PLANET ARLINGTON, or the reason I never get labor day off...

I finally got finished with the Planet Arlington World Playground backdrops, just in time for their big debut tomorrow! I had some technical issues with the paper sticking to the back (I thought I had the problem licked, but it still occasionally comes back to bite me in the ass) but other than that I think that they will look great! Hopefully they will be able to brighten the atmosphere at the festival...seeing as the weather is predicted to be a wet half hearted rain all day...

World Playground drops on the shop floor

Planet Arlington represents one more piece of the scheduling puzzle being knocked down, so I can concentrate on the other big looming projects...like Forum...

Painters Elevation for Funny...Forum
11" x 27" Watercolor on Paper

Completing the painters elevation was a huge step for Forum last week. I am now able to give direction to my (quite small and ever changing) painting minions. Next week should be the big, final push for painting the show. (we load into the theater on September 11th)

Progress has been made from last weeks photo...

And Lastly, this week I was only able to produce two more small velvet paintings (so I am a tad behind schedule for filling up a whole tent...but I always have Mr. TIKIHEAD to fall back on!) Also, I am learning more and more with each velvet painting I make...For example, this week I learned that painting sexy babes on velvet is really cool, but also that the faces are really hard to do on such a small scale...I have gotten a really high quality velvet, so the nap is very tight...but on a face that is the size of a quarter, each stroke is highly visible (and you cant make any mistakes with velvet...because you cant just repaint a section that has been "soiled" with paint!) I intend to paint more Space babes and Tiki babes...but on larger canvases...

Space Babe 1
Acrylic on Velvet 8" x 10"

Tiki Babe 1
Acrylic on Velvet 8" x 10"

I have a larger still life in the works this week...which may or may not be finished by next posting (I am learning a great deal from this one too)

Just a quick mention of some stuff on the horizon...I had the first production meeting for President Harding is a Rock Star this week...so designs for that are coming up soon...and I have been talking with Trixie and Monkey about designing scenery for their upcoming (perhaps traveling show), codenamed "Mumbo"... I am totally psyched about that project...I just hope I can squeeze it in between all the other stuff between now and...does it ever really end...?

Its been more than a month...

I would like to apologize for not posting anything for more than a month. The holidays are a really stressful and action packed time of year, and this one was no exception for me. Lots of things happened, and lots of things didn't. KT's grandma passed away just before Xmas, which caused no end of disturbances...then things started to go in slow motion around the holidays. Without a Lobsterboy Revue for NYE, I was practically adrift. So a teensey bit of "depression" set in, namely inactivity and sloth...I am like a shark; give me lots of blood to swim in and I am happy. Once my calendar has no significant deadlines, I am dead in the water.

I must say that it was not entirely unproductive...I did get lots of things up on the $0.10 EBay listings over the new year (I even sold a few MR. TIKIHEADS) and, Oh yeah, Scientology pageant opened and closed...enjoy some pictures and a link to the review

The set in its pristine state...without child actors!Prince Xenu and the Robot get down!

All in all, it was a really great production. It left you with a warm glow...then again, that could of just been the theatans...(or is it engrams?)
Some of the good news about Landless Theater is that they have begun to find their audience. I think that they are capable of becoming one of the awesomest theater companies in the DC area. I believe in them so much, that I have agreed to be one of their "Associate Artists" for another year (which means that I will be designing Debbie Does Dallas the Musical, in the spring...and much more in next years exciting season)

Yuri's Night 2008 is in a bit of a holding pattern right now. It may be a small show...it may be a big show...or it might not happen at all...The next few weeks will determine what will happen...Stay tuned...

One of the things that started to trip me up over the holidays was making work for the Dirty Show in Detroit. It turns out that "erotic art" is a bit of a stumbling block for me. I guess that most of my experiences with erotic art have been from, lets face it: PORN. So I feel that its really much more of a photographers medium...try as I might, I couldn't seem to get any erotic paintings off the ground. This was a major contributor to my aforementioned sloth/depression.

But, undaunted, I threw myself into some work that would hopefully get me moving in a new direction artistically. I developed a sketch and then I made this to paint on:

More about this new direction my work may be taking later...

On a "year in review" note, the going out gurus listed Art in Heat as one of the top 10 art shows in DC in 2007...

This Saturday, you should get your butt to Dr Dremo's and swing by my table for the third annual DC Conspiracy Counter Cultural FestivalThey have a Myspace Page for the show, as well as a plain old website

Below is the blurb about the Art Whino show I will have some work in...Opens this Friday!

