Robot Sketch #1

One of a two-part series for Space 242's next opening: Robots!

Yay!


Next part to premiere in a couple of days.

Happy Holidays!!!

Hope you all have a good holiday and eat a lot and drink lots of wine. <3


New updates soon!!!

Ewoks and Ice Cream and Machines to Be Raged Against

Ewok Sundae, 16" x 20" on archival watercolor board.
Available for purchase through artasylumboston.com.

First off, the lovely Lindsay and Caroline were kind enough to point out my artwork featured in the Art Strikes Back show was featured on the front page of the i09 blog last week! Feel free to check it out here!


Aside from that, my opening for the Post This! Rock Posters of the 90's show at the 242 space premiers this upcoming friday, December 11th. I hope you can make it! There is a PLETHORA of AMAZING work there - totally worth it to go!


Oh! And I got hired at the Whole Foods in Woburn as their Lead Sign Painter/Graphic Artist. I'm really excited about it!

Pearl Jam concert poster

Pencil + Photoshop, 16.5" x 24"

This is my submission for the Space 242 90's rock posters and beyond project. I'm really hoping to push out another one tomorrow (Marcy Playground), so we'll see how much sleep I really need to function before I get to that. Working digitally strains my eyes greatly, but at least I have a new, beautiful 23" screen to work on.

I love Pearl Jam, and my plan is to one day have a purple '94 Toyota Tercel with a "PRL JAM" vanity plate. It's going to be amazing.

Anyways, I hope it makes it into the show - I love doing events with 242 and the people there. I always have a wonderful time at their openings, and I've met a lot of great people there.



Also: THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the show, and those who had me in their thoughts! It was a great success in my opinion, and there were so many wonderful works there. I was greatly humbled by the caliber of work there. So much talent - AMAZING.

The gallery is open Monday - Friday until about 6 or 7 for the next month, so if you didn't get a chance to catch the opening, you can still take a look. It's definitely worth it.

Group Show Opening tonight!

Robotsicle, Acryla Gouache 8" x 10" on cradled board

Hello everyone. I was invited by Art Asylum to be apart of their current exhibition: Art Strikes Back, featuring Star Wars artwork from at least 30 artists, including some really well-known people I've been a fan of for years. Here's one of my smaller pieces that's up for sale - you'll have to come to see the rest!

Some of the other artists being featured in this show are Scribe, Sucklord, Spencer Davis, Arvik, and Matt McGuire. I'm stunned by the caliber of work that I've seen, and I absolutely cannot wait.

Opening is TONIGHT, Nov. 6th, from 7 - 9
at the Old Gas Station Gallery at 1301 Boylston St. in Fenway
(call for directions if you need them!)
Free admittance, $3 for a bracelet for drinks
Hosted by the Fourth Wall Project
and Art Asylum

I hope to see you there!!

Here are some examples of some of the artists' work:

Spencer Davis Booty Babes


Scribe (I'm such a big fan)


Matt Maguire (Illustrator of Heavy Metal)


Arkiv

Hope to see some of you awesome people tonight!

Oilhead: Finished design

Hey guys, I just finished the t-shirt design for my friend Britteny's band Oilhead.

I'm really happy to have gotten to do some apparel design, and I can't wait to see them printed. It was a nice challenge to have to work around the printing process (whites under colors to make sure they pop out on black) and solving some technical issues via Photoshop. Did I mention how AMAZING it is to work on a computer that works?? 600 res files? Pshhh, my computer can handle that. In fact, it can handle several.


I also finished that mural for Blick - if you happen to be in the Fenway area in Boston, you should stop by my store and check it out! It'll only be up for the next week or two, but I'm really pleased with how it came out, especially the mum. (Don't pay any attention to the wayward maple leaf...)


Thanks for looking! More art updates soon.

October is Art Month

New window mural sketch for Blick for a contest.

This will be approximately 12 feet by 12 feet on the middle glass window at Blick, facing the street.

I also made little cutouts of leaves that I'm going to hang from the ceiling on the sides. I think it's going to look pretty!


It'll be started and finished tomorrow, so come by Fenway and check it out!

Thanks for looking!

Oilhead Tshirt Concept

Here's a tshirt design I'm working on for my friend's band Oilhead. Their band has really good energy - very upbeat, hip, trendy, with a good edge. All of the members are very level-headed and professional, and I can appreciate the technical background they've all come from.

So here's my first sketch for them, for a one- to two-color shirt print.

Thanks for looking!

Bats!

Here are a couple of small bat paintings I made in spirit of the season. I used to hate fall (California = always summer), but now I can truly appreciate riding my bike with a bit of wind chill and appreciating all things candycorn and pumpkin beer. Halloween is my favorite holiday.


So here are a couple of bat buddies. Just something easy while I couldn't find my pallet.


Materials used: two 4" circle wooden panels, layered with paint and sanded down, characters painted in acryla gouache and finished with Holbein rub-on comic transfers. I'm planning on putting these two little guys at my next gallery show (stay tuned!!)

