SHOW! - at Design Within Reach, Berkeley

New work from my Nature Series is up!
come sit on the fine furniture and enjoy the view.

click on the image for a larger view

Design Within Reach is a modern furniture shop, with designs by the great Greats including Ray and Charles Eames, Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve, Philippe Starck, Isamu Noguchi and Frank Gehry.

located at 1770 fun-filled Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA

everyone's welcome to the reception!
Thursday, December 7th, 2006
6pm-8pm
DWR would like to get a head count
so, rsvp-s recommended: berkeley@dwr.com

see you soon!

back from NYC

i am spoiled! my trip to new york was brief but refreshing. on tuesday i flew in and arrived in time for the National Book Awards finalist readings at the New School in manhattan. American Born Chinese by Gene Yang along with the other finalists' books were a real treat to hear aloud.
i particularily enjoyed nathaniel mackey's and richard power's readings. the former a poet and the latter an author won the National Book Award in their catagories (poetry, fiction) on wednesday night.


gene did not win, but was praised by MT Anderson who did win for his book The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party.

the excerpt mr. anderson read from his book was intriguing, disturbing and strangely amusing. though there wasn't much in the way of physical descriptions, the story was vivid in my mind.

there was a definite recognition of comics and its appropriate existence in the literary world. i felt very proud and honored to bear witness to the occasion.

also very special was meeting a fellow who was from the Library of Congress. i LOVE the Library of Congress. i have been a fan since i was a kid.

gene and the gentleman from the Library of Congress.
i believe his name is Bob, though it was really noisy so i may be mistaken.

if you are reading this and are wondering what book? here it is again. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, colored by me l'il LP, published by First Second Books. This year's finalist in the Young Readers Category for the National Book Awards.

i am really proud and honored to be a friend of gene's. i'm glad to have worked on ABC with him. i hope everyone gets a chance to read his book. it can be found in all major bookstores, and many independent stores as well.

the view from First Second Books

i am also most thankful to First Second Books and Roaring Brook Press. Their commitment to comics and vision is inspiring.

****

now back at home, i continue my responsibilities. i made it to the TINY opening on saturday (very nice assembly of work, and terrific turn-out as well). i followed up on my studio search on Sunday. i dropped off my nature series pieces at DWR today. this week i'll continue with the commissions. for those of you who have been waiting for your paintings, thanks for your patience. they are near completion.

detail from 6 sisters, showing at Design Within Reach
on 4th Street in Berkeley
November 18th 2006 - January 18th 2007

OMG!

red wine and painting on wood while listening to the rain outside... what an ART NERD!

anyhoo, gotta get on the plane to NYC to cheer Gene Yang on, in oh, about 12 hours, for the National Book Awards. so i gotta get these paintings done. will be back in the bay area on the 17th. the paintings go up for show at DWR on the 18th. also, the TINY Studio gallery opening is on the 18th. don't forget to come to it!

we will catch you oh so gently

six sisters
(on its side right now. waiting in cue.)

what's pretty to you might not be pretty to me

memory

drawing, etc.

this model was skinny - i found her hard to draw

i've been on a tear to find inspiring art. staying up till we hours of the morn surfing the internet for color schemes, patterns, high-contrast whatever whatever. anyone have cool links? don't send me drawn! i have been there. but, it could be anything, photos or otherwise. also, if anyone knows how to find YUATARI's (japanese) site, please please please let me know. this artist did a bunch of great One Piece drawings, and i can't find the website anymore. i'd link it if i could!

getting ready for the DWR show - lots of nature stuff. lots of indigo blue, fleshy pinks. small birds and skulls and whatnot. sort of asian-looking. don't think i'm getting in touch with my chinese side though. it's more like japanese fettish. it can't be helped tho'. japanese art is so ueber cool.

u are pretty, u make me smile

have and have nots

i will have little turtle paintings up for the STUDIO gallery TINY show, starting november 15th. there will be about 20 or 30 or so of these little suckers. they range from families, to co-workers trying to ignore one another, to less fortunate folks. all in turtle style.

working for a living

what you see here are sort of bad representations - my scanner has trouble capturing watercolors. but i assure you they look a little better in real life.

runaway

runaway (in disguise)

life for sale

up for adoption

BFF

that one crazy uncle

SHOWS! - especially scott campbell's.

there is a super talented dude named scott campbell who will be having his art opening tonight in downtown san francisco. it will be at the sushi restaurant called MEDICINE which is at 161 sutter street. free nibblies and whatnot from 6pm to 9pm. click on the image for a closer look.

i don't have a picture of scott, so you will have to imagine what he looks like (you weirdo). if you don't want to imagine it then come to his show.

oh actually, here is a link to his performance in stumptown:
http://hickee.blogspot.com/

and here is a link to more of his awesome comics:
http://www.doublefine.com/comics/scott_comic.php3


less immediate, but still exciting news for you is that i will have major turtle work in the up STUDIO gallery on polk street this month, for the TINY show. starting november 15th. see details here:
http://www.studiogallerysf.com/wst_page8.html

my solo show begins november 30th, a continuation of the nature series will be at DESIGN WITHIN REACH in berkeley, on fourth street. come and sit on all the furniture with me.
http://www.dwr.com/dwrstudio.cfm?loc_id=26

the book release party for Pet Noir will be at the Cartoon Art Museum december 5th. if you don't remember what story i did for this animal advocating book,here is a page of it again:

i really did look like this in highschool