One Wedding Down Two To Go!

campus again, after not setting foot on that campus for about 13 years...I am in such a better place now! Anyway, while in Pontiac, I got to see some of the bad weather the The wedding in East Lansing went fine...although it was weird to be walking around the MSUMidwest has been dishing out lately. The tree in front of my house in Pontiac fell on our neighbors house, missing my truck by only a few feet. The tree in front of Tom's house fell over and blocked Genessee street entirely. So, it was good to see Pontiac again, mean as ever!

Most of this week I have spent without KT (she flew on to Denver for a theater conference) so I have had the place all to myself. I took the opportunity to rearrange the studio in her absence. I got rid of the large easel (seeing as the tabletop one I have has effectively replaced it) and bought a spiffy new Samsung monitor as the centerpiece of a new computer workstation. I have been struggling with integrating my design methods with my painting methods...this redo of the studio goes a long way towards achieving that goal. (this last paragraph is a bit of a long winded apology for why I don't have any new work to show for the week...)

This week saw a good review for Debbie, as well as the below photo in the Express...I also have been asked by Lil' Dutch to paint a backdrop for the Evil Come Evil Go Go Show, which opens next Friday...I am working hard to make that happen, but I might be shooting for the August 9th show, if I cant get good designs together by, oh, say, MONDAY!And Finally, Art-o-Matic comes to a close this week...there is still time to purchase the 8 foot Venus from Yuri's Night...(Free local delivery!) See you all on Saturday and Sunday night as we put Art-o-Matic 2008 into the history books!

DEBBIE OPENS!

Debbie Does Dallas the Musical opens tonight at the DCAC! I would normally have some pictures of the set for you to look at, but my plans to shoot pictures yesterday were thwarted by the apocalyptic storms that blew through DC last night. The final dress rehearsal was canceled, and so was my last opportunity to take photos before the show...oh well, I guess you will have to wait until next week...

However, tonight also happens to be the Dutch Oven at the Palace of Wonders, where I will help set the scene with some tikis... As a prize for whatever competition they will be having, Landless has decided to give away a free ticket to Debbie and a free ticket to Deep Inside Oz, the play running right after Debbie for most of the run. Below are examples of the free tickets the lucky winner will be receiving. (don't try to counterfeit these, because I have a secret anti counterfeit device on each genuine ticket!)
I am going back to Michigan for the weekend, so next week I will regale you with tales of my journey to and from Motown...

Moe Monkey...and Debbie's Done

So this week has been one of those "lots happened, but little was done" kinda weeks. It started well enough, with this painting:

ID Check 2008
Acrylic on Board, 8"x10"

This is a painting that I am using as a sketch for a larger piece, so it really just illustrates one scene within a larger composition. (BTW, is this image really dark on your computer too? I uploaded it directly to blogger from my home laptop, and it looks really dark on my CRT monitor at work...I have had similar problems in the past...does anyone know how to calibrate between the two machines? It would seem that the laptop is really hard to judge by since the angle of the screen widely varies the saturation and brightness of the image...Anyway, the painting is pretty dark, but not this dark) I will be posting more of these as they come along, and hopefully share with you the final composition before Hot Rod Hula Hop IV!

I recharged the batteries during Memorial Day out in Sperryville VA. It was nice to get out of the city and see friends in a non urban context...that is, until my allergies started making me uncomfortable (which hardly ever happens...probably just some particular species of tree out there in full on pollen mode...) Still, it was good to see Amy and Mark out of the Dutch Oven context...

Also had a Diamond Dead production meeting with Landless Theater. This is going to be their offering for the DC Fringe Festival at the Warehouse. Below is the unofficial logo of the band in the show:
It should be a pretty cool show...I like the warehouse, and I have lots of artistic possibilities with this show...it may allow me to get in touch with my inner Julian Schnabel...(more on that in June)

A good portion of the week was taken up with filling out a grant application for the DCCAH...I'll let you know if I get it.

And Lastly, I have all but finished the set for Debbie Does Dallas the Musical. I will leave you with a photo of the 99% complete set in the scene shop, awaiting transport to the DCAC:

Components of the set for Debbie Does Dallas the Musical before load in on Sunday

See Red Dots, Meet the Artist, Eat Popcorn!

Art-o-Matic has been good to me this year. Many of my paintings have acquired the auspicious red spot. In order to give you, loyal BTT reader, a last look at the sold paintings before they are tucked away in private collections, I have posted images below:

Coconut Monkey 2007
Acrylic and Cut Paper on Board 8"x10"

Cortez 2007
Acrylic and Cut Paper on Board 5"x7"

Monkey Vespa 2007
Acrylic and Cut Paper on Board 11"x14"
Creature Feature 2008
Acrylic on Board 16"x20"

I also have sold the small painting Moai in the Next Ice Age...but I don't have a good picture to share of it yet. You still have some chances to purchase some Art By Jared of your very own this Friday (5/16) at Meet The Artist Night. I will be giving away popcorn (the cuisine of choice for most movie going monkeys...) and perhaps even offering MR.TIKIHEADs for sale at special Art-o-Matic discount prices! (of course you can always buy them online here)

Other than the Art-o-Matic opening night (at which I worked the UBER-CRAZY 11th floor bar) the other major triumph this week belonged to Scott Brooks! His very successful solo show at Longview Gallery opened on Saturday...lots of great new work (he's been busy since Italy!)Scott with new work Nativity on Demand

My personal favorite painting from the show, Cannibal Cub Scout

Lastly, I have refined the set Design for Debbie Does Dallas the Musical for Landless Theater. I needed to scrap the individual lockers idea, and go with a low locker/bench combo...the kind that Ikea used to sell...but doesn't anymore. Shout out to Pam for finding it on Craigslist for me!

Debbie Does Dallas the Musical Set Design first draft
Photoshop and Pencil

I start actual construction for Debbie... next week, so you can expect some progress photos then!