Well, it finally happened folks and I could not be more happier. I was able to meet the Man, the Myth, the Legend....ladies and gents... Ben Tanzer! Hooray! 

Ben was able to give a reading at Freebird Books (a SUPER cool used book store......I bought like 5 books that night) right here in Brooklyn. Of course, Ben read from his book, "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine"  which contains my very first book cover art and I'm very proud of that fact because it's a beautiful cover and a super great story!

I  have to say, hearing Ben read in person was a great pleasure . He's a natural born stage man and narrator as well. Sharp wit, highly animated and overall a warm and thoughtful guy.  I was thinking "dude, you have to do a  book on tape  series" and I think more than one person agreed, if not, even mentioned it to him. Seriously, the book takes on a whole new spectrum when he reads and I hope other people will have the opportunity to hear him as well. THIS is an important characteristic for a writer and very crucial to making appearances and giving readings. If you have a certain flair for reading in front of people and keeping their attention, then you have a special gift.

Congrats Ben on a great book, reading and night of beers!!!!

You see, even the camera can't keep up with Ben's super fast moves! Slicing and dicing all the way!

Ben and Me. Okay, this is what happens when the camera man has too many drinks. Slightly blurred but you get the idea.

 

I love this comic by Robert Crumb. When you  need a good laugh -  he's the go-to man:)

Hup, hup, huppy hup!

Ben Tanzer's book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" ( and my cover art!) have finally arrived and are ready for purchase. This is the link

OA Press, Ben Tanzer Book

Thanks you guys and I look forward to getting a few of these things!!!

Okay, I'm very happy to have been interviewed by Jason at Orange Alert Press for the cover art I recently did for Ben Tanzer's book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll go Mine".

As I said before, this was a sweet project, my very first cover art for a book I really dig and go now to check the interview! 

 Thanks you guys!

Orange Alert Interview
 

MPG 

To all those who occasionally browse through my bloggy blog writings and events, here is something I'm very happy to be involved with: Ben Tanzer and Orange Alert Press.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been working on the cover art for Ben's new book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" and it's been a great pleasure. It's my first experience illustrating a book cover and I hope to continue with future projects. I wish him the best as well as much success.

Well, this is not about me per-say, it's about Ben and his new book AND, a great interview he gave to Jason and OA Press.  Check it here: Ben Tanzer Interview.

Congrats Ben!

MPG

Glad to know our show got a little love from Artcal!  Thanks you guys!

http://www.artcal.net/event/view/8/7338

I'm happy to announce that my work was selected for a group exhibition at my Graduate School, The New York Academy of Art. The selection committee consisted of David Salle, Will Cotton, Nicola Hicks and Matthew Flowers (Gallery Owner- Flowers East).

I feel great and I'm very thankful to the committee for choosing the piece: "Thicket".

 

Come join me!

"Rift" Oil on Paper, 22 x 30 in.

I have to say, I'm very excited to be a part of a book cover project I've been working on for the past few months with Ben Tanzer and Jason Behrends, who interviewed me last Summer on What to wear during an Orange Alert.com

You can check out the progression of the book here Orange Alert Press

When I was first approached about the project, I was more than willing to help these guys. In regard to literature, art and music, they certainly have their act together. It just seems like we have similar interests and tastes, and I've never even met them in real life (I'm in New York- they're in the Chicago area).

It's a relationship forged by the internet, which is a perfect example of it's endless capabilities to connect people. Jason's Orange Alert site is a pleasure to read and always interesting ( it was named this past Feb. 08' in Chicagomag.com as one of the top Art & Culture websites), and Ben's writing is superb. After reading many passages from his book, I connected with it from the very beginning. I love the dialogue between the characters. Sometimes all you need is a few distinct lines or sentences to get your imagination rolling. And the title: "Most likely you go your way and I'll go mine" is compelling to me. It has a kind of "punch" to it that most titles do not. I think it's a feeling or mood we can all relate to on a personal or emotional level. It stays with you. The title automatically makes me curious about the contents, and seeing the figures in the foreground juxtaposed against the NYC skyline makes me want to go inside the book. I think readers will feel the same way.

 

 

A very special thanks to Jason and Thieves Jargon for posting my work on their home page. Go check it out!!! :)

 Cool site:)

MPG 

"Mother and Daughter" 40 x 30 inches, Oil on Linen

 

 

 

Panic Attack- 24"x34" Oil on Linen

More to come.... 

These drawings are from the The Sketchbook Project Exhibition in Atlanta, GA at Art House. Many thanks to the owners for such a cool exhibition. I wish I could have made it down there for the event.

The theme was human fears and it could be interpreted on many levels: light hearted and humorous or disturbingly dark and cynical.  I chose both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brothers: circa 1978

Very Cool Song......

I don't want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

Fall off the table,
Get swept under
Denial, denial

The infrastructure will collapse
Voltage spikes
Throw your keys in the bowl
Kiss your husband goodnight

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

Fall off the table,
And get swept under

Denial, denial
Denial, denial
Your ears should be burning
Denial, denial
Your ears should be burning
Denial, denial

 

In Rainbows - T.Y. 

Other than painting I take photos from time to time and I'm showing some of them at Clarabella tonight. They are from earlier this Spring at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

A big thanks to Erin for having the show! Come on out for food, wine and visual delights:)

MPG 

 

Check the new works on WooLoo!

 Wooloo.org

My friend and former schoolmate Debra Goertz is a having an exhibition at Stricoff Gallery

She has a lot of new works and we have similar themes going on with the vintage/Americana inspired stuff.  

Congrats Debra!

 

 

One of the great ones. Rest in peace Norman Mailer. 1923 - 2007

Check this article on his life:  Village Voice.

If you haven't checked out his new book, "On God", I suggest going out and buying a copy. It's an unusual account of his thoughts on God and the Devil. Great read.

 MPG

 

I recently entered the Sketchbook project which was organized by Art House in Atlanta, GA. This is a very cool exhibition in which the owner sent out 500 small sketch books across the United States and asked the artists to fill it with the theme of "Fears". I will post the images later when the book is returned but for now, here is the link to see what is going on with the project.The Sketchbook Project

 I plan on making the sketches into paintings and it will all be from imagination. A combination of humor and disturbed memories.

 

MPG