Zoe

Zoe
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
24" X 24"
May 2011
[custom order]
SOLD

This is Zoe.

A colleague from my old work place got in touch with me and asked me to paint her daughter. She sent me a few pictures of her and after a little back and forth to establish the right size as hammer out budget details I was able to put this together for her.

I'm super psyched that she's told me it looks perfect in the spot she had prepared for it in her house. If this gives anyone ideas for gifts and such, of course, feel free to contact me at my regular email address P.Summind@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing about your great project ideas.
Take care and have some fun on hump day!

[...]

Marie-Anne

Marie-Anne
Mixed Medium on Skateboard
32" X 8"
May 2011
SOLD

I was sent a few pictures from around the world by my amazing friend Rachel in my last Open Call and I finally got around to using one of them. I've been meaning to for the longest time since she's been one of my very first supporters. The picture I've used was taken while she was living in Montreal a few years ago.

For this piece, I started with a blank deck that was originally stained yellow by the manufacturer. I cut out a shallow groove to create the illusion of a rectangular frame and then sanded the surrounding area down to its original wood grain color. Once this was done I painted inside the frame and stained outside of it. It was my first time ever using wood stain [it's never too late!] and I'm psyched to incorporate it in my work in the future.

I hope you all enjoy it. It's currently hanging at Studio Bizz Iberville at 2488 Mont-Royal East until the end of the month and then it's being shipped out to Rachel who's decided she had to have it as soon as she saw it.

Of course, in the future, or present, if you'd like to send me your pictures you may continue to do so at any time at P.Summind@gmail.com. As usual, there's not guarantee I will use them but I'm always happy to receive random images from people and see what can be done. Thanks in advance for playing along!

On that note, take care of yourselves and loved ones and have yourselves a wonderful week. Don't be shy to share this blog with your friends & leave comments on the posts.

[...]

Les Eaux

I have a new website!!

Please click this link to find more up to date work!

www.kevinmxdermott.com

Thank you!!

Les Eaux
Spray Paint on Re-Used Canvas
20" X 28"
May 2011

There's something about some urban structures that just sticks to your eyeballs and it's hard to understand why that is. For example, sitting in the Mile End hood of Montreal, there's this old, abandoned looking building with a huge water reservoir on it. I wasn't able to find any information about this particular building but I did find dozens and dozens of user uploaded pictures of it which leads me to believe that I'm not the only one who's interested in it. It "looks" abandoned but honestly, whenever I used to walk/jog/bike by there, I always had the impression that there might still be some buzzing in the beehive.

I used to live 2 minutes away from this spot and also used to bring my dog Umaa to a secret dog park right by it on a regular basis [Plateau & Mile End residents know it as the bridge burner spot]. So I, myself, also have an abundance of pictures of this building and had always wanted to paint it properly. And now here we are.

****** BONUS ROUND ******

Once again, without further ado, here's the abridged version of the "making of" for those cats out there who dig the process!

Re-use of an old Obama painting I had made in November 2008 [My friend's 1 of 2 copy of this piece has now become 1 of 1!]:

He's a tough guy... just won't go away without a fight:

Sky colors:

Doesn't look like much yet... I agree:

Let's stick a building in there:

More steps, more cutting:

Starting to look like something:

How about a fire hydrant in there:

[some steps missing]
And then one last layer of black to make it all come together:

So here we are!

This painting as well as all of my most recent, unreleased work can be seen for the whole month of June at Studio Bizz Iberville [2488 Mont-Royal Est]. Keep your eyes and ears open for a mid-month vernissage or maybe even a
"taking down the art show" event!
Who knows!

It's a gloomy day in Montreal but that doesn't mean that nothing can be done... It's a perfect day for making coffee and revisiting a novel you've already read or have been meaning to read. I would suggest something by Kafka, Welsh or Orwell.

If you're not in the reading mood then I would suggest watching "La Haine." I will leave you with the trailer and hope you enjoy the rest of this Sunday!

P.S.: When I was 18 or so, Vincent Cassel from La Haine was my doppelganger! Random!

Take care and go make some love today.

[...]

Escorting Superman

Escorting Superman
Silkscreen on Cardboard
10.5" X 18.5"
April 2011

I've started this blog post 4 times and have erased what I'd written each time...

