Mark Todd at Murphy Booth No. B10

Monkeys : Surprise Villain : 7" x 9" : mixed media

Mark Todd is a prolific image-maker and actively publishes do-it-yourself “zines.” Mark, originally from Las Vegas and now living in Pasadena, focuses his fine art on the deconstruction of superhero comic book characters. Once broken down, he melds them into dynamic sequences comprised of figurative forms, graphic textures and details. Often, the result is a compositional style that echoes his childhood past—complete with magic markers, crayons, “The Silver Age of Comic Books” by Jack Kirby and file boxes filled with Mark’s personal comic book creations.

Night Prowler : Demon (Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel)

Mark will be featured in the second installment of the documentary series Scribble.08, released later this year. In early creative development, Mark revealed his love of creating and then organizing hundreds of characters who possess unstoppable, super-human character traits. Jack Kirby was a consistent source for inspiration, and many artists and national ranking systems place him as the number one comic artist of all time.

Man Monster

Atlas Comics reports, “With all due respect to the gentleman listed below, the gap between Jack Kirby and the rest of the field might just as well be an ocean. Jack’s accomplishments are legion. Not only a great artist and cartoonist, but a breathtaking visual stylist who created a large portion of the storytelling language every comic artist uses today. He is the unquestioned king of invention; not just characters, but devices, stories, races, worlds, genres, and even companies flowed from his fingers. For over 50 years his exuberance, his vitality, and his sheer will carried an industry on his shoulders…”

Galore : 18" x 18" : Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel

For Mark, one of his favorite superhero teams is “The Fantastic Four” comprised of Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Invisible Girl/Woman (Susan Storm), The Human Torch (Johnny Storm, younger brother of Susan) and The Thing (Ben Grimm).

Back in 2007, I worked on The Hanna-Barbera Treasury with Jerry Beck.

—funny truth about this project soon to be revealed in a future post—

While completing research I discovered studies for the 20-episode animation series

created by Hanna-Barbera in 1967-1970.

Survey Select features Mark Todd’s painting “Portal” (Sold)

Mark Todd’s paintings celebrate the Narrative Art tradition by paying homage to his comic-making innocence as a boy mixed with his adult sensibilities as a visual storyteller. Mark Todd and I have collaborated on a mini zine of his work, interviews, Miami Art Basel and “Survey Select.” Mark’s painting “Portal” sold immediately upon the exhibit’s opening back on July 15, 2010.

Invaders : 24" x 36" : Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel : (in progress photo)

Mark Todd features a new 24” x 36” painting on wood panel, “Invaders,” alongside two mixed media studies and five additional paintings at this year’s Contemporary Art Fair. Stop on over at Booth B10 and take a close look at Mark Todd’s pop-influenced body of work and check out some of his mini “zines” too. Murphy Fine Arts will be located at booth B10 at the Hilton Bayfront September 2-5 and “Survey Select” will be featured as a major destination located at 1400 Imperial Avenue, SD, CA, 92101. Interested in more about Mark Todd, please click Juggernaut Interview and Juggernaut Art History. For acquisition information please contact me.

Cathie Bleck at Murphy Booth No. B10

Heaven (s) : Limboland : Hell : Kaolin Clay, ink on scratchboard panel

“Survey Select” concludes an eight-week run with one final installation of new art work created by Cathie Bleck and Mark Todd, September 2 – 5 at the SD Contemporary Art Fair, Booth No. B10, curated by Mark Murphy. Murphy Fine Arts celebrates artists who practice in the Narrative Art tradition, originating visual mythology, dense in subject matter and multi-layered techniques. This first installment features the original artistry of Cathie Bleck.

Cathie travels extensively and actively sketches and photographs

Cathie Bleck, originally from the Chicago area and now residing in Cleveland, has been featured in the New Britain Museum of Art and the Butler Museum. Cathie constructs her narrative from life’s rich experiences: growing up with eight brothers and sisters on a tree farm; professional experiences in Chicago, Dallas and New York; and world travels. Cathie created three new Kaolin clay scratchboard compositions entitled, “Heaven,” “Limboland” and “Hell.” Each can be described briefly, as follows:

Heaven, Limboland and Hell details

“Heaven” is a state of mind, an eternal garden of love and kindness. It is a place where one is completely free and at peace with everything. The mind, body and spirit are fulfilled through knowing you had offered the world your best, fought the right battles (armor), loved and lost (however, regained everything back that you cared about).

