Lucas Aardvark - 21st Century Artist

A Thing of the Past

2012-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Raising the question about whether herds are a thing of the past, this painting is a hybrid between abstract and realistic elements, exploring the vague line between the two, blurring the three dimensional stage with the flat plane of the canvas. The subject matter may also be interpreted as a reference to social interactions and tensions among people, referencing the group mentality, confrontation, and isolation.

The Herd, 40" x 38", oil on canvas, 2012.

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

The Hirst Heard 'Round The World

2012-01-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

Damien Hirst is currently exhibiting his “Dot” paintings at the Gagosian galleries around the world, prestigious galleries known for exhibiting some of the big names in visual art. I recently visited Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills for a firsthand experience of the internationally-hyped paintings. Mostly on loan from private collections, they are "Dot" paintings – spots of paint aligned on different sized grids:

In recent weeks, Hirst has also been in the news for admitting that he, like many other big artists, has teams of assistants actually physically create the paintings, and this resulted in indirect criticism from world-renowned artist, David Hockney.

Hirst states that he gets bored easily, so after he thinks up the idea, he has his assistants create the work. But Hirst's idea to create color grid paintings was not his own - color chart/grid paintings were explored by abstract artists such as Ellsworth Kelly over 50 years ago, and Gerhard Richter started doing them in the mid 1960s. Here is an example of Richter's work from c.1974:

So what is the profound difference in Hirst's paintings? Well, instead of rectangles, his color grid is comprised of...CIRCLES! Or, instead of hanging a picture conventionally, sometimes he will hang it like a DIAMOND!:

The circles are painstakingly drawn with a compass and filled in with color, the paintings being advertised that no color is ever repeated, thus amounting to a collection of many different colors. (Here's one way to never "repeat" any color: pay a visit to a Lowe's Home Improvement store, go to the painting section, and grab any one of the thousands of color samples available along the wall to be mixed and made by a machine. I'm not saying that this is how Hirst's assistants made each color, but the details of each painting do provide that they were made with household paint.)

Hirst has also gone big – GIGANTIC. Some paintings are more than two stories high containing dots each with five foot diameters. (He is also currently having his assistants work on another huge painting containing 1 million dots.) The enormity of the formulaic work reminded me of the endless string of blockbuster superhero films in theaters over the last decade, engaging the desire to be superhuman, entitled, or larger than life, and perhaps an example of Hirst's pharaoh-like power and pursuit to make metaphorical pyramids.

I need not describe in detail my satisfaction or dissatisfaction of Hirst’s work currently exhibited at Gagosian Gallery, but I'll throw in the phrases: “remarkable phenomenon” and “mysterious art world”.

Interestingly, as I was driving away from the Hirst exhibition, I happened to pass by a liquor store with a forsaken window decoration not so different from the million dollar paintings less than a mile away...

Contemporary Antiquity

2012-01-11T04:17:00.000-08:00

The Charge, 24" x 36", oil on canvas, 2011-2012.

Part of the inspiration for this painting was derived from my recent experiences revisiting ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. There is a certain inexplicable quality about the ancient art that every artist strives to replicate. I don't mean that every artist is attempting regurgitate what has already been created, but there is a quality to the ancient art that moves people. It moved the ancients, it moved people five hundred years ago, and it continues to move people today.

The ambiguity as to why these ancient works "move people" may be precisely what makes them so magical. Some have lost limbs and crumbled, only leaving us to imagine what they looked like when first created. Their mysteriousness seems to build as time goes on - a deeper connection to the human soul as society advances.

In a sense, part of the inspiration for this painting was to try to understand the mysterious, timeless quality of the ancient art. I do believe I have failed in coming anywhere near that quality. But that won't deter me from trying again, whether it be in a realistic portrait, landscape, or abstraction.

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

The Triumph of Painting: The Failure of Burgin's Concept

2012-01-04T04:29:00.000-08:00

Conceptual artist and Yale MFA graduate, Victor Burgin, gave up painting in 1965, declaring it an outdated technology, ecologically unsound, a form of pollution. About fifty years before him, Marcel Duchamp had given up painting as a stupid, despicable activity. Yet, not long after Duchamp gave up, in 1937 Pablo Picasso painted Guernica, and on his deathbed in 1973, declared: "Painting remains to be invented."

If painting was an outdated technology in the 1960s, certainly it would be today. But over forty years since Burgin's analogizing painting to garbage, millions of people continue to visit museums to see paintings, including contemporary paintings. Either humans have an innate attraction to filth, or Burgin's judgment was contaminated by the structures of academia, including the political movements of the time.

People have been painting and viewing paintings since cave times. Maybe even before then. But Burgin, like many others, made a voluntary effort to prove that painting was dead. It could be interpreted that Burgin was announcing that his place in the history of human existence was so special, that he might as well have given himself the title: Painting's Angel of Death. But by now it is probably safe to assume he does not hold such a rank - perhaps because his academic philosophy was directly contrary to intuition and the involuntary reactions garnered by viewing a painting.

Burgin failed to realize that painting is not based on reason, and the viewers' reactions are not derived by logic. Rather, humans have a natural need to create. With that comes the ability to intuit when experiencing a form of art such as painting, having an immediate perception and reaction, be it positive or negative. Painting is a physical activity of the mind, eye, hand, and heart, and it is one of the ways an individual can attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible.

Painting has primitive roots, just like hunting, dancing, and music. And because humans will always be attempting to bring an organic sense of completeness and natural order to an otherwise complex society of new media, information and technology, painting will live on forever.

Lucas v. City of Long Beach

2011-12-28T05:46:00.000-08:00

This is the newest addition to my Law Paintings series. While "citing" a famous painting of the past and its application in today's society, the painting also serves as a personal expression based on my experiences.

This is not to say, however, that the painting should be interpreted. I am not attempting to illustrate a specific point by creating a pictorial metaphor. Although certain words and phrases from this Court opinion are both presented and omitted, the painting (and others in the series) is not a connect-the-dots game intended to lead the viewer to reach a specific answer.

Rather, while certain words, phrases, and images are purposefully presented, certainty is eliminated. Unlike the Court opinion itself, there is no literal, rational narrative. But there is ambiguity and an open range of views.

Stonebreaker, 8" x 6", oil, acrylic, and vintage paper on panel.

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

The Bergamot Station Experience (Santa Monica, CA)

2011-12-22T05:32:00.000-08:00

The practice of an artist requires that he study what others are creating in order to compare his own work and art theory to others. It allows the artist to understand current trends in the art world while also getting a sense of the regional art market.

This is not to say that the stuff currently displayed in galleries is good art or what needs to be followed, since galleries are in it for the business, and the driving force behind capitalism is not directly related to quality product. And those who can afford to collect art - those driving the market - are not always people with good taste in art. Nevertheless, just like any industry, it is important to study the work of others in the field, as it is the essence of how society develops and advances, the stepping stones and building blocks to new ideas, precedents, and ambitions.

I recently visited Bergamot Station in Santa Monica at the "30 open doors" shows, where the community of art galleries participated in art openings showcasing the work of dozens of artists. Certainly with the crowds of people and walls teeming with art, there was a lot to sift through, some worth seeing and some worth ignoring. I documented some of the work that made an impression on me.

Work that caught my attention conceptually was that of Milton Becerra, a Venezuelan born artist, at the Latin American Masters Gallery. I interpreted his work as addressing physics, matter and the universe, a network and connection of space and time. In his installations, he uses gravity, strings and stones, creating geometric planes within a space (the strings) connected to centralized matter (the stone). The work prompted me to question energy and physics, and I pondered this relation to ongoing contemporary scientific studies with the Hadron Collider, studies that will theoretically "take physics into a realm of energy and time where the current reigning theories simply do not apply."

Here is a picture of a portion of Becerra's work:

As I continued into another gallery, I stumbled upon a painting by Dan Quintana, a local artist living in Redondo Beach. While probably all of the work in this particular gallery would be written off as "low brow", Quintana's painting intrigued me by its craftsmanship - I admired his crafting a group of flawless images with vivid colors. So many times artists attempt to take a similar route and so easily fail. Although not a very intellectually thought-provoking work of art (which in the long run will prove its demise in artistic standing), like a centerfold, Quintana's piece stood out:

With respect to other paintings, Richard Heller Gallery exhibited some work by Spanish artist, Paco Pomet. His monochromatic wet into wet techniques, along with thick layers while still showing blank white canvas in certain areas, created dialogue among the viewers. Here are some examples of his work:

I enjoyed Pomet's work for the sake of "how" he painted it (shades, composition, texture, shape, line, etc.). But my biggest criticism is that some paintings seemed too obviously concerned with subject matter or wanting to reference pop culture. This caused them to feel as if they lacked confidence in the "how", thus attempting to compensate in the subject matter by including references to familiar characters. For example, a unique monochromatic representation of a rural laborer was ruined by the inclusion of Yogi Bear peeking from behind a tree in the background, as if Yogi had been included as an afterthought. This implied that the subject matter was more important than the "how", when it should have been the other way around.

