's partly because I keep fucking shit up, partly because I keep getting stuck in ruts, and partly because I have at least four things in progress at all times. I promise I'll post progress pictures or something soon though!

Tell Me a Story

2011-11-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

The city was fun for a young man in search of constant noise
New adventures around each corner
Another view of the sunset on every rooftop
But the older I grew
the more selective my ears became
Adventures began repeating
The long days heated the rungs of ladders to a point even my calloused hands could no longer justify wrapping themselves around
So I said my goodbyes and hit the road
Small towns in middle America seemed so welcoming
Everyone knew everyone's name
You could get ahold of the girl from the pharmacy if there was an emergency
Schoolteachers knew all the current goings-on of their former students
There was a general sense of trust amongst those people
It was beautiful
But my old life had taught me to distance myself
and that labeled me an outcast
So off I drove again
As far North as I could afford the gas to go
then as far as my legs would carry me
and there
in the middle of a forest
in a state or province that may as well have been any other
I found a tree
seemingly just like all the others
but different somehow
I didn't know why
and thinking too much about it could destroy that sense of wonder
so I didn't
This was the tree that would mark my grave
In it
I didn't carve the letters that my parents thought would define me
or the numbers used to record how long I could've been referred to as "alive"
because I'd learned who I really was when no one was around to say my name
spending entire nights deep in thought on fire escapes
drawing friendly monsters in my sketchbook in front of run-down coffee shops
wandering aimlessly on foot
in cars
or on busses and trains whose destinations I hadn't bothered researching
and what I did with my time was more important than when it started or ended
So in this tree
I carved the words
"The meaning is in the search"

THE END

After almost a month back...

2011-10-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

I have realized that Southern California is no longer my home and will not be for quite some time, if ever again. It's hard for me to stay positive and maintain a healthy lifestyle here. Aside from an unholy caffeine habit, I'm completely sober now. This change has been one of the few things that's kept me sane-ish. I've been able to finish a few paintings since getting "home." One of them is in Afghanistan (for real), so here are the other two...

"Diego" - the frogbaby who was adopted just hours after finding his way into the internets

"Reborn" - the new Geollyfish self-portrait/logo/mascot/whatever

Another thing I want to share is something I was originally planning on keeping to myself. I was encouraged by a few people to write some sort of looking-back journal from my trip. When I sat down to do so, I ended up writing something I needed to read. It's kind of a letter to/from someone who feels they've lost himself or herself. There are a couple parts that might seem a little arrogant, which is why I hesitated to post it, but it's stuff that I feel everyone needs to hear at times.

"The Rescue"
After years of mostly just pretending to search
I've found you
chained to a chair
eyelids held open by the jaws of life stuck in reverse
staring at a screen
as the same strip of film loops over and over
repeating a night at the bar with four people you hardly know
Their faces look like they've changed at times
but it's an old tape
and the camera wasn't really in focus so it's hard to tell

When you noticed me standing there
your eyes looked like they'd just seen the sun for the first time
but it was the cold heart of winter
so my mere presence wasn't enough to save you

To answer your first question
I was everywhere I had to be, when I had to be there
I was keeping an eye on the ones who've been waiting for you to get home
so that when we split up again
they'll be there for you
Never forget to tell them how much you love them
and know that in my own way, I'll be by your side forever

Your second question seemed a bit vague
A lot's changed over the years
but it's mostly been nickel-and-dime
and the value of nickels and dimes
so I'll tell you the only thing in this world that matters
In all my travels, you are and always will be the strongest person I've ever met
It's your humility that will be your demise
Trust me though
You will die happy

Another Day, Another Fetus

2011-09-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

I've had four children this week. It's been rough. On the plus side, the things I'm painting aren't sad/scared any more and I'm pumped on that!

Peter

More Fetuses

2011-09-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Alex

Trevor

A Message From the Road

2011-09-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, the routine of life at home became too much for me. I put a few shirts and a whole bunch of paint in my car and left. I didn't really plan on posting any of the things I was about to make until after my return. Fortunately, this trip has been a lot more rejuvinating than I had expected it to be, and I still have a couple weeks left in it. There's definitely been a fair amount of excitement, but it's the time spent painting and drawing in different places that seems to have been the most helpful. I've been working for at least two or three hours a day and making it a point to wander around outside of my comfort zone. One way of doing this has been teaching myself to use watercolors. On my third attempt, I painted something that I absolutely LOVE! It's my deepest pleasure to introduce you to my unborn child, the first ever Geollyfetus.