Open Spaces by Cathie Bleck, published by Murphy : sample pages

“Limboland” is a land without direction. An even longer journey than life, limbo perpetuates itself. Needless to say, this journey is free of the need for the use of a compass.

“Hell” is a place where you find yourself in the bondage of other worldly control. There is no freedom only the greedy consumption for more evil.

When Cathie Bleck was asked to identify some of the characters in her work, she described ”Heaven” as:

Heaven: State of Mind : Study : Graphite on Vellum

“At the gate of Heaven stands the protector of our soul, greeting her beloved brothers and sisters. ‘Heaven’ was originally inspired by the Selket Goddess, one of the four protectors of the shrine that contained the Canopic jars of King Tut in Egypt. Selket was the healer of venomous bites and the patron of magician-medics. She stands with spine exposed representing her ethics and her full moon headdress a powerful symbol of tranquility.” (Selket was typically assigned the sun’s scorching heat and the moon offered the contrary).

Limboland Study : Graphite on Vellum

Cathie’s panel, “Limboland” features the Wanderer, an aimless escapee from the jungles of life who was not willing to commit the time or energy to achieve personal goals. The Wanderer is caught up in the fog of life and constantly searching for the right direction.

Hell Study : Graphite on Vellum

In “Hell” many opposing themes exist in contrast to “Heaven.” A capturer of lost souls awaits, well protected with an alligator ready for a sneak away attempt. The keeper of Hell flows within his sinister chamber, corrupt and dishonored.

Open Spaces and Butler Museum catalog available in Booth B10

Cathie Bleck’s work is textural, the Kaolin clay is built up atop the wood panel and the movement of her knife reveals carved form and layers of color hidden beneath the surface. Cathie is featured at the Murphy Fine Art booth No. B10 at the San Diego Contemporary Art Fair, Hilton Bayfront September 2-5 where you will find her original paintings, drawings and books. For acquisition information please contact me.

Murphy Booth No. B10 at SD Contemp Art Fair

September second through the fifth visit Murphy Fine Arts, Booth B10, at the Hilton Bayfront—Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair. The Murphy Fine Art Booth will feature fine artists Cathie Bleck (Cleveland/OH) and Mark Todd (Pasadena/CA) and their original art work created specifically for this fair.

Survey Select details:

Shawn Barber, Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, James Marshall, Anthony Pontius

Booth No. B10 will also be your guide to take a last look at “Survey Select” featuring 55 contemporaries from 11 countries displaying over 100 art works (See Artists A—G, H—N, O—Z) in a transformed warehouse space located at 1400 Imperial Avenue in the heart of downtown San Diego, adjacent to Petco Park. And “Survey Select” is a featured part of this year’s fair as a preferred San Diego City-Wide Event and spotlighted as a offsite Art Lab.

Cathie Bleck features 3 new panels : Heaven : Limbo : Hell (10" x 10 x 2) : in progress :

Cathie Bleck creates magical worlds with flowing textures and mystical characters that represent memories of her personal travels, life’s circumstances and her childhood years growing up on a tree nursery just outside of Chicago. Black line protects the essence of her compositions, layered in Kaolin Clay, colored inks and paint. The scratch of her knife on the surface of her creations exposes you to a world that lies beneath, a dimensional look into more than 30 years of artistic impression. Cathie has exhibited for the Butler Museum, New Britain Museum of Art and permanent installations at the US Postal Service, US State Department and University Hospitals. Cathie has also been showcased in Miami, during Miami Art Basel Week.

Mark Todd features new paintings on wood panel

Invaders (24"x36/inprogress) : Demon : Man Monster

Mark Todd continues his comic assemblages, mirroring the Pop-Art revolution of Roy Lichtenstein and the Proto-Pop artistry of Charles Demuth, Stuart Davis and Gerald Murphy. Mark pays homage to his boyhood hero, Jack Kirby in his work that actively celebrates a montage salute to the Hulk, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Spiderman and more. . . Mark is active in publishing “zines” and books that capture his love of storytelling and life’s awkward experiences—cleverly packaged and shared for a new generation of graphic hungry kids. Mark has shown with the Billy Shire Gallery and has been featured in Miami, during Miami Art Basel Week. Mark Todd will be featured in the upcoming art documentary and follow up to the successful, Scribble.08 film series.

