Here is a short video of the opening night from the 12x12 group exhibition! Take a look:
The first wave of works have been uploaded to the official site(there are over 100 works in the show) and more paintings keep moving! Take a look here at the pieces listed so far. You can acquire artworks directly from the site. The exhibit is up unil September 22nd!
If you missed the opening of 12x12 this past Saturday, Gallery ABYSS has uploaded some great shots from the event on their website. You can view them here:
Do I like Star Wars? Sure, as much as the next guy. You're the next guy, like Star Wars?
Another painting study I did recently. This time of a Darth Maul action figure. (Among my favorite character designs and one of the coolest villains ever.) I took some photos of him standing on top of a square color changing LED alarm clock. It is the only light source.
LAST NIGHT was Gallery Abyss' 12x12 group show! THANK YOU to everyone who attended! It may not be a fun question, but let me ask you quickly: What is the most valuable thing that someone can steal from you? Your signifigant other? Your children? Your pet? An heirloom? Your savings? Your mobility? ...Your iPhone? What would you do if you lost all your memories? This was the inspiration behind my most recent painting, The Memory Thief, which I produced for Gallery Abyss' 12x12 group show. I would like to tell you about it.
The character in the lower left corner is a memory thief and a cerebral menace. He breaks into the subconscious of the elderly whose aging immune system can no longer combat his advances. He steals their memories and sells the information. You may notice, he doesn't actually touch the memories encased in his lock box - doing so would infect and alter them. I also theorized that the more fond the memory, the more vibrant glow it emits as seen in the trail of his exit. Sadly, the repercussions of his larceny are devastating. His victims are ushered into a state of dementia. I know it is not a fun painting... and is harder to place in a room than a basket of flowers, so why would I paint such a melancholy image to begin with? Well, the goal with my art has always been to connect with others in an honest manner.To create and present you with things I'm not invested in is disingenuous and unworthy of your attention. As I now watch some people in my life I care about very much undergo memory loss, it's made me search for reasoning. When none can be found, alternative narrations are sought (like the one theorized above). I guess in some way I am hoping you will find something relateable. Maybe found in one of your own memories. Hang on to them. As an artist, you always hope that your work will resonate with people. But you really don't know unless someone goes out of their way to inform you. I received the E-mail below in response to the latest newsletter I sent out prior to the 12x12 opening last night. The facebook message was sent to me by a friend after I released the image online. (Some of the information has been withheld to retain their privacy.)
Many people are often surprised when they look through my sketchbook. It's actually filled with life drawing, anatomy studies and studies of people from photos - there's not a lot of cartoons in it. I like picking up the free mag from the movie theater (Cineplex, here in Canada) and drawing from it. It's often filled with multiple photos of the same actors/actresses to draw studies from.
Drawing is of actor Viggo Mortensen from the movie 'Captian Fantastic'. Ink and marker on kraft paper.
ll done a new painting called 'The Memory Thief'. The painting is for the 12x12 group show coming up at Gallery ABYSS opening August 6th (next Saturday). Hope you can make it! Click here for the facebook event info.
Here's a small painting study I did recently of a T-Rex toy I had painted from life. My goal since the Spring has been to do more of these studies. I've been using a Golden Artist Colors OPEN acrylics starter kit to do these small studies. I'm really loving the blending abilities without compromising the fast drying time.
So cool! The first 'eyes of the artist' HAS BEEN REVEALED!!
The story:
This past weekend at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit, I
launched a new series of paintings called 'eyes of the artist'. 4 paintings in the series total, each one named after one of the seasons (winter, spring, summer &
fall). Each painting has NEVER been seen by anyone prior to sale other than
myself. The collector opens the painting knowing they are receiving an
exclusive look at something not previously shared with the world. (Or, they
could choose to store the painting and never share it with the world - they get
to choose the outcome.) I offer art enthusiasts a rebate if they choose to film
their reactions when they open the painting. AND, if that's not enough - I also
include an additional surprise included with each painting too...
You can watch the
reaction of the painting "Fall" (the true title of the painting is
'Tongue Twister') above. (the big reveal occurs at 2:05)
Here is an image of what the painting looks like:
'Tongue Twister'
acrylic on wood panel
5"x7"
The paintings were hit at TOAE and I ONLY HAVE ONE LEFT. If you want to join the party, you can claim it here.
Wow - hard to believe the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is finished already! THANK YOU to everyone who bought artwork, stopped by my booth to say hello and expressed their enthusiasm in my work! THANK YOU to the entire staff at TOAE and the many volunteers who repeatedly offered their help. Thank you to Higgins rentals for the tents.
If there is work you spotted that would be a great fit for your space, and you would like to discuss it with me further, feel free to send me an E-mail ( jono [at]jonodoiron.com )
Today is the LAST DAY of the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit! I am heading back to Montreal tomorrow, so if you've been eyeballing anything in my booth (#119) and want to avoid shipping, I will be serving you today from 10:00-6:00. I look forward to talking with you!
MAJOR THANKS to Syn Studio for putting on for putting on such an informative event: 'The Gathering of the Masters 2016', a 3 day masterclass workshop I was fortunate to attend! The highlight for me was getting to meet and draw with artist, James Gurney. His book 'Color & Light' is a supreme resource I recommended to realist painters repeatedly: http://jamesgurney.com/…/color-and-light-a-guide-for-the-re…
Syn Studio is the leading concept art school in Montreal. You can find out more about the courses and workshops they offer here: http://synstudio.ca
I've been very inspired by this book 'Daily Painting' (http://carolmarine.blogspot.ca/p/my-books.html)
to wake up and do some painting studies. I would like to do more of
them. Great way to observe light and color without having to commit to a
large piece. This was painted from a small Bart Simpson toy maquette I
had. Painted from life with acrylic. Light source is sunlight.
Some valid points from Aunia Kahn, Gallery director of Alexi Era Gallery,on why it does not benefit your work by calling it 'untitled'. To add: get feedback if you can't come up with anything on your own. Ask your friends, family and fans for title suggestions. In my opinion, the work is not finished unless you've come up with a title. 'Untitled' is lazy and unimaginative. Listen to what she has to say on the subject here.
Finished up the first (of four) of the secretive paintings yesterday for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition coming up July 8-10. Here is the palette.
I thought it would be a fun change to just 'free mix' all the colors,
as opposed to making color strings like I normally do for my larger
pieces.
I have 4 "secretive" paintings in the works for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition coming up July 8-10. Here they are gessoed and primed. More details soon...
I've had a sand paper pencil sharpener taped to the top right corner of
my drawing table for many years now. They can greatly extend the life
out of your pencils and nearly all art stores carry them. When a layer
gets full, you can just remove it and there is a clean layer underneath.
They do produce lots of dust though. I figured out over time, if you
put a bag over the sharpener, it will keep your area clean.
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is now ONE MONTH AWAY! (Ah, the pressure is on!) Hope you can make it!You can find me at Booth #119 (high lighted green on the map below.)
*Photo above from 2014 by my friend and artist, Denise Busiman Pilger. She
will also be exhibiting in TOAE this year. You can check out her work here.
My latest painting 'Nightmare Sauce'. It will be available at the upcoming Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition next month July 8-10! You coming? 'Nightmare Sauce' acrylic on wood panel 12"x12"
