Enjoy With A Friend!

We here at Spillmanville Inc. have been a busting our tail as of lately. I've finally started to get back into the swing of working in a kitchen. The past week has really been about finding my kitchen legs and figuring out how to stay on them after work up in the studio. Kitchen work isn't a joke. It's hard work and requires a great deal of physical exertion. However, the experience has been a trip. Long gone are the days of stress caused by working in a completely screwed up school system in a city with a backwards governmental system. Now, I just have to worry about what veggie specials I want to serve or what soup of the day I want to make. It is a lot like working in a study, but with intense time restraints.

Working at Three Angels Diner has been a real trip. I'm in the kitchen doing my thing while people sit back, enjoy some good food, and take in my paintings that are hanging all around the dining room. It is an odd experience to be on hand when people want to ask about the work on the walls. It's like they are almost impressed with the fact that they are enjoying my art at the same time they are ingesting the plates of food that I just prepared for them. When things slow down after the pounding of the lunch rush, I often look out into the dining room and look at my paintings with all these people sitting around them. A loyal regular of the Diner asked me if I enjoyed working in the kitchen. I told him that I worked in my art gallery and I just happened to be serving food to all the patrons that came to view the show. I'm truly lucky to be enjoying this little experience.

So, obviously the studio sessions have been back and forth, but it is finally coming together in a manageable schedule. Yes, a constant schedule is important in order for me to keep from getting lazy and content. Working at night is still a bit different to me, but I'm slowly getting used to the freedom of working after the responsible part of the day is done. The past couple of nights have involved prepping canvas and taking stock of some of the oil paintings that are in the mid-level stages. I have a few paintings that I have been putting off finishing due to a lack of deadlines and the unwillingness to paint in color. So, these paintings have been pulled out and set back up to be completed. Now, when I'm looking around the painting room, I can see the beginnings of a show and a cohesive new body of work.

I finished this rather large drawing last night, and i am fairly content with the outcome. I've been using the bamboo brushes still, but I decided to start bringing the pens and coffee staining back into the process. I'm still not sure if i prefer the black on white look of the previous couple of drawings or if I like the stained look better. In the long run, it probably really doesn't matter as long as the process works with the image. The drawing is titled "Enjoy With A Friend!". I've been thinking a lot lately about my friendships with people and how they have evolved over the years. I've realized that I rely on my pals to for many things including laughs and conversation, but I also utilize their personalities and stories in my art. I need real friends and those moments of banter in order to find new narratives for my paintings and drawings. Obviously, a lot of these moments occur over adult beverages. So why not enjoy with a friend.

"Enjoy With A Friend!"

gouache, ink, coffee on paper

32"x40"

That is that for now. Up next, finishing a few unfinished paintings, starting a new painting of birds constructing birdhouses, a new T-shirt design, and hopefully wrapping up the last 2 comic pages that I started weeks ago. Wow! We are busy.

Enjoy,

Spillmanville smells like bacon and hamburgers still.

The Studio and The Kitchen

Pictured below is the drawing I'm currently working on, well, and a banana I ate for lunch yesterday. Due to the recent job changing event, the studio has been a land of wackiness and odd hours. My schedule has changed several times in the past weeks. I've gone from not working for a couple of weeks to working @ Bari Restaurant at night and 3 Angels Diner for brunch on Sundays. Now it appears I'm switching again to days at the diner. This could be a nice schedule.

I am a morning person so it will be nice to get up and go. The part I'm most interested in is getting off by 6pm. That means that my studio hours will shift from painting at midnight to painting during the earlier evening hours. 7-12 has never been my studio schedule, but I am super excited to find out what those hours produce. I know now that the studio after midnight is just plain bizarre. I found that when I came back up in the morning to set the studio for the after work sessions, that the work didn't look exactly the way I though it did the night before. I could tell that I was trying to work too fast at night by looking at the line qualities and the amount of excessive ink that was used. I think being physically tired and a bit out of my element at those hours really didn't help the work so much.

This new schedule is subject to change as is the life of a cook, but I'm looking forward to it none the less. I mean it is basketball season and the games start around 7 at night. That means basketball and painting. Hell yes! Although it has been a bit different not being swarmed by kids in an elementary art room, I am positive that I made the right decision of resigning from that environment. I have been extremely optimistic as of late, and I can even tell that I have been somewhat humbled by the opportunity to just put my head down and work with my hands again. So, here's to the new studio times and the work that I will create during those hours. I feel very alive as an artist right now, and I am ready to work my ass off!

