Tim Biskup's Blog

New Website! New Blog! New Store!

2011-07-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

New Print, "Crippling Faith #4" Palm Springs Pop-Up!!!

2011-07-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

If you're in Palm Springs this weekend you may want to drop in on THIS party at Ace Hotel. Among a super-rad lineup of printmakers and artist I'll be opening a little pop-up shop on Saturday night (10pm). This new print will be available. You have to pay to get into the party, but I've discounted the price enough that the party is really free! See how that works? The party will be amazing, for sure. Paper Magazine called It's A School Night "America's Best Party". They know what's up.

“Crippling Faith #4”
3-Color Serigraph on Heavy Acid Free Paper
Paper Size: 18” x 16”
Signed & Numbered Edition of 55
Retail: $100 (Available online next week)
(Sat & Sun Only) Special Event Price: $80

Upcoming Solo Show in Los Angeles

2011-07-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

"Vapor" Interview

2011-06-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

I came across this interview I did with Jamie O'Shea back in 2006 for his SUPERTOUCH blog. Really brings me back. That was a dark time.

"Scatterbrain"

This new body of work is quite a stylistic departure for you both in terms of composition & palette. What's behind the shift? Is this a conscious & premeditated direction or a natural evolution? What motivated you to move away from the flatness & decorative elements of your previous work?

It’s a natural evolution, but there is also a lot of thought behind it. When I find myself getting used to a way of working or using images over & over out of habit I know that it’s time to change it up. I’ve done it quite a few times before, but it seems like this shift is quite a bit more dramatic.

How has working in this more loose & painterly style affected your approach to executing the work? Do you find that your working methods and thought process is different when working in this style?

Yeah, very different. The main issue is editing. I have always had a tendency to fill up every space. It’s like a mental block that I have. I know there’s a medical term for that. Not sure what it is... Something like OCD. Anyway, I had to keep looking at these paintings to figure out if I wanted to put more in because the painting needed it or if I was just habitually filling in empty space. There’s a piece in the show called “Code” that is about the way that I see things. I have a lot of trouble with reading & generally paying attention. I think that I fill spaces like that when I stop thinking about the painting & just let myself go.

"Code"

The obvious theme in this body of work is the darkness of both the palette and the imagery. Is this series a personal statement of some inner darkness or does it address some greater concept outside your personal experience?

There’s obviously a lot of heavy emotion going on in this work. I’ve always had dark themes in my work, but I really wanted to explore that part of it. I was a little shocked, frankly, when I did the first few of these paintings. They just didn’t seem to fit with the rest of my work. The bottom line for me was that they felt like more accurate portrayals of those feelings so, ultimately I gave into it & just painted.

I’ve always found that if I put a lot of myself into my work it’s much more satisfying & it actually makes for better work in general. Part of the emotion in this show is about my personal life & part of it is about the state of things in the world today. The last show that I did, “American Cyclops” was about American history & how the original intent behind the formation of America was corrupted over time. I tried to look at that in a personal light & see how my own intentions get corrupted. There’s a quote in one of the paintings, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”. That is from a proposed version of the great seal that was put forward by Benjamin Franklin & John Adams. It seemed extremely relevant, given the state of America, today. It also made sense on a personal level. For me it is about re-thinking your beliefs & killing off the bullshit. This new show is all about that bullshit that invades your mind & makes you crazy.

"Cut"

This series is very cohesive in its imagery. Is there any particular narrative flow through the show? Communication seems to be a central theme with the "ticker tape" elements seemingly representing dialogue of some sort. What does the series title "Vapor" signify?

I don’t know if there is a narrative, necessarily. The ideas are very abstract. When I first started sketching out ideas for this show there was an obvious narrative. It felt like it was too limiting, though. I didn’t want to end up illustrating my feelings too clearly. I think that would have distracted me from the more complex aspects of those feelings.

Yeah, the ticker-tape is all about communication. It’s about how impossible it is to really express yourself completely. You either find yourself spewing ideas in an attempt to explain things (“Liar”) or you hold back some element of the story because you don’t know how to say it or maybe you don’t even know it’s there (“Cut”). In “Wrong”, it is more about unspoken persistent thoughts. The feeling that something is wrong is one that I’ve carried with me my whole life. I’ve always felt like there was something wrong with me, but also that there is something wrong with the world & everyone in it. I think that feeling is pretty universal.

