CRB Super Ball IX merch: LE giclee handbills and 8 x 23 posters (99 of each) and 3 piece puzzle sets (only 100 made!)

06/28/11

With the echoes of a mad storm in Alpharetta, a Forbin's>Mockinbird and Icculus in Charlotte and a Dad heavy catsplosion (thanks Dr. Jack!) in Portsmouth, we sit on the eve of Super Ball IX. Phish's first east coast festival since the return.

In conjunction with this event, CRB Productions proudly presents the following limited edition handbills and 8 x 20 poster sized giclees, printed by Like Minded Productions: 

Both the 4 x 10 handbills and 8 x 20 poster sizes come on 210 gram textured fine paper, 100% archival and are signed, numbered and titled (Revolution #9). Both the handbills and poster sizes are limited editions of 99.

This piece contains a fair amount of spiritual imagery...from Om symbols to the Christian cross, some Celtic like knotted writing for 'Watkins Glen,' etc. 

The seven colored orbs represent the 7 chakras of the body, with two extra golden orbs (2 secret sets?) comprising a total of 9 Super Balls. Alladin's Lamp is represented in the image as well, giving a nod to Fishman walking through the Egyptian desert from the video announcement of leg 1. The Grim Reaper is also present, balancing the push and pull between life and death. 

The 9 super balls, however, create a loose Egyptian Ankh or cross...a spiritual key of life (reveals to me the hidden door...), which trumps it all. From the cross to the sacred sound to the key. I created this before my first hearing of Steam, but I think the key idea fits nicely into the imagery of that song as well. 

In any event...the handbills are $20 (includes shipping) and the poster sizes are $60 (includes shipping). Payments can be made directly to crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com via Paypal.

In addition to the giclees, Vince Oley, a very talented up and coming pin maker, helped me put together a 3 piece puzzle pin set for the festival. With only 100 sets of three available at this time, these are already going fast. One of the three pins is back stamped with my logo below and one is back stamped with a number (001-100). 3 piece puzzle pin sets are $35 (includes shipping). Payments, again, can be directly made to crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com via Paypal.

Please contact me at crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com for deal rates if you'd like to purchase both a poster and pin set or handbill and pin set or some other variation of merchandise. Always willing to knock off a little here and there for multiple purchases. We want you to be happy, mon!

Thanks for looking and we hope to see you at the festival! If you're nearby on Thursday, please check out our art show at

The Olney Place Market & Deli

823 E. Lake Rd.

Penn Yan, NY 14527

Runs from about noon to 9pm...here's a link with more info:

http://www.phanart.net/?p=5832

Happy 4th of July weekend everyone and we thank you for your continued support!!!

Alien Hamsa pre-print template: suggestions wanted

 04/23/11

So I'm thinking the first run of Hamsa shirts might look very close to this with the CRB logo on the back towards the neckline of the shirt. Thoughts? I'll also be creating women's sizes this time around so please give suggestions for the color of the women's shirts. :)

I like the mandarin orange color of this shirt for men, but am very open to other suggestions.

 

Here's the other shirt color option I was toying with for the men's sizes...

 

And the men's in royal blue...

And in purple...

And in navy blue JOSHUA! Hehehe...

***********************************

Here's an idea for the women's...

Thanks for any advice!

Jonathon Blake/04.23.11/CRB Productions

www.crazyredbeard.com

HUG JAPAN charity pin purchase info and EBAY auction

04/22/11

Hey guys...a bit back I think I shared with you that I designed a pin with Japan in mind as I feel a lot of compassion for the folks going through everything over there.

It's a very simple design...just a fella hugging the red dot of the Japanese flag. Inadvertently (serendipity?), the image I created kind of brings to mind the old WWII graffiti "Kilroy Was Here." Though accidental (I learned of this once a PTer asked me if I had meant to do it that way), it seems to fit as this particular tag was kind of one of the first widely used graffiti tags in general and my work is strongly influenced by street art and viral symbology.

The auction is here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330556462538

If you'd rather just purchase one outright, it's $20 total including shipping and can be paid for via Paypal to crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com. ALL proceeds go to help relief efforts in Japan through GlobalGiving.
I will be glad to donate to the charity of your choice if you would prefer.

  

From www.crazyredbeard.com: "We here at CRB Productions have been profoundly impacted by the recent events in Japan.

We like to believe that we think globally and act locally, giving where we can and working in fields where we believe we can be of use. But in this case, we wanted to create something that could offer some small token of our humanity and love to those that have been affected by the heart wrenching happenings in the east.

With this in mind, I teamed up with Noah of Zenster.net to  give you the CRB Hug Japan relief effort pin.

