The last couple trips to my local Borders each brought me to opening up artist Wayne White’s book, Maybe Now I’ll Get The Respect I So Richly Deserve with wide eyes and appreciation. What a pleasant surprise to come across an artist who is so classically skilled as a painter and yet so fascinated with dimensional typography.

I don’t know a lot about Wayne White, but its clear he has a great sense of humor—his paintings are witty, both in the phrasing of his titles, and the various ways he manages to incorporate letterforms of varying shape and size into the scene of a wooded forest, a lake front, or leaning against the outside of a barn. The next time I see his book, I think I’ll spring for a copy of my own, because I certainly hope he does get the respect he so richly deserves!

I find the body of work by Brooklyn painter, Vince Contarino absolutely stunning. Wether its through the deep layering of shape and texture, or the modern interpretation of symbolism through form, his abstract approach to the canvas has certainly struck a chord with me. I am unsure what any of the work means, but it is very beautiful and acts as a model of what the art in my house will someday look like.

Saturday, June 26
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BBM Mural (Halsted Street, Chicago)
At Time of Sketch: 55%
Project Status: 75%

Just today I came across this fascinating and remarkable documentary about the endangered art of the muralist, called Up There. Produced by Mother NY, in association with Stella Artois, the short film takes a look at the men who are responsible for painting large-format advertisements throughout NYC, and the battle to find work while the ease of vinyl, canvas, mesh—and other substrates—exist for quick production. I am working on a large and complex campaign involving a number of sequenced mural paintings in various cities, so this documentary holds a very specific bit of my attention. My team and I are eager to see just how the muralists will approach our artwork, and Up There certainly gave me a much better understanding. Fortunately, there will be a mural painted right here in Chicago to quench my curiosity—anticipate documentation!

Credits:
Concept: Mother NY; Production Co: Mekanism; Director/DP/Editor: Malcolm Murray; Music by The Album Leaf; Painters: Colossal Media/Sky High Murals/Bob Middleton; Presented by Stella Artois.

This looks like a pretty great painting, right? What if I told you it was actually a photograph…

The paintings of DC-based Alexa Meade are down right intriguing. Applying broad-strokes of acrylic paint in just the right way can make any living, breathing person look like a painting in broad daylight! I would love to see some of her work in person.

This makes me miss MICA.

The paintings of Tyson Anthony Roberts have truly taken impressionism to a new level of contemporary. I can imagine this is what would come of locking Siggi Eggertsson in a room with a view and some oils!

These two guys should party together, for sure.

I recently came across the paintings of Paco Pomet. His work has taken a turn towards photo realism of recent years, but his older work (2000-2003) was very conceptual and surreal. Just look at the detail in each piece—it’s an amazing quality that I don’t see often. I wish I knew a bit more about Pomet, if anyone has any insight on the artist, please share!