The Trinity

The Trinity LA - Wrap Up

2008-02-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

February 8th saw the opening of the Trinity art show at Thinkspace gallery in Los Angeles. See pictures of painting the front wall installation and of the show opening at the Zenvironments gallery and also from Thinkspace.

Thanks to everyone that came out for the opening and showed us love! The show will be up until March 7th, so if you are in Los Angeles and in the area, swing through Thinkspace and check it out!

Last Teasers Before Show

2008-02-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

Posted by Tony

Here's a look at the rack....pieces a drying and pieces awaiting, brushstrokes of magic that will transform them from wood to hood.

See ya'll mofo's in LA

Collabo with Marion. Extremely Ill
Tha's the word on the street.

The Trinity Cometh

2008-01-28T08:27:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

Less than 2 weeks now before the show and things are heating up. Drawing, painting, cutting, matting, framing, packing, shipping, calling, planning, paying.. it's coming down to the wire.. and it's all very exciting. The show opening is friday, february 8th, 2008. Whomever is in LA and the surrounding areas should come on through!

We Are Friends - Wrap Up

2008-01-22T12:35:00.001-08:00

Posted by Zach

My good friend Dan recently held an art show of 13 artists in his apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Here are some pictures of the art and the event. Hope you enjoy. And if you like anything you see, you can get more info at And The Dragon

See the artwork from the show here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/azstar78/sets/72157603699520766

Here are some of my photos from towards the end of the night. Apparently, I missed it, but you couldn't even squeeze through the space at 9pm or so. Apologies for the crappy photos..

I also picked up some artwork there myself. Dan gave me a great piece that I love. Basically, we both love hands.

And I bought this piece by Jeremiah Maddock that is totally awesome. He's does great work.

Space Transmission

2008-01-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I just got back from Boston, visiting my good friend Ricky. I was there for 3 days and it was 3 days of pure space transmission.

New Studio

2008-01-21T08:13:00.001-08:00

Posted by Zach

I recently moved to a new apartment in Astoria, Queens. It is also serving as my studio. So what if there is no heat. So what if there is very little room to throw around paint or actually use it as a studio... so what if i'm getting paint all over my bed and the rest of my apartment.. so what if it's eye level with the N train outside and loud as hell... sometimes you gotta suffer right.. It's here that i'm going to toil away on these oil paintings and finish them!

Instant inspiration.

2008-01-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

Snack sized post by Marion

... I'll be back with the entree later.

Ashley Wood

Bela Lugosi

Cecilia Carlstedt

Barry Moser

John Galliano

Adam Amengual

Jamie young

We Are Friends

2008-01-11T13:14:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

Saturday night. Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Our good friend Dan is holding an art show at his apartment/studio.. an art house party!

We Are Friends
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 5th, 2008; 6 - 11
pm

119 North 7th Street,
Williamsburg, NY 11211

-----

Daniel St. George is happy to announce his moving from
his Williamsburg studio into Manhattan. To celebrate,
he will be putting together a select group show
entitled We Are Friends; made up of local New York
artists whom Daniel has the pleasure of calling his
friends and family. The show will feature photos,
videos, installations, paintings, drawings and
sculptures, as well as, drinks and music.

Featured artists:

Areya Li
Asif Mian - http://www.evaq.com
Beau Velasco
Bobby Friese - http://www.bibberbox.com
Cheryl Kaminky
Daniel St. George - http://www.danielstgeorge.com
Jeremiah Maddock
Joseph Aloi (JK5) - http://www.jk5nyc.com
Lizz Hickey - http://www.lizzhickey.com
Meena Kim - http://www.meenamade.com
Skewville – http://www.skewville.org
William Gaynor -
http://victimofamodernage.blogspot.com
Zach Johnsen - http://www.zenvironments.com

The works will be on display for approximately one
week, and appointments can be made by contacting
dan@danielstgeorge.com or calling 212.203.1412

The Space

2008-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

My good friend Asif currently has a studio space in this gigantic art space in Long Island City, Queens aptly called "The Space". He has been working on a new canvas of his own and he invited me to come through and work with him. My response was, "hell yeah!" This place is huge and everybody who has a studio there works on huge pieces. I felt pretty stupid once I set up my little pieces of paper on the wall and proceeded to dab paint on them.. you can see in one pic, how tiny my stuff is. I have never wanted to paint, and paint large, more than right now..

We were there pretty late and no one else was around. While taking the opportunity to explore this behemoth, we stumbled upon this strange triangular stage type thing lined with gold and silver foil... very "Trinity" if you ask me.. an impromptu photo session ensued.

