Michael Dotsons is a master if the third dimension.   His images are bright and crisp.  I’ve intermittent his older work of people with his newer work of architecture and landscapes.  Subject include singer Rihanna and the late Michael Jackson.

By Martha Raymond

When Schoolhouse Rock steps through an Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Arbito’s paintings, screen prints, and vinyl toys come out. As one of Grass Hut Studio’s closest members, this Seattle-based illustrator has been colorizing art conventions, west coast galleries, and Internet brainwaves with good vibrations and lowbrow giggles since 2005. Recently, his Seeker, Patty Powers, and Cosmic Hobo resin sculpture lines have appeared at the forefront of his work with new iterations and color sets coming out every few weeks. The most recent line features all three as miniature, cherry-scented erasers.

New york based artist and triple threat Mickalene Thomas is gaining a lot of attention for her portrayal of beautiful, confidant women.  Her photographs are direct, sensual and full of vibrant color, taking inspiration from blaxploitation films, Harlem and the Hudson River School art movement.  She also employs a technique of using reinstones  to accentuate her subjects’ natural appeal.  I love her sculptures of two women wrestling. The fact that they are wearing animal print make it so perfect.

By Martha Raymond

Derek Aylward’s use of mixed media create wierd haunting images that are full of  expression. His Picassoesque style sometimes references modern pop icons like darth vader, see second painting below.

London based artist  Charming Baker is on to something.  His art work is thought provoking and straight on with its commentary on ‘human nature.’ Rooted deep within us all is a desire to understand and be understood–not just as an individual but as a species.  This is what I feel Baker is on to: better retrospective overall understanding–with a humorous twist. What drives us? What makes us unique? Baker will tell us. Lust, greed, aggression, any of the other pit falls of human existence.  As a writer, I appreciate his titles which are as clever as his artwork.  Here they are in order of appearance. Intelligence is no match for adaptability, the overachievers, beware trying to impress members of the opposite sex, just another god I don’t believe in, mothers’ milk nourishes heros as well as murderers,  the curator has a master plan and forms that don’t lend themselves to intimacy.

New York artist William Steinman likes the flavor of street culture.  Taking early inspiration from graffiti, Steinman likes bold colors and sculptures that look as if you might find them down in the subways of New York where a group of hobos have decided to entertain themselves with craft hour.

By Martha Raymond

LA  artist Pearl C. Hsiung paints bizarre cosmic scenes that  might remind one of  a psychedelic drug trip into outer space. She uses various techniques to define her style including the use of stencils and spray paint. Her series Never Ends will showcase her paintings, video art , and installations at the Steve Turner Contemporary later this year.

Anders Krisar’s work doesn’t strike you at first. Sure, you see a normal looking torso. With two hands on it. But they’re not on it, they’re imprinted into it. The detail that he puts into his work is stunning. The textures are so realistic, so believable, it’s not surprising that Krisar throws away multiple casts in his search for perfection. Every piece represents a part of human psychology and has a deep, intimate connection to Krisar himself. Each of the flawless structures are interrupted by somewhat violent or disturbing touches; a torso cut into strips and then weaved together, a head made of pills, or a jacket filled with countless layers of clothing underneath.

You can find Youtube reality shows everywhere now, whether they’re parodies or not. They all feel overdone and it’s rather easy to tell which show they’re emulating. Unlike most of the internet community, Ryan Trecartin is spitting back reality TV in a whole new way in his latest work, K-CoreaINC-K, a dizzying mashup of  clips of himself in various personas. It makes no sense and at the same time is disorienting, the same feeling that you get when you step into the middle of a reality TV show with no knowledge of it beforehand. However, that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Instead of paying attention to the drama and gossip and plot (if there is any), Ryan Trecartin forces you to look at the absurdity of what you’re watching and laugh. Watch some of his work here and enjoy.