Hungry

Brin Levinson talks about his current show and the human race

Portland artist Brin Levinson interview and limited-edition print release

> ( What do you envision for the human race? )
That’s a huge question. I can go pretty far out with that because I really think we’re capable of anything we’ve ever dreamt up. From overpopulated dystopias to technological paradise island cities, I think it will all happen. We live in a world were new technology is introduced into our lives on a weekly basis. It used to take hundreds of years for advances to happen in ways that effected peoples lives. People lived the same way doing the same things for thousands of years without any major changes from generation to generation. Now, things change so fast we can barely keep up. What will life be like in fifty years? We don’t really know but we do know it’s not going to be the same as it is now. That’s a new thing. I can’t really help being pessimistic about the future because based on what we’re doing to the planet now, it looks pretty grim. But, we may develop ways to undo the catastrophe after all, you never know. The fascinating thing is that life will be so different in the future we don’t even know what it will be like.

> ( If you were to have a spirit animal, what do you think it would be and why? )
I would love my spirit animal to be a bird because they are so free and flying looks like insane fun. But, when I look in the mirror I see more of a weasel or hedge hog. I can empathize with most animals so it’s hard to pick just one that speaks to me but I really think it’s a four legged land mammal of some sort. Maybe a fox.
> ( Many of the scenes in your paintings seem to be from Portland, are you the photographer… how are you finding these images? )
I take my camera with me a lot and sometimes go out specifically to take pictures at spots that I’ve seen or am curious about. I love the bridges and old industrial areas that are like time capsules from 100 years ago. I have so many pictures it’s easily a lifetime supply of painting material but I’m constantly on the hunt for good photos. A lot of the time, I use a few different pictures as reference for a painting and visually collage them together.

> ( what comes to mind when I say… )
dog… - faithful.
cat… - sketchy but lovable.
rhino… - bizarre three toed knee-less unicorns currently going extinct thanks to us, -must protect!
> ( Can you talk about any upcoming art events or shows? )
I have a show of new paintings at the Graeter Gallery in old town all of May 2012. This show represents the work I’ve done over the last 10 months. It’s is called “Tridacna” and is with fellow Portland artists Brooke Weston and Miguel Gonzalez. Check it out at 131 NW 2nd ave, Portland.
Purchase Brin Levinson’s limited-edition framed prints through the Hungry Eyeball online gallery.

J Shea hanging in San Diego and beyond… interview

Hungry Eyeball sits down with Portland artist J Shea and talk about his process, discovery and upcoming shows…

> ( Your art process seems to be on a path of discovery… there are no blueprints, sketches, or solidified ideas… many artists are uncomfortable with this process, how did this develop? )

i think it has developed over time………..after many years in the commercial arts industry…………you grow conditioned to art direction and filterization of your projects………so in many ways its my way of breaking out of that…………..experimenting with a more free-form process……….i still start with an idea……and very loose sketches………..but once i start the sculpture process………it stays very loose…….open to change……….and grow………….its also 3-dimensional……so as you build the piece up…………..its open to move in different directions……….that makes the process much more exciting to me then following a blueprint process…….

as for discovery with this latest collection of work………….its been a lot of experimentation with materials…..and mediums……like clays,resins,plaster and wood………………..also with different types of finishes…………like stains and lacquers………i’m always trying to use new materials in my work……..
> ( Your sculptures use a lot of found objects, what are some of your favorite objects to find? )

anything with some history……….i like certain kinds of materials………..certain metals and all kinds of wood…….anything with some craft that may have had a sentimental value to someone from the past but has no real value in today’s culture…..i’m not sure what draws me to certain objects…………that remains a mystery……………but i enjoy the process of finding little things at yard sales & flea markets…….and its old world market interaction……………….i could never see myself searching for objects on-line…………i prefer the process of searching outdoors and enjoying the experience of it…….
> ( Can you tell us about your upcoming show in San Diego with Hellion Gallery, it seems you are literally thinking out of the box? )