Two New Paintings Of The Past

2011-12-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

These two new small paintings reference big paintings of the past by Fuseli (1871) and Rubens (1602), in a continuation of my law painting series:

Left: The Nightmare, 8" x 6", oil, acrylic, and vintage paper on panel, 2011.

Right: The Rubens Deposition, 8" x 6", oil, acrylic, and vintage paper on panel, 2011.

My "law paintings" incorporate the text from California Court rulings. As internet research has displaced traditional book research, the books themselves have become obsolete, even though the rulings remain good law. I have thus torn out the pages from the vintage books and incorporated interesting writings into the paintings by sealing in the pages and painting over top them.

In certain areas I put a layer of glaze over the text to add color, or I scrape away paint to reveal certain words. For example, the words "People v.", "Supreme", "Homicide", and many others can be found strategically placed:

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Painting for the City of Santa Clarita

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is the completed painting for the City of Santa Clarita. The City asked me to create a work of art incorporating "found" objects from its Santa Clara River, objects I gathered during its annual River Rally this past September.

It is: Under The Bridge, 24" x 48", acrylic, oil, and found objects on panel, 2011. The painting, to me, radiates mostly positive and optimistic feelings, but at the same time carries a deeper network of emotions - a castaway teddy bear with his rucksack, an empty bottle of vodka, and fluttering butterflies over chaotic movement of paint - hard times under the bridge and old souls - yet piecing together simple things we find a melody, harmony, and rhythm to life.

The work will be exhibited throughout the month of January, 2012, at the Big Stories Gallery at Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 West Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, California 91350. The opening reception is on January 11th at 7:00 p.m.

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Doodle of the Day - R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell

2011-12-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

On today's date, 7 years ago, legendary guitarist Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage during a concert. Best known for his role in the band Pantera, his aggressive riffs, electrifying solos, stunning originality, unpredictability, and overall badassness, made his music famous around the world and earned him an awesome name.

Gibson.com named Dimebag one of the top ten metal guitarists of all time, but Dimebag could play anything and everything, from jazz to classical. I wonder where he should rank on a list of all guitarists.

A good article about Dimebag Darrell's huge influence in music can be found HERE.

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Critiquing the Work of Chuck Close

2011-12-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

Dare I criticize the paintings of Chuck Close? He is probably one of the most famous American painters alive today. But in my lifelong quest to reach artistic greatness, I must study the work of established artists, and in doing so, sometimes I feel the need to write an independent review of their art, in an effort to better understand it.

The above painting is an example of Close's recent work currently exhibited at Blum & Poe Gallery in Culver City, one of the most reputable galleries in Los Angeles.

Now in his 70s, Chuck Close earned his MFA from Yale University, was awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton in 2000, and has his work in the permanent collections of museums worldwide, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

In 1988, he suffered a spinal artery collapse, suffering a seizure which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Over time and through rehabilitation, he regained movement in his arms, but not his fingers. He developed the ability to continue painting with a brush strapped to his wrist, but he has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.

His ability to overcome "the event" is certainly an accomplishment in itself, but his ability to continue creating art demonstrates his enormous passion for it and exemplifies the necessity of art in human life. A good PBS interview with him can be found HERE.

As the life story of Chuck Close will likely remain in art history books of American artists for centuries to come, and while purchasing his work may prove to be a solid investment, his 2011 work currently on display at Blum & Poe deserves an independent review:

The following is an image of his painting entitled Lucas, created in 1987, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I am particularly intrigued by this painting, not because of its title!, but because it was one of the first of its style, a monumental scale portrait using a Seurat-like pointillist technique, and marking Close’s departure from hyper-realistic painting. It was created in a style similar to the above self portrait, but because it stands over 12 feet tall, this is what it looks like from far away:

To create these portraits, Close takes photographs of his subject, then draws a grid over the photo. Next, he formulaically reproduces the contents of each tiny square on a magnified scale, by applying dots, dashes or short strokes of pigment. Viewed close-up, the painting looks like a series of abstract markings within separate squares, but from a distance, the markings form the illusionistic portrait.

A similar effect was demonstrated in the work of Georges Seurat in the 1880s, when the term pointillism was coined, represented in this detail from La Parade:

These ideas are related to the pixel element in digital imaging. Pixels are combined to create images the we see on computer screens, and derived from this process are creations of digital images like the following, which I call “digital pointillism”:

With the recent advent of new media, digital imaging has flooded our lives, including thousands of variations of images created from “digital pointillism”.

So, when viewing Chuck Close’s recent work at Blum & Poe, although the paintings initially resonate a professional quality and visual intrigue, after spending enough time with them, I am ultimately dissatisfied by their predictability. I am disappointed at Close’s unwillingness to venture into unexplored territory.

With a name like Chuck Close, he has earned the right to go anywhere and do anything in art. But he has stuck to the same formula he developed about 30 years ago, creating slight variations of the same idea, churning out paintings using the same ingredients to represent persons' faces. The easy defense is to point to his physical condition and conclude it is amazing enough that he can paint at all! But I'll bet Close is not looking for sympathy when it comes to artistic creation; he can handle unadulterated criticism.

An analogy can be made to the invention of the camera: Prior to its invention, western artists became famous by painting in a realistic style. When the camera and film were invented in the 1880s, many people jumped to the conclusion that painting had become obsolete. But the true artists met the challenge and proved that painting need not be photo-like, thus resulting in impressionism and post-impressionism (e.g., Monet, Seurat, and Van Gogh), paving the way to subsequent movements of the 20th century.

In the contemporary world of Chuck Close, the ease and availability of digital imaging has disturbed and challenged the originality of his painting style. To Close's defense, a painting is not an image - it is an object, and Close's paintings are painted by hand and imperfect, as a painting should be - grander in scale, dwarfing most digital images. Nevertheless, Close has done little to respond to the challenge, to discover new terrain, appearing happy to follow an accepted formula and be pinned as the guy who does those big gridded portraits.

Doodle of the Day - Up Close and Personal

2011-11-18T05:32:00.000-08:00

Want to get up close and personal with the Grand Canyon? This is the tour for you!

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Doodle of the Day - A Reason to Occupy Wall Street

2011-11-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

The "Kleercut" campaign headed by Greenpeace to stop the destruction of Canada's ancient forest was a success...to be determined. But it was certainly a step in the right direction and motivation for people to mobilize and stay active to end inequities and corporate greed. After all, a corporation has legal standing the same as a person, but a corporation operates only to maximize its profits - if this comes at the expense of the environment and community, then so be it.

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Green Roast Exhibit and Other Updates

2011-11-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who made it out on Saturday to Green Roast in Redondo Beach for the solo exhibition of many of my paintings. Your support is so very much appreciated :) If you were unable to attend, the art will remain up for the rest of November; please stop in if you're in the area.

Also, I hope the raffle and giveaway of the three mini-paintings was enjoyable! (And no, it wasn't rigged, lol.) Congrats to Elise, Mike, and Melissa.

Please keep in mind that in January my work commissioned by the City of Santa Clarita will be exhibited at the Big Stories Gallery at Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 West Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, California 91350. More details on this to come...

Also, in February, my solo exhibition of nature-inspired abstract paintings will be exhibited at the El Dorado Nature Museum in Long Beach, California. More details on this to come as well...

And if you're planning to be around Torrance on November 20th, join me at 6:30 p.m. at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center for a silent art auction, featuring one of my small 6"x8" paintings, to benefit the 24 Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to various forms of art to people in need of healing. The theme at this event is "child like heart" and there will be live music by singer/songwriter, John Torres!

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Little Paintings

2011-11-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Cat Spirit, 5" x 5", oil on panel, 2011.

Sometimes I create little paintings, sometimes as a study for a larger piece, but sometimes simply because that is how best to portray the subject.

It seems that, for whatever reason, there is a trend in many galleries to predominantly exhibit HUGE paintings. But that reasoning doesn't apply to the creator, for sometimes it is more effective for a picture to be small - it adds mystery and intimacy, causing the viewer to inch up close to it, instead of being bombarded by it anytime they're in the same room.

That is to say, a small painting created on a larger scale can lose its effect and intrigue, while the small painting, as it is, can say what it wants to say, and more.

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Latest Abstract Painting

2011-10-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Abstract 10-11, 36" x 33", oil on canvas, 2011.

My latest abstract painting was perhaps influenced by the colors of October even though that was not the intention from the beginning. I started by just putting down fields of color and shapes, unattached to anything in particular. The painting and color scheme eventually took form, as seen in the final product here.

Happy Halloween!

