Home News Calendar Instagram Home News Calendar Instagram Home News Calendar Instagram Home News Calendar Instagram

 

Home BLOGS Jeff Soto Jeff Soto: A 2011 Recap

Jeff Soto: A 2011 Recap

Written by Jeff Soto   
Thursday, 26 January 2012 13:00

LA based artist Jeff Soto recounts his 2011.

2011.... Man, what a year. So much good and bad! So much change and self discovery. This year will stand out I think. I didn't travel as much as 2010, which was a good thing. I was home much more, got to spend a lot of time with my kids. Some highlights:

• Our 2 year old broke her leg. It was tough, but she adapted and was hobbling around on her pink cast. Jennifer and I felt like crying (and probably did) everyday. It was a pretty dark part of the year for us.

• I started teaching college art (part time- one class per semester). It has been one of the most humbling "projects" I've worked on. I can't believe the amount of work it added to my schedule. I like it, though it kills me to have to give bad grades. Sometimes the most talented kids have the worst work ethic. I decided to keep teaching one class per semester.

• My kids continue to grow up. It kills me.

• I feel like I developed further as an artist, mainly I'm getting a handle on screenprinting with it's strengths and limitations. I'm still trying to push it, learn more, and make not only posters for bands but pieces of art.

• With art making, I'm continuing to find myself. I tried changing things up with oils, it was tough and it's a medium I need to revisit. I'm back in that same place I arrive each year, where I don't know what the fuck I'm doing with my art. But that's good. That's when the random accidents happen and it sparks a whole series.

• My daughter became a 1st grader!! What?!?!

• In September I went to France for the first time. Can't wait to go back, had a great time! I don't know why, but it peaked my interest in graffiti and vandalism just a little.

• I think Jennifer came into her own as a cook. Maybe this is not newsworthy, but I enjoyed chili, various soups, dishes and good, healthy homecooked food to eat throughout the year.

• I moved to a new studio, which has been a HUGE change for me.It was a good change, it's kept me very productive being around all these guys.

• In November our grandma passed away. It was a sad time for the family and we're still dealing. It brought us a little closer together I think. RIP Grandma Marian!

• My grandma passing coincided with a lot of love from my fans as I sold over 700 prints in November. It was an emotional time, such a mix of feelings. It was a real ordeal getting that many prints out in a three week span.I have the best fans on the planet.

• Much more in the works for 2012..... here's some pics from the year past. I am too lazy to put them in order...

Ian Kimmerly @Dolby Chadwick

SAN FRANCISCO --- Local painter Ian Kimmerly opened his newest show Continuous Wave at Dolby Chadwick on Thursday night, and these are some of the best paintings I've seen in a while.


High 5s: 1 + 1 = 1

This editor has been posting images from his life for the last 13 years. Cats, sailboats and living one's life in the city of San Francisco. Visual randomness.


The Black Robe at Spoke Art

Spoke Art opened The Black Robe on Thursday night, with the work of Barron Storey, Mike Dringenberg and Keita Morimoto, and was curated by Eidolon Fine Arts.


Michael Alan Interview

These days New York-native multimedia artist, Michael Alan, has been incredibly active artistically in the big city. Between staging hours-long Living Installations at the New Museum and other DIY spaces, exhibiting his drawings and paintings in group exhibitions and hosting an unusual solo show in the home of his mother, Alan proves that there is no rest for the wicked. I caught up with him recently to hear the latest, the backstory, and what's next.


Mute by Youth Lagoon

Have you been listening to Youth Lagoon's newest album Wondrous Bughouse? If not, do. It's one of the best albums we've heard in awhile.


Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival

Henrik Haven, who keeps us up to date in all that's Copenhagen, emailed over some photos from the Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival that's running throughout June. In this short installment he introduces us to the work of urban/graffiti artist and illustrator NYCHOS.


Kelly Tunstall's A16 Commissions

Kelly Tunstall, who's showing w/ Ferris Plock at FFDG this August 16th, recently finished some commissions for A16 in Oakland. Here's a little taste, and check out her last year's show at FFDG.


Brendan Monroe Sculptures, A How To

Brendan Monroe, whose show Melting Into the Floor runs through June 15th at LA's Richard Heller, creates these great wooden sculptures and featured a bunch in the show... He's often asked how he goes about making them and gives us at Fecal Face a little 'how to' on the process.


