Ink Is My Perfume

More Hand-Colored Prints

2010-03-06T21:57:00Z

Here are a couple more versions of "Faithful 100%," both of which are hand-colored and resting peacefully in my studio.

This week was interesting, I had to finish printing an edition of a pretty large plate (it's 12" x 18"). I have never done an edition of something that size before, and it required some concessions on my end. If you're not entirely familiar with the printmaking process, there's pretty much two ends of it. There's the mentally frustrating part where you're trying to get the copper plate to go along with your plans, which it may or may not be inclined to do. Like I said, it can be mentally taxing, but it's not usually physically that big of a deal. The other end of the process is the actual printing of a plate, which can be physically demanding. Even small plates that are done quickly are accompanyed by buckets of sweat and aches the next day (which is why traditional printmakers tend to sneer at things like giclee prints - if it doesn't take a couple of Aleve and a vat of coffee to get you through the day, it's not really a print).

However, a large plate requires much more time and attention to do correctly (which you'd want to make sure to do - especially when each print requires a full sheet of printmaking paper that can range from $2 to $9 each). I decided to break the printing into two sessions instead of trying (and likely failing) to get the full run done in one day. There is also the complicating factor of what to do with a number of giant, wet sheets of paper. I ordinarily tape up the wet prints onto a wooden board (it takes about a day for the paper to dry fully, and when it's dry it'll be perfectly flat), but considering that it's the end of the quarter and everyone else is doing the same thing, space is at a premium. I found an unused board that could accomdate four of my enormous wet prints, so that was the limit for how many I could print each day (because trying to store a giant wet sheet of paper is asking for trouble, and it would also require re-soaking at a later point so that I could flatten it).

The first day of printing, I managed to get three prints, and the second day I got four prints. On both days, that was a pretty full afternoon of printing, and I just about reached my physical limit on both days. Yesterday's task was to measure and trim down all seven of the prints, and to try not to get any ink on them (printing ink is magical, it ends up literally everywhere). Going through the prints, I found that six out of seven were acceptable for my edition (which is a ridiculously good batting average for me). I decided on a margin size, and started measuring. A minor problem popped up - there wasn't a straight edge large enough to use for the long side of the print. The final dimensions of the sheet of paper ended up being 20" x 27", and the longest edge in the studio was 24" long.

I figured out a way to work around that, so now I have an edition of six of this really big print. I'll have pictures of it in the next week or so - the whole edition is still in my drawer in the print studio. The next challenge is how to transport the batch of prints without messing them up. Good times...

c.

Alakazam/Shazam

2010-03-02T00:24:00Z

"Alakazam!" 4" x 6", intaglio/woodcut/watercolor pencils, 2010. Hand-colored unique variant.

"Shazam!" 4" x 6", intaglio/woodcut/watercolor pencils, 2010. Hand-colored unique variant

As with pretty much all the prints I post here, these guys are for sale and eagerly looking for a new home. If either of them strike your fancy, they're $60 each. Feel free to drop me an e-mail if you're ready to begin the art adoption process!

*****
Another quarter of printmaking is starting to wrap up. I've been very busy over the last couple of months, but the problem with working on larger pieces is that they take forever to complete. I'm just now in the middle of editioning a plate that was ready to go in December (I've been much more interested in the drawing end of things instead of the actual printing of things lately, but at some point that has to even out), and I have another that is going to be a photo-finish to see if I get it done or have to wait until the end of the month to complete and print it.

The other dilemma is that I'm bumping up against the application deadlines for a few summer art fairs, and it would be nice to include the newest stuff in my applications, but I guess it's better to take the time to do a good job and not rush things. It just feels weird to represent yourself with work that may have been done a year or more ago - it doesn't feel entirely related to the current batch of work. Ah well, enough rambling for one day.

The countdown is on for my new laptop...

c.

Faithful 100%

2010-02-24T06:26:00Z

100th post!!!

"Faithful 100%," 4" x 10", intaglio, 2010. Edition of 10, printed on Fabriano Rosapina.

Sometimes, you get lucky and come up with a visually catchy idea, execute it quickly, and you automagically have a new print. That's pretty much what happened here (although it took me a couple of months to actually take the time to edition this one). I don't have a lot to say here, other than that I've been watching a lot of Looney Tunes again, and the title is from one of the lines in "Horton Hatches an Egg."