Gregory

Back on Track

2011-08-03T23:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my friend's four-year-old daughter told me I wasn't living my life. I guess someone told her to say it to someone else a few days beforehand and everyone laughed when she did so that explains it, but it still fucked with me. Since then, I've taken some steps to regain focus on my goals. I've been painting every day and spending a lot less time being distracted by partying, television, drama, and all that bullshit. I feel better than I have in years so I'm definitely not turning back, ever.

I wrote this about people who let routines, judgment, fear of judgment, and other nonsense get in the way of finding meaning in this life.

"Just Words"

It's the end of the world
The rats rush back to their cage
just ahead of the gas
I didn't build this house with my bare hands
to burn in bed

Fuck your hopes and dreams
You'll never get there
because you stopped at too many yellow lights
You got stuck in the mud
with my name in tow
but I didn't plan on keeping that anyways
My life is more than words
These colors are the ones I see the way I see them
in ways you'll never understand so keep moving
Keep looking down your nose
It's never above a smile
Oh, the hidden beauty of role reversal

Sleepy Ninjas: Boris

2011-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

Boris is from Bolokhovo, Russia. He is one of the most rarely seen inhabitants of Wolf Mountain as he moved there to escape his life as a "clean-up man" for the Russian mob. This handsome fellow prefers silence while working but in the rare circumstances where he gets the chance to sleep, he gets there to the music created by Sigur Ros and Final Days Society.

Sleepy Ninjas: Octavio and Ollivander

2011-06-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

This is the main reason I took a break from the mountains. I didn't have any real plans when I started but by the time I finished (about an hour ago), I had it.

The "Sleepy Ninjas" come from Wolf Mountain (the painting from the still-unfinished "FFTS" posts). Some have partners or even teams who are their only form of human contact. Others work alone and as far as society is concerned, they don't even exist. The goal of these ninjas is to teach mankind that most of its needs are really just wants. It's an important lesson so they work to achieve their goal round the clock. Start appreciating shit so they can take a nap!

Octavio and Ollivander came to Wolf Mountain from Croatia in 1996. Their favorite CD is Blue Sky Black Death's collaboration with Hell Razah entitled "Razah's Ladder" and they love Mexican food.

711

2011-06-20T00:32:00.000-07:00

First off, I always have to have a few projects running at the same time. Sometimes, one of those projects takes over completely and the past week or so has been an example of that. I have the backgrounds almost done on a small canvas and a pretty big two-part painting on poorly cut out pieces of drywall I found in my parents' garage. The mountain painting, however, hasn't been touched since day four. Soon though!

Now, the thing I really wanted to write about is an event from last night that's effected me a lot more than it should have. So, I can pretty much guarantee you that unless you work at 711, I've spent more time in one than you have. I'm not proud of it, but it's true. I've lived less than a mile away from one for about half of my life. When I was working at a bookstore, one of the employees from that 711 came in all the time to get coffee and read in the cafe. He was the kind of guy who would always give me a dollar back instead of 96 cents or some shit so I tried to hook him up as much as possible. When I moved back to San Dimas from San Francisco though, he didn't work at that 711 any more. I never really thought about it though until last night. After the Besatree & K-Serious show, I went to the one by the bar to get some green tea and that guy was working! We talked for a little while and I'm pretty sure he asked most of the questions I answered. Now, recognizing (and being recognized by) an old dude at a convenience store with an incomprehensible accent after not seeing each other for three years may not seem that cool or whatever, but I think it just shows the power of just being nice to people. I can't believe it when I see people at the grocery store or coffee shops being dicks to the people who work there or when an employee has a noticeably shitty attitude for no obvious reason. At least some respect should be expected in most social situations, but being a nice means more than you might think. Do it more often and remember to appreciate the little things. Also, listen to Jon and Kevin!

Snake Oil on Tin Foil

2011-06-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

You've been coming to me for this for years
and haven't gotten a bad bag yet
I still remember the first time I saw you
You made fear and confusion look so beautiful
I sold you the cure

It's been poison this whole time
By a less threatening name, yes
but poison just the same

So this is the last time we meet
I can no longer feed the monster you let me turn you into
The battery acid in this batch should do the trick
Cheers!

