Being Big in Japan, Screenprinting, and Caravaggio

These are a set of screenprints I did of my sister Jen. She's big in Japan. But ever before she modeled in a co-project between Newport Beach's Almond Surfboards and Ron Herman Japan, I immortalized Jen's face on paper in this series. The underpanting on each is different, so each one is unique. Screenprinting is so much fun, because it's instant satisfaction. One swish of your paint filled squeegee over the screen and you've got an instant masterpiece on your paper.

[ Underpainting is a copy of a portion of the sky in Albrecht Altdorfer's The Battle of Issus, 1529. See Below.]

My favorite one is the one where Jen looks like mother Mary with the red background and halo. Kind of creepy isn't it? Everyone always asks if they can have this one, but the lucky owner is Ryan Creamer now, so you'll have to take it up with him. I've always had a thing for halos. I have a folder saved on my computer full of different halos from different art periods. I love using them in my work, thus "The Beatniks, The Bastards, and The Saints" project. I like how Caravaggio did his - simple, delicate, thin, gold ovals hovering above the subject's head.

[ Madonna di Loreto ]

 [ St. Jerome ]

[ The Inspiration of St. Matthew ]

- Amy
Listening to: Best Coast's "Something In The Way"

Always Be A Good Boy

Here's an oldie but goodie; one of the first prints I ever did in my screenprinting class back when I was a student at the Rest Stop of Life otherwise known as Saddleback Community College. [Long pregnant pause for musings on my misspent youth and how I almost never got back on the road from that 5 year rest stop. You just pull over for a quick snack and to hit the john, and before you know it, it's 5 years later and you forgot where you were heading in the first place. Has this analogy gone way too far yet?] That was such a fun class and I met so many cool people. If you ever take a class at Saddleback, I highly recommend taking Screenprinting with Will. He's barely over college age himself, and comes to class with purple mohawks and punk tees on. Anyways, this is my first print using rubylith, and it's a drawing from Johnny Cash's mug shot. It's called "Always Be A Good Boy," a line from "Folsom Prison Blues." I want to do more art based on vintage mug shots - famous people or otherwise.

Below are a few videos for your viewing pleasure. The first is Johnny playing San Quentin. [Authors Note: I actually got to interview Merle Haggard for the magazine I work for recently because he was playing a show in town - and did you know that amongst all the inmates of San Quentin during the first San Quentin show was ole' Merle? It was what inspired him to start singing! Check out the interview here - his account of it all is much better than mine.] The second video is the first installment of a biography on the Man in Black. Man did he influence a lot of people. You HAVE to watch till the end. He does a hilarious impression of Elvis. Enjoy.

Amy

Listening to: Johnny Cash's "Cry, Cry, Cry"