It's very difficult, nearing impossible for me to talk about this silkscreen poster. I can't find words that do justice to how it felt for me to watch over the person who watched over me my whole life in his last hours. The ultimate role reversal.

So I'll use an old literary device: show rather tell.

Naturally, I don't think this piece can speak to anyone quite as much as it does to me. But it's possible that some people will recognize themselves in this one... So I share this with you.

*******

Plus que des Barbeaux

This piece is part of a poster expo called "Plus que des Barbeaux." It's currently up in Lachine at 2901 St-Joseph. The place is open for visitors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I went by yesterday and must say, if you're into silkscreen stuff... it's worth a visit. It's on until June 19th.

There are 34 different, original posters [6-7 copies of each have been made for the show], all of which can be purchased for 20$. For the copies that will not have been purchased during the show, you may contact me [for mine - above] or the individual artists since we are all being given the remaining copies post-expo.

All the posters were designed by the individual artists are then silkscreen'd by the good people at Moniker Designs.

Here are, in no particular order, some of my favorites from the show:

Clio Honig:

Jason Wasserman:

Earthcrusher:

Bez:

Sniper:

Jimmy Baptiste [co-organizer]:

As usual, I hope this finds you well.

Don't forget people, father's day is coming up.
If you still have your dad... call him, visit him, hang out with him...
It means the world to him.

[...]

Coin de Bullion [feat. The Making Of...]

I have a new website!!

Please click this link to find more up to date work!

www.kevinmxdermott.com

Thank you!!

Coin de Bullion

Mixed Medium on Recycled Canvas
36" X 36"
May 2011

What is recycled canvas? Simply put, a canvas that was once something else... and now is something new. A few years ago, I was asked to participate in a friend's photo shoot for school in which I portrayed Jesus Christ... I know! Some of the photos came out pretty sick and I had decided to make a piece with one of them. The canvas was plastered with torn out bible pages that created an interesting background but the idea never really came together visually in the end so the piece was never shown to anyone except close friends of mine who came to my place. Since then it's been sitting under a bed sheet waiting, waiting.

Of late, I've been tightening my budget belt a lot more than usual and, as luck would have it, I'm recently REALLY into the concept of re-using old canvases that have been gathering dust in my studio space [how convenient, right? Right.].

I've also been asked by people to show a bit more of what goes into making one of my pieces and I figured this one would be as good as any to show you! So without any further ado... I present to you:

"The making of Coin de Bullion"
[The semi-abridged version]

Here's the original picture I took while out on a dog walk [pretty random, I'd say!]:

So here we go!

I ripped off as much of the bible paper as possible but since it was glued on there something wicked I couldn't get it all off and so there are still some "good book" remains lingering. I sanded it down to give if a nice smooth feel so that I wouldn't be too lumpy.

Then the actual painting could begin! Rollers and acrylics first.

Followed by some spray paint fade for the sky.

Skip ahead a step [creation of the main background beige-ish layer] and right into the second layer stencil which will be used for the white highlights [ironically done first!].

Before:

After:

Next I created 2 new stencils for the following 2 shades of brown [only the first of these 2 layers is shown below]:

It's all in the details. Notice the cross-walk sign is the only thing that's not blue or brown...
Why?
Why not?

And finally one layer of black [some pictures missing]:

And... the final unveiling:

So there you have it!

A step-by-step view into what makes one of my paintings come to life... I hope you've enjoyed the ride and will share with your friends and family.

This painting as well as all of my most recent, unreleased work can be seen for the whole month of June at Studio Bizz Iberville [2488 Mont-Royal Est]. Keep your eyes and ears open for a mid-month vernissage or maybe even a
"taking down the art show" event!
Who knows!

So as usual, thanks for playing along and I wish you all a great, great time.
Until we meet again!

[...]

Tam Tam Limited Series [9]

Tam Tam Limited Series [9]
Spray Paint on Cardboard
Each 16" X 10"
April 2011

By definition, a stencil is made to be used and re-used until it returns to the earth from which it came. Personally, I have been making it a point to use stencils only once in order to create complex, one of a kind pieces in order to break away from the stereotype and expectations. Of course I have strayed away from my own rule here and there but for the most part have been very consistently abiding by it.

