Slug

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Slug
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
[Created 100% with one hand bandaged due to a broken finger]
18" X 24"
January 2011

Keeping in mind that I've previously made paintings of Buck 65, Aesop Rock, Eyedea, D-Sisive & Saul Williams in order for me to pay tribute to how much their way with words has impacted my life and growth as an artist and a person, you may be tempted to ask [if you know me and my favorites and/or if you think you know who else should be in this list]:

"Where are Sage & Slug? Why haven't you painted Sage & Slug?"

Well! My friends!

I initially started painting writers and singers who's work I particularly enjoyed for fun. At the time, I didn't think anything of it. But then the list of people I painted grew and I started to see a pattern. Of course, with any pattern comes expectations of the elements that will follow in this pattern. That being said, I thought it would be too cliche'd and groupie-ish to paint [probably] the 2 most famous artists of the underground hip-hop scene: Sage Francis and Slug from Atmosphere.

Recently, I realized I was being silly and WAY to self-involved to have created such expectations of my work [I mean, really...?] and made this painting of Slug from Atmosphere in between two contracts. The original picture, from what I've gathered, by way of cyber-sleuthing, was taken by someone by the name of Delarge during Atmosphere's passage through the UK in 2008. You can visit Delarge's Flickr account here. I'm still waiting for him to get back to me for more info about himself at which time I'll be more than happy to provide it to you guys.

I tried to push a little more into the out-of-focus-y abstract style [my DIY technical art vocab never ceases to amaze... I know!] on this one for fun and practice. Also, it should be mentioned that this piece was done with very little detail and realism in large part due to the fact that I've broken a finger on my left hand and it's heavily bandaged, thus preventing most of the meticulous detail work I like to use sometimes. I hope you enjoy this.

Now.
The more astute reader will be thinking: "When are you doing a Sage piece?"

The answer is: "Sometime between maybe someday and possibly never." No. Seriously, I don't know but have a hunch some time this year ol' Sage Francis will pop up in layered format on a blog near you. Stay tuned!

As a side note:
The record God Loves Ugly by Atmosphere changed what I thought hip-hop could be and I believe [it's just my opinion] that a large chunk of underground rap artists to this day try and fail to duplicate what it did. I suggest that record to anyone and everyone.

As a side-side-note: I wouldn't be surprised if a more elaborate Saul Williams came about this year also...

That's all the ramblings for today folks.
I spare you the unpleasant details of what the rest of my day consists of, but I leave you with this: Please take a minute to call your Mother and/or Father and tell them you love them. You have no idea how much it means to them.

[...]

Temple

"Temple"
Spray Paint on Canvas
24" X 48"
December 2010
SOLD

December has been my busiest month [I believe] ever, custom project wise [when it rains it pours!]. Here is a piece I've been asked to make by one of my childhood friends. His brother just bought a house last year and is in the midst of giving his basement a Buddhist influenced theme... that's where I came in.

He told me his brother's birthday was coming up at the end of the month and wanted to surprise him with a painting to put over the sofa on the far wall - which is the first thing that you would see when you enter the basement living room area. He wanted a temple in earth tones. I was glad to oblige.


The reaction was priceless. My friend's brother, expecting nothing at all [let alone a painting], provided me with my first ever "dropped jaw." No matter how hard I've worked on a piece and how proud/satisfied I may be with it, there's always a little bit of nervousness when it's delivery time and a reaction like that makes all the insecurities disappear instantly. I'm honored and proud to have been given the opportunity to make his home a little more "homey."

On to the next one!

[...]

A day at the races

A day at the races
Spray paint and Acrylics on Canvas
36" X 18"
Summer 2009

I started this painting of myself a year and a half ago because I had nothing to do in between projects and wanted to keep my hands busy. I also used the opportunity to try a new background technique and a color scheme I wasn't comfortable with since I had no intention of doing anything with it after it was done. Something came up and I put it aside as an unfinished piece I planned on finishing later.

A year and a half later, it would seem that I'm not planning on getting back to it any time soon or I figure I would have already. Keeping this in mind, I've been convinced by my girlfriend to post it and to hang it in an expo, which I've done today. Maybe she's right. Maybe it's been done all along and I just didn't know it. Being someone who believes in things happening for a reason, maybe I stepped away from this because I was unknowingly done. So I've acquiesced to the idea and here it is!


