From the Bamboo Forests of the Night

(sold)

December 2, 2009 in Art, Art show, Illustration, Illustration Friday, Japan | 13 comments

From the Bamboo Forests of the Night cut paper art by Patrick Gannonsize: 8 x 10 inches
medium: cut paper on board

Good old William Blake knew what he was talking about. Entangled in the vines and bamboo of the shadowy forest, no other animal has quite the same combination of feline grace and stealthy, coiled threat as the tiger.

虎視眈々 (koshitantan) is a yojijukugo, a Japanese idiom made up of four kanji. In this case, 虎 (ko)=tiger; 視 (shi)=eye or gaze, and 眈々 (tantan; the second character repeats the sound of the first) = to aim with ambition. Together, they mean to wait patiently while ambitiously keeping your eyes peeled for the opportunity to strike. That sure sounds like a tiger to me.

The tiger is the third animal in the Chinese (and Japanese) zodiac. I’m not sure why s/he didn’t just eat the mouse and the cow and grab first place. This particular tiger is also the second preview from The Way of Flow running from December 4, 2009 – January 2, 2010 at C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CA.

Down on the Bottom Again Print Surfaces

November 27, 2009 in Art, News | Add your comment

New Print by Patrick GannonThe fourth and final giclée in the 2009 Autumn series of prints, Down on the Bottom Again stands semi-patiently waiting in the shop.

You can read about the original art here. I’m wracking my brains for something clever to say about this poor chap right now, but the truth is that both he and I are breathing a sigh of relief that all of the prints are finished as promised before November is naught but a memory. It’s hardly humble, but I think they came out pretty dang good too.

So, if you’ve been holding off on ordering, hold no longer. Prints ship priority, so barring the wrath of the postal gods, there should still be plenty of time to grab up one or two in time for the holidays. Of course, I guarantee nothing except that I will do my best to get everything out the door quick as a bunny.

Oh yeah, The 2010 Cut Paper Art Calendar is nearly ready too! I’m just waiting on the final color. And this time I promise that, at the very least, it will be for the correct year. Check back soon for an update.

The Flow That Will Not Be Stemmed

November 25, 2009 in Art, Illustration, Illustration Friday, Japan | 3 comments

The Flow That Will Not Be Stemmed cut paper art by Patrick Gannonsize: 16 1/2 x 11 3/4 inches ( 42 x 29.7 cm )
medium: cut paper on wood
click here to go with a bigger flow!

Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living.

~Bruce Barton

Art, music, violence, fear, words, confusion; all things flow into and out of us. Thought is a neverending stream, sometimes cold and deep and logical, sometimes ragged white water. We are the source and we are the mouth and we are an anonymous bend along the way. We may try to dam the path and stem the flow but in time the flow wears all things down. The rhythm continues; the flow will go on.

Catch this flow and more from December 4, 2009 – January 2, 2010 at C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CA

The Flow That Will Not Be Stemmed cut paper art by Patrick Gannon Read the rest of this entry »

Expectations of a Red Threaded Print

November 23, 2009 in Art, News | 1 comment

New Print by Patrick GannonThe third giclée in the 2009 Autumn series of prints, Red Thread Expectations is, I admit, a day or two late. However, I have enough good news that, not only will you forgive it’s tardiness, but you will finish reading this post with a grin in your heart and a warm feeling on your face.

First tidbit of good news: This past Thursday was my birthday! Yay! I’m a year older! Truthfully, I kinda sorta don’t believe in time, so a year more or less doesn’t change my life a whole lot. But I am always down for celebrating. Tho I’m still waiting for my cake… hurm.

Second tiddlywink of good news: This past week saw me finishing the last of the work for The Way of Flow show at C.A.V.E Gallery, and shipping it all out! Woo Hoo! And I didn’t have to pull a single all-nighter to do it. Which is good, ‘cuz at my age they really take it outta me.

The third and final tadpole of good news: The Red Thread Expectations giclée print is available in the shop! I’ve always loved the Japanese concept of the red thread of fate invisibly connecting soul-mates and lovers and the myriad ways that can be used as a conceptual launching point.

I’ll be introducing one more print before this month is over, and then the shop will be just about set for the Holiday season. Except for one more thing. Which is nearly ready. As for the prints, If you’re thinking of ordering more than one, you should probably wait ’til the last one has been announced. After all, there’s no reason to pay shipping twice. All Gicleés are printed on A4-size Deep PV fine art paper.

A Welcome Print

November 12, 2009 in Art, News | 2 comments

New Print by Patrick GannonIntroducing the second in the 2009 Autumn series of prints: A Welcome Messenger.

Honestly, I have no idea why this one took so long to make. There’ve been tons of requests for it, and it holds a special place in my heart. Messenger, along with Hitching a Ride on the Breathe of Fortune marked an exciting change of direction in my work. In a way, nearly all the work I’ve done since coming to Japan has evolved out of these two pieces.

The plan to introduce a new print each week in November is still in effect, and I’m a little shocked that I’ve actually stuck to the schedule. As long as you look at calendar weeks, and not periods of seven days anyway.

