Tangled and Shattered

More sketches for the "Tarnished" series:

"Shattered" - I might take out the nest... or maybe make it bigger? I'm undecided.


"Tangled" - Her skin is going to be patterned like wood grain, and I might add some birds caught in her hair.


I think there will be 1-3 more "tarnished dolls" in this series-within-a-series.



Be sure to check out my newest illustration for LA Weekly, out this week! Here is a preview:
"Inked"

News

I was featured on Carbonmade today; what an honor! Carbonmade is a fantastic resource for anyone (especially artists) who want to display their work in a clean, well designed format but do not have the time or resources to build, design, and host their own web page; and best of all IT'S FREE. I am currently using it as my "Legit" web page, routing to it through the web address jawcooper.com.

Here is the link: carbonmade.com/examples



For those that are interested, these are my current and upcoming shows:

03/2010
Everything But the Kitsch N’ Sync (Selected Group Show): La Luz De Jesus Gallery: Los Angeles, California

03/2010
Happiness (Selected Group Show): Perihelion/Pravis Gallery: Phoenix, Arizona

04/2010
Post Penumbra (Selected Group Show): The Upper Six Hundreds: Los Angeles, California

05/2010
Twilight Zone (Selected Group Show): Gallery 1988: Los Angeles, California

05/2010
Tiger Tiger Burning Bright (Selected Group Show): Roq La Rue Gallery: Seattle, Washington

06/2010
4 Person Show: La Luz De Jesus Gallery: Los Angeles, California

06/2010
CAVE Anniverssary Show (Selected Group Show): C.A.V.E. Gallery: Venice, California

09/2010
Sweet Streets 2 (Selected Group Show): Gallery Nucleus: Alhambra, California

10/2010
Horrorwood (Selected Group Show): WWA Gallery: Culver City, California

Blot Rot Rust

Some more sketches in my "Tarnished" series. These first three will become separate paintings of the same size. (I'm thinking 9"x12")

"Rot"
This one shows a little creature trapped on a rotting island with it's pet frogs dying around it and being eaten by the pitcher plants below. Dark, but cute too, right?

I don't want the creature to be any particular animal, more like all woodland creatures rolled into one little monster. I think I need to make it look weirder. Maybe add spines? Stripes? Tusks? I dunno.



"Blot"
In this one, a classy gentlerabbit serenely blots at a suspicious stain on his cuff. Perhaps some shit went down with that axe? Scandal!



"Rust"
This sketch shows a masked girl running with/from a fleet of flying robot-animal-monster-things. (yet to be drawn) I can't decide whether to have them tormenting her by sticking rusty nails in her, or trying to help her by pulling them out. I'm thinking the latter would be a little more pleasant. On a random note, I really like how I drew her front foot. I have a lot of trouble with feet sometimes...



This was just a random drawing of a dapper circus man, which eventually morphed into the idea for the sinister rabbit above.



I wanted to do a painting of a bunch of broken dolls playing with woodland creatures... I still might but I probably won't use this sketch. I think it's bound for the bookshelf of abandoned ideas. Terrible feet.



Well that's what I did today. If you haven't friended my new professional account on facebook/added my fan page, do so. I think the next raffle will only be open to people who are both my "friends" and "fans". Coercion! (Details below the "about me" section on the right in red.)

The hunt begins

Here are a bevy of new drawings for a big painting of a pack of girls hunting an enormous wild boar.








And this last drawing will be for a different painting, involving Salamander Girl playing leapfrog.



What a relief to finally be moving past my stubborn artist's block... I did these all in a day and it feels fan-tas-tic!



Finally, my usual plug:

If you are on facebook and would like advanced warning for future raffles, upcoming shows, and other exciting new JAW Cooper developments, add my new professional account:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000907208519

And become my fan:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/JAW-Cooper/111303482213651?ref=ts

You are all winners in my eyes!

I want to extend a giant thank you to everyone who entered this raffle, your enthusiasm and kind words are so touching!




WINNERS:
The random number generator has spoken! #41 and #18. Being careful to avoid deleted comments and times when people commented twice, I calculate the winners to be:

"Rory" who will recieve "Masked Lady"

"Sophan" who will receive "Salamander Girl"


If you are on facebook and would like advanced warning for future raffles, add my new professional account:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000907208519

And become my fan:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/JAW-Cooper/111303482213651?ref=ts

Warmest wishes,
Cooper

Raffle!

Who wants a free painting?!?





These are two experiments in using gouache more opaquely that I did this week. I would just throw them in the big pile of random paintings and drawings in my bookshelf but I thought it would be more fun to have another raffle!

They are each 4"x6", gouache and colorase on stonehenge. The left one is "Masked Lady" and the right one is "Salamander Girl."