Thank you for following the paintings, creations, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago

2011-10-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

After visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art last week and the statue of Rocky Balboa, I stopped in Illinois on my way back to Los Angeles and visited the Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute remains my favorite museum in the country with its mind-boggling collection of unbelievable artwork from all around the world.

Although it would be nice if the institute could add some more paintings by older Europeans such as Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and da Vinci, certainly the small number of pieces by these artists is understandable considering the relatively low number of remaining works in the world, along with their high demand everywhere. Nevertheless, the stimulation from every room in the museum is both inspirational and exhausting.

When I first visited the museum years ago, I was struck, like a lightning bolt, seeing the above Picasso painting in person. Having only previously seen it in art books, I had never really thought it special until we met face to face. And then I examined it for two straight hours.

Certainly the reproduction on this little blog of some of the works I found to be most profound during my most recent visit does not do the paintings justice, but the following are images of some of them anyway...

A painting by Toulouse-Lautrec with sketchy lines and dripping paint depicting a moment in time, as though he passionately needed to get his vision onto the canvas before the moment passed:

Another painting by Toulouse-Lautrec, a scene of interesting characters (which includes himself in the background) in a harmonious balance of color:

A painting by Degas (being viewed by my friend), capturing a woman performing the insignificant, dull act of trying on hats, yet a work of art which stands out across the room:

The museum also had an entire room filled with works by Gerhard Richter, probably the best painter alive today. The guard scolded me for getting too close to one of his paintings in an attempt to investigate the texture and dissect the process of creation. The following painting by Richter is bigger than life-size, and the way he was able to create a beautiful portrait, with completely blurred lines and blended paint, brilliant light and dark contrast, and rather uniform texture, is perplexing and intriguing:

And a painting by Mondrian, very different from his flat grids and squares paintings for which he is most well-known:

The visit to the museum was an all day affair, yet it felt as though I had only scratched the surface of what was to be discovered there. After a few hours, my mind was overwhelmed and my body was exhausted. There reached the point where I could no longer analyze the process of creation, nor comprehend what I was looking at. Quite an experience.

Thank you for following the studies and creations, the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts click HERE.

Visiting Rembrandt at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

2011-10-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

In the past week I visited both the Art Institute of Chicago and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Each is world renowned for its gigantic collection of some of the greatest works of art ever created. Although I did not have enough time to give the Philadelphia museum an investigation in its entirety, I was lucky enough to visit when the museum was featuring the works of Rembrandt with Jesus as his subject.

The show was smaller than a typical exhibition at a major museum, since many of the works included his drawings and works by his students, instead of the iconic paintings by the master himself. However, in the art displayed that was painted by Rembrandt, the show was a powerful declaration of faith — not just the faith in Jesus portrayed by Rembrandt, but our faith in the authority of Rembrandt’s painting hand. Rembrandt redefined the grand religious narrative scene as a subtle but powerful human moment.

The tablecloth alone in the following painting, The Supper at Emmaus (on loan from the Louvre), struck me as though Jesus himself touched the painting with his hand:

Even the life story of Rembrandt seems somewhat biblical. He accumulated wealth from his art, and in his later years he lost everything and declared bankruptcy. When Rembrandt died in Amsterdam in 1669, he was buried in an unmarked grave and disappeared as if his body never existed. But throughout his lifetime he provided the world with hundreds of revered paintings, drawings, etchings, and prints, artwork that continues to be revered today, like gifts from the Heavens. While the body of Rembrandt was just another person, buried and forgotten, the portal of Rembrandt led to sanctity.

Doodle of the Day - Adventures in Online Dating

2011-10-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Online dating appears to be the new hot thing for many people. But beware: it doesn't mean you will meet the next hot thing!

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Audio Book Cover Art

2011-10-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to create the cover art for the audio book The Forever Garden, and this is an image of the final product (oil on wood panel, 18" x 18"). The author is John Janda, also the author of the novel American Spirit. The Forever Garden is a fantastic story for all ages. Stay tuned for its publication!

Thank you for following the paintings, the Doodle of the Day and the sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)
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Doodle of the Day - The Expert Witness

2011-10-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had jury duty. I sat in the jury assembly room all day with others at a courthouse in Los Angeles. Some people were clearly irritated about sitting there all day - twiddling their thumbs or playing Angry Birds on their phones. But I didn't mind it at all - what a great time to sit around and draw doodles. And of course I had to doodle about the legal system...

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Doodle of the Day - In Trouble With The Authorities

2011-10-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Every so often you hear about criminals who make stupid mistakes. This time, these bank robbers made the mistake of targeting The Piggy Bank!

I hope this doodle doesn't get me in trouble with the authorities or my police officer friends :)

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Oil Pastel Still Life

2011-10-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

Edgar Degas said, "The secret is to follow the advice the masters give you in their works while doing something different from them." Before a true artist may successfully do something different from the masters, he must first understand their advice.

I don't think that every artist must first learn to paint like all of the old masters, nor is it my intent to do so. But it is the naive and pretentious man who disregards the importance of drawing, line, and composition, mastered by those of the past, in the man's quest for artistic greatness. The practice of art is a lifelong study, and even Degas himself, on his deathbed, lamented, "Damn, and just when I was starting to get it!"

In continuing my lifelong study, even though most of my current larger works may be categorized as abstract, I hone skills by investigating the paths of the masters, like Degas, by examining people and objects and translating what I see to paper using oil pastels. Avoiding the laborious photo-realistic style, I am more interested in creating a representational picture in an efficient, economical, and natural way, as mastered by Degas and Spanish artist, Diego Velazquez. This approach allows for the inclusion of my own stroke and subjective feelings, and it places the emphasis on color, texture, line and composition, rather than subject matter.

Thank you for following the paintings, the Doodle of the Day and the sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)
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DOODLE OF THE DAY - YOUR HOLINESS?

2011-09-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I can't sleep I stay up scribbling in a sketchbook. The scribbles usually turn out to be nothing impressive, but sometimes they lead to bigger and better ideas. And the scribbles sometimes include scratching out notes, such as what my next painting should be, or an analysis of the progress of a current painting, or even an idea for a simple doodle. In this case, it was toilet humor...

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Doodle of the Day - Pigeon Tales

2011-09-29T13:30:00.001-07:00

Today's doodle was inspired when I was sitting outside eating lunch and felt some little feet wander over my toes. The patio was populated with pigeons, and another customer next to me was disgusted by them, muttering insults.

Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :) To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE.

Oil Pastel Experiment - In the Moment

2011-09-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

This picture is the result of an experiment, applying oil pastels to my latest abstract style. Although I've used oil pastels to paint representational pieces (click here for an example), I've not used pastels in this style. Oil pastels are unique in that they combine principles of oil paint with chalk, and while the final product can be colorful, it is more of a matte surface and not as bright as paint. It was a fresh experience because my latest abstracts have been limited to graphite, charcoal, oil paint, or mixed media, and none have incorporated pastels. It was time to explore new territory.

The approach to creating this was unplanned, meaning, there were no preliminary sketches or pencil lines to begin the piece. Rather, the oil pastels were applied to a blank piece of paper with free emotion. Clearing my mind of preconceived paths or “left brain” representations, I let the application of color and line dictate the flow of the painting’s development. It was a type of “living in the moment” art. Although perhaps a person could refer to some of the work by Wassily Kandinsky from the early 20th century, I made no conscious effort to recreate his style. This painting is more of an abstract self portrait of individual brainwaves and feelings present at the time of creation.

To see older blog posts and other works of art, click HERE. Thank you for following the paintings, the Doodle of the Day and the sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - Don't Call Me A Bum

2011-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoy today's daily doodle. It was inspired by my weird family and friends. If you're a fan of the Doodle of the Day, please feel free to suggest ideas for future doodles! Ideas are always appreciated :)

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - New Car Alerts

2011-09-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Every time I turn on my car there seems to be another bell and light to alert me of something: "DING! Fasten Your Seat Belt" or "DING! Washer fluid needs refill." As long as the car is nagging me, why not include: "DING! Do your laundry" or "DING! Call your mother!"

But after being cut-off in the fast lane today by a dude going 45 with his right blinker on, I stumbled upon the idea that a more important alert could be added to the list of alerts and serve a valuable purpose in the cars of many, especially in Los Angeles where EVERYONE drives:

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Oil Pastel Study, And Other Art Updates

2011-09-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those of you who made it out to the 59th Annual State Bar Art Competition at the Long Beach Convention Center, where I won First Prize in painting :) Again, your support is most appreciated!

In other updates, the City of Santa Clarita has commissioned me to create a work of art dedicated to its Santa Clara River Rally, and the efforts of the community in cleaning it up. I will keep you posted on how the work develops!

