This weekend, Nov 22 and 23 I’ll be outside at ArtWorks Eau Gallie. This show has a cool angle in that we gotta make art during the show. You get to see glass being blown, clay being thrown, and paint being, uh, painted. I’ll be collaging and who knows what else. Something tasteful I’m sure.

In addition to the big ’spensive stuff I now have a signed/numbered line of limited edition giclees, made just for limited edition kind of people like you. Or this guy. Come visit.

Hours: I believe it is 9-5 both Saturday and Sunday. Directions: Click here for the official directions link. 

321 fun from last last thursday: I brought out the old ‘painting with light’ trickery: Click and you’ll go to the full slideshow at the 321 site.

See I’m getting much quicker at posting stuff to the interwebs. Here’s a batch from last Thursday’s SUBLIME OF THE TIMES. My curatorial debut. On a 3 week turnaround. 2 weeks of which was paintin’ floors. Large thanks to the artists - C. Chandler, R. Speer, J. Sluder, D. Burton, L. Behrendt, J. Carter, J. White, E. Layton, Cynic n’ friends, C. Decotis, and to C. Jacobus for the first half of the idea, and T POW for the second half of the idea.

Even in quick mode, we pulled off some neato stuff:

Jeff n the kids hit the big wall:

Tape guys, thank you risd circa ‘90:

Speer being all haunting:

I brought TAG TEAM DOODLING for the masses, on a mirror:

Here I am talking collage. I’m the one with a muskrat attached to my chin:

Curatorial highlight I cooked up with Cliff: a feast of gray/metallics with color pops provided by Ms. White.

Semi-secret show this Thurs, 11/13, 6-10pm at the Brevard Art Museum school. Superhero Tom “T-POW” Powers asked me to guest curate. It started as a nearly private show requested by a circle of YPs, and is growing fast from there. Skewers food, drink, Mr. Decotis spinning, live music to follow. Photo ops. Fresh synapses. One night only. Some ladders climb down.

Address: 1520 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, FL

The flyer features drawing/laser cutting by Cliffffton Chandler.

I should post about the recent Maitland show. I loved the rolling hills and taller trees you see mid-state. Loved the new artists I met (Melbourne, you’ll meet some I’m inviting to the next 321 happening). And more personally I just loved the reaction from introducing my work to a new crowd. One woman clutched her heart and gasped out loud at a painting! Several people came back more than once with friends or parents. One couple stayed for 90 minutes, looking, holding hands, giggling and talking quietly until they picked out one they ‘absolutely had to have.’

As I started this newer body of paintings, drawings and collage focused on the female form, I figured I’d mostly appeal to men. It has been a thrill and relief, honestly, to see women and especially couples appreciate the work. I’ve witnessed some become tangibly lost in a moment with the picture, which makes me very, very happy. Those moments happen to me while painting, but I never thought it could translate or transmit to the viewer…

Several people asked me if the economy has impacted sales. I can only say that, 1 year plus into my dream, I have no point of reference to tell me it is a bad year. All blog sillyness and shtick aside, I’m eternally grateful for my collectors, the originals and the brand new. Seeing the faces of those who appreciate my art (and some who don’t!) is extremely energizing- more than you know. Thank you.

Today I’ve stopped mid-stride several times to write down a great painting title. And I had a new idea using water. And had a rekindling of an old idea making sound sculptures. Not coincidentally the temperature turned lovely in f-l-a, cool enough to drop the car off for fixer uppers and walk home. Such walks bring such ideas.

What else lately?

- Some commissioned designs for the Beatles. (My brother says their songs ‘fell out of the sky already done.’)

- Having a bit of e-lectronic intranets networking fun on myspace and facebook. See if you can find me.

- Custom framing some sales from the Maitland Rotary show. Floater frames look luscious on collage…

- Cooking up new shows. A couple private showings (ooooh!) and then a hearty season of public spectacle. First up is Artworks Eau Gallie, Nov. 22/23. I’ll be working in plein air, if my French holds up. A week later check me out in Cocoa Beach at the Space Coast Art Festival, Nov. 29/30.

- With all that I hardly have time to read gems like this.

Hair down to your ankles? How ’bout a trim at One Love Salon, 233 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901 (321) 327-5918. While yer there peek at ‘Parlor Beauties’ (below) aka ‘Mediate ‘88 Rotate’, purchased for One Love owner Will by a friend. (now that is a friend.)

Rumor has it

Robots Love Art

January

I’ve had some questions from a few young artists lately- thought I’d post my responses:

1. What advice could you offer a young illustrator/artist in terms of beginining to establish him/herself?

Give yourself time to naturally develop. Be bold and aggressive, but don’t contrive a style. Follow what feels good and let it evolve. Try what feels bad too!

As for the content of your art, here’s some great advice from illustrator marshall arisman: (whose words i like better than his pic-tures, but…) : write down the 5 things you know and care most about- could be: tennis, mountains, psychology, baking and carburetors (what a party!). Those 5 things are what your portfolio should be. It takes topics you know deeply to create art with that extra level of nuance and understanding.