"Wrong"

The title is purposefully vague. I wanted to give myself a lot of room to interpret the ideas that I was having. Vapor is abstract & volatile, like relationships, feelings... Life itself. I thought a lot about death & loss & how impossibly difficult it is to get a grasp on my own thoughts. “Scatterbrain” is all about that. I also made a point of keeping the titles to a single word. That’s part of the editing that I tried to do in every part of the show.

Some new "characters" seem to have emerged in these paintings. Can you elaborate on the imagery in the paintings "Liar", "Passing", & "Tyrant"?

“Liar” has a character called “Relphe” in it that I have used before. He’s a darker, more sinister version of the “Helper” character.

"Liar"

The big dragon in “Passing” is just a reworking of the “Dragamel” character that has been popping up in my work for that last few years. I like to keep the characters that I use flexible & ambiguous. That way I can just paint & not try to remember how many horns he has or where his teeth go. He’s like a wart-hog sometimes & more like a traditional Chinese dragon at other times.

"Passing"

“Tyrant” is totally new to me. I see him as totally pure evil. There’s really no personality there at all. There’s usually some sort of balance in my characters, but not here. The quote behind him is the same one that I used in “American Cyclops”.

"Tyrant"

This new show debuts in Berlin at the Pictoplasma conference. Is this work indicative of what's to come in your future solo shows, particularly the upcoming solo show at Billy Shire Fine Arts?

I feel like there is a lot to explore in this new direction, so I think I’ll keep pushing it forward. I am really interested in pushing the intensity further, so I’d say look for even more drama in the next show. The main goal for that show will be to explore my own fear of these feelings really taking over & controlling me. I want to make the audience understand that fear as much as possible. There’s only so much of that that I can do with paintings hanging on a wall, so I’m going to have to take it quite a bit further. You should probably bring earplugs.

The LA art scene seems to be digging itself deeper into a hole of repetitive, derivative cartoon imagery, feeding off toy culture and art school illustration styles in particular. What's your opinion of the West Coast pop art scene and where would you like to see happen to it?

I think there are a lot of amazing artists out here that come from a production background. I came from animation & my work looked like it & still does to some extent. My goal is to break away from the mental state that I learned to be in when I was in that industry. There was so much concentration on illustrating a point & then there was the need to adhere to technical specifications, plus I had to listen to other people’s opinions. It’s tough to make work that is truly innovative when you are thinking about all of that stuff. I think the best fine artists are the ones that don’t think about any of it & just do what they want to do.

I’d love to see artists break out of their own limitations & do things that don’t make sense. I see a lot of work that looks like a pitch to a toy company or a character model for a cartoon. I can relate to thinking like that. I do it all the time. It’s fun, but I think it’s ultimately limiting.

The real breakthrough, for me, is for media to adjust in order to accommodate the requirements of the artist, rather than the artist adjusting their work so it can be used in the current formats that are available. That’s when truly original ideas happen.

"Tyrant"

Old Interview in WIDE-EYED mag

2011-06-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

Like to read? Here's an interview that I totally forgot about. Enjoy!

Mr Porter

2011-06-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

The kind folks at Mr Porter did a little interview and took some pics for their "I ART LA" portfolio.

New Print Set, "VIBRATOR"!

2011-06-03T10:20:00.001-07:00

"Vibrator" print set available now from Flopdoodle.com. Worldwide shipping included in the price!

Sharing Needles

2011-05-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'm digging through my vinyl and picking some gems for this gig on Monday. Good Times!

Nice Review of my Standard Vitrine Installation

2011-05-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Virtual Visual Museum astutely commented on my installation in the "box" at the Standard Hotel in Hollywood. Nice pictures, too!

Super-Giant "Helper" on American Idol.

2011-05-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

My old pal JJ Abrams was on American Idol the other night and look what's in the background! A big red Cyclops and a few other odds and ends. Nice!

Tiger Painting

2011-05-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

I tweeted a snapshot of this a few weeks ago. Here's the finished painting. 4' x 4', Cel-Vinyl on Wooden Panel. Title is "Gomorrah".

Canvas Magazine Article

2011-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

The new Canvas Mag from Mexico has my mug on the cover and an interview inside. You can check it out HERE, but if you don't speak Spanish, here it is in English.

