Brandon Maldonado's Iconic Art

Brandon Maldonado resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an environment rich in hispanic arts and culture. His religion-inspired art, full of somber grace and ceremony, speaks for itself. 

 “The visual language of art has the ability to communicate beyond the confines of spoken language. I believe this quality is the essence of visual arts and is the medium’s greatest strength. Throughout the course of humanity art has been used to inform civilizations, functioning as a powerful propaganda tool with great success. With this in mind I pick up my paintbrushes and attempt to use art as a vehicle for inspiring change.“

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

John Brophy’s Saintly Souls

When I first saw John’s new piece - Daughter of Vulcan (above) it left me gasping. The incredible lighting, casting soft reflective hues on their subject - the elegantly wistful expressive pose and the spirit mixed within the pain - all combined in astounding beauty. He captures that “other world” in a rare way. 

“John usually works out his compositions on the computer using Maya, ZBrush, and Photoshop and uses the result as a concept for the final painting. However, he considers digital imagery less interesting than traditional painting because it has no "object quality". That's why he thinks it is so important to execute the painting by hand in oil using the traditional techniques of the 15th century Flemish painters that he most admires, Memling, David, Van der Weyden, Van Eyck, etc. The digital study is only a launching point for the final painting.”

- Via John’s website, LINK

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

Eclectix Interview With Artist & Photographer Darla Teagarden

Darla is a mixed media artist – combining the arts of photography, fashion and theater sets to produce some very artful and inspiring shots. Formerly a stylist, model and dancer, her current works are photographic – often hand drawing the backgrounds and using recycled or vintage props. Darla’s works are wonderfully dramatic, peek-a-boo-like window displays into postcard historical fantasies....

For the entire interview and a gallery of Darla's art, click here.

The Recipe of Purebred

Wednesday Kirwan, Illustrator & fine artist- Purebred 2011

Purebred is a super creative, local team of director/photographer Jason Mitchell and set designer/photo illustrator Stacey Ransom. They mix up a mean stew of imagery, culling all forms of art to create one mind-blowing narrative image. The list of ingredients to produce their final output is long - expert set design, fashion design, crazy props, makeup art and fine art - wrapped up in incredible photographs and finished off with digital skills to make your world shake. With a little help from their many talented friends, too many to credit here.

The artist, Attaboy, merged with one of his vinyl toys, " Axtrx" - Purebred

The team produces beautiful tableaus - portraits of a surreal and fantastic nature, capturing the essence of a fine artist or a mood behind an emotion. Incorporating the style, themes, and/or actual artwork - with an image of the artist into each portrait. Fooling the eye and blurring the line between fantasy and reality they create truly fantastic portraits. Some upcoming subjects include: JL Schnabel (Bloodmilk), CRAWW, 100taur and Zach Tutor of Supersonic Electronic.

Mike Davis, fine artist  - Purebred

Purebred will have six limited edition prints (both framed and unframed) at Scope New York through Sloan Fine Art, as well as an upcoming solo show in September at Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco.

Layer Cake - Purebred 2010

Alex Pardee, Fine Artist, Illustrator- Purebred 2011

Up To No Good- Purebred 2009

Josh Ellingson, Illustrator, fine artist - Purebred 2011

For updates and behind-the-scenes footage, visit their FB page here.

For Purebred's website, click here.

Daniel Martin Diaz’s Eloquent Dead

Daniel’s art is a modern day take on old school paintings - yellowed like papyrus and mysteriously somber like church stained glass windows. His beautiful ability to merge decorative motifs, with Gothic calligraphy and iconic imagery is uncanny. With his Hispanic background, death and religion obviously play a predominant role in his works, creating a poetic and surreal afterlife of their very own. Weathered and mysterious, his art speaks richly of a secret historical  alchemy.

 LINK: To Daniel’s Website & Portfolio

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

The Illuminators of Christopher Ulrich

Christopher Ulrich is a painter of surreal, iconographic images. He is influenced by the richness of ancient mythology, the mystery of alchemy, and the vastness of cosmic reality. He is one of the most influential artists of his generation of pop-surrealists, respected as much by other painters as by patrons and the general public. He has been a great mentor to young artists, continuing a great tradition he began with artist Burne Hogarth nearly two decades ago. Christopher has already begun working on the final chapter of his Christ Chronocrater Cycle. The Reckoning will debut on December 7th, 2012 at La Luz de Jesus Gallery. - Via LaLuzDeJesus

LINK: A wall of Christopher’s Illuminator series   

LINK: To Christopher’s Website & Portfolio

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.

Nihil’s Saints Series

Nihil is a French photographer and digital artist with a huge portfolio of fantastic imagery. Pictured here are just a few from his beautiful Saints series. If I could speak French I would tell you more, but alas...

LINK: To Nihil’s website & portfolio

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here. 

Altarations: Wendy Gadzuk

Wendy Lee Gadzuk is a mixed media, assemblage artist living in East Oakland.  Her work has evolved from a background in jewelry and metal-smithing, costume design, and a love for Gothic architecture, flea markets, and rock'n roll. Above,  is a beautiful altar from her - This I Know To Be True.

LINK: To Wendy’s FB page, for more of her “altars”

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here. 

The Animal Saints of Michelle Waters

If you follow Eclectix then you are familiar with Michelle’s critters- embodiments of the our animal kingdom, cross-dressing as popes, nuns and saints. An active animal lover, her subjects portray emotional projections - angry disdain for human abuse or calm & hypnotic spirituality. Sometimes they regard us with sad mistrust and distaste. 

“My "religious animals" paintings are a reaction to the ubiquitous fundamentalist religion in America as well as the idea propounded by most organized religions that animals have no souls. Some of my animal characters have founded their own religion, complete with nuns, popes and televangelists.” 

LINK: Michelle’s Website & Portfolio

LINK: To the Eclectix interview with Michelle Waters

This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Feb. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here. 

Josephine Taylor's Marvelous Monsterfaces

We visited the Catherine Clark Gallery in SF to see Josephine Taylor's outstanding solo show, which is up thru February 11th, 2012. Try to see this show, it is a rewarding, different and riveting body of work.  Due to the lighting,  the photos yellow tones are really all white whites. Many of these pieces are very large, huge pieces of velvet paper, pinned to the wall. We have posted some details to help grasp the scale of the work.

Her style is familiar yet completely original- reminding one of old Asian art and figurative watercolors. They have a modern day angst, some with erotic imagery and some with dementia-inspired, grotesque actions. Topsy-turvy figures swirl into each other and mutated portraits gaze sadly. The inked lines are very fine and the shading super subtle,  feeling softly beautiful despite the subject matter. 

There are also 4 very strong collage/sculptures of faces, with sliced and diced features to make them 3D. (below)

 All in all very inspiring works, juxtapositions which really move the viewer, depicting the monster within. A must see.

The Art of Pale Horse: Decks, Christos & Popes

Floridian Chris Parks is the owner of Pale Horse Graphic Design and is a darn fine artist. His style is very graphic, lots of brilliant colors, bold black lines with a heavy metal punch. A visual stew of biker art, Hispanic murals, cartoons and vibrant street art.  

"The Last Fiesta’ is my 12-skateboard deck shout-out to Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ with Jesus Christos and his 12 Luchador apostles getting down one last time.” 

He has some really beautifully designed tee shirts for sale as well. Quality, dynamic & well designed imagery!

LINK: The Last Fiesta skatedeck series

LINK: Pope art - The Mushroom Cult

This was originally published on the homepage of  Eclectix, 

in the Iconic issue, Jan. 2012

For the Iconic online exhibit, click here.