The original picture is taken by Simon Lessard at the Montreal Roller Derby in the summer of 2009. I was still drinking back then [Pabst Blue Ribbon!]. These days, I don't even remember what a hangover feels like and honestly, I can't see it any other way.

[...]

Foufounes Breakers

Foufounes Breakers
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
30" X 60"
November 2010

Not so long ago, in the second half of this past summer, I went out to catch an afternoon movie in downtown Montreal. For the life of me, I can't remember which movie it was but i DO remember feeling very pensive after it was over and so I decided to go for a stroll under the gray skies and in the refreshing spittle in the air.

I ended up behind Foufounes Electriques to have a look at the graffiti born during the 2010 Under Pressure festival and stumbled across a crew of breakers that were unknown to me. I took a seat on the semi-dry pavement, reach for my camera and started snapping. After a few minutes I headed for home and more or less forgot about it.


This November, I filtered the breaker photos and found one which I wanted to use to make a painting. Also, there had been a blank 30" X 60" canvas taking up space in my studio for a long time and I figured: "What better time than the present to put it to good use?"

So here we are:
I asked one of the breakers, Ben, for his email address to be able to send him a picture of the finished product, but besides that, I don't know who these guys are. I'll be more than happy to post more info about them if and when I have some.


Growing up, I've always been fascinated by break-dancers but then at one point in the 90's it seemed to become about who could spin the fastest and pull the craziest stunts but there was almost no rhythm in it. Lately, though, I must say that the crews I've had a chance to see in Montreal have brought back the funk and soul and mix the head spins very well with actual dancing and all is well with the universe once more.


That being said... enjoy this piece and keep breaking!

[...]

Ari Gold

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

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Thank you!!

Ari Gold
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
36" X 48"
December 2010
SOLD

One of my childhood friends contacted me out of the blue after almost 10 years because he'd heard I was keeping busy with stencil paintings. After checking out the work on my blog he immediately wanted a custom piece for his office.

Turns out he's a huge fan of Entourage and specifically of Ari Gold. I have never seen the show myself but it was my pleasure to make him this commission piece. Thanks Etienne!

[...]

POV

POV
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
30" X 40"
November 2010

I've often been asked what I look for in the pictures I use to make paintings. It's difficult to answer that question without disappointing since I never really look for anything in particular. This project, though, started with a specific vision.

This past August, I went for a walk in downtown Montreal looking for a spot I could sit in to simulate the first-person point of view of someone who sleeps on the street.

So I found this cute little alley with an open gate and sat in a pile of 2 year old yellowed newspapers and dried urine [coincidence?] and started snapping.
To adapt a well known saying: "Sometimes you have to sit in urine for your art."
A few months of thinking about it later, I got to making this vision happen and so... Here it is.

We tend to complain a lot.
Maybe we shouldn't.

As an unrelated [but kind of related] side-note, I'm currently reading "Lullabies for Little Criminals" by Canadian Novelist Heather O'Neill and would suggest you do the same. It's freaking amazing.

[...]

Package Successfully Delivered

I have a new website!!

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

www.kevinmxdermott.com

Thank you!!

Package Successfully Delivered

Finally, the logistics are taken care of, the "package has been successfully delivered" and I can now announce proudly that the sale of the Eyedea painting is done and that all the proceeds have gone to Kathy Averill, Michael's loving mother.

After weeks of working on getting the painting seen by as many people as possible on Ebay with the help of very unexpected and appreciated collaborators, I was finally contacted by someone who wanted to purchase it immediately for a price I would have been foolish to refuse.

The buyer in question has asked to remain anonymous and so his/her wishes are granted.

Initially, the time I had spent on the painting was going to be "my donation" and the money raised, whatever it would be, was going to be the physical manifestation of this. Never in a million years did I expect to be provided the opportunity to provide Kathy with a sum nearing the 4 figures and for that I am extremely proud.

Please don't misconstrue this post.
I am not in any way bragging about having "done a good deed" since that would significantly lessen it. I am simply keeping my readers [love you guys] posted about the progress and result of my latest endeavor.