Staring Through My Eyes That Are Red

2011-05-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

I recently got the chance to paint a pair of 36"x36" pieces for my old friend Ian Longo of Channeling Darkness fame. This was very exciting because Ian and I have lived together and shared many great adventures. The title of these two paintings comes from an inside joke we picked up on one such adventure.

"Mystery Men"

buncha stuff

2011-05-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

I could not possibly be happier with the way things are going right now! I've got ten projects in progress and they're all going to loving homes and an awesome restaurant. I still live with my parents and I eat a lot of rice and beans but being able to scrape by with strictly art money is a fucking amazing feeling!!! Here are a few of the things I've finished lately including one (the last one) that doesn't have a home yet. Holler if you want it!

"Turtle Boy"

"Unforgiven"

These two went to my good friend Landis, who got the "Love..." painting from a few posts down and wanted two more to go with it.

"Sponsor Me"

"Teach Me How to Swim"

"Which One Did You Drink?"

2011-05-05T01:33:00.001-07:00

Probably my most feminine painting ever. It's a "thank you" painting for my most feminine friend ever, Top, who helped me out in a very big way recently.

Big ups!

Cut & Run

2011-05-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

My close friend Tony recently assembled a group of creative persons to be in a collective that shall henceforth be known as Cut & Run. It's a true honor to be included in this group. Being associated with such talented people is sure to force me to keep my game tight.... People still say that, right? Either way, get down!

"Blowing Out the Candles of Glow Worms"

2011-04-25T00:42:00.001-07:00

The storm stole our power and skipped town
Left us huddled around small flames like inexperienced cavemen
Fear creeps in through the freshly cracked walls
Thieves, arsonists, and monsters I'd rather not think about can't be far behind
When the wick runs out, let them come
They'll leave empty-handed, unaccomplished, and blind
And we'll have you to thank
For teaching us how to shine

I feel like the way I've written for well over a year matches the way I recently started painting. Not pretty or "right" but REAL.

Love On an Over-Populated Planet

2011-04-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

She's my best friend
We just got an apartment together
Sometimes we fuck but we never make love
We do love each other
Just not in "that way" so we never say it
But love's not the only thing we don't talk about

I know she notices when my car's not out front in the morning
I know she's heard the other "friends" visiting me at night
I know if she made another "friend," I'd rip out his throat
I'd call her a whore, leave for a week, stumble in drunk, and fuck her brains out
I'd fuck her so hard for so long she'd forget that there are billions of other guys out there who would treat her better
Because I know she wants more from this but we don't talk about what we want
Just our favorite movies, funny stories from dead-end jobs, and the good times we used to have

"Damn... Was it really that long ago?"

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but the way so many relationships are these days makes me never want to be in one. Shit's fucking pathetic. What ever happened to dating, falling in love, getting married, and staying married?

"Sup"

2011-04-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, I try to bring back a word or phrase most people have tossed aside. The most recent one has been "sup." I like to use it to greet people I haven't seen in a long time. Some people don't really think it's weird but the looks on the faces of the ones who do are priceless. Anyways, here's this...

"Better Days"

2011-04-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

So you may have noticed I've never really painted female characters. I guess it's because it's easier to work with things you're familiar with and I've been a boy/man ever since I can remember. Recently though, I decided to broaden my horizons and start painting women too. I just make them bald so you can't really tell aside from the narrower chins and lack of an adam's apple. I guess it'll be easier on pieces where the subject is further back and you can see tits. Anyways, here's my second attempt at female portraiture (didn't get a chance to snap photos of the first before she went to her home).

Beach Pit: Take Two

2011-04-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

A few of the paintings I had up at Beach Pit BBQ in Orange found homes that they needed to get to so I went down on Wednesday and replaced everything. A few pieces from previous posts along with these three new ones are on display until further notice. Go in. Check this shit out (maybe even buy something). Get an awesome meal and a beer.

"Colonel Fox"

"Just a Fool"

"Sick of Toys"

"Pretend and Believe"

2011-04-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

Monsters are real. They just hide in plain site instead of under your bed. If you give them the power, they will destroy you.

"Scared In the Bare"

2011-03-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

I made this for my good friend Tony. He and I connected very quickly when I moved into Casa Muerte two-plus years ago and the support he's shown me ever since has been vital to my growth as a person and artist.

Mad love to everyone who's ever kicked it at CM and/or is down with C&R!!! Mad love to everyone else too but those people in particular right now.

