July 2012

Tonal Illustration Workshop with Travis Louie @ Stranger Factory 8.5

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As part of his Spirits exhibition opening next month at Stranger Factory, renowned fine artist Travis Louie is hosting a very special, small-group rendering workshop at the gallery on Sunday, Aug. 5th from 3pm to 6pm.

The class will introduce students to basic and intermediate multi-medium illustration techniques, as well as instruction in tonal rendering using graphite, liquid graphite, ink washes pastels and gouache on paper. The rendering of light and form will be explored, as well as drawing from a still life set up.

The cost of the workshop is $100 (supplies included) and space is limited to only a dozen spots. To RSVP, stop by or call the gallery at (505) 508-3049, or Paypal to kathieolivas@msn.com (make sure to add ‘Travis Louie Workshop’ as the subject line). A 50% deposit is required (non refundable).

** Bring a notebook if you want to take your own notes during the workshop. Photos and video must be approved by Stranger Factory staff in advance.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn direct from the master in an up-close and intimate setting!

Stranger Factory Presents: Travis Louie’s ‘SPIRITS’ 8.3


Travis Louie has always been a dreamer. Through the tiny, hyper-realistic drawings and notes in his journals, he’s painted a world inhabited by human oddities, mythical beings and otherworldly characters, all rooted in Victorian and Edwardian times and set to the tune of film noir and German expressionist cinematography.

And next month, they’re headed to Albuquerque.

Opening August 3rd is Spirits, a collection of new two- and three-dimensional works inspired by early American Spiritualism. But Travis Louie style. So expect the haunting apparitions, suited skeletons and stylish Cyclops.

An opening reception will be held at Stranger Factory from 6pm to 9pm Friday. Travis will be there! Join us as we delve into the realm of the supernatural and indulge in our curiosity of the dead…

** A rendering workshop will also be held in conjunction with the event; details to come!

Travis Louie was born in Queens, NY, about a mile from the site of the 1964 World’s Fair. His early childhood was spent drawing and watching “Atomic Age” sci-fi and horror movies. His paintings spawn from tiny drawings and notes in his journals, where he’s created his own imaginary world rooted in Victorian and Edwardian times and influenced by Film Noir and German Expressionist cinematography. A world inhabited by human oddities, mythical beings, and otherworldly characters, Travis’ subjects appear to have had their formal portraits taken to mark their existence and place in society.

The underlining thread that connects all these characters is the unusual circumstances that shape who they were and how they lived. Some of their origins are a complete mystery while others leave subtle cues: a man is cursed by a goat; a strange, furry being is discovered sleeping in a hedge; an engine driver can’t stop vibrating in his sleep, and so forth. Using inventive techniques of painting with acrylic washes and simple textures on smooth boards, Travis creates portraits from an alternate universe that seemingly may or may not have existed.

Scott Radke’s Covey of Quail

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Scott Radke’s been on a tear recently. Totems, little ladies, raccoons … and now a covey of quail. This would definitely be one of those ‘cover my eyes and point’ situations as these fall into that grey area with art multiples: conceptually, they’re an edition. Yet the sculpts are each handmade and (clearly) unique, giving them all the same appeal as a one-off. In other words: they all look great, are priced great, and the only not-so-great thing is having to choose.

The quail each measure 14″ tall by 8″ wide (give or take) and retail for $350. Not bad, right? And since tomorrow’s Friday, I encourage you indulge in a wee bit of spoiling of yourself. Half of them have already sold (yeah, get on it!) and only numbers 2, 3, 6 and 8 are left. Photos of each quail can be seen on Scott’s site here.

WIP: Stingy Jack’s New Digs

The Stingy Jack universe continues to creep and crawl with two brand new head sculpts that are currently in progress for Paris’ Le Carnaval des Spectres.

Some of you may recognize the black cat sculpt from one of Brandt Peters’ paintings from Phantasmagoria back in 2010 (“Treat”, below). The Ooze Skull, on the other hand, continues on with this sort of candy gore theme that we’ve seen him flirting with recently, particularly with the Zombambie figure that debuted (and subsequently sold out) at Monsters & Misfits II. That won’t be the last we see of them, by the way.

The cat and skull heads will fit onto the standard Stingy Jack body, in an effort to keep these sculpts as dynamic as possible. With so many modular pieces, the customizing potential is endless. Oh, the fun!

