I have been exploring retail products that could have my art on them.  Of course there are stipulations when it comes to reproducing art in any format.  Up until now, I have offered most of my catalog in a giclée either limited or open edition, some t-shirts, and on handmade glass coasters.  Most of what I have found in the way of alternative formats for retail art products have either poor quality, are costly on the front end, or they are made too far away from home!  If you are lucky enough to have found my art, you know I typically sell in person or online in my etsy shop.

I have finally found a company who is located within the United States as well as makes a beautiful product and would like to announce my new retail art product, a decorative pillow.  I have launched 6 designs plan to follow with more.  I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

I began discussions with the City of Rockwall somewhere at the end of the summer.   It looks like we are finally settled on a location and the council and owners are in final approval stages for the design.

Zanata, 202 E Rusk St, is a Mediterranean Restaurant in the Downtown square of Rockwall that is known for its Pizza.   The project, was originally to be a “highlight the Bailey Drug Store and Farmers National Bank showcasing the corner of Rusk and San Jacinto streets, as well as the intriguing Bonnie and Clyde incident recounted by Congressman Ralph Hall,” however, the latest turn of events has the group agreeing on a buffalo theme.

2/12 – UPDATE:  They have chosen a design from the two options submitted.  We now learn that not only did it need to be approved by the Art Council but now it has to go to CITY COUNCIL for a FINAL APPROVAL?

(progress and final pictures to come)

3/12 UPDATE:  Well folks, It looks like the people (3 people specifically) over at City Council in Rockwall just don’t get my art.  A bit funny and it certainly shows they are “old fashioned”, but we will see what they decide.  My artwork was described as Comical.  The only truly “comical” thing about this story is the two things the city council did not like, the buffalo and the space ship, were the two things the property owners REQUESTED.  In the mean time, they have held up my life, my finances, and caused me an unneeded bill for a year’s worth of the required business insurance per their specifications.   All of this on the first years of bringing my son in the world.  Just what we all would want and hope for, right?  Not so much…

This can go one of two ways… the first is that the mural gets finalized and produced and at least the owners of Zanata, part of the city council, and the younger citizens and visitors to Rockwall can enjoy it.  Or.  The second, uglier option…  and I won’t go into detail but it includes the mural NOT getting done and a particular artist not working with Rockwall at any point again.  Sorry folks, I hold grudges.

4/2 UPDATE:  We have learned that the meeting they planned for 3/19 to discuss the mural was cancelled due to SPRING BREAK.  Something that happens every year.  We look forward to a new meeting on 4/9.

People…   This project proposal/application was submitted prior to deadline of July 31, 2017.  We had our first meetings and I did several sketches for them including their American Graffiti Car Hop theme and changes they requested.  By 9/15 they saw the originally proposed wall at 109 E. Kaufman St. was not structurally sound, and moved the location.  The new location, Zanata located at 202 E. Rusk St. was found on 09/01 and confirmed in October.  This was when things started to get muddy.  We were supposed to START the job in October.  Now we were starting over.  They wanted a new concept, new drawings, a whole new direction.  The owner was willing but did not want a “western scene”.  The owner rejected several concepts that the Art Council brought to the table, and he requested that they let the artist do what he is good at.  They reviewed my portfolio and decided they wanted the buffalo, and please incorporate the storage box, and he would like to see symbolism embedded, and be sure to put the spaceship.  Apparently they do not share a collective vision with the City Council…. and 8 drawings and 9 months down the line, I am still not sure when or if this job will happen.  I am also not sure I will ever take a municipal job ever again.  Thanks for that Rockwall.

The RBC in Deep Ellum has a new(ish) owner, and is doing well to change the image that was left from it’s past when it was the Red Blood Club, a skinhead club known for ‘that stabbing event’.  Recently, I was asked to re-do the mural work on the outside of the venue, its downstairs courtyard and balcony brick walls.

Before:

There were several shades of black and some white caricatures of musicians on the north wall, but not much else going on.

My sketch:

Primed walls, and sketch ready for the downstairs.

Final product:

The new Deep Ellum Art Company, headed by owner, John LaRue and curator/coordinator, Amber Crimmings, is the best thing to happen to the East Dallas art scene in quite a while.  I was given the honor of painting the outside wall of the Pavilion building.  I’m so proud to be able to contribute to this project.

Here are the Before and After images:

This mural can be seen driving down Murray St., between Commerce and Canton.

I will be assisting my wife to complete the Map Project mural on the main building, which may be a long project, but will look great when complete.  Pictures will come when complete.

I got a chance to make this art piece a mural… I painted this originally as a canvas piece back in 2014 and it was purchased by Shelley Travell.   42 Murals second round of murals has chosen the piece to be painted at 3010 Main Street in Deep Ellum.  You might see it as you are driving toward Downtown, or waiting in line for a drink at Boba Addiction.

Preston Royal Village shopping center is upgrading the center and asked to have a few murals.  One on the wall of Einstein Bagels – an abstract, and the other on the back of the strip at the entrance to the Post Office there.

Here is the star of the Kilim Mural (left) and the blank wall where Willie will go:

Here is the final product:

I am excited to present this cool little mural.  I was asked by Westdale, by way of a resident and employee of the building’s owner.  This mural is right in the entry vestibule to the lofts.  It changes the whole space.

White wall to final product:

I am excited to say, that even though the 42 Murals contest went a little weird, it turned out reasonably fair in the end.  Instead of the contest being solely an Instagram popularity contest, in which at least one of the artists chose to purchase likes for the prize, the folks at 42 Real Estate decided in the end to award 6 muralists.  The last 3 were based on outstanding work, committed community involvement, inspiration to the overall project, high number of likes, and service to others.  Guess who got the Character Award!? Thank you again to 42 Murals for the project, as well as making it right in the end.

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/arts/03-15-17-deep-ellum-42-mural-winners/

I’m exited to be starting a new mural in Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX soon.  The address is 2501 Main Street, just under the 345 overpass.  The property owner has asked for something very specific that my wife and I plan to tackle together as a team.  Here is the before shot:

and the after:

This is a group project I did in Deep Ellum during the Deep Ellum Art Festival in 2014.

Here is the board I did:

https://www.facebook.com/TunnelVisionsDeepEllum/