Sketchin

2008-01-08T13:00:00.001-08:00

Posted by Zach

Been sketching a bunch for this show.. in random books, hashing out ideas what not.. thought i'd post this sketch comp - just for giggles.

and a couple sketches of works that will hang in the show..

Session 2

2008-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

Tony, Marion, and myself all recently got together for another work session.. this time at Marion's home and studio in Sunnyside, Queens. I guess it was less of a work session, and more of a brainstorming on this collaborative mural we are going to be painting on the front Thinkspace gallery wall for the show. Regardless, some flix.

Tony handed me off his contribution to our collabo piece for the front wall.. just gotta tweak the color on this one a bit.. nice!

While I was there, I captured some of the work Marion has hanging around her house. See this pic below? These are some of Marion's more recent work.. See the piece on the right? That one is mine!

These 2 pieces below are collaborations with another super dope painter Stephen Holding, who also happens to be her boyfriend. I agree.. a lethal combination.

And yes this is ODB.. but what you don't know is that this is painted on velvet! Marion painted this one.

This is by a very talented painter and tattoo artist, Ben Peas, a friend of both of ours.

China, china, china

2008-01-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Posted by Marion

Sorry for the lack in recent posts! I was completely distracted by traveling, work & the holidays... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Anyway, here are some pics from a quick trip to Shenzhen China- one of the craziest places I have ever passed through...

The air is so thick you can literally choke on it- regardless of that I made the best of my stay and managed to snap a few flics even through the thick, suffocating haze.

Teasers

2008-01-04T18:43:00.001-08:00

Posted By Tony

So here's some clips of some of the new Jumpoffs and how things are lookin in the studio right now.

Early Inspiration

2008-01-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

Posted By Tony

In late September I took a trip to Greece for 2 weeks. I can not even begin to explain the shit I saw. Really!!! But I did take pics. I stayed in Athens and on a small island about 4 hrs away by boat called Syros where my fathers side of the fam comes from. The monastaries and religious iconagraphy is just simply amazing. Lots of gold, Lots of Bling!!! Yanahmean!?

Also hit up the Museums real tight work in there ya'll. One of my faves of course is this huge portrait of Jesus which is something Like 10ft x 10 ft.

The best place ever!

2008-01-03T10:33:00.001-08:00

Posted by Zach

I recently made a trip to the Natural History Museum in New York, one of my favorite places to visit and a great place to draw, take photos, and gather inspiration. This place is so full of so many amazing things that it is hard to take it all in at one time. I visited with my good friends Asif and Doug. Unfortunately, we only had 3 hours to tour as much as we could and the place was so packed (this is right before new years) that we couldn't sit and draw at all, but we did take a slew of photos. I'm sure you will be seeing some of these critters appearing in some of my new work.

All star talent Asif caught in the headlights.

My good friend Doug was also visiting NY at the time. Some of these posted photos are his.

Northwest expedition

2007-12-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

I am spending the holidays in Seattle with my older brother who lives here. While staying, I had a chance to explore not only Seattle, but around the city as well... spent some time snowboarding in Steven's Pass and Mt. Baker.. lots of snow in the mountains and some really beautiful terrain.

While in Seattle, I made a point to visit the newly remodeled Seattle Museum of Art.. only had a chance to snap a couple of pictures.. they were pretty strict about not taking pics inside.. but a crazy installation right at the entrance.

Of all the other great work they were showing, this is the only other installation i could snap. It is entirely made of glass! Apparently, there is a pretty big glass art scene in the Northwest... Seattle, Portland, etc.. I think this exemplifies this.

At the museum, I met up with Robert Hardgrave. He is a Seattle based artist whose work I have been following for some time now.. It was great to meet up with him finally in person. He took me to his studio in the Ballard to see some of his new work in progress. He has an upcoming show at the soon to be disclosed new location of the Lineage Gallery.. Previously in Philadelphia, but soon to be moving to NYC under a new name, Lineage will certainly be blessed with the new work Robert is putting out.

The last place I tried to hit in the Ballard was OKOK gallery. Currently, they are dedicating the entire space to the new work of Grant Barnhart, another artist I have huge amounts of respect for.. Unforfunately, Grant was traveling at the time.. and the gallery was closed.. poo.

And now for some of my own..

2007-12-16T23:37:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

I probably won't post much more on the progress of my work after this.. at least not on these particular pieces.. Don't want to show all the work before the show opens.. you will just have to come and see it in person at the show!