matt wagner of hellion gallery recently opened up a new space in san diego…………. and has given me the opportunity of a solo exhibit……..with this show i’m thinking more about designing space then just laying work out on a wall……….for the last few years i’ve been experimenting with mobile type sculpture…..work that hangs from the ceiling……….and has kinetic movements…………..this show “a feeling of transience” takes those concepts to a new level……….and a larger scale………i am attempting to create sculpture that you can not only look at………but experience, because its surrounding you and moving at the same time…………its a bit a departure from my shadow box work………….but its been extremely rewarding creatively………..the work is moving more in the direction of installation……..and i’m excited that i’ve organically moved in that direction slowly over time……….
> ( Can you tell us about any other art shows or projects coming up? )

i’m fortunate to have a few galleries that present opportunities for me to create personal work……………so it will be another busy year in the studio………i’ll be involved in some shows later this year in chicago…….columbus,ohio………los angeles………and vancouver,b.c…………i feel its really important to get my work out there…………and find new audiences…………whether its a large city or small town………..its a little bit different when the work is sculpture………it often requires a present audience ………………….to see the fine details and craftsmanship…………….

Mark Quemada interview and print release

Portland Oregon artist Mark Quemada is interviewed by Hungry Eyeball and releases some art prints online in the Eyeball gallery.

> (Your art is dealing a lot with food, do you have any aversions to any foods?)

There are a lot of tastes that I dislike. Fennel is probably the worst thing that I can think of. It actually looks like dessicated rat shit in seed form. This is clearly at odds with my love for a good Sazarac.

> (You lived in Japan, China, and now Portland, what are some of your favorite foods from each place?)

The second time I lived in Japan the local delicacy was called “Zeri Fry.” It was the pulped leftovers from making soy milk, deep-fried, and was covered with shredded pickled ginger and yakisoba sauce. It was truly a delicious bit of heaven.

When I moved to China there was a dish called “Disanqian” which translates into something like “the three earth fairies.” It humbly consists of potatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, and is accompanied by a delicious sauce. I became quite the connoisseur of this dish during my stay in Beijing, as it was one of the few things I knew how to order.

Here in Portland I like to cook for myself. I make a really good curry that is basically unstoppable. The secret to how to make this is that one simply must remember to *whisper, whisper…*

> (How did your Love Triangles come on to paper?)

In both instances the Triangle shape comes from a sandwich image. Here’s some food for thought for you left brainers out there:

Half a sandwich is triangular + I love sandwiches = a Love Triangle.

But really, The Love Triangles are largely informed by the drawings I did before them. Love Triangle 2 comes from an illustration called “Hormel Hell” which is a study of the chunks found in low grade lunch meat. Love Triangle 1 comes from a drawing called “Lean on Me” which is a sandwich edge resting against a bookend.

> (What’s your dream job?)

I’ve been making “Glamour Shots” of people’s least/favorite food recently, and think that it would be a nice niche market to be known for – especially here in Portland where people are serious about their love for food. The trick is to draw out a compelling story from the client about why they love or loathe these foods, and turn it into something interesting rather than just a static still life drawing.

> (What do you love about life?)

“To crush your enemies — See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” Just kidding, that’s a quote from Conan the Barbarian. For the past decade I’ve been reading and collecting all of the Conan pulp novels, which there are many of. When I’m done hunting for the last two that I need I plan on reading them in chronological order according to Conan’s lifespan. I love doing research on a subject I’m passionate about and being able to examine the different facets it has to offer.

> (Can you tell us about any future art plans?)

I’m working on a series of new illustrations called “The Godmother Method” which highlights the way in which my Godmother tried to lose weight, stop smoking, and cut down drinking. Hopefully you’ll be able to see them in a few months!

Check out Mark Quemada’s art prints in the Hungry Eyeball gallery.

Wesley Younie interview with paintings

Portland artist Wesley Younie interviews with Hungry Eyeball
and releases some of his paintings online in our Eyeball gallery.

