Fashionable Late? (PCFP2)

All, while the idea of an every Friday post (ie. Paint Chip Fun Project) sounds fine and dandy in theory. I find it highly impractical for me. I'm trying, I promise. It's not that I don't really want to, or that I don't have the time to write such a post. It's quite simply that on Fridays, the internet doesn't really work in this small town. I am however, making sure that I post on the Saturday or Sunday that follows. So does that make me fashionably late or, just late? 

Below you will find this weeks submissions. Just know that when YOU can't get your submission turned in by thursday evening, just turn it in to me on Friday. Then I can post my Friday post on Saturday or Sunday. Got all that?

The first one is from Tikimama. I have to say. She did well last week but, she turned out something remarkable this week. Good JOB Tikimama!

The following is an entry from our logo crazy companion Moondoggie. The shear fact that we are able to see this piece is remarkable. There is a whole story behind this piece and believe me, I felt the frustration, tiredness and relief in the tone of the email. I truly felt sorry for her. In the end, she did well.

Third of all is from Veronica Diago. She did a fine job with the creative portrait of her family. This is a very Mod version of a family. Very...very... interesting. 

The final entry will be attributed to, well...to good ole Jem N' Tonic. Other than that, there is nothing much to say. Oh yeah...thanks for your time. 

If you check out my FLICKR, you can see other art by these artist and yes... me too.

amidstmod@yahoo.com

You Just Never Know!

As I was making the rounds of my frequented blog haunts, I noticed that there is a commonly overlooked artist that always makes me smile. When I see the art of this person I instantly have a better mood. It's really strange, also, because some of his paintings really aren't my style at all. Yet, they still make me feel better instantly. Who is this artist? His name is Karl Benjamin. 

We all know of the most famous artists that had mass exposure, the likes of which include Jim Flora, the Eames, Knoll, and, of course, Nelson. Each of these people influenced a style of life. Therefore, they all have a direct effect on my art and that of any true mid-century inspired artist. Thing is, we know and except this fact. 

Karl Benjamin, though, is different. He has influenced probably

 all of us more than we realize. I was amazed at how well known his art was to me when I started looking thru his catalog, and I had never known his name.  His art, though, isn't the most inspirational part of his persona as an artist. He really had a unique start and story. To read a great article on him and his art just make the jump.

For other art related pictures, check out my FLICKR.

amidstmod@yahoo.com

Once Upon A Time

See, when I started painting, I had no idea of what I was doing. To me painting was putting colors on the canvas and manipulating them afterwards. It is true that I went to art school. The Art Institute of Atlanta, in fact. While I was there I touched very little paint, as I was part of the Multi-media and Web development program. In reality, I wasn't really into the whole building websites thing. It was 1999 when I started Art Institute and everyone was making it big with websites. So... I enrolled. 

I actually spent more time in the Graphics design labs with the students of said program and tried to absorb as much as I could of such a cool program. This is why I focus so much on illustrations and other such forms of art. I LOVE type fonts. I think they are as much art as a painting. 

So, with all of this, I decided one day that I would start painting. I don't know why, really, I just did. For years I had been involved with Graffiti in one form or another. In fact, I learned how to tag from a student that had moved to Georgia from New York. The really funny thing is I learned how to tag during my Spanish class, which I therefore easily failed. What's funny is, now I live in Chile and, of course, they speak... you guessed it, Spanish. The ways things turn out.

My first paintings were BAD! You will not see my worst here. I don't mean just somewhat, either. Yes! There are worse ones in my portfolio. However, I got a little better. The hardest thing always was the dreaded question. "What style do you paint?" I hated this question because, well... till this day, I have no clue what to call my style at that time. 

Today, though, after I found other influential artists who helped mold my art to a cleaner and more refined style, I would dare say I am more of a mod artist. I take much of my inspiration from the art and design of the 60's and artists such as Shag, Suzanna Anna, and Chris Reccardi, and there are others that I will mention at another time.

This is some of my art in the beginning, so... don't be too cruel.

You can see other old art that I painted on my FLICKR site.

amidstmod@yahoo.com