Eve by Gail Potocki

Browsing through Gail Potocki’s website, I recognized one of her pieces – Eve.  I thought that perhaps I had seen it at a past art exhibit, but Gail has confirmed that she has not had works at any of the exhibits I have written about.  So exactly where I have seen Eve in the past remains a mystery.

Gail’s work is astoundingly detailed, and has a sense of grand classicism, but always with a hint of surrealism that make her paintings stand out above many works.  Gail studied and fine tuned her skills at the School of Representational Art in Chicago.  She has earned many honors, including taking first place in the Online Symbolist Art Exhibition competition, being named the first American recipient of the Ward Rogers Distinguished Artist award, and winning the Baron of Fulwood Award at the Society of Art and Imagination.  A collection of her works has been published by Olympian publishing, The Union of Hope and Sadness, and was released in 2006.

Gail’s paintings pursue narratives of relationship, and trust, and passionately explore the struggle between human desires and the order of nature.Influenced by the elegant strength of Anthony Van Dyck and the melancholic mystery of the late 19th century French and Belgian Symbolists, her expression is rooted in compelling realism, and branches seductively into the realms of possibility. (http://www.artofimagination.org/Pages/Potocki.html)

Gail commented on the piece that she is working on for the Obey Your Master exhibit:

Metallica is a very masculine band sonically, they’re very assertive. Lyrically and thematically though, I think Metallica has the hallmark of all great rock artists: they’re great storytellers.  The song that I’ve chosen as my influence tells a story more through a mental experience rather than a literal one and my piece will allegorically reflect what is intangible in the lyrics. (~Gail Potocki 11/29/2011)

We are excited to see the story that will unfold from Gail’s brush!

Botanica #23 by Gail Potocki

Plastic Vortex by Gail Potocki

Fini by Gail Potocki

I waited so long for you
You promised me the world when you’d return
Are you gonna come back empty handed?
You think I’ll be waiting for you?
You better think again…
and You’d better wake up
Cause You were wrong! ~Valora

David Stoupakis' Cover Art for Korn - See You On The Other Side (2005)

David’s honors include the IGN award for Best Album artwork for Korn’s “See You on the Other Side” in 2006 and the Direct Art Magazine Best Surrealist Artist Feature Award in 2003.  He has displayed solo and with group exhibits worldwide including in New York, California, Nevada, France and Germany.

Unknown Title by David Stoupakis

Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Billboard by Joe Petagno; Photo taken by G. Reynolds

Joe Petagno is best known in the metal world for his cover art and the creation of “Snaggletooth” for Motorhead. However, Petagno’s most extravagant work is his canvas work.  His online gallery is a detailed apocalyptic tour de force.

It has been said that Joe Petagno’s paintings never fail to smash the retina like a broad sword to the skull. Petagno’s unmistakeable art has spanned several generations and crept into the very sinews of the contemporary counter – cultural media. (Joe Petagno’s Official Website)

When asked if there were other bands that he would like to work for, he responded with a long list (which included Metallica) saying that “everyone should have a piece of Petagno art to grace their musical opus… [these bands] could all do with a lethal dose of Petagno.” (Steel Mill Interview with Joe Petagno)  And speaking of the upcoming Obey Your Master Art Show:

I was delighted to be invited to take part in this show – Viva La Metallica! I started my Career in LA in the heady 60’s doing  score’s of Black light posters. I left in ’72 for Europe, my last major piece in LA was Alice Cooper’s Billion dollar bill which was featured on a billboard on the Strip…the Prodigal Son returns. (~Joe Petagno 11/07/2011) 

Untitled by Joe Petagno

Razor's Site Meter

On to the third photographer…  I’m working on putting together a submission for the 13th annual dirty show in Detroit.  The first photographer that said he would collaborate seemed to be super enthusiastic about it – sending me dozens of texts of ideas and saying how excited he was about the project until I said no thank you to including his “well endowed” penis in the photographs.  A second photographer friended me on my facebook – because I “have an Italian last name”, and I asked him if he wanted to collaborate on the project.  We met, I showed him some things that I had in mind, and he seemed to be all a go.  The next day I noticed that he spent A LOT of time on my blog – looking through past posts.  By the end of the day he had blocked me on facebook.  I thought, “well maybe he found my writing/art distasteful” – but I noticed since then he goes through my posts every day.  Hmmmm…. If he found it distasteful enough to block me on facebook - then why is he still visiting my blog every day?  Strange.  Oh well.

So two down… on to the third.  His name is Bryton – and he has been a friend for three years now.  He is an amateur photographer – just recently got his camera – but maybe that will leave him open to experimenting.  He is taking graphic design at PCC.  Now just to find the time in both of our schedules to work this in.

We went to the first Friday Art Walk last Friday.  The first friday of every month eighteen different galleries open for extended hours.  B.Vante Garde even had a great live DJ at their studio.  It was great.  I am so glad that Pueblo is doing something like this now, and I plan to attend every first Friday.

We grabbed a bite to eat at the Daily Grind after, and then went to Arabian Nights for hookah.  It was a great Friday night.

Saturday I went to the CSU-Pueblo game with D’Arcy.  It started sleeting by half-time, and the ball never left our side of the field.  So we decided to leave, and we just went to the Shamrock to hang for a few.  We ended up spending the whole day together.  I met his brother and his brother’s girl – but there was more drama at this brother’s house than I would really like to be involved with.