One last time, please take a moment to visit the Eyedea page on Rhymesayers' website.

Until next time my friends.
Much love to you and yours.

[...]

Micheal “eyedea” Larsen

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Thank you!!

Micheal “eyedea” Larsen
Spray Paint Stencil'd on Canvas
24" X 36"
October 2010
SOLD

*****
[This one-of-a-kind piece is now being offered via an ebay auction in which all the proceeds are going to Kathy, Michael's loving mother, and the Eyedea Memorial Fund]
[LINK COMING SOON]
*****

Since his recent passing, I've read a lot of different articles about Michael Larsen and the majority of them have a very similar speech.

Everyone agrees that Eyedea is a staple in the underground hip hop scene and will never be forgotten for everything he's done.

Everyone agrees that he was wise beyond his years and that his lyricism was deep and developed for someone so young.

Truth be told, I'm a fan of Eyedea, but I'm not a crazy-insane-over-the-top fan of his music. Yes, it's good. Yes, it's deep. But I can't think of any of his songs that would make my 'favorite of all time' list.

That being said, here's a [very] short story of why I've taken it upon myself to make a tribute painting and put it up for auction:

A few years back, I went to an E&A + Blueprint show in Montreal. I was so-so excited because I didn't really know much about either acts except that they were well known and respected in the underground scene. I had given a listen to First Born and E and A and in reality, was more curious about how, if at all, Eyedea was gonna pull off stuff like "One Twenty" and "Now" live. I expected one more rap show where some hype dude fills in the blanks and the end of every other line. Boy. Boy. Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

First, he came out accompanied by Abilities and no one else and started with "One Twenty" and instead of being out of breath and dying, he was actually screaming his face off into the mic with 10 times the energy that the recorded version holds. I won't go through the whole show for obvious reasons but by the end, after seeing him kill himself on stage and flawlessly perform back and forth tricks with DJ Abilities that I had never seen before and will most likely never see again, I was aware that I had just witnessed something very special and I felt privileged. His energy level is something that I feel lucky to have experienced and I can't help but feel a little taken aback when faced with the fact that I/we will never be able to experience it again.

After his set, he came off the stage and leisurely strolled though the crowd to get outside. When he walked past me, I extended my hand and said: "That was impressive." He shook my hand, very briefly looked me in the eye and with a chipped-tooth corner smile he answered: "That was depressing?" Before I could correct him, he was gone.

I know he heard me correctly. I kind of thought he was cocky, but in hindsight, I know he was just being his clever, confident self. He was still "on." From the stories I heard on the Rhymesayers Radio tribute show, I now understand he was never "off." He knew how good he was. He wasn't cocky, he was confident. He was totally aware that his and Abilities' live set was something no one else could do.

"They leave our show thinking what these kids do is unachievable/ and they're right/
You never in your life could do as much as we do with just two tech's and a mic."

- Eyedea [E&A Day]

So.

Long story short [kind of]:

I'm a fan of Eyedea's presence as a performer and as a person. His energy level. The way he approached the stage that is life. He was the living proof that hard work pays off and that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you apply yourself. It doesn't matter what people say and think... at all. I wanted to make a painting that displayed his overflowing energy since this is how I will remember him. I can say with confidence [learned from the best] that I have succeeded.

This one of a kind piece is now being offered via an ebay auction in which all the proceeds are going to Kathy, Michael's loving mother, and the memorial fund that's been set up. Since I can't begin to imagine what she's going through as well as Eyedea's immediate family and extended Rhymesayers family, I figure it's the least I could do.

[Disclaimer: Of course, I expect some of you will see this as an exposure opportunity for me... to you, I say, exposure is simply a side-effect of what I think is a good deed but definitely not my main goal in this process. I am absolutely not in the business of capitalizing on other people's loss. I am in the business of capitalizing on opportunities to show love and support when/where it is needed and I feel it is greatly needed here & now. I've tried to remain as selfless as possible in this endeavor.]

In the meantime, I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and encourage you all to do the same.

More information about Eyedea can be found by clicking here.

Please feel free to share this with anyone and everyone. It's all benefiting Kathy in the end so please help me help her.

[...]