NY - California

Coming back to California today, invented the suitcase with legs, wheels are so 20 - oh-ish. My invention is like a big friendly dog, that pulls you through the subway or up the stairs at airports, except it's a suitcase. Coming soon.

Portland Tulsa London Santa Barbara

Thank you Portland and Tulsa, next stop London and NY, Then back to Santa Barbara!

Hey it's my first "international" art interview.

Here is the link and I enjoyed doing this interview, now I am looking at the paintings that are ready to go to Portland, Tulsa and London and willing them to dry...faster. Click the title above or cut and paste the link below to see the review and interview.
http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/page/brad-nack-reindeer-art

In CT.

living life to the fullest!

Santa Barbara and New York Art Show coming up

The 12 Days of Thank You's!
So, it looks like the 100% Reindeer Art Show Tour is finally coming together. I have to say there has been a lot of work going into this. So, I should probably take the "thank yous" one at a time. Today has to go to Kevin Serra who is helping in a million different ways. He set up many of the shows including The one at The Paul Cumes Fine Art Gallery in Santa Barbara and Desert Island Comics one night show in Brooklyn. Those shows are on the 4th of November in SB and he 6th of November in NY. So today it's thank you Kevin!
Brad!

reindeer POWER now!

Reindeer Art CLICK HERE NOW!

Brad Nack 100% Reindeer Art. CLICK HERE!! Contact and Phone Number all at bradnack.com

Hello from New York!

Video slide show

Dear Blog,

Here's a video slide show that I just dug out of the video storage cupboard. It's a rarely seen video from 2007. The music is by Cosmic Love Child and here is a chance to click to their myspace page to hear what else they are doing. This click is officially recommend by "Brad Nack"

Worth sharing.

Coming up in the next post, stay tuned for The Andy Summers photography review. The Michael W. Barnard sketchbook review and the Miro vs. Shag art comparison. I may even add in a photo or two.

I was noticing that the sun is setting much earlier here in California and that means we are now moving away from the long days of summer. This brings me to an interesting point, because this is where I would, normally, start writing about the paintings I am working on, something like this..

"Oh the sun is setting sooner and I still haven't finished the Reindeer paintings, bla, bla, bla."

But really one can only talk about the state of one's art project so many times without driving everyone crazy. So, I am changing things up a little bit.

It is more an adjustment than anything else, but, now I am going to add some links that I think are worth sharing, and I will also add in some thoughts and comments and photos.

This will be a break for me from painting reindeer, and also from talking about or writing about painting reindeer.

So,

All this coming next post! Probably Tuesday.

PS. Just to keep current...I painted Reindeer today.

Music and painting.

I like to listen to music or The Moth or This American Life, (both are great) while I paint and also, while I sleep, headphones!

Empire of the Sun.

Anyway, there is a lot going on right now, first, I am cropping photos, one of which I am going to post here, and also I am listening to Annie Mac's Mashup on BBC 1, which is an earful (in a good way) - she started out the evening with the "tansque" Empire of the Sun, perhaps the most fun, favorite band that I am listening to in 2009.

Actually, there really isn't that much going on, but Annie Mac's program is like listening to 10 stations at once and then trying to think and type, and well, try it for yourself. It is best super late at night or early in the extra super early in the morning.


Brad Nack' 100% Reindeer Art Preview (unfinished).
It is officially the last day of July and today I took photos of all 2,009 reindeer paintings.

Fantastic!

Later, I went to a really fun art show, a Surfrider Foundation benefit at The Latitude Gallery in Santa Barbara, I think anyone who is trying to keep beaches clean and protected is doing good work in my book! Check out the Santa Barbara Chapter by clicking above.

Inside.

Outside.

Breakthrough moment. First Reindeer finished #1,957.

Reindeer # 1,957. The first Reindeer finished for 2009. Moody, Dark and Brooding.

I think I had a breakthrough moment when a "mysterious" and unnamed associate came to the studio to look at the 100% Reindeer Art Show in progress. Now, I do need to say that, I really respect this individual's thoughts and perspective on art so I was interested and all ears.

The verdict was that the paintings are finished, all 2,009, which is possibly very good news.

I am going to assess the show and continue to work on the pieces, however, I think I am further along then I might have thought.

Come in, friends welcome.

I know that I am supposed to be working on reindeer paintings, but....

This Thursday (7 / 23) is a chance to enjoy the afternoon / evening at The Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara. There is going to be an art show with Ken and Brad Nack, and the cool part is that the show is going to be in The La Marina room, which overlooks the ocean, across from Butterfly Beach. Therefore, one could actually spend some time on the seaside, then use the patio entrance directly facing the beach, and go straight into The La Marina room where you could join us on the patio with, you guessed it, a glass of wine.

