AMA Divers

Last year I was asked to come up with a character for a local restaurant, called AMA AMA. The name of the restaurant is based on the traditional Japanese Ama divers that specialized in free- diving for oysters, shellfish, lobsters, sea urchins, and pearl diving. They would traditionally only wear a loincloth, without scuba gear or air tanks. (thank you wikipedia) The style of the restaurant was very retro. Late 50's early 60's. The owners wanted the character to reflect that look, as well.

The above image was the pose they liked. I scanned one of their business cards, added some texture behind the logo, and put it all behind the character to see if it all had the same vibe.

I remember one issue was using a nude character for a family restaurant. They asked to have her hold an oyster with a pearl over one breast, leaving the other one in profile. Is she less nude without an areola? I don't know. It was an interesting thing that came up that I didn't even think about. I'm just glad they wanted to stick with the traditional nude diver instead of asking for a top on her.











I had never heard of ama divers. It was pretty interesting reading up on them. These ladies had to be pretty hard core to be diving those deep waters. Here are some links with more info on ama divers, if you're intersted. Link01- Link02 There are also some amazing photos from photographer, Iwase Yoshiyki, here.

Jack Pumpkinhead Studies

While sifting through old computer files recently, in an attempt to get more organizized, I found these old studies of Jack Pumpkinhead. They were for an Oz themed show I had back in 2006.
In hindsight, I should have gone for a less saturated purple background. If I get some spare time, I might have to take a crack at this one.

Fab Four Study

I was sketching The Beatles last night while watching the new Monty Python documentary that just came out. While doing the sketch, a funny bit about the Beatles came up in the doc. Turns out they were huge Python fans. So much, that when the Pythons were trying to raise money for Life of Brian, George Harrison stepped up and said he was in for 5mill. When they asked him why he would take such a big risk, he merely answered, "I want to see the movie." Eric Idle said it had to be the most expensive movie ticket in history.

Moon Bride

Recently finished this piece for an upcoming Day of the Dead group show. Kat Moya is putting on another Por Vida show, out in Columbus, Ohio. This piece is around 17"x 28". Acrylics on canvas.

Other than the usual Day of the Dead explanations, all I can tell you about this piece is this: Corpse brides are cool. Corpse brides with bloody knives = METAL. Lillies are symbolic with death, and Diego Rivera was an interesting cat that put them in a lot of his paintings. I have a"sister" painting to this that I didn't get to. Sun Bride. Hopefully I can get to that one soon.




The rough sketch above is was what came out as the first idea.


This is a first attempt at tightening up the rough.

Above is what finally came out from the rough stage. Below is the painting about mid way through. I think it's funny that I lost a lot of the turquoise in the scan (first pic), but the pic below from the iPhone, picked up those colors better than the scanner. Might be time for a new scanner. Anyone have any recommendations?




Anyway, the flier below has the info for the show. For those not familiar with Ohio, the show is at Junctionview Studios in Grandview, Ohio. Anyone interested in the piece can contact Kat Moya here: artfulf14@yahoo.com

In Mexico, the Dia de Los Muertos holiday takes place on Nov. 1st and 2nd. It's purpose is to celebrate the death of friends and family. Take some time next month, raise a glass, and remember those you've lost.

-Paz

Music Break

Just some random sketches from last week. Messing around with some different coloring techniques in photoshop.

Leo Study

Last week seemed to drag out with work. One frustrating thing about freelance is waiting for art to get approved. Sometimes it happens within a few hours from a client. Sometimes it takes a day, sometimes it takes two days, etc. The only problem with that, is that your deadline stays the same. Almost a "two steps forward, one step back" scenario, because it's still up to you to get out your work under the deadline no matter how long it takes your art to get approved.

In between waiting on approvals last week, I was noodling around with this old sketch from an old painting I never finished. Back in 2007 I did a Chinese Zodiac show with Bill McEvoy out at Kustom Culture Gallery. After that show, I wanted to do a new series of western astrological (astronomical?) zodiac pieces.



This unfinished painting above started out the series, but I never got around to the others. Sorry for the crappy pic. Didn't want to waste time scanning an unfinished piece. I think you can still make out the lion in the bottom right. I colored her blue in photoshop. Thought I'd try a different color scheme while I worked out light source issues. I think as the rain sets in this winter it'll be prime weather for locking one self in the studio to finish those half done paintings.

Wine Labels

I think I need to set something straight in this post. You can read my original first paragraph in the comments section, as well as the comment about said paragraph from Mr/Mrs Anonymous. You can also read my reply in the comments section. I feel I need to reiterate my point though. I normally use this blog to write about art shows and personal work. I get asked a lot by people that want to know, what other kind of work do you do? I thought I might use this post to show the diversity, but I think my description of that came off the wrong way for Mr/Mrs Anonymous. I guess that happens when you don't get out too much and socialize. You use the wrong verbage. What I was trying to get across was that I get the opportunity to work on a lot of different and unique jobs that I love contributing to. All I meant from "random", is that I never know what the next job is going to be. That is the best part of the job to me. The randomness of not knowing. Always something different. That's why I chose this job. I don't take my jobs for granted and never have. I'm sorry I gave you the wrong impression Anonymous. Also, if you don't think I put any heart into my work, I don't know what to tell you, Anonymous. Maybe you're looking at another blog, because I bust my ass for every job and love it.

Like I said, before, I took the original paragraph and put it into the comments, if you want to know what this is all about. In other words I want people to know what this rant is about. I don't want to leave anything out, kind of like the way you left your name out, Anonymous.

In closing I just want to reiterate, I had a blast doing this job, as well as working with the advertising company, CKA, to do these wine labels. Reading the opening paragraph again, I guess I can kind of see why you might have thought what you did. Especially if you don't personally kow me. Maybe I just shouldn't post stuff like this anymore. I thought I should open up and add some more random, excuse me, different posts about my work here, but maybe not now. Maybe I should just shut up and not say anything on here if the only comments are going to be negative by anonymous people. Thoughts anyone???????


Here are some more images I did for the same ad agency that was working with the wine people. These were for another local wine company called Aviator wine. They were really hip on having a Vargas-esque type girl for one bottle. The type you might see on old airplane noses.
Here's another example of some more art for some different bottles. I'm not sure which airplane they ended up using below. The black and white planes were done that way so that they could do some kind of fancy embossing for that label.
I still haven't come across the other wine bottles. I bought the Fruit Bomb wine but haven't tried it yet. Still taking my time getting through Dan Aykroyd's new Crystal Head Vodka. By the way, yes, it is signed by Elwood Blues himself. He was in town promoting his vodka a few weeks back. You too will experience the "invisible world" after you get through a whole bottle in one sitting. Good stuff.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the checking out some of the other kind of art I get to do from time to time. I'll have to dig up some more stuff like that to put up on here. Maybe I can actually start getting more than one post a month again. Later on my fellow alcoholics!