The red circle represents the emblematic dot of color in the Japanese flag…we’re only making 100 for now and all proceeds after recouping costs will go to aid relief efforts in Japan. If there is a certain organization you’d like your donation to go to, please let me know. I was thinking of splitting it between Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross and Global Giving.
Pins are going to production now: I am asking $15 per pin and $5 for shipping. If you get more than one pin, you only pay the $5 shipping once."

Thanks for any attention to this. 

 

Jon Blake/04.22.11/CRB Productions

Love + Art + Music + Peace = LIGHT

Downbeat Project painting

04/13/11

Just finished this work for the Downbeat Project, a local Charlottesville band that holds residency at a restaurant called Maya every first Friday of the month. The band features Jeff Sweatman, Landon Fishburne, Gerald Soriano, Zack Blatter and Clarence Green.

I created this piece today and hopefully it'll become the show poster for their monthly gigs.

Hope you enjoy!

Stealing Time pre-order information and link

STEALING TIME PRE-ORDER INFO

Due to an overwhelming response for this particular piece, I ran to Photoworks in Charlottesville, Virginia today to get the work captured. Big up to Photoworks for about 5 years of excellent service to our little artstravaganza here at CRB Productions. They capture my work with flawless precision and color balance everything perfectly. If you'd like a list of prices for canvas or fabric prints, please let me know and I will furnish that for you. I can also have the aforementioned stretched onto canvas bars...the result is amazing.

But on to the pre-order. Here's the info on the work as you may have read in the previous post....

Stealing Time: Painted live to Silo Effect and EOTO at the National Theater in Richmond, Virginia on 04/10/11.

I'd been wanting to do a Steal Your Face for some time and for some reason the weird clock hands seemed like the right thing to do...I wanted to tie into the idea of the "end of time orchestra" so there you have it. The title ......is a wink at Phish as well. The word 'Silo' is hidden in the painting, as well as 'eoto.'

In a simple black, 10 x 13 frame, this archival, giclee print comes matted with artist signature, title and bands/venue/date/location. Pre-order will last through next Friday, April 22nd. If you order before then, you save $10 as the pre-orders help offset the cost of image captures. These framed works are $60 (includes shipping) for the pre-order and will go up to $70 after next Friday.

You can pre-order through www.crazyredbeard.com here: STEALING TIME PRE-ORDER

Aside from that, the Super Ball IX work is getting captured and limited edition prints of that will be available for pre-order soon.

Finally, Moving The Elephant, a work created live to Max Creek at the Rock and Roll Resort is available for pre-order (10 x 13 matted/framed as mentioned above) through next Friday as well. There's an interesting story behind this one which I'll tell in a bit.

Moving the Elephant: Painted live to Max Creek at the Rock and Roll Resort in Kerhonkson, New York on 04/01/11.

Pre-orders save $10 through next Friday...same as above. You may pre-order HERE: MOVING THE ELEPHANT PRE-ORDER

All right guys! There you go! Alien Hamsa pins have gone into production. I should have them, according to the company, in 2.5 weeks or earlier.

Please contact me at crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com with any questions, comments or critiques and please contact Jams at booking@crazyredbeard.com to get us to paint live at your next event, wedding, music shindig, etc. Anything art related. Holla.

Jon Blake :: Crazyredbeard Productions :: 04/12/11
www.crazyredbeard.com

Our weekend with Keller and the Keels, EOTO and Silo Effect...new paintings and new prints coming!

04/12/11 :: 12:46 AM

Home, home again...I like to be here when I can.

Aptly enough, I'm sitting next to the wood stove, though it rests, unblinking...no fires stoked tonight. I'm sitting here decompressing from nearly two weeks of almost constant painting or otherwise creating or promoting art in some way. Shin Chan is my best friend right now and JAMS is resting in bed, where I should most likely be.

But I'm sitting on a pile of photos from the weekend that need sharing and, as always, I feel a near constant obsession to share something with the world at large, so if I have your attention, let's get on with the show.

After working the morning shift at the group home, Jams and I were off to a location near Spotsylvania, Virginia where an invite only barn party goes down once or twice a year. Having been several times, I was pretty excited for this little shindig, which includes a smorgasbord of homemade food that people bring with them. This year was promising, with local (and national) favorite Larry Keel and the Natural Bridge, along with the one and only Keller Williams. A party with Keller and the Keels is always a fantastic time and the vibe in the barn in an interesting one to say the least.

It's like Noah's Ark flipped upside down in there and it's certainly full of animals, perhaps even two by two. It's been converted for music shows, with light rigging and a full sound system and a floor that tends to bounce when a good Woodchuck is raging. Larry Keel is one of my all time favorite performers and I feel blessed to have been able to see some of these rare performances which stretch leisurely after midnight with fun artist crossovers.