Again, If you’re thinking of ordering more than one, you should probably wait ’til they’re all out. After all, there’s no reason to pay shipping twice. All Gicleés are printed on A4-size Deep PV fine art paper.

Gallery Show: The Way of Flow @ C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CA

November 10, 2009 in Art, Art show, News | 6 comments

The Way of Flow @ C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CAI’m not sure which is weirding me out more: that I’m the featured artist for this show, or that it ends in 2010. I mean, 2010?!? Can you believe it?

I’ll update this entry with some more info and thoughts in the morning… right now, I just want to say that I’m thrilled that the good folks at C.A.V.E. have such faith in my work.

Update:
If you’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been a whole lot of new art posted recently, the answer is Flow. Here in Tokyo, it’s been nose to the grindstone time making new art and trying to give folks a great reason to go to C.A.V.E Gallery to check out this show. I think it’s going to be amazing. Not only have I been trying out some new things and working with new shapes, but the list of artists showing their work with mine is impressive indeed.

I’ll be posting teasers and previews of the new work soon. For those of you in the US, this will be the last chance to see the cut paper work in person this year. Unless you’ve picked up a piece, that is. Then you can look at it everyday. I’ve got one more small group show here in Tokyo coming up in mid-December, and then I’m planning on taking a little break for the holidays.

This is going to be an eye-popping show, and I hope that all of you (and your friends, families, acquaintances, and strangers grabbed off the street) can drop in at the gallery. Since I’m trapped here in Tokyo, send some photos of the show and I’ll post them here or on my Flickr page!

the details:
Name: The Way of Flow

opening reception: Friday December 4, 2009 (?)

dates: Friday, December 4, 2009 – January 2, 2010 (the gallery is open Wed-Sun, 11am-4pm or by appointment)

place: 507 Rose AVE, Venice, CA 90291
Tel: 310-450-6960
gallery website: right here.

Paper Mice and New Prints

October 30, 2009 in Art, News | 3 comments

New Print by Patrick GannonThe last time I kicked out new prints, I was flabbergasted to discover that it had been a year since the previous series had come out. I swore not to make that mistake again (this year…). Today, I make good on my silent promise I made to myself when there was no chance of being overheard!

Introducing The Plum Blossom and the Fertile Breath, the first in a series of open edition prints debuting this Autumn. “Plum Blossom” is available in the shop today.

The plan is to introduce one print a week for…a couple weeks. There’ll definitely be two more. And If I can manage it, a third. If you think there’s a chance you’ll order more than one, you should probably wait ’til they’re all out. After all, there’s no reason to pay shipping twice. All Gicleés are printed on A4-size Deep PV fine art paper.

Big News is on the horizon. Just got to go with the flow with this one.

Grrrrrrrrowl!

October 25, 2009 in Art, News | Add your comment

Tiger cutout cut paper art by Patrick Gannon

Got some big news coming soon.

Until then, Eye of the Tiger, baby!

A Hero Must Know How to Accessorize

October 11, 2009 in Art, Illustration, Illustration Friday | 11 comments

A Hero Must Know How to Accessorize cut paper art by Patrick Gannon
size: 11 3/4 x 8 5/16″
medium: cut and torn paper on wood
click here to Super-size her!

A superhero uniform has only a minimum of necessary features. Gloves and boots are always a good idea for those whose skin is not made of stone or steel. Capes are optional; not everyone can carry them off. Certain nocturnal avengers may favor utility belts and pouches, while those with metahuman powers would find them superfluous.

The only absolute necessity, the one thing a hero or heroine cannot do without, is an insignia. Their logo. Preferably prominently displayed. After all, what’s a hero without marketing?

It’s fascinating to watch the evolution of the superhero costume over the decades. The dudes’ costumes have become less colorful and more practical with body armor, a plethora of pockets and pouches, and most happily, less spandex. The girls’ uniforms… well, they didn’t exactly toss on a pair of overalls to tussle back in the 30’s. These days, it’s gotta be a challenge for the artists to pinpoint which scrap of cloth they can erase without the whole thing disintegrating into separate atoms.

Below you can see a couple pose studies. Read the rest of this entry »

The Aftermath of Superheroes and Storm Gods

October 10, 2009 in Art, Art show, Japan, News | 1 comment

AmeCome 2009 exhibitIt seems strangely appropriate that the day after the American Comics 2009 and Raijin Fujin exhibits drew to a close, Japan got hit with the biggest typhoon in ages. There was about a week of rain leading up to it, and an appropriate amount of gusting wind. Happily, the apartment is still standing and, aside for a couple late trains, Tokyo is no worse for the wear.

I’ve spent most of this past week recovering from the string of all-nighters leading up to these two shows. Even with the lack of shut-eye, I’m thrilled with the way the shows turned out. There was some fantastic artwork, and a huge turnout. If you look closely at those photos, you might even notice some new cut paper art hanging on the walls. I’ll be posting it here as soon as I can shepherd it through photoshop.

A hug Thank-You! goes out to everyone who was able to stop by the show and chat!

I wish I had had the time to get snapshots of everyone’s work. As it is, I only was able to circle half the gallery before I got shanghaied.

The photos I was able to take are on Flickr here.

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