"Croaky"

2011-03-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

I made this piece primarily to help myself relate smoking to misery. It's been over a month since I quit so I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear. Just in case though, this guy's here to help me out.

Finally...

2011-03-17T02:47:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since I've actually posted anything. Part of this can be blamed on the difficulty I've had getting my hands on the technology required to share images via the internet but, for the most part, it's because I had to take a while to figure out what the fuck I'm doing. I needed to do something new but I couldn't figure out how to do that. Basically, the last month has consisted of drawing at least a few pictures every day. Once they started to develop, I decided I hated them and started something new. I finally came up with some stuff I liked right before leaving for San Francisco last weekend and as soon as I got back, I ran with it. These bright-eyed and bushy-tailed characters are the exact mixture of goofy and creepy I strive for. They make me smile and I hope they can do the same for you.

"Unsure"

This one is "about" the fear of not having a solid idea of where you're going. It applies to my life right now as well as the painting itself because it was the first one I did like this. The quote is from my favorite band, Between the Buried and Me.

"2006"

There are four golds in this one. Spray paint, marker, and two shades of acrylic. Cut&Run is some spanking new shit my boy Tony put together. I'm not sure how much he wants to let out about it right now so that's all I'm gonna say about that.

ALL MY LOVE!!!

I quit smoking...

2011-02-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

... and it's been stressing me the fuck out! It's been almost two weeks so it's not so bad any more, but I used to smoke at least half a pack per painting so it's taken me a while to adapt. I promise I have some new shit on the way though! For now, here's something I did for an MS Paint contest and some of the music I've been listening to lately...

Heathfish -

Skate or Don't

2011-02-09T02:37:00.000-08:00

Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have this outlet to keep me distracted from all the bullshit that goes on in my life. Fuck the drama. Fuck the fake friends. Fuck the people trying to be my enemies. Even with the new 30-ounce coffee cups at Starbucks, I don't have the energy for that shit.

"Heavy Metal" and "Iceman"

Also, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on my paintings lately and I want to make sure you all know that I really appreciate your support. The paintings and photos on this site are part of me so when people I love like them, I feel good about myself. With other people constantly trying to bring me down, that's not always easy.

Egyptian Revolution

2011-01-28T05:13:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago, my life-long friend Joel Scheele called me as I was waking up. I answered groggily and he set me up with a place to show all my recent work. I finished one more smaller picture and hung everything that night at Beach Pit BBQ that night. They have PBR tall cans in brown bags and some of the best breakfast burritos in the world. Go there and buy a painting!

Cigars for the Damned -

contact info/bio/price list -

Since then, I've finished a couple more paintings that I don't have photos of yet and they already found loving homes. I've also got a basic idea of my subject matter for my first big project of 2011. I'm super duper pumped about it!

progress -

ALL MY LOVE!!!

Dance Tin

2011-01-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

This is another painting I've made using the incredible photography of the more-incredible Mike Law as a reference for. He shot some promos of Listener at their Cal Tech show and sent me one to work with. I put Christin's eyes on Dan's face but I exaggerated the bagginess so it's impossible to tell. Whatever though. I love everyone involved in making this picture happen. The quotes are from Listener's song "Save Up Your Hope's Friends." Their link and Mike's are on the side of this page. Check out my homies!

Like Water

2011-01-06T04:06:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Aaron Weiss from mewithoutYou. I've been listening to their first two CD's a lot lately. They're so raw and full of emotion that it's impossible to sit still while listening to them. My good friend Stacey Speer loves the band just as much as I do and she's super awesome so, although I already had a basic idea of what I wanted to do, I made this for her.

New Year, New(ish) Style

2011-01-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

About a year and a half ago, I did two little mixed-media pieces on paper using a acrylics, a sharpee, and tracing paper. I liked them but haven't made anything like them until now. So here those are...

"Oh Captain"

"The Snake's Tail"

"The Road"

"Hello Sunshine"

ALL MY LOVE!

Curse of Threes

2010-12-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

The quote for this painting was taken from The Chariot's new album, "Long Live." If you haven't heard it yet, go do that as soon as you get bored of looking at my paintings and photos! This piece is about the pyramid-scheme of fucking people over. Once recruited, you become blind to the beauty of the world and incapable of saying anything worth hearing.

Reject that way of life. Be fucking nice to people!

Bummer

2010-12-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

My lap top and camera were stolen and my future living situation fell through over the weekend. I'm pretty bummed out but there's too much to be done to let it drag me down. I just want to thank everyone who's given me constant love and support. I wouldn't be who I am without you.

