Gladiator Fouled Up!

You may be surprised to learn that before I began my career in art villainy, I was once on the fast track to becoming an assiduous archaeologist and anthropologist. I don't know if I could have pulled off the whip swings like Indy, mind you, nor wield a pair of guns like Lara Croft, but I was just the right amount of nervy nerd to be fascinated by the discovery of civilizations lost and research the lives of people long since passed away around the world. My artistic side prevailed, however, and that globe-trotting, low-income career was packed away for the fast life of Los Angeles. It's only when I come upon articles like this that the relic hunter in me gets a giddy grin. A carved tombstone, 1,800 years old, was finally deciphered after being discovered a century ago. Turns out it tells the story of a gladiator done wrong in battle and losing his life because of it. It's these types of stories that intrigue me the most, as they breathe true life to a civilization most people today only learn about from blockbuster movies and art house films (nobody reads books anymore, do they?). Don't get me wrong now. I love my chosen career as it has afford me a great many opportunities in my life and I'm thankful for it, but I do wonder sometimes. What about you? If you didn't pick where you are right now in your life, where do you think you'd be?

Electric Lady!

People keep telling me I need to put up more art on my Facebook page, more videos on my YouTube channel, and just to keep up with all my creativity in general. It's one of the reasons I kicked off Ghoul Scouts and I started updating for you all on the regular. My life revolves around the weird, spooky and strange and a lot of that filters into all that I do. So now that I'm writing and reading about it all more, I find myself cranking out more work and developing more ideas for new art projects. Still, it may seem like new art is trickling out at a snail's pace and for all you Plastiqa fans, I do apologize. You have to understand that I do have many paying clients that I put out for for, art whore that I am, so the ability to develop stuff of my own ends up hitting the back burner until I get a bit of a respite. Plus, I want to have a social life just like any one else, and inviting people over to watch me work isn't my idea of being the ideal host.

So I'm glad I finally got the t-shirt above done. It's from a sketch I had sitting around for a year now that I finally colored and laid out this week. I put it very affordably (like all my other items) for  sale here, my online Plastiqa store. Hopefully as time goes on, I can get at least one new shirt up for you all each week to buy, look at and/or simply enjoy. I'll be editing videos this weekend for the channel and I'll be trying to iron my schedule as a whole for both here and all my other accounts so that come Monday, I can hit the ground running. For all of you that have bought stuff, wrote me, and sent me messages and comments, thank you so much! You're encouragement means a lot and I appreciate it more than you know! Take care, have fun, and stay gruesome, ghoulies!

Gnarmageddon Fest 2011!

What a weekend in Southern California this is shaping out to be! It's true that I am still reeling from a wild weekend with my friends, but I'm slowly rejuvenating enough to head out and be just as rambunctious this weekend. In all actuality, I should be catching up on my work, as my t-shirts won't design themselves no matter how many times I wish they could. Man that would be amazing though! It'd mean I'd actuality get to grab a bite, break out my power ring and see a movie. Or something. Anything.

One thing for I'd do if I had all the time in the world is go to the Gnarmageddon Fest in Pomona, CA. Which technically I could, but it's all going on the same day as my bff's birthday dinner and, since family comes first after world domination, I highly doubt I can make it out to see the show. Although I'm excited for the insanity I will be partaking with my friends, it sucks that I'll be missing out on a great punk show. I think the only solution is that you all will have to go in my place! With bands like Agent Orange, D.O.A., and Ill Repute (which I have a certain affinity with since we come from the same hometown) performing, how could avoid it? It's an all ages show so try not to step all over the littler kids. Or do. Up to you. Their bones are will mend easy.

In the meantime, ghoulies, watch this ish!:

Tim Burton at LACMA!

Epic fail on my part! Goes with the territory in my life, but THIS is unacceptable. As many of you are well aware, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been hosting an exhibit for acclaimed director Tim Burton for about two weeks now and because my work schedule is so hectic, I have been putting off going all this time. Compound that with the fact that  I hate dealing with crowds and I heard the show has been getting insanely packed. 