> (A painter of many outdoor scenes, do you have any favorite places you like to go outside?)

I love going to the OR Zoo, Chinese garden, and hikes in the Gorge.

> (What are some of your dream places you’d like to go?)

Japan, Versailles, Serengeti

> (What is your response to Portlandia’s “put a bird on it” ?)

It is funny since I have always painted birds, but it is kind of annoying.
I hope my birds have more to say then those birds. My birds are endangered
and sometimes menacing. My favorite birds are penguins, Dodos (RIP) and
California Condors (there where only 22 remaining wild condors in 1987).
> (If you were to pick a soundtrack to go with your paintings, what would it include?)

Music is very important to my work; I can’t paint without music playing.
Currently listening to Washed out, Lana Del Rey, Dolly Parton, David Bowie.

> (What do you love about life right now?)

Spring Flowers
> (Can you tell us about any future art plans, shows or events?)

I want to show in other states, looking into new galleries. I am in the Simply
Red (2) show at Pioneer Place, Atrium Bldg, Third Floor 700 SW 5th AVE.,
Sat April 21, 2012. One of my paintings was just included in the new Randall
children’s hospital. I hope it makes all of the kids happy.

Wesley Younie, April 2012

See more Wesley Younie paintings in the Hungry Eyeball Gallery.

Brett Superstar interview and print release

Hungry Eyeball interviews Portland artist and good friend Brett Superstar along with releasing some new prints online in our gallery…

> (We happen to be adding some of your prints and most of the images are birds, how do you respond to the whole “put a bird on it” from the show Portlandia.)

It is all true. There were birds on everything for a few years and well….it (like the joke) got a little “fucked out”. But birds have been in art forever. They are always fun to paint and watch in the back yard. I saw a Spotted Towhee today he was cute.
> (Being a native Bostonian, how would you compare and contrast life in Portland.)

Complete 180. In every way. Every one drives slowly and no one honks. I just wish the horn on my truck worked. Then I could wake all these a holes up and we could “get it on”!
> (A freelance artist for Bent Image Labs and Laika, what are some memorable moments?)

At Bent, I got to do some design for a company called Tetra Pak. They make containers and packaging. They liked the characters that I designed and the C.G. crew built them and then they were animated and weaved into the “actual” sets that the art dept. built. The sets were awesome, the lighting was crazy good, the C.G. was rendered perfectly and the animation was cute as hell. It was a big project that I got to see come together with a huge crew and it came out great. But the best part was finally watching the commercial…it was all in German. Sehr gut.

I only just started at LAIKA and it has been great. All nice people. Some people I know from BENT all ready. It is just pretty cool to go to work at either place and be surrounded by the smartest and some of the funniest people I have ever met. Totally creative people.

> (What do you love about life?)

I love when it is warm enough to sleep with the windows open, I love the people in my life that tolerate me, and I love when my cat Larry sleeps on my chest.> (Can you tell us about any upcoming shows or events?)

I have a show at the Good gallery in May 2012 (4325 N. Mississippi St.) I am also in a group show at the Grass Hut downtown this April 2012. It opens 1st Thursday and it is curated by Tripper III. Oh yeah also the Buckman School art sale 12th & 13th of April 2012.

Ryan Jacob Smith interview and print release

Hungry Eyeball interviews Portland artist Ryan Jacob Smith with some new prints in our online gallery.

> (When you were in New York, what did you miss about Portland?)

When I was living in New York, I missed the West Coast vibes, Portland summers, and my friends here. I also missed the trees and fresh air.

> (Being back in Portland, what do you miss about New York?)

Now living back in Portland, I miss the East Coast energy, New York fall, and my friends there. I also miss cheap comedy nights at UCB Theatre.
I’m always missing some place, I also miss Los Angeles and San Francisco too.

