Trevor Chowning's blog

Taking time for nature and life and inspiration

Thanks to those who have written to ask about upcoming projects and shows, I didn't realize so much time had passed since my last entry.  Blogs are needy things are they not?  I have some things on the horizon but I wont bore you with the details until the time comes.  Until then, I am exiling myself to focus on a few new concepts.  Tho I may be quiet on the promotional front, I assure you that I am as busy as ever in my new country studio where there are fewer distractions than city life.  I wake with the birds, wandering out into our woods where the Woodpeckers and Turkey Vultures watch me as closely as I do them.  I am nourishing my body and spirit with wild vines and goodies from the garden, all of which translates into better art I believe... a clear head and a steady hand you know!

Halloween seems to be creeping into my thoughts lately, so I am heading that direction with my new work.  (Yes, I know it's not even Summer yet.)  I hope you are all enjoying life, and please do take time to "do" nothing but simply enjoy your own experience on this beautiful planet.

New lower priced art prints available

I've been asked many times if I sell prints of my work, which I do, but at a price point that is still out of reach for some casual collectors.  While I will continue to make those available I have also started offering low-cost versions that have the same visual quality, but simply use standard printing techniques rather than the costly and time consuming method used for the $250 counterparts.  These new prints range from $24-$65 and most of my work is available in this new format.  I am still in the process of determining who the eventual retailer for these will be, but in the meantime contact royalartscollective@gmail.com and they can arrange for you to purchase any print you like.

The $400 M&M

Faberge M&M

 

Faberge M&M 2

This is a piece I created for the Portland show.  It was a bit of a rush job and was built about an hour prior.  I had a vintage glass dome display stand and wanted to fill it with something kooky.  After rummaging my friend's cupboards I found my inspiration.

It is a real Peanut M&M studded with eight real diamonds.  I emphasize "real" because several attendees assumed that either the candy was plastic or that the stones weren't genuine gemstones but I'm happy to confirm that they are authentic.

Thank you

A special thanks to everyone who came out for the Portland event last night, it was a huge success in every sense!  I made a last minute decision to attend and was able to alter my travel plans to accommodate and I am so happy it worked out that way.

It was a real pleasure to speak with so many folks who attended and I appreciate all the kind words my art received last evening.  I can tell you that it's quite a compliment to your passion when you observe a sea of faces all smiling, discussing your work and enjoying themselves to the backdrop of music and cocktails.

Special thanks to Lindsay, Leana, Pete at the home office and the rest of the Diesel crew who worked so hard to make this happen and extra special thanks to those attendees who took the time to introduce themselves and share their interpretations of my work.  It's fascinating to me to hear how every person views the same work through a slightly different lens.

"Homegrown" event Thursday July 2nd

For those of you who are up in Portland I would like to invite you to the Diesel store "Homegrown" event they are throwing for my art.

Homegrown_trevor_EVITE

"Homegrown"
Thursday July 2nd, 7-9
Diesel Store, The Cellar Building, 30 Northwest 12th Street, Portland, Oregon

Please join us for music and cocktails as we present the artwork of Trevor Chowning.

His work has been heralded by the national media including TMZ, LA Weekly, The Insider, and Defamer but also stirred controversy when his art was banned then later reinstated at the Los Angeles gallery World of Wonder.  His highly original pop art makes use of diverse materials such as antique hummingbird feathers, space shuttle fabrics, renaissance-era gold leaf, and genuine diamonds.  He has been called "the most talented unrepresented artist in America" by the actor and art collector Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls, Bully, Party Monster).  Come spend a night immersed in Trevor's world, a strange and often humorous place where reality bends slightly towards beautiful surreality.

The Battle of Portland

The Battle of Portland

This is a preview of a piece from the upcoming art show in Portland, OR.  I have about 8 paintings ready for this show, some new and never before seen, others are old favorites from various Los Angeles exhibits.  Check back often to see more preview pieces for both of my July shows, Portland and LA!

¥£$ you can...

¥£$

Just revealed is a sneak peek at one of the pieces for the July "Homegrown" show.  It's titled "¥£$" ("yes") and is already drawing comparisons to the famous "LOVE" art piece so famously created by another Hoosier, Robert Indiana.

It is 20-inches by 30-inches and is made of acrylic on canvas with gold leaf lettering and 30 genuine diamonds.  Not rhinestones like the hearse piece shown below in this blog, but REAL gemstones!  I have authorized a run of 200 prints and a separate but very special edition of only 10 prints that feature hand applied gold leafed lettering.

Come out to see the original this July!  I have two shows scheduled, one in Los Angeles and another in Portland, Oregon.

Creation

I've gotten a couple of emails over the last few months asking about my creative process. 
In short, I generally spend much of the daytime either searching for inspiration, designing & planning pieces, or tracking down materials, and then do most of my actual work at night and beyond.  I don't have as much a need for natural sunlight for the work I do so artificial illumination (in every sense) works well enough.  Sometimes I start painting at 8pm and find myself thinking it's only been a couple of hours but my watch says it's actually 4am... I love those moments because it shows how the brain interprets time based upon your current experience and engagement.  In other words, when you're doing something you love you lose track of time.  We can all relate to that I'm sure.

Recently I have found myself becoming a bit of a pack rat since I'm keeping more and more found objects "just in case" I need them, which is odd considering nearly all of my work consists of paintings not sculpture but perhaps this is my brain's way of telling me it's bored and I need to try something new.  Check in later and see when it leads me!

By the way, my movie recommendation for the week is "The Cool School" a documentary about the origins of the art scene in Los Angeles from the 1950's onwards.  Very enlightening and a fun watch.  You can get it on Netflix and they also have it available on Instant Viewing so you have no excuse to miss this one.  This is the description I found on Amazon:

Review
All told and well told, this is essential history. - Nathan Lee, The Village Voice

Product Description
THE COOL SCHOOL is an object lesson in how to build an art scene from scratch and what to avoid in the process. Narrated by actor Jeff Bridges, the film focuses on the seminal Ferus Gallery, which groomed the LA art scene from a loose band of idealistic beatniks into a coterie of competitive, often brilliant artists, including Ed Kienholz, Ed Ruscha, Craig Kauffman, Wallace Berman, Ed Moses and Robert Irwin. The Ferus also served as launching point for New York imports, Andy Warhol (hosting his first Soup Can show), Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein as well as leading to the first Pop Art show and Marcel Duchamp's first retrospective. What was lost and gained is tied up in a complex web of egos, passions, money, and art.

Jeff and His Monkey

Jeff and His Monkey

This is my playful take on the art world rivalry between Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst.
The clothing was created using a wonderfully ethereal gold leaf with details in acrylic on canvas.

Go For Throttle Up

Go For Throttle Up

This is the first in a series of national tragedies as seen through the innocent eyes of children. The destruction of the Challenger was one of the first times in my youth that I realized our heroes were just as human as I was and it altered my outlook on life forever. 

In this image, the Shuttle Challenger is translated using imagery of fruity cereal as a substitution for the expanding debris cloud, silver leaf creates the metallic spoons that stand in for booster engines.