We had heard that the place was maxed out this year. We were welcome to paint, but there wasn't going to be any room in the barn. So, like always, when we come across an obstacle, we hurdle it and high jump the slumps. I climbed the steps behind the barn while Keller was going at it (playing only a bass the whole night...a new experience for me and one that lent to a rather mellow mood all evening) and set up a canvas. Jamie snapped this pic through a hole in the barn wall...


I had to break down right before Keller was done so they could load in and out so I moved the operation down across from the barn and kept working when the Keels came on and continued into Keller jumping in with them.


As we were driving in, Jamie pointed out some long horned steer which I had never seen before. I'm surprised because I've lived in Virgina all my life and just saw two of them for the first time that day. So the skull looking thing is my homage to those cows...maybe a spirit skull...



And sure enough, in the bottom right hand corner, a Native American Indian began to take form, which just seemed right. This piece would be titled 'Inhale to the Chief' because of the Indian imagery, as well as the Keller song by the same name. I'll have to do some research on the land around there to see who used to walk the land.

Finished product:

Inhale to the Chief: Painted live to Keller Williams and Larry Keel and the Natural Bridge at a private barn party near Spotsylvania, Virginia...signed on the back by Keller Williams...we'll get to that...
So with the barn party done (we actually went to bed early that night...I think both of us were pretty exhausted), we headed to Richmond on Sunday to rendezvous with Joe Bruce at H3ads Up Gallery, who's having a grand opening, replete with our art on 04/20/11.

CRB artwork including pieces created to the Heavy Pets, the Disco Biscuits, Break Science, Future Rock and more...

One of Jamie Morgan's paintings (JAMS)

After dropping off our art, as well as some Back On The Train Phish pins, we headed over the the National for our final stop of the weekend...Silo Effect and EOTO. We loaded in with plenty of time to chill and hang out with Silo, as well as say hello to Michael Travis and the ever gregarious Jason Hann. Jamie set up the easel on the stage for me but I quickly got word that I'd only be painting during Silo Effect. EOTO had a BIG projection show with them that was very impressive and they understandably didn't want to distract from the art going on behind the band.

The hour or so of down time let me finish up a custom Grassroots California hat that my friend Kensey wanted me to do for her. It's shown below. Rainbow elephants with diamond eyes, san.



Silo Effect is a local Richmond, Virginia favorite. They have a good fan base and make some really good music though they have a rough road living in RVA, I think. The town is packed with amazing bands right now and I think that can be a hindrance in some ways on the circuit, but I believe they're going to find their niche in the coming years at various festivals up and down the east coast.

EQ Produktions was smart to bill them with EOTO...Silo is a hard working band and they've really done a lot with what they have. I hope other folks tune in to these guys, especially if you like organic electro-rock. They dealt with some sound issues on this particular evening, but they soldiered on and played to an encouraged and enthusiastic crowd that grew with every song played.

I had decided before hand that I wanted to do a sort of Steal Your Face design incorporating the 'End of Time Orchestra' (the acronym EOTO explained). I tend to stay away from more recognizable symbols, but I do love the Grateful Dead and I feel the long chain of inspiration on the Wheel. So when I started this piece to Silo, it FELT really good and the brush stroked seemed to almost take care of themselves. I also wanted to go minimal because I'd gotten some feedback on a few message boards that my work was becoming too similar for them. So I went back to what I loved to do before I ever found the joy of color: intricate, yet controlled line work.

Om Shanti Shanti....IT begins...

At the end of Silo Effect's set

With Silo's set over, we broke it all down and took the painting upstairs to the green room. As we were moving back and forth with all the gear, Jamie pointed into EOTO's room and lo and behold, there was Keller Williams. I tend to be kind of shy about approaching musicians of his notoriety because I always assume they get so many people coming up to them that I don't want to bother them or crowd the or whatever. But Jamie convinced me to say hello, especially considering that my painting from the night and show before, inspired by him to a large degree, was right behind his head.

We said hello and I told him the title of the painting. He laughed a genuine happy laugh and said, "Wow...that's awesome!" We then chatted for a bit and he posed for the pic below and signed the back of the painting. KDub is a cool d00d.

Keller Williams posing with 'Inhale to the Chief'

Shortly after this, EOTO took the stage. Having completed most of the work while Silo was playing, we took a few moments to watch the show from the balcony in the National. If you've never been to the National Theater in Richmond, I highly recommend it. It's an amazing convoluted and spacious building...archaic, vaulted, visually appealing...it's a great place to see music.

Did I mention the EOTO light show was killer? I'd like to shake that artist's hand. I'd also like to talk to someone about projecting my art or projecting the process at shows.



We finished up the night by completing the painting in Silo's green room during the end of EOTO's first set and during the set break. The final product is below...I'm taking this work, the Super Ball IX painting and one of the Rock and Roll Resort paintings to the studio tomorrow to be captured, so prints are coming. The words 'Silo' and 'EOTO' are in the painting and the title is a nod to Phish.