But, here’s the catch, this event is a BYOW event, so grab a bottle of wine (at the store, or from your wine cellar) and come to the Biltmore this Thursday from 5-10PM. We will supply glasses and yes, a few bottles of wine will be on hand in case your access to bringing a bottle is unachievable.

With this notion of bringing your own wine and hanging out at the Biltmore, even the Thursday Night Seafood Buffet has extended the wine deal, allowing diners to bring their own bottle with no corkage charge.

This is a one-night event, presented by Joseph and Catherine and the Bottoms Gallery. This Thursday, 7 / 23. See you there.

Scooter, as hair.

This is Scooter, my dog, as hair.

The progress of the paintings, as of now.

Yesterday I was assessing the progress of the paintings and I am very concerned. My estimates are that each piece needs to be worked on at least 4 or 5 more times for around 15 to 30 minutes. (this equals 85 work weeks at 60 hours a week). Some paintings need more some need less attention. Nevertheless, they all have to be finished to my standards, which only I understand. If a piece isn't finished, it needs more work. I experiment with each painting so it isn't a situation where I only need to do the work. Instead, in this project, the work needs to find it's own conclusion, which means I really need to focus and work fast, which is what did yesterday for 12 hours, except that meant I only worked on about 125 paintings. I am going to work now.

brad-

strong female figures and a bird in flight. Fly with the cage.

Today a painting of mine was inspired by recent events in Iran.

Fly With The Cage.

"If you can't fly out of the cage, just Fly with the Cage". Sufi Proverb.

My painting was started in 2006 and finished on June 3, 2009 in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Oxnard on the way to LA.

Over the years as an artist, I have become an active believer in the “do it yourself” approach; so therefore, I was very moved by the recent protests in Iran. It is good to see people power, especially peaceful people power.

To be honest, I am very tired of people with institutionalized or even military power dictating what and how things will be. I am even more tired of people using their interpretations of “what god wants” to control others, and that goes for every person who uses the concept of god to get their way. I know that all this is as old as the hills, but one can only take so much. (It’s okay, some of my best friends believe in god).

I mask my anger and frustration at the world by keeping a “happy go lucky” public attitude and painting fun, upbeat paintings like this one, the recently titled, Fly With The Cage. My hope is that less people will get killed and that we humans can work things out and be friendly to each other, because, given half a chance, that is the our true human nature.

This piece features what I always thought were strong female figures and a bird in flight, elements that I felt were relevant to this situation in Iran

Brad Nack, 2009

donuts and coffee extreme work out clip

Hilarious donuts and coffee extreme work out clip. Created for maximum success. It's a "must see" for Artist, Playwrights, Filmmakers, Novelists, Songwriters, and Poets. Includes, basic training and motivation skills AND Coach Goodvin's patented "What's your problem?" approach to maximize your production and skills! It's all you need to find yourself in shape and shaping up! Follow along as Coach Goodvin trains Brad Nack (noted for creating the world largest collection of Reindeer Paintings) he pushes Nack to be the edge and beyond in this take no prisoners EXTREME WORKOUT CLIP.

A break from the the city (Santa Barbara) by going to LA,

On Saturday, I went to the Silver Lake Art and Craft market, where I was a vendor, of sorts. Actually, I was maybe the only person to ever, go to an Art Market anywhere, ever in the whole world, and pay the fee, and select my location and set up my table and not bring or try to sell anything. AND I was absolutely happy with the out come.

First off, it was June 13th and somewhat cold, then it even started to rain, so it made for a nice bleak LA day. Eventually, it cleared up, but at first it was even a little Leytonstonish. Anyway, my thing was to just hang out and paint and get a break from the the city (Santa Barbara) by going to LA, I know what you are thinking, but my life in Santa Barbara is pretty hectic, and well in LA, I usually am not equipped with a computer, or cell phone, and also, I try to go there on the week-ends, Sunday is like a quiet stay home day in LA, where as Santa Barbara is non-stop. So, it was a relaxing day, I was able to work on about 30 paintings, Scooter, our Dachshund came down, did some hardcore sleeping, and occasionally looked over as I was painting. I met fellow vendors, Margarette, Mark, Gene and Tracy sister of Fiora, the Ghettoglosser in charge.

And to top it off, Colleen, from the very cool Communicatrix.com stopped by.

As the morning progressed, I did start to feel a little hungry, so I checked the clock in the car, oops, it's almost 4PM and I've got pressing business back in Santa Barbara at 6:30PM. So, a few quick "See you next weeks," and I find myself racing up the coast. Still haven't slept, and there's a party starting tonight at 3AM so I gotta grab a shower and go. Santa Barbara, the city that forgot how to sleep!

Meanwhile I liked this (a lot), if you would, please, click below.

http://www.communicatrix.com/

Thanks, Brad-

Whatever you do don't ...!

My blog has only 16 followers, that is somewhat sad, but also, sort of cool. Whatever you do don't go there... 

http://reindeerproject.blogspot.com/

Deal with the logistics later.