Before you focused your life in artwork and animation what was in your mind for living… What were you looking for and how imagine this future in that past…

I was in a lot of bands. I owned a record store. I took ski racing pretty seriously. I went to a private ski racing academy in Lake Tahoe for my last two years in high school. Art was always in the back of my mind, though. It’s what I really wanted to do.

Could you explain why you choose drawing in your life and not other activity?

Drawing is pure and direct. It’s where I can most freely express myself. I love being a fine artist because I get to make what I want to make. Very rarely does anyone give me any kind of direction. I’ll discuss things with galleries and I love their input, but they never try to tell me what to do.

How was your childhood?

It was pretty good. My parents loved camping and traveling, so I spent a lot of time in the woods with my two brothers. I was the middle child. I don’t know exactly how that effected me… I was the “emotional” one who got terrible grades and drew all the time.

Were you a skateboarder?

Yeah, my dad was an designer and made us a half-pipe. We were never very good, but we had a great time. I got back into skating in my mid-twenties when I was doing art for skateboard companies. I was way better then. I was always scared of getting hurt when I was a kid. I guess I grew out of that.

How did you start working in skateboarding industry and which companies did you work for?

I was friends with Tom Knox and he asked me to design a deck for him. That was for Santa Cruz. I met Richard Metiver and started doing freelance for People, Union, Earth… All of his lines. I did a bunch of stuff for Gonz’s 60/40 & Kools lines.

How you reached John Kricfalusi to work with him and how you began working on “Ren & Stimpy” cartoon?

I actually never worked on Ren & Stimpy. I met John when he was working on it and I tried out, but I was not good enough. He gave me some pointers and sent me away. I came back a few years later and he hired me to work on the Bjork video that he made. I worked on a few commercials and a tiny bit on the Yogi Bear cartoons.

Tell me what you learned there and why Kricfalusi was like a mentor for you…

He has a million theories about drawing and painting. He would throw them at you constantly. They were really helpful, but he was pretty brutal in the way he delivered them. He’d say “You can’t put texture on top of texture. It looks like crap! Look at that (pointing at my painting). It’s a mess!” I still think about those things when I paint. He’s in the back of my mind yelling at me. Then he would shower you with praise every once in a while. It was totally manic. He made everyone crazy. I love/hate that guy.

What is the difference between thinking in drawings and thinking in art pieces?

I try to ignore my thoughts when I’m drawing. I like conceptual work, but it’s hard to draw and conceptualize at the same time. Some of my work is pure picture making and some of it is very much about an idea or theory. It’s all in-between, actually. I like to switch things up a lot, working on high-concept pieces one day and pretty pictures the next. It keeps me balanced. It probably confuses people and alienates others, but I can’t help it.

You have some iconic characters like Helper, could you tell the story behind its creation and what represents in your life?

Helper started as a simple drawing. For years I didn’t really feel like he had any meaning. When I started to study American History I began to think of him as a symbol of corruption. He’s like the eye on top of the pyramid. I see that eye as a man-made god that some people use to justify horrible behavior. They idea that God approves of whatever America does is really sick and corrupt. I often include the words “Anniut Coeptis” with the image of Helper. It’s taken from the seal that is on the dollar bill. It basically translates to “God approves of our actions”. On a personal level, it makes me think about what I use to justify my actions. It makes me question my motivations. At my worst I am Helper. He’s what man becomes when he believes he knows the will of God.

And what about Alphabeasts toy?

I had an idea about the heirarchy of archetypal symbols. Meaning that there are certain images that we relate to more than others. The chalace, for example… It’s a cup, right? It’s repeated over and over in spiritual imagery to represent all kinds of things; femininity, wealth, faith, etc. I don’t know exactly what it means because it’s meaning is abstract. I created Calli and later realized that he is the chalace. Helper is clearly a phallus. Ghonner is a sort of keyhole shape. That symbol is often used to represent the afterlife or the transition to another world. I apply the name “Alphabeast” when I feel like there is something about the caracter that is partially symbolic. I picture them competing for their place in the heirarchy. Who is the true “Alpha-Beast”?

How began your fascination for vinyl toys and art toys?