I was kind of bummed out a couple of days ago - I got an e-mail wanting to buy some of my artwork. Which would be cool, but a little online investigation revealed it was a scam (the way it was written was odd, and didn't really sound like someone who wanted to buy some of my artwork). Sigh. It's not like I'm making a fortune at this, so it's kind of disheartening to have someone basically trying to rip me off. I know that it's not personal, which somehow makes it even shittier. Leave it to the internet to make my day...

c.

Waiting

2010-02-19T06:07:00Z

From my sketchbook...

I wish I had more finished pieces to show off, but the truth is that I've been working exclusively on really large (for etchings) stuff for the last few months, and while I'm close to having something to show for it, that day is not today. So enjoy this quick sketch for now.

A few weeks ago, I managed to wreck both of my functioning computers. One laptop died due to old age (props to Toshiba for making a budget laptop that survived four years), and as I was mourning it's death by surfing the internets on my netbook later that evening, I managed to get the worst case of computer herpes ever (stupid viruses!). It took over two weeks to get the netbook up and running again (and I can't take credit for that - thank goodness for the tech savvy!), and it's currently my go-to machine. That's not so good when you need to do any kind of image editing, but my replacement laptop won't be here for at least another couple of weeks, so I'm making do with a 10.1" screen and no optical drive. Two more weeks, two more weeks...

It's also getting to be the time of year to apply for the summer art fairs, which I hope bears at least as much fruit as last year. I really enjoyed the two shows that I did, and I'd love to do more than that this summer. I guess it's kind of a crapshoot every year, though. Keep your fingers crossed for me, I could use all the extra luck available.

Well, that's the lay of the land for the moment. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day of printing, and I'll have something to show off by the end of the weekend. Talk to you then!

c.

Creative Block

2010-02-13T18:29:00Z

Overcoming Creative Block (via Lifehacker)

Dealing with a creative block is a problem pretty much all of us creative types have faced at one point or another, myself included. The linked article has brief interviews with 25 folks who share their tips for dealing with a block. It's a very good read!

My technique doesn't really help anyone if you're already mired in one, but my solution is to always have a number of pieces that I'm working on at the same time. That way, I'm rarely faced with a complete blank slate; there's always something that I can keep my hands busy with until actual inspiration strikes. Just being able to work on something, even if it's as minor as doing some shading on a drawing, can often spur me to get through a day of drawing that otherwise wasn't going to happen. It also takes the pressure off of me to come up with a new design, which will occur to me eventually if my head's in the game.

And, like a lot of other people, I read a lot and drink a lot of coffee. If you're putting ideas into your head and get all jacked up on caffeine, something's bound to happen.

A (Chicken) Tender Moment

2010-02-08T07:32:00Z

Finally, a new piece! "A (Chicken) Tender Moment," 12" x 18", intaglio/monoprint, 2010. Unique print.

This piece is currently showing over the the previously mentioned "Love in Print" show at Portland's Bite Studio. I'd definitely encourage you to check it out in person if at all possible - it's a pretty large print, and (of course) looks a million times better in person. But if that's not possible, you can click on the image and I've got a pretty large scan of it on my Flickr account. This thing has taken the better part of the last month to get done (I did it specifically for the show), and I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out. There's still some work to go before I can do a full official "edition" of it, but it's in the ballpark.

Alrighty! That's about all I've got to say about that. Until next time...

Love In Print show - opens TONIGHT!

2010-02-05T17:40:00Z

Late notice, I know, but I've got a print in Bite Studio's annual Love in Print show. The show opens tonight (from 6-10 PM), and is chock-full of excellent printmakers. If you're looking for another stop on your First Friday rounds, hit up Bite Studio and feel the love!

Digital Encroachment

2010-01-26T19:34:33Z

For photographers and graphic artists, not a pretty picture out there.

"The dominant tech culture says everyone should just give away their content and their expertise," Lanier told me this week. "Then they are supposed to make money later through personal appearances, or selling T-shirts or whatever. That doesn't really help the photographer or the graphic artist who is trying to make a living right now."

*****
It's a pretty interesting article, and I'd encourage everyone to read it. Particularly for visual artists, while everyone has been focusing on the seemingly endless possibilities of technology, but there are significant negative trade-offs being made with the encroachment of digital reproduction and dissemination.