Please Join Us! ART WHINO ANNOUNCES DOUBLE FEATURE: A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: The Solo Show of J. Coleman and Art Whino's Collaboration Featuring 18 New Artists www.artwhino.com Alexandria, V.A. Art Whino (www.artwhino.com) launches a DOUBLE FEATURE: A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: The Solo Show of J. Coleman and Art Whino's Collaboration Featuring 18 New Artists, The opening reception takes place on January 18th, 2008 from 6-12pm, and will include music by DJ Mikel Panda spinning from 6-9pm and a Live Band Performance by Brooklyn based band "Object" and Live Painting performance by J. Coleman beginning at 9pm. A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: J. Coleman Solo Show Twenty eight year old artist, J. Coleman, lives and paints in Washington D.C. Coleman has been showing consistently for six years now and has been featured in multiple exhibitions. After earning his degree from the University of Mary Washington, Coleman apprenticed under D.C. painter, Matt Sesow. Since then he has quickly become a prominent figure in the D.C. art scene. His work has been shown in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Wilmington, DC, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and has recently had portraits purchased by the UNC museum for their permanent collection. Art Whino Permanent Gallery Art Whino adds 18 new artists to its Permanent Gallery bringing the number to 100 participating artists and over 400 pieces of art on exhibit. New work from this show will be available online at (www.artwhino.com) starting Jan 21st. Adam Russell, Arisu, Benjamin Floeter,Brandi Read, COL, Grim Arts, Iceberg Slick, Jared Davis, John Powell Jazirock, Michelle Caplan, Nate Frizzell, Nishi, PaperMonster, Phoneticontrol, Rick Beaupre, Tika, Yoskay DJ MIKEL PANDA performing in the Front Gallery 6-9pm DJ Mikel Panda is a Deep House/ Tech-House/ Techno/ Breakbeat DJ originating out of Washington, DC and the surrounding area. However, Dj Mikel Panda, the name, originated in Richmond, VA. He has been Djing out for over a decade in places such as BUZZ, FIVE, The Edge, and more in Washington, DC. He started the outdoor and FREE event, ROBOT ROK four years ago. He has played on the FM Dial six times, as well as festivals, retail shops, international restaurants from Norfolk, VA, Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD clubs as well. Object Band Performing in the Back Gallery 9pm Object resurrects the brain-dead with more than a few jarring songs wrought with pure emotional violence expressed in the form of an equation that balances only two members. From Brooklyn, with love, the duo possesses a kind of innocent demure that is only shattered by the deafening blow of their post grunge anthems. Above all else, Object have pushed their way into the collective consciousness and sit there on the merit of their music. Finely crafted hard rock that recalls the likes of Failure, Fugazi, Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley and Nirvana, with a raucous live show that flaunts fearless semi-demented yet thoughtful tunes and a mess of beautiful noise that could make your head explode. Object wants you to open your eyes to the possibilities.

Best Peasant Anywhere

So, I went to see Spamalot on Tuesday night...and when I was onstage I received this envelope:
Containing this:
And this Statuette:

And after singing my praises, they took this photo:
And then there was the review in DC Theater Scene...(check out the last paragraph)

I honestly had no idea that I was going to win this award...but I would still like to thank the little people, all of the other peasants that I stepped on along the way to get where I am today...

In other news, The Holiday Tiki Party at Chin's was a success...and there are still some MR. TIKIHEADs available on Ebay, for your Christmas shopping needs! You can also get them in person at the 3rd Annual Upshur Street Arts Fair this Saturday.


The 3rd Annual Upshur Street Arts Fair takes place this Saturday, December 15th, from 11am to 5pm. The event is hosted by and takes place in Domku Bar & Cafe and Shakka King Fine Menswear, both in the 800 block of Upshur Street, NW. Drop by for breakfast and browse handmade crafts and works of art, all produced by local artists.

Hukilau is History, here comes Art In Heat!

So I am really sorry about not getting more posts in before Hukilau, but it really was a rough time. I am glad to report that Kate's foot is on the mend, our bathroom is done, I sold lots at Hukilau, and I am ready and refreshed for Art in Heat!

So I'll just jump into the slide show of the trip:This is Mark and Amy's Airstream, which graciously hauled my stuff down to hukilau...its a pretty sweet ride, pictured here at "south of the border" (see the sombrero observation deck in the background?)
This is a photo of the booth. Its more impressive in the flesh, but we didn't get any complaints. I had three category of things for sale, Paintings, Screenprints, and MR TIKIHEADs. (I guess I can let the cat out of the bag now about MR. TIKIHEAD...its a magnet set that is like Mr. Potatohead, because you can move the features around and create your own tikis. They made their debut at Hukilau, but I hope to have them for sale soon at www.mrtikihead.com.)
If you want one now, you can always contact me directly @ Jared@artbyjared.com (they'll only set you back $10...What a bargain!)

Our booth was set up directly across from the esteemed witchdoctor Dr. CARDOO. He helped cure KT's foot (he said something about her foot being "good stock for soup", whatever that means...He's available for parties, oddly enough here)We were also set up next to a couple who go throughout Polynesia and get the "real deal" tikis...I had to have this one:I don't know what to call him, but he will find a place of honor in our house! (I still need to call them to ask about the provenance, but I believe he is from New Guinea...)

There were so many great things that happened at Hukilau, I can't really expound on them all here, so I will just sum it up by saying that we will be making the trek next year!

So now that Hukilau is behind me, its time to start working on Art in Heat! Here's just a taste of the upcoming scenery for the Lobsterboy show on opening night!I'll have progress reports this time next week, to let you know all about Art in Heat, Palace of Wonders, Joseph, and my debut at Dr. Sketchy's as "the Red King"...