The best way to handle a large scale art project is to, 1st start, and then figure out how to deal with the logistics later. 

When painting with oil, the paint needs to dry over a few weeks or so, therefore storage becomes an issue. On this project, even though the pieces are small, 2,000+ pieces take up more room than most of us have, like 40 by 40 feet. 

So, I was painting and trying to decide how to make a storage system. One idea was to get sheets of cardboard and cut them into manageable sizes, then apply foam to the edges and stack them one on top of the other. This seemed like a lot of work as, I realized I would need about 100 of these. That's a lot of cardboard to cut and a lot of foam to glue. 

Anyway, I was over at my dad's and and he was painting and I looked at the canvas he was holding, I thought, I could build something just like that, about 2X3 feet. It would be perfect, then as some minutes passes, it came to me that I could buy the canvas pre-made. So, I called my supplier and one week later I had 85, 2X3 foot canvas's that I am using for storage. 

Look for new Brad Nack art in the 2X3 foot range coming 2010 and 2011.

(photo Credit: Adam Brown)

Advice:

 Advice: 

"Ken," I say,  "I am trying to make these all different, bring a new approach, a new experience to each of the pieces." 

"Well " replies Ken, " maybe you should make some of them the same."

Note on painting large series: Trying to make them the same makes them different.

5/29/09

2 photos of all 2,009 Reindeer paintings,

Here are two photos of all 2,009 Reindeer paintings, now they are all started. However, only two are finished (not pictured) and even those are only almost finished. It is Wednesday may 20th, 09.

This group of paintings are going to be amazing!

The thing is, just to keep going. At one point recently, like 2 weeks ago, I thought that painting Reindeer was really stupid. However, I also knew that I was going to think that, so when it happened I was able to immediately get past it. I seriously was able to think, well I knew this was coming, I knew it from the beginning, since way back in January when I started this project, and I just moved past it. Unfortunately, I moved instead to thinking my whole life was sort of a waste of time. I also know this must happen to most of us at some point, so I was glad it happened when I was in Tahiti. 

Tahiti was good, I set up a studio on a surfboard under a tree house and I got to hang out with my friends Frankey and Stewy, who I met in the graveyard in Mundaka Spain (where a bunch of castaway surfers were camping) back in 1978.  We caught some good waves back then, and we caught some good waves on this trip too. 

So, I was able to move past some self doubt and keep going, which is the point of this post. Nice as it seems, I do know that I am really going to struggle with this from time to time, but tonight I actually think this group of paintings are going to be amazing!

A meeting with...

South Pacific, Stewy, Franco and others. Undisclosed Islands, old friends and new legends. Vanilla plantations and 22 years without electricity. A meeting with Mr. Crawley, denied, disclaimed, anonymous, yet revealing. For those of you who know what I am talking about, I've probably said too much. Less soon, 

Regards, 

Nack

(Poll results 22 yes, 4 no, 6 maybe)

I sold reindeer #881 as a Pre-Sale to a hip LA collector, that saw what he needed to see even reckoning with the unfinished state of the piece. Some people, they got it, and they are usually the ones who "get it."Well, that's 2 down 2,007 to go...check back soon. 

brad-

Pirates

I saw this and thought it was interesting. brad-

" In 1991, the government of Somalia collapsed. Its nine million people have been teetering on starvation ever since – and the ugliest forces in the Western world have seen this as a great opportunity to steal the country's food supply and dump our nuclear waste in their seas.

Yes: nuclear waste. As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN envoy to Somalia, tells me: "Somebody is dumping nuclear material here. There is also lead, and heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury – you name it." Much of it can be traced back to European hospitals and factories, who seem to be passing it on to the Italian mafia to "dispose" of cheaply. When I asked Mr Ould-Abdallah what European governments were doing about it, he said with a sigh: "Nothing. There has been no clean-up, no compensation, and no prevention."

At the same time, other European ships have been looting Somalia's seas of their greatest resource: seafood. We have destroyed our own fish stocks by overexploitation – and now we have moved on to theirs. More than $300m-worth of tuna, shrimp, and lobster are being stolen every year by illegal trawlers. The local fishermen are now starving. Mohammed Hussein, a fisherman in the town of Marka 100km south of Mogadishu, told Reuters: "If nothing is done, there soon won't be much fish left in our coastal waters."

This is the context in which the "pirates" have emerged. Somalian fishermen took speedboats to try to dissuade the dumpers and trawlers, or at least levy a "tax" on them. They call themselves the Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia – and ordinary Somalis agree. The independent Somalian news site WardheerNews found 70 per cent "strongly supported the piracy as a form of national defence".

No, this doesn't make hostage-taking justifiable, and yes, some are clearly just gangsters – especially those who have held up World Food Programme supplies. But in a telephone interview, one of the pirate leaders, Sugule Ali: "We don't consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits [to be] those who illegally fish and dump in our seas." William Scott would understand.

