New Mural to Kick off "Art Up Greenwood-Phinney"

This is the latest and greatest that I have to offer to you. This mural is a 8ft x 37ft, acrylic and spray paint on cinder block wall. This piece took about three days to do. This is not the final product, but it is close. I still have to clean up some areas and I want to outline the hill and the man with a white line.

We will be having a Ribbon-cutting Ceremony for the mural on August 9th at 3pm to celebrate the kick off to Art Up Greenwood-Phinney. This is a new program that will be working to get neighborhood youth involved in a more positive outlet - creating art for the neighborhood. And working towards decreasing the vandalism. The Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce and Bherd Studios are working together to get this new program off the ground. We're also having an Urban Art Exhibit that same day with live painting and art from Internationally recognized, Jef Aerosol, along with national and Pacific NW artists.



P.S. If you are looking for a muralist and you like the artwork that I do, contact me, lets put together a knock out piece of art.

John O.
Bherd Studios

Asleep at the Wheel - Call for Political Artwork

Asleep at the Wheel / Seeks Entries for Political Art Show

Asleep at the Wheel seeks politically charged submissions from artists in the Pacific NW. Submitted works should feel like campaign materials (posters, yard signs, buttons, bumper stickers, etc.) but all submissions will be reviewed. 2-D entries are preferred but 3-D entries will be considered. The exhibit will take place in Seattle in September. Selected artwork will be displayed along with the "Unembedded" exhibit: 4 independent photojournalists perspective on the war in Iraq. For details on submitting artwork, please visit: asleepinseattle.com. For questions, please email: submissions@asleepinseattle.com. All entries must be received by Friday, August 22.

Newest Illustration

Here is the latest completed illustraton that I have done. It is a 7.5" x 7.5" Bic pen on paper. The title of the piece is called "Jim's Hot Dog Shop". Why is it called "Jim's Hot Dog Shop"? I mean why not call it that. You've got a bird on a wire, holding a hot dog, with the sun looming in the background. The piece screams hot dog's from Jim's.To see some more of my illustrations take a gander at this link. Illustrations

West Seattle Summer Fest Art Dive Recap

Doesn't it always seem like when you anticipate something, when it arrives it comes and goes way too fast. Well that was the case with the West Seattle Summer Fest. Located on California Street 3 blocks of booths and tables were set up to promote everything from artwork, crafts, and jewelery to food, real estate options, and what ever else you could possibly imagine. The festival started on Friday morning and ended on Sunday night. On the first day it was kind of slow. I think it was because everyone was still at work. But once the weekend got there it was a pretty fast pace event. To talk about everything that happened would create a very long blog, but I will give you the highlights. Across from our booth was the Rat City Roller girls and their dunk tank. I could not belive how many people paid five buck for 3 chances to dunk the girls. The R.C.R's were a pretty lively group and they looked like they were having fun the whole time. Also close to us was the one of the two stages for the live bands. During the last band on Sunday there was this old dude wear all neon dancing around with neon scarfs that he was handing out to everyone that was cutting a rug. It was a pretty humorous and colorful display of people having a good time. And it did not go unoticed by the group that was performing. The bass player gave a shout out to the "Neon Gramps" inbetween a couple of their songs, ( Hey lets give it up for the old man with the neon scarves. You rock dude! You definitely get a cd.")

This was a fun event and Michele and I are ready to do it again next year. From the people watching, selling our clothes and some artwork, to meeting some of the vendors that were around us, this event was pretty cool. If you missed out this time you'll just have to wait until next year to get to enjoy it.

Finally I would like to thank the girls from Twilight Artist Collective for keeping us refreshed. I would also like to thank the booth that was making the Philly Cheese Steaks. And I would also like to thank the parking gods for giving me good parking for the whole weekend.

Masks: Update - Part Two

This is a picture of my most recent creation at the Craftman's Studio. All I have to do is two more strands of hair, make his eyes pop out a smidge more, let it dry, sand it down, glaze it, and name it. This is the fourth mask that I have put together since May.

Masks: Update.

Here is an update on the progress for the Mask show that is going to happen in October. These are some masks that are drying and waiting for a bigger kiln load to happen. Of the four masks that are in the photo, 2 are mine and 2 are Dean's. I have another that I am about 75% done with. I was going to take a picture of it but I wrapped it up before I took a picture of it.

The pictures below are of the canopy that is going to be a part of a chandelier. The canopy is the piece that is up on the ceiling from which the chandelier hangs from. The rest of the piece is going to consist of six smaller faces,six hands, and six arms. The arms and hands are going to be holding a glass bowl.

Twilight Artists Collective, Suite 100 Gallery & Artifakt July Art Shows

Thursday, July 10th from 6-9pm in West Seattle
For more info visit: twilightart.net



Friday, July 11th from 6pm-10pm in Bell Town
For more info visit: suite100gallery.com




8:00 P.M. Friday, July 11th @ Lo_Fi Gallery – 429 Eastlake Ave E
For more info visit: artifaktart.org

2008 Seafair Ball & Art Invitational: Bollywood | July 24th, 2008

Thursday July 24th 2008
Hosted by CoCA & Apulent @ the Shilshole Bay Beach Club
6413 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle 98107

5PM- 7PM = Seafair Ball: Bollywood VIP Party and Invitational Artist Reception
7PM- midnight = Seafair Ball: Bollywood



Bengal Bangle, Bolly Belly by Tory Franklin

The Seafair Ball Invitational: Bollywood artists include:
Shawn Ferris, Tory Franklin, Antonio Gavino, Sara Lanzillotta, Deborah F. Lawrence, Marjorie Masel, Marcie Myrick, Stephen Rue, Waldo Vega.


Live music by Anjuman, Seattle's only Afro-Cuban/Hindustani classical fusion band.

Belly Dancers Rebecca & Nadria.

Meghan’s Mehndi: Henna Tattoos on site

Hookah Lounge

Dance party brought to you by DJ Styxxx and DJ Burn of Veera Productions. Bangra + bass + Bollwood beats!

Indian buffet provided by Apulent.

Cash bar. 21+ only.

Formal Indian attire suggested.

Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets & at the door!

$50 Seafair Ball: Bollywood VIP Party (5-7pm), which includes an Indian buffet, hosted happy hour, dance performances, and special entertainment!

$20 Seafair Ball: Bollywood general admission (7pm)

*FREE CoCA Member general admission. Be sure to bring your membership card!

*CoCA memberships are $40 annually and are available online or at the door. New members receive admission to the Seafair Ball VIP Party!

CoCA serves the Pacific Northwest as a catalyst and forum for the advancement, development, and understanding of contemporary art

Email: info@cocaseattle.org
Web: cocaseattle.org