Walking the Dead: D3ad/Ends Book Review

It may have been over a year since it's release, but Michael Ashman has written a sterling review of my book  D3ad/Ends, for those good folks over on Thumbprint...

"Is death really “The End”, or is there an afterlife after all? David Gough contemplates this idea and so will you after looking at his art book titled "D3ad/Ends."

You can read his very perceptive article in full from the link: D3ad/Ends review, or if you are in La Jolla, visit Thumbprint gallery, in what I would say is San Diego's gateway venue for happening Art.

The book is still available from my site, davidgoughart.com/Dead_Ends.html

Drawing Breath-art comission by David Gough for local Sexologist

Some last minute retouching on the erotic drawings before I deliver them later today.



Here they are in no particular order.

'Paradox'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

'Palindrone'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

'Osmosis'-11" x 17"-Graphite and acrylic wash on paper

I'm very pleased with the set, and at some juncture I may put them together as a series of limited edition prints. We'll see.



All being well, I should have some more good news to impart over the next few days, and as its the week that celebrates (or commiserates) another year older, I'll be posting a daily feature showcasing five things that influenced me growing up.

putting the finger onThumbprint:Picture post from the Thumbprint gallery featured show with David Gough

In which a little thumbnail corner of Hillcrest was inhabited with numbers in the high digits-or so the pun should go. In truth, it was a grand turnout for what is my second featured showing this year, which made it all the more humbling since one could have felt as welcome as last nights cold curry leftovers in a copy of last years Financial Times.

As always, I have a selection of friends and followers to thank, but especially to those who usurped their Saturday night for a eyeful of art and an earful of my ramblings... you are all diamonds in my sky.

Which just leaves a collection of token photies to leave there own thumbprint.

Enjoy

Thumbprint gallery Featured show, San Diego with David Gough

Tonight's exhibition made it into the pages of CityBeat, with a rather nice little piece to go alongside the Valley thumbnail. I'd like to think I'll make it onto the cover someday, but I never really can tell the criteria for these things.
After some fiddling yesterday, I decided the last piece shall be accompanying the other works on the wall this evening. Wet off the easel-literally-its unfinished, but I really wanted to have two new works to showcase, since its only a month since my last featured show, and for any return visitors I wanted to give them something new to make it worth their while.

Doors open around 6pm, I shall be hovering somewhere ready for grilling and bartering, so bring your rich friends and your checkbook;)

Look forward to seeing you there

Thumbprint Gallery
2637 University Avenue. #A
San Diego, CA, 92104

Head Candy for a Valentine hangover

February is looking a little thin on the blog front-it was the same last year, but I think I was stuck up the arse end of feeling sorry for myself, whereas this year I am too busy to know my arse from my elbow.
Tomorrow is a return to regular painting duties, I have several canvases awaiting assault, in time for my show at Thumbprint this oncoming March (pun intended), which I shall be featuring alongside artist Jerrell Connor.

I also have the Peter J Carroll book which I need to continue illustrating, so my calender is full even if my blog for February isn't.

Showboat-Faith and Formulas at Thumbprint

Temperatures soared at San Diego's hottest art venue -Thumbprint last night-not only because the collected throng there, was a veritable barrel of Chile's for the city's hottest outsider talent and eye tamales, but because the temperatures for a September evening set just below the point where paint begins to melt.

Despite the heat of the night, attendance was healthy, and my thanks as always to Johnny Tran and Nomad for hosting the event, as well as all those people who came along to view the art and say an enthusiastic hello. My very gracious thanks to Dan Allen and Brian Dombrowsky who are fellow collaborators from the video game, and who made a special journey to visit and meet me in person.

Here are a selection of photos from the event below:

My gorgeous and endlessly patient wife-Lani-loved this piece:

Long shot showing the work of featured artist-Mofo. Johnny Tran just gliding out of view in the foreground.


Its all for one, and one for all-Dan, myself and Brian from the Dark Vomit video project.

Encouraged by Mister Tran, I took an hour out to do some live painting, on a canvas which will be a collaboration with other artists attending future events- the results of which are as thus-I think I'll call it Endgame.