I have also been commissioned to create the cover art for a new book coming out by author John Janda. John is an incredible writer, and I have worked with him in the past, in his novel American Spirit. Stay tuned for updates on this development :)

Currently, I continue to work on several other new pieces, and the above image shows my recent study in oil pastels, a medium mastered by the great Edgar Degas. It is further practice in color and layering. Although this piece is a "still life", it is not the subject matter that most concerns me - it is the process of viewing an object and translating that visual into an illusion of color on a flat plane composition. This process is the same whether the subject matter is a still life, landscape, portrait, abstract, etc.

What interests me is how the work is created, while the subject matter is secondary. This is, for example, why Degas is one of the greatest artists in art history - it is not his choice of subject matter of horses, dancers, or performers that gives his art a place in every art history book. And this is why a still-life, like those famously created by Paul Cezanne, can be just as interesting as an action painting or any other type of art.

Doodle of the Day - The Dog Whisperer

2011-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

I recently moved into a new place, and I think EVERYONE on my block has a yappy dog! It's as if nobody has seen the show the Dog Whisperer before. I’m thinking of calling up Cesar Millan myself to let him know that the entire street needs help – teach those dogs to whisper. He could go door to door like he’s selling Bible studies, preaching his spiritual connection with the canine world, saving the dogs from their yappy anxiety, and even better, saving my eardrums and sanity! Come on people, get some of that pack leader mentality.

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

59th Annual Bench and Bar Art Exhibit

2011-09-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

The 2011 California State Bar Annual Meeting is taking place this week, today through Saturday (Sept. 15-17), at the Long Beach Convention Center (near the Aquarium). If you are in the area and have some time, please stop by, as some of my paintings are being exhibited at the 59th Annual Bench and Bar Art Exhibit, in Exhibit Hall B.

The paintings exhibited, like the one pictured here, are from my "obsolete law book" series.

It is free to attend :)

To see older blog posts and art, click HERE. Thank you for following the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, Doodle of the Day, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - Your Widget Order Is Complete

2011-09-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Just another daily doodle...

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Abstract Painting - Final Stage

2011-09-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist."
- Saint Francis of Assisi

Abstract 0911, 34" x 48", oil on panel, 2011.

Following up on the previous post on this subject, this is the abstract painting in its final stage. Finishing touches still remain. And even though I refer to it as the final stage, the stage is unique because it may take some time just sitting there against the wall in my studio. It may be that, as I've removed my focus from it, the painting will live with me for days or weeks and let me know whether it is done or needs some more work. Sometimes a painting will reveal its needs in a week which may lead to an overhaul; other times a week is enough time to understand that there is nothing else I can do to add to it. There is never a specific formula, and each artwork is different in this regard.

I will keep you updated on what happens with this one...

Doodle of the Day - You Are What You Eat

2011-09-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! This doodle was inspired when I witnessed a simple encounter on my fence yesterday afternoon, a bird chattering at a goofy looking squirrel. For an instant, I understood the language of bird, and this is what he proclaimed...

Perhaps the saying is true, that you are what you eat. Click on the image for a larger view. To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Doodle of the Day - The Van Gogh Lizard

2011-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

If Vincent Van Gogh had been a lizard...

To see older blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, sculpture, drawings, works in progress, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark :)

Abstract Painting - More Progress in the Studio

2011-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

This photo shows the middle stage of a painting on wood panel I am currently working on in my studio. It is a continuation of my first blog post on this painting.

After completing several layers of glazing over the underpainting, the palette was expanded, and thicker opaque layers of paint were added by blending, scraping, and scratching, while allowing certain areas of the previous layers to show through. It is planned that additional thicker layers will be added, but that can only be done once the latest layers dry to a certain point. The number of additional layers remains uncertain, but they will continue to be added until the painting "declares" that it is complete and nothing more can add to it.

For those who saw the blog post showing the beginning stages, you will notice that the painting is now at a horizontal rather than the vertical it was at before. This happens from time to time during the creative process and is part of the intrigue with abstract painting. The "top" of the painting may not be established until just before the work is completed. And again, the mission is to create a work of art that can stand alone in the end, holding the attention of the viewer by a striking presence and by ambiguities and prompting questions.

You can click on the image for an expanded view. To see all blog posts and other doodles, click HERE. Thank you for following the works in progress, and the paintings, sculpture, drawing, doodles, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - R.I.P. Cy Twombly

2011-09-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Cy Twombly was an internationally famous fine artist with contemporary works of art which were mere scribbles and chicken scratches made with pencils and crayons. His "paintings" often caused people to respond with "Are you kidding?" or "You call THAT art?"

Twombly was prolific in his lifetime as an artist, and sadly, he recently passed away at 83 years old. This link shows some of the scribbles on canvases that made him hugely successful. It is remarkable that his works of art were not dismissed as children's paintings. Or maybe they were children's paintings and Twombly proved that success in the art world has nothing to do with artistic talent.

You can click on the image for a larger view, and thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, drawings, sculpture, daily progress, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - The Gift of Charlie Brown

2011-09-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day, I figure it's best to sit back, relax, and be inspired by all the great art and artists of the past. Today, I pay my respects to the great Charles Schulz, the cartoonist who gifted the world with Charlie Brown and the comic strip Peanuts. It is truly a creation of something special when one man can touch the hearts of millions of people around the world, for decades to come, with the introduction of a little character doodle!

Listen to his description, and watch Charlie Brown come to life :)

Doodle of the Day - The Rat Race

2011-09-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else find it weird that we go to places like the gym to burn calories? I'm not saying I'm better than it - I do go to the gym and try to stay in shape. But there we are, running in place or lifting dumb objects, burning energy. Energy! Shouldn't that energy be harnessed for something productive? Couldn't those calories be combined for the creation of something more meaningful in the community? Instead, we emit exhaust into the air to get the closest parking spot to the entrance so we can get on a machine and work our tails off simply to break a sweat because, alas, maybe we all ate a cheese platter for lunch that afternoon.

There was a day when we lived in nature and sculpted our bodies by building stuff and eating to live. It is a bit strange the way society has developed. On the one hand, people in the world work and fight for food to have enough energy to survive; on the other hand, people work out to burn energy for free, creating nothin' for no one. All that energy wasted.

But like most people, I go to the gym to maintain a healthy body and lifestyle. It just seems that, in this "energy crisis", our calories shouldn't be lost in the ether. And I certainly hope that society doesn't develop into a situation where we go to the gym simply so we can flex our muscles like "the Situation" from Jersey Shore! That would be weak.

Anyway, you can click on the image for a larger view. Have a great Labor Day weekend, and thank you for following the Doodle of the Day and the paintings, drawings, sculpture, daily progress, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Abstract Painting - Progress in the Studio

2011-08-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

This photo shows the early stage of a painting on wood panel I am currently working on in my studio.

In abstract painting, the process is like a leap of faith in that I don't have a specific vision of what the completed painting should look like in the end. This is what makes abstract art both challenging and intriguing. Early on, I do have an idea of what the next few stages will be in the painting process. That allows the current stage to be completed with confidence. This is important because if the painting is young and the next stage is unknown, the painting becomes lost and may remain in limbo forever.

The painting here is young but the next few stages are planned. First, large shapes of color were applied, wiped, and scraped to establish the underpainting. Second and third layers of cool (as opposed to warm) color have been applied again, in thin glazes. The glazing effect creates luminous colors and a sense of distance between the paint and the panel. Still, I am not too concerned with the shapes and colors at this point, as I plan to cover up most of the surface with subsequent layers and "fatter" paint using scraping and pulled-paint techniques. It has been planned that the luminous glazes of cool color should provide various backgrounds and areas of interest behind the subsequent thicker layers, where the thicker layers break up or do not cover the surface completely.

On the table you can see I am using a very limited palette at this stage -- just five cold colors, while also utilizing the white ground of the panel. Each color is translucent and perfect for glazing. Once this stage is complete, however, I will expand the palette and use several more colors, adding warmth, contrast, and more texture. The mission is to create a work of art that can stand alone in the end, holding the attention of the viewer by a striking presence and by ambiguities and prompting questions.

These are all techniques also used for painting representational figures (realism) and an example of how, to the artist, abstract painting is the same process.

Thanks again for following the works in progress, and the paintings, sculpture, drawing, doodles, and other art by Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Fish v. Purse Net (unfin-ished)

2011-08-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fish v. Purse Net (unfin-ished), 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood panel, 2011.

Usually in painting, I am more interested in the way paint is applied, the juxtaposition of color, contrast, subtleties, and how the art was created. This is normally more important than what the subject matter is, why it was created or the story behind the work because art should be interesting in itself and exist independently of written material or an explanation from the artist.
Nonetheless, the subject matter of this painting indeed was the driving force. This deliberately unfinished painting represents an unfinished issue.

