Open Studio Event in Portland,OR

If you live or find yourself in Portland, OR on Friday, June 11th, my building will be hosting an Open Studio event. Over 20 artists, designers, and crafts people will be opening their doors to the public for a night of art, wine, food and cheer. Located at the historic North Coast Seed Building and built in 1911, it has a wonderfully rich history. The original scales, freight elevator and old growth timber beams proliferate the units. If you are fan of local art, design and architecture I invite you to check out the other studios, and say hi.

more historical info on the seed building

Arrested Motion Interview

the good folks at the famed arrested motion blog recently posted an interview on their site. trust me when i say, i revealed a lot of what's happened over the last 3 years, and provided in depth details about my recent body of work. thanks a bunch sven for presenting thorough, researched, and challenging questions.

arrested motion / blaine fontana


photo courtesy of arrested motion

paint installation

what's this? who's that? where's he looking? you'll just have to come to my solo show this Saturday night at LeBasse Projects gallery in culver city. really looking forward to seeing everyone!!

LA solo show

"The Golden Record"
A Solo Show at Le Basse Projects Gallery
Featuring all new art by Blaine Fontana
April 24th - May28th
6023 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
310.558.0200

patience is not a virtue, it's a sore neck and hand

As I mentioned before, I've used a lot of letraset materials in this new work. Point in case, I spent 5 hrs today doing this all by hand. Futura, Cooper black, pioneer fonts with dots.

New moody pallette

Before I begin a new body of work, I'll develop a color family on the computer and later create the dozens of colors to keep a graphic color harmony with all the works based on those selected pantones. Looking at some of these jars reminds me how much my pallete has changed, darker, softer, and less saturated. I suppose it's an unconcious affect living in the NW for several years now.

the Letraset collection

upon moving into the new studio I finally organize my rare collection. I came upon these at my art school senior year. there was a 15' wide closet filed balls to walls with thousands of these things. and get this...they were going to throw them away. so my wife and I pilaged the collection withas much as we can carry. having them organized now, I released the hounds and reintroduced these back into my recent work.

if you ate scratching your head, these are those little rub off letters you'll find at art stores. except my collection is macho city, with dingbats, patterns, and NUMEROUS fonts.

LA solo show in 2 weeks

I'm about to wrap up my first solo show in 3 years. in a week I'll be driving down with my wife and our 2 dogs from Portland, OR. now that I found a reliable app to post progress and the adventure on my phone, I'll do my best to post a daily entry for the next several weeks.

I was very close to becoming victim of an art buying scam

last week i was very close to being scammed for thousands of dollars. someone expressed interest in buying one of my pieces, coincidently, it was available, for the right price and right person. he had written the title, and all other pertinent information in the email. the check was mailed and things were smoothly moving forward. when the check arrived i let the buyer know, and thats when the weirdness started. first, my gut felt the check was shaky to the touch and look. second, when he(or she, or an entire asshole collective, who fucking knows)found out the check arrived i was instructed with a bunch of eccentric shipping directions and the check had been written for twice the amount. he had instructed to wire the extra money to his "shipper" through western union. he claimed he was moving to london and had a family friend taking care of all his moving affairs.

thats the scam, and kinda clever. you take your cut for the sale of the piece after the check clears and wire the rest. several days later your fucked and the confidence man now has a wad of cleaned cash.

fortunately, my bank is very aggressive with holding checks and verifying funds over several days. my manager was on this every day with the bank making sure it was legit.

this is a new scam, art world beware!!! more info from artlanow.com:

Beware of Scammers contacting our Members

Beware Artlanow Members of scammers! We received today an email from one of our members who was contacted by “Stan.” Though we cannot read the replies written by artist Arline, the chain of messages she received reveal the stereotype temptations proffered by the fraudulent schemers who plague many of the internet sites exhibiting art for sale. Member Arline wrote:

I have had email messages from a "Stan Thomas" with an inquiry about buying one of my paintings that is on artlanow website. It is a scam. He wants to send a certified check (I've heard that before), and pay the shipping himself to a foreign country. He didn't say which one. Asked for my address and phone number. I replied, saying that I’d never ever sell a piece to a buyer who did not see it personally. He answered to tell me his shipper would inspect it, and could I send my address and phone number. (Yeah, right). I haven't yet let on that I know it's a scam. I just may confuse him some more. I'll forward his messages to you. You'll note that his grasp of the English language is off. That was the first clue.

Use this information any way you think best. Happy New Year to All !! Arline
_______________________________

Hello, Good day to you over there, My name is Stan thomas and i hope this message finds you well.I was going through your works and my eyes caught...., i will like to have them for my new apartment this month. please let me know if the piece is available, if yes let me have the detailed price and more information about it. i will be waiting to read from you asap.

Kind Regards.

_____________________________


Thanks for the message, I am very happy to know that the Pieces is still available for sale. i must tell you i am very much interested in the immediate purchase.I will like to let you know that your payment will be in form of a Certified Check.You dont have to worry about packing, insurance and tax because my shipper will be in the best position to do that as soon as you get the payment.This is because i will be traveling out of the country any moment from now for a business proposal.So get back to me with the information needed to send you the payment I:E :

Full Name
Standard Address
Phone number
Asking price reconfirmation

__________________________________

so that i can proceed in the payment arrangement, consider it sold get back to me asap with needed information.
Thanks.

__________________________________

Its okay but i would have love to do this myself but due to my kind of job,my shipper will be the one to handle the whole of the pieces he will be coming to inspect it and at the same time picking it up for me. so do consider it sold and get back to me with your name and address with your phone # for me to proceed with the payment.

Will await your message. Stan.

PDX print show @ 19TEN gallery tonight(March 6th)

We have installed a real treat for portland print hounds and art addicts. Mark Searcy, respected curator, designer and co founder of art prostitute along with Society 6, have created a beautiful print collection that is inspired by portland. Local and International, the artists produced whimsical, serious, hilarious, clever, and thoughtful artwork that represents PDX truthfully.

Hope to see all the portland art lovers at the show tonight!

19TEN
1910 N Killingsworth
Portland, OR 97217

For More info:
http://www.society6.com/studio/portland