M. Mararian's Inky Dreadfuls

STARTED A NEW LARGE PIECE

2012-01-15T17:56:00.002-05:00

This one will speak to gross consumerism and over stimulation

SCOPE MIAMI PAINTING# 4

2011-11-27T22:20:00.001-05:00

"Dawn of the Bullied' Acrylic on paper 60 x 44

HUGE PRINT SALE MONDAY 11/28

2011-11-26T11:06:00.001-05:00

On my website store at Michael Mararian Fine Art ONE DAY ONLY!

SCOPE MIAMI PAINTNG #3

2011-11-19T12:02:00.001-05:00

Acceptance - Acrylic on paper, 60 x 44 inches

SCOPE MIAMI PAINTING #2

2011-11-17T14:30:00.001-05:00

"Hall Monitor" Acrylic on Paper 60 x 44 inches

SCOPE MIAMI UPCOMING SHOW- PAINTING #1

2011-11-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

"The New Black" 60 x 44 inches. Acrylic on Paper.

This is one of the large scale pieces I will have at Scope Miami through the Corey Helford Gallery from November 29th through December 4th. I will be in attendance down there so maybe you'll see me around.

THIS IS NO REFLECTION OF MY ACTUAL WIFE...

2011-10-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

I love my wife. She is the greatest thing in my life. I just enjoy the absurdity of this piece. My pencil sketch submission for Last Rites Gallery 13th hour show this weekend

NEXT UP

2011-10-13T16:41:00.001-04:00

BUFFALO ON THE BOWERY

2011-09-28T08:44:00.000-04:00

Here is my submission for a fundraiser auction called Buffalo On the Bowery, curated by artist Julian Montague. The auction will be held at Charles Bank Gallery on Bowery near Spring St. in NYC on October 11th

Amaguq’s Foot, 2011, acrylic and ink on paper, 11 x 14 in. (framed),

MY PIECE FOR THE MTV SHOW

2011-09-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

A little departure for me. I spent so much time searching on YouTube for the video I wanted to paint that I thought, "Wait a minute - there's a story just in that"

So here it is, my nod to the first video to air on MTV by The Buggles; "Video Killed the Radio Star"

In this case I have titled my piece, Internet Killed the Video Star
(the black band around it represents the black mat in the frame)

Internet Killed the Video Star

MTV SHOW COMING UP

2011-09-25T17:26:00.001-04:00

The show "I want my music video" opens in a few weeks in Los Angeles. After doing multiple searches on YouTube for music videos to find inspiration from I decided to do something a little different and make a simple comment on how MTV changed the face of music and now the internet has done the same.

I'll post my final piece in a few days - but here is the show card

BACK FROM IRLEAND

2011-09-25T17:14:00.001-04:00

My wife and I have been to Ireland before but this time we decided to take our friend Mike Ganley there who has never been. It was great fun.

GOODBYE DEAR SHARON

2011-09-14T23:30:00.002-04:00

I received some sad news today that an old friend of mine Sharon Pell-Lie passed away a couple of weeks ago.

Although I haven't seen her in years the news left me stunned and weeping on my living room couch. We had worked together side by side for years at a company called Genlser. She taught me a lot about graphic design and Illustrator. She also was responsible for convincing me to get my cat, Ninety Nine, who I love dearly. Thank you Sharon for that act alone.

She was a kooky kind of gal that sold her own artwork on the streets of West Broadway and loved Burritoville. I had many laughs with her at work and just recently around Easter time I emailed her to get her home mailing address so I could send her a bag of her favorite Easter egg candy (those horrible long shaped, hard candy shell eggs with the tough marshmallow inside)

I'm so glad I did that now. I hope it brought a smile to her face.

I will reflect on our silly times together often I'm sure, wishing I could turn back time and see your smile again.

More about Sharon's life here

PROCESS

2011-08-22T19:59:00.002-04:00

LOVE OF THE RAMBLER

2011-08-22T19:41:00.009-04:00

So I have been lucky this summer to receive two car trophies for my 1965 AMC Rambler American 330. The image( left )was an award of excellence and the image (bottom) was the most recent from last weekend where I placed 3rd in my class of a classic car untouched from its original condition.

In either case however, it makes me laugh because basically I got trophies for buy an old car. "Hey Mike, good job buying that car, have a trophy..."

