Please help welcome Kirsten Yamaguchi to the Sketch Theatre site by checking out her debut video. Kirsten is a young animator who has already found success in working as a character animation on Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel for Rhythm and Hues Studios, ’tis the season to check that out movie and see some of her great work!

Kirsten Yamaguchi 2009

🙂

L.

I’m very happy that Chris Ryniak has warmed up the Sketch Theatre family with his presence! Hoping to get him in for a few more sketches soon, for now check out his debut sketch video with music from The Knife!

Chris Ryniak 2009

L.

Book Signing at Hyaena Gallery tomorrow afternoon in Burbank, CA.
where you can meet two amazing and cool Sketch Theatre contributing artists Jim Smith and Jim Wirt!

See you there!

😉

Here are three great art openings to check out in LA this weekend. If you are very clever you can try to go to all in one night! That would not be regrettable if possible 🙂 Read More

The early Fall brought a spectacular event called Baby Tattooville. It’s organized annually by the publisher of Baby Tattoo books, Bob Self. One weekend and a countless assortment of top talent from the local art scene. This year brought a congregation of James Gurney, Michael Hussar, Audrey Kawasaki, Travis Louie, Molly Crabapple, Elizabeth McGrath, Miss Mindy, Johnny “KMNDZ” Rodriguez, KRK Ryden, Tara McPherson, Gris Grimly, Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, Yoskay Yamamoto , Nate Frizzell, Luke Chueh, Jeff Soto, Lithium Picnic, and many more.

A number of these artists participated in the Art Jam (a 4 x 5 foot canvas, brushes, acrylics, and 24 hours of to collaboratively cover it in their signature styles) this year for the first time this process was captured by the cameras of Sketch Theatre, and you can see the results below!

Click the painting to watch the Art Jam 2009 video!

Still Gallery

[nggallery id=41]

Enjoy!

L.

To celebrate an event happening tonight at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. I have worked up a great little video from Sketch Theatre darling and Devo fan Kali Fontecchio!

DEVO, have reunited to play some very special shows this fall, last night they performed their 1978 debut record Question: Are We Not Men, Answer: We are Devo! at the Henry Fonda Theatre in it’s entirety. Tonight they will perform Freedom of Choice, of course these shows are sold out, but if you are saavy, hanging around LA and have a few bucks I’m sure you could have a wonderful time there, and spot Kali to boot!

For those who want to feel the nostalgia but will not attend, I present Kali Fontecchio 04 … appropriately paired with the first track off of Freedom of Choice …. Girl U Want!!

Enjoy!

L.

Please welcome Terryl Whitlatch as our new featured Sketch Theatre artist! Read More

If you are in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend stopping by Gallery 1988 tonight to check out the latest body of work from Sketch Theatre contributing artist extraordinaire Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins!  The opening reception is tonight, where you can meet the man behind the magic. Greg’s paintings are captivating and this show will not disappoint!   

Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins “The Pearl Thief”
Location : Gallery 1988: Los Angeles, 7020 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 937-7088 or gallery1988@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Opening Reception: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 7:00-10:00PM
Exhibition runs from November 3rd to November 25th, 2009
www.gallery1988.com

If you love Crumb … this is not to be missed!

The Hammer Museum presents seminal comic artist R. Crumb’s adaptation of the first book of the Old Testament, the Book of Genesis. Crumb has spent the last five years on this incredibly ambitious endeavor. The exhibition features 207 individual, black and white drawings incorporating every word from all fifty chapters, as well as a cover, title page, introduction and back cover. Each drawing contains six to eight comic panels illustrating the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah, and more. Using his signature bawdy style, Crumb’s version of the Book of Genesis puts an entirely new twist on the Bible.

For nearly fifty years R. Crumb has contributed a plethora of zany, outrageous, and riotous figures to the world of comics. His impact on the underground comic world is immeasurable and his drawings have been highly influential to countless artists working in the contemporary art field and commercially. Drawing from everyday events and characters, he tells stories of pathetic men (often modeled after himself), randy old men chasing exceptionally voluptuous women, and other odd characters including gurus, seers and talking animals. His stories illustrate the most basic human qualities: fragility, hubris, weakness, cruelty, paranoia, neuroses, fear, and shallowness. He is unabashed in his depictions of the lowest depths of misery and the dark sides of humanity, yet always maintains a sense of humor. Often criticized for being overtly sexual, violent, racist and misanthropic, he is steadfast in his convictions to share his perspective. Like a modern day Daumier, he keenly observes the hypocrisies and idiosyncrasies of human behavior with the sharp wit and cutting eye of a staunch critic.

Born in Philadelphia in 1943, Crumb began drawing comics as a young boy, influenced by his older brother Charles. In the early 1960s he drew cards for the American Greetings Corporation and in the late 1960s he traveled to New York, Chicago, and Detroit and created many of his rambunctious and unforgettable characters including Mr. Natural, Mr. Snoid and Angelfood McSpade. In 1967, he moved to San Francisco and later that year he drew “Zap #1” and “Zap #0” and sold them on the street, which marked the beginning of his role as one of the founding fathers of the underground comic movement. In the last months of 1969, Crumb received a $10,000 advance from Ballantine Books for a “Fritz the Cat” book, but he later killed the character, dissatisfied for its portrayal on film. Crumb’s “Mr. Natural” strip ran in The Village Voice for about a year (later compiled as “Mr. Natural #3”), and in 1981, he produced and edited a new comic magazine called “Weirdo” which included the work of other artists. By the end of the 1980s, Crumb and his wife, Aline, relocated to the south of France, where they live and work today.