Sunday was the best night of the weekend though.  Adam invited to the shamrock to watch the RSL vs. LA Galaxy game.  What an awesome friend Adam is – he very nicely set me up with Trevor aka Ashton Kutcher.  Nice!  We stayed up until 3 am talking.  He is incredibly intelligent and mature.  Loved it… What a great way to start off my monday morning and the week!

Will has invited me to a concert up in Denver this coming Friday – but I’m not sure that I really want to go.  Savoy is playing in Denver on Friday – and I would rather go see that.  Still waiting to see if Kev will have money so he can go.

Oh yeah – I almost forgot – Giannetto stopped by to pick up his vet money.  We have been interacting more and more.  It gives me hope that post-breakup friendships can be good.

I took today off from work, and I LOVE IT when I can just start my day off relaxed.  I have a lot to do today – but I’m not feeling rushed.

Being with Jake was spiritual.  It’s weird, like here’s this animal I’ve drawn a million times and to see it all of a sudden in real life I just realized that I’ve never done a drawing that has done chimps justice… Hanging out with [Jake] and when he first held my hands – time froze. (Interview for Juxtapoz Magazine, July 2008)

N8′s commercial work includes illustrations for EMI records, GAP/Old Navy, Levi Strauss, and MSN.  But his personal work is more intriguing by far.  And he is a Web 2.0 illustrator – posting many of his personal works from finished sketch books on his blog.

Enter Sandman by N8 Van Dyke

N8 says that he has always wanted to collaborate with Metallica, and now he is getting his chance!  He has already done one Metallica inspired piece for the I Want My Music Video Art Show.  His contribution for that art show was inspired by Metallica’s Enter Sandman.  His piece for The Obey Your Master Art Show is currently under wraps (all artists have been asked to keep the song they have chosen to work with a secret until the opening reception.)  He did give us a hint about which song he has chosen however:

I went against the grain and picked one of Metallica’s “newer” songs. I snagged a song off of the LOAD album (it was actually my third song pic after Sandman and One) and I LOVE what I have in mind for this song choice as I’ve been doing a lot of sketching in preparation for this piece. Still working out some kinks before I dive into it. It is going to be a beast of a piece, I assure you. ~N8 Van Dyke 11/02/2012

A.D by N8 Van Dyke

I woke up early this morning, and then noticed that I was feeling incredibly grumpy.  Work has been on my mind as of late.  On the one hand, it is nice not to be thinking about other aspects of my life, but to be honest – it is putting a damper on my mood.

I started off my work day with a phone call to Helen.  Bad idea!  Note to self:  do not have an interaction with Helen first thing in the morning – especially when you are already grumpy, and you have been stewing in your mind.  At least I noticed I was in a bad mood – and I tried to be present in the moment, and I worked on my blog.  It actually helped my mood A LOT!

Al DJed last night.  Of course I went to support him.  He was doing the same set as the last time he DJed – so I really didn’t get to hear any new music.  I had homework to finish by 11:30 – so I worked at his computer, while he tried to hold my hand.  I pushed through my homework just to get it over with (I wanted to enjoy myself.)  All of the Insecurities (except for Philly) showed, and all of us just hung out up stairs.  Al was his usual humorous self – and I enjoyed it.

I left early just because I hate partying ’til the sun comes up when I have to be at work at 7.  Al walked me out to my car.  Oh my God – this time he begged me to give him “just a small kiss goodnight”.  He phoned me at 2:30 am – I think he might have been drunk – not even sure what he was going on about  – the only thing I did understand was “I miss you and I love you”.  Ok.  Time to have a talk with him.

I think to myself “What would Kevin Do?”  And – as he has told me – when a girl starts putting unwanted pressure on him, he pulls away -  ignores her calls and texts, and doesn’t get together with them.  I don’t want to do that.  At least not as first resort.  I want to try being honest with Al – and tell him that there is no possibility of a physical relationship for us, and see what happens…

Oh yeah, I have a date with a new man this weekend.  His name is DeeArcy (have no idea how to spell his name – but that will do.)  I saw him in the Fairway one night when I was out with Cat.  I didn’t stay out late that night because I was still devastated over Mike – so I came home early and let my tears flow.  I did see DeeArcy out that night with a blonde woman, and I thought he was very handsome.  I went to the Shamrock yesterday after work, and he was sitting outside with a friend.  They talked to me while I was walking in, and they were still sitting out there on my way out.  He asked for my number – and I said “sure, why not?”

He called last night before I went out for the evening.  We made plans for dinner and a movie on this Saturday coming up.  Should be good.

He seems to be a frequent collaborator with Exhibit A Gallery, and already participated in an earlier exhibition at the gallery early this year – Die Posers Die.

He has also taken part in many films:

Recently he was featured in the Sundance and Independent Spirit award-winning documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (2002). Tony Alva was an authenticity consultant and stunt coordinator on the upcoming Sony feature film, “Lords Of Dogtown” (2005), based on his life with the Z-Boys. The first skateboarder to successfully market himself as a brand name, Tony Alva continues to own and operate the innovative Alva Skateboard Company in Oceanside, California. Considered the originator of vertical skateboarding, Alva continues to develop new technology to advance the sport he loves. Staying true to his roots, Tony Alva surfs and skates pools almost everyday. (Tony Alva’s Official Website)