DANG WES LANG

This past month Wes Lang had been staying at the Chateau Marmont, where is had been working on a series of drawings done on their paper stock. This series is one of my favorite bodies of work of his. A mixture of detailed illustration with a great punch line to sum up the whole piece. He will be having a sow at the hotel in June sometime. Will post the dates as soon as I hear.

I got a chance to meet up with him a couple of times while he was here. On my second visit I had him tattoo this death hand I had seen in one of his new drawings he had hanging on his wall. Had a great experience checking out his work environment and just hanging out with him, his lady and a couple of friends. One of the most down to earth people and all around great person. You can check out his blog here

Good Times
In the chair

...And A Thousand Miles Away" 2011 pencil and acrylic on paper

"Whiter Shade Of Pale" 2011 acrylic on paper

"I Wonder What They Do In There" 2011 acrylic and pencil on paper

All Images © Wes Lang "The High And Low And In Between" 2011 mixed media on paper 38x50 inches

William Binnie

I went to Dallas last week for the Dallas Art Fair and got a chance to meet up with William Binnie. We met this year at the L.A. Contemporary show and was blown away by his spider-web drawings that were on display. Each are hand painted with walnut ink on vellum, which makes them look so delicate and precious, yet dark and haunting with phrases etched into them such as "Welcome to Hell" and "Night Cometh". Great work and ended up taking one home with me.

He and his friend John Mitchell showed me a great time while i was visiting and took me to some amazing watering holes and BBQ spots. Double Wide for drinks and Mama Fayes for BBQ. Thanks you guys had a blast.

You can check out his other works at http://williambinnie.blogspot.com/

UNTITLED, OIL ON CANVAS, 72 X 96 INCHES

PRIVATE COLLECTION, DALLAS

NIGHT COMETH, WALNUT INK ON VELLUM, 14 X 17 INCHES

WELCOME TO HELL, WALNUT INK ON VELLUM, 14 X 17 INCHES

PRIVATE COLLECTION, LOS ANGELES

NARWHAL, INK ON PAPER, 10 X 18 INCHES

UNTITLED (FLAMMULATED OWL), OIL ON CANVAS, 12 X 16 INCHES

MEMENTO MORI, OIL ON CANVAS, 20 X 24 INCHES

All Images © William Binnie

RICKY SWALLOW

Ricky Swallow By: Heidi Slimane

Longeron
Jelutong, 2009
35 x 120 x 43 cm

The First One Now (detail)
Pigmented resin, 2000
scale 1:1
Come Together
Jelutong, 2002
66 x 64 x 81 cm
photo: Fredrik Nilsen
The Exact Dimensions of Staying Behind
English Limewood, 2005
70 x 110 x 105 cm
photo: Andy Keate
Everything is Nothing
Jelutong, Epoxy Putty, 2003
21 x 32 x 14 cm
photo: Fredrik Nilsen
Younger than Yesterday
English Limewood, 2006
20 x 20 x 20 cm
photo: Fredrik Nilsen

I remember reading about Ricky Swallow in an old issue of ARTNEWS back in college in my dirty studio. I was blown away with his sculptures and the amount of detail he put into each one. True talent and craftsmanship.

All images from www.rickyswallow.com

Nolan Hall

Picture Ryan Heywood by Nolan Hall. Both great local photographers.

ODYN VOVK YOUR FACE

My buddy Jay turned me on to this commercial the other day for Odyn Vovk's (Lone Wolf) Autumn/Winter 2011 line. Inspires me each day to create and listen to the White Album backwords while drinking lambs blood.
ENJOY DA ODYN VOVK.

Banks Violette

Been diggin his work for awhile and it keeps getting better and better. His book and exhibit he curated, "Elevator to the Gallows" explores Black Nior as he describes it and the relationship between crime and art making. Pick it up if you get a chance. Click here for interview

John Copeland

EVERYTHING WENT BLACK 30X22 INCHES GRAPHITE, COLORED PENCIL AND OIL ON PAPER 2010© JOHN COPELAND 2010

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND 36X25 INCHES GRAPHITE AND COLORED PENCIL ON PAPER

2010© JOHN COPELAND 2010

CLOWNS NEVER DIE 30X22 INCHES GRAPHITE AND COLORED PENCIL ON PAPER

2010© JOHN COPELAND 2010

Falling into the blackhole of blogs earlier today and came across this native Californian, John Copeland. Lives in NY these days and creates these drawings juxtaposing dark subject matter with childhood objects of joy and laughter on bright white paper. check out his sight here