ALL MY LOVE!!!

the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me

2010-12-15T12:32:00.000-08:00

"Joel can eat your soul and shit out pretty little babies if he wanted to."

-Jerome Magsino

REBUILD

2010-12-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, after getting my nose broken, my good friend Andrew and I went out to chill with some other good friends. One of those friends, Tony (the man who did my sweet-ass Psyduck tattoo), and I were painting while we all chatted, smoked, and listened to BTBAM. After a few sprays of some beautiful blue Ironlak paint, I handed a can to Andrew and set him loose. It was his first time painting so I cleaned a few things up but he's definitely responsible for the background being what it is. For me, the background usually determines what goes in the foreground so he was a big part of that too. Cheers to the many fun collabs to come and cheers to our friend David who gave me a badass leather jacket later that night!

When bad things happen, it's easy to forget how much good there still is out there. Fear comes crashing down into your heart and the darkness tries to fill you with hate, sadness, anger, and a lot of other things that can ruin your life. Just look past all the bullshit and be grateful for everything you still have. As long as I have love, music, and some paint, I can be happy. I hope you figure your list out and that it can be as short as mine.

PEACE & LOVE!

Somerset

2010-12-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

"Seven" is one of my two favorite movies as well as the inspiration for my back-piece. "Children of Men" is the other but that's not important right now. I found a piece of wood in my parents' garage and decided that it needed to have this on it...

The quote was in reference to a crime of passion but I think it's important to stay focused on the things your passionate about so I kind of changed the context. It'll make more sense when the painting is on a wall instead of a floor.

All my love!

Knock Knock Fuck Off

2010-12-07T20:03:00.001-08:00

For everyone who acts like a dick for no apparent reason...

Be chill!

Detroit Pink

2010-12-06T02:28:00.000-08:00

This painting (to me) is about feeling overwhelmed or trapped and how, if you have love, those feelings can be gotten rid of pretty easily. You can't really see it in the photo, but I put down a coat of gloss to make the lenses for this unfortunate-looking fellow's glasses.

You don't have to feel like this guy because I love you!

MUSIC

2010-12-03T00:24:00.000-08:00

I don't really try to keep it a secret that I'd rather listen to music than eat. I'm disturbingly skinny and my headphones look like they were a part of the "Jurassic Park: DINO DAMAGE" play-set. I don't have a favorite genre. I listen to everything. It just has to be original, meaningful, and contain something that really stands out to me. A few months ago, my good friend Mike Law sent me a link to an article about Listener. I checked it out and my mind was immediately blown! Their originality supersedes pretty much everything I've heard to date without becoming pretentious New Yorker crap. The lyrics drive one to push all the bullshit out of his or her head and just live life. The vocals and music make it impossible to sit still as you soak everything in. To sum it all up, Listener is everything I look for in a band.

So last Saturday, Mike, Neil, Albert, and I went to see them at Cal Tech. this became the first of four of their shows I would see in under a week. Dan Smith and Christin Nelson are to of the most down-to-earth, positive, easy-to-love people I've ever met! It's been really good finding out that people who inspire me in creative endeavors are also capable of inspiring me in life. I'm looking forward to Listener's next release almost as much as their next tour.

Some of the photos I shot at the Cal Tech show...

... and a video someone else shot at a different show...

Thanks!!!

2010-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

San Francisco... The wildest, most-chill, eye-opening, drinkingest, smokingest city I've been to. And the best thing about it? The people whose friendship I've been blessed with. Everyone I know here is incredible in the same ways as well as in their own ways. I just wanted to take this chance to thank every one of them for always pushing me to be the best person and artist I can be. For being there on all those nights when I was falling apart. For building me back up. For supporting me in all my decisions while still offering alternatives in case things didn't work out. They are the definition of friendship and real love. It's been great to see them all progress so much recently. Seeing how hard they work makes me want to work harder. Talking to them pushes me with equal force.

Continue dreaming big and living bigger guys!

All my love!!!

Bay Area Love

2010-11-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

The talented and sexy Mike Law hit me up last week to ask if I would be down to put up some work in a show our AMAZING friend Stacey Speer put together in San Francisco. I just recently became comfortable with my work so I jumped on the opportunity. I finished four pieces and started another over the next five days then took off on a solo mission to the greatest city in America. Chilling with the Casa Muerte kids is always refreshing and inspiring. I could never thank them enough for being exactly who they are. Life has never seemed so beautiful!!!