The oceans are huge and it is easy to assume the fish numbers are infinite. But those of us on the Pacific coast are familiar with the collapse of salmon populations, and those on the Atlantic know about the collapse of the cod. Overfishing continues to destroy big fish populations at an exponential rate, and some species, such as tuna may not be able to recover once their breeding populations, are gone in just a few years, unless we, as a global society, are willing and able to join forces to implement strategies for their recovery, along with legal consequences for violations. Certainly the biggest obstacle is enforcement of these laws on the open seas. However, there are also alternative ways to maintaining sustainable fish populations.

As millions of people rely on the oceans as their principle food source, the health of the oceans' ecosystems directly affects to the health of the human race. For more information about how to contribute to sustaining fish populations, visit Greenpeace.

Thank you for following the chronology of the paintings, drawings, sculpture, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - Gettin' the Week Started...

2011-08-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and time to doodle again :)

The weather in 2011 has been unreal. From hurricanes in New York to massive floods in Mississippi, flocks of birds have been falling from the sky and schools of fish have been washing up on shores. Maybe the Mayans had it right about 2012! (Aside: make your sacrifice to the Heavens today by clicking the "Donate" button on this page and following the easy 1-2-3 steps.)

Yesterday in Los Angeles it felt like hell. The temperature reached 110 degrees. I also heard on the news that the West Nile Virus has reached the city. But the newsman also said that the virus is not as bad as its reputation makes us believe. I always thought West Nile Virus was a disease like cholera or dysentery that would consume you from the inside out. Not so. Apparently, it's like the common cold or flu, most people survive, and some people don't even get sick! See, there IS good news after all!

You can click on the image for a better view. Have a great week. Thanks again for viewing the daily Doodle of the Day and the paintings, drawings, sculpture, and art of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark.

Doodle of the Day - For Smartphones...

2011-08-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'll admit that I was kind of annoyed that I was required to have a smartphone to partake in Pepsi's matrix adventure and be rewarded with the mysterious goodies they would surely be offering for free at the end of the digital rainbow!

Yesterday at lunch, while drinking my Pepsi, I noticed the "Quick Response Code" on the cup, that strange square matrix barcode designed to be scanned by phones. But I still use my trusty ol' flip-phone, so I wondered what good this matrix barcode did me. Nothing I could think of. I suppose Pepsi caters to people with smartphones. Perhaps they have a deal with Apple or Google or Verizon or AT&T.

Maybe I felt left out, I'm not sure why, but I pulled out my flip-phone to take a picture of that matrix barcode, as you can see above. (Yes, flip-phones DO have the capability of taking pictures, albeit mediocre ones at best.)

Then I turned the cup around to look at the other side of it, and that's when I saw what Pepsi provided for ME!...

You can click on the above images for a better view. Those of you who have scanned barcodes like this before, I'm interested in finding out what goes on in those smartphone virtual VIP rooms. Let me know.

Thanks again for viewing the Doodle of the Day and the daily art, drawings, and paintings of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark!

Obscene Art - Why Painting Must Have More Artistic Value Than Film

2011-08-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Obscenity, 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood panel, 2011.

Artists are constantly questioning what art is. There is no satisfactory definition. Art could arguably be the juxtaposition of someone's roadkill on the highway. So what the heck is the definition of art in the law?

The newest edition to my "obsolete law book" series, this painting incorporates a Court of Appeal decision from 1976, People v. Kuhns, about the criminal prosecution of a man selling obscene material at his adult video store, in violation of California Penal Code. The obscene material was discovered through law enforcement investigation, when police officers in Santa Cruz entered the store and purchased it.

But the obscenity statute is vague because it inevitably must be balanced against the First Amendment right of free speech. The courts have attempted to define obscene material as applying to: "works which, taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex, which portray sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and which, taken as a whole, do not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value."

So based on the definition, a work is obscene if it lacks “serious artistic value”. On the other hand, it is not obscene if it has some serious artistic value. How can a jury decide what has serious artistic value and what does not? It seems impossible.

Pressing the idea that anything the artist produces is art, the past hundred years have embraced a broader, more inclusive assessment, where just about anything has been accepted as art. This concept developed with the Dada Art Movement beginning around 1915. It involved probing the boundaries of art and taunting artistic conventions, and it was one of the primary goals of Dada to avoid the labeling and legitimizing of the artistic establishments. André Breton said, "Dada is a state of mind... Dada is artistic free thinking... Dada gives itself to nothing.” Probably the most notorious artwork associated with this idea is The Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, a readymade urinal he signed, dated, and called "art".

If Duchamp could place a readymade urinal in a gallery in 1917 and pass it off as art, imagine how far artists have explored this idea since then: a naked doll is wrapped in barbed wire and placed in an art gallery; a man films himself tumbling off a roof; a woman paints a portrait of herself performing sex acts with an animal.

If the woman had filmed herself instead of painted, would her work then lack “serious artistic value”? If so, wouldn’t that mean that painting has inherently more artistic value than film? I know many people who would take issue with that!

Doodle of the Day - Watery Eye of the Tiger!

2011-08-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Every day the sports news discusses how Tiger Woods needs to get back on track. He has plummeted from the pinnacle of prosperity, revealing his deceit, schemes, lusts, and desires on the way down, those which he had kept concealed for so many years behind his flawless, prince-like facade.

Tiger spent time away from golf, went to sex therapy, had a divorce and a surgery or two, and apparently worked on picking up the pieces. When he returned to golf he struggled, but everyone figured it was just a matter of time before he returned to form as the number one golfer in the world.

Some thought he initially struggled on purpose for sympathy points, a public relations move to win back his fans and eventually, his sponsors. But that theory no longer seems accurate, as Tiger hasn't won a tournament in almost two years. Two weeks ago at the PGA Championship, he missed the cut by seven strokes! His world ranking is now 36, the lowest it has been in 15 years. The year 2011 has been an aberration for Woods, and his complete collapse is as newsworthy as his past dominance. Although the media hasn't been able to pinpoint what Tiger is doing wrong on the golf course, perhaps the explanation is as simple as karma.

By now we all know that Tiger Woods is human. And yes, he cries too!

For a larger view of the doodle, click on the above image. Feel free to "Like" Lucas Aardvark Art on Facebook and post comments there or on this blog. Thanks again for viewing the Doodle of the Day and the daily art, drawings, and paintings of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark!

Doodle of the Day - The Wonder Years

2011-08-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my younger brother's birthday, and I was reminded of when he was an infant having recently arrived at our home, I was little, and my older brother influenced my every move in life. It's a wonder how we survived those childhood years without losing any limbs or being shipped off to military school!

Click on the image for larger view. Comments are welcome, and feel free to "Like" Lucas Aardvark Art on Facebook. Thanks for viewing the Doodle of the Day and the daily art, drawings, and paintings of Los Angeles artist Lucas Aardvark!

Avoiding the Clones! Pre-Production and Constructing A Wood Panel

2011-08-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Sufficient pre-production and preparedness, or a lack of it, can make or break any project. One of the most important elements of painting is constructing and priming the painting surface. The pre-painting stage cannot be ignored, as it plants the seeds for a painting to develop its unique character!

For example, go into any art store, such as Blick, and find the canvas section. This section has stretched and primed canvases ready for painting, giving us the option of skipping the entire pre-production process altogether. The problem I have with these ready-made canvases is that they are mass machine produced, clones created with standard dimensions and impeccably uniform surfaces. Sometimes they are made with weak wood stretcher bars or cheap canvas. Most of the time, that drab uniform surface of a clone will remain in the texture of the completed painting. A painting should be a unique individual object, not an outgrowth of a clone.

So, the best way to avoid the clone is to construct and prime each painting surface individually. Here, I've decided my next painting will be on a solid wood panel.

Since the painting will be an addition to the "obsolete law book" series, I want it to remind us of the bookshelves on which these books once sat, so I decided to use the bookshelves themselves as the painting surface.

Here is a synopsis on how it was constructed:

After aligning the three bookshelves together, I used an electric miter saw to cut 2x2 bars to the correct dimensions. These bars are used for reinforcement and to hold the panels together. I used wood glue to attach everything, holding it all in place with clamps and masking tape. After the glue dried, I nailed the reinforcement bars in place. But because nails may slip out over time if the wood warps slightly, screws are necessary to prevent this by minimizing warping:

The panel was then flipped over and the surface was sanded down, smooth to the touch and free of splinters. After the sides were also sanded, the construction stage was complete. With dimensions of 48" x 33", this is what it looked like:

With a sturdy wood panel constructed, priming the surface was the next stage. I used three layers of gesso, sanding in between layers. Careful consideration is given to priming, as it will affect the texture of the final painting. In this case I used an old brush to spread the gesso in a smooth but slightly uneven manner with subtle irregularities. This sets the stage for the painting to develop its unique qualities in texture and presentation.

And now it is time to paint!

Doodle of the Day - Just Garbage

2011-08-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a real patch of floating garbage the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. It is probably not the proudest creation of the human species, nor is it the happiest subject to think about on a Friday afternoon. But the world evolves and adaptability is its virtue! After my careful scientific studies, I have discovered that the garbage patch may be the answer to the plight of the polar bear from global warming!...