I always loved toys when I was a kid. I played with Legos constantly. I loved games and puzzles. When I got older I used toys as visual inspiration. Mostly Japanese kaiju figures. I wanted to make toys because I was inspired by them. When I got the opportunity I jumped at it.

How many vinyl toys do you have in your collection?

I don’t even know, because lots of them are in boxes, these days. Maybe 800? Too many, for sure.

With the passage of time your work has changed, nowadays we can appreciate another kind of techniques of painting that belongs to the classic paintings or formal art paintings in your works…

I can’t help changing. Sometimes I think it would be better if I could stick to one way of working so that I could establish myself more as a brand. I see other people doing that and I’m a bit envious. I could never do it, though. My work is very personal to me. I use it to learn about myself and to grow and change who I am. It makes me a better, more well rounded person. It’s a path to happiness. That’s why it has to change. I change things about myself all the time. I learn things. I get rid of outmoded ways of thinking, etc.

In the same way your work is evolving with another kind of message, more serious maybe…

Yeah. It goes back and forth. It reflects what’s going on in my life. A few years ago I want through a bunch of huge changes in my life. It was heartbreaking and brutally sad. My art was dismally intense at that time, but it was appropriate. Recently, things are much brighter and happy. There’s still intensity and some darkness, but it feels balanced.

Then tell me, what about Operating System show in Paris, i imagine that event changed the way that you came doing expositions in the past.

That show was really the result of all the work I did for The Artist In You. All of the time that I spent trying to figure out what I want from my work and how to make it speak for me... I wanted to make a show that had a clear concept. That spoke the language of conceptual art, but that also spoke in the language of decorative art. I called the sculptures "systems" because they represent the infrastructure of art... Everything but the art itself; galleries, critics, collectors, shipping companies, etc. I wade them out of materials that galleries are made of; Plywood, MDF, screws, nails, white paint. I also used dark grey felt as part of the packaging. That was meant to remind people of Beuys' felt sculptures. I wanted to make sure that people understood that they were looking at intellectual content. The paintings were perched on top of the sculptures, so they were a system for displaying the art, but they were also shipping containers. Each of the systems breaks down into the shipping crate at the bottom with the painting inside. It's really a simple metaphor. The question that I wanted people to ask is, "Does that sculpture need to be there?" or maybe "Does that sculpture make this piece better or is it just a distraction?". Most people asked me, "Aren't you worried that the sculptures will distract people from the paintings?". To me that was perfect. The show did exactly what I wanted it to do. In fact, it worked on lots of levels. The gallery had a hard time selling the show because people kept asking if they could have the paintings without the sculptures. The gallerist had to talk the buyers into seeing the validity of the sculptures. How ironic is that!? Ultimately, it was the worst selling show I've ever done. It opened the weekend after all those banks started failing, so that was bad. Then, to top it off, the gallery refused to ship the unsold pieces back to me. When they finally sent them, they got held up by the Icelandic Volcano. Now, I guess they are lost in some warehouse! I'm still waiting and It's been two years since the show opened! I could see this all as a huge disaster but, as a metaphor, it's a huge success.

Have you been in México before this show?

I went to Tijuana in my twenties, but I knew that was not really giving me a good taste of Mexico. Later on I went to Encanada with some friends. That was beautiful. I went diving in Cozumel a few years ago and loved it. This is my first time in Mexico City, though. I’m really excited!

What do you know about México, and what would you like to do…

I’ve been very inspired by Mexican art for years. I love the modernists and abstract expressionists, but I also love the Mayans. Their dragons and demons are spectacular.

I have some friends in LA that are from Mexico. They are always telling me about different places. So many things that I have to see!

How is a day in your life? Since you wake up and until sleep…

I wake up around 8 and get my daughter ready for school. After I drop her off I check emails, eat breakfast hang out with my girlfriend and run errands. In the afternoon I pick my kid up, take her to tae kwon do or ballet. We go home and eat dinner, watch a little TV. When she goes to sleep I paint or draw or design stuff. I stay up until 2-3am, usually. When my daughter is at her mom’s house we get to be a little more adventurous. We go out with friends, smoke some weed, Drink really good beer, etc. I DJ at a few clubs in LA once in a while. Lots of traveling… that’s when we really let loose.

I imagine your daughter Tigerlily is 8 years old. Does she still draw as her father does?

