Title: Disambiguous Foresight (Visions of the Afterlife) Size: 11 " x 14" Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Whilst I'm happy with the way this one turned out, the color didn't quite translate the way I envisioned it in my head, so I'm keen as mustard to transfer this and the last piece to scaled up oils. Working these pieces as comps first is really helping me flesh out the vision of this series, and giving me an ambition for what I'm hoping to achieve with it.
I've managed to paint five of the promised six paintings this month-although I shouldn't be too hard on myself since I've juggled two shows and a 36" x 42" fully painted commission in between. Out of those five, I've sold three, and at least the two that I mentioned, shall be repainted for the Big featured show in October. The show at Mosaic is being extended to the 19th of February too, so anyone who missed the chance to see the pieces should definately catch what is currently the best art exhibit in the city.
I also have two further shows scheduled-another featured show at the new Thumbprint venue, which will run from March 13th, and then on April 7th, I shall be showing and raffling a live painting for the Keep-A-Breast foundation at the Belly Up. Full details are up on my Appearances page, but I'll repost flyers here, closer to the date.
Very occasionally, there comes a moment, when you feel a part of something that is the culmination of all the blood, sweat and-frankly-ballache of being an artist. And so it was last evening at the Belly Up.
Staring back down the hazy passage of 24 hours since, a muddy post beer hangover and still feeling like that scene from Midnight Express, where Brad Davies is strung from his ankles in a Turkish prison, and beaten on the soles of his feet, its hard to sum up a postcard of the night, but singularly the word that immediately springs to mind is 'profound.'
I must admit to being a little nervous before the evening-live painting is the metier of practitioners who paint from the shoulder and not the wrist, and with three hours in which to construct something I was determined that it wouldn't look like the result of a post paint enema. In the end, I went with what I know, and painted a skull with an iconic Aladdin Sane flash splashed across the dry bone surface, I appropriately titled the piece 'Dead Sound'-after the Raveonettes most well known song. Having spent almost four months crawling through 'The Valley', it was a revelation to be able to paint something that amounted to more than a stroke in such a short amount of time. Incidentally, the Valley looked tremendous hanging with its accompanying sisters in the restaurant, drawing a lot of interests, and a few price enquries. Indeed, considering my approximation to people, more intent on consuming delicious Mexican dishes, I enjoyed a healthy influx of admirers and possibilities. I was signing and handing the piece over to be raffled by 9pm, much to the disappointment of a lovely young lady who had come to the restaurant to watch me paint, but had missed me due to being seated behind a partition. We exchanged cards, and I consoled her that the piece would be available to win, and that if she was going to the show, she would at least see it in its glory, as it was up on the stage whilst the bands played. I make reference to this because it became a defining moment later in the evening, when having drawn the winning number from the hat, it turned out that this self same young lady was the winner. Coincidences of the past several months have seldom seemed favorable, but we were all genuinely floored by the serendipity of the event. I think it shows in the photo. The night belonged to The Ravonettes however, and their sonic wall of spectral guitars and haunting voices-female singer-Sharin Foo is something truly enchanting to behold, with her peroxide Clara Bow bangs, and the kind of cheekbones that could slice through paper. After they'd finished their set, they met us briefly-very graciously signing a poster and sweetly posing for a photograph. It was 1am by the time we breathed the night air, and as we passed the duo on the street in our car-we couldn't resist rolling down the window and caterwauling 'Ravonettes Rule-wooooo!!!' To which they smiled and waved. The perfect end to a perfect night.
Finally, I've heard it said, no man is an island, so before I wax another archipelago analogy, I'd like to thank the following: The lovely Jackie Eash and gracious Beau Dorin, for inviting me to such an auspicious event-kings have enjoyed less geniality. Thank you to the staff at the Belly Up who were so wonderfully accommodating, and to everyone who came out in support or who just wandered over to tell me 'hello- I love what you are doing.'
Big kudos to the Ravonettes for being so lovely and cool, and not sniffy rock stars post gig.
Thanks to my great pal and live painting master Mark Jesinoski for giving me the tip of the hat that made it happen in the first place.
And finally-to Lani, who is a bottomless well of love and support to my dreams, even when she is suffering a cold like she was last night-Thank you my darling.
This Thursday I shall be adding a painted flourish to a show at the Belly Up here in San Diego, where the Danish duo-The Raveonettes are heading the bill. Supporting them, shall be the Crocodiles and the Dum Dum girls, and myself, who shall be ensconced at the side cafe, where I am live painting and exhibiting. I've cooked up a special rock themed piece in preparation especially for the event and shall be there from 6pm until 9pm.Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075
The official Press release reads as follows:DANISH ROCK DUO THE RAVEONETTES ARE COMING TO BELLY UP NOVEMBER 12TH, BEFORE THE SHOW, DINE AT THE WILD NOTE CAFÉ ON OUR LOW DOUGH MENU AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A PAINTING CREATED LIVE IN THE CAFÉ THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW.
Join us at the Wild Note Café before The Raveonettes show at the Belly Up. DJ Man-Cat will be setting the mood for the night while David Gough will be painting live in the café. Guests will have the opportunity to take home a piece of David’s live artwork by entering into a $1 raffle, which proceeds will go towards 94.9’s About The Music Fund. David will be showcasing several pieces in the café and will begin his live painting at 6pm.
David Gough is a modern, surreal, fantasy artist, hailing from Liverpool, England and now residing in San Diego, CA. He has worked as a professional artist since 1995. His paintings delve into the realms of the surreal and the dark phantastique, exploring mortality through gothic, religious imagery juxtaposed with the starkness of the human skull.
Collected worldwide, he has exhibited both in prominent exhibitions in the UK, as well as being a regular addition to shows on both the West and East coasts of the US. In Oct 2010, his work shall be on display at two featured shows at the Hive and The Alternate Cafe in LA.
Featured in numerous publications and periodicals such as "Gothic Art Now" coffee table book, his own retrospective book, entitled "Gods and Monsters", and Peter J Caroll's "The Apophenion", he is currently working on illustrating Carroll's next novel-"The Octavo", due for release next year.
Inside the Belly Up the Morrison Hotel Gallery will be displaying several photos of alternative rock artists including Paul Weller & Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Bowie, Lou Reed, Jagger, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Killers.
The Raveonettes show details are as follows: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 @ 9:00 PM (Doors @ 8 PM) DAVID GOUGH WILL START PAINTING AT 6PM IN THE CAFÉ