For more adventures from the Bipolar Bear and Taffy, check out my comic book "Curse of the Bipolar Bear" at my Etsy shop!
Have a great weekend!

Doodle of the Day - Fat Company

2011-08-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Stocks have plunged again, unemployment is sky high, and it appears we may be in need of a modern day Steinbeck to write a contemporary version of The Grapes of Wrath. While I was eating lunch, I couldn't help but overhear part of the conversation of three business-persons at another table. At first I assumed they were speaking about the economy and their business, but after thinking about it later, I wasn't so sure. It amused me nevertheless...

Wildlife Alive

2011-08-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

To most artists, the environment, nature, and wildlife are very important and inspirational. The newest edition to the obsolete law book series, this painting incorporates a Supreme Court decision from 1976 about the overkill and depletion of many animal species in California. This was just four years after the federal government banned the use of DDT as a pesticide because of its serious impact on wildlife, such as bald eagles which faced near extinction in California.

Wildlife Alive, 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood panel, 2011.

Doodle of the Day - A Bundle of Joy!

2011-08-16T16:09:00.001-07:00

The US Postal Service seems to be advertising a lot more than it did in the past, promoting the new services and rates it now provides. But the advertisements don't say anything about the CUSTOMER SERVICE you will encounter when you visit the post office! I had to go there today. As I stood in line for a while, I noticed the postal employee, Joy, wasn't the most cheerful person, probably because she was the only one working the line. She kinda reminded me of a female version of Newman from Seinfeld, and she amused me because she looked like a real-life cartoon. Drawing her portrait would be simple!

Then, when I reached the counter, I had a few questions about sending my mail and changing my address. I found that there was a very simple answer for everything...

Daily Doodle (VEGAS Edition)

2011-08-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Casinos are intriguing places. The concept behind a casino is strange - it is a place where people often drop hundreds of dollars in a matter of minutes and receive nothing in return, except maybe an alcoholic beverage and the stench of stale cigarette smoke embedded in their clothes. I spent the weekend in Las Vegas, lost my share of cash, and couldn't help but laugh at the scene. Shamelessly fueled by money yet scantily hidden behind flashing lights, candy-wrapped devices, and sexy costumes, the casino is a master at disguise. We are just monkeys funneled into its trap, incapable of learning from the electric shocks. For some reason, however, I want to go back!

Doodle of the Day

2011-08-12T09:43:00.001-07:00

The courthouse in Los Angeles can be a place to find funny characters. I had to go to court yesterday, and several lawyers were waiting in the hallway before the courtroom opened. One lawyer in particular caught my attention. Wearing a colorful tie, he talked and talked loud enough for everyone to hear, going from one lawyer to the next, seeming to be very comfortable in this environment. He strutted around like a rooster as if he owned the place.

But the confidence he exuded in the hallway vanished once we were in the courtroom and the judge called his case. The papers the guy filed must've been below par, as the judge saw right through his peacocking act!

The Daily Doodle

2011-08-11T12:35:00.001-07:00

Beverly Hills is known for its fashion and starting trends, often the center of unbridled materialism. Recently I attended an art opening at a gallery there. At some point my friend texted me, and I pulled out my phone to text him back. As I stood there punching the numbers on my trusty ol' FLIP-PHONE, I had the uneasy feeling that I was being judged. (As if I was in Court, lol!) I felt stupid that I cared what people thought about my "ancient" phone.

Why did it bother me? Not sure. The phone gets the job done. So I don't have a GPS on it -- that's fine, I have a good sense of direction. So I don't have internet on it -- that's fine, I have a computer at home. Nevertheless, I admit that I felt like a dumb dinosaur that day, embarrassed by some insignificant product I owned. One day I suppose I'll have to get a new phone. But not today!

Artistic Study -- Honing Skills Through Portraiture

2011-08-10T15:18:00.001-07:00

My friend Abigail was nice enough to sit for half an hour to allow me to quickly sketch her portrait. This is what was created in that time limitation.

Even though my current direction in painting is in the realm of abstraction, it remains necessary to know how to draw! This includes drawing from life, still-lifes, landscapes, interiors, figures, and the ever-challenging portraits.
Banksy made an interesting observation when he said: "All artists are willing to suffer for their work. But why are so few prepared to learn to draw?"

Drawing a portrait with a fixed time limitation is indeed a challenge and an excellent way to hone drawing skills. With drawing expertise comes the knowledge of line, shade, and composition -- the building blocks for creating a good painting.

To an artist, painting something completely abstract is almost the same as painting something realistic. Both are simply illusions created on a flat plane using color -- it is texture, brushstrokes, line, juxtaposition of color, contrast and subtleties which give a painting life, whether it is a portrait of a person we recognize or a form of something incomprehensible. The only difference, as I see it, is that an abstract painting is a blind process, meaning there is no final image the artist is aiming for or needs his painting to look like (unless he is using an abstract photograph or Photoshop -- ugh!); rather, painting abstract is a bit like a leap of faith, using a set of tools and skills to hopefully create something meaningful in the end.

The necessity of having drawing skill is further exemplified by the great Pablo Picasso. He could draw like the old masters when he was 15, yet he still decided to abandon the representational approach as he helped pave the way into abstraction, becoming the most famous artist of the 20th century. He did this with drawing expertise.

The Daily Doodle

2011-08-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

Strolling shirtless across the crosswalk at a snail's pace, his muscles glistening in the sun and swollen from his probable recent discovery of steroid injections, it was clear this guy was holding up traffic on purpose. The people in their vehicles waited patiently for him to pass, but he twisted and flexed his torso with every mini-step he took.

I was standing across the street amused. For a moment I felt kinda sad for the guy, but then I figured he brought it upon himself. So then I doodled this and posted it on the internet!

Doodle of the Day

2011-08-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Gathering, organizing, lifting and loading; cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping and vacuuming -- this is how I spent my entire weekend, moving from one apartment to the other. I approached it thinking it wouldn't take very long because I don't have too much stuff. Boy, was I wrong! Stuff kept appearing -- old paintings, art supplies, hockey cards, fishing gear, boxes of books, and miscellaneous junk -- melting together into one GIANT MONSTER!

Moving sure aint fun. It can be downright scary! I felt like a preyed-upon character from the Pixar film, Monster's Inc.

A Critique of Peter Doig

2011-08-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

A contemporary artist alive today influencing me with his paintings is Peter Doig. A reason why his work is influential is because he incorporates the abstract with representational subjects, often referencing established artists in history such as Klimt and Mondrian, and putting the emphasis on color and HOW each work is painted, not why it was made or what the subject matter is. For example, the painting above is a dark picture of green-faced men in costumes, yet it is the way the picture was made, i.e, rich blotches and colors dripping with an "unfinished" quality, a ghost-like tree, and contrasting yellow-orange against a midnight blue with an accent from a lavender stone, that makes it interesting. It is peculiar why these men are standing in the field in the evening, their faces green, in front of a rock wall -- aspects remain ambiguous, capturing the viewer's attention by prompting questions.

Born in 1959 in Edinburgh, UK, Doig lived in Canada (nice!) for a good portion of his early years, and it is probably from this experience that directed him to create many paintings referencing the outdoors and derived from landscapes. Art critics have sometimes criticized or given him criticism for representing nature with abnormal colors, such as painting deer red. But his appoach to representing simple subjects is unique. The picture below is a simple subject which appears to be a person perhaps skating on a frozen pond in winter. We don't really know much about this person other than he is alone. And even though the scene is a white winter, the painting nevertheless teems with color through reflections and splotches.

Should Mr. Doig ever read this blog post, critique, or whatever you call it, I declare to him that I shall one day have a painting of mine on the same wall as his, for viewers to decide which one they like better!

Doodle of the day

2011-08-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is a doodle of the weird guy at the coffee shop this morning. He looked funny with his funny-looking mutt. Squeezing his pooch close to his breast, it appeared as though the dog was ordering the coffee. This little scene, if you would even call it that, was just a fraction of my day -- it occurred in a flash, like the random appearance of a bird in the sky, and then he was gone and I was on my way. But the image stuck in my head and morphed into characters not unlike those in Family Guy, The Simpsons, or The Far Side.

Later during my lunch break, the image still lingering, I scribbled this doodle. It was created using a standard No. 2 pencil and a bic pen.

Glazing an Oil Painting

2011-08-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

A favorite oil painting technique that I use is known as glazing. It has been a technique used since oil painting was first invented, yet it seems many contemporary artists have abandoned it. The glazing effect can be likened to placing thin pieces of colored glass on top of each other. So in painting terms, it is the process of stacking up thin layers of translucent color.