Even more! She draws all the time. I can’t believe how good she is. It’s shocking.

You have worked on friendly creatures or little monsters most of the time. But tell me what is your biggest fear in real life?

I’m afraid of mental illness. I think everyone is at least a little crazy. I think one of the main goals of my life is to make myself more sane all the time. The problem is that sometimes what appears to be crazy is the most sane and vice-versa.

After the show in México, what will you plan to work on?

I want to finish my Jackson 500 project. I’ve been working on 500 paintings that are the size of a business card. I’ve got less than 100 to go! It’s been almost 7 years since I started.

Next projects?

I’m looking for some really fun design projects. I did a website for an agency in Norway recently. Just the visual part, but it was fun. They let me run wild with it. I’d love to get some opportunities to design public art. Big sculptures, etc. There are lots of possible projects in the works but nothing I can talk about. Sorry!

- - - - Additional, post-trip questions - - - -

And after your trip for Mexico city, what could you express about mexican aesthetic, I mean, in your perception how could you describe the city in that way.

I've got lots of images in my head from the trip. The Anthropology Museum was just a flood of inspiration. The pyramids, the crafts, the public sculpture... More than anything I see an unstoppable desire to create art that has gone on for centuries. I've never been in a place where there was so much art being made on so many levels and with every imaginable material!

Were you find something that inspired you to create/integrate/improve something in your work?

I really connected with the masks that I saw everywhere. The faces and creatures on everything. The insane colors... I'll be back.

Best mexican dish?

Flautas con pastor at El Rey. My mouth waters when I think about it.

Made In Japan (Benefit Concert) Poster

2011-04-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a poster I did for ATP's upcoming Japan benefit show. Go if you can. Get the poster. Donate, whatever. I wish I could be there. I flew out of Tokyo about 20 hours before the quake hit. I feel so lucky to have missed it. It's just so overwhelming to see those images. I still can't wait to go back.

ICON Print

2011-02-22T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here's a super limited print (ed of 20) that I did for the ICON Conference a few months ago. There were a few left and they just went up for sale HERE. The original painting is at Grass Hut Gallery in Portland if you want to get all fancy.

Mastodon Hoodie

2011-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a design I did for my old pals, Mastodon. It's available now at their shows and through their online shop HERE. If you haven't seen them live, GO!

Custom Bike for charity auction

2011-02-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

I was asked by Martha Otero to customize a bicycle for Art Of Elysium's "Pieces Of Heaven" auction. The event is Wed, Feb 23rd, but it sounds pretty ritzy and tough to get into (Scarlet Johansson is hosting), but you can see all the work and bid online HERE. There's some pretty nice work up there. Christie's is in charge of the auction, so you know it's going to be top-notch. Linus provided one of their awesome bikes for me to paint on. Wish I could keep it!

Studio Sale

2011-02-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while I make a few paintings available through Flopdoodle.com. I just got a few pieces back from a gallery in Paris that will be up for sale later this week. If you're interested, get on this mailing list. They'll send out a link in a few days. Enjoy!

Twin Peaks Show

2011-01-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

I was honored to be invited to contribute a piece to this show. The fact that David Lynch himself is involved won me over. I can't wait to see his work. I've been a fan forever. The day that I saw the actor that played Bob looking at axes in a hardware store is one of my all-time favorite memories. When they chose my painting for the postcard I got goosebumps. The opening should be really fun and strange. I hope to see you all there!

In The Trees: TWIN PEAKS 20th Anniversary Art Exhibition

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, February 12, 2011

TIME: 8:00PM to 11:00PM

ON VIEW: Sunday, February 13, 2011

Exhibition is open to the public

PLACE: Clifton’s Brookdale
648 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Article in Hi Fructose

2011-01-19T16:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the nice people at Hi Fructose for the 12-page article in their latest issue. Mat Gleason of Coagula Journal wrote a really great piece. Thanks to him as well. Plus, it's got AJ Fosik on the cover. Go get it.

Tim Biskup Loves DJing |

2011-01-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

Tim Biskup Loves DJing |

Here's an interview about deejaying. Good times.

Monday is a School Night!

2010-12-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

Alphabeast = Me.
I play good music.
You should come hear me this Monday.
You should dance.
It will be fun.

