onto brighter pastures... is that a saying?

I've switched to Tumblr... I feel bit mean after all these years with this blogger but the big pictures on tumblr are to nice to resist.  O NEWS IS GOOD NEWS (2.0) is now available for your consumption here!  Enjoy and thanks 

Shameless Self-Promotion

I was just pointed to this post on HolyCool.net.  It is a review of the Crazy 4 Cult 2 Book put out by Gallery 1988 and features my "Stranger" piece from the show! (on the left)  Out of all the awesome artwork in that book, I'm a flattered to get the nod.  Pick up a copy and have a gander... It's pretty great.

Tons of New Children's Book Work!

I've been busy making a portfolio of children's book work for about a month now.  After I finished the "Dixie Trix" experiment, I was really driven to make more and see if I couldn't branch out into making illustrations for picture books.  I had a lot of fun painting and drawing and have decided to tuck away the tablet for now. Here's a sample few images, go to my main site for more.  Enjoy!

Maggie...

Just thought I'd repost this one from a while back given the days events.  And remember kids, get your own milk!

Brush Cleaning Scraps

My latest Illustration project (more on that later) involves A LOT of ink brush and ink drawings and thus, lots of brush cleaning.  These two scraps are my favs so far.  Makes me want to get a little looser in my actual work...

A Homesick Ex-Pat's ode to Turkey Day

Missing the Game and the Bird and shock of Tryptophan hitting the base of the spine.  Thanksgiving is one of my favourite days of the year and I always feel a little pang of homesickness and get cooking.  I have to wait until Saturday this year but I think I can make it... maybe....mmmmmmm.....tuuurkey...

Alright America... who's it gonna be? And it better not be Mitt!

 I've sent in my absentee ballot long ago so its up to you lot to make a good choice.  I wont try to sway anyone's decision but I will say this,  Mitt Romney is a big jerk.

Anyway, Messing around with a #2 brush and Higgins drawing ink.  Then scanned and painted in Photoshop.

Olympics Sketchbook project

Anyone else pumped for the olympics?  I love everything about them from the events to the silly commentators to the looking up all the tiny countries that I've never heard of.  Its doubly exciting to to back in the UK (though not in London) for these games.  Stuff like this makes me want to draw, mostly nonsense but sometimes a real thing or two

I don't mean to brag but I think this might be the funniest thing I've ever thought of.. I feel a few more of these coming on. 

Hitchcock inspired works for Gallery 1988

"Ms. Torso's Apartmant"

"Dial M for Busted"

"Put a Bird on It"

New works for "Suspense and Gallows Humor: A Tribute to Alfred Hitchcock", an exhibition opening up at Gallery 1988 (Venice Location) on April 13th. I've alway been a major Hitchcock fan and was super excited when asked to take part in this show... along with a bunch of other great artists.

One of my all time favorite movies is "Rear Window". The sets and the details in every scene and every shot are so amazing. I've seen it so many times that I could have drawn Ms. Torso's apartment from memory if I needed to... "Dial M for Murder" and "The Birds" are also films I've seen a hundred times and are easy to be inspired by.

So if you're in LA swing by and check it out. If you're not, you'll be able to see the art online after the opening date.

Just Some Stuff...

Steve Jobs, Amy Winehouse and Sheer Khan (we'll come to him in a minute). I don't normally like to promote myself with "tribute" peices based on someones death, but in these two cases, I felt a little differently about the whole thing. The fact that I used my 10 year old G4 tower to color that image with out much trouble is reason enough to give Steve Jobs his props. Plus correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Apple came up with the now universal "power" symbol.

As for Amy Winehouse... I was never a huge fan but there was no doubt that she was very talented. Plus being that I have a little girl myself, that "Daddy's Girl" tattoo really got to me. I am but a softy after all. I'll deffinitly be making this a finished promo sample shortly.

Now Sheer Khan was just scribbled on the back of some list during a phone call but I'm really into it. I'll be bringing him around to completion in the near future... maybe a little crankier.

Unca-Uncle Sam Y'All

I've tried my hand at a Threadless Tee-Shirt design contest... The theme was "Love Your City" and I'm here to represent the home of Uncle Sam, Troy NY! I need your votes to win this thing and get my shirt available for sale so please, click HERE and vote me a "5"! After you're done, why not shop around? Threadless has some of the coolest shirts in the world to peruse. And remember , even if you're not from the Collar City, I want YOU to dig it! Thanks!

Today's Secret Word Is...

Gallery 1988 is at it again. They keep have awesome themed shows and asking me to join in. The latest is a Pee Wee Herman tribute extravaganza! I had a feeling that there would be a lot of Pee Wee's and bikes and other characters so I tried to do something a little different and stick with a type only piece. If you don't know the reference, do yourself a favor and get some Pee Wee's Playhouse in your life! Swing by their site and check out the rest of the goodies.