The glazing technique has several advantages, one my favorites being that it creates a glass-like plane while creating the illusion that the surface is further away. This works well, for example, when I want the color brown to have a luster rather than the simple flat brown created by mixing opaque colors from the tube. While glazing can be accomplished with any pigment, I prefer some more than others -- colors that are inherently translucent as opposed to those which are opaque. For example, translucent colors include burnt sienna, veridian, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, and payne's gray; opaque colors include titanium white, cadmium red, and yellow ochre.

Once the pigment is selected, it is important to then dilute it with a medium. Typically, I use one of two different methods: 1) my "trade-secret" mix of galkyd, linseed oil, and [secret]; or 2) straight liquin. Once the correct viscosity is mixed, the pigment can be applied to the canvas in various ways using different types of brushes, such as those for scumbling, wiping, or detail. And, once the layer dries, it may be ready for another "pane of glass"!

Examples of glazing can be seen in my pictures below where paint is applied over text -- this allows the text to be readable underneath different colors. However, more complex examples can be seen in the work of Jan Vermeer here.

Affirmative Action

2011-07-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

It is true that I sometimes anguish at painting, finding myself staring at my "progress" with my thoughts mired in tribulations, knowing that hundreds of greater pictures are sitting in museums not too far away, created by artists some younger than me. It is also true that I question why I spend so much of my time at it. But I tell myself to push forward with the work because that's what we do as people, as survivors -- we continue to till the land so we can eat. Although sometimes I am duped by a mirage, sometimes I am nourished by a flash of what I seek, and for a moment I understand the necessity of art and its connection to something bigger than life.

Affirmative Action, 28" x 36", oil, vintage paper and book cover on wood panel, 2011.

Some details of the painting:

Alaska Inspiration

2011-07-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Discovery, 16" x 36", oil on canvas with rope and driftwood, 2011.

Following my recent adventure in Alaska, I find that the magnificence of the expansive wilderness cannot be adequately explained in this little blog.
Everything there is big: The glaciers are huge and imposing. The sudden appearance of a whale while kayaking in the sea shakes your soul -- the power of its breath forces you to imagine the enormity of its body below the surface. The black bears are abundant and the grizzlies are iconic, and the shoulders of a moose were higher than my head. Bald eagles perch along the rivers everywhere as the salmon are the center of the ecosystem.

Hiking above the treeline in the foggy mountains, and camping on top of mossy lichen where mountain sheep pass, it is clear that years are needed to explore the state and discover the unexpected.

Here are some photographs:

California Reporter

2011-06-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

In continuing with the obsolete law book series, I have increased the dimensions, incorporating numerous vintage pages and a book cover. The two cases include: People v. Hawk, a California Supreme Court case from 1941, with Attorney General, Earl Warren, involving the death sentence of a man found guilty of killing another; and People v. Manson, a Court of Appeal case from 1976 involving the sentencing of infamous Charles Manson.

Interestingly, Charles Manson was found guilty of many murders while leading a murderous cult, yet at the time of his conviction, California was in a "limbo" stage in which it did not institute the death penalty, as it does now and did before. Thus, his death sentence was modified to life imprisonment.

As of now, the painting is untitled. This happens at times, after the completion of a work. It may only temporarily be untitled. Maybe after we spend some time together, she will tell me her name!

Untitled, 36" x 28", oil, vintage paper and book cover, on oil panel.
Here are some details of the work:

2011-05-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

A continuation of obsolete books and vintage paper: The Boxer, 8" x 6".

And another:

Obsolete Books and Vintage Paper

2011-05-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

When an appeals court issues an opinion (ruling), sometimes the case is "published", meaning it may be cited as a rule of law. Over the decades, thousands of published opinions have filled volumes of books. Naturally, finding the right case to cite to takes research. Traditionally, this research was done in large libraries teeming with law books.

Only recently, however, online research has displaced traditional book research. Online research has proven to be more efficient, not only in time, but in eliminating the large amount of physical space necessary to hold the books and bookshelves.

The books themselves have become obsolete.

So what happens to the books? They become garbage. Or art!

My new series of work incorporates the vintage paper from these old books, still holding good law. For example, The School Girl, seen above, is a piece incorporating a California Court of Appeal decision from 1940. This was back when Earl Warren was the Attorney General of California, before he became one of the most renown and admired Supreme Court Justices in the history of the United States.

Here are some others:

People v. Guerrero, 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood, 2011

Ex Parte Basuino, 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood, 2011

Gump's Estate, 8" x 6", oil and vintage paper on wood, 2011

Little Paintings

2011-05-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a group of little paintings with big subjects. These are works I sometimes do intermittently in between working on larger pieces. Although each painting has a recognizable animal form, what sparks my interest is not the type of animal itself, but rather, the challenge of finding new approaches of mixing and applying paint -- texture and juxtaposition of color which gives a painting life. In this way, painting representational subjects like animals is the same as painting something completely abstract.

Each painting measures 6" x 8" or 2.5" x 3", oil on panel.

Click on the image to zoom.

School of Communications

2011-04-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Art is a form of communication that should not be bound by the limitations of language. For me, painting is a transcendence of the self, a religious practice of communicating with a force beyond the world as we know it in daily life.

The idea of creating art is somewhat strange -- it does not appear to fulfill any physiological need, yet it is something that has been done since ancient times, probably since the beginning of human existence, and it will continue forever. Great art resonates with the human species as certain works survive over the decades and centuries. These works, such as the Sistine Chapel, Guernica, or the Egyptian Sphinxes, connect with masses of people in an inexplicable way, as if they were gifts from a higher power to give us hope for greater things.

The practice of art is a lifelong study, committing inwardly to reach beyond the self, to act as a portal and one day, hopefully, contribute to the creation of something good.

The Wetland in Winter

2011-04-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Wetland in Winter, 48" x 30", hanging scroll, fabric, oil on canvas, 2011.

Influenced by ancient Chinese and Japanese painting, this work eliminates wooden stretcher bars and incorporates the decorative scroll presentation. But I have adhered to oil on canvas, rather than the ink on rice paper of traditional scrolls. And as the ancient eastern paintings often depicted objective and subjective representations of a nature scene, this work is a continuation of my abstract portrayals of an idea or feeling, moving beyond recognizable images and familiar forms that may be explained by language. It is giving form to something incomprehensible.

A fun exhibition...

2011-04-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the opening reception at the 51st Annual International Art Competition at the San Diego Art Institute. Thank you all for coming out and showing your support!

Painting Is Alive

2011-04-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Untitled, 30" x 55", oil on canvas, 2011.

For over 50 years some critics have said that painting is dead. But painting is probably the most difficult of all forms of art -- it is a person's soul depicted in a single frame. The entire body of work can be dismissed with a single glance. As more and more people desire to be artists, more and more mediocre paintings dilute the field. Some of these people realize they are not painters, so they dabble in new media, such as video art, a nascent medium yet to develop a list of masters. Painting, on the other hand, has its list, quite an extensive one from over the centuries, thus establishing the highest level of artistic standards. Pablo Picasso, on his deathbed in 1973, said, "Painting remains to be invented." Painting is not dead. It just takes someone like Picasso to show people that painting is still alive!

This Is Who We Are

2011-03-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Even as contemporary society develops and progresses, as technological advancements and new media infiltrate the market, this is who we are.
This Is Who We Are, 60" x 39", oil on canvas, 2011.

51st Annual International Art Competition

2011-02-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

From April 16 through May 29, I will be participating in the 51st Annual International Art Competition at the San Diego Art Institute. Of the 900 submissions, the painting depicted below (Windows of Cognition, 30" x 60", oil on canvas, 2010) is 1 of only 86 works accepted for the show.

Please join me at the Opening Reception, Saturday April 16, from 6 to 8 pm, at SDAI located at House of Charm in Balboa Park, 1439 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101-1617. Message me if you have questions.

Cause a buzz around this painting – maybe it will get the Aardvark the best-in-show award!

Fervid Los Angeles

2011-02-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

Fervid Los Angeles (triptych), 28" x 36", oil on panel, 2011.

An abstract representation of living in contemporary Los Angeles, this work conjured up mixed feelings of beauty, fear, passion, apathy, excitement, frustration, warmth, loneliness, joy, and sadness. But taken as a whole, Los Angeles is mostly a fervid place, regardless of which side of the coin we examine, intense in spirit. Among the intensity there are lulls, and in between there are subtleties which make every experience unique.

Leopard Jasper Abstract

2011-01-22T22:39:00.000-08:00

On a whim, I recently visited a store which sold all types of weird trinkets and books, tarot cards, crystals, pendulums, candles, incense, and fountains -- the stuff in stories often associated with witch-craft and black magic. While there, I poked around through jars of rocks and gems and picked up a polished stone which caught my eye -- strong color patterns with darks and lights, but it was the subtleties in between which intrigued me. So I bought it to use as a reference for a painting, and I found out during the course of painting that it is a birthstone of January -- my month!