Miami Screening & Dance Party Friday, Dec 3rd, 8-10pm

2010-11-25T12:25:00.001-08:00

If you're in Miami and you finish dinner on Friday and feel like shaking shit up you should come to BAR and do just that. It's early... 8-10pm, so don't lag. Gonna be fun.

Blah Blah from Mexico.

2010-11-24T00:21:00.000-08:00

NOTTV Presenta: Entrevista a Tim Biskup. from thecitylovesyou on Vimeo.

Fiat 500 vs. TB

2010-11-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

I got to paint on a Fiat 500 the other night. Wish I could keep it.

Bobby came to the party and wrote some nice things on his blog, thefoxisblack.com

Website meltdown!

2010-11-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

The hosting company for flopdoodle.com is having technical issues, so they were unable to release the new print at noon. They still can't access the site, but they'll post it as soon as they can. Sorry for the inconvenience!

"Calendar Totem" Print available tomorrow

2010-11-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

I'm SO happy with this print. Makes me want to make more art like this. Hmmmm...

Get it from Flopdoodle at noon tomorrow.

Pictarot from Pictoplasma!

2010-11-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Otis interview from a while back...

2010-10-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

More about Mexico City!

2010-10-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

This Friday HEADQUARTER in Mexico City will be releasing a very limited alternate color version of my soon-to be-released "Calendar Totem" print. It's a 3-Color serigraph. This version (L) is limited to only 33. The regular version (R) is limited to 50. Both are signed and numbered.

I've got a few other surprises in the works for the event, so come if you can.

Should be a fun party, too.

Mexico City!

2010-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

As part of Casa Del Lago's "CONCRETO" exhibition series, I've been asked to show a large selection of my toys. The show will feature things that I've designed as well as a small sampling of other people's pieces from my collection. It's a very eclectic group of personal favorites from Alexander Girard to Butanohana. I've got a couple of other things going on while I'm there that I'll blog about asap!

Fuck, that's good art.

2010-09-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

"Awesome Paintings" by Tim (Biskup) & Eric (White) at All Tomorrow's Parties, New York... Great Job!

2010-08-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Eric White & I have been working on this project in secret for quite a while. Suffice it to say we are huge fans & have been for a long time. It's partially a tribute to Tim & Eric and partially our own experiment with the kind of unhinged strangeness and humor that they are capable of. There are surprises... I'll leave it at that.

If you're planning to be at ATP-NY anyway, awesome. See you there. If you're on the fence, jump off & come! It is, hands-down the greatest festival ever.

Vote for the EyeWriter!

2010-08-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

My pal Mick is trying to get a grant to make this amazing invention come to life. Please click here and vote for it! Such a great cause!

Here's the lowdown:
The EyeWriter project is a collaborative effort using creativity and technology to empower people who suffer from paralysis. The EyeWriter is low-cost, eye-tracking glasses & free, open-source software that allows writers and artists with paralysis to draw and communicate using only their eyes.

Buta No Hana

2010-07-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

Lots of Japanese toys inspire me. These ones by Buta No Hara are some of my latest favorites. Strange, ugly, cute & beautiful, all at the same time.

"Bad Strength" Now online...

2010-07-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

Grass Hut Gallery just posted images of the show. Check it out HERE.

Bad Strength

2010-06-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

Two years ago my daughter Tigerlily & I had an art show together at Grass Hut Gallery in Portland. Now we're doing it again! Expect lots of cuteness and badness.

Struthio

2010-06-16T12:13:00.001-07:00

Just released from my friends at Switcheroo... This cement casting of an ostrich head that I sculpted. Pick one up today (If you're strong enough).

DJ Gigs

2010-06-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I don't usually make a big stink about it when I'm Deejaying, but here are a few upcoming gigs that should be really fun. PYT this Friday (I'm playing early, so get it together and show up at ten!).

Transmission, Dita Eyewear & De La Barracuda's new bi-weekly Wednesday freak-out. This is the first one and I'm playing all night. Kicking it off is an honor. I'm digging deep into my music collection for this. Strange/Awesome/Rocking jams guaranteed!

The Vader Project

2010-05-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Freeman's Auction House is going to auction off all of the helmets (including my "Honor Thy Father" lid) from this project on July 10th. Before that you can see the whole collection in person here in LA and after that in Philly. I'll be at the LA catalog signing on Saturday, June 12 at 2pm. More info HERE.

Pavement Poster in person

2010-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

I got a look at the Pavement ATP posters before the weekend (Sadly, I couldn't go to the festival). I'm really thrilled with how they turned out. Printed in metallic and florescent ink on black paper. Take a look.

Standard Hotel, Hollywood

2010-04-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a popped over to the standard to paint the glass box that they keep the bikini girls in. I turned it into a giant mouth and asked that the girls all wear red ribbons around their necks while they're in there (There's a video in the works where I talk about the ribbons and other ideas behind the installation). Here are a few pics. More to come. Check it out in person if you get a chance.

An interesting note about this installation project: It all came about on new years day when I struck a deal with the hotel to do the project in exchange for not having to deal with the absolute mayhem I created in one of their rooms on NYE. Thanks standard (and lots of Jameson & Champagne).

LA, I'm Yours!

2010-04-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

My pals at POKETO & KITSUNE NOIR are curating a show at Space 1520. The idea is for artists to create art from vintage objects. As soon as I got the invite to be in this show I knew it was finally time to paint on these two lamps that have been sitting around my studio for years. Show opens tomorrow. Should be fun!

Get Cunted Now!

2010-04-21T13:53:00.001-07:00

My Dolbee for ATP is on sale at flopdoodle.com. Show your love for salty British colloquialisms and vintage audio technology. Get one today!

Big Butter

2010-04-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

This nice fellow just posted I nice little thing about my band, Big Butter. We might actually put some new music out soon!

That one poster....

2010-04-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

My Faith No More poster is available HERE now.

Polygon Print Series #1

2010-04-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

These have been in the works for a while. Finally going to print and on sale Friday from Flopdoodle.com Here's the press release:

Tim Biskup’s
Polygon Print Series #1
Available this Friday, April 9th, beginning at noon PST
http://www.flopdoodle.com

About the series:

Over the last few years Tim Biskup’s work has evolved rapidly. One of the key elements in his recent paintings is the presence of “faceted” images. Biskup has explained that the style grew out of visual distortions that he experienced when he had migraine headaches. Amazingly, as the style developed the migraines subsided! This addition to the artist’s visual lexicon was captured in his epic 72-color serigraph print “Asylum #4” from 2008, but the costly production process took the price of the print out of range for most casual collectors. With this new series of digital offset prints the price comes down to earth. The six images were culled from an assortment of paintings dating back to early 2008. The artist painstakingly recreated each image as a vector graphic so the technical quality is precise.

Five of the six prints from the series are available individually.
Each is a signed and numbered limited edition of 66.
The sixth print is limited to only 33 and is included free as part of the complete set.

Faith No More Poster

2010-03-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I do something that feels like it took an evolutionary leap. Like I've turned a corner and headed down another street. This image is one of those. There's something happening to my art right now that I like a lot. Feels a bit out of control and aggressive. I've been drawing like crazy. So much in my head...

Thanks to Mr. Patton for being rad.

"The Gorgon" Painting @ Warhol Museum

2010-03-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a new painting that I did for the Warhol Museum's Playboy Redux exhibition. The show opens this Friday.

"Incense Burner" Painting

2010-03-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a new painting that I did for an upcoming show called "Balls Out" at Bwana Spoon's Grass Hut Gallery in Portland. Sort of a new-old direction. Feels very free and good. Show opens next Friday, April 2nd.

Twentywonder & a NEW PRINT!

2010-03-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

It may be a little late for me to post about this, (but my computer melted down & f-ed everything up!). Anyway, here goes: I did the identity image for this amazing event called TWENTYWONDER that happens tomorrow night (Saturday, March 6th). It's a benefit to raise awareness about down syndrome (Trisomy 21). They asked to use the image for a limited edition print that they could give to big-spenders who bought the high-end tickets. Rather than using the goofy eye-grabbing Beatle-Helper image, which didn't seem like it would make a great print, I gave them a new piece. I saw the proofs and they look really nice! It's super limited, so grab one while you can & do something good while you're at it! ...Oh, and also go to one of the funnest parties ever!!!

Maifest Equality

2010-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

This is one of three paintings that I did as part of an installation piece called "Access Point" for this weeks mammoth Manifest Equality show. The painting is at the top of a three foot tall tower, facing upward. It's easy to see for everyone. The second painting is at the top of a six foot tower and is more difficult, but not impossible to see. The third painting is nine feet up and impossible to see unless you have a ladder, know someone who is part of the event, know me, or if you buy the piece (which I highly recommend).

The idea is about elitism and seems a bit pessimistic compared to the general tone of the show, but as hard as I tried I could not think of a way of expressing my feelings about the issues of human rights and equality without expressing anger and discontent. The restriction of access is, on many levels, a recurring theme in my life. For me, it is that constant struggle to be taken seriously as an artist. It seems completely frivolous when I compare that struggle to what members of the LGBT community must deal with on a daily basis. At any rate, I hope it translates.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Mat Gleason Tells It Like It (Probably) Is.

2010-02-17T00:41:00.000-08:00

I read this in Coagula a few weeks ago and it's been rattling around in my brain ever since. I love Mat's take on the art world. Always insightful, honest and entertaining. Very low bullshit factor.

Art World Mumbo Jumbo Gets (kinda) Interesting!

2010-02-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

Check out editor Tim Griffin's opening letter in the February issue of Art Forum.

If you can stomach the artspeak there are some interesting ideas. The main one that struck me was this quote: "Our greatest possible mistake in art, I suspected, was to think we were so special, or even that we were somehow set apart."

It's interesting to read such candid pondering about the very relevance of the institution of the intellectual art world. It is, however, not intended as an admission and he goes on to long-windedly defend the idea that in order to ponder the question one must blather on about "prisms of networked communities and nonhierarchical corporate management structures" & the need to compare them to "“flexibility, organicism, accessibility, [and] eloquence” of Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s installations".

I like what he has to say about Deitch and MOCA, too. "...it is possible that his appointment merely reflects changes that have already come to pass in museums, and is jarring only on the symbolic level."

"Line" Chair

2010-02-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's a chair that I designed. This prototype is made of Teak and Maple.

Blocks

2010-01-31T10:17:00.001-08:00

Tiger & I play with blocks a lot. The process of building and knocking it all down is so satisfying. I was looking at old photos and thinking about how important the ideas of building and construction are in my art. Maybe it's about finding balance. There's something ethereal about the experience. Maybe it's about finding the basic core of things. Anyway, here are some pics.

As the art object returns...

2010-01-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

Signs as meaning structures
"I was at the last vestige of the sign. The sign no longer really meant anything. It was no longer a part of the meaning structure and so the question was, do I need it at all? How do I paint a painting without a mark, as such?"
Robert Irwin

Dispensing with traditional craft based forms of art allows the intellectual to relax, knowing that they will not be pressed to produce an object which reveals their level of skill and training in traditional art forms. The suggestion that craft may be re-emerging as an important element of new art presents a conundrum for those that have triumphed the ideals of conceptualism and the passe nature of any art that leans toward aesthetic decoration. What would be the role of an artist that cannot draw or paint well enough to produce a convincing representational work in an art world whose tastes have traveled away from sheer conceptual wrangling toward a hybrid form of art that requires an artist to incorporate the emotive language of traditional craft along with a depth of contextual intentionality? The answer is that they would struggle to keep up.

Music Go Music

2010-01-23T19:56:00.001-08:00

Music Go Music - Live on Face Time - Just Me from music go music on Vimeo.

From the MYSTICAL FOLDER OF INSPIRING IMAGES...

2010-01-19T02:30:00.000-08:00

Images like these inspire me.

Laica

2010-01-18T01:40:00.000-08:00

2010-01-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

There's an article/interview in the new Juxtapoz. Check it out if you get a chance. Aside from some questionable editing and grammar (& them attributing my Ed Ruscha quote to "Edward Shay"!) I'm pretty happy about it.

2010-01-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Times, they are a'changin'!

I think having Mr. Deitch here is gonna be really fun. I can't wait to see what he's got up his sleeves!

Kris Chau

2010-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Check out Kris Chau's amazing work. Makes me want to draw girls all day.

NYE Flashbacks...

2010-01-11T15:37:00.001-08:00

Beanbags are no match for us.

FU iWeb! Hello Blogspot!

2010-01-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

I've relocated! Lets not get all excited.

Heart - tb