A long awaited new show to check out from the legendary Robert Williams has descended upon Southern Ca.
Go see it before it’s gone!

Robert Williams:Conceptual Realism in the Service of the Hypothetical
at California State University at Northridge
February 20 – April 3, 2010
www.csun.edu/artgalleries

Also check out this great interview with the artist!

This weekend is Musink, unparalleled in bringing together the world’s greatest tattooists and some pretty awesome bands in one weekend… Some of my favorites will be there including Nikko Hurtado, Shawn Barber and Corey Miller. Along with bands like The Buzzcocks, NOFX and the Damned!

Tickets still available, don’t miss it!

http://www.musink.org/

Please check out lovely and talented LA artist Lola! She is a welcome new addition to the ST site, her debut sketch video has just landed with a music track from Holly Golightly. Please leave some comments!

Lola Gil 2010

to see more of Lola’s beautiful work check out her site here.

Two amazing featured artists here on Sketch Theatre, tattoo wizard Nick Baxter and illustrative genius Fred Harper will be teaming up for individual solo exhibitions of their new paintings at Last Rites Gallery in NYC, wish I could be there!

On Saturday, February 6th at 7pm, NYC’s Last Rites Gallery will open two solo exhibitions of new work from artists Fred Harper and Nick Baxter. For years Fred Harper has been a fanboy favorite for his artwork on such well known comic books as Conan, Doctor Strange and of course Spider-Man! At the same time, in an industry not all-together disconnected from the comic book world, Nick Baxter has become globally sought after by tattoo lovers of all kinds for his own unique brand of tattooing, employing fantastical imagery and a bright, almost neon-like color pallete. What many people do not know about these two incredibly talented artists, is that while the world has watched them sling ink on paper and skin over the past several years, the two have individually been devoting every free moment they have on painting. Harper’s large, loose, darkly humorous depictions of female cyborgs and the like have a sickly sweet quality that both attack and embrace the viewer at the same time. Baxter, on the other hand, works on small surfaces in tight, intricate detail, made up of wet skin, gleaming blood and sharp metal objects throughout. Although there styles are vastly different, they share the same intense desire to show the fine art world what they can do when they’re not rocking their respective industries.

Last Rites Gallery is New York’s only gallery of dark art. Having opened in April 2008, the gallery has received accolades from places as diverse as Inked Magazine, Tattoo Society, Juxtapoz, Hi Fructose, NY Post, and the Channel 11 Morning News. Last Rites was founded by legendary painter and tattooist Paul Booth, an artist who has devoted his life to the evolution of his craft. In the tattoo industry, after years of public appearances and numerous international awards, Paul Booth is now a household name. He has been featured on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, DISCOVERY, A&E, TLC, MTV and VH1. Due to the macabre nature of his style, Paul has tattooed many major metal bands. As a result, in 2002, Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed Paul “The new king of rock tattoos.” There is currently a two-year waiting list for his work. All shows at Last Rites are curated by gallery director Andrew Michael Ford. Ford has been profiled, interviewed and/or quoted by The New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Village Voice, Timeout NY, Juxtapoz and National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”.

Last Rites Gallery
511 W. 33rd St., 3rd Fl.
New York, NY 10001
212.529.0666
www.lastritesgallery.com

See a preview below, and for more info visit: www.lastritesgallery.com

[Gallery = 44]

Please take a moment to check out the work of ST’s latest contributing artist, painter Dan Quintana! Dan recently enjoyed a very successful show at Copro Gallery in Los Angeles. If you’d like to check out details read this insightful article from Juxtapoz with Dan and Brian Viveros.

Dan Quintana 2010

then make sure to check out his first video installation for Sketch Theatre here. Music is by LA heavies Pelican.

Dan Quintana 2010

Congratulations are in order to one of ST’s talented artists miss Daphne Yap! Daphne was singled out by James Cameron as a featured artist for Variety Magazine’s spotlight on creature design on Avatar, which is now the top grossing film in history! Craziness! Check out the article below and then watch Daphne’s installments for Sketch Theatre. She’s amazing!