Did we expect starving Somalians to stand passively on their beaches, paddling in our toxic waste, and watch us snatch their fish to eat in restaurants in London and Paris and Rome? We won't act on those crimes – the only sane solution to this problem – but when some of the fishermen responded by disrupting the transit-corridor for 20 per cent of the world's oil supply, we swiftly send in the gunboats.

The story of the 2009 war on piracy was best summarised by another pirate, who lived and died in the fourth century BC. He was captured and brought to Alexander the Great, who demanded to know "what he meant by keeping possession of the sea." The pirate smiled, and responded: "What you mean by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, while you, who do it with a great fleet, are called emperor." Once again, our great imperial fleets sail – but who is the robber?

j.hari@independent.co.uk

To spend the day, like a pic-nic.

Last Saturday I was invited to an art show in San Francisco, that was among my favorite show ever. Called propaganda, the show featured all Obama campaign related art. Great stuff and I was honored to be included. (Brook Turner collection).

This Saturday I will be doing the art fair again, with a twist. For me, it is a fun way to spend the day, like a pic-nic. Sitting around a parking lot all day, doing some art (which I need to do anyway) it's a mini vacation. Here's the info, please stop by. Friendly faces wanted!

SATURDAY April 11th from 10AM to 4PM. Ghettogloss and their army of vendors transform THE MICHETORENA STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND ON SUNSET BLVD. into what one attendee called "the coolest arts and craft pow-wow in LA." Tents are pitched and tables are loaded up with quirky displays of art, vintage knickknacks and hand-crafted jewelry. Bring a beach chair and a coffee. Take a break and hang out with Tara, Scooter and me. The Art Fair is every Saturday, but we are participating on Saturday April 11th.
PS. We don't have a tent or a table, we use a blanket and the ground!

on the week-end

In SF on the week-end, photos coming. Obama art!

Superstar celebs

Fighting the recession! The art fair was a very fly event. Superstar celebs came and hung out (including DJ Cory the Beat Welder, Marvana, Amy Joan, The Piehole Family, The Sonya and Don Trio, Mix Master Andrea and the big Jewel, Sir Mix Adamalot, Tres Cee, and The A.D.D.J. we'll do it again soon.

nice to see some friendly faces.

Brad Nack Art Fair, Sunday in Silverlake March 29. It would be nice to see some friendly faces. Citibank parking lot on the corner of Silverlake Blvd. and Glendale Blvd 2450 Glendale Blvd., LA, CA 90039. 9am to 5pm. I have never been part of an "art fair" so I have decided to go third world traditional, with a blanket instead of tables!

http://reindeerproject.blogspot.com/

A simple black t-shirt with a solid color Reindeer and it will say

Over the past few days there has been a lot of activity on the Reindeer Scene. And at this exact moment I have decided to print t-shirts, I am thinking a simple black t-shirt with a solid color Reindeer and it will say brad nack
reindeer '09 or something imaginative like that. I'll design it now, give me 10 minutes!

I think #1,071 is great

Working on Reindeer paintings today, I think #1,071 is great, it may be the first one finished for this year's series. There are a couple in the 900's that are pretty good too. The others all still need work, which is how I figured things would go. Nevertheless, to have one close to finished, in March is pretty good.
Brad-

junk that had been organized into....

Recently, I needed to move all sorts of junk that had been organized into a room full of crap. There was a lot to move, and in shifting stuff around, I discovered that there are about a thousand, maybe 950, canvases still wrapped in shrink wrap and not even out of the boxes.

No one is to blame.

Brad-

and over and over and over

The move is over and we are now living in a studio down by the beach. Thanks dear readers for sticking with me over this short break. Moving is a big hassle, but although this one took a lot of energy, it wasn't so bad really. 

I'd like to say it's good to be back to the reindeer, but, I am doing one side project which is a music video for Punjabi sensation Indy Sagu, the video should be out this fall, and I should be finished by Monday of next week.

Speaking of music, the blues, three chords that have been a historic contribution aural arts. Three chords, over and over and over and over and over and over and over... sort of like 2,009 reindeer, the key is to approach each one as something new and in the moment, each time, over and over.

They can tell and they know all about you.

Moving is an interesting thing.

I grew up in Santa Barbara, and if you drive away from our house towards Washington School and keep going, you will get to Monroe School (McKinley school is right across from both our place and Santa Barbara City College, where my dad just got a job). Anyway, we are living in a small 2 bedroom place, sort of a place with two or three units on Barranca Street. It's me, my sister and my mom and dad. We are about to move to a bigger place on Isleta St. My dad is teaching at the College and Charlie Atkenson has just suffered a heart attack and passed away. He was chairman of the Art Department and I could tell everyone was really shocked that he died so suddenly. I was playing with his kids, on a pile of dirt, I think some gardeners were preparing the soil for some soon to arrive plants. I could hear the freeway somewhere off in the distance, and maybe this was a memorial service, it was foggy in a "it looks like dawn or dusk all day" type of Santa Barbara way.