> (What’s your favorite moth and why? )

The io moth has been my favorite moth for a while now. That’s the moth I depict a lot in my painting, I even have a tattoo of one. I’m not sure why I like it, maybe because I use it so much it became “my moth”.
> (I was flipping through your Flickr photos and noticed tattoo work on fruit and flash designs, can you talk about this?)

I have been wanting to start tattooing for a several years now. When I was in New York, I reconnected with a friend who started tattooing a year prior. During the time I lived in New York, I saw her progress and she eventually started working at a good shop. This inspired me just to go for it and start making first steps in learning tattooing. So, I bought some tattoo equipment while I was in New York. Then I have been practicing on grapefruit, on my legs and thighs. I also been repainting traditional flash designs and making flash designs of my own. Hopefully this work will lead to a formal apprenticeship.

> (Do you have some favorite tattoo artists?)

Yes. A lot, maybe too much to mention. There are some that I got some tattoos from: Bailey Hunter Robinson (he tattooed my io moth and my chest piece) Thomas Hooper (he tattooed my palm) Dan Gilsdorf (he tattooed most of my forearms)

> (If I asked you to do a full back tattoo on me and I said do whatever, what would you do?)

My favorite back pieces are usually classic traditional scenes like the Pharaoh’s Horses and the Rock of Ages. I also love the epic animal verses back pieces like Tiger vs. Snake, Panther vs. Snake, Eagle Vs. Snake. I think I would do the Tiger vs. Snake, you could get some interesting patterns on the snake and on the tiger stripes.

> (Can you talk about any future art plans or events?)

I have a solo show at Land Gallery here in Portland. Actually, I’m going to have a kickstarter to help pay the supplies and t-shirts for the show. After that, I’ll be looking for a better day job and a tattoo apprenticeship somewhere.

Ryan Jacob Smith kickstarter project will only be funded if at least $1,000 is pledged by Monday Apr 2, 2012 | 7:57pm PDT.

Ryan Berkley interview and bear print release

Hungry Eyeball is launching a couple more bear prints by Ryan Berkley, along with this nice little awesome interview.

> (If you were to do a self portrait of yourself as one of your animal characters what would it be, what would he wear, what would the character’s bio say and why?)

Hhhmmm… I’d draw myself as a macaque monkey wearing a bow tie and a sweater vest. The bio would say something like “This individual may look incredibly angry because of his beet-red face, but he’s quite the opposite. He spent the entire day soaking in a natural hot spring in the snow, ironing his clothes, and eating mites off of his wife’s scalp.”
Something like that.
> (What is your response to the whole “put a bird on it” from the show “Portlandia”, as you have put a few birds on things?)

To be honest, I’m really, really tired of that joke. It was maybe funny to me for the first 10 seconds. Then I had to endure comments from the general public for the next year referring to others or my own art. I’ve been drawing birds all my life, so I am happy to say I did not hop aboard the birdie bandwagon to try to cash in on a fad.

> (You are a Dad now, how is that going… any surprises or experiences you want to share?)

Oh man, it’s amazing. Really. I just want to hold her all the time, but she’s too busy sleeping or crying. I can’t wait to watch her grow. Fun fact- I thoroughly enjoy changing diapers.

> (You are from Paradise, CA, do you remember where you were when you heard “Paradise City” by Guns N Roses for the 1st time?)

That song specifically, no- But I remember Appetite came out when I was in 5th grade. I think people in Paradise didn’t actually think the name of the town was as cool as outsiders do, so that song title didn’t have any special meaning. At least not to me. Now that I look at it though, I think it’s kind of cool. The grass is green there and the girls are pretty.

> (Can you tell us about any future art plans?)

Right now, I am working on a solo show for the Assemble gallery in Seattle depicting American folk heroes (and their animal companions). After that, and after I get settled down as a parent, I’d really love to get Lucy and I’s children book brainstorming going.

Thanks Ryan and looking forward to seeing you and Lucy tonight along with your new little creation.
See more Ryan Berkley prints in the Hungry Eyeball Gallery.