Anyone who would like one of these paintings just comment on this post and leave me your name and some way to get in contact with you if you win. There will be two winners, so if you have a preference between the two paintings let me know, though I make no promises. This raffle will end at 5:00pm tomorrow (Monday, March 22) and I'll pick the winners using a random number generator.

These raffles are my way of thanking everyone out there who visits my blog on a regular basis; checking on my progress, leaving me comments, and giving me feedback. Your support means so much to me!

This Raffle is now over! Add me on Facebook for advanced notice of when the next one will be. (details below)

I now have a facebook account just for business/art. Add me as a friend if you want advanced notice for future raffles!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000907208519

And ALSO add my fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/JAW-Cooper/111303482213651?ref=ts

LANHM 2

Biked to the LA NHM again and drew with Roxy for a couple of hours. I wish there was a way to avoid all the school groups though... they seem to be there every day. I'm gonna make this a regular occurrence so if any fellow Los Angeles artists want to join me, just let me know!

These are all pretty quick and rough:















Secret heads up: Raffle tomorrow!

Inked

Inked drawing of squid and girl for a tattoo design:



Now back to work, much more sketching left to do today!

LANHM

I biked to the LA Natural History Museum today. Just lovely! Sat for an hour or so sketching and marveling... mostly marveling... here are some of the drawings:


This giraffe just looks silly...





I want to start making this a regular thing; biking/drawing in the mornings to keep my body and skills in working condition. If anyone wants to join me in biking and sketching, I'm a NHM Member and I can get a guest in for free with me.

This Is A Limited Edition!

Always wanted a limited edition JAW Cooper pillow or print? I knew it!
I've just partnered with clickforart.com on their "This Is A Limited Edition" collection of luxurious limited edition products. Based in England but designed around the world, participating artists include James Jean, Marguerite Sauvage, Mark Verhaagen, and Tara McPherson just to name a few. Go forth and purchase!

Pillows:
These come in throw pillow (~16"x16") and floor pillow (~40"x40") sizes.


Prints: detail shots
Prints come in an array of sizes and formats, including boxed canvas and framed giclee.


Click HERE to go to the site! Shop shop shop! Buy buy buy! I love you?


I'm working on getting some samples of the pillows to display in my June show at La Luz de Jesus with the lovely and talented Jessica Dalva. Also, a little bird told me that there might be another give-away-raffle this coming week. But, what do little birds know?

Blind Leading the Blind

This is what I did today in between other projects:

"Blind Leading the Blind"
9"x12"
ink and gouache on stonehenge
$TBA$



Original drawing (colorase on stonehenge):

Just a few...

I've been drawing a bunch but I have yet to scan everything, so until I do here are some pretty girls with animals... something totally new for me. Right.

This is called "The Blind Leading The Blind" and could potentially turn into a painting in my "Tarnished" series... (The macaque and the girl are both blind.)


These mermaid/giant squid sketches are for an old friend's first tattoo. I might also make a painting of this for a show if it suits me.



Yup. T&A all day.

Quilt

I'm working on something new and exciting... and merchandisetacular... with an awesome company in england. Since we're just in the beginning stages I don't want to reveal too much, so for now here is a digital quilt of some of my past work:



I've also been drawing/sketching and I'll post that tomorrow once it's all scanned.

ALSO, I'm in the process of picking the next BIG GIVEAWAY item. So stay tuned, I see a raffle in the near future.

LA Weekly Cover!

I did the cover illustration for the latest issue of LA Weekly, and I'm super excited! The story was about the health effects of children who live in high rises near the freeway.

The illustration also appears on page 15 with the story.

Final illustration: (colorase, gouache and ink wash on Stonehenge paper mounted on museum board for integrity)


Final drawing:


Preliminary thumnails:


Pre-preliminary thumbnails:


Original thumbnails: (On the theme of "the big bad wolf." Building next to a freeway is like building next to a beast... you sow the seeds of your own destruction. I really liked these but the concept was too abstract.)


Aaaand here it is in print! (Sorry for the poor quality photos.)

The cover:


With original painting:


Inside story:


Check out Julian Callos's AMAZING illustration/visual column on page 10 of the same issue. Here is the LINK!

Thank you to Daniel Lim for hooking me up with the LA Weekly team, and to Jason Jones and Darrick Rainey of LA Weekly for their great direction.

Macaque

I've collected my reference, made my itunes playlist, and have been list-making like a crazy person in preparation for my next big series: "Tarnished". Gearing up for some serious drawing, painting, sketching, sculpting, bear-rug-making, etc.

These sketches are just a warm up for a piece with Japanese Macaques in it...





So... what do you think of Macaque? Couldn't resist. Sorry.

ALSO! I have three paintings in the "Everything But The Kitsch N' Sync" show at La Luz De Jesus Gallery. The opening is THIS FRIDAY from 8-11pm and if the turnout is anything like it's been the past two years that I've participated, it should be off the hook!

For info/directions/the online preview:
http://www.laluzdejesus.com/