Well, I'm going through a pile of what I had thought was simply junk mail. Turns out amongst all the letters was an invite to renew my membership to LACMA with what they called a Tim Burton membership, where I could've gone to all the advanced showing of the exhibits minus the general public crowds, plus screenings of his movies and even some Tim Burton swag. WHAT?! How could I overlook that?! Suffice to say I was majorly disappointed with myself and that fact that I missed out on something that I would've totally scored with. Ridiculous. Oh well. What can I do at this point then just grit my teeth and deal with mobs.

The show is running May 29, 2011 to October 31, 2011 so I have plenty of time. Until then, I've stuck a clip below of the trailer to one of my favorite movies of his (and all time). I'm sure I'll be visiting his exhibit often, so you better, too! See you there, ghoulies!

Ink-N-Iron Recovery!

 (left to right: Revecka, Andrea Young, Sawdust, Jennifer Corona, Mr. Plastiqa, as shot by Miss Ivy D'Muerta)

As the US debt teeters on a downgrade, the FBI rewrites its rulebook, and McRacism rumors turn out to be McFake, what are the all encompassing thoughts going through my maniacal master mind? The fact that I had the best weekend at Ink N Iron, of course! I got to see so many friends (like the awesome Jen Corona and the very pragmatic Revecka), make a lot of new ones (such as the super talented Sawdust and the all around wonder artist Andrea Young), and shoot so many videos. I still haven't had the chance to go through everything I shot, but hopefully I can do so tonight and post stuff up for next week. Did you go? Did you see me there? Did you buy me a drink? If you did all three you get an über exclusive Ghoul Scout Digi-Badge! If not, you better pick up the slack next for next time, Ghoulie!

Seems like a non-blog today, but if you could see the stack of work I have then you'd understand. I promise more rambling, extra gravy with a baked potato for tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a video from my friend Remy Voodoo of Batmobile, who threw down this past weekend. Enjoy!

Ink-N-Iron!

There was a time when only outsiders, tough guys and ladies at the carnival were the only folks you'd see with tattoos. Now it seems so normal that almost everyone has one. I do mean everyone. Surprisingly, for a hater like me, I think it's a great thing. I mean, the art and practice of tattoos dates back over 5000 years, it's applications and meanings evolving over time just like much of human history. So no matter what your way of life is, this weekend the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA,  will be hosting the annual Ink N Iron Festival. Featuring top artists in the field, as well as piercers, pin-stripers, and even pole-dancers, this show is always the place to be for those interested in kustom kulture (yes, it's spelled with k's) and everything associated with low brow art. So, of course, yours truly will be there, shooting video for my YouTube channel, which has been sorely neglected for weeks now and seeing all the great bands that are playing. The way I work, it's probably the only time I will see most of my friends until the 4th of July weekend! Tickets are a bit pricey for INI, but if you get the $80 3-day pass, the price works out for all you will see. If you see me there, make sure you stop me to say hello! I'll be the weirdo art villain talking into a Flip cam with drunk pin-up girls laughing at him. So on that note: Gone fishing 'til Monday, ghoulies!

Extra! Facebook Wants Your Face!

Oh! Interesting side note for those who come from one of my Facebook accounts (here, here, and obviously here); while reading into the above story, I came across another article on the new technology Facebook is adopting. Back in December, FB started to test facial recognition technology for newly uploaded photos to assist users with tagging friends. Well, just like many privacy related changes they make, this was rolled out on masse, quietly and seemingly under the radar. Now pictures you upload will be added to a database of 500 million Facebook users, although representatives say your information (that is, your facial identity) will only be accessible to your friends. Apple's iPhoto and Google's Picasa  already have something like this, but for personal usage within your own personal photo collection. Facebook's usage of facial recognition is the first usage in a major social media application on a widespread scale. So I guess now the powers that be, at Facebook and beyond, can soon start putting all your Likes on the Bieber page to a face. Your secret is out, ghoulie!