Oh, happy day! After yesterday’s advance announcement for Biorequiem mailing list subscribers, I’m happy to present two peculiar specimens. Playing on my fascination with chapter 8 of A Rebours and the the concept of alien botany, I offer you the first fruit of my dicey investigations, in print form.

Available in signed and numbered limited editions of 44, the Cephalotus Geminus and the Cypripedium Lingua are now ready for purchase in the Biorequiem shop, separately or as a set.

I can’t wait to harvest more of this curious vegetation. Meanwhile, you can get your hot little hands on the original paintings through Copro Nason gallery.

                          

My latest painting, the startling Cypripedium Lingua, is now finished!

Come see it in the flesh, along with the Cephalotus Geminus, this Saturday at Conjoined 2. If you haven’t already, check out this Haute Macabre write-up about Conjoined and, if you’re in LA on Saturday, be sure to come say hello at the show! I heard through the grapevine there will be an interactive robot tentacle, so you know where I’ll be all night. The details:

This Saturday, January 21st 8 – 11:30pm
Copro Nason Gallery – Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave. T5
Santa Monica, CA 90404

                          

I’m racing to get ths piece finished for Chet Zar’s Conjoined group show on the 21st and it turns out one can get a lot of painting done in four-and-a-half hours if enough over-steeped Pu-erh tea is on hand.  The question now is: will I even sleep again?

                          

Let’s call this my first painting of 2012. Happy new year, everyone!

                          

I give you a few progress shots of my toothy Cephalotus, being brought into existence for Conjoined – Chet Zar’s group exhibit at Copro Nason on January 21.

This is maybe five sessions of varying lengths since the first layer post a few weeks back, as well as one unfortunate 5-hour stretch that ended in me erasing half the piece. The painting was on pause for a few weeks while I was plagued by a nasty case of strep throat, but now it’s steadily nearing completion.

Before you scroll, I warn you: this beast is highly NSFW!

                          

A few shots of my current workstation, which happens to be the kitchen table + dropcloth. We do have a workroom, but the light in here is better, plus – movies!

I’m in the process of painting two pieces for Chet Zar’s “Conjoined” show, opening January 21st at Copro Nason gallery, and they’re decidedly NSFW. I’ll reveal the full pieces when they’re done, and will be posting progress shots throughout the process.

This here is a glimpse of a mutating Cephalotus.

You’re looking at the very first layer of oil paint on wood, which means the final painting may look nothing like this at all. While the first layer dries, I’m getting ready to throw some paint down on a Cypripedium – right after this cup of spiced chai.

These pieces are part of a series I mentioned some time ago, inspired by À Rebours.

                          

Through some monstrous force of will [and at the expense of things that would have probably made me money] I managed to put another 4 hours into this painting. I would say it’s almost at the halfway point., with no more than 20 more hours to go. A part of me hates showing work in progress, but another part loves the process too much not to share, so – here she it, Cyprepedium Lingua.

Oil on wood, the first in a series of ten-ish, all dedicated to beastly flora. Details will be added, colors will change, but this is close enough to post as a glimpse into the infernal Process. Please don’t yell at me is the final looks nothing like this. I sure do wonder how long it’ll take to find those 20 hours and finish.

                          

Apologies for the week’s radio silence. It’s just that I’ve found it increasingly difficult to keep up with our regular programming while the current historic events in Egypt are permeating all of my feeds. Mostly, I’ve been working and glued to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of Cairo, especially impressed by the work of the folks over at Tor Project – an organization striving to keep the internet available and anonymous – something I strongly support.

On Monday, Tor announced they would be working to reinstate web connectivity in Egypt, and that they were trying to raise 100,000 to help them do so. In an effort to help, I listed my one-of-a-kind, hand-painted tentacle jacket, on eBay, with the promise of all earnings going to Tor Project.

This brand new Levi’s jacket was part of a special exhibit in ’08, and the sexy tentacles are painted in oil directly on the denim. If I were buying this fine garment, I would probably chop the sleeves and rock it grunge-style, but hey – it’s yours to do with as you please. All I can tell you is that this is the absolute cheapest you will ever see me sell an oil for, especially since I’m in the process of reinstating painting mode, and that 100% of this sale’s proceeds will go directly to Tor.

Hell, even if you hate the jacket, I encourage you to bid for this important cause. Considering all the spooky, Orwellian nonsense that’s happening in the world right now, services like Tor’s are invaluable to our future.

Biorequiem is not a political blog – there are plenty of  incisive, sophisticated sources that do a great job already, but this doesn’t change the fact that I am a political person. Actually, I believe that caring about global events is a vital part of being a person, period, especially in a time when burying our heads in the sand [or the clouds] is more appealing than ever. I end my tirade now, and ask that you place your bids for an awesome art deal, and, more importantly, for  an awesome cause.

UPDATE

This hacket has been sold for $297. I donated $300, just to call it even. A huge thanks to everyone who helped spread the word!

                          

Our very first edition of Oilslicks! Haven’t painted in ages, and it’s about that time. To kick things off, I painted a tiny study in acrylic and decided that medium just isn’t for me. However, some use did come from the experiment! I decided to clear a bit of room on my walls, so I’m going to be selling select oils. I’m starting small, literally.

The tinies below are not easy to part with, but getting them out of here will encourage me to make more, so it’s worth it. They’re priced to GTFO, so if you’re on a budget and have been meaning to get an original painting from me, this is the round for you. Noop, this is not an April Fools joke.

Start Transmission
Oil on canvas || 5″x5″ || $200

SOLD

Drip study
acrylic on wood || 5″ across

Don’t Breathe on Me
Oil on canvas || 6″x5″ || $200

FaceSquish
Oil and acrylic on wood || 9″x6.5″ each || $400

                          

Since this was taken a couple of weeks ago I’ve varnished and signed these little paintings, adding a few minuscule details in gold ink. That could prove difficult to photograph so here is this, for now. Oil on wood.

Of late, poking at a new larger painting and a propaganda piece for Coilhouse, where I’m writing more than anywhere else these days. Shooting a lot for work. Not finding enough time to read which frustrates. This is not a night for verbosity, but I will say I spent a grand hour in a private karaoke booth tonight.

Zoom!

                          

oil on canvas

                          

Pleione and Æthra as subjects of audio-erotic experiement., originally uploaded by zoetica.

Completed in 16 hours, in 4-hour incriments.