The art...

Fishrag!

"Pick up my tab. Lift with your knees."

The opening...

STACEY!!!

This guy's name is Dave. He's kind of insane but he was having a shitty day so I brought him in for a drink.

Peace and love! ALWAYS!!!!

Self Portrait

2010-11-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

I've had trouble sleeping ever since I can remember and, in the past couple years, it's gotten worse. To me, this piece represents my level of sanity in relation to hours spent awake (tired, drained, and completely delirious). I worked on each portrait at its stage in that cycle and I don't really see any other way it could have been done.

The words on the border are the only lyrics to a "United Nations" which they are also the title of. They portray the insomniac lifestyle flawlessly. When you can't sleep, everything seems so repetitious that it all blurs together and time ceases to make sense. You stop thinking. Things just happen. Emotions become more powerful as the ability to rationalize them slips away. The world looks different through burning eyes.

111010 American

2010-11-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

So, ever since I started painting again, I can't seem to keep colors off my hands. It's sssooooo fucking refreshing!!! I've got a few projects going at once right now but since they're taking turns getting work done, here's something I finished about a week ago and forgot to post...

... and a few photos from Halloween....

... and all my love!

The Island

2010-10-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

This is the thing I quoted in that last post. I feel like I wrote it at an airport but I can't remember flying anywhere recently aside from the PDX/Canada trip. That doesn't really matter though. Here it is...

One day I will find the island I was born to be king of

Population zero and not rising any time soon

Somewhere off the coast of somewhere unheard of

It waits for me

But I'm not ready

I lost my birthright as I tumbled down the hill of innocence

into the burning forest of deadly sins

For years I wandered around waiting until it felt like home

But the beauty of those flames decreased with each passing day

As my chest filled with smoke

I began to notice the blackened vines wrapped around my ankles

It's amazing how quickly you can fall out of love when it tries to trap you

Strong attractor, terrible captor

Faces soon appeared between the charred trees

Their eyes reflecting the desperation in mine

We broke each other's bonds and forged a path to sea

Now we chase the moon across it

Dragging in our wake those lungs were seared

by the inferno we have escaped

One day I will find the island I was born to be king of

But "I" is now "we"

And now that we have recognized the error of our ways

We can rule properly

That island will never know lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, pride, or greed

and will never claim a single sloth as its resident

It will prosper eternally in endless progression

Deadmau5 in a Crackhau5

2010-10-27T12:57:00.001-07:00

I've recently come back from a long break from painting. I'm not really sure what caused that break. About half-way through a mural I was working on, it just happened. Lately though, with the help of a few INCREDIBLE people, I've found whatever it is that makes me want to move colors. I couldn't be more grateful as this, the first piece I really put everything I have into, helped me through some rough times.

There's a lot of shit hidden in it conceptually as well as emotionally. The over-all theme is not getting stuck in a lifestyle you don't want, with all your heart, to be completely enveloped in. I'm very open to talking about how I feel I portrayed that theme so just find a way to contact me if you're curious about that or any of the other "secrets."

All my love!

2010-10-17T13:56:00.001-07:00

Everything was good he found a reason to love life

Drinking mad coffee to stay away from sleep at night

No hate in his heart no bark to make you fear his bite

He was finally happy, it was all going to be alright

But the clouds rolled in just minutes into his flight

Covered up the sun now the day's darker than night

And it all comes back and he loses his will to fight

Because the rain falls harder at such great heights

Death, leave me alone

Heaven, call me home

Journey Through the Dreamtime: part 1

2010-08-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

8-29 2:40 pm

I slept for about an hour on the plane and woke up craving nicotine. Due to a long night of drinking Craig was 45 minutes late to pick me up but I arrived an hour and 15 minutes before I had expected to so no big deal. We stopped at an AMPM type spot to get smokes and green tea on our way to the "slums" where Craig lives in a pretty big blue house with side-entry. We listened to music, shared stories, and ate a delicious vegan pizza. After giving me the run-down on all the local strip clubs, Craig decided it was a good time for a nap. I could not have agreed more. Now that I'm well-rested and have talked to Tom on the phone, I'm ready for some fucking action!