Yap brings ‘Avatar’ creatures to life
Concept artist essential to Cameron’s megahit
By DAVID S. COHEN

Auds and pros alike have flipped for the beautiful, lifelike creatures of “Avatar.”
Among the production design team, helmer James Cameron singles out concept artist Daphne Yap as essential to creating the creatures’ dazzling look.
“She just was the most amazingly detailed texture designer that I’d ever seen,” Cameron says. “She created all the textures and the patterns on all the creatures.”
A San Jose native, Yap majored in toy design at L.A.’s Otis School of Design, “I never knew much about film; I was thinking about videogames,” she admits. But a book of her art was published, and that led to her being hired for “Avatar.” She’s already added credits as a concept artist on “Star Trek” and “Alice in Wonderland,” and is part of the team on Disney/Marvel’s “Thor.”
“I don’t have dreams of being an art director or production designer, but I’d like to be able to pitch my point of view without losing the ability to illustrate. I think when you (rise in production level) you don’t get to draw anymore.”

Yap continues to create her own art, loves designing characters and costumes (she touched most of the Na’vi costumes and jewelry).
Eventually we came up with a process where everybody’s creatures had to go through the Daphne-ization process as the last step,” Cameron says. “It was kinda like sending it through the paint booth. You build a car, but then she gets to paint it.”

Read the full article here

to see Daphne on ST click below!

NEW YORK—Deitch Projects continues to transition through uncertain times as proprietor Jeffrey Deitch readies for his new job at Los Angeles’s Museum of Contemporary Art, but one thing is certain about the upheaval: Shepard Fairey will have the last show at Deitch’s Wooster Street gallery space. The celebrated street artist announced today on his Web site that his “spring show of new fine art” will debut at the gallery on May 1, a month before Deitch has to dissolve his gallery in order to assume the MOCA directorship.

Contacted in his Los Angeles studio, where he is busy preparing the new work, Fairey said the focus of the show will be portraits of “trailblazers in areas of art and culture who I care about,” from Woodie Guthrie and Debbie Harry to the Dali Lama and Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the last two being staples of his recent work. There will also be several large-scale murals in the space and outdoors as well, which should please fans of Fairey’s rawer street work. “I have a couple of sanctioned spots already mapped out where I can do some nice pieces,” said the artist, who is regularly hit with vandalism charges and was arrested in 2008 while arriving at the opening of his ICA Boston survey. “I have to be careful because I’m still on probation, but we’ll see what other opportunities present themselves.”

Of Deitch, Fairey said the dealer’s move to MOCA is “just what the institution needs,” but that New York may suffer because “Jeffrey’s very wise about creating a scene, bringing music in and doing things that aren’t just wine and cheese, and I don’t think there’s going to be someone else who can do the same thing.” As a sendoff for the space, Fairey is hoping to make the show a blowout. “I try not to half-step on anything I do, but this is definitely nose to the grindstone until May 1,” he said. “Deitch represents two or three of my favorite artists and I only joined up a few years ago, so I feel lucky that I got in by the skin of my teeth.”

courtesy of Art Info

If you are going to be in the Los Angeles area the next couple of weeks, there are some great shows to check out, starting tonight with the monthly downtown Art Walk!

Thurs, Jan. 14th Noon-9PM
Downtown Art Walk
www.downtownartwalk.com

Thurs, Jan. 14th 9PM-2AM (21+ / free before 10PM / $5 w/RSVP / $10 without RSVP)
Club Nokia
800 West Olympic Blvd (@ Figueroa) in downtown Los Angeles
‘I Am Laser’ – A Monthly Post Downtown Art Walk Night Of Future Culture featuring live art by John Park + digital animation from Dr. Strangeloop + live music by Daedelus, Gaslamp Killer, and Timeboy
RSVP to rsvp@iamlaser.com
www.iamlaser.com/live

Thurs, Jan. 14th 12-9PM
Fifty24LA Gallery
125 East 6th Street in downtown Los Angeles
“Paper Dolls” featuring new works from Claw Money, Fawn Gehweiler, Kelly Tunstall, Molly Crabapple, Toofly, Shin Tanaka, Kime Buzzeli, and many more – curated by M.I.S.S. magazine
(On view through March 3rd)
http://www.upperplayground.com/