From a post called Black & White ImageS: the Fifth Special Collection at lines and colors:

"As I've pointed out before, even though it's not evident at first glance, computer monitors are low resolution (about 103ppi) -- print images in glossy magazines and books are almost three times higher in resolution than your monitor (300dpi); and the difference in reproducing this kind of image is striking."

He's talking about pen and ink drawings in particular, which don't reproduce all that well on a computer screen. But it also applies to printmaking, particularly if you create etchings. I'd think that it would be pretty galling to most visual artists to labor over a piece of artwork, and then having the vast majority of people who actually see the work see it in a diminished manner.

Postcard WIP

2010-01-22T06:52:00Z

"Postcard WIP," 4" x 6", intaglio, 2010. First state.

This is for a printmaking assignment of sorts. Basically, I have to create a postcard-sized image, pass it along to other artists, and etch their work onto the copper plate. There'll be three artists doing work on it along the way. The first has finished her work, but I haven't altered the plate yet. I figured this would be a fun piece to follow along it's evolution...

Things have been very busy the last couple of weeks. You probably wouldn't know that if you were judging by my blog, but it's yet another instance of my working very hard on a large number of pieces, and I'll end up bombarding you with a ton of larger, complete works in a few weeks. I just ordered a bunch of paper, and I'll be tearing through it in no time at all.

Well, anything else that I'd have to say right now would probably fall under the heading of "bellyaching," and rather than dive into that cesspool, I'll just bid you all a good night and promise that I'll have more art posted very soon...

Meep Moop

2010-01-08T08:01:00Z

It's a new year, so I probably should get around to breaking the seal on blogging in 2010. Here's "Meep Moop," ink and marker, artist trading card size, 2010. It's based on something quick I did in my sketchbook...

Things are finally getting back to normal. The holidays are nice and all, but the down time and irregular schedule is awful for my productivity. In any case, I'm back in the studio and inching towards happy. I started working on the woodcut version of the little cowboy I posted a week or two ago, and I got my pretty freaking big piece of copper so that I can start working on my piece for next month's "Love In Print" show at Portland's Bite Studio. Can I finish a 12" x 18" color etching from scratch in three weeks? I'm betting yes. I'll have more info about that show in a couple of weeks (it's not going to do anybody any good right now), so get ready to brave a blustery NW winter night to see a show full of pretty rad prints.

On the negative side, I got a rock chip in my truck's windshield today, and it appears that my netbook may have gone teats up after only six months. Awesome. That's okay, it's nothing a little Beatles can't soothe over. And if that doesn't work, I'll have to move on to something a little heavier...

I Was There, Too!!!

2009-12-31T04:49:00Z

From today's Indy Comic Book Week event in Porltand, OR...

In the foreground is Jason Martin (Super Real), the hat over his shoulder is Paul Guinan (Boilerplate), and Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man) is lounging in the background. Present, but not shown was Neal Skorpen. Super thanks to Andrew and the folks at TFAW for putting on the event and being so hospitable!

Indy Comic Book Week appearance

2009-12-29T19:21:00Z

This came together very last-second, but I'll be making a rare (for these days) in-store appearance for Indy Comic Book Week tomorrow.

Things From Another World

Portland, OR (Hollywood location)

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2-7 PM

I'm not entirely sure how many other artists are going to be there, but there will be artists and comic books to check out! And I know you're tired of sitting at home and doing nothing anyways, so why not take a break from your winter break and find a few favorite comic book? In any case, I'll have some of my smaller prints with me, and a full array of Alien Boy material to choose from. Stock up now!

Here's a couple of links to better explain the Indy Comic Book Week and why it's going on:

Indy Comic Book Week (official site)

Talking Comics with Tim: Indy Comic Book Week Planners

Hope to see you there!

EDIT: I found a blog post from the TFAW, and found out that there will indeed be other artists there. Ones you may have heard of, like Paul Guinan and Shannon Wheeler!

Indy Comic Books Week Events Wednesday, December 30.

The Future of Creativity

2009-12-28T08:45:00Z

From "The Scientist," published in 1964:

"There are, however, particular and important ways in which science is likely to continue to exert an influence on the artistic world. One strong probability is an even greater reliance on scientific tools and techniques as aids in the creative process. Future painters may do their preliminary sketches in color on electronic "slates." Choreographers may animate stick figures by push button. Authors may employ mathematical analyses which warn that a work in progress suffers from too much repetition. Playwrights may utilize geometrical theories of plot structure. The theatrical producer with a new show for Broadway may find out-of-town tryouts more costly and less instructive than the use of a closed-circuit network that tells him precisely when his audiences laugh, gasp or tune out. However fantastic, if not repugnant, many living artists may find such ideas, their successors will almost certainly prove a more receptive breed. They may create in strange, untraditional media, but there is no reason why the best of them should not inspire and entertain as fully as did a Bach or Shakespeare in times gone by."

