Spring cleaning

Except it isn't spring anymore.

I was tossing out old papers and sketches from this past year and I found some of the quickie tests I did of the bleach process. This is the only one that turned out well, and it could still be infinitely better if I were to do it again. But I do like it.



It's roughly 6x8", bleach on black cotton as always.

Haven't decided if I'll put it on Etsy or not. It's far from the best one I've done, but I kiiiinda still love it. Hm. We'll see.

I need to go buy more fabric so I can make more. They're super fun to make.

A word about If It Bleeds

Just 'cause it comes up every now and then, and even though this post will be buried and probably not read by very many, I can at least link to it the next time the question comes up.

"If It Bleeds, It Leads" isn't about serial killers. The only criteria for the subjects was to involve a high profile murder that A) got massive amounts of publicity B) inspired various forms of entertainment, and/or C) in the case of the fictional ones, were semi-realistic (not slashers) portrayals of killers that people enjoy watching (like Hannibal).


So "why is Michael Alig in there?" is because of Disco Bloodbath, Party Monster (documentary and feature film), and all around publicity and public interest around him. I'm not saying he's a baby eating monster the likes of Albert Fish, just that he and his behavior attract a lot of attention. He's included for being fabulous. And Manson is included for being crazy. People forget he didn't definitively kill anyone.

Aaaand, I certainly admit that he's mostly there because I do like him and wanted to include him. This was long before the painting and pillow and whatnot.

So there we go.

I spy . . . aquanet

Sometimes I end up spending hours just tripping around Flickr looking at pictures.

I should be packing to move, but I'm now searching very young, very pretty Billy Idol.

Shame on me.

James St. James print

Yaaaay. I couldn't resist getting some James prints in my last print order. I was gonna wait and do a colorful painting of him to get printed in metallics, but fuck it, I'll do BOTH. Yes.

One of the prints is on Etsy now.


Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
kahlaw.etsy.com


I also have print sets of ACEOs. Either the If It Bleeds bleach pieces or the Club Kid paintings.

$6 each

Any 4 for $20 (all four club kids, or 4 killers)

All 16 If It Bleeds images for $45

Just specify which images and I'll create a custom etsy listing.

...I have a slight print addiction...

Metallic Prints!

I'm so excited today! My new batch of prints came, and I decided to do a little experimenting with paper. I've been curious about the "metallic" paper my printer offers, so I finally took the plunge and had some ACEOs (2.5x3.5" art cards) printed on it. Oh my god! I'm in love. The blacks stay black, and from the front they look like regular prints with nice rich colors, but when the light hits them the colors sparkle. I tried and tried but couldn't photograph the effect right, but I managed to get it a little bit.

I got Billy Idol, Marc Bolan, Michael Alig, and my drunk skunk as metallics.




Billy is listed on Etsy as of now. I really love how the orangey background turned into a fiery copper, and his skin and hair are subtle golden colors. Lots of fun.



Again, the oranges really sparkle, and the purples too. I need to do another Marc image now with more color, 'cause I would LOVE to see him glittering even more.




And a pleasant surprise! Michael turned out pretty matte, and then the brown paper in the background is a great gold. Very cool! I'm loving this effect where greyscale stays neutral on this paper but colors go very metallic. I'm dreaming up all kinds of neat contrasts using that.



This one turned out cool too. The original has purple highlights/reflections, but they really pop on this paper. I was so excited to see how the reflections on the shot glasses pop out as an awesome metallic purple. And of course the gold bar top.

I'm already planning out my next print order. I had all these printed on matte paper for comparison and will be listing those soon too. AND I got a few regular big prints of Marc, Nicki Kin, and James St. James. Those will go up this weekend or early next week. Yaaaay. I have lots of fun making prints.

nicki kin for sale!

Not the real thing, unfortunately, but the lovely little painting of him. I don't usually put my fine art paintings on etsy, but Nicki is small enough to ship and less trouble than the super heavy monster paintings.

You can find him HERE. Signed, dated, all that good stuff.

Nicki's the guitarist for Vains of Jenna. Check 'em out.

Schooool's out for summer!

Quick update of a couple paintings from this semester.


The one and only Billy Idol, 5x7" oil on panel. I was really happy with this one.



8x10" oil on panel, Nicki Kin (Vains of Jenna). I'm gonna go back and tweak some things, but it needs to dry for awhile first. With a face like that, what's not to love?

Phil Lewis, Tom Keifer, and Donnie Vie are yet to be photographed.

Aaaand the club kids





They're all 8x10" oil on primed paper. Michael Alig, WaltPaper, Richie Rich, and James St. James in that order. They've got some snazzy black frames now too.

Overall it was a productive semester, and now I have almost four months of free time to paint without liberal studies in the way! Excellent.

Oh my poor back...

Just finished painting for...oh...7 hours straight. Maybe more. BUT I am DONE for the semester and for my review tomorrow. I'm sure I'll add a few touches here and there tomorrow but they're all 99.9% done. Marc Bolan, Phil Lewis, Donnie Vie, Billy Idol, Tom Keifer, and Nicki Kin. A bit of a motley bunch, but they go well together.

And even after a grueling final, and that marathon painting session, I'm sitting here wide awake at nearly 6 in the morning. What's wrong with me? For one I'm cracking the fuck up over this video.



A heaping dose of Donnie made the painting fly by tonight, and I don't even remember what I was looking for, but that video is gold.