Stealing Time: Painted live to Silo Effect and EOTO at the National Theater in Richmond, Virginia on 04/10/11
Painting available: 24 x 36
contact at crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com

So that was the weekend. Two new paintings and an odd trip with the SciFi family (Jason Hann even took some time as we were leaving to say that he really liked the art that we'd left in their green room. It was nice that he made a point to express his appreciation). When I have some time, I'll post some thoughts, photos and paintings from last weekend's Rock and Roll Resort in Kerhonkson, New York. We're packing a lot into every day here at casa CRB so it can be hard to find time to blog all of this out (hence whey I'm up with drooping eyes at 2 in the morning, finishing this up). But hey, I love you guys and can't help but give you a little insight into this world of strangebows.

SO...NEXT UP:

04/20/11

H3ADS UP'S GRAND OPENING!!! Art, clothing, wraps, pins, block party, grilling, DJS!!!!!!

314 Brook Road
Richmond, Virginia 23220

04/23/11

The 3rd annual
:::CHARM CITY FASHION SHOW:::

A NIGHT OF FASHION, VISUAL ART & MUSIC AT THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY

1415 Key Highway

Baltimore, MD

8PM

More dates TBA...

In closing, I leave you with a picture of a small puppy eating out of giant bag of dog food. May we all be so lucky in life! Please contact me at crazyredbeard@crazyredbeard.com with any questions, commissions or comments. Please contact booking@crazyredbeard.com to book Crazyredbeard or Jams at your next event.

www.crazyredbeard.com

LOVE + ART + MUSIC + PEACE = LIGHT

Jonathon Blake :: 04/12/11 :: 2:12 AM

ALIEN HAMSA PIN PRE-ORDER

04/08/11

Introducing the first ever Crazyredbeard live painting pin: Alien Hamsa

1.25” Custom Soft Enamel Lapel Pins with (2) 8mm Post and Military Clutch
Back stamped with the CRB LOGO, website url (www.crazyredbeard.com) and year (2011)

Pins are moving into production now and pre-orders can be made below (your pre-order helps us offset the cost of the investment to make the pins and is greatly appreciated). Pins are $10/each + $5 shipping. Any additional pin after the first purchase (up to ten) stays at the same $5 shipping price.

# of pins

1 pin (includes shipping) $15.00 2 pins (includes shipping) $25.00 3 pins (includes shipping) $35.00 4 pins (includes shipping) $45.00 5 pins (includes shipping) $55.00 6 pins (inlcudes shipping) $65.00 7 pins (includes shipping) $75.00 8 pins (inlcudes shipping) $85.00 9 pins (includes shipping) $95.00 10 pins (includes shipping) $105.00

A little info on the hamsa: The khamsa (Arabic: خمسة ‎, Hebrew: חמסה‎, khamsa lit. five, also romanized hamsa and chamsa) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa.^[1] The khamsa is often incorporated in jewelry and wall hangings, as a superstitious defense against the evil eye.^[2] It is believed to originate in ancient practices associated with the Sabaeans and Nabataeans. (taken from Wikipedia)

I first came across this symbol thanks to my friend Motti Schleider, so thanks and praises to him for that. He's a foodie and has a neat Blog himself that you should check out if you have the Om Noms. I had created a gift for him to give to a friend and, in doing so, was inspired to recreate my own hamsa in a live painting setting.

For those of you who know little about me, I create improvisational art in live music settings. The majority of the time, I have no idea what I want to create prior to showing up. On THIS occasion, however, traveling into PA for the 20th Annual Stonehenge Music Festival, I knew I wanted to do the hamsa because Motti would be there and he is a Dear Friend.

So on the first day, I took some green liquid consistency paint and spread it over a 24 x 36 canvas and wet it down considerably. After applying some plastic wrap, I let it sit for quite awhile, then took it off and began the painting. We left it out overnight and the dampness of the air let some of the ink bleed. JAMS (my artner in Good Times) later mentioned how the colors I used reminded her of BP which was heavy on a lot of our minds at the time. The moisture made the ink (oil?) sort of bleed down the canvas. I left it like that. It made a synchronous kind of sense to me. The painting is below.

Alien Hamsa: Painted live for the 20th Annual Stonehenge Music Festival, June 17-19, 2010. Friendship Park, New Columbia, PA

So there you have it, ladies and gents (act like ya got some Sense!)...much love for everyone involved in this project, including Noahphence from Zenster. Check him out...he's a cosmic love agent that spread amazing art work all over, including pins of his own. He helped me design a charity Hug Japan pin that I will also be putting up on this site.

Cheers everyone and may the Love move through you wherever It needs to go.


Jonathon Blake/04.09.11/CRB Productions
L.A.M.P.