R. Crumb’s exhibition at the Hammer Museum is preceded by solo exhibitions at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London; David Zwirner, New York; and Paul Morris Gallery, New York. He has also been included in numerous group exhibitions and has been published widely. A selection of books and catalogues featuring Crumb’s work includes Cult Fiction (2007) published by Hayward Gallery, London; The Best American Comics, 2006 (Houghton Mifflin, Boston); An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons and True Stories, 2006 (Yale University Press, New Haven, CT); R. Crumb’s Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country, 2006 (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York); Masters of American Comics, 2005 (Hammer Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles); and Yeah, But is it Art? R. Crumb Drawing and Comics, 2004 (Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Germany). Books by the artist include The Sweeter Side of R. Crumb, 2006 (MQ Publications, London); The R. Crumb Handbook, 2005 (MQ Publications, London); R. Crumb’s Kafka, 2004 (Ibooks Graphic Novel, New York); Crumb Family Comics, 2003 (Last Gasp, San Francisco); and The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book, 1997 (Little, Brown and Company, London).

Catalogue and Programs
The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb, with a handwritten introduction by the artist, and edited by Robert Weil, is published by W.W. Norton. The hardcover catalogue is 224 pages and will be released in late October 2009.

SPECIAL EVENT
On October 29th, R. Crumb will be joined by, longtime friend and art editor for The New Yorker, Françoise Mouly, for a candid discussion about his life and this new project at UCLA.

for more info on all these events click here

Three Apples’ is a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15. The three week celebration will kick-off with a VIP event, followed by a residence at Royal/T cafe / shop / art space in Culver City, CA. ‘Three Apples’ is open to the public and free of charge and will feature an art exhibition, unique product and design displays, a one-of-a-kind shop, and special events for fans of all ages – all celebrating Hello Kitty!

The main event is  the ‘Three Apples’ Art Show which ?featues works created by Hello Kitty fans including Gary Baseman, Ron English, Amanda Visell, Buff Monster, Camilla d’Errico, Tara McPherson, Kathie Olivas, Luke Chueh, Jeremyville, Travis Louie, Yoskay Yamamoto, Deph, Melissa Haslam, Hush, Nate Frizzell, Colin Christian, and Yosuke Ueno These are just a few of the 60+ artists that have interpreted their vision of Hello Kitty in one-of-a kind pieces on display. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the art will donated to L.A. Works – a nonprofit, volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

‘Three Apples’ will also feature a Hello Kitty ‘apartment’ as well as a product retrospective featuring several rare items dating back to 1974, including several Japan only releases on view for all to enjoy. There will even be a Hello Kitty robot on hand!

Opens Fri, Oct. 23rd?Royal/T? 8910 Washington Blvd. in Culver City
www.sanrio.com/threeapples  Show runs through Nov. 15th…

Colin Christian 2009

Dr. Sketchy’s Tribute to Tara McPherson – Saturday, October 24, 4-7pm
reserve your place for this session here

a note from Molly Crabapple:
you’ve seen our legendary Dr. Sketchy’s tributes to Ron English and David Stoupakis. Well, we’re going to top them all with an Artstar Sketchy’s featuring the Princess of Rock Posters, Tara McPherson!

ST contributing artist Nate Frizzell has a solo opening this weekend, if you are in the Los Angeles area,
this show is not to be missed!

“Lost in the Thicket”
A Solo Exhibition by Nate Frizzell October 17th – November 7th, 2009
Opening reception: Saturday, October 17th, 7pm-10pm
http://www.lebasseprojects.com/

Los Angeles, CA –  LeBasse Projects warmly welcomes gallery represented artist Nate Frizzell for his new solo exhibition, Lost in the Thicket. In this much anticipated show, Frizzell introduces new themes of self discovery within his work. While Frizzell has always striven to create work that speaks about the human condition, Lost in theThicket finds the artist?s scope narrowed to the concept of discovering one?s own identity and the obscured paths that follow. As a result, each painting becomes a metaphor for choosing different paths in life, while finding oneself.

check out this brilliant teaser/interview with Nate Frizzell in preparation for this solo exhibit

Nate Frizzell “Lost in The Thicket” Teaser from Modus Films on Vimeo.

if you haven’t checked out any of Nate’s Sketch Theatre installments, you can see them here!

🙂

L.

Illustrator and Fine Artist Steven Daily came into the studio recently and answered a few questions about his surprising career path and it’s colorful roots. Check out the interview and some samples of
Steven’s beautiful work here

Steven Daily 2009

Disney Under Ground recently released this print of Steven’s painting Porcelain and it’s currently available through Acmearchives here. Get one!

-ST

It’s always so great to introduce an up and coming artist! Apricot Mantle has arrived on ST Read More

Chet Zar’s “Lilith” @ Copro this Sat Night! Read More