Leopard Jasper Abstract (triptych), 28" x 36", oil on panel.

The Worlds of Law and Art

2011-01-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Balance of Law and Art, 24" x 39", oil on canvas, 2010-2011.

Law and art can be categorized into two separate worlds, easily distinguishing one from the other, like the sun from the moon. Law is based on reason and art may be irrational; law is written and art is visual. On the other hand, the similarities between law and art are also abundant -- each begins with basic principles and relies on an analysis of society. This painting illustrates the constant rotation (or balance) of the two worlds, their similarities, differences, and interdependence.

Windows of Cognition

2010-12-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

Windows of Cognition, 30" x 60", oil on canvas, 2010.

Summary Judgment

2010-12-14T19:54:00.001-08:00

In a court of law, it is the job of the jury to decide issues of fact; for example, when one person says the light was red, and the other says the light was green, the jury may conclude the light was green based on the credibility of the witnesses' testimony. When there are no disputed material facts for a jury to decide, however, prior to trial a party may make a written request to the judge to rule in that party's favor. This is called a motion for summary judgment and is made on the grounds that, by applying the law to the specific undisputed facts of the case, there is no way the moving party can lose.

Succeeding on a motion for summary judgment is rare, and denial of the motion can hinge on conflicting evidence of the smallest detail or subtlety. But when summary judgment is granted, it ends a case before it even gets to trial, and thus can be considered the ultimate victory in the realm of civil litigation.

This painting is not a literal depiction or portrayal of the motion in the abstract, but it is an expression of the forcefulness and power behind an intangible human creation, something potentially terminating while at the same time delicately balancing layers: the obvious, the subtle, and what can be inferred.

The painting is a further exploration of human imperfections in contemporary society, including the power of subtlety. In a world of global communication and digitization, the language of painting, as I see it, will become even more powerful as our custom of viewing flawless images on digital screens continues to mask what makes us human – our imperfections. The human element, emotions, and intimacy of a painting will never be replaced. Just as the human element will always be an integral part of the law.

Judgment At Sunset (Redondo Beach), 30" x 30", oil on canvas, 2010.

New England Fall Scene

2010-12-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

This is the completed commissioned work to the below sketch. What you cannot see in this image, however, is the texture of the painting, especially in the leaves of the trees. Texture, layers, and brushstrokes are invaluable aspects which bring a painting to life, setting a painting apart from photographs or digital images, reminding us of the natural and imperfect human element.

Although this is a depiction of a New England fall scene, the creation of this piece conjured up memories of the three years I lived in Syracuse, New York, where I attended Syracuse University for my Master's degree and Juris Doctorate. While I was there, I frequented the numerous lakes during spring and fall. The northeastern United States is a beautiful place...

"Nothing so fair, so pure, and at the same time so large, as a lake, perchance, lies on the surface of the earth. Sky water. It needs no fence. Nations come and go without defiling it. It is a mirror which no stone can crack, whose quicksilver will never wear off, whose gilding Nature continually repairs; no storms, no dust, can dim its surface ever fresh; -- a mirror in which all impurity presented to it sinks, swept and dusted by the sun's hazy brush, -- this the light dust-cloth, -- which retains no breath that is breathed on it, but sends its own to float as clouds high above its surface, and be reflected in its bosom still."
- Henry David Thoreau

New England Fall, 18" x 24", oil on canvas.

The Process For Commissions

2010-11-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

People have been asking me how commissions work: It involves a fair amount of pre-production. If the person has an idea for a subject, I will use that subject and create sketches of possible compositions for a painting, such as the above fall scene. The composition is influenced by what mood and emotions the painting should convey, as well as the anticipated size and dimensions. Other considerations include where the painting will be displayed, what else is in the room, and the surrounding color scheme.
Once the sketches are complete and a composition is conceived, I construct and prime the canvas to begin painting. The sketches, of course, are merely a skeleton (or blueprint) of the final painting, since my paintings sometimes incorporate a decent amount of abstraction.
Thus, a person should not feel pressure to come up with the "perfect" subject for a painting. Ultimately, the subject matter is not what makes a painting -- how the color is applied, the brushstrokes, layers, and texture is where my work is uniquely a "Lucas Aardvark" painting.

A Call to Edgar

2010-11-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Absent, 29" x 21", oil on canvas, 2010.
A call to Absinthe by Edgar Degas, this painting takes a similar perspective, reporting on the consumptive properties of a contemporary addiction.

KPFK 90.7

2010-10-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today, October 25, 2010, I was featured on a radio program on 90.7 KPFK Los Angeles, entitled "Hear in the City," a look at why we do what we do.

If you missed it live, you can still listen to it at: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/
(My interview is near the middle section.)

Please also check out Hear in the City website at:
http://www.hearinthecity.org/

The Falconer

2010-10-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Falconer, 27" x 40", oil on canvas, completed October, 2010.
Crumbling walls surround an eroding town. A blind man walking along the sidewalk touches a shadow which cuts across the street through a healthy grove of trees. Sitting on a limb, a falcon is perhaps leading him to his destination. Although the man appears vulnerable from his impaired eyesight, the same cannot be said about his vision.

A Recent Commission

2010-09-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

Man at Dangberg Ranch, 20" x 28", oil on canvas.
Dangberg Ranch, a historic site and now a State Park, is located on the outskirts of Carson City, Nevada.

This painting, although more representational than some of my more recent pieces, continues with my exploration of the human condition in contemporary society. While the term "contemporary society" suggests the idea of populated cities at the forefront of technology and current political events, such a connotation should be considered improper. We live in a global society, impacting the global environment, climate, and human condition everywhere.

Here, snow is on the mountain and the grass is green. The sky is blue. But tomorrow it could be rainy and cold, or blazing hot, scorching the grass to a dry yellow. Not only is the climate significant, but the current economic crisis has a substantial impact on the future of the State Park. Such instabilities are metaphorically represented in the subtle contrasting colors, hints of dry grass, a broken fence, a lone cow, and snow-topped mountains on a sunny day. Carson City can be a land of highs and lows, and the man ponders as he walks the land...

Man On A Rowboat

2010-09-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

The latest painting: Man On A Rowboat, 30" x 40", oil on canvas.
The painting features a man on a rowboat at dawn or at dusk, as tiger sharks linger in the surrounding waters. It is unclear whether he knows about the sharks, whether he is at peace with them or hunted by them. He is in a moment, whether in victory or loss.

Engulfed

2010-08-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

A product of the year's oil spill disaster: Engulfed, 17" x 23", oil on canvas, 2010.
The spill is a message that reliance on domestic oil is not a long-term option. As the war shows that reliance on foreign oil is also not a long-term option, it is time to come together as a global community and demand investments in wind and solar power.

The Sidewalk

2010-08-24T01:09:00.000-07:00

The Sidewalk, 28" x 40", oil on canvas, 2010. This painting represents my further metaphorical exploration of the human condition in the natural world. Sometimes a person must go against the flow of things...

New Painting

2010-08-02T21:52:00.001-07:00

Well it's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy painting and building frames. This is an image of one of my newest paintings: The Lynching, 48" x 33", oil on canvas.

I thought about calling it the Execution of Prop 8, as it is a reference to one of the front-running legal and social issues of today. That title is also a play off the titles of Goya's The Execution of the Defenders of Madrid and Manet's The Execution of the Emperor Maximilian. But I ultimately decided that The Lynching is a broader, more ambiguous title which opens the painting up to interpretation.

Long Beach Wetland

2010-05-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

This is the latest commissioned painting. Long Beach Wetland, 30" x 96", oil on canvas. A conference room piece, commissioned by the Law Firm of Clinton & Clinton.

Madonna Update

2010-04-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

Just days after the Madonna appeared, the rains came and a halo appeared -- the reflection of an outdoor light from the house, which happens to be above the Madonna's head.

Madonna of the Driveway

2010-04-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Madonna evolved in a permanent water spot on my driveway!

Curse of the Bipolar Bear

2010-03-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

Bear is a bipolar polar bear, and Taffy is his sidekick, a fox. The ice is melting and they are being hunted by two trophy-seekers, but Bear can't help but fall in love with the polar bear of his dreams. When their peril appears imminent, help arrives in the forms of a mountain man and belligerent Santa Claus.

Lucas Aardvark's Curse of the Bipolar Bear is a humorous comic book for readers 12 and older, in a drawing style similar to Calvin and Hobbes. Because polar bears are symbolic of today’s global warming, this book is both contemporary and timeless.

Untitled, 24" x 24", oil on canvas

2010-01-18T22:23:00.001-08:00

This is the newest Lucas Aardvark oil painting of the 2010 year. It actually carried over from 2009. The combination of abstract, surreal, and realistic elements is intended to convey emotion and expression, not a literal representation of a certain subject matter.