So, I am just young maybe 4 or 5, because I haven't started kindergarten or anything, and we haven't moved to Isleta Street yet. Isleta St. is only a few blocks away, but there I will meet a neighbor who is building a small wooden boat in his garage, it has a square front and is made of varnished plywood, somehow, it seems we go look at it many times, they do live next door. Right around the corner were the Smiths, Susan who is my age and Emerson, her dad and her Mom who's name I can't remember, they live around the block and when we moved to Sea Ranch Dr. some 4 miles away, down past Monroe School and past the beach, the Smiths sort of stopped being our friends. Emerson buys a Vespa and comes by once or twice and my mom says he will most likely get killed on it. He does tell us that he is a safe driver. My mom says "it's not right that we've invited them over a number of times, and they cancelled last minute because they can't leave the new dog."

The house on Isleta has a gravel driveway and we bought a used Fiat Sedan, which ended up as a rusted out art project at our next house. My mom suggested we take our pet goldfish out to get some sun, they liked it but they died. On my fifth birthday my mom made a cake that looked like basketball player. I also, watched a bee crawling on the lawn. Years later, I go back to the house on Isleta, as an adult to a party, with my parents and it makes no impression on me. I don't think, wow, I used to live here when I was 5, nothing. I am sure it is the same house, but I don't remember why I am here, I think it is now another art teacher's house, Mr Robertson's, and therefore, his party was at his house which was once our house, (the one on Isleta St.) If all that is correct, it means that I also know his son Danny Robertson, who was the first person to hassle me when I started surfing, even before I started surfing.

I had just bought a surfboard out at the swap meet for maybe $12 and some change (my dad didn't really want me to be a surfer, so I wasn't getting a board at a surf shop). It was a faded red board, one that was definitely not pink, but a sort of dingy red-grey with a touch of brown. Short boards were in and long boards were out, it was the transition years, and this board was a long short board, skinny with a swooping nose and a narrow tail, not a long board, but also, it was a board completely not suited to the small end of summer waves at The Pit. I did get a wetsuit, or I should say half of a wetsuit, the farmer john, long-john sleeveless and therefore freezing kind. My dad was, as I said sort of not buying into the California surfer thing, perhaps he was noticing some of the guys around The Pit, like Bill Ledbetter, who a few years later decided to kill himself and put a flare gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. This attempt blew out his teeth, and tongue, but he survived, until he killed himself a couple of weeks after getting out of the hospital. Once at a party at the Culinary Alliance Hall, Ledbetter, said "The next motherfucker that bumps me is gonna get fucked up." Soon he was bumped and blindly threw a punch at what turned out to be one of the bigger gentleman at the party, who while perhaps not actively looking for a fight was, not only "up for" but also decidedly prepared to give Bill Ledbetter a sound and actually, quite sever beating. In those days no one really thought about breaking up a fight, so it went on for a long time as everyone went back to watching the band playing some rock and roll cover song.

My dad might also have noticed Mike Anderson, who got "into shaking up cars" by jumping up and down on the trunks, then cupping his hand over the gas tank and taking what would today be considered a "mega bong hit" of gas fumes. Was it a good buzz, or just good theatrics? Either way Mike ended up working at a tire shop.

Marco got shot 7 times by the cops while breaking into a restaurant over on Milpas St. Turns out he was stealing 2 cartons of cigarettes and 3 avocados, he and his buddy got surrounded and tried to make a run for it, the cops thought the cigarettes were guns. Marco, lost some fingers, and was shot in the leg, chest, arm, stomach, etc...and he lived. After he got out of the hospital he told me the story and added, "Dude, this is just all bonus time, I should be dead." A few weeks later his car hit a Palm tree near my house at over 100 mph.

Anyway, now that I am 13, with my new swap meet surfboard and a fresh coat of coconut scented surf wax applied to the deck. I am walking in a crisp fall sunshine from the back of the parking lot towards the beach. This is a moment very much like when you buy a guitar that you "hope" to learn to play and you walk out of the store with a cheap guitar and realize that you are a complete phony, because you are walking down the street with a guitar, but you don't play guitar, and the people who are walking past, well, they are either out-of-it and not cool, or they know, they can see it, you're not a guitarist, you haven't even been to your first lesson. They can tell and they know all about you.

So, I am actually feeling okay about the board and the walk, I have friends that learned to surf over the summer when I was away, so we've talked at Jr. High and I know a little bit about the sport, and there's Danny Robertson, he's got a VW van and a girl hanging out with him, and it looks like for 16, he's got a pretty good mustache coming along. So Danny takes a look at me and announced to the general area around his van "Kook" and well, I keep going. Now Danny and I both have VW bugs, and Danny's still surfing the Pit. His sister Edie, was in a band in the 80's called Generics and owns a restaurant now, I see her with a chef uniform from time to time.