But I do wish my Pops was still around to come with me to these things. He would love the people there and their cars. I feel sort of like a phony since it was my Father who was always the real car aficionado -- I just hope I can play my part and garner as many more awards for this little car as I can down the road, because I feel each one is really him winning it. Love you Dad.

MOM TURNS 80!

2011-08-11T11:40:00.005-04:00

My Mom, a.k.a. Carmella Mararian, turned 80 the other day! It's hard to believe all that time has passed in what seemed like only a few years. I wish she lived closer to us. Either way happy birthday Mom, I love you very much. Only 20 more years until you can wind up on a Schmuckers Jar for Willard Scott on the Today Show. Let's go for it!

PROCESS

2011-07-21T16:40:00.002-04:00

Largescale piece for an upcoming art fair in September...

SWEET TRAVELS DEAR MAVIS

2011-07-14T02:09:00.006-04:00

Last week we had to say farewell to our old friend Mavis. She was a cantankerous kitty that 8 years ago scratched me more times then I can remember but wound up in her later years, perched on my chest at night like a baby about to be burped, rising and falling with the gentle wave of my breathing. She fell in love with me and I of her. She was my wife Elizabeth's cat that she rescued 10 years ago - she was 3 pounds when she brought her home.

To this date, saying good by to this little cat on the towel in a veterinarian's office has been one of the hardest things I have had to do, but we have great memories of her. We sang silly songs about her and we still do. We love you Mavis - sweet travels wherever you are....

L.A. WEEKLY COVERAGE

2011-07-03T21:22:00.001-04:00

Nice little top ten spot on their blog from last week.

L.A. Weekly "Ten Kick Ass paintings" link

UPCOMING GROUP SHOW

2011-06-21T12:52:00.001-04:00

Upcoming show in Los Angeles - July 1st - I'll be in attendance, come say hi!! Should prove to be an outstanding event based on the roster.

LAST OF THE MINI PRINTS

2011-06-06T16:56:00.003-04:00

I have a few mini Prints of "Children of the Night". These were never officially offered on my site but were sold at an art fair last year. I have a few left that I put on Ebay. Check them out here

http://r.ebay.com/e65NDw

PROCESS SHOT: DETAIL

2011-05-14T14:54:00.004-04:00

A large Scale version of my " Meat is Murder" piece I am working on....

VINCENT PRICE

2011-05-06T11:27:00.009-04:00

Here is a portait of Vincent Price I did for this Months Rue Morgue Magazine on stands now.

VIRGINIA'S HYENA

2011-04-25T16:31:00.009-04:00

Virginia's Hyena
Acrylic on Paper
8 x 10

This was done for the upcoming charity listed in the previous post.

3 GETS FURRY CHARITY AUCTION COMING UP

2011-04-23T12:03:00.004-04:00

I will have a piece up for auction here.

PROCESS SHOT

2011-04-16T22:17:00.002-04:00

For un upcoming Fundraiser...

QR CODE ARE COOL

2011-04-08T09:26:00.002-04:00

THE ORIGINAL DECAPITATOR?

2011-03-22T09:14:00.009-04:00

Sure, UK's The Decpitator is cool I know, but for the record, I was doing this stuff years ago. Perhaps not as socially poignant as his work but here's a couple old collages I came across the other day in a sketchbook from 1995.

We even blew a bunch up really large for a Halloween party years ago!! Not the girl smiling - the one in the background :)

OCCASSIONAL THOUGHT

2011-03-15T15:57:00.003-04:00

Style is for fans and collectors, ideas and execution are for critics and Museums.

METRO-KOCH

2011-03-14T04:13:00.005-04:00

Here is my submission for the Metro Card Show at Sloan Fine Art opening March 18th. It's and acrylic painting on a metro card.

Title: "Ladies and Gentle Mr. Ed Koch on the New York City Subway System"

Now here is my question about this...

Looking at so many of the other submissions (every one that I have seen so far here http://singlefare.blogspot.com/ ) the artists have compleltley painted all over the metro card. Shouldn't part of the card show through? So you know it's a Metrocard? Otherwise you could paint anything in that shape. I just thought that was odd that so many people did it that way.