Fri, Jan. 15th 7-10:30PM
Black Maria Gallery
3137 Glendale Blvd in Los Angeles
“I’m An Animal” featuring new work by fierce females curated by Aaron Smith – works from Sarah Williamson, Mashanda Scott, Nicole Adee Dreyfuss, Connie Wong, Grace Kim, Brianna Harden, Saejean Oh, Alisha Amirkhanian, Shannon Freshwater and Daniaelle Simonsen
(On view through Feb. 13th)
www.blackmariagallery.com

Fri, Jan. 15th 7-10PM
WWA Gallery
9517 Culver Blvd in Culver City
“Trappings” featuring new works from CJ Metzger, Miss Mindy, Lesley Reppeteaux, Su Moon, Tina Darling, Jeni Yang, Celene, Dee Chavez, and Katie Rice
(On view through Feb. 6th)
http://www.wwagallery.com/

Sat, Jan. 16th 7-10PM
Billy Shire Fine Arts
5790 Washington Blvd in Culver City
“Long Gone” featuring new works from Owen Smith + “Juggernaut” featuring new works from Mark Todd
(On view through Feb. 6th)
www.billyshirefinearts.com

Sat, Jan. 16th 8-11:30PM
Copro Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave, Space T5 in Santa Monica
“Desensitized” featuring new works from Brian M. Viveros and Dan Quintana + “You’ll Be Sorry When I’m Dead” featuring new works from Bad Otis Link
(On view through Feb. 6th)
www.coprogallery.com

Sat, Jan. 16th
Gagosian Gallery
456 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills
“Meet Me Inside” featuring works from Faile, Mike Kelley, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Kara Walker, Enoc Perez, Seth Price, Rob Reynolds, Tom Sachs, Taryn Simon, Robert Therrien, Monica Majoli, Uta Barth and more
http://www.gagosian.com/

Sat, Jan. 16th 5-9PM
Gallery 825
825 N. La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles
“Urban Intervention” is a multi-destination urban intervention project in partnership with Germany’s Artlab 21 and will feature German and LA based artists creating site specific art installations throughout the city as well as at Gallery 825 – curated by Peter Mays, this international collaboration showcases Flora Kao, Rebecca Lowry, Amely Spoetzl, Bernd Zoellner and Josef-Bernhard Zuenkeler
(On view through Jan. 30th)
http://www.laaa.org/

Sat, Jan. 16th 6:30-10PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd in Los Angeles
“Diplopia” featuring new works from Eleanor Davis and Katherine Guillen
(On view through Feb. 10th)
www.gr2.net

Sat, Jan. 16th 6-8PM
LA Contemporary
2634 South La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles
“Love Made Visable” featuring new works and an installation from Chase – 1st 100 folks through the door get a free signed show poster
(On view through Feb. 20th)
www.lacontemporary.com

Sat, Jan. 16th 7-10PM
LeBasse Projects
6023 Washington Blvd in Culver City
“One Leads To Another” featuring new works from Andrew Hem + new works from Rebecca Artemisa Urias in the project room
www.lebasseprojects.com

Sat, Jan. 16th 3-10PM
Miracle Mile Art Walk
Featuring more than 40 galleries from Wilshire to Melrose and La Brea to La Cienega – see site for full details and participating galleries
www.miraclemileartwalk.com

Sat, Jan. 16th 6-8PM
Taylor De Cordoba
2660 S. La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles
“The Women Of Women: The Female Form” featuring new works from Susan Anderson, Kimberly Brooks, Alika Cooper, Roya Falahi, Danielle Mourning, Kristen Schiele and Jessica Shokrian
(On view through Feb. 20th)
www.taylordecordoba.com

Sat, Jan. 16th 6-9PM
Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Drive in Torrance (it’s a small street and the museum is back in there, but worth looking for)
“The Reflected Gaze” featuring self portrait driven works from Justin Bower, Chuck Close, Emily Counts, Ariel Erestingcol, Mark Greenwold, Julie Heffernan, Damien Hirst, Per Huttner, KAWS, Tom LaDuke, Hung Liu, Jennifer Nehrbass, Gavin Nolan, Fahamu Pecou, Dane Picard, Frank Ryan, Peter Sudar, Terri Thomas, Holly Topping, Alexandra Wiesenfeld, Cindy Wright, and Liat Yossifor
(On view through Feb. 20th)
www.torranceartmuseum.com