Coming home to Santa Barbara, the old memories flood back, but it was a different life then and it was a different world. Could it be that I was really that person that grew up in this place?

Honestly it does seem possible, because, while yes, I have spent a year or two here or there and I didn't actually arrive in Santa Barbara until I was 4 and a half tears old, the truth is, I am just moving across town, but somehow, it sort of feels like I've been here before.

Hello Dear Readers,

Hello Dear Readers, 

The exciting thing about the economic reset, as they are calling it now, is all the opportunity for all of us that do things besides make money. Meanwhile, it's moving time for us. We are out by Feb. 28th (4 days) and as of yet we have not found the perfect place, but Santa Barbara is full of cool, beautiful places, so 4 days is plenty of time to start looking. 

The place we are leaving behind has been home for 2 years and we were in the guest house located under the pool. To see the website click below.

http://www.bartonmyers.com/toro_01.htm

I am about to launch (next post) The First Annual International Reindeer Haiku Contest. So, grab your writing utensil and start composing. The winning Haiku will be read at the 2009 reindeer exhibit, out loud, on opening night!

How to write Haiku
In Japanese, the rules for how to write Haiku are clear, and will not be discussed here. In foreign languages, there exist NO consensus in how to write Haiku-poems. Anyway, let's take a look at the basic knowledge:
What to write about?

Haiku-poems can describe almost anything, but you seldom find themes which are too complicated for normal PEOPLE's recognition and understanding. Some of the most thrilling Haiku-poems describe daily situations in a way that gives the reader a brand new experience of a well-known situation.

The metrical pattern of Haiku

Haiku-poems consist of respectively 5, 7 and 5 syllables in three units. In Japanese, this convention is a must, but in English, which has variation in the length of syllables, this can sometimes be difficult.

The technique of cutting.

The cutting divides the Haiku into two parts, with a certain imaginative distance between the two sections, but the two sections must remain, to a degree, independent of each other. Both sections must enrich the understanding of the other.

To make this cutting in English, either the first or the second line ends normally with a colon, long dash or ellipsis.

The seasonal theme.

Each Haiku must contain a kigo, a season word, which indicate in which season the Haiku is set. For example, cherry blossoms indicate spring, snow indicate winter, and mosquitoes indicate summer, but the season word isn't always that obvious.

Please notice that Haiku-poems are written under different rules and in many languages. For translated Haiku-poems, the translator must decide whether he should obey the rules strictly, or if he should present the exact essence of the Haiku. For Haiku-poems originally written in English, the poet should be more careful. These are the difficulties, and the pleasure of Haiku.

brad-

the Metropolitan Museum seems like a good idea.

Reindeer paintings at the Metropolitan.

It had to happen, some old photo of a hand (perhaps connected to yours truly) looking for validation in an institution. 

The truth is, it was me, I actually had to deliver 6 paintings to the Frank J. Melie Gallery (1086 Madison Avenue) however, they were out for the afternoon, so I was stuck with a couple hours to kill. It was cold, and a walk down the street to the Metropolitan Museum seems like a good idea. It was only then, that I found myself in an well know art location with, by chance, a bag full of my paintings. Then the delightful Tara, my associate in crime, suggested a photo op. She's full of ideas, like me painting 2,009 Reindeer this year. 

Needless to say, showing my art at the Met was no big deal, if I remember correctly, the guard that eventually asked us to "stop with the photos" could barely bother to walk across the room. Well this all happened a few years back and currently I have more pressing business to attend to. 

Brad-

I may have met your ancestors years ago!

I am wondering right now as I start to write out this post, if I can't start it out in some different way? 

For instances, it is raining and our house has a metal roof, so the rain sounds nice, and there is an ant crawling along this keyboard and it is a very good thing for the ant and his recently arrived friend, that I use two fingers and look at each key as I type. Be safe ant, I may have met your ancestors years ago as we have spent considerable time, years in fact along this part of the world. 

It is clear that a year of blog entries stating that I have painted more paintings... again... is going to be, not only repetitive but also, impossible to find interesting for me or you, so instead, I will at least for now, not tell you about the paintings that I did work on since the last post, also, I will skip other efforts, like cleaning out the hallway (full of paintings) at my dad's house, that are part of, if not the main part of the energy it takes to make art.
So, really this blog could read. Yesterday I got up and went to work, I cleaned and organized some stuff and painted for awhile, then I went home. Today I got up and went to work, I cleaned and organized some stuff and painted for awhile, then I went home. Tomorrow I got up and went to work, I cleaned and organized some stuff and painted for awhile, then I went home.