OPENING NEXT WEEK

2011-03-12T18:40:00.006-05:00

I'll post my submission next week which I have a question about....

OCCASSIONAL THOUGHT

2011-03-12T10:55:00.003-05:00

I would never want to make a lovely piece of art that someone could gaze at for hours. I would rather make a shocking piece of art that someone struggles to look away from.

INLE PIECE

2011-03-10T14:25:00.006-05:00

Upon arriving back from Zurich, which holds one of the worlds largest graphics poster collection at the Museum of Design Zurich, I was dying to do a piece of art based on the Dada art movement of the 1930's. I thought I would try it out for the INLE show based on the Watership Down novel's Anti Hero, Black Rabbit of Inle. It's different from my other work but I felt it translated in relating my feelings about Graffiti and how, in a sense, it has been the Black Rabbit of the art world as of late.

Here's the piece. It's a printed collage and acrylic paint (the rabbit and motorcylce)

IN(OR OUT)LE

2011-03-03T21:23:00.007-05:00

I think I am supposed to be part of this INLE show - I was accepted into it, but I was never on any of the email lists or listed as one of the artists.

Still, I did sent them a piece for it (albeit a rather offensive atypical one) so I am not sure if it will wind up in the show or not, but regardless it should be a cool exhibit to check out at Gallery 1988 whether my submission winds up on the wall or not.

SNOW WHITE SHOW

2011-02-22T17:19:00.013-05:00

For those that missed it.... www.lastritesgallery.com

Snow White

Doc - Sold

Grumpy

Sleepy - sold

Happy

Dopey

Bashful

Sneezy

www.lastritesgallery.com

LAST RITES SHOW TEASER

2011-02-07T10:16:00.002-05:00

I put these little teasers together on my website for my upcoming show at Last Rites on February 19th 2011.

L.A. TIMES SPOT

2011-01-26T16:24:00.003-05:00

I'm Really excited that the Los Angeles Times used my image "Le Bombe Atomique" in their write up of the "In the Nursery" show at the Corey Helford Gallery this weekend. Here it is on-line.

Dark dreams 'In the Nursery': Corey Helford Gallery presents art with an edge for the kiddie's room

and here it is in print.

LAST RITES SHOWCARD

2011-01-25T11:11:00.003-05:00

contact the gallery to be put on their preview list.

info@lastritesgallery.com

Gallery website

IN THE NURSERY

2011-01-05T10:22:00.006-05:00

Here is a group show I am part of coming Januruary 29th at the Corey Helford Gallery.

Ping My Podcast

SCHLITZIE THINKS...

2010-12-15T16:18:00.012-05:00

I did a small painting on a book cover of Schlitzie Pinhead from the movie Freaks, that will be up for action until New Years Eve at the Wester New York Buffalo Book Arts Collaborative.

To put a bid in, contact me, Ill send you all the bidding information you need.

Schlitze Thinks
Acrylic on found book
8 x 5 inches
Framed floating in a box frame

ART OF ENGLAND REVIEW

2010-12-14T11:02:00.005-05:00

Art of England Review from the Bristol show back in May, finally posted to their website, to read the pdf click here

MIAMI BASEL

2010-11-30T23:33:00.003-05:00

SALE EXTENDED UNTIL CYBER MONDAY 11/29

2010-11-27T07:01:00.002-05:00

MIAMI BASEL

2010-11-21T15:28:00.011-05:00

The Corey Helford Gallery will be bringing my piece "Little Man of Steel" to Florida. The art fairs run from November 30 to December 5th. See you there?

EERIE RETOUCH

2010-11-09T15:00:00.001-05:00

I find this altered photo they used on yesterdays Today Show about a Mother gone missing so eerily creepy, I love it.

13TH HOUR HALLOWEEN SHOW THIS FRIDAY

2010-10-26T16:36:00.011-04:00

I will have a piece in this show opening Friday night - it's a good line up...I won't be in attendance however :(

THE LAROTONDA WEDDING

2010-10-23T15:44:00.009-04:00

My costume for my friends Craig LaRotonda and Maria Pabico's wedding last night. I was nervous about going into the church :)

WORK IN PROGRESS - DETAIL

2010-10-11T17:26:00.002-04:00

FEATURE IN AUXILIARY MAGAZINE

2010-10-03T15:47:00.005-04:00

Auxiliary Magazine's Feature of my work in their October/November Issue. Thank You Jennifer Link & Rena Finkel!!

