Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
GR: You paint in oil, can you talk about the difference vs painting in acrylic and why you choose to paint in oil? EB: I paint in oil because it is the best way to finish a painting for me. I typically start my paintings with graphite and move to acrylic washes before moving to oil. This works well for me because I can quickly establish my values and basic color structure. The whole process of painting to me is a push and pull between building up detail and then destroying what isn’t necessary to the story or composition of the painting. The reason that I constantly obscure, break down, scrape down my paintings is because I want to avoid any part of my painting feeling too precious. My process of painting is just as important as the content and I believe that they should complement each other. Oil is my weapon of choice because it allows me to create depth and the build up of layers that acrylic cannot. GR: Your subject matter seems to pose a lot of people hanging out. Can you talk about what you’re thinking and feeling with some of the images? EB: My subject matter is a mix between documenting moments in my life, fabricated or candid, and painting people I find interesting that through the act of painting I can create a sense of emotion and sometimes romanticized life style. Though a painting of mine may contain elements of beauty or nature, it is through the lens of chaos and destruction. I want to recreate the sense of nihilism in my paintings that I see in life. Everything must be destroyed in order to obtain the kind of knowingly distructive lives we live. People I paint may drink, smoke, do some drugs, ride motorcycles, skateboard, play in rock and roll bands, and make questionable decisions. These are often the most creative and inspiring people that I know because they are authentic. Painting for me is relative to that balance of destruction and altered perceptions. I want to create paintings that build up layers in a way that invoke an altered state and sense of derelict freedom that I see in my subjects. GR: Your work has a traditional element to it. Can you talk about your influences? Are any from centuries ago? EB: My influences are mainly contemporary painters like John Currin, Nicolas Uribe and Kent Williams, and like them I have ultimate respect for the classics like Lucian Freud, Sargent, Sorrolla, and Goya. GR: I know you’re into music, rock, etc, just through your attire, can you talk about that, and if it touches your art? EB: Although I don’t play any instruments, music is a big passion of mine. I love going to shows, and many of my friends play is totally rad bands. I am mostly into heavy metal and good rock and roll, and lately I have been mostly into bands with psychedelic and folk influences. In some ways...
Continue reading
Living Depictions January 12 – 30th, 2013 A group art exhibition featuring, Jay Horinouchi, Kwanchai Moriya, Sarah Lee, Elliot Brown, Shawn Cheng, and Maiko Kanno. The commonality of the first exhibition of 2013 will feature six artists who’ll be exhibiting works ranging in subjects, yet most or all with be paintings. Each artist approaches their works in their own materials and ways. A few have recently graduated Art Center College of Design (Kwanchai Moriya, Elliot Brown and Sarah Lee) two currently live in Japan (Jay Horinouchi and Maiko Kanno), and one (Shawn Cheng) is currently living in New York City. For any other information, contact Eric Nakamura at Giant Robot. January 12 – 30th, 2013 Opening Reception: Saturday, January 12, 2013 6:30 – 10:00 PM GR2 2062 Sawtelle Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90025 http://gr2.net/ eric (at) giantrobot.com 310 445.9276
Continue reading