However,  it won't read like that this time, because, today I got up in Morro Bay, had breakfast at The Hungry Fisherman, it was raining, then I organized some stuff and did some painting at Tara's mom's house, then we went back to Santa Barbara, the rain had stopped, then I went to my dad's house and cleaned and organized some stuff, then I painted for awhile, then I went home and started typing, the two ants mentioned above are still here. It is Feb. 16, 2009. I have over 1,000 paintings started now.
Brad-

An extreme venture into the world of art video.

Today is more Reindeer work, and it's Valentines day too. Tara and I took Scooter, our dachshund on 3 walks today and I also managed to start another 112 canvases, plus we watched a few episodes of Alfred Hitchcock's television show. 

Also, I was able to finish the script to a music video for Indy Sagu who is a really cool musician with a new album out now. I am taking this one side project to do a video for one of his songs this year. Actually, I am very excited to make this video. 

Speaking of video, Tara just showed me a great video that she produced and edited and was also director of. It was a wonderful surprise and an extreme venture into the world of art video. It was a feature that focused on the plight of the world economic situation by hovering above me, close up on my mouth as I both slept and snored. Copies available here, $29.99. Duration 00:33.

Well, back to work.

Brad-

New backgrounds, Feb. 12,09

Yesterday I managed to paint a few backgrounds, actually, this represents three layers of work. Initial color, second layer of color, and finally some beginnings of design. Lot's of layers, so really this was three days of work.

Give you the answer when it reveals itself

Okay, today I was able to work on a lot of important background activities. Like counting the Reindeer that are started. Seems simple, especially since I have only started just over 900, not even half way to the grand total of 2.009. Anyway, somehow they seemed to get all mixed together, therefore I have realized a big part of this project is, so far, counting as in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc... and trying to find the missing numbered canvases. And there is already a mystery, of sorts in that, about 12 canvases are missing. Miss numbered? lost in transport? I will give you the answer when it reveals itself to me.
Brad-

or else, well... talk about sad.

I think keeping that for this project lightness is necessary, at least somewhere in the back of my mind is really important to keep it that way. It would be really easy to quit, but so far I have kept a pretty positive approach. 

If I am able to be sort of open to anything, to experimentation, and not letting preconceived ideas of art - especially other peoples ideas, or my own idea of what someone else might be thinking, creep in and side track me, then it is possible for some good work to happen.

There is so much "art thinking" and "art ideas" and "art world reality" out there, that it makes it hard to paint directly and to the point for a lot of people. 

Luckily, I have figured out how to try filter out all that stuff. You know what I mean, the anti-academic yet learned at art school vibe that we have been stuck with since the 60's. I think it's very much as if the art scene today is equal to a Classic Rock Radio Station. The same stuff over and over. Jeff Koons a.k.a. Journey, © MURAKAMI a.k.a. Hall and Oats and that other Hirst, I can't remember his first name, the guy who has the dead stuff, I mean if you think painting Reindeer is lame, that guy Damien Hirst (I looked him up) is really somewhat sad, that's what I think, I don't mean any disrespect. 

Then again, if I didn't know me, I would probably think my work was weak too. (maybe not).

I was talking to Ken Nack the other day and I said how Andy Warhol (who's art I sometimes like, but I also have a lot of reservations about) got the part about the "in the future everyone being famous for fifteen minutes" statement wrong. How it's turned out is that everyone is really famous nowdays, (facebook, myspace, blogspot, youtube etc...) but the thing is no one has more then 15 minutes to care. So, he was sort of right, it just turned out opposite.

Therefore, because I actually work at being open to letting things develop as they will, with a total lack of focus, and a non-detail orientation etc..., I was able to get the idea of taking a bunch of canvases and setting them up and then painting a larger reindeer on those canvases. They are canvas # 331 through # 420. The thing is this is just really background paint. These individual canvases will all become their own paintings and the image pictured above will be gone forever, unless I make a postcard out of it. Should I do that? Please comment. Also, please become a follower, I need to heave more than 10 followers or else, well... talk about sad.

Anyway, I was thinking that I could take the shrink wrap off of the one thousand seven hundred 4X5 inch small canvases in a few hours. That is not the case. I am up to the low 700's and that has been since Jan 29th. Today is the 3rd of February, so, it has taken me 5 days to do just over 700 of them . In this time I have also managed to paint the initial backgrounds on around another 300 canvases, this I described above.

Brad-

...if you are 3 inches tall.

Here's what 330 canvases look like if you are 3 inches tall. I tried to get canvases that were not individually shrink wrapped, but it was impossible. So, 3 hours later, the canvases are "un-shrink" wrapped and numbered. What's your favorite number between 1 and 2,009? You can buy that painting now, before it's painted for only $250. pre-sale special, just email or call brad@bradnack.com. 805 845-5389. Limit 10 per customer.

297 Lbs. of art supplies

On January 28th, the art supplies arrived and now I can get going. These boxes contain over 2,000 small canvases. To see the paintings that are already started please click here.

