Carmageddon

So Carmageddon is upon us here in L.A. For those of you who don't live in SoCal, Carmageddon is the carpocalyptic traffic jam the Mayans predicted would happen when a stretch of Interstate 405 closes this weