Art Show This Friday At Picking Daisies in San Luis Obispo CA

Stenzskull Solo Exhibition

"Cut & Paste"
A selection of paintings by Stenzskull
Presented by the Jeff Claassen Gallery,
San Luis Obispo CA

September 5 - October 4, 2008

The Claassen Gallery is pleased to present "Cut & Paste", an
exhibition of original stencil work by up-and-coming artist,
Stenzskull. This presentation of hand-cut stencil portraits on canvas
and wood is representative of an emerging underground art scene in
San Luis Obispo. The focus of this selection is the artist's
inspiration, an idea which is explored in its many permutations. The
images are as often iconic and poignant as they are satirical and
opinionated. Subjects are both revered and subverted; exposed and
obscured. Citing the the influence of Shepard Fairey and Banksy,
among others, and the infallible connection between himself and his
work, the artist states, "My art is everything that inspires me,
displayed on canvas. I do it for the love."

Stencils have been employed by artisans for more than 12,000 years;
From cave art depicting the hand prints of prehistoric man, Egyptian
tomb decor, Japanese silks of the Edo period, and ancient publishing
techniques, to Art Nouveau pochoirs, political propaganda of the
1940's, and Pop Art forerunners... Popularized more recently among
street artists as a method of creating pieces in less time, thereby
reducing the risks involved- stencil cutting has developed into a
popular contemporary artistic medium. The skill and execution
of a hand-cut stencil has become an art form in and of itself;
requiring patience, a steady hand, and an absolute mastery of the
concept of negative space. Unpretentious by nature, the impact of
stencils is no less influential in the message and meaning the work
conveys; and as Stenzskull confers, "Art is a great way to express
your opinions- they may agree or not, but the reaction is what
counts."

"Cut & Paste" will be Stenzskull's debut solo-exhibition.
Opening reception will be held on September 5th at 6PM
in the Claassen Gallery at 1118 Morro St. SLO, CA.
Show runs through October 4, 2008.

For further information about this exhibition, please contact
The Claassen Gallery at: 805.391.0361.

Computer Addiction

I'll have a few paintings in a show at Alpha Cult in Long Beach, CA next week. I have these two pieces I need to finish tonight, but I'm so addicted to playing on the computer that I'm putting off "work" in exchange for updating the blog for all of my millions of readers. Yes, millions! Also, it's a lot easier to make an unfinished painting than it is to make a finished one. Go ahead, ask anybody. Actually, look no further. I'll prove it to you right here and now. Below are the two things I'm working on and it would be much easier to stop now and go lay in bed and read for an hour instead of finishing them.






(close up)






(close up)
Ok, the second one pictured is actually very close to being finished. So close, in fact, that I probably could just stop now and nobody except me would know that it's unfinished. Here it is in its current state.






and a close up of the little bird:



Well, the show must go on, so I will disconnect the computer from the vein in my forearm and get back to "work".

Sweet dreams.