Portrait Portrait

This is my work area at the moment, until I can get another desk.

I work at my computer desk with two screens, the big one for freelance/editing. I can't believe I ever worked without it, before. Ugh.

Also, if you zoom in, that's a recent painting I made. Lots of sad times lately, but I'm working through them. Bean a champ.

I just really liked this picture, and I rarely like looking at myself, so enjoy.



I know you love the flip flops.

Skulltree

Sketch for an upcoming painting I'll be making on a wooden shelf sconce-holder thing that I got at an antique shop. This thing is just screaming for a 3D centerpiece, and it's what I'm going to give it.


Planning to create a sculpture of this skull for the shelf part of the piece and paint designs/a narrative on the rest of the panel. I've had this idea in my head for quite a while now, and I'm really excited about it.


Skull = pencil sketch. Panel = unfinished wooden panel + neon yellow stain, hot pink acryla gouache + black acrylic, with a distressed finish.


Thanks for looking!

Back from the Grave

Hey everybody, I'm back from my leave of absence. Lots of things have been going on, including adjusting to full-time at Blick and learning to bike 50 - 60 miles a week without wanting to die. (I'm getting muscles!)

I've been doing a lot of prepwork for pieces, but I'm still working out the main compositions for a lot of new pieces. I've been collecting old wooden panels for the last 6 months off of ebay, from goodwill, second hand stores, outside sales, antique stores, craft stores, and yard sales. I've been painting and sanding and spray painting and ruining my lungs as much as possible.

I got to do a quick demo at Blick for the Blick acrylic paints - I had 5 colors to work with, and I had a ton of fun. I got to talk to a lot of pre-art school artists, and it was nice to get a first-hand feel for a product I sell. I really like knowing the ins and outs of art supplies - I've got all the information I would ever need to do art-related stuff.

Now I just have to make more art!

More updates over the next couple of days. Thanks for watching!

Better ____ Best

Part of a small series of 4 6" x 8" paintings I'm working on, focusing on female characters and the phrases "Better Went Best," "Better Meant Best," "Better Said Best," and "Better Knew Best." To come: mopey portrait of myself.

I'm really digging the color scheme in this one, as it's bright like the rest of my work, but more strange colors I wouldn't normally use. I also wanted to experiment with just drawing onto a board and creating the painting from there, as opposed to using transfers to paint sketches I've already created.

Along with that, I wanted to showcase my knowledge of anatomy with exaggerated features. I wanted to show my understanding of light and value with only paint, and I feel really strongly about this piece and my use of text as an element. More to come from this line (including a portrait of Alex Carlson).

Cat Ghosts: Upcoming

More sketches for a series (or several) that I'm working on. My cats are going to be red, and there will be chocolate chip cookies for the mushroom tops. Also: koi fish ghosts in the background, with lots of bamboo reeds. The finished piece will be 12" x 24" on 2" cradled gesso board.

I can't get enough of Ampersand boards! There are lots to look at on the Blick site, including a lot of odd sizes we don't carry at my store that I'd like to order... mmm, 18" x 36"...

New sketch: Girl and Bird

A new sketch for a series of character paintings for an upcoming show or two.

I'm truly digging character portraits, and I'm beginning to feel that's where I really shine. I'm thinking these characters need backgrounds - a world to live in, which is something I'm still working on. I'm open to suggestions!

Where do you think Bird Girl and Bird would live?

New art for sale + Phoenix cover!

Hey there, sorry for the lack of updates. There was moving + weddings to be had, both of which were very enjoyable (especially the wedding).

I have a ton more original artwork up for sale on my etsy. Go check it out!

Along with that, I have a big cover piece out for the Boston Phoenix right now, which can be found in the inside section. Pick one up, and maybe I'll sign it for you.


Aside from that, I've been working on new concepts for new paintings (such as the character above) for a possible upcoming show or two. I'm going on a ghost/character/conceptual/cookie theme. Fewer clowns in this series, but with the same amount of excellence.

I'd also done a little drawing for the bride and groom (my friends Haley and Corey Norman) for the reception, but I didn't get a picture of it - maybe it will resurface on this page one day.

Thanks for looking!

Update!

Hey there, kidlings. I've been very busy lately! I moved into my new apartment in Jamaica Plain (with lots of help from the Jared) and am now officially set up for living. So expect new work from me! I'm currently working on a painting with cat ghosts and cookies and whatnot. Also, to further exemplify my nerd-dom, I officially have two monitors running side by side, a 15" and a 23" to do my work on. Ooh yeah.

Also! I have a new Pheonix sub-cover (the big story cover on the inside) coming out this Wednesday, so if you're anywhere in the northeastern area, pick up a copy!

Aside from that, I'm revamping my entire portfolio and getting myself in check. Professional time = now.

Bikes Not Bombs Anniversary Party

Recently I finished an invitation design for Bikes Not Bombs, a local nonprofit dealing in the sales/repair of bikes, as well as teaching classes and developing youth programs for kids. They're a fantastic group, and working with them was wonderful. I'm so happy to have been a part of something so important for their company. This was also a nice exercise for drawing hands, too.