FULL CHARLIE

2010-09-30T17:02:00.009-04:00

Piece of the 13th hour show I have coming up
end of October at Last Rites Gallery

Manson Halloween Costume

Acrylic on paper

11x13 inches

HEEEEERE'S CHARLIE!

2010-09-27T15:06:00.005-04:00

AD HostGator Coupon Codes

ARTILLARY MAGAZINE

2010-09-12T20:38:00.009-04:00

Artillary Magazine has my Youth Parade show featured in their gallery Night Crawl series. It's the first few minutes of the video and it's a fun little jaunt. Made me realize now that Halloween's coming I have to promote those Masks. See the Video HERE

NEW PRINTS ON WOOD!!

2010-08-30T13:35:00.006-04:00

I have some really fun new prints (at least I think they're fun) available in editions of 10 only. Each 8 x 10 print is sealed with a high UV gloss varnish on wood, numbered and signed in verso, ready to hang. Purchase them here

Hyper Smash

LIFE LOUNGE

2010-08-27T22:49:00.009-04:00

I just found out (thank you Google Alerts) that I have a mini feature on Lifelounge.com today
http://www.lifelounge.com/art-and-design/ , sweet!!

HostGator review

MUSIC IS ART

2010-08-21T22:19:00.005-04:00

I am scheduled to partake in this day long event on September 11th at the Albright Knox Gallery. I'll probably have a few original works at my stand with assorted prints, etc.

DETAIL OF NEW PIECE

2010-08-15T11:57:00.004-04:00

This is for my February show coming up, more details later - much later - it's so hard to imagine February right now :)

HELP FUDGIE HOME!

2010-08-10T11:32:00.006-04:00

Bidding has started at the Distinction Gallery for their fundraiser, "Jest in Time: Phylogenesis of clown". All this week you can bid on my Clown piece called "The Disappearance of Malcolm Fisk" .

I believe the auction goes to August 14th - opening night of the show. All profits to benefit ArtHatch and art scholarships at Palomar college. Bidding starts at 100 dollars.

You Can bid on the artwork here

BRISTOL MUSEUM PRINT STORE

2010-08-04T12:06:00.002-04:00

The Bristol City Museum now has their own on-line shop to directly order prints from the "Art From the New World" show, including "Little Man of Steel" :)

Go to the store here

ALAS POOR FUDGIE

2010-07-21T17:25:00.009-04:00

Here is my piece for a group show coming up in a few weeks at Distinction Art Gallery, called "Jest in time: The Phylogenesis of Clowns". It's Acrylic on paper and will be sold a Auction to benefit ArtHatch and art scholarships at Palomar college. http://www.distinctionart.com/

Title: "The Disappearance of Malcolm Fisk"

ARTWORK TEXT SAYS:
Fudgie didn't show up... to a children's birthday party Saturday. Calls to Fudgie's banana phone have gone straight to voice mail. He was last seen getting into a Mini Cooper with 9 other clowns, Liscense palte: HONKLOVR. He was wearing a checkerbox suit, giant red shoes and carrying his signature bucket of "Fun"fetti (which he loved)

Promote my blog

BIRTHDAY BLUR

2010-07-11T16:37:00.004-04:00

It was my birthday yesterday - we took this shot on 28th street.

MY SUMMER RIDE

2010-07-09T14:25:00.003-04:00

1965 AMC RAMBLER 330

ARTNEWS REVIEW OF BRISTOL SHOW

2010-07-06T09:56:00.016-04:00

The Corey Helford Gallery got reviewed for their well deserved "Art From the New World" show currently running in Bristol, England.

Joshua Petker and I also got a really nice call out in the review. You can read it here

Ping list

PIECE FOR THE LEAD POISONING

2010-06-30T12:43:00.015-04:00

Here is my piece called "Of Plagues and Epidemics" for the Last Rites Gallery show called Lead Poisoning. It's my first pencil work I have ever shown (although there is an ink wash in the background). I became fascinated with the image of "The Plague Doctors" that were around during the black plague which got me thinking overall about generations of plagues and the people who care take, as small as they may be.... it's got a nice curved Matt with frame which is nice. Show opens July 1oth in New York City.