Today I feel really optimistic about the whole concept of painting all of these images, however, that feeling is not consistent.  I know that having the materials to actually do the work is a big step and that it is an important step, one that makes me feel cautiously sure that this project will move forward to a successful conclusion. 

However, there are a host of challenges that need to be resolved.  For example,  where do all these painting end up being shown? I would be disappointed to paint for a full year and not have a place to actually show the work. I have figured out that I will need a wall that is about 500 feet long. This wall should be in a place that is accessible to people who would like to see the work. I am still less than a month into this project, but the logistics of the show need to move forward now. Actually, they should already set up. 

So, now I feel less optimistic and more stressed out. Big building - Big wall. 

Brad-

http://picasaweb.google.com/reindeerproject

MUG-SHOTS!

(unfinished Reindeer #58 - 2009)
I know this is going to be overwhelming. I am posting photos of 2,009 paintings in progress. So, as the images progress, I am going to be taking photos of them and then posting them as the year moves along. Last night I dragged out the lights an took 75 photos, then, I spent the rest of the evening uploading and color correcting the images. Next, I broke them down, named and filed them, then I uploaded them to a series of Picasa photo albums.

The overwhelming part is that this process took about 8 hours, and that was for only 75 images. Each painting will probably end up having about 10 photos of  the progress. That, in turn equals 10 times 2,009 or 20,090 photos. 

I am now looking for at least one person to commit to looking at all of them at some point this year. Also, what's up with only 4 followers? That's embarrassing, comon' people, follow the herd!

Who's in?

Waiting Game.

Well, due to popular demand I am posting this update. (Thanks DJT). I was waiting to update the blog until I was able send out a email about the photo albums that I have posted here. I want those collectors who have Reindeers from last year to find there pieces and post a comment, it's an inter-activity type thing.

To see the photo albums, please click right here.

Speaking of waiting, I am waiting for a shipment that includes 297 lbs of art material including 2,200 canvases. So, it is a waiting game. here are the details. From Rock Island to Kansas, so far.
UPS Freight LTL
Shipped To: BRAD NACK
SANTA BARBARA, CA, US
Number of Pieces: 1
Weight: 296 Lbs
Shipped From: DICK BLICK ART MATERIALS
KANSAS CITY ,
KS 01/24/2009
12:00 P.M.
DEPARTURE
268322 UPGF
KANSAS CITY ,
KS 01/24/2009
11:04 A.M.
SHIPMENT HAS ARRIVED AT A SERVICE CENTER.
268322 UPGF
SAINT LOUIS ,
MO 01/24/2009
7:00 A.M.
DEPARTURE
268322 UPGF
SAINT LOUIS ,
MO 01/24/2009
1:14 A.M.
SHIPMENT HAS ARRIVED AT A SERVICE CENTER.
265608 OVNT
ROCK ISLAND ,
IL 01/23/2009
8:00 P.M.
DEPARTURE
265608 OVNT
ROCK ISLAND ,
IL 01/23/2009
10:56 A.M.
ORIGIN
927353 UPGF
ROCK ISLAND ,
IL 01/23/2009
9:52 A.M.
SHIPMENT HAS BEEN PICKED-UP.
927353 UPGF

Photo Albums, click links below.

Reindeer 2008 Portfolio

Reindeer Preview 2009. 

Now, it's time for your help. If you bought a Reindeer in 2008 could you go to the portfolio (the link is above) and leave a comment below your piece letting the world know what your painting is up to right now and what it's plans are for 2009? Thanks in advance for that.

If you are new to this blog, you can get a good idea of what these annual Reindeer Art shows are all about by clicking on the links above and investigating last years herd and the start of this years crew.

I have finally posted all of the Reindeer Paintings from 2008. There are 72 of them. Perhaps that doesn't sound like that big of an accomplishment, but consider this. Every year I plan to create a portfolio of the images from the past year, and I have been doing this for 10 years. This is the first time that I actually spent the time and energy do finish the portfolio, and by Jan. 14, that's pretty good. 

And finally, today I started a film, well video, about the making of the 2009 reindeer show. I have a cool idea for the film, but it is a secret for now.

Like I said, 24 more rolling along, today!

I was able to spend some time at the studio today and get 24 more pieces moved into the sketched in phase. That makes a total of 54 that are past the background color phase. On an interesting note, it occurred to me just moments ago, that to frame 2,009 paintings will cost at least $20,000 to $40,000, depending on the price of the frame. That is assuming that (we) get chopped frames and do all the placing of the paintings and paper the backs and attache the wires, ourselves. I say "we" because I am counting on Tara, to help me out. 

I just asked her "Hey Tara, will you help me frame 2,009 paintings?"

"I guess if we are still married" she replied "and if it's working out, I could help."

That's pretty good. 

So, I have 2 new images here and the other 22 are in the album, Click here!  "Reindeer paintings #2."

Brad-