Faith and Formulas show at Thumbprint gallery, by David Gough

1. Tonight is the Faith and Formulas show at Thumbprint gallery, here in San Diego. Having seen the artists installed, I think this show promises to be the best one yet. Doors open at 7pm and runs until midnight-driving directions here: 3925 Ohio St, San Diego, CA 92104
Hope to see some of you there.

2. I had the real pleasure of seeing the demo for the online video game for the first time yesterday. The game elevates the genre from a standard shoot em up, by placing the universe in a series of rotating galleries, all represented by the cream of 'San Diego surrealists'. Its a very exciting project to be involved with, and already has marked interest from art periodicals such as Juxtapoz. Much credit and thanks should go to Producer- the incomparable Dark Vomit-whose work deserves a post all of its own. General release isn't until October 1st from- www.interactiveartshow.com but you can see a short reel demo, in the youtube link below. My dungeon gallery (with decapitation,) shows up at around the 2.02 mark.

Something for the weekend-part two

5. The Thumbprint gallery, here in San Diego shall be opening a group show on the 19th September which is a perfect showcase for my work, entitled Faith and Formulas. Doors open at 7pm to 12am, at 3925 Ohio St, San Diego, CA 92104

6. Whilst my daughter was in town, we had the opportunity of seing an exhibit of Richard Avedons work, entitled Portraits of Power, which was still showing at the Museum of Art in Balboa Park, here in San Diego,up until a week ago.
A former photographer for the New Yorker, mostly known for his high society and movie start portraits, the exhibit centered largely around his political work of the sixties and seventies, utilizing portraits of political benefactors and activists juxtaposed alongside ordinary citizens, to express the moral, class and racial chasm that still exists within American society.


Its a very powerful collection, which stays with you long afterwards, and may be touring to a different city, but is well worth the admission fee should you find it opening in your locale.
7.Accompanying me daily on my artistic travels, are my cats, who have taken to squatting in my studio and using it as their post catnip chill out zone.

Notes from an easel part 22-a return to your regular programming

This is my third stab at this piece, which originally found itself as almost a throwaway concept, about the absurdity of dressing death up. Of course I felt I'd said it much better with Axiom, so this was my satirical approach, almost an Alfred E Neuman version from MAD magazine. Of course, whenever I'd show the piece at events, it got a lot of attention, so I've finally decided to work it up properly, with the exception that I've developed it to a further level, and may include an additional dimension to it.

Anyway, here is the sketchbook version, with the rough markings on canvas below. Incidently, when my daughter-Emma-first saw the piece, she said the little bunny characters painted on the skull looked like something called 'Miffy'. My intention had been to do a Hello Kitty style character, but thought I'd create my own . Apparently someone got there before me. How bizarre.


Following on from Sundays Exhibit at Thumbprint, there was a very nice video which popped up on my Facebook from the event. Thankfully, I appear in the background, for a few seconds (although I was interviewed that day, which should surface sometime soon) its a lovely momento.

The Video is Here

Making Thumbprints

It has been noted-and not just by myself-that if their is any art scene at all in San Diego, then it is largely driven by tourists looking for souvenir tat. However, if the turnout at Thumbprint (arguably, San Diego's premier gallery for emerging talent) is anything to go by, then there is an audience out there for something more than diluted seascapes and blooms, because I am glad to report that the patronage was healthy and enthusiastic throughout the day./
My indebted thanks to all of the lovely people who stopped by to meet and greet, I am always grateful for the support, the interest and encouragement.
In particular, my thanks to Johnny, Nomad, my wife Lani, Christine and her family, Carolyn, Mark, Earl and Ernie,Katinka, and especially to our new friends, Diana and Jeff for the lovely company during dinner.

I am however duly exhausted, and barely capable of another syllable, so I shall leave you with the inevitable picture post.(Apologies for the blurriness, my camera spazzed on its setting.)

Exhibiting Press

I am showing three pieces at the Thumbprint Gallery in a week-July 5th for a group show fittingly entitled 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes'-I'll post full details closer to the show date, but you can also see them by clicking the poster link.

I also had word that I am featured in a forthcoming catalog, called 'The Big Book of Contemporary Illustration' compiled by Martin Dawber. Although its not scheduled for release until September, Its available to preorder HERE.