Yee-Haw sketch

2009-12-20T23:08:00Z

This is a ball-point pen sketch in my sketchbook, a preparatory drawing for a small woodcut I'm going to do soon. The idea is to incorporate it into a larger image, but I think it'll work on it's own as well.

If you're amused by that sort of thing, you can click onto the image, which will take you to my Flickr site. The original image is freaking enormous (and the drawing is kind of tiny), and it's kind of funny to see pen lines blown up into what looks kind of like big, fat charcoal lines.

I guess I needed my current break more than I thought. I'm not particularly enjoying the down time, but I have been sick more often than not over the last two or three months, and just taking time off to get healthy wasn't an option. Taking cold medicine, single-handedly supporting the cough-drop manufacturing industry, and pounding cup after cup of coffee to keep going was the only option, and it feels nice to finally be able to take a nap if I need one. I've been hitting the gym with more regularity, and predictably, I'm feeling a lot better. My mind is finally clearing, and the ideas are flowing a bit. At least enough so that when the break is over I'm going to absolutely rock that printing press.

It's probably about even odds whether or not I'll post again before X-Mas, so I'll just wish everyone a happy holiday season right now. Keep warm!

My "Go Bag"

2009-12-20T00:22:00Z

Inspired by the Lifehacker article, I thought it would be fun to show my "Go Bag." In any case, since I spent half an hour going through pictures of what other people lug around, I want to play, too!

In a roughly clockwise order:

1. My Bag: A messenger bag that I got at TJ Maxx. It also came with a full-size laptop sleeve, but I don't use that very often.

2. Tiger Balm: I'm not a senior citizen, yet I am occasionally creaky.

3. Moleskine Cahier Journal: Perfect for jotting down notes/phone numbers/etc.

4. Magic Toy Snake: I won it at a Dr. Sketchy's event, and keep it with me at all times now.

5. Magazines: I always have mags with me, I read a ton of 'em. Right now: Juxtapoz and GQ

6. Zune 120: Yes, I do actually have that much music, and yes, I do prefer to have it available at all times.

7. Pencil Boxes: one has a random assortment of pencils and pens, the other has my printmaking implements (stylus, china markers, X-Acto knife, other pointy stuff)

8. Skullcandy Hesh headphones: I also have a set of Skullcandy earbuds that might get swapped in if I'm cramped for space, but these are ideal for those times when I'm in public, but really don't want to talk to anybody. I'm not antisocial, I'm just focused sometimes.

9. Dr. Grip refill cartridge

10. Pencil Sharpener (kind of offscreen on the bottom right): Yeah, I do still use regular pencils from time to time.

11. Sketchbook: Idea central. This one is a Moleskine knockoff I found on clearance at Borders, but it's fantastic. Just like a real Moleskine, it makes a ball-point pen look like a million bucks. Now that I'm about halfway through this one, I'm really wishing that I had bought them all up when I had the chance.

12. Spiral Notebook: I have a ton of them, but rarely use them. It's much more likely that any notes are going in the tiny Moleskine or in my sketchbook.

13. Acer Aspire One 10.1" netbook: Sadly, more powerful and handy than my full-sized notebook. Time and age makes fools of us all...

14. Mechanical pencil

15. Fancy Pants Pen: I took advantage of an office supply store's closing to snag an awesome pen for a song. Every adult should have a good pen to write with.

16. Pliers/Boxcutter: I need these more than I expected I would, so I started carrying my own. I'm really coveting a Leatherman right now...

17. Sharpie

18. 1 GB USB Data Stick: I use it mostly to shift documents between my two computers

19. Erasers: If you use pencils, you should get a good eraser.

20. Dr. Grip pen and pencil: I have big hands, so finding big-enough writing utensils (that aren't novelty-sized and obnoxious) was a chore until I found these. I usually manage to go 4-5 years before losing one of them.