Inspiration

2007-12-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

Working on these paintings for the last 2 weeks has really made me aware of how totally new and different oil painting is from watercolor. Because I'm playing with this entire new medium and it's variety of uses and application, I have been driven to reexamine other artists work I respect. I'm thinking, "How did they do it?" I thought I'd post some images of artworks that have always inspired me, but especially now are helping to shape how I am approaching this current body of work.
Damn, it's both inspiring and discouraging to see how amazing these artists are at their craft..

A long time favorite.. his drawings are unmatched and I really relate to his palette and application of paint.. Egon Schiele.
Sometimes his subject matter is a bit racy.. but hey, i'm open.

Also of course Schiele's teacher and predecessor, Gustav Klimt.. i like his style of clumping objects together in very basic shapes.. his flattening of space.. very angular and hard edged.. i can understand that coming from drawing.

Pablo Picasso.. basically a master of all types of painting style and philosophy.. i particularly enjoy the subdued colors, and sober characters of his Blue and Rose periods..

Salvador Dali.. just because he is insane.. I imagine he must have taken some heat for these paintings in his day.. they seem so pagan! I love that about these..

A more contemporary artist, Phil Hale. I mean, his subject matter, his ultra-dramatic lighting, his color.. it's all amazing. I can maybe venture a guess as to how he does it, but his work is completely out of question to me.. How do you get this good??

Lastly, an artist that's a bit closer to home for me.. Ralph Steadman.. altho probably a bit more removed from "oil painter" his style and energy has always attracted me.. plus his characters are spot on!

There are many, many more but I think I will leave them for a later date.. gotta get to painting..

Tony's Studio in the BX & some progress shots

2007-12-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

Posted by Tony

Here are a some shots of me in the studio getting down early October/November. It's a been very real thus far, the gang has really come together with our direction and the show looks to be heading for some serious illness.

My defense against the Dark Arts stance.

Jeezus Piece has been Rockin Hard lately but I've been having a friggin blast doing Judas......Peep the Technique.
Keep your eyes peeled ya'll The Trinity's got more on the way.

Flashback to "Transparencies"

2007-12-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

Posted by Marion

My friend Jess hit me up today to let me know she scoped one of my paintings on someones body!? I have to say I was taken back a bit...

Anyway here's the original- from my and Zach's first show, "Transparencies" & below it is the new SKIN version by Virginia Elwood nyadorned.com
exciting!

Progress snapshot

2007-12-11T15:03:00.001-08:00

Posted by Zach

This piece pretty much sums up what was running through my head in Argentina:

And also some progress shots of other pieces i'm working on.. For the first time, I am working in oils for a number of pieces.. basically because I'm feeling the need to diversify.. It's a foreign process to me, painting in oils.. and almost the exact opposite of painting in watercolor. But I have really been enjoying it.. the process itself, and not just the end product, is the fun part with oils.

Argentina

2007-12-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

Posted by Zach

Between work, I recently traveled to Argentina for 2 weeks - 4 days in Buenos Aires and almost the entire rest of the trip backpacking in various areas of the Patagonia region. Not only did I come back with some great experiences, but also some real inspiration for this show.. the entire time I traveled, i was drawing images in my mind of broken down cars spilling unchecked exhaust, knarly creatures existing in tangled bushes and old trees in the mountains, natural landscapes dotted with plastic bags and remnants from human activity. The weather in southern Argentina was wild and very windy.. it truly felt like you were on the edge of the earth.. like the weather could almost pick you up and toss you aside if it so chose. I think for that same reason, there was garbage strewn about almost everywhere. The wind would pretty much rip into and scatter everything that wasn't tied down or secured.

There is a lot to say about this trip and i can't say it all here.. Let these few images from the trip explain.

Zach's workspace

2007-12-04T23:26:00.000-08:00

Check out some pics of my (Zach Johnsen) studio in Brooklyn, some work in progress, and some random tidbits.. this is where i sit down and work at the moment.

Check out some wood cuts by a good friend of mine, Jen Sesma... and you'll see one of her prints too.. really great
stuff. This is in the same studio as mine..

..and she has a TON of art supplies.. including paint!

Work Session 1

2007-12-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

The Trinity consists of Zach Johnsen from Brooklyn, Marion Bolognesi from Queens, and Tony Philippou of the Bronx.. These 3 New Yorkers will be invading Thinkspace Gallery in Las Angeles on Feb 8th of next year..

With that being said, we got together a couple weeks back for our first formal work session at Tony Philippou's studio in the Bronx. We had business to attend to, so here are a couple snaps from the day..

In the works!

2007-11-18T12:20:00.000-08:00