100 original works and limited editions bookstore

Celebrate a historic gathering of fine artists, original artwork and fine art publishing at the Murphy Fine Arts Booth B10 during the San Diego Contemporary Art Fair at the Hilton Bayfront. Visit “Survey Select” a diverse collection of high quality masterpieces by artists dedicated to their craft from around the world located at 1400 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92101. For complete schedule on Facebook, please click here. Mark Todd paintings. Cathie Bleck Paintings.

Scribble.08 at DocuWest Film Fest : 6/23-6/27

Golden, Colorado’s second annual DocuWest Documentary Film Festival proudly adds Scribble.08 to its June 23-27 lineup. Scribble.08 by Mark Murphy and Murphy Fine Art Films features the exceptional artistic talents of Jeff Soto, Martha Rich, Camille Rose Garcia, the Clayton Brothers, Kevin Christy, Tim Biskup and Joe Sorren. Docuwest received Westword’s vote of confidence in 2009 as the best film festival in Colorado. For a complete film line up and show times check out the website.

Scribble.08 will be featured at The Foothills Art Center during the DocuWest Film Festival on Thursday, June 24 at 5 PM and again on Saturday, June 25 at 4 PM. See you there.

Joel Nakamura : Tako Niwa Exhibit

Shelter (L) : Jelly Squid (R)

“Tako Niwa” (Octopus Garden) by Joel Nakamura makes its debut at Subtext in San Diego on Friday, May 7 and continues through June 6. Joel Nakamura is a Santa Fe based fine artist who creates rich visual narrative with mythological symbols often juxtaposed with Japanese inspired mythology. Joel’s pop-art-style is unique, as he gives homage to the teachings of Joseph Campbell and his love for Aikido. (Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba, and Joel trains every day).

Fetch

Joel Nakamura’s blend of folk art and personal iconographic forms are rendered in a neo-primitive technique inspired by Native peoples from around the world and painted on tin panels. Joel is often selected for commissions that feature his extensive knowledge of tribal art and mythology. And his bright in color assemblages have been featured at Art Basel in Miami and many art exhibitions curated by Mark Murphy, (over the past 14 years). Joel will also be a featured artist during the Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair September 2 - 5.

Tako Niwa (L) : Hydroponic Octo (R)

Joel Nakamura is originally from Los Angeles and resides with his family in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information on Joel please visit www.joelnakamura.com.

“Tako Niwa” by Joel Nakamura opens at the Subtext Gallery in San Diego on Friday, May 7 from 6 – 10 pm featuring a reception with Joel. In addition, Subtext Gallery will feature Joel’s latest from May 7 – June 6, 2010. If you are interested in acquisitions or would like to see the exhibition after opening night please contact 619.546.8800. Subtext is located in Little Italy at 2479 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA, 92101.

Mark Murphy Manifesto 2010

Entering into the first official work week of 2010 has inspired careful reflection of the past 20 years as a designer, author, publisher, artist and all around promoter of the arts. And, like you, I have begun the new-year with a short list of personal goals and resolutions.

Tony Fitzpatrick : "Max and Gaby's Alphabet" : 2000

My first goal is to further my life-long initiative to better educate the public about the visual narrative arts and continually introduce “living artists,” who are not afraid to stand outside of the box, through books, films and critical essays. I believe, in short time, this focus will pass on important artistic impressions and deliver the most innovative grouping of fine artists the world has seen for future generations.

Rob and Christian Clayton : Drippy Come Home : 2003

Secondly, it is my hope to continue to exhibit important works of emerging fine artists who look to redefine the complexities of life within the visual narrative arts in an annual “Salon" styled exhibition. It will be my personal quest to recommend these artists to museums as today’s best cultural instigators.

Miguel Covarrubias : 1904-1957 :
Mexican Street Scene Lithograph, 1940 : "Balinesia" drawing, 1937 :
Zinc Plate outline w/painted gouache artist proof, 1946

Lastly, and most importantly, it is my heartfelt desire to continue supporting the arts through actively collecting and archiving a steady mix of fine art paintings created by the “masters” of art history combined with today’s best in modern narrative painting. I, (Mark Murphy), will continue to support personal commissions and collaborations while offering artists artistic freedom in which to explore a unique visual language that services our world as a constant source for inspiration and lively discussion.

In dedication to this monumental task a new chapter has begun.

