Watch this amazing video that by Orelha Negra. I believe it was inspired by Cai Guo-Quiang, who had a recent public performance here in Houston commissioned by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. 

So here's the scoop. I have five of my newest and freshest paintings out of my studio and it has already, most likely, reached Blue Star Lab in San Antonio, Texas. Excited? Yes I am! I will be showing with my coo

Today was eventful. The cool peeps went to my studio to hang-out and chill:
My fiancé Samantha
Rex Mohammad (click on his name to view his website)
Ashley Lockhart
Tammy Bui
David Dawkins
Trinh Nguyen

I love when people come and have random conversations about art, processes, philosophies, artists, etc. anything that involves making things! Even if we joke around a lot and watch stupid videos on Youtube, we always see to it that we grow from each other's knowledge. Thank you guys, thank you! 

Also, Rex and I watched a funny video of the infamous Honey Badger:

Now, we don't stop referring everything to Honey Badgers. Haha!

Today is Frances Trotter's opening at the Project Gallery. I honestly felt like being inside Tron because of the black lights that made my shoes light up the neon green on it. Make sure to stop by! It's a great show!

Tomorrow, Wayne Gilbert of G Gallery is swinging by the studios to jury the show "Art From the Land of Cougars" which will be at the Blue Star Lab in San Antonio, Texas. The opening will be next week, March 3, 2011 from 6pm to 9pm. It's my first show in San Antonio as well as my first show for 2011. It will be on until April 23, 2011.

I try not to recycle paintings for any shows that I have. Sometimes there might be last minute ones but as much as possible, I really try not to have a painting be shown twice. I don't think they deserve that. I honestly do not know why I have this mindset but I try to keep it that way so I will always keep working on new things. So for the upcoming shows that I am going to have, all you'll see are fresh paintings. All fresh from the studio! No dust or rust!

I also got an email from a New York gallery about having my works represented by them. I surely can go to New York and check it out but I have to think more about it and see its legitimacy. I don't know why I am always drawn to that city when I don't see myself living there. It's a great city, don't get me wrong, but there's a lot of things that I consider: cost of living, snow, noise pollution (I like some quiet time also), a more laid back atmosphere, etc. I will probably visit more.

If you own a painting or any artwork from me, this is my promise: "I'm working hard for that investment!" ;) 
If you are an artist and would be interested in trading artworks, just let me know!

As much as I love the smell of oil paints. I hate the smell of Turpentine. My whole studio is drenched in the smell. I should have just bought the odorless thinner. I ran out of food in my studio for the exception that I still have some oatmeal cookies but I am totally running out of water. No bueno. I should go grocery shopping soon. Maybe tonight but I am not sure yet. 

Last night I purchased Radiohead's The King of Limbs. So far, I've liked 4 songs. In spite of it being so different, you can still sort of share the idea of In Rainbows with it. Mellow and more electronic. I do miss the riffs of Paranoid Android though. I feel like it needs a little kick but it's a really good driving/ chill night album. 

I am currently making paintings for Empty Box which is for Box13 which will take place March 12, 2011. Pretty soon! Also, a show for G Gallery and M Squared Gallery (June 3, 2011) in the Heights. 

I think I have mentioned this before but I have been more careful with shows I am being on. First and foremost, I try not to pay anything just be in a show. That is just kind of ridiculous to me. I am not saying that it's a bad idea but ehh, you can get into better shows without paying anything. I would rather be in a juried show in a better space that shows better art. Not trying to be an art snob here but I just refuse to be comfortable. I've done shows before where I paid but it was for the sake of paying for the venue, not the organizer --a group show where it is about the group as a whole. Also, getting into paid art shows makes it easily accessible for other artists who don't take their career as serious as you are. To make it easier to explain, basically, show with the people you want to be recognized with. Mehhh, enough ranting for me. It's not healthy. 

Anyway, a good friend of mine came by my studio to take some photos of me while I paint. I have never really experienced something like that before but it's been a good one! Here's some of the photos he took and a website to see his works at:

Click on the picture to see the rest of the photos and his website:

A good friend of mine questioned my process of making and philosophies in painting. The issue of "erasing" was brought up and there could never be a better explanation made other than where it all sparked from. Here's a video of an interview of Robert Rauschenberg talking about his "Erased de Kooning" and why he did it. 

For real. Faux real.

Real eyes realize real lies.

Create or cre-h8?

So here I am in the studio eating Ritz crackers, drinking coffee, listening to Radiohead (I can't wait for King of Limbs album to come out!!!) while drawing. I just thought it would be nice to write something about things that highly influence me as an artist.

Things 
+ Hand-painted signs
+ Handwritten notes
+ Store receipts, especially the ones that have been in your wallet for a long time
+ Paper with heavy tooth
+ Defective neon signs that make weird words
+ Scribbles made by people who do not consider themselves as artists
+ Kids' scribbles
+ Graffiti
+ Worn-out shoes
+ Weathered things: Walls, wood, metal things, etc.
+ White things
+ Black things
+ Stains
+ Drops
+ Placement of things after a hurricane
+ Aesthetic changes caused by natural disasters
+ Hand made things
+ Scratches
+ Dents
+ Bite marks on pens: because it's a natural way for man to make marks without using anything foreign from the body

Artists/ Composers/ Musicians
+ Claes Oldenberg
+ Cy Twombly
+ Robert Ryman
+ Jose Parla
+ Andy Warhol
+ Jean Michel Basquiat
+ Banksy
+ Sebastiao Salgado
+ Christopher Wool
+ Joel-Peter Witkin
+ Robert Rauschenburg
+ John Cage
+ Thom Yorke
+ John Lennon
... the list goes on and my memory is failing me, as always. 

Anyway, I want to show some photos from my trip to NYC 2010

I have been currently working on my website for about 3 weeks now. I'm so rough with my knowledge with HTML and other program languages that it has taken me a longer time to just create my personal website. I figured it would be better to just have one instead of trying to have people go to different accounts that I have on Blogger and Flickr. So what has been up with me lately?

I've been reading Andy Warhol's book, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again. Here's a few of my favorite quotes so far:
"A good reason to be famous, though, is so you can read all the big magazines and know everybody in all the stories. Page after page it's just all people you've met. I love that kind of reading experience and that's the best reason to be famous."

"Good B.O. means good "box office." You can smell it from a mile away. The more you spell it out, the bigger the smell, and the bigger the smell, the more B.O. you get."

"The movies make emotions look so strong and real, whereas when things really do happen to you, it's like watching television --you don't feel anything."

"Being born is like being kidnapped. And then sold into slavery. People are working every minute. The machinery is always going. Even when you sleep."

"The idea of America is theoretically so great because we've gotten rid of maids and janitors, but then, somebody still has to do it."

...there's more! 

I am currently working on two different series right now: Deconstractivism and Disconnect/Miscommunication series. I haven't been in any shows lately because I feel like I need to strive for better things and not just show myself out there just for the sake of showing. I have to be more careful with where and who I show with.