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Video from the Gallery Show
My friend, filmmaker Gary Irwin (of GI Creative) shot and cut this short video of my painting process. Working with Gary a few years ago helped me realize a dream of getting into the IMDB.
I am completely floored by Gary’s talent and so grateful to have this video that captures this awesome time in my life.
Some of the paintings that were shown in-progress in the video:
Amanda Palmer Painting up for Auction. Proceeds to go to RAINN.org
I’ve donated a painting of Amanda Palmer (who’s also promoting this sale) to help raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. http://bit.ly/afpRAINN All proceeds from the sale of this painting go directly to RAINN. Stop by AMBERELLA sugary & sweet GALLERY & BOUTIQUE to see the painting. If you want to help, please share, tweet, or bid.
Here’s an photo of the painting. It’s based on a photo by Brian Viglione
If you’re coming here from the auction page and you want to know more about how the auction came to be, here’s the short version.
I wanted to start donating portraits of celebrities to charities regularly to be a proper role model for my new son.
I was inspired by a painting of Tori Amos done by one of my favorite artists, David Mack that was done for a RAINN calendar.
I contacted Amanda Palmer’s people through her website and then emailed my contact at RAINN and because both of those groups are amazing, we set it up very quickly.
As of this writing, we’ve raised some awareness of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month and we’ve raised about $930 promised dollars.
If you’re an artist, go paint something and donate it to your favorite charity.
A friend of mine has agreed to be the next portrait and we’re in the process of selecting the charity. If you’re a celebrity, (or can rustle up a lot of interest) and want to participate, let me know. My plan is to do this about twice a year.
If you just want to help, please bid, tweet, or share this info.
Thank so much!
Steve
Prints!
It’s been years and there were some times that I doubted that I’d ever be able to reproduce my work, but I can now offer prints.
For now, you’ll have to go to the Amberella Gallery between April 10th and May 6th to purchase prints. I may offer them online after that.
Here are your choices:
The show is really real and I’ll have prints for sale!
Quick update: you can see information about the show on the gallery website: Amberella Gallery and Boutique
I’ve been waiting to see that since last August when we set up the show date. Well, really since late 2003 when I decided I wanted to get my act together and have a gallery show. Why did it take so long? I had to work on my style and get my technique down. Technically, it happened quickly. I got the show in August shortly after I saw a show at Amberella and the gallery manager’s contact info and told her how much I thought her gallery and my work were match. She agreed and a show was born.
But there was a lot of work leading up to the time where I felt ready to ask someone to show. A lot of that is documented here. But if you’re not interested in hitting the “Previous entries” button for six years worth of erratic blogging, I’ll summarize it soon.
Anyway, I’m on a tangent.
Big news is that after years of trying to reproduce my work: I will have prints for sale!
I’ll tell that story soon, too. For now, huge thanks to my photographer friend Jeff Smith and to Fireball Printing for making the prints. I can’t recommend those guys enough.
More soon, including pictures of the prints and details on how to buy them.
Hello new Twitter followers
I’ve got my first solo gallery show in April at the Amberella Gallery. My wife and I just had a kid. We just took over management of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Philly Branch. I have a full time job. Watch me make it work.
You can see my paintings. I’ll have five new ones posted in about two weeks.
00s Decade in Review: Mystery Decade
| There’s a saying: “Everyone likes a good mystery.” Well, does everyone like a decade of mystery? | |
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| Like many others, I’m reviewing the decade that’s about to end. I’m doing it in the hopes to understand the history that I’m in the middle of, what it means, and what the future might look like. I’m also using this reflection as the source of new painting ideas. |  |
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It’s hard to define this decade. Looking back for some clues, the 80s seemed to me to be about Excess. Nuclear stockpiling, corporate greed, crack cocaine (because cocaine wasn’t addictive enough), huge shoulder pads, baggy pants. Danny Pintauro. All excessive. |
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| The 90s were a fantastic decade for me. I experienced the freedom of graduating high school and college. I got married. We lived in Hawai’i for a year. I learned how to paint and make Websites. For you guys, the 90s was about Alternatives. Alternative music. Alternative energy. Alternative lifestyles. Alternatives to TV and radio (the internet). It was about the end of a century of amazing progress. It was about possibilities and freedom. Happy, exciting times. |  |
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| And the 00s? As I began to try and understand this decade, I found myself with more questions than answers. There are some definite themes: terrorism, fame, superheroes, social media. But there were many questions. This decade is all about unanswered questions. It is the Mystery decade. | |
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| Consider these questions that came up during the decade and remain unanswered as we leave it. These are in semi-chronological order. | |
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| Mysteries. Any questions? See you next year! Steve |
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Rob Zombie and my other paintings
I met Rob Zombie last night before a show he played at the Electric Factory in Philly. He’s cool and the show was amazing. You can read about it and see me thank him for being a source of inspiration at my other Website: MakeitBleed.com That’s where I have all the Halloween paintings I do annually. In addition to the work I have here, I do those right before Halloween. The other eleven months, I paint the Fluid Beauty stuff.
CNN: Social Networking Leads to Resurgence of Portraits?