16MM FUN

2010-06-26T14:51:00.006-04:00

So I bought a 16mm Eiki Projector on EBay last week and have been playing around with it with a couple of black and white shorts. A ridiculous 3 Stooges episode with Joe Besser called "Out of Space Jitters" and a Buster Keaton 1922 silent film callled "Cops". I had no idea what a sub culture there was behind collecting 16mm films. It's fun.

SWARMS OF LAUGHTER

2010-06-18T11:50:00.005-04:00

Man, I watched that old 70's movie the Swarm again for the first time in years. It's wonderfully campy but this one hospital scene had me in stitches. Michael Caine is helping a traumatized boy deal with this hallucination of bees he is having at his hospital bedside while a giant bee (and this is not photoshoped- this is in the actual film) hovers right next to Michael Caine as he talks the boy into understanding that what he sees is a a figment of his imagination. It's beautiful.
Here's a couple of stills from the film...

CLOWN DETAIL

2010-06-17T14:06:00.002-04:00

Working on this for a group show "Jest in Time" coming up this August....

DEVIL'S SPOKE

2010-06-13T18:08:00.003-04:00

I think this Laura Marling song is really stirring, I like it

LEAD POISONING

2010-06-11T01:28:00.003-04:00

Large group show I am part of at Last Rites Gallery thanks to curator and artist Jason D'aquino (whose solo show is the same evening at the same gallery) Opens July 10th, 2010. Stop by. (it's my birthday too that day!)

LONDON SUNDAY TIMES

2010-05-21T08:07:00.003-04:00

The Sunday London Times used my image for their critics picks of things to see in regards to the Art from the New World show at Bristols City's Museum.

BRISTOL MUSEUM SHOW IMAGES

2010-05-21T07:48:00.010-04:00

BRISTOL MUSEUM SHOW OPENS THIS WEEKEND

2010-05-11T21:34:00.004-04:00

Packing my bag - I will be in attendance for the show - if you live in the UK please stop by, it's a free show. Here are the artists attending that I know of....

Mike Stilkey
Buff Monster
Johnny Rodriguez (KMNDZ)
Kukula
Joshua Petker
Michael Mararian
David Stoupakis
Natalia Fabia
Sylvia Ji
Korin Faught
Gary Baseman
Adam Wallacavage
Lola
Sarah Folkman
Sas Christian
Colin Christian
Josh Agle (Shag)

ARTNEWS REVIEW OF "YOUTH PARADE"

2010-04-25T10:13:00.010-04:00

I am so excited that ArtNews chose to reveiw my show from last January in the recent May issue of ArtNews. You can see the write up here...

FAN PAGE BREAKDOWN

2010-04-17T12:59:00.006-04:00

Well I finally broke down and created a Fan Page for my art, Michael Mararian Fine Art, on Facebook here but I am so hesitant to send it off to all my facebook friends for fear of being just another one of those shameless self promoters I get bombared with daily. I only created it because the max amount of friends you can have is 5,000. I'm nowhere near that but I guess it's good to have for the long term incase I ever get there...

For now I'll just let it sit there and see if anyone organically joins on their own....like you reading this :)

BIRDY

2010-04-13T21:09:00.002-04:00

Today I was struggling to do some graphics for a non-profit organization here in Buffalo. I couldn't seem to get down anything I liked. Very Frustrating, but I did come up with this little drawing of a birdy I thought came out cute....

BRISTOL ENGLAND ROAD SHOW

2010-03-16T08:25:00.007-04:00

Corey Helford Gallery is proud to announce that Bristol's City Museum is now partnering with CHG to present Art From The New World as this year's major Spring/Summer exhibition. This will be the first major presentation of American artists from the current scene in England, on view for the British and European audience.

