Shanty Town

A couple weeks ago I drew out the shanty town on board. This is my project for this week. Most of my packing is nearing a close so now I can spend some serious time on my show. There is always something more that you can do, but I think it is time just move on with my projects and work through this the best that I can.

I'm really digging the tortured looking birdhouses. This was inspired by a photo that I found of the ghetto in Beijing. It looked amazing. And now, after watching "Slumdog Millionare", I'm feeling even more into these shacky looking homes.

I'll try to post some more soon.
Keep it real.
-Mike

New Drawing Section on Etsy

The Mighty Lark Etsy page is now home to a drawing section. I posted three drawings for sale today as well as two more paintings. Everything is as the record industry labels it, "the nice price". A couple robot drawings and a couple bird drawings.

Little guy in a gold frame. This is the original bird with birdhouse drawing.

Stereos, robots, and birds. Another framed drawing with three of my favorite things.
Moving Sale in full effect.

Hope Everyone is doing great.
peace
Mike

CAW!

I finished another Mighty Lark piece today. It was quite the adventure as I grow more and more anxious about my imminent move to Minneapolis. I am excited, but a) I am going to need more funds b) it will be weird to be living without Beth, and c) Somehow while there I will have to finish the "Dwellings" show.

I've added a Flickr set for sketches and finishes for "Dwellings".

Here is the newest of the Mighty Lark pieces. I had really forgotten how much fun these were to do, but I'm not putting any stress on them right now. I'm just trying to relax because everything else is so stressful right now. So the Mighty Lark gets the best of me.

Let me know what you think. And if any of you are Minneapolis residents, thoughts on housing and the job front are much appreciated. Use the email to the side.

Til then, peace.
Mike

More for the People!

Today was a productive day all around. I finished one Mighty Lark piece, drew up another, and started four small bird portraits that Susan of Artstream Studios requested. I am very pleased with all five drawings that I worked up today.

I have frames for all of these. They are small, about 3" by 4.5".

And this is the next Mighty Lark piece that I started. I hope to finish it tomorrow before I go to the restaurant. Let me know what you think.

peace
Mike

Paintings for the People

Apparently people really like the Mighty Lark. I was told that the "Return of the Mighty Lark" was my most popular piece at my last show, and the other pieces that I have produced incorporating the Mighty Lark have been very successful as well. So what am I going to do about it?

I decided if it was the Mighty Lark that people want the Mighty Lark they will get. So here is the first piece that I've produced and I will have more to post later today.

Titled "Dancing with Myself". Thanks Billy Idol. Have a good day folks.
peace
Mike

Finally got something.

I've been working at figuring out what to do with my October show for months. In the beginning it seemed like such an easy idea, birdhouses made to look like buildings from across the world, but after two shows that didn't say much thematically, I was getting burnt on painting more eye candy. That is not to say that I don't like my paintings from earlier this year, but they didn't have as much meat as I'd like.

I was toying with creating maps, Sims style, and pointing out where the birds would live in the town, but realized that that was more about human dwellings than the bird dwellings. I wasn't making any metaphors there. So finally last night, I figured out that I was going to make very large paintings of trees, serve as imagery representing caste and social status. Then I will hang paintings of birds with their birdhouses over top.

The homeless birds, those living in mechanical and abandoned industrial sites, will be at the bottom, followed by shanty towns of birdhouses, middle class home birdhouses, luxury condo houses, and mansion type houses.

Here are a couples sketches I came up with last night, one for the homeless level and the other for a luxury condo:

I want to make these homeless paintings a little dark, kind of in a Camille Rose Garcia vein.

The top levels I want to be really bright, and idealistic.

The idea may have some holes, but it's a step in the right direction, so I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'll have some more sketches soon, now that I know what I'm doing.

peace
Mike