Pablo Picasso : 1881-1973 : Etching with Crayon Application

Dan May at Aqua Wynwood

Dan May : Whisper : 10” x 10” : 17” x 17” Framed : Acrylic Wood on Panel

Available for Aqua Wynwood

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Dan May paints dreamlike environments that transcend space and time. Dan’s paintings are inhabited by anamorphic creatures who appear to have all of the features of your typical monster. However, upon further inspection Dan’s beasts exhibit a certain human element that draws us deeper into their worlds. These delightful, yet haunting images, are often based on Dan’s personal experiences. He takes careful note of human interaction with each other, as well as the ongoing intermingling with nature.

Persuasion of Penelope

Dan is a tireless worker who enjoys the painting process, “I would have to say that the current piece that I'm working on at any given moment is usually the piece the I enjoy the most. I feel as though with each new piece I’m continually striving to evolve and become a better painter.”

The Gift

2009 Gallery Shows
The Multiplane Show - Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Don’t Wake Daddy IV - Feinkunst-Krueger Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
A Murder of Crows, Gallery Meltdown - Los Angles, CA
Superhero/Scribble.08, Comic Con, San Diego, CA
Crazy 4 Cult 3D, Gallery 1988 - Los Angles, CA
The Monster Show, Copro Gallery - Santa Monica, CA
Big Tuna: David Lynch Tribute, Alcove Gallery - Atlanta, GA
Overdose: Hi-Fructose Exhibit, Copro Gallery - Santa Monica, CA
Say When, Bold Hype Gallery - Orlando, FL
Superschool, Copro Gallery - Santa Monica, CA

A Solomn Retreat

2010 Gallery Shows

Feb. w/Travis Lampe, Rotofugi Gallery, Chicago, IL
June Solo Show, Gallery 1988, Los Angles, CA

The Weeping Tree

2010 Museum Exhibition
SUGGESTIVISM : September 4 - October 17, 2010
Grand Central Art Center : Los Angles, CA
You can see more of Dan May's great work by visiting:
http://www.danmayfineart.com/
http://www.mayillustration.com/
http://twitter.com/danmayart
http://www.facebook.com/danmayart
http://dan-may.com/store/

Mark Todd at Aqua Wynwood

Mark Todd : X-Men. and Amok! : 8" x 10" : Cel Vinyl on Panel

Southern California based artist, Mark Todd took his first creative cues from his personal collection of comic books and Star Wars memorabilia. Mark credits the inventive fantasy that entered his mind at an early age, as a result.

Monstro

Mark’s latest work involves intense scrutiny and alteration of classic comic covers from “Fantastic Four,” “X-Men,” “Iron Man,” “Spiderman” and the inspired work of legendary illustrator Jack Kirby. Mark reflects, “I love the type, the heavy shadows, the colors and the way they seemed to use very inch of the page.”

Man Thing

Mark’s pays homage to his inspired past and lends his own post-modern sensibility to his work, featuring a limited palette, repetition, distortion and a mix of media and materials. Mark often employs a variety of mediums including: spray paint, cel-vinyl, glossy varnishes and dusty stains and then finishes his pieces with rounded corners—appearing as prized objects—tablets encoded with civilization’s most iconic collective wisdom.

Collective Wisdom : mixed media on panel

“Collective Wisdom,” is a recent painting that Mark Todd has completed. He describes, “I struggled with this piece a lot. Some works seem to just flow and transfer themselves onto the painting surface. Others seem to resist and come in and out of focus. This was one of those pieces. I worked off and on with this piece for weeks. Often times I obliterated the piece and began over again. But in the end, the final finish came to a quick resolve. Sometimes, when I struggle a bit and sit with it for a while, something fresh and unexpected reveals itself.”

X-Men

Gallery Exhibitions
Exhibition: January 9, 2010 - February 6, 2010

Billy Shire Fine Arts, Mark Todd and Owen Smith 

Magic Pony, Toronto, CANADA
2010

Curated Show at Giant Robot LA, December 2009
DOMY, Houston, TX,
2009
Webb Gallery, Waxahatchie, TX, 2009
La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
January 2009


Museum Exhibitions
2009 Strips, Scripts and Scapes: Contemporary Comix in Southern CA
Riverside Art Museum, CA

You can see more of Mark’s Todds artistry by visiting www.marktoddillustration.com or FunChicken.