Old-school portraits see resurgence online
I did a few of these. Back in the day for LiveJournal profile pics.
Let me know if you’re interested in an avatar portrait. Send me a picture and I can have it to you within a week. $25. The image I send you will be 300 x 300 pixels at 72 dpi. If you’re interested in higher quality work, please let me know. You can contact me at steve @ fluidbeauty.com Remove the spaces to make it work. Or at Twitter, I’m @cleff.
I’m a big fan of bringing portraiture to the masses and I’m working on a project (targeting mid 2010 for the kickoff) of portraits of people I know. If you want in, let me know that, too. Only requirements are that we’ve met in person or spoken on the phone and you’ve got a good story to tell.
Highlights from the CNN story:
- The portrait, a centuries-old art form, is finding new life with the masses online
- Some people pay artists to paint their Facebook profile pictures and Twitter icons
- Free Web sites generate cartoon pictures of people for use in social media
- Researcher says portraits are necessary stand-ins for people online
kencredible at the Amberella Gallery until 9/15/09
I’m hoping to go see this show this weekend. I’ve been a fan of the artist for a while and from what I’ve seen, I really like the atmosphere of the gallery. Would love to show there.
Epic Birthday: Kencredible Exhibition @ Amberella
You can see pictures (90!) of the show from Phrequency. Try and find Tanya in there…
Here’s the write up of the show:
Amberella Sugary & Sweet Gallery and Boutique is pleased to present to you the delicious work of photographer Ken Penn… otherwise known as KENCREDIBLE! The Solo Exhibition, “EPIC BIRTHDAYâ€, opens August 15th, 2009 from 8-11pm to celebrate, most appropriately, the photographers actual birthday and show opening! With fashion photography being a strong focus of his work, Penn has worked with a long list of independent designers and models around the United States, Canada and Europe, and is currently in the process of establishing a name for himself within the high fashion industry. He has developed an avant-garde flair in his work. Whether it is ironic conceptual contrasts to haunting dramatic light, Ken hopes to invoke thought or emotion with every image. The solo exhibition, “Epic Birthdayâ€, showcases a collection of Penns photographs that are saturated with color and emotion. The smorgasbord of truly “EPIC†fashion driven photographs are sure to delight.
Established in May 2009, Amberella Sugary & Sweet Gallery and Boutique was born out of Amber Lynn’s desire to sprinkle fairy dust, cotton candy and glittering jewels through dramatic and ultra feminine monthly art shows. The gallery serves to expose local, upcoming artists as well as established and emerging artists from across the country. Committed to showing work that challenges and illuminates the notions of womanhood vs. girlhood and modern fairytales, the gallery serves as a space for exploration and delight. The owner can often be found singing songs from Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ as she hand rolls ghostly cotton candy that resembles the delicate pink wigs of old ladies. C.E.O. Miss Pinky Polka Dots, Amber’s cute as a button Boston Terrier is always underfoot with a silky bow tied around her neck. Always available are the newest jewelry lines by L.A. designer Tarina Tarantino and handmade jewelry by Tai Starr.
KEN PENN
Contact info: Kencredible.com
kencrediblebooking @ gmail.com
215.900.1443
Ken Penn’s photographic work began while attending high school in Richmond, VA — a city on the James River with a rich art scene and history. It was the late 80’s and Penn’s original subjects were the punk rock bands emerging in the Washington, D.C., Virginia Beach and Richmond area. After high school, Penn attended the Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Art Foundation, which has repeatedly been ranked the #1 public university school of arts and design in the country by U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and continued to cultivate his interest in photography during his time at VCU.
Penn’s experience ranges from well known non-profit organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (where he was adorned the nickname “Kencredible”) to multimillion dollar household brands such as Circuit City Stores, Inc. Always eager to try something new, Penn has never been afraid to take on any task, and in 2007 he photographed the Senior PGA Golf Tournament held on Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. His subjects range from fashion to fine art to entertainment, with a strong emphasis on fashion.
With fashion photography being a strong focus of his work, Penn has worked with a long list of independent designers and models around the United States, Canada and Europe, and is currently in the process of establishing a name for himself within the high fashion industry.
Ken is considered an artist by those who know him. He has developed an avant-garde flair in his work. Whether it is ironic conceptual contrasts to haunting dramatic light, Ken hopes to invoke thought or emotion with every image.
Specializing in bringing you the “epic” shot you have been waiting for, Ken Penn is pushing boundaries.
Penn was born in Lynchburg, VA. in 1972 and currently resides in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, PA. He works out of his North East Philadelphia Studio, Studio 5 South, located at 3237 Amber Street.
Manson
Tonight I’m going to see Marilyn Manson and Slayer the Tweeter/E Center/ Susque-whatever Center in Camden.
I’ve seen Manson at the Electric Factory a few times, once in the audience at the TLA at an A Perfect Circle Show, and two years ago at the Tweeter/E Center/ Susque-whatever Center in Camden.
This time it’s a festival, which I hate, but at least I don’t expect to see these squares in the crowd like I did last time. (I know that I will be the square soon enough).
And here’s an old Manson from the day of the show:
