Friday, April 18, 2014

Long as there are stars above you


Legendary album!  We actually own Pet Sounds in several formats and now our kids love the Beach Boys as well.  It pretty much speaks to me on a molecular level.
This record was affectionately painted for some newlyweds in New York who are lovely and brilliant people who want to make the world a better place.  I'm glad they found each other.
And if that doesn't give you hope for the next generation of youngins, I don't know what will.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

When Smokey Sings




I had a lot of fun making this record for the lovely Amy in Los Angeles.  It was inspired by the colors of the old  psychedelic 60's Peter Max art (love that guy), with a theme of peace, love, and flowers.  The underpainting has shimmery violet iridescence added to it, which the camera sadly doesn't pick up.
But trust me, when you tilt it into some light, it glows like a happy, glowey, tripped out butterfly.



Here's a close up.  One more super cool thing about this record: It used to be Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.  Amy wanted to give it to a friend who was born in the late 60's.  
I found this album and it was made in 1968.  PERFECT.
Year of the monkey, baybee.

You, You........You



This record has fluorescent hot pink outlines.  Wooooo!  It used to be a Slim Whitman collection.
Songs on this side of the album include, "I'm Walking Behind You," and "You You You".
This record now belongs to the Ark Lodge Cinema.
Built in 1919, it was a former Freemason lodge and is now the super niftiest movie house in Seattle.  One of my favorite places in the city.

You are so beautiful




This record has lots of bright metallic silver to enhance the vivid greens.
It used to be a Billy Preston album - and it's hard to get cooler than that.
It has gone to live in New Hampshire with a very cool person.

We've been a while




This record is totally far out!  It is a 10-inch, red vinyl album.  Very rare and so beautiful!  It was painted with browns, reds, and metallic gold for a guy who is possibly the coolest dude in Seattle (thanks, DC!).  The record was originally sent to me unexpectedly from a friend in Columbus, Texas.

Show 'em how we do it now.





This record was formerly Peaches and Herb.  It is going to live in Colorado.
It wants you to shake your groove thing.



Paganini Rhapsody




This record is unique, because I didn't choose it.  It was sent to me with the request to paint it.
It was Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini.  It has lots of silver!

The night is young and full of possibilities





I don't usually paint 45s, but this one came out really perky.  Anita Ward - Ring My Bell!
It lives in Edmonds, WA, with the fabulous Elliot and Jodi.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do.





This record has come through the pod bay door, Hal.
It was formerly the soundtrack to 2001:  A Space Odyssey.  (One of the best films ever made, in my opinion.)
And - -  just like the 4-million-year-old black monolith that emits a single, very powerful radio emission, the origin of this record is a total mystery.

It now lives in Los Angeles.

Whispering Hope




 The Mom & Dads - - Whispering Hope.  My mom said that this record looked "fresh".
Well, alright alright alright..
It went on its way to some lovely folks in Texas.

The charm of spring




This record was inspired by the cool, blue Paris label and the fact that it is FINALLY spring.  Everything is blooming.  April in Parrrrrrris....

He was called Satchmo because of his...??? (I know the answer. Do you?)




"What a Wonderful World".
This record is a 45 with a small (and unusual) spindle hole and it was pressed in 1968.  It came all the way from across the pond in England!  Normally, I'd count this as a collector's item and not dare paint on it, but it had an enormous scratch going across the entire song, rendering it useless for listening to.
It is the favorite song of a very special guy, to whom this is being birthday gifted, from his lovely wife.  The yellow rosebuds were a special request in the design.
It is headed out to central Texas, pronto!

And if you know the story of how Louis Armstrong got the nickname "Satchmo," well then...2 extra coolness chips in your jar, my friend.  One of my favorite songs of all time is Skokiann.

Leavin' on the Midnight Train to Georgia





This beautiful purple-violet-green gem toned painting was formerly Gladys Knight and the Pips!  This was made for a strong and feminine gal, who is giving it to her own strong and feminine friend.  Viva la woman!  I think it came out super cool and I do love me some purple.

Big Country Hits with Burl





This record was Burl Ives' The Big Country Hits, but now it is very psychedelic.  A funny connection to Burl:  my uncle Irving was once one of Mr. Ives' private physicians.  So I felt a closeness to this record as I painted it, because Burl Ives was a great guy.  I've heard the stories.  You are my sunshine, Burl.

Slow Ride...take it easy...




 This crazy Foghat album, on the Bearsville label, is being auctioned off at the Scott Daniels' Musical Memorial to raise money for his young daughter, Emma Rose.  Jay will be performing several Joint Chiefs, Fleshmop, and Dresden 45 songs at the show!  Psyched for the performance (not so much for the outdoor Houston heat in August, but whatev...we'll be there).

Brandy...rhymes with candy...



Brandy, by The O'Jays.  Here is a cute little, candy-colored 45 record.
Sold to a wonderful person in Seattle.

It's been a hard days night, y'all.




The Beatles' Reel Music, full of songs from their movies.  Super purple and vibrant up close.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And now it lives in Austin!

Copper



 A very neutral and tonal-colored Henry Mancini record for a person in Texas.  Lots of copper and silver accents!

Алло





I love this Russian album.  I really do.

Purple purple purple





My all-time favorite number: 3.  I have no idea what the songs were on this album, or even what kind of music it was.  But I'll tell you what - this very purple (*much more deep and vibrant purple in person) record contains lots of good juju and went to a judge who said it was one of the coolest things he ever got.  The person who purchased it said that 3 was also her favorite number.
That there is some good taste, my friends.
This record was brought to you today by the number THREE and the color PURPLE.

Silver


This metallic silver beauty hangs in my living room.

My friend Jamie

The mandala style record above was done in brown, red, and gold.
I made it for my dear friend Jamie in Texas.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

These Boots...


My love for Nancy Sinatra inspired this wacky and lively heart design.  Here's a little secret:
One night, a few years back, I drank a handful of Gray Goose screwdrivers and watched about 3 hours of just Nancy Sinatra videos on YouTube.  She is a special lady.

This record recently got auctioned off by a friend in the Art Car community of Houston, in honor of my sister-in-law.  In case you didn't know it, Houston is THE art car capital of the world, and my extraordinary artist sister-in-law, Eve, is the Creator and Queen of the Sock Monkey Mobile.


Back in 2011...I got some glitter paint.

This record is secretly one of my favorites.  The base is yellow and green with some intense green glitter.  Topped off with some funky black.  I was watching a lot of children's television programming when I painted this one.

Roger and the Frog


The botanical-inspired special request above has a hidden frog in it.
It currently lives in Massachusetts.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Roulette at Tin Umbrella

This funky record now resides at the Tin Umbrella Coffee House,  one of the best coffee houses south of I-90.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to display my art there in March, and now this happy, floral paisley number is part of the permanent art collection there.  Good coffee and good art go together timelessly.