Adjustable Easel for Urban Dwelling
Tiny apartments are not kind to painters and illustrators. Easels can prove to be bulky and awkward when it comes to storage and often take up too much space in an already cramped environment.
It was in this exact situation that I came up with this minimalist design. The sliding track system lets you paint as large as your environment will allow, while the simple two-bar easel design removes from the track, making storage much easier. Set up your easel when it’s time to work, pack it up when your work is done.
Wingnut tightening design for easy movement and sturdy positioning
At use in art studio
At use in tiny apartment
Custom made hardware for sliding track system
master of sheep - passion for process
In 2017, I began a series of paintings using a fresco/scrimshaw hybrid technique. This involved a multi-layered process of carving plaster, painting, sanding, then painting again. I loved using harsh building materials such as joint compound plaster for something as historically delicate as painting.
First layer of ink after carving
Linework revealed after sanding
Second layer of ink
Detail. Freehand lettering done with Dremel
Ridgewood Open Studios
From 2017-2019 I had a studio space in Ridgewood, Queens. While it is considered a hotbed for local and up-and-coming artists, Ridgewood had never had its own open studios weekend. Tired of being overshadowed by the loud and crowded Bushwick Open Studios, the artists of Ridgewood decided it was time to shine. Starting with a FaceBook page and a small meet-and-greet, I worked alongside dozens of artists to draw attention to the artwork being created in the area and the studio spaces in which the work was being made. Our goal was to not only exhibit our work, but to bring people into the close-knit, neighborly atmosphere we had come to love in the community.
Article in Bushwick Daily.
Article in QNS.
ROS grew from just one gallery to several studios, storefronts and makers spaces in under six months.
ROS official flyer and “Kick Off” show flyer.
The first of several monthly planning meetings for ROS took place at Lorimoto Gallery in Ridgewood.
Zines - Humor and familiarity
Humor is a crucial driving force behind my creative process. When I felt that my sense of humor was being constricted within my painting practice, I began to lean towards smaller scale, more intimate means of making work in order to take the edge off. Zine making as a culture has always embraced the lo-fi, non fussy means of production and I felt that my sense of humor would flourish in this environment. I compiled loose-leaf pieces of ephemera, notes from friends, labels from heavy machinery, ransom note-style gibberish and assembled them amongst ridiculous stories that were mostly true.
Through this endeavor, I’ve learned that humor is a great way to break down barriers between you and your audience. I felt the familiar book format and the ability to hold this piece of work in your hands made it more accessible to viewers than the average no-touch art exhibit. I realized that what I’d been trying to accomplish with painted imagery was also achievable through humor.
solo shows - connect and collaborate
In 2015 and in 2018, I had the pleasure of exhibiting my work in spaces owned by good friends of mine. Working with friends outside of the professional art world setting gave us the opportunity to loosen up and focus on exactly what we wanted for the exhibition. For each occasion, we took a simple approach; the show would consist of mostly new paintings that I would create inspired by the space, and smaller work such as zines and prints to exhibit the full spectrum of my body of work. Each event drew very diverse crowds as the owners of both venues were avid cyclists, sign painters and graffiti writers.
Both experiences showed me what is possible when you work outside of your own practice and meet others in the middle.
Text drawings - all that applies
For years, I’ve kept a sketchbook practice of writing stream-of-consciousness notes and drawings. These “text drawings” as I call them, don’t adhere to any clear context and are almost complete nonsense.
Cathartic as they may be, I felt they would never reach their full potential so long as they remained hidden in my sketchbooks. Recently, I’ve been turning these drawings into finished pieces. Since sharing these pieces, I’ve been impressed with how viewers have contextualized and interacted with them the way they interact with more conventional fine art.
Router bit box - weather sealed and happy
Most router bit cases only fit the exact profiles of the bits that came in it with no room for any extras you may have. I needed a place to keep my growing collection of trim router bits safe from the hazards of shop life so I fashioned a box out of pallet wood, plywood and crating foam.
dream studio - planning for the future
While learning SketchUp I tasked myself with creating my dream studio/wood shop. This space would be built separate from the main house on the five acres I don’t own yet.
Student art installation / Projector booth
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my job is helping student’s visions come alive. This particular installation involved a projection, audio and seating with interactive artwork on the wall inside the room. The student and I collaborated on the features of the build, which had never been installed before, then built the room from scratch.
Being that this was the first physical manifestation of the work, there was room for improvisation. Throughout the build, we watched new possibilities appear as the project materialized.