Jesus came in to continue his collection~lower left sleeve.

We spend the first session on Bernini’s Lodovica Albertoni. The overall theme of Jesus’ collection revolves around life, death, and spirituality. The Lodovica embodies both the relationship of death and ecstasy…….without ecstasy.

Here’s a look at his upper sleeve to refresh your memory. We put a twist on one of my personal Michelangelo favorites.

A few more sessions to come.

Here’s a look at some recent experiments. If you can’t break through tradition….cut through it.

You might remember a glimpse of this study a while back ….here’s a closer look…….

The main focus to break down, build up, scrap off, sand through and back again to create surface…..and mabye build some emotion along the way.

Personally, I always find a disconnection when the art becomes more about the ‘artist image’, or about  his/her personality or lifestyle rather than the art. With only a select handful of our contemporary pop artists, after Warhol , I think few have mastered the balance as effectively.

It’s always been about the medium, the texture, the rhythm, that paint running through your veins. I always felt a heavy connection to  Lucian Freud, Odd Nerdrum, Jenny Saville, even Cecily Brown etc. because their directness. Less obsession, less tight camera rendering, less perfection…..less trying to perform the abilities of a machine….and most importantly less style.

What makes the dialogue so strong is that it’s rarely about making a pretty picture, and rarely about copying an image. The focus is about the psychology of painting, what it means to communicate, change and inspire your subject or viewer with only the  tools of the trade, and your mind.

“9 months” oil on canvas 36″ x 48″~~~Studio Studies.

Hugo came through for his first tattoo. Front chest.

Trust and commitment lays the first session down naturally. Definitely a big leap for a first. Keep an eye out for the remaining sessions.

A look on  final sessions in circulation at the studio. DRAMA came through to seal his lower portion of his upper right sleeve we started a short time back.

Can’t imagine how different growing up in Ohio can be from Los Angeles. LA’s wrath can be overwhelming sometimes, but the man has adapted nicely, and success is the only option. Look out for Drama in the next Inked issue.

And remember Darrin? He drove through from the bay to wrap his joker piece sleeve we started. Keep a look out for both projects, more additions to come.

I’m loving this weather. Last night all over the westside LA area was lightning, hail, rain and back again.

I think the earth had enough of us.

Nature is always the best source of inspiration-constantly changing and  evolving, unconditionally.  Enjoy it while it  lasts.