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