EARTH SERIES This is the first watercolor in a series dedicated to our beautiful home. Living in a city with so much noise pollution and so much concrete, it's no wonder I gravitate towards drawing nature. 'Meditation', 8" X 11", watercolor and ink on paper 2017

CITIBIKE Street Mural in TriBeCa

I entered a design a few months ago to the NYC DOT (Department of Transportation) Urban Arts Program to paint a mural at one of the Citibike Stations. And yes, my design was chosen. On August 20th, a group of volunteers helped me paint the blue background. It took about 4 hours under the hot sun. The next day, another group of volunteers from New York Cares helped me paint the stencils in. It was another super hot day but everyone was so amazingly fast and diligent that all I really did was place the stencils. We started at 10 am and finished at 2 pm. TriBeCa is very special to me since I've worked at three different bars/restaurants in the neighborhood. The coffee shop, Pecan, which is located right in front of the mural, is where I used to get coffee on the way to Devin Tavern, a restaurant that no longer exists but where I first learned to make proper cocktails. I feel absolutely honored and proud to have been chosen for this project.

Runner and Stone

My work is currently up at Runner and Stone through the end of March. Runner and Stone is a restaurant and bakery that opened in December of 2012 in Gowanus, Brooklyn. I am honored and pleased to be the first artist featured at this beautiful restaurant.

ArtBridge - Works in Progress - Opening

I am extremely privileged and honored to be one of the 20 Brooklyn artists whose work will be displayed at the Barclays Center starting today. The work will be up until construction is complete in 2012. The Barclays Center is the future home of the New Jersey Nets and Devils. It is located on Flatbush Avenue close to where it intersects with Atlantic Avenue.

Barrier Beautification, New York DOT

I just entered this piece to paint jersey barriers in NYC. Jersey barriers are the concrete links that are placed along a road or highway during construction. I've seen these things painted with works of art and always wondered who was responsible for it. Now I know. I'm not sure how many artists get chosen. The last contest back in Spring had 4 winners. Each winner gets a section in one of the five boroughs to be painted in one day with a group of volunteers. The barrier could stretch for over a thousand feet. If I get this, it'll be my biggest painting yet. Wish me luck.

Mural

I had the pleasure of doing a mural in Hungtington, Long Island at a school/summer camp. This video is just a snippet of the video I'm currently editing. Just a little thank you to my wonderful assistants.

ArtBridge - Work in Progress

'Swim', ink on paper, 2011

This piece was selected for an outdoor exhibit in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Arena which is currently in construction and is slated to open in 2012. The title of the exhibit is aptly titled WORK IN PROGRESS. Artists were told to enter works that depict that title in any way. I took the literal route and entered a piece that is unfinished. You can see how I work blocking in the outlines and filling them in in minute detail. The exhibit opens in October.

Bleeding Hearts June 30, 2011

I had the privilege of participating in a unique event. Futurist album release party for War Is Yesterday. Held at Rebel NYC, there were 3 floors of art installations featuring videos, dancers, bands, performance art, singers, etc. My contribution was cut out paper on a red neon lit background. The effect was surprising and lovely. Overall, the event was a major success. I apologize for these small photos. My camera's batteries ran out that night so these are from Facebook. C'est la vie.

ArtBridge

Just in case you're in Chelsea, specifically on W. 23rd St between 9th and 10th, my artwork is displayed along with 24 other artists' work outside of London Terraces. It will be up until mid-November.


'Thirty-Three', ink and acrylic on canvas, 2010

Meanwhile, ArtBridge has a current call for artists for another outdoor exhibition which will be just blocks away from where I live in Brooklyn. Several artists' works will be displayed at the new Arena for the New Jersey Nets while it's being built. The estimated date for the arena to open is late 2012. The winning artists will have their work displayed starting some time in September. Below are my entries which will be enlarged to 4' X 16'. All entrants will find out if they were chosen some time in August.



'Creation', ink and prismacolor on paper, 2011


'Swim', ink on paper, 2011

Bugaboo Stroller Design Contest

I entered a design for Bugaboo for their new denim collection on their strollers. True Blue is the tagline and I entered this design because it reminds me so much of being in the water. There are a lot of contests these days. I chose this specific one to enter because I would like to get into textile design. It was fun transferring my artwork onto the templates Bugaboo provided. The most votes get to the Top 50 and from that 3 winners will be chosen. The top 3 will then be on the Bugaboo Facebook page in which the winner will be the one with the most votes.

**7/3/11 - Well, I didn't win this one but it was great to see so many people supporting me in getting to the top 50.

Mighty Tieton

Sunset, 10"X10", ink and prismacolor on paper, 2011


Seasons, 10"X10", ink and prismacolor on paper, 2011


Morning Swim, 10"X10", ink and prismacolor on paper, 2011

These are three pieces I entered for a group show at Mighty Tieton Gallery in Washington State. Last year, one of my drawings made it in and was sold. All works exhibited were also published in this awesome book made and bound at Mighty Tieton which also boasts a bookbinding and publishing warehouse.

I love these new pieces I've been working on for the past few weeks. The colors of the summer are evident in this series and what is also evident is how much I need and want to go spend time near the ocean.

Results are announced July 1st. Wish me luck!

** 7/3/11 - The judges chose two of my pieces "Morning Swim" and "Sunset". I'm so psyched to be in this show.

Piece for ArtistsWanted

It's been a while since I posted anything here. In December of last year, I decided to quit my job and become an artist full time. I must say, it's not as fun as I thought it would be. I miss the social interaction of being a bartender. I miss having a schedule. This experience is a lot like retiring. All of a sudden, you have all the time in the world with a limited amount of funds. I also realized that being an artist is one of the loneliest professions in the world. What was I thinking? Thank God I have 7 roommates to keep me company. It's not all a loss though. My portfolio has improved tenfold. And, the social interaction with my friends has increased since I no longer have the excuse of "I can't. I'm working that night." I plan to post more often. In the meantime, here's a piece I entered for ArtistsWanted - Self Portrait contest. The winner gets a whole year paid for (based on the average income of an artist - I'm sure the incomes of artists like Damien Hirst or Jeff Koons were not included in the calculations). If I win this, I guess I'll take another year off.

Artbridge Art Reception

Artbridge is a non-profit organization based in New York City. The main focus is connecting the artists to the public in a non-traditional way by having the work exhibited outdoors. Twenty-five artists were chosen to show their work at London Terrace Gardens while the building is up for renovation. I am very honored to be part of this exhibit. The work will be up for about a year so if you're in Chelsea, go check it out.

ART RECEPTION 11/11/10
London Terraces Garden
435 W. 23rd St. between 9th and 10th Ave.
6 - 8pm

Patterns

One of the things I want to do with my art is textile design such as wallpaper, fabric design and stationary. These are my first attempts at it. So fun!

For Mathias

Here is a compilation of art I've done in the past year. What a wonderful year it has been.