Enjoy,

Spillmanville is alive with pleasure.

Hot Off The Presses!

Hell yes! Just stopped by the printer and picked up the first box of Team Spillmanville shirts.

We are excited to be working along with MegFord Design Wear on our little Spillmanville merchandising adventure.

TheTeam Spillmanville shirts will still be available for a limited time as we put together the next moves, so if you are still interested, follow the directions on the right of the screen. It's not too late. You can still join the roster today! Last but not least, We would like to give a very special thanks to all of you now fully official Spillmanvillians for joining the team and supporting our studio and work.

Enjoy!,

Spillmanville loves some T-shirts.

Drunk Monkeys (the pencils)

The studio has been a buzz with activity lately. After finishing the last oil painting, I realized that painting late at night leads to some wacky decision making. After pouring on all the white at the end of a black painting, I realized that I went one step too far. The painting worked for it's purpose, but honestly I wasn't very impressed in the end. I should have probably stopped a couple of sessions before I called it quits. The late hours led to some meddling I suppose. None the less, the painting did what I needed it to. It brought the painting bug down to bite me in the ass.

In case I haven't mentioned it, I am back working in the restaurant world. It feels nice to be back in the kitchen. There are a lot of differences in how my day begins and ends as compared to the previous days of teaching. One, I don't leave stressed out at the end of my shift. That has been a beautiful feeling, and I have really appreciated the ability to sleep through the night without having anxiety attacks about the day ahead. Wonderful. Two, I work with a staff of highly diversified and creative people. Conversations have gone from bitching about school politics and the rotten student that drives everyone nuts to basketball, soccer, music, business, art, cooking, and story telling. It's nice to feel comfortable and a part of my crew, without worrying about people running their mouths behind my back or being walked in on every other day by overpaid inexperienced evaluators. Now, number 3. To all my former art teaching colleagues, who keep telling me that they are jealous of my resignation from teaching, hear this. The hours are long. You don't stop until it's through. Your legs, back, shoulders, and basically your whole body hurts at the end of the day, but the satisfaction is immediate. Oh, and just like teaching, you still have to make the time to create the work in the studio. I know I've put in work at the end of the day or night depending. I find labor rewarding, and It is honestly an excellent feeling to be working with my hands again.

So, Sunday after cooking brunch at 3 Angels Diner, I was uncertain of my abilities to even get up the stairs to the studio. Imagine running through about 12 dozen eggs in a couple of hours while the line waiting for tables is trickling out into the front of the diner. You prep for 3 hours and then sell it out in 4. Non-stop. However, I managed to motivate my ass up to Spillmanville. I couldn't sit down for the fear of not getting back up and my attention span was shot, so I made the most of it and prepped up a nice 6 foot canvas. I've got a nice sketch drawn up for the surface, and it is all stained and ready to go. Yes, another black painting is on the way.

Also on the drawing table is large drawing in the pencil stage. The brushes and pens are ready to go. Yes, the drawing is of a couple of monkeys getting their drink on. There will be a bit more to it as I get into the details and the environment, but I can already tell it's gonna be a blast. The drawing is tentatively titled "Enjoy With A Friend". More to come.

Now, for all of you that have inquired about the comic book project, it is still in the studio, but slowing down for the moment. When I left teaching, it was not with the intention of staying in the kitchen, but more to motivate my studio work. Currently, I am working on a whole new body of paintings and drawings with the intentions of getting some show time this year and possibly new gallery representation. In order for me to accomplish this, other projects are kind of on the slow down until this work is finished or at least in a nice progressive state.

With all that said. 2012 is off with a bang. Work is being made. Ideas for shows are coming forward. We are working hard for you tried and true Spillmanvillians.

Oh, side note. To all of you who ordered your official Team Spillmanville shirt, we graciously thank you. The shirts are in the printing process and should be headed your way this week. New design coming soon. Thanks for the support. Now go make something with your hands and show it off to the world.

Enjoy,

Spillmanville likes the extended robe and house shoe time in the morning.

Into The New Year...