8-31 1:00 am

My God was I hungover today! Craig, Col, and I started drinking relatively early yesterday afternoon. Started at Hungry Tiger (cheap as FUCK), then Railside (where we met Mama Cindy - quite the character), then we went to Yes and No (I think), then Satyricon for Col's show, then (back?) to Yes and No, then Craig and I went to Bye and Bye to meet up with Elsbeth and Johanna. Col ended up drinking until around 9:30 this morning with some locals. Els didn't really hang out for long but I got to try the Bye and Bye signature drink which is a mason jar full of booze. The food there was also extremely note-worthy from what I can remember.

Today was pretty much all about recovery. Craig made DELICIOUS sloppy joes at Col and Betsy's where we stuck around to watch some shitty movies. After we could take no more, we went to East End for a couple beers and a black metal show broke out. Weregoat is, by far, the blackest metal band I've seen by a fucking long-shot. Straight goat heads, spiked armbands, blood, and blasts. Now, I'm more exhausted than my sober alter ego usually gets. Time to pass out.

Landon and the savage mace a few days before I left

Myspace picture at Craigs

tattoo designs for AJ and Andrew

2010-08-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

My drawings are about to make two of my best friends bleed. I couldn't be happier!

old shit re-edited

2010-08-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

Big Steve

2010-08-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

I just bought a 35mm camera from my amazing friend, Stacey Jean Speer. She is now a happy resident of San Francisco and I am an optimistic new user of film. Fun times ahead for all!

Mario Bogart, Space Quentin, and Scrotie McBoogerballs

2010-06-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Printing a few of these this weekend. More will be added at said time.

more photography w/ digilog editing and a vomit shot...

2010-06-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

So a couple nights ago, my good friend Andrew and I drank a couple bottles of Jager and turned into fucking retards. Krysten didn't have nearly as much fun.

Clement Von Shark III

2010-06-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

I've been getting a lot more into photography lately but lack the equipment to do what I originally wanted to do. Instead of getting a job and earning money to buy said equipment, I spent one night trying to figure out how to get a similar result with what I had. I'm really pleased with how it turned out so it looks like I can be unemployed for at least a little while longer. Fuck yeah!

photography/ballpoint pen/charcoal/photoshop/handmade paper/marker

gift piece

2010-06-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

I got bored earlier today and decided to fuck with a lot of shit.

Spray paint/black ink/pencil/marker/photoshop/charcoal

Mario Bogart

2010-06-12T13:44:00.001-07:00

digital shit -

God damn...

2010-06-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

So it's been a really long time since I've updated this thing. A lot has been going on. Some good, some bad. I'm still working on a bunch of shit though, so here's a little update...

photography -

acrylic on canvas -

mixed media on bristol board -

From now on, I'm going to try to update this thing at least once a week. Keep checking back and talk mad shit if I get flakey again!

"Fix Me"

2009-11-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

This is one of my current projects. I'm not going to post the final product until Christmas-ish because it's someone's present but here it is 25% and 65% done...

first attempt at cross hatching

2009-10-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

I still have two more days to work on this but so far, I'm pretty into it.

GBTIYDFM!

2009-10-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

I finally started a new painting. Should be up in a couple weeks. Today though, I was too cold and miserable to go outside and paint and I realized I haven't posted on here in almost a month so I made this. Enjoy?

Vaya Con Dios

2009-09-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not very interested in celebrity deaths or even the idea of celebrities but the loss of Patrick Swayze is weird. The guy seemed so into his roles that it really inspired me to do something that I enjoy. Also, "Point Break" is fucking timeless and will never leave my top ten list of movies that make me smile.

"This was never about the money, this was about us against the system. That system that kills the human spirit. We stand for something. We are here to show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human sprit is still alive."

"Legendary"

2009-09-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Tom Waits is straight O.G. as fuck.

"Escalator Safety"

2009-08-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

Just finished this for a show in January at a super badass spot. Acrylic/marker/spray on wood. Two more like it coming soon.

Gift

2009-08-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Just a little something I made with a photo taken by Marvelous Mike Law.

First Attempts at Sculpture

2009-08-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

Torso Study

"Howler" (painted version coming soon.)

Rewind

2009-07-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Since you've probably never heard of me, here's some of my previous work...

Digital -

"Tangerine"

"Like Glass"

(untitled)

"Dream Forever"

Paint -

"Zombie Wars"

"King of Leone"

"Saviour"

"I Left My HeART In San Francisco"

Photo -

"GFK"

(untitled)