Esther Pearl Watson at Aqua

Esther Pearl Watson : Fire Ants : Acrylic and Glitter on Wood Panel : 12" x 12"

Available at Aqua Wynwood

Esther Pearl Watson grew up in Texas where life’s lessons were experienced while her Father exercised his passion of building huge flying saucers in the front yard. Needless to say, Esther’s family moved often, as her Father’s hobby did not sit well with the neighbors.

Esther is a talented visionary who describes, “My subjects are often of outsiders--a fifteen year old girl who doesn't fit into her high school; my father who built flying saucers; also outsider art not seen as art.”

“My work is about the human attachment to narrative. I also like the duel space between humor and awkwardness discussed through tropes and vernacular of outsider art. The discussion of outsider art as art is a common theme in my work.”

Out to the Field
: Mixed media on panel
: 24"X36"

Esther recently painted a series of paintings in a nursing home. “This one particular piece, I painted and entered into a small town art contest and won honorable mention. Later, the piece was exhibited at Webb Gallery and sold with the honorable mention ribbon.”

In the Future People Will Use Flying Saucers for Transportation

Acrylic and glitter on panel
: 15"X20"

Museum Exhibition
Oakland Museum of Art, October 2008

Gallery Shows
Curated Show at Giant Robot LA, December 2009
Lecture at Virginia Museum of Art, December 2009
Sandra Lee Gallery, June 2010
La Luz de Jesus, July 2010

Comanche, Tx. (in the future)
: Acrylic and glitter on panel
: 8"x8"

You can see more of Esther’s imaginative works at http://estherpearlwatson.com and http://funchicken.com

Jeff Soto at Aqua Wynwood

Jeff Soto : Cold Fuzzy and Warm Fuzzy : Acrylic on Wood : 12"x18"

featured at Aqua Wynwood

Jeff Soto, Riverside’s favorite son, is a prolific painter who consistently redefines his visual narrative style and is not afraid to apply it over a large scale.

Jeff is featured at Scope and Aqua and is currently pursuing themes close to his heart, "After a couple years of looking into my past and the city I grew up in, I am starting to revisit some of my previous interests- themes of Man vs. Nature, environment and the mysteries of life itself. I'm interested in how we live, how we depend on resources and what our legacy will be. I'm also embracing freeform thinking and experimentation with how I work, for example painting from an idea rather than a sketch. I am in a very spontaneous mood, and making what needs to be made."

2009 : The Inland Empire, Stolenspace, London

Recently, Jeff has been featured in the Giant Robot Biennale 2 at the Japanese American National Museum and has completed exhibitions in London and Australia.

Stolen Space Installations

Jeff reflects, “I like the street work I did in London, simply because it tapped into a part of my brain and soul that I haven't visited for years. It felt good and it felt familiar even though I haven't had work out in an urban environment in over a decade. It was like riding a bicycle and it came back to me quick. I like the interaction with people that come by, the small sense of danger or uncertainty (even though there was not much to worry about). Gets the adrenalin flowing just a little, reconnects me to when I was 15 and tagging under a bridge. Hopefully I'll do a little more from time to time.”

Giant Robot Biennale 2/15 Years, Japanese American National Museum

Solo Gallery Shows
2009 : The Inland Empire, Stolenspace, London
2010 : Jonathan Levine Gallery

Group Gallery Shows
The Whammy Show, RVCA Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Self Portraits, Circle Culture Gallery, Berlin, Germany
The Blab Show, Copro Nason Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
15 Years of New Image Art, New Image Art, Hollywood, CA

2009 : The Inland Empire, Stolenspace, London

Museum Exhibitions
+ Giant Robot Biennale 2/15 Years,
Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, CA
+ In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz School,
Laguna Museum of Art, CA
+ Turning in Circles, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA (solo exhibit)
+ Robots- Evolution of a Cultural Icon,
San Jose Art Museum, San Jose, CA
+ Natural and Unnatural: Imagining Landscapes,
Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton, NJ
+ Electric Wasteland: Urban Art from L.A.,
Montseratt College of Art, Beverly, MA
+ Drawn to Expression, Art Center College of Design,
Pasadena, CA
+ The Juxtapoz Show,
SOO Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN

Turning in Circles, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA

You can check in on Jeff Soto and all of his great works by visiting www.jeffsoto.com, http://jeffsotoart.blogspot.com/ And his blog is great, check it out.