This is their 25th birthday/anniversary as a nonprofit, and tickets are available through Bikes Not Bombs, tickets starting at $50.



Working on redoing my entire physical portfolio as well as taking more steps to get my website up. Also moving into the new house this upcoming week. Working towards figuring out a lot of things right now.

OILHEAD!

Hey, check out my awesome flier, and then check out my friend Britteny's awesome band OILHEAD at Harper's Ferry next week! They put on a SICK show, and I'm really happy to be helping such a chill band full of talented musicians. Posters available! Email OILHEAD at oilheadband@gmail.com for inquiries about merchandise.

You can check out Oilhead at http://www.myspace.com/oilhead



Look out soon for pictures of the new mural I'm making at Blick on the front windows: SPACE. AND ROBOTS. AND AWESOME. YES. PLANETOID is playing at our Blick Madness Sale! Coming soon to the only Blick near you!

Radiohead - Kid A

This is my entry for the Beck's Music Inspired Art contest 2009 via Flickr. I chose to redesign Radiohead's Kid A, as it's one of my favorite album of theirs. I had a lot of fun with this one, and I wanted to make it look as bizarre as possible. I feel as though I've been making a LOT of work since school let out, and it'll be easier now to build a strong portfolio with pieces I like instead of having to pick from just a few pieces.

If you'd like to check out some of the other entries, head here!!

Oh, come now father dear and turn this blood to choice.
You know I think these young are spent & have seen their day.
My back bares the scars of work while my sweat has cut the cost.
If my word to God isn't bond then I'll be damned to say.

This can't be so bad
Only I sure did love the way she danced.

-The Prize Fighter Inferno - Accidents

Dear The World,

Harvey Danger! I got to meet all those cool cats!

(My stuff there in the middle! Next to the lovely Veronica Hebard)

FRIDAY NIGHT, I got to see HARVEY DANGER, for one of their last shows EVER on the east coast. Not only did I have the most fun of my whole life during the set, but I actually cried during the last song. My buddy Mat Malone gave me the opportunity to meet the band after the show. I got to speak to every member of the band after the show and gush over knowing every single guitar/bass/drum entry in every song as well as being able to tell them how their band led me to 9 years of vocal and instrumental training. This ultimately led to my love for physical art, Illustration. I'm so grateful that I got to tell them how much the experience meant to me.

I couldn't feel luckier, and after having my gallery show that night for Paint Pens in Purses, I was floating on cloud 9. I got to be showcased with some fantastic female artists as well as being able to hug the lead singer of my favorite band for the LAST TIME EVER.

Bikes Not Bombs and Pet Monsters!

Hey there,

I had a busy birthday week! Thanks to everyone who came to visit for my birthday (especially those from out of state) and to everyone who sent me warm wishes. I had a great time, and I love having a birthday in the summertime.


Updates! This Friday night is the opening of my Pet Monsters show at the new Trilogy building in Fenway. It's going to be sweet, and we're being sponsored by Karmaloop, PBR, and a lot of other companies, so this should be pretty swank! I'm really looking forward to being in a show with so many talented ladies. I'll have to put on some lady clothes that evening. If you're interested in attending, please send your rsvp to paintpensinpurses@gmail.com.

I've also been working with Bikes Not Bombs out of Jamaica Plain and helping design invitations for their big 25th Anniversary party. I had no idea how much BNB has contributed to the community along with other nations and the army, sending bikes to those in need of a form of transportation. They rule! And they know how to fix up bikes like no tomorrow, so support your local bike repair shop and youth program here.



Thanks for looking! More updates and new paintings soon!

Happy Birthday to me. :)

Time to go do Big People stuff!

First tattoo today.

(Top of my left forearm)

Today I got my first tattoo. I waited 3 years to get this specific tattoo, as rabbits have deep symbolism in my life.

My design, colored by the AMAZING Ben Pease at Pino Bros. Ink in Cambridge. I wouldn't go anywhere else. They treated me very well, especially for a first timer, and I found out Ben graduated from the illustration department at Mass Art. Here's an example of one of his paintings. Go check out his work!

Kid A cover and presents from Veronica!!

I'm working on a reinterpretation of Radiohead's Kid A album through a request for art by Beck's (the beer, not the musician) Music Inspired Art 2009. 100 albums were chosen from Pitchfork's Top Albums of the Decade, and most were already gone by the time I saw the list. But Kid A was still available! That's one of my favorite albums by them.

The album reminds me of being a teenager, walking home in the snow, developing photos in the darkroom at my high school. It reminds me of lonely. Of okay with lonely.


On a lighter note, Veronica made me presents!

(artwork ©Veronica Hebard 2009)

They're so lovely. When I was in kindergarten, the called me "Allison Wonderland," which, looking back, wasn't so bad of a nickname. Thanks Veronica! You're so supa talented and sweet!