Mural by Curiot (+Mexico)

Mexico City based Curiot, whose sold out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran last March at FFDG, just finished this great mural entitled "El Retorno de Akhankutli" in Mexico. He recently completed one in Berlin too which we'll be posting in the coming week. The guy is very very talented in our eyes.


The Pizza Slice(r) by Henry Gunderson

This made our day. Not only do we love pizza but we also love Henry Gunderson... So a board shapped like a hot slice designed by Henry Gunderson for The Good Company, well... this writer needs to go for a slice right now.


Wendell McShine @Fifty24SF

Wendell McShine (lives in Mexico City, from Trinidad) opened his newest show, Raccoon's Law, at Fifty24SF on Saturday night. ARYZ was a tough act to follow, but McShine held his own in the space... With a combination of a mural, a video, and both drawings and mixed-media works on paper, the diversity of this solo show was impressive. The Raccoon drawings were especially attractive as the way he executed them looked like they actually had fur coming off the page, and you can only imagine how soft it would be to touch. I was lucky to see his work in person through this show, and I hope to encounter more in the future.


Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest

Ingrid Wells just got her MFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and these oil paintings from her Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest were on display as part of the recent MFA exhibition... Ingrid Wells works and lives in San Francisco.


"Out the Window" at Prohibition Gallery

Henry Gunderson emailed over some photos from his recent group show with Andrew Luck, Jordan Bogash, and Mario Ayala "Out The Window" which ran at the Los Angeles based Prohibition Gallery.


The Tornatos in Moore, OK by Justin Clemons

I got there the day after the tornado came through. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My mind just could not grasp what my eyes were seeing. It was just too much to take in, too much to process. So, I did what comes naturally and took images. It sort of helped me separate from the chaos and helped me focus.


Hyuro "In/Between" at ArtRebels

Check out this, what could be, one of the longest murals ever created. Hyuro from Valencia, Spain was recently in Copenhagen for the solo show "In/Between" at ArtRebels.


ARYZ's TL Mural and The Apple

Rachel Ralph spotted Barcelona-based ARYZ working on his mural in the TL a couple weeks back, and we forgot to share the pics. His show at Fifty24SF opened back in April.


Oversized Paintings by Jeffrey Cheung

Jeffrey Cheung emailed over some photos from a recent one night show he had at Terra Gallery/ event space. The May 19th show also featured live music by Oakland garage rockers Twin Steps and Coldtergeist.


Alison Blickle at Eleanor Harwood thru June 15th

Great solo show by LA based Alison Blickle (Born 1976) up now at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood gallery. History of Magic Part 1... The Hermitage runs through June 15th 2013. -- 1295 Alabama St. Hours: Wed thru Sat (11-6pm)


John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 4)

Well, it looks like John Felix Arnold rocked Tokyo with his opening with Koutaro Ooyama at Spes Lab a few weeks back. Even a language barrier couldn't prevent the success of their collaboration. They invited everyone they met on trains, in cars, cafes, bars, restaurants, and people responded by attending, and bringing their families and friends as well.


Sanjay & Craig Premiere Party (+LA)

Last Thursday evening, I was lucky enough to get invited to Nickelodeon's premiere party for their newest cartoon, Sanja & Craig, created by three awesome dudes - Andreas Trolf, Jim Dirschberger, and Jay Howell. Hosted at Tony's Salon with pizza provided by Pizzanistas, the premiere party was filled with libations and celebrations, even a break-dance battle broke out. Congrats to everyone who worked on the show, and especially Trolf, Jim, and Jay who all have been working tirelessly on it. Sanja & Craig premiered Saturday 10:30 am 11 am on Nickelodeon. You can watch Sanjay and Craig Episode 1: Brett Venom on hulu. and read about how the guys came up with it in this interview with The LA Times. Now, here's some photos from the premiere.


Travis Millard Was Almost Rusty Millard

Drawing Stories is a new series from our buddy Travis Millard. Grab a cup of hot coco, get your slippers on and enjoy some time with your uncle Millard.


Tofer Chin @Lu Magnus (+NYC)

Los Angeles Christofer Chin (Tofer) emailed over some install shots of his current show Ar running in NYC at Lu Magnus through June 29th. Simple/ clean and continuing his op artstyle Tofer Chin features new paintings, photographs, and sculpture continuing his exploration of geologically and architecturally inspired Minimalist forms.


Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival

More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.


+SF

+NYC

+LA

FULL CALENDARS: BAY AREA | NYC | LA

 

HOME

- NEWS

- CALENDARS

- INSTAGRAM

 

-------------------