Facebook 3X5 Artists challenge images all in one place

Here is a roundup of all of the 3X5 Facebook Artist challenge images all in one place. It has been really great for me, because it got a chance to see where I have been and where I am going...  Of course, you can always look at them (and everything else) on my website, artbyjared.com

Day One: Old School

Day Two: Theater Designs

Day Three: Paintings on Velvet

Day Four: MONKEYS!

Day 5: Recent Developments

Bonus Day: Spooktacular Giveaways

NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE: WWW.ARTBYJARED.COM!!!!!!

That right, you heard it here first, I have spiffed up my ole website just in time for the flood of activity surrounding STRUCK: Scenic Remnants by Jared Davis at the Warehouse. So check out the new look at:

WWW.ARTBYJARED.COM

Here you will find all sorts of improvements...Gone are the days of having a website that I don't have the software to update...its all thanks to the wonderful people a otherpeoplespixels.com. It has truly been an easy and enjoyable experience working with them. And I am not just saying that because I get three months free for every person I recommend who signs up with them (although I do...so remember to plug me if you sign up!)

Last night was the opening night event for the DCCAH show that I have a piece in. Check it out, all the deets are below:The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities would like to invite you to the FY2009 Visual Arts Applicants' Showcase.

Opening Reception: July 16, 2008, 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Saturday
July 17 - August 1, 2008

Katzen Arts Center
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
(Take Metro Red-Line to Tenleytown/AU Station)

For more information call (202) 724-5613

I also dropped off some artwork for the All Arlington Salon at the Ellipse:

All Arlington Salon
Non-Juried Exhibition open to artists who live, work, study or have a studio in Arlington, VA.
Friday, August 1 - Saturday, September 13, 2008
Opening Reception Thursday, July 31, 7 - 9 p.m. with Flamenco Guitarist Gerard Moreno performing.
Parking is free and open late on the night of the reception.

And I am dropping off some work for Wall Mountables at the DCAC tomorrow:

July 18 - August 31
Installation: July 16 3-8pm, July 17 3-8pm, July 18 3-6pm
Opening Reception: July 18, 7-9pm
Deinstallation: September 3 - 7, 2-7pm

So that's a lot of exhibitions in one week...who said that summer was the slow time for arts?

And lastly, I have made some progress with the Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum set design. While this may not be the best start I have ever had with a show, I feel that the design is pretty solid for this theater company's needs. I had visions of trying to do the whole show as a roman mosaic, but eventually I woke up from that dream, and realized that it (more than likely) would be to ambitious for this group to attempt. So I have shelved the idea (not completely, because I intend to use mosaic as a motif in the architecture) for now, but perhaps I will get a chance to do this show again...in the meantime here is the first sketch of the set:

Funny...Forum Set Sketch, Arlington Players
Pencil and Photoshop, 1/8"=1'

And here is an example of my progress with the drafting for the middle house:

Funny...Forum Senex's House, Arlington Players
Vectorworks, 1/4"=1'

I hope to see you all at the opening of STRUCK, NEXT FRIDAY!!!!! Until then, ALOHA!

Catching up with photos, and PAGEANT Design

Thanksgiving went pretty much without a hitch. I have been gearing up for the next surge of projects, so I took part of this week to photograph some stuff I haven't had time to (or forgot to) for the olde portfolio
First, a stencil print I did for Hukilau 2007. Its a print version of "the projectionist" (still about 6 left in the Edition)The other big stencil print from Hukilau, "Seeing Things". The first one in this edition is in the collection of Suburban Hipster...This is a foray into the world of oil paint. I set up an easel on my porch and painted "al fresco"...its really just a start, but I haven't the heart to set this up indoors now that the weather has turned cold.
This is the freshest of the artwork shown here. It called "a woman scorned", its 5"x7". It represents a new technique I am working on that gives me a hard edge as well as thick paint...hopefully it will lead to some exciting new directions for my work.

Lastly, I want to share with you the design for "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant", fresh off of the drafting table today. I'll get to work soon on it, so you'll get production photos of the show before the year is out!

Portfolio Assemby Complete!

I have just completed one of those tasks that is never really complete. I updated my portfolio. It takes forever, is never as cool as you would like and starts your subconscious on a "gut check" about your career. But its so good to have it done. I will soon be able to offer you an in depth glimpse into said portfolio, online. That's because I have been feeding discs, with portfolio images to Bennu Enterprises, to update www.artbyjared.com

Other goings on this week involved a Hexagon meeting about the "kick" number, and what its scenery (as well as content) will entail. I also made some designs for the "frills" of circus wagons, which are coming along beautifully.

Trixie and I have been going back and forth about making a new sardine can to replace her current one which looks less and less like a sardine can. So I did this quick redesign:
You are all sworn to secrecy about the inner workings of this piece of scenery. (its not really like a magic cabinet, so you can see the inner mechanisms...which are really just there to make it easy for her to transport)

I also have been making stabs at getting a good proposal for a valance for the Palace of Wonders. Here's a design that didn't quite make the cut......Which is kinda frustrating, because I don't think that they understand my process...I don't start by making "great art", I try to provoke a reaction, so that a dialog gets started...its just a sketch...

This was also the weekend of Mark and Amy's disco party. They really know how to throw a shin-dig. I also got to use the Elvis suit one last time (this month!) because it happened to be thematic! (although Elvis was not really "Disco"...I like to think I added a bit of rockabilly to the evening with my presence)

On Sunday KT and I caught Sleeping Arrangements at Theater J. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but I did come away with one good sentiment from the play:

Most problems in life can be improved by a stay in an expensive hotel room.

The other remarkable thing about the production was that the set designer got her MFA from Wayne State University...GO TARTARS!

This week also started my next stint at Rep Stage painting the set for some Pinter play. They are woefully behind on construction at this point, and it is going to be a stressful build, but I am up for the challenge!

I also have been trying to "make friends" on Myspace, so if you are reading this...won't you please be my friend? You can contact me on MySpace here:

http://www.myspace.com/artbyjared

Well, I guess you should wish me luck at my portfolio review on Friday. I hope that all of this work on the portfolio makes a good impression!