NPR'S WBFO AFFILIATE RADIO INTERVIEW

2010-03-01T10:08:00.014-05:00

Interview on NPR's affiliate WBFO this morning with writer Jeff Wilber - an exceprt can be heard at 7:33 a.m. today or the whole podcast can be heard here

Michael Mararian (left) and Jeff Wilber
Photo courtesy of Elena Cala Buscarino

DIRTY SHOW

2010-02-10T08:54:00.001-05:00

Coming this Friday, February 12th from Genevive Zacconi and Last Rites Gallery is “The Red Light District” at the Dirty Show Detroit. Curated by Genevive, I will have a small older piece in this show called Camel Trios. You can imagine from there....see the preview here

SHOW PHOTOS

2010-01-23T14:42:00.007-05:00

BACK TALK PROFILE

2010-01-10T15:13:00.003-05:00

On occasion Juxtapoz.com does a "getting to know" type interview on their site. I was lucky enough to get the spot most recenly. Here it is (link)

THE MARARIAN SONG

2010-01-07T18:07:00.002-05:00

I'm not kidding. Nothing like having some lovely lady from an exotic country sing your name.....

JUXTAPOZ.COM INTERVIEW

2010-01-01T11:37:00.002-05:00

Richard Scarry posted an interview I did for him about my upcoming show "Youth Parade"
You can read the interview and see more images form the show here

PIECE FROM MY UPCOMING SHOW

2009-12-20T15:03:00.023-05:00

"Little Kaiser" Ink and Acrylic on Paper

NEW BLOG

2009-12-16T11:29:00.005-05:00

I just launched a new side project/blog called The Fake Laugh Project - come check it out and pass it along.....even though I have quite a few photos which I have taken with my friends over the years, I'd love to get submissions from other people to keep the blog going...so pass it on....

THE LAST INKY DREADFUL

2009-12-14T14:07:00.005-05:00

From the Corey Helford Gallery's multiplane show - this is my last piece as Inky Dreadfuls. And a foray into some color and Non-ink mediums....

It's called "Little Montresor" based on Edgar Allen Poe's Cask of Amontillado.

SANTA-CON, FAKE LAUGHS, & TINY PANTS

2009-12-14T11:41:00.008-05:00

Just a few of the highlights on our recent trip to NYC

(Tiny Pants found laying on airport floor)

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY...

2009-12-07T21:36:00.006-05:00

Found this tag on a pole in Chicago last Fall..... it gave me a good laugh. I was recently notified that it is probably the work of artist Jeffrey Brown -- but disclaimer* -- not necessarily the work of Jeffrey Brown in regards to pasting it. ;)

NEW RYDEN

2009-12-06T19:45:00.010-05:00

Call me a sucker for meat but I like this New Mark Ryden piece.
It was unveiled at Basel Miami this year.

I have always had a fond liking for Mark's work since his was the first to turn me on the the movement coming out of California years ago. His work got me collecting this type of art in addition to the photography collection I was amassing at the time, and eventually leading to a greater focus of my own art. Thanks Mark for the continued inspiration. Here are some more images courtesy of Arrested Motion.com.

IT'S THAT JESUS TIME OF YEAR...

2009-12-01T14:14:00.018-05:00

where he shows up pretty much everywhere.

Like here....

Full Story

and here....

fu ll story

RESALE ROYALTY RIGHT - CAN YOU IMAGINE...?

2009-11-27T08:19:00.004-05:00

Australia just passed new legislation that allows artists to receive 5 percent of the resale of their work 1,000 dollars or higher. I can't imagine those fat-cat American collectors having to give up an extra 5 percent at auction after already paying the 30 percent to the auction house....here's the article in full (link)

NEW SHOP UP AND RUNNING

2009-11-24T21:39:00.002-05:00

Finally.....(link)

THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE TORTURE

2009-11-21T14:47:00.006-05:00

I can't help but look at this photo of the New Zealand Santa being refurbished and think of those Abu-Ghraib abuse photos.

MY WIFE'S SHOW OPENS TONIGHT

2009-11-20T08:34:00.013-05:00

My wife Elizabeth Lambert Mararian has a show opening tonight that she has put together with her Brother William Lambert. The work looksgreat - large scale colorful pieces that examine landscapes and leftovers in and around the city of Buffalo, New York.

I'm very proud of my wife - she's also featured in a book coming out this Saturday of photography and poetry - but in this case not for her photography, but for her haiku.

Good luck sweatheart....!

MULTI-PLANE GROUP SHOW

2009-11-20T08:21:00.007-05:00

Amidst working on my January show I was asked if I want to
do a piece for the Corey Helford's one week group show
called the Multi-plane show, which hearkens back to the old
animators who used layers of glass to achieve depth in their work.