Sat, Jan. 16th
Western Project
2762 S. La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles
“Cherry Pie” featuring new works from Mark Dean Veca, Liz Young, Russ Meyer, Justin Bower, Sush Machida Gaikotsu, and Patrick Lee
(On view through Feb. 20th)
www.western-project.com

thanks to Sour Harvest for always having the latest scoop! Don’t forget to stop in at Thinkspace to check out “A Cry for Help” http://www.thinkspacegallery.com/2010/01/works.php

I recently had the pleasure of viewing this great collective at Thinkspace Gallery! Go see it NOW if you are in LA, it’s really a great show…. featuring some artists you can find right here on Sketch Theatre such as Chet Zar, Travis Louie and Mari Inukai.

“A Cry For Help”

This special exhibit featires an installation from Bumblebee as well as a group show featuring the works of over 100 artists!!

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check out Christian’s sketch videos here!

on the third day of Christmas… Cameron Davis totally kicked my ass and killed this sketch … o … m … g…. it’s a doozy, music apropos by former member of Neutral Milk Hotel Julian Koster & his “singing saw”!

Cameron Davis 2009

on the second day of Christmas …. Raul Aguirre Jr. & the postal elves … with the late great great Ramones to bring it on home!!

Raul Aguirre Jr 2009

I decided it just wouldn’t be festive if Sketch Theatre didn’t present you with some holiday cheer! I asked a few talented souls if they would oblige in presenting us all with some themed sketches to get you in the mood for family fights, snow storms, and visions of hellfire dancing in your head…personally I was hoping for some sweet reindeer but my rule is carte blanche and my artists are thankfully gifted with minds quite twisted, they did not disappoint. Check in each day this week and you will be reminded why it is without a doubt the ‘most wonderful time of the year!’

first up…..Apricot Mantle creates a vision of Mrs. Clause and her dirty deeds, with a little Vandals tune to make it super sick!

Apricot Mantle 2009

Happy Holidays!

L.

Did everyone meet Aimée? I suggest you do. Her first video is awesome! Looking forward to more….

Aimee Kuester 2009

Aimée Kuester was born in Michigan in 1980 to a family of freelance artists/musicians.  Creating art was always a way of life for her, an essential element in everything she did.  Excelling in advanced art curriculums, Aimée won her first national award at age 6 and various Best of Show awards throughout her childhood.  At age 11, she was awarded First Place in a national competition adjudicated by Steve Hanks (Master Watercolorist).

Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico- a place she best described as having a barren, dehydrated beauty, a bittersweet nest – she was constantly creating.  Aimée absorbed the fundamentals from observation, books and studying other artists and gained her foundation of anatomy from years of life drawing classes. Her mediums included charcoal, luma dyes, and acrylics.

A self-taught second generation artist, Aimée earned a coveted residency in 1998 at a prominent gallery on Water Street in Santa Fe, where she quickly became a favorite of the locals.  She moved to California in 2002 to cultivate her passion.  In 2004, she opened her first solo show in West Hollywood and has since exhibited in several group shows with Edgar Varela Fine Arts.  Since then, she has been immersing herself in the Los Angeles art community and has studied under world-renowned artists Gary Baseman and Michael Hussar.  She has evolved into painting with oils and is currently showing in several downtown Los Angeles galleries.

Aimée approaches her subject matter as a voyeur.  Her work is a visual metaphor for the process of how we become who we are.  She strives to induce an emotional reaction in the viewer, however unique that may be.

Kenny Roy is currently the Founder and Director of Arconyx Animation Studios. His experience in the world of animation spans 11 years. He’s a working mentor for the online animation training program www.animationmentor.com and has worked as a CG Supervisor for ShiloFX, a Short films animation airector at Playground LA & Zoic Studios, as well as an animator for Weta Digital & ILM and character animator at Rhythm & Hues on projects Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed & Garfield: The Movie. To check out more of Kenny’s work go here

Kenny Roy 2009