National Portfolio Day

At the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, on November 7th...

"National Portfolio Day consists of representatives from regionally accredited colleges and universities, which are members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design."

Sometimes criticism from a stranger carries more weight than the everyday counsel. Like all good advice - it should be taken with a grain of salt. We waited in line for Mass
Art and RISD, and as you can see - it was a long wait. The schools have two different vibes:

MassArt - offered me no critique, rather a brief commentary and talked to me about college admissions/preparation. (I graduate in 2012). I'm attracted to MassArt because of its looser style, affordability, and sort of group mentality.

R.I.S.D. - offered a refreshing, thorough critique that was exactly what I needed to hear. My reviewer brought up some solid points:

• Slow Down ("Don't drink coffee" -Not sure if that was literal)
• Show mastery of color through simplicity - "less is more"
• More observation and work from life
• etc.

I was vaguely aware of all this, but seeing a seasoned professional use examples from my work is very helpful. However - I can think of even better ways to spend $208,420. Hows that for a grain of salt? I also took note of MassArt hiking up its costs: roughly $40,000. What's up?

Lighting the Community - Public Art Project

I'm one of five artists commissioned to paint these giant fiberglass sculptures! I only have one week to create something to the effect of my above sketch - contemplating Worcester past and present, and hopefully conjuring a sustainable future. My sketch is pretty loose, but I made a point of incorporating some Worcester notables such as printer Isaiha Thomas and industrialist George Crompton. The piece will also feature some earthy textures, unspoken crowds, hilly vistas, and familiar 3-deckers. (The usual.)

More soon!

EDIT:

Yesterday was the big kickoff event for the CFL Light Bulb campaign. City officials, representatives, and Sidewalk Sam spoke to the crowd that formed at Worcester Common. There's info in todays paper, and some early coverage in Worcester Magazine.

The City of Worcester expressed enthusiasm for green-initiatives.
Congratulations to the four other artists: Lennie Peterson, Todd Rawley, Sue Champeny, and Eamon Gillen. We had "less than a week, so we had to hustle and make it happen."

My piece can be seen at the Youth Center - 326 Chandler St., Worcester MA.

Pecha Kucha

Pecha Kucha is a great local event I'm participating in this Sunday, September 29th. Join me and a slough of other artists/creatives as we let our worlds loose on stage at the Hanover Theater. RSVP for the big event!

I aslo made some new buisiness cards, I was cleaned out at stART last weekend:

stART

I'll be at stART on the Street tomorrow, selling limited numbers of custom tee shirts and brooch pins. I also plan to have some artwork on hand as well (just in case). Also, checkout the creative envelopes that stART organizers recieved.

See you there!

Local Music - HODW

This is one of four exciting graphics I've prepared for Hat On, Drinking Wine's upcoming album, entitled "Plastic Flowers". I've taken a liking to the "rootsy rock and roll" style since listening to the early mixes. I can't wait to get my own copy, and officially jam out to "Practical in Love", "These Stories", and ofcourse, "Plastic Flowers".
Designing an album was a first for me, and I'm up for more music-oriented art.

Koi

A layered and fun artwork featuring koi fish lost in very Worcester-esque green waters.
It's a diptych consisting of two 15" x 30" canvases - one hangs at Maury's Kung Fu Academy at 1326 Main St., Worcester, and the other at the clients house. (Thanks Matt)




---"Koi", in acrylic, pigment, and enamel on dual canvases.

Teenage Zombies

Worcesters upcoming zombie movie really kicked off last week. If you want to be casted or help out in any fashion, feel free to join the facebook group or send an email. All ideas/contributions are valued.

I oversee special effects for the film, and play a character who undergoes quite the character arc.

G.I. Joe

<<< "G.I. Joe" is a mixed media piece I did about a year ago, in oil, acrylic, and collage over found wood.

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I just returned from a meeting with Congressman James McGovern, who is noted for protesting the Darfur Conflict.

One of the latest additions to his Mechanic St. Office is a Darfur related painting I created a while back. (I have no photos of the work). He had good things to say about the painting, and liked the consience behind it, which I appreciate. (Thanks to Tim H. and Joe M. for bringing it all together).

Mannequins

May and June are my busiest months. Dear clients, commissioners, gallerists and whathaveyou, you're projects are well under way.

Check out my latest two cents in Worcester Magazine, and on Channel 11. (?)