Set up a discipline you can follow, with time for creating especially, plus the marketing and keeping up with the business.

2. What for you has worked best in terms of self promotion?

A relentless but intuitive combo of getting out meeting people, mailings, blogging, website, calling people. Follow some leads because they might be big, follow some leads because they might be small but you like the people you’ll meet. Sometimes a strong personal connection turns into magic later. Keep a folder of neat promos you see, refer to it later when you are making your own. Be loose. Be real, show personality. Don’t presume ‘professional’ is stuffy and cold. People buy art half because they like the picture, and half because they like the person.

Also don’t just take the ‘official’ paths to reach a company or collector. think ‘where else might i indirectly get to know people like this?’ that is where gallery shows, trade shows and more can be fun and useful. I’ll add this- for me it stems from a genuine interest in people– I find myself, even while waiting at the dentist’s office- asking strangers what they do for a living. 90% of the time their answer has some relevance to what I do, and I often make a new connection out of it. Sometimes a commission.

Get to know your local press and other art-support. Call them up, tell them about yourself, and also offer to be a resource for them. Arts writers are in need of good stories. Maybe you know some people who would be good stories- and then down the road they’ll be helpful to you.

3. What are pitfalls you must watch out for?

Only two I’d be concerned with: Be wary of groups or sites you have to pay for them to market you. There’s usually an alternative. Secondly, agree on your pricing ahead of time, get a contract and half deposit/kill fee, especially if it is a big job. Other than that I don’t fear too many pitfalls. Just like in painting, the stumbling is the start of innovation, or at least it is the process of really personally owning the solution once you find it.

4. What is your advice for continous improvement and motivation?

Keep working, and have lots of built-in methods to recharge. Groups, artist dates at the book store, outdoor life, etc. Read, learn, do. Try big swing-for-the-fences work, and also small disciplined series. Plus inconsequential doodling. See Keri Smith’s blog!

5. What adage or quote do you live by?

Hmm. Here are the faves i’ve saved:
“Not all who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people.”—Edgar Degas

“The future may be unknowable, but it’s not unthinkable.”
- Richard Koshalek, President, Art Center College of Design

“You have to make occasional sacrifices to the gods of randomness. If you don’t, they come down and bite you in the ass.”
- Cliff Chandler

“If it sounds good, it is good.” - Guitarist Edward Van Halen

and here’s a great letter from Robert Genn. Artists should sign up for his letters at painterskeys.com:

“(In lieu of hiring an ‘art coach’,) here’s a sort of “Jenny Craig Success Course of
the Arts.” Mine’s free. Here it is:

Find a sanctuary where you can comfortably work.
Dedicate at least two hours a day to your art.
Have more than enough equipment and supplies.
Set short- and long-term goals and keep track of progress.
Think of your work as exercise, not championship play.
Explore series development and exhaust personal themes.
Work alone with the benefit of books and perhaps tapes.
Replace passive consumption with creative production.
Use your own intuition and master your technology.
Feel the joy of personal, self-generated sweat.
Fall in love with your own working processes.
Be forever on the lookout for the advent of style.
Try to be your own person and claim your rights.
Don’t bother setting yourself up for rejection.
Don’t swing too wildly and damage the well-being of others.
Don’t jump into the ring until you’re feeling fit.

If you can stick with this regimen for a couple of months, I
can pretty well guarantee your progress. If not, then at least
the exercise will let you know the job’s not for you. We all
have the potential to be slim, barrel-chested, rich, satisfied
or evolved.

PS: “The man who goes alone can start today.” (Henry David
Thoreau)

Esoterica: “I decided to learn everything I could about beans,”
said Thoreau when he moved to Walden Pond. Artists looking for
inspiration can’t go far wrong with Thoreau. Self-reliance,
there’s your personal coach. I’ve noticed most of the real
success stories happen without benefit of Albertos. We all need
to find the character within ourselves to overcome our
weaknesses and build our muscles.”

Collage portraits can save the world! Big. Colorful. Much ripping, much gluing. Here are 3 fresh examples. Until I get the archives at upper right updated, please contact me to inquire about availability. Thanks! Derek (at) DerekGores.com or call my new phone #: (321)-258-2119.

Lots of inquiries lately about custom portraits in collage. People dig that I can make one large image out of tons of tiny pictures, words, colors, and more. I’ll put together a little guide, but here’s the basic premise until the guide is up:

1) I need a photo. I can shoot it, or work with what you have. Contact me for photo tips.

2) I need raw materials for the ripped paper- the little pictures/words/ideas/things that mean something to the subject of the collage. Could be favorite places, books, vacation spots, your first car, postcards, concert tickets, shoes, you get the idea. I can help figure it out with you.

3) Off I go. The collage can be as small as 24″ x 24″, and up to a whole wall mural. I can help you with framing, too. Turn around time is a couple weeks, maybe more leading to Christmas.

With Flower, 24″ x 24″, collage on canvas

Feeling So Real, 24″ x 24″, collage on canvas

Summer by the Pool, 24 x 48, collage on canvas