I have to say it was a challenge for me to paint of the glass
but I was happy with the concept (an Edgar Allen Poe theme)
i did for it. I got to flex my muscle at a more painterly approach
with this piece than my typical work

Anyhow, it opens in a few weeks...

GETTING CLOSER

2009-11-15T18:19:00.004-05:00

Ron Magliozzi, the Museum of Modern Art's assistant film curator, who recently organized show of Tim Burton's private paintings, sketches, photographs, and sculptures in a major retrospective acknowledges the pop surrealistic movement going on.

"I started to think that pop surrealism was a much more appropriate and more rewarding way of framing the work" in the exhibition, says Magliozzi, referring to the genre that took root in California during the '60s, when painters like Robert Williams began to base their work on "lowbrow" consumer culture—tattoos, cartoons, pinups, and toys—rather than on fine-art traditions. Pop surrealists share a "hip outsider perspective," writes Magliozzi in the show's catalogue, and promote "an alternative to the usual museum fare."

Just a matter of time before this movement is fully realized by more institutions I imagine....rest of the article is here via Artnews.com

FINNISHED MY SHOW - ALMOST

2009-11-09T05:45:00.002-05:00

I have a few - 3 or 4 - small straggler pieces I have yet to do but the bulk of it and the very large pieces are in the can! Now I can celebrate the holidays and relax a little - get back to the gym so I can fit in my thong again before L.A. in January...ha

Anyway I'll post an image from the show soon....

POWER OF SUGGESTION

2009-11-06T16:43:00.005-05:00

All Week I have been intensely working on a detail painting of an M1A Rifle. As I have been doing it all week there have been two shooting rampages so far- both in Fort Hood and now in Orlando, Florida. I better stop painting for awhile and let everyone catch up....

THE KEY TO A FULLFILLING ZOMBIE WALK

2009-10-31T19:23:00.008-04:00

They had a Zombie Walk in buffalo today - the middle of the day- and i missed it. However I did catch some photos which were posted on Facebook and I found myself looking at each person's rendition of a zombie. Most were people in white tees with blood but some worked really well and it occurred to me the key to being a successful zombie is to make sure you have a unique enough character or occupation.

A 1970's jogger zombie could be cool or maybe even a womanly shaped 1920's wrestler zombie. How about a Terminex exterminator?! What makes all those film so creepy are are when the zombies are part of our every day life. Any zombie in a a uniform woud be perfect. A UPS guy would be fun and understated as well because the blood would probably look like chocolate syrup on the "what can brown do for you?" outfit.

BEEN ON A MANSON KICK LATELY...

2009-10-19T11:11:00.012-04:00

I guess probably because of the fact that it's the 40th anniversary of the slayings that occurred in California. I was asked if I wanted to contribute to a local "Artists and Authors" fund raiser at the Carnegie Art Center this week in Buffalo, NY where they have artists create book marks to auction off.

I did this one.... It's good old Charlie with one of his quotes.

As I told the woman running the auction
"Everyone needs a Manson Bookmark"

I don't know what it is, but he's fun to draw. I think I will use him again as a subject for my upcoming January show.

I'm not sure if you can bid remotely on this but here is their info if you want to contact them directly

Please contact Mary Simpson at the Carnegie Art Center at 716-694-4400 x301 or msimpson@carnegieartcenter.org for more information.

9 MORE PIECES TO GO...

2009-09-28T20:10:00.002-04:00

This show has been grueling for me only because i have decide to tackle some larger pieces 44 x 60 inches. They look really huge in my studio, but then again, even though my walls are 12 feet high the pieces still may seem small in the gallery space whose walls are much higher. It's been a challenge though and I like that. Also have been using more paint than ink on this newest show and more color as well so it should prove to be a nice departure for me and give any collectors I have out there something new to look forward to.

I need to wrap this show up before November and then start framing.....

WWW.MICHAELMARARIAN.COM

2009-09-07T15:26:00.007-04:00

Launched the new site this weekend - it will take awhile for it to show up in search engines and i have to work out the kinks as far as my email address but here it is, www.MichaelMararian.com . Let me know what you think. My old site was a Little too clunky and never showed up quite right on Mac computers. All in all it's a bit more sleek in it's appearance and functionality.

The old site will go offline mid November.....