21. Clear Mobile Internet Stick: Because in a small town, not everyone offers free wifi.

22. Swiss Army Business Card Holder (not shown): because you never know when it's business time.

What's sometimes in there, but isn't right now:

1. Water bottle

2. Lunch Box

3. Altoids/gum/cough drops: whichever is seasonally appropriate.

4. Books: I usually have something in there, but not today.

5. Sunglasses

6. Blackberry Curve

7. Today's Newspaper: The Oregonian

8. Set of Niji Wood Knives: for doing woodcuts. I don't know why, but I just always feel better having all of my pointy printmaking tools with me at all times.

So yeah, that's my basic survival kit to get through each day. If I could make it work, I'd like to lug around a cooler full of beverages with me too, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Hopefully, there'll be some art-related stuff soon!

Scott McCloud on Comics

2009-12-15T21:25:00Z

I'm on a bit of a printmaking hiatus right now (me and the press have agreed to see other people for about a month or so), so there's not much in the way of new art being generated at the moment. That's okay, I haven't forgotten about you. To start tiding over the days, here's a great video of Scott McCloud doing what he does best - breaking down comics. This is a truncated version of his longer talks - I've seen him talk twice in person, and it was absolutely fascinating both times. So here you goes...

I'll be back with more stuff before long, I promise...

Somebody Hearts Me

2009-12-04T22:50:00Z

Good news! I got a little bit of online attention from Downtown LA Life magazine. Every bit helps!

There's no direct link to my stuff, but if you click through the splash page, there's a list of links on the left of the page, and I'm in there. So if you want to check out a few of my paintings and a couple of prints as well as a compliment for me, head on over! I think my stuff will be up for the rest of the month (December).

Downtown LA Life

Clay's Top Ten Albums of 2009

2009-11-29T07:01:00Z

It's about that time - listening to music is something that I spend quite a lot of time doing (between commuting, studio time, etc.), and quite naturally I've got some opinions about what I listen to. In case you're curious about what I was listening to last year, why don't you check out Clay's Top Ten Albums of 2008.

Cool? Alright, without any further ado, here's my top ten of 2009.

10. The Warlocks - “The Mirror Explodes”

With the absence of any familiar laconic, druggy, reverb-drenched releases to sink my teeth into (aka a new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album), the Warlock's latest filled that gap nicely. I'd love to tell you all about their tight playing, great hooks, and energetic songs, but that's not what they're about. Throw this one on, sit back (waaaaay back), and relax. You've got some classic west-coast psychedelia to process...

9. Red Fang - “Red Fang”

Heavy, brother! These guys come off like a much less-polished Queens of the Stone Age, and that's right up my alley. “Prehistoric Dog” is the highlight of the album, but there's not too much lag over the course of the rest of the album. It's just good, heavy, hard rock. If you like those things, and your needs are not being currently met, give Red Fang a try.

8. Nirvana - “Live at Reading”

I'm particularly torn on this album. First off, it's freaking great. It's Nirvana, playing while they still enjoyed it, in front of an enormous audience who were clearly geeked to see them play. It's a great recording, it's a great set-list (aside from omitting “Love Buzz”), it's a great band. What the hell else could I possibly want here? First off, “Love Buzz.” If you're telling me that it's worth cutting songs and between-song banter to get down to one disc, I'd suggest you eat a dick. I'm very much of the school that live recordings (especially ones that purport to represent a particular show) should be a warts and all affair. Also, if you were to suggest that the folks that might be interested in buying a live Nirvana album after all these years are going to balk at a 2-disc set, well, I'd provide three options. First, put out an uncut version for superfans/completists. Secondly, you could just eat the twelve cents per unit it costs (or whatever) to include the second disc, and price it exactly the same as you would have a one-disc version. Thirdly, you could include a code so that those of us who buy the album can go online and download that one song in MP3 format, since we're all going to immediately throw this album on our iPods or whatever anyhow. Instead, we've got a compromised version of a great concert, and it's highly unlikely that there's going to be an official uncut release at any point in the near future. Whomever is responsible for this album chose the stupidest possible way to get around the running length of the show, so thanks for that.

But it is a blistering concert, and if you even kind of like/liked Nirvana, this is exactly the sort of thing you're probably going to want. Or you could get the re-issue of “Bleach,” because the bonus concert on that album is pretty freaking great, too.