These are the mannequins, and yes, they're creepy. This experimental piece exploits the magic of Krylon spray paint, oil, and acryla-goauche.

I don't know where it's going. . .

C-Town Monster

Watch out
for the Chinatown Monster at Space 242 Gallery Boston, in the upcoming Circus Freaks Show!


The 'Freaks' theme seemed to fit the bill for a lot of my work, I had several submissions this time around.

--- "C-Town Monster", in acrylic, spray paint, and collage. Wrapped in a homemade black wooden frame. (not pictured)






Im hanging completed works on the studio wall, and still putting together a feast of art for the next s0l0 sh0w.

I've been thinking about wallpaper recently, and remembering all the times I've spent chiseling away old, gross wallpaper. For the Aurora Gallerie's next show, "Hangin on the Wall", artists are invited to create interpretations of wallpaper and expand upon Worcester's manufacturing history.
Below is my in-progress piece, built from stretched cotton tees over board, and using multi-media to pay homage to wallpaper style.

More info and artwork to come

Tape Man the Third

IN PROGRESS, the diabolical construction of Tape Man the Third.
Tape Man is a local phenomenon that got started a few summers ago, and the mannequins have since spread. (We drew inspiration from tape-cast artist Mark Jenkins.) I've only caught glimpses of the local spinoffs, although competition drives Tape Man further into the realm of installation art. Tape Man the 3rd (with the help of model Alicia) will be built from three layers of 2.2 mm packing tape, with colored duct tape accents. The life-like plastic cast will be stuffed, limb by limnb, with shredded paper.
Traditionally, Tape Man uses urbanity as a stage - wearing clothes, drawing crowds and exploiting art. This Tape Man will take on a new role as an indoorsman, seated and trapped by his own silence.
I only have a small window of time to assemble Tape Man at school each day; rumor has it that he will debut at Night of the Arts.
Today I offer you snapshots of the newly casted torso and arms. Stay tuned for the unveiling of Tape Man No.3, and witness life through the eyes of a packing tape assemblage.

Prints For Sale!

MUFFIN HAUS

This muffin will be floating around, haunting your dreams and deepest thoughts.

It's a digital archival print edition of 12, numbered and signed at $6 a piece. Semi-gloss ink on 23 lb. bright white paper, send an email (keenanfc@gmail.com) now before they're gone.

"It suddenly grew legs, windows, and a whole crowd of angry faces marred its surface". . .

Skull Stickers

It seems like every time I look down, there's a skull printed or stitched onto my clothes.
This is part of a short-lived sticker campaign I started late last March, which I'm rekindling with a large art piece.
One of the issues I initially encountered was WEAK ADHESIVE. The stickers would disapear from the hands of a passerby or even a slight breeze. (It is March after all.)
The process involves hand stenciling mixed, bright colors onto sticker paper. (Spray paint works well.) After mass-producing the skull shapes, I silkscreen the skull in black as a second layer. They're then cut and distributed.
Skulls are a good motif, they represent rebirth in Mexico and death every where else.

Circus Freaks

W.H. Johnson, or "Zip the What Is It?", lived a long life as a P.T. Barnum sideshow freak. "The American people love to be humbugged..."
He wore a furry suit and spent a lot of time playing the violin in a cage, it's apparent that times have changed. The conception of this piece has been moving quickly, I stretched a piece of thick canvas over a 12"x14" board. It's since been covered in oil, spray paint, collage and transfer (Whatever it takes).

More to come soon.

Olson!

//SOLD//

Charles Olson, in acrylic, enamel, and colored pencil on canvas, 24" x 36"

Charles Olson (1910-1970) was an important poet and writer born right here in Worcester, Ma. He was 6'8", and coined the term 'postmodern' in a letter.

Olson's 100th birthday passed recently, and I was commissioned this portrait to coincide with an event at Clark University. There are no color photographs of Olson, (as far as I can tell), which was the challenge in this piece. The painting has alot of interest in the backround and finish, I used golden spray paint, resist effects, glazing, e.t.c. (Note: picture quality is rough.)

Tobor

Tobor is a blue robot that I assembled using acrylic, goauche, marker, and silkscreen on found wood. The piece also features a custom made frame out of I-hooks and steel tubing.

It'll be on display/sale at Space 242 Gallery in Boston, in the I...You...We...ROBOT Show. Opening January 29th, pieces from over 70 artists will be for sale both online and through the gallery.

-Click for larger version