Gary's Art Dump...lings

Great advice for any artist considering donating artwork to charity. Don't.

2011-06-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mat-gleason/charity-art-auctions-_b_872953.html

The Career Benefits of Benefits of Boycotting Charity Art Auctions
By Mat Gleason

There is a tradition of auctioning original works of art donated by artists to raise money for charitable causes. There are many good causes that hold such events. No matter how good the causes, though, I have come to the conclusion that artists must stop donating to every single one of them.

Don't ever donate your art to a charity auction again. Half a century of charity art auctions have changed the way collectors buy art. These fundraisers have depressed prices of art across the board and kept artists in a subordinate position that has no career upside or benefits.

Instead of tossing away another great artwork to a good cause, join the good cause of boycotting charity art auctions. When you join this cause ...

•You stop taking revenue out of the art world
•You stop shifting art collector dollars to the bottomless pits of recurring annual Beg-A-Thons
•You don't contextualize your art as being a synonym of pretentious panhandling
•You don't announce that your art is worth low bids
•You don't risk that your work will be publicly seen getting no bids
•You don't empower strangers to devalue your artwork
•Most importantly, you stop publicly proclaiming that you give your art away

The argument against me is simple: Donations of art to charity auctions raise money for good causes and raise the profile of artists who put their art in the public eye. It is a good argument. It has worked well. This seductive sales pitch has pulled in countless millions of dollars over the past few decades.

Problem is, this argument has not lived up to its bargain. Sad news: Your profile got humiliated because the collector got such a bargain on your art. If your art was one of dozens of trinkets on a wall with a hundred other artists, your profile actually disappeared there in the crowd anyway.

I would love to hear the story of the artist whose career rocketed to success because he or she donated a work to a charity auction and this act alone tipped the first domino toward an avalanche of success coming his or her way. This narrative is always implied. I've never seen it happen.

Charity art auctions are the emptiest of promises to artists: you give us your work, you get nothing in return except a party invite to an event where you are a second class citizen. Watch as the price of what you really will let your work go for is nakedly advertised to the select group of people to whom your work is meant to be seen as rare and desirable.

Suppose you want to at least deduct a donation of your art to the charity, guess what? The law only allows an artist to deduct the cost of materials. Meanwhile a collector can buy your work for the minimum bid, have it appraised at its full retail value and donate it to some other good cause for that top dollar amount.

As for the merits of the infinite number of good causes out there, what is the value in giving up a painting that would sell for a thousand dollars retail in order to see it raise 50 Bucks for that cause? Pick one charity, donate generously and keep the collectors assuming that the price you ask at the gallery is the best and only price they are going to get.

Someone has to be the bad guy here, so you can blame me for inspiring you to donate cash to a good cause and to keep your art career safe from the bargain bin. Print this out and send it with your regrets to anyone asking you to devalue your work in the name of glamorizing their efforts on behalf of yet another worthy cause in a world of infinite and endless good causes. Tell them the art stops here.

I Highly Recommend Getting This Book...

2011-02-11T11:41:00.000-08:00

Get it Here------> http://controllingillusion.blogspot.com/

This book was written by Charles Zembillas, who taught me everything I know about character design.

Spelunker

2011-01-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

This was for a contest on http://www.sketchtheatre.com/ back in February. I won 15 Gnomon dvds with this. Took me about 1/2 hour to draw. :) Good deal.

Prince Charmin ... for the ladies.

2011-01-26T09:10:00.001-08:00

Random Illustration Samples...

2010-08-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

Marker Sketch Demo

2010-08-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

A quick marker sketch demo. I used Prismacolor, Tombow, and Sharpie markers. Presto! white out pen, Pilot brand 2 in one Japanese brush pen & Prismacolor pencils. The paper is kraft colored chipboard from Uline.com

I first saw this technique used by art center students 15 years ago, it's becoming popular again amongst LA artists.

Coffee Shop Doodles...

2010-08-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

Love me them socially awkward women. :)

Doodle Dump

2010-07-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a big doodle dump to coincide with the Drink & Draw book release. :)

Mo' Doodles...

2010-07-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post some of my doodles to celebrate the release of the Drink & Draw Vol. 2 book this month.

I don't like to draw normal looking women.

I'm not saying normal women are boring.

I'm only saying they look boring.

Doodles...

2010-07-08T23:20:00.000-07:00

Drink And Draw Social Club vol. 2

2010-07-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

Speaking about drinking....

The second volume of the Drink & Draw Social Club is coming out!

and like the first one, I have a couple of drawings/photos in it.

And if you haven't seen the first one yet, you can get it here

L.A. MYTH Art Show Feb. 7th

2009-02-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

My piece for the show.. "The Earth Quakers" 14"x 18" acrylic.

Meltdown Gallery announces the second annual group show

"LA MYTH 2009"

Opening night is February 7th from 7 to 12pm
and runs from February 7th to 21th 2009.

This Imaginative exhibition showcases artists throughout the animation and entertainment industry.

Meltdown Gallery hours Monday - Sunday 11am-10pm.
The gallery is located at 7522 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046. Meltdown Gallery can be contacted by phone (323) 851-7223

Ron Mueck

2008-11-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

Nice insight on how Ron Mueck works

Book 2, Back Cover

2008-08-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Zee end of Sketchbook 2. The book took me 8 months to finish
except for Page 71, which I just finished today. The book was mostly drawn
during my lunchtime breaks at work, or hanging out with friends at coffee houses.

I'll start posting book 3 in a month or so.. I'm about 60% finished with it.

Book 2, Inside Back Cover

2008-08-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sticker Colauge

Book 2, Page 74

2008-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

A sticker colauge

Book 2, Page 73

2008-08-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 72

2008-08-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 71

2008-08-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 69 & 70

2008-07-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 69

2008-07-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 68

2008-07-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 67

2008-07-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 66

2008-07-27T00:19:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 65

2008-07-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 64

2008-07-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 63

2008-07-24T00:04:00.001-07:00

Book 2, Page 62

2008-07-23T00:03:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 61

2008-07-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

Asterix Study

Book 2, Page 59 & 60

2008-07-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 59

2008-07-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 58

2008-07-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 57

2008-07-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 55 & 56

2008-07-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

ACK! ACK!!
... The right page was inspired by the Howard Stern show.. which I listen to whenever I can.. When I drew this, The writer and sound effect guy, Fred Norris played the 'Mars Attacks' "ACK! ACK!" sound over a regular named "Eric The Midget" and he continues to do it whenever he calls in.

Thanks to Youtube.. you can listen to one of Eric the Midget's appearances on the Howard Stern Show:

Book 2, Page 55

2008-07-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 53 & 54

2008-07-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Me pal MELANIE. We got matching tattoos on our butt cheeks.

Book 2, Page 53

2008-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ah... my first restraining order. :D

Book 2, Page 52

2008-07-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Icons, Legends & Notorious Figures TONIGHT!

2008-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm in this! Check it out!

Book 2, Page 51

2008-07-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Everything I drew on this page turned out crappy.. I tried 4-5 times..
then inspiration hit.

Book 2, Page 49 & 50

2008-07-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 49

2008-07-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

One Blind Eye!

Book 2, Page 48

2008-07-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 47

2008-07-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

More one blind eyed punk girls. :D

Book 2, Page 45 & 46

2008-07-07T00:04:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 45

2008-07-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 44

2008-07-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 43

2008-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Life Drawing at the Hive Gallery

Book 2, Page 41 & 42

2008-07-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

The robot in the center was inspired by the zombie
robots from the comic book "Invincible"

Book 2, Page 41

2008-07-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 39 & 40

2008-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 39

2008-06-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 37 & 38

2008-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 37

2008-06-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 35 & 36

2008-06-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 35

2008-06-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 34

2008-06-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 33

2008-06-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 31 & 32

2008-06-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 31

2008-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 30

2008-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Offbeat! Comics..

2008-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

I updated my Offbeat! comics blog..

I'm going to re-post my old comics from 2000. One a day.
visit: http://www.offbeatcomics.com

Book 2, Page 29

2008-06-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 27 & 28

2008-06-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 27

2008-06-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 25 & 26

2008-06-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 25

2008-06-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 24

2008-06-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 23

2008-06-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 21 & 22

2008-06-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 21

2008-06-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 19 & 20

2008-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry.. not willing to reveal the character on the right yet.

Book 2, Page 19

2008-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 18

2008-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I did a watercolor life drawing from Dr. Sketchy's.

Book 2, Page 17

2008-06-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 15 & 16

2008-06-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 15

2008-06-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 14

2008-06-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 13

2008-06-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 11 & 12

2008-06-03T00:01:00.001-07:00

Book 2, Page 11

2008-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 10

2008-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another One blind eye :)

Book 2, Page 9

2008-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 7 & 8

2008-05-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first appearance of the one blind eye girl. While at a hospital in Michigan, I saw a very beautiful doctor who had one blind eye.. the cornea was completely opaque..
The image stuck in my head and now you'll see me draw a lot of women with one blind eye.

Book 2, Page 7

2008-05-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 6

2008-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 5

2008-05-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 3 & 4

2008-05-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

I just noticed the gradation of how I started with observational drawings at Dallas Airport, and then my imagination taking over as I moved across the second page.
This is exactly how my attention span works.. whenever I'm engaged into a boring conversation my mind wanders over to to the right page.
So, if you've ever conversed with me.. and my eyes glazed over.. you now know what I was thinking about.

Book 2, Page 3

2008-05-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 1&2

2008-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Page 1

2008-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 2, Inside Cover 1&2

2008-05-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Watercolor SketchBook #2

Book 2, Inside Cover 1

2008-05-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

Sketchbook #2 .. a new Larger book.. the 1st one was 3"x5" This one is 5"x8" Started on December 15th, 2006, and finished August 6th 2007.

The first book took 2 months to complete, and this one almost 8 months.. because of The larger size, and A LOT of personal misfortunes during this time..

Book 1, Page 61

2008-05-20T01:15:00.000-07:00

Fin.
That's the end of My first Sketchbook. I finished it December 14th, 2006
Hopefully you'll see the progression I made in less than 2 months.
The sense of accomplishment I got from COMPLETING a sketchbook inspired me to go out the same day, and buy another one... which you'll see tomorrow.

Book 1, Page 60

2008-05-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

Book 1, Page 59

2008-05-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

Book 1, Page 57-58

2008-05-17T01:10:00.000-07:00

Book 1, Page 57

2008-05-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Book 1, Page 56

2008-05-15T01:06:00.000-07:00

Again.. trying something new.. wet on wet.. got really sloppy and out of control.. so I made a retarded superman. :P

Book 1, Page 55

2008-05-14T01:05:00.000-07:00