That being said, I've recently made a a limited series of 8 elephants on cardboard that were all different [colors, paint splashes, etc.] while being done with the same stencil combination. They were extremely well received as 7 of 8 were snatched up within a few hours.

Based off the success of the elephant series, I created a limited series of 9 [1 missing from top picture] cardboard pieces depicting the Mont Royal Tam Tam's. They were also well received since 5 of 9 were purchased last Friday. The remaining 4 are currently sitting at Voodooo Ink Tattoo Shop [4148 St-Denis] waiting for someone to come give them a new home [$30 per item].

Keep an eye out, there will be more series coming up during the summer and they will all be available for purchase through here. If ever you want the last remaining Elephant [$35 ship. incl.], please contact me via P.Summind@gmail.com it will be my pleasure to send it to you... or deliver it in person if you're in Montreal.

[...]

Snow Shoes

Snow Shoes

Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
20" X 10"
April 2011

I was walking my dog in the West Island this past winter and noticed something very only-in-Canada-like: Sneakers strung to a wire covered in snow. How winter-gangster of us Canucks! I took a picture for fun but didn't think I'd make anything with it... and yet, here we are...

Also, I just found out that Blogger is offering a stats service that shows me cool stuff like how many people are viewing my blog and what they're clicking to get here and so on and so forth... super excited to find out I have readers from Canada, US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Romania, Switzerland, Italy and Russia!

HOLY FLATTERED!!

It would also appear that the best source for links to new articles is from Twitter and via Facebook... so I really encourage anyone who's Facebook-ish or Tweet-friendly to follow me by clicking the thingy's below:

@KevinMxDermott
Kevin McDermott's Facebook page

On that note, I leave all of you wonderful, international lovers to go on with your busy, busy day of Sunday'ing and stuff.
Enjoy it until it bursts!

[...]

"It's not you, it's me."

I have a new website!!

Please click this link to find more up to date work!

www.kevinmxdermott.com

Thank you!!

"It's not you, it's me."
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
16" X 16"
April 2011

I first saw Fight Club in theaters when I was 18 or 19 years old and it broke my brain. How the hell did I not see that twist coming throughout the movie when there are so many clues along the way [nice spoiler save... eh?]? In one particularly epic scene, the narrator, played by Edward Norton, is beating the beauty out of a blond Jared Leto and, in voice over, he says: "I felt like putting a bullet between the eyes of every Panda that wouldn't screw to save its species [...]"

I fell in love with the idea that the species being labeled "endangered" by us, humans, has no clue that they are anything but fine and therefore, don't feel any urgency to procreate. It frustrates US that they won't screw to save themselves because their endangerment is ultimately, our fault, and we feel guilty [but that's for another post].

Just recently I thought of these two pandas who are considering mating but then one says to the other in classic lazy break-up fashion: "It's not you, it's me."

This made me giggle all by myself the whole time I was making it. I decided to go with Chinese symbols to make it a little less obvious and also to stimulate discussion.

10+ years later, Fight Club continues to be one of my favorite movies of all time and Chuck Palahniuk, the author, has gained a spot in my short list of favorite writers. My top picks from his ever-growing portfolio are Fight Club & Invisible Monsters [still the only book to give me literal, and not just figurative, shivers]. An honorable mention goes to Pygmy for the amazing consistency of the style in which it's written [it's also pretty hilarious throughout].

So I hope you all enjoy the Pandas. I hope they help open up the discussion of "man playing God" a little or at least give you a quick snicker.

Here's a picture of myself and Chuck from his book release tour for Rant in 2000 something. He was "officially" done taking pictures but allowed this last one. Look how young I look!


On a related-unrelated side-note, for those curious about the Man playing God theory, I strongly suggest reading the books by Daniel Quinn: Ishmael & My Ishmael. Both philosophical novels are similar insofar as they are for the most part a telepathic discussion between a wise old gorilla and a man [Ishmael] or a young girl [My Ishmael]. Both books address from different viewpoints the question of today's world and "how did things get the way they are?" Very interesting stuff.

My people! Sping is here!
You know what that means... no... not leisurely chilling... at least, not before you help your parents set-up their yard and stuff... That's what I'm off to do right now... Gazeebo away!

Here's some appropriate gazeebo-panda music courtesy of Joe Beats:

[...]