So last week I went up to San Francisco for undisclosed personal and professional reasons. Everyone knows how I feel about San Francisco. I love it. Its glorious hills, bohemian culture, phenomenal food, amazing museums and galleries. Its a world class city in the likes of Paris and Amsterdam, America's bold, liberal, creative beacon of hope. Well, that's how I used to feel. I stayed in the Mission and its dirtier than I remembered. I mean super dirty, but that's cool. I like dirt. I ate at Pancho Villa and Taqueria Cancun. The food was cheap. I drank at Cassanovas. Two beers, 3 bucks. Ok sounds good, right? Well, then my car got keyed on Shotwell St.. I mean really fucken keyed. Then, two nights later my car was broken into, shattered windows and all on 14th St. Ugh. Is it because I have a mid-size SUV w/ Honda of Hollywood plates? Is San Francisco too cool to give a shit? Yes.
People had a hard time with my plight. Is it my Rayban Wayfarers, my wifes designer shoes, our L.A.-centric attitude? Sorry I like cable TV. Screw me if I am a heterosexual. Sorry we registered at Bloomingdales. And no, our cake was not vegan.
What has happened to me, I finally love L.A. and San Francisco hates me.
I was not prepared for this, nor do I have pictures to prove it. ( camera was stolen in the break in)

Ok, so there is this Donut Jamboree Art Happening Thursday at the studio of Laddie John Dill in Venice that is in conjunction with the Venice Art Walk. I was in the Venice Art Walk auction a couple of years ago and it was awesome and I've been trying to get back into it with little success. On the fliers this year, they say, "Send us a Donut"! Crap I paint and draw donuts all the time, that's funny. So I sent them a drawing I just completed and they put it on their email blast. Hmmmmm. Have not heard from them otherwise but I guess I'm excited that they liked mine enough to include my work. It says it will be projected during the party. The party's $50, think they'll let me in for free?

I have been working on a lot of abstract studies, both on wood and canvas, small to medium size, trying constantly to keep the energy going in them. I am finding the more time I spend with them, the more I want to go back and create additional line work. Its challenging but rewarding to weigh the push and pull in the work.

Last Thursday night at the L.A. Downtown Art Walk proved to be another exciting night for the raucous art scene Downtown. The monthly event is actually transforming parts of Downtown into a beacon of real energy. Nevermind the credibility of certain 'art galleries' Downtown, this Art Walk is just seriously fun! Every bar and restaurant is packed, street vendors are mobbed, people of all kinds are into it. My favorite spot for the past couple of months has been this little nook of a gallery space next to the old Regency Theater on Main between 3 & 4th. The artist pictured above gets super into it with oil bars, depicting lucious layers of skin overlapping into beautiful compositions. His work is part Jenny Saville, part Francis Bacon and all totally real and inspiring. The models are also excellent, doing long form poses in intimate and unique configurations. Perfect for both the art muse and voyeur, his work trandscends the 'gimic' you think you've encountered. Dont know his name, or the gallery, all I know is that its worth checking out. Second Thursday of Every Month...6-9 PM
(cell phone pics, not great, I know)

my dear friend Kate Micucci and I hung out yesterday, took these pictures and talked about stars and dreams.

my new promo card