I hope that 2012 has started off right for all you Spillmanvillians. It has been a mighty change around here. Since the end of the previous year, we have left the teaching profession, returned to the culinary world, given up my financial stability, begun pulling late night hours in the studio, started drawing with a fever, started new oil paintings in the hopes of doing a show or to this year, and we have slowly begun to produce some Spillmanville merchandise with more to come.

On the subject of leaving the crazy world of elementary education. The job was rewarding and I was successful at it. My students one countless awards, were featured in several publications, and were exposed to the world of drawing from the age of 5 up by a real artist. My personal achievements were numerous. I started an award winning art program from scratch with nothing more than broken pencils and copy paper. I was interviewed by several publications on the role and importance of art in children. I even got to do lectures as a real authority on this subject. So why leave? The job was too stressful and I could no longer deal with the anxiety of not being able to change the community around me and save these kids. The socio-economic drama that is inner city Memphis was too big for my weak little heart. I had to remove myself from this climate and slowly begin to distance myself from these children. I was too close, and their problems and cries began to keep me awake at night. I had only intended to do this as an opportunity to learn more about art through the eyes of a child. I got it and I understand it, but at the end of the day, it was taking it's toll in my studio. I'd rather be broke on the streets than frustrated at the production in my studio. Decision made.

The return to the kitchen has been great. A kitchen is nothing more than a studio with produce and edible items instead of turpentine and oil paint. I love the ability to produce a product and feel the reaction instantaneously. Plus, the vibes in the kitchen are honestly more creative than in my classroom where I had to dictate everything word for word. Truly a blessing to have such great friends in the culinary world to let me step back in and get my kitchen legs again. Awesome.

Now back to the work. Below is a painting I finished up last night. The title of the painting is "My Place Or Yours". It's a simple little ditty about sharing the good times with those important to you. Fitting, as it was made over the holidays. This painting was a trip. So many weird decision were made as I painted at night. It has been years, and I mean years since I painted past midnight, but it has been interesting to say the least. The painting is on coffee stained canvas, and it was originally just going to be a black painting. Well, then these weird green colors and this hazy pinkness began creeping in. Then, I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I started putting in the whites. I don't really know why yet, but I really love the stark contrast. In the past, I would have never outlined objects in my painting with thick black paint and or used this much white for highlights, but hey I like it. I think that the fact that the black is hand mixed from primary colors is what does it. The black tends to break down into its dominant tones when next to the white. Truly a fun painting to make.

"My Place Or Yours?"

coffee, gouache, oil paint on canvas

30"x24"

Well, that is the view from down here. By the way, thanks to all of you who ordered your official Team Spillmanville t-shirt. We love you, and you are going to love looking slick while you rep the 'Ville. Happy hump day. Now, go out and make something. Then show it to people. Wow! Now you're an artist.

Enjoy,

Spillmanville doesn't pack his lunch in the morning anymore.

Join Team Spillmanville

Join Team Spillmanville Today

These are the official Team Spillmanville player T-shirts. These high quality shirts will let the public know that you are part of something bigger than them and that you do not stand alone. Don't be left on the bench, become a member today and rep the 'ville.

To order just click the pay pal button at the side, select your size, select your player number, and bam! you just joined Team Spillmanville! Please allow at least 2 weeks for delivery.

Enjoy,

Spillmanville loves you!

Happiest of Happy Holidays

Dear Spillmanvillians,

We here at Spillmanville Inc. would like to wish you and yours the happiest of happy holidays. Whether you celebrate the days with large groups of families, eating at the "adult" table, unwrapping presents that stupefy, egg nogging, lazing around, drinking heavily, watching football, making sausage balls, gift card buying, making handy crafts, enjoying "It's A Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Story" on the tube over and over again, or just kicking it by yourself, remember to enjoy the season. No matter which higher power calls you or what building you choose to go, or not to go to on Sundays, realize that you are just one of a gazzillion people out there walking the Earth, and try and treat everyone as if this was a special time for us all. May Santa grant the wishes to all the nice boys and girls, and may Krampus take care of all you naughty little brats that mess it up for the rest of us. Merry Crunkmas and an exceptionally happy New Year to you all.

Happiest of Happy Holidays from Spillmanville to You!

Enjoy,

Spillmanville has already begun the holiday cheer.