Crazy for Cult at Gallery 1988

I was very happy and honored to be invited to take part in a exhibition at Gallery 1988 in LA. "Crazy for Cult", now in its fifth year is a show for of works inspired but cult and offbeat films and has quite a following. If you live in LA, swing by and have a blast looking at all the awesome art. If you live somewhere else, don't fret, you too can feast your eyes. Just visit there site and peruse at you leisure. Here's mine based on the Stranger in "The Big Lebowski", still one of my favorite movies and definitely one of my favorite actors/voices, Sam Elliot. A simple pencil drawing for a simple philosophy...

And here is one of several my pal and sometimes collaborator Drew Degraff laid down based on the excellent "They Live!" Its inexplicably still for sale so snap it up sharpish! If you don't I might.

Solo Show at Salem Art Works, Salem NY

I stink... I am posting this a week after the opening which is really late, but better really late than never! I was graciously invited to show my work at the Salem Art Works' Cary House Gallery for the month of July and to contribute something permanent for public consumption. I'll get to that in a moment.

First, for those who don't know SAW you are sadly missing out on one of Upstate's great art centers. They have vast and varied facilities for artist in residence to take advantage of and run excellent events and exhibitions, like a show of big, geometric works by Painter Adam Daily in their awesome Barn 2 Gallery... Not to mention that it is a beautiful old farm in extra beautiful Washington County. Well worth a visit. Get up there!

As for my show, I'm showing a a lot of recent work with one site-specific drawing on a funky, worm-holed 1x8... I'll have to put some pics of that one up later. When asked where I might like to do a mural,place small sculpture or contribute in any other grown up way, I responded like any man-child and said "Hey! Can paint on that sweet Truck over there!" Here are some quick pics of the "BOOM!" truck from the day I spent painting it... More professional one's to come.

"before"... I was scared to mess up that fantastic patina, but then I did anyway.

the passenger's side almost complete

finished hood and roof

this was when the lord said "don't screw up that patina!"

So please to go see the good folks at SAW, you'll be happy you did.

Creative Quarterly 24 Runner Up Spot!

A few months back I submitted some work to the Creative Quarterly and then promptly forgot all about it. Well the other day, much to my surprise I received an email telling me that I landed a runner up spot for my Cerberus image! All you can do right now is read my name on the list but the magazine and online gallery will be out in the Fall sometime.

If you don't know about Creative Quarterly, it's a great journal of Art and Design full of visual goodness of the highest pedigree. It is well worth a look and it's an honor to be included in such a talented bunch of folks.

Camp Firewood at Gallery 1988

Wait For Me

SuperComputer

Arts N' Farts N'Crafts...sold!
Abby Bernstein

I currently have a few paintings at Gallery 1988 in Venice, California. A truely awesome place! They're part of a group show of works celabrating the tenth aniversary of the Cult Commody Wet Hot American Summer. If you are on the Left Coast, you should drop in and see all of the great and funny work. Everybody else can see the work by checking out there site. Follow the link above and you can get either the directions you need or check out the art. It was a blast to be a part such a funky show and I'm looking forward to making some stuff for their Crazy for Cult show in July.

A Belated and Paraphrased Easter Message from my Godson, Vinnie

"Mom, I just saw the Easter Bunny!"
"Really! Was he really big?"
"No, he's tiny..."
"Oh, what color was he?"
"RED!"

And thats why Vinnie's the man.

"History of the World" is open!

After many months of hard labor, late nights and softly weeping in my studio... it's alive! Drew DeGraff and I have finished all of our NEW works and giant murals that have transformed the Art Center of the Capital Region's gallery into a walk-in sketchbook/nerd-art dork nest. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Caroline Corrigan, Matt Shropshire and the rest of the Art Center folks for the fantastic opportunity. I 'd like to thank my wife Emma, whose idea this was in the first place and for basically being a single mom for two months. I suppose I have also to thank Drew as well even though he only produced 50% of everything. All joking aside, I am very proud of Drew and I and what we acheived with the show. It was a monumentally good time to work with my oldest Frenemy on what could be the greatest thing ever.

So come to Troy and learn lots of inaccurate facts about the world around you. Bring your kids to scare and confuse them. Sit and read a book we've selected for you or even draw a cannonball. The reasons to come and see History of the World: Owen Sherwood and Andrew DeGraff are both limitless and awesomely rad. It's open now through June 3rd and don't forget about the reception... April 29th. Come eat, drink and enjoy some artwork with us. The more the merrier. I'll be getting a haircut and a new Salvation Army suit for the occasion so you know its going to be ill.

Crunch Time!!

The History of the World exhibition is fast approaching and the rush is on. My co-exhibitor Andrew Degraff and I are pounding out the last of our work and polishing up the details as we speak. The work is looking good and the wall drawings should be a whole lot of fun when completed. Slowly but surely, my anxiety is turning to excitement... unfortunately both give me agita.

Cerberus

Having myself some fun re-doing some myths and monsters for the upcoming History of the World show in April. Cerberus is the first of three or four. The scanner clipped her ear and tippy-toe off which is a drag but you get the idea. Next I plan to release the Kraken, which sounds gross but is not.