 

Circus Posterus x Artoyz Paris Present: Le Carnaval des Spectres 9.13

European friends, we’re coming to visit! For the first time ever, the Circus is packing up and heading to Paris for Le Carnaval des Spectres, a special gallery exhibition at Artoyz Shop + Galerie this September. Centered on the theme of ghosts and spirits, Le Carnaval will showcase all new works from Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Travis Louie, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise Spayd and Teodoru Badiu (who’s celebrating his first showing with CP AND it’s on home soil. Excitement!).

And to answer a common question that’s been buzzing around the forums … YES, new figures will be releasing at this show!

What figures? Well … these might make their debut. There might also be a certain colourway of this. There was also something about some vinyl making an appearance, but those could be LPs for all we know ;)

There’s other stuff, too, which will be trickling out in the next couple of weeks; pieces for the show will be shipping soon, so with that photoshoots, more info and other things to make your eyeballs tingle.

Le Carnaval des Spectres opens Sept. 13th with an opening reception that evening. Brandt, Kathie, Travis and Teo will be in attendance!

Coming Soon: KO & BP’s Blue Mist Kuma & Grieving Greeter

So last week was a bit of a brain melter, no? All is chill and quiet on the CP front as they prepare for Paris, KO prepares for AFA, etc., when out of nowhere you pick up your phone and it’s like WHAMHAIINSTRAGRAMFACEMELTLOOKATMEI’MBEAUTIFUL!

And not once, but TWICE! And within DAYS of each other! How delightfully cruel.

It all started with the Blue Mist Kuma, above. 9.75″ tall. Blue fade. Embedded GID Lucky Skull. The first embedded edition that CP has ever done.

Yes! **Edition!!!** (Music to our ears!)

66 of these beauties will be made and will likely release in small blasts throughout the rest of the year. It will make its official debut this fall during a certain European hoedown, but — an important but! — CP members actually have a shot at preordering one right now via the CP forums. So pop over there for the full scoop from KO.

And then there’s the ever-morose Grieving Greeter, who will also be making his debut very soon. The edition size is limited to 30 pieces at $225 a grin. It’s hard to tell from the filter (my fault), but his cloak is a smoke grey, with the usual antiquing. Looks quite sharp, if I do say so m’self. More info about all this goodness as we grow nearer to showtime!

Scott Wilkowski x Brandt Peters ‘Infected’ Kuma Skelves for DKE @ SDCC 2012

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As part of his ‘… Of All Ages’ showcase at the DKE booth (#4728) at SDCC this year, uber sculptor Scott Wilkowski has infected Brandt Peters’ Kuma Skelve. Adding an incredible, prehistoric-like skeletal piece encased in smoke or ice-coloured resin, each colourway is limited to a mere 25 pieces each (50 total figures) and will retail for $300 a head.

I really can’t muster any more than a “holy shit” at this point. I can’t even decide on a colourway. Good luck to all who enter the breach for this these — they’ll be available starting Friday the 13th at noon!

Chris Ryniak’s Trio of Nuggleworts for ‘Septenary’ @ OhNo!Doom 7.7

Ohhh boy, here comes trouble.

Chris Ryniak’s contribution for OhNo!Doom’s group sculpture show, Septenary, is a trio of buck toofed critters called Nuggleworts. Each of the 6-inch sculpts are one-of-a-kind, made with CMR lovin’ and are never to be seen like this again. And, believe it or not, the Nuggleworts (from left: Valencia, Juneau and Mangrove) are one of the rare CMR breeds that are devoid of the usual, well-endowed cheekage in the rear region (figured we’d share).

Septenary opens July 7th and runs through August 4th. The show preview has already gone out and these three are spoken for (sorry), but you can still pay ’em a visit if you find yourself in Chi-Town!

Amanda Louise Spayd for ‘Septenary’ @ OhNo!Doom 7.7

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Pom poms and party hats, polka dots and pretty lace … Amanda Louise Spayd’s trio of critters for OhNo!Doom’s seven-artist sculpture show, Septenary, are straight out of a circus from a bygone era.

Not sure if she’s still sewing life into more dumpy dudes over there, but these three will be in the exhibition, curated by OhNo! gallery mistress, Lana Crooks. The bill also includes fellow Circus mate Chris Ryniak, along with Melita “Miss Monster” Curphy, J.Shea, Melissa Sue Stanley, Jake Waldron and Lana. Show opens July 7th through August 4th.