7. Rancid - “Let the Dominoes Fall”

I miss ska. There, I said it out loud. I loved ska in the 90's, and I love it now. Unfortunately, it's pretty slim pickings these days for that classic 90's Warped Tour sound, and it's even worse for ska. Tim Armstrong remedied that with his solo album a couple of years ago, and now he's back with Rancid. I'm not sure that I ever understand anything he ever says, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter! When Rancid (or Tim himself) put out an album, it brings back memories of cute girls skanking in plaid skirts, angry punk chicks, and just plain good times. It also helps that Rancid's songs are catchy as hell, go down like a Coke on a hot day, and blow by before you even realize it. Hey, Tim! I ain't worried about a god damn thing either!

6. Mos Def - “The Ecstatic”

Phew! This one may have been the biggest return to form of the year. Now I'm not going to lie to you, and tell you that “The Ecstatic” is on par with “Black on Both Sides” or the Black Star album. It's not, because those are certifiable classics, and most artists would be lucky to reach those heights even once over the course of their career. But when the eastern (as in far-eastern) riff hits on “Supermagic,” it's like those last couple of albums are a distant memory. Mos is making music because he must, not out of obligation. I don't know that for sure, I just know how “The Ecstatic” feels. And it feels like it's time to crank that sucker up to 11 and ride the beat. For the first time in a few years, I'm looking forward to what's coming next.

5. Dinosaur Jr. - “Farm”

Okay look, yeah, I'm getting on that bandwagon. You know, those bands that were underground in the 80's, never quite got their due, and broke up before the rest of the music world caught up to what they were doing. You know, bands like Mission of Burma (who's latest album was also really good). Now Dinosaur Jr., they made a really good album here. I know you're thinking that I'm getting a little Pitchforky here, but I'm going to tell you this; it's a relief to hear an album this good, this loud, and this feisty from a band led by a guy with white hair down to his ass. It's a good listen, but it also gives me hope that I can be that guy when I get to that point. So don't take that away from me, that glimmer of hope for those years.

4. Modest Mouse - “No One's First, and You're Next” EP

I feel kind of bad listing an EP this high up on my list, especially one that's a b-sides collection. But then again, against all odds, it holds together really well. I don't know what else to tell you about this EP right here, but you might want to track it down. Especially if you're into Modest Mouse, you might want to track it down.

3. NOFX - “Coaster”

Really? NOFX? Look, I'm not going to apologize for this one. If I want to hear some good, snotty, borderline offensive punk rock, where else would you suggest I go? You know and I know that the answer lies with Fat Mike. Everything else in this vein is second rate. I will admit, Fat Mike's been writing an awful lot of songs about alcoholism and drug abuse these days, and I'm starting to worry about him. I'm starting to worry that I'm going to be flipping channels and find him in therapy with Dr. Drew. And then, as these things go, he'll get all serious, and all those great, funny NOFX songs will be a thing of the past. But at the same time, listen to “Blasphemy (the Victimless Crime)” or “I Am an Alcoholic” and tell me that's a risk you're not willing to take. And on the other hand, “We Called It America” and “Best God in Show” have him coming off pretty sharp. So while I'm a little worried about Fat Mike, I've also listened to this album more than anything else this year (other than my top two albums). Keep it up, man!

2. The Dandy Warhols - “...Are Sound”

I had such an unbelievably hard time figuring out what was going to be #1 and #2 this year, because for me, these two albums stood head and shoulders above the rest. It wasn't even close, really.

“The Dandy Warhols Are Sound” is basically the first version of 2003's “Welcome to the Monkey House,” which was rejected by the Dandys' label, and then was remixed without their involvement. That was the version (along with an extra song) that hit record stores, and it was a really good album. It's not like the band disowned it or anything. However, they've had the original version, mixed by Russell Elevado just laying around, and when they were finally free from their contract, decided to put out “...Are Sound.”

This album is a radically different listening experience from “Monkey House.” The only way I can think of to put it is that the sparkle has been removed. This version sounds like something a band could produce, while WTTMH had a layer of sheen to it that worked really well with the sort of cool, detached vibe the Dandys have. Here, the drums are really stripped bare of effects, but the vocals are also treated very differently. In “The Last High,” this has the effect of revealing a great deal of vulnerability in the vocal performance. Hearing Courtney Taylor-Taylor subtly choking on the line “Maybe you'll call me/maybe you won't” in the chorus is startling and humanizing. On the whole, “...Are Sound” is a more melancholy, human record. It's the difference between a morning after where the night before went well, and one where you think it might have gone well, but aren't entirely sure.

This isn't an album that's likely to change one's perception of the Dandy Warhols. Sure, there's an academic appeal – a second version of the same material handled by a different producer. But if you like them, this is way better than just a curiosity. If not, the differences between the two albums aren't so radical that this album is going to become a must-own. It's a fantastic batch of songs either way, and this one stands on it's own. This is one of the two albums that I've been listening to fanatically for the last few months or so, and I think it would have been the number one if it weren't for it's earlier remixed doppelganger.

1. Aceyalone - “And The Lonely Ones”

You ever see someone who's really good at what they do, having fun? Now, the thing about people who are really good at what they do is that they make the difficult seem effortless. But the ones who are a little better than that? Not only do they make what they do seem like it's no work at all, but sometimes there's a moment where they'll tip down their glasses, wink at you, and then hit a detail that's mind-bogglingly perfect, just to show off a little. Just to let you know.

There's a moment like that on this album, in the song “Push n' Pull.” Acey's rapping, loosely swinging over a swing groove. His line goes “I was told/by a man so old/that when he spoke/time stood still,” at which point all the instruments except the hi-hat and the horn drops out until he's done with the rest of the line. And it's so fucking perfect that it raises goosebumps AND a huge grin goes across my face every time I hear this song. Acey just let me know just how good he is, and it's just a small moment in a short album that goes by quicker than perhaps anything else I've ever listened to.

This album is something like 28 minutes long – chock full of Motown and doo-wop goodness. Aceyalone's been bouncing between styles on his last couple of albums (the last one was his tribute to Jamaican dancehall music, done entirely in patois), and I didn't really know what to expect when I got it, other than that I generally like his work. Much like the Dandy Warhols album, I've been listening to this album repeatedly, obsessively. It's infectious, a master having fun. It's not the heaviest material, it's not a rapper rapping about guns and blow, it's a musician making music.

And, as a very special bonus, here's the video for my favorite song of the year:

An Open Exchange of Ideas

2009-11-22T07:24:00Z

"An Open Exchange of Ideas," 4" x 6", intaglio, 2009. Edition of 7, printed on Fabriano Murillo paper.

Just when things were starting to go smoothly this quarter, I caught another cold this week. That's the 2nd time I've been sick since the beginning of October. I usually manage to hold off illnesses until right after a deadline (one of my superpowers, I guess), but now the timing couldn't be worse. This was my marathon week (I've been a studio assistant this quarter, which means that I'm pretty much always there anyways, but with all the holidays I had to load up a ton of studio time during the last couple weeks of the quarter), and instead of just being physically tired, I'm now completely physically and mentally exhausted, and unsure if I'm going to be able to get the work done that I need to.

To top off everything, I've lost my voice for the last couple of days (and who knows how long before it returns). It's bad enough to have to deal with all the joys of a bad cold, but not being able to do simple things like talk with my girlfriend on the phone, sing along with a favorite song on the radio, or even communicate with people around me has beaten me into the ground. I know that it's the bad attitude and overwhelming negativity that always seems to come with being my sick, but trying to muster up the fight to get done what has to get done seems absolutely impossible right now. Sigh... It would be impossible to overstate how frustrated I am right now. Under better circumstances, I'd channel that frustration into work, but that's not possible now either.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Tilt

2009-11-14T21:35:00Z

"Tilt," 4" x 4", woodcut, 2009. Edition of 8, printed on Mulberry paper.

I actually finished this guy a month or more ago, the first print I managed to get done this fall. At the time, I was struggling mightily to get anything done, fighting off a cold, and generally being in a pissy mood. The joy of woodcuts is that you can sometimes finish them very, very quickly, which can be the cure when you're mired artistically. It's just getting that first one out of the way that matters, and after that things will begin to flow more normally. That was certainly the case here, as the time I've spent working (seemingly without anything to show for it) is starting to pay off. I editioned my fourth print of the fall yesterday, and I'll have a scan of that next week after I've flattened the prints.

For graphic novel and crime book fans, I've got to recommend "Parker: the Hunter" by Darwyn Cooke. It's based on the Richard Stark book, and is the first of four planned adaptations. Cooke's art suits the material and the era perfectly, and first 20 pages of the book is one of the most effective introductions to a character I've ever seen. I can't recommend this book enough, it's easily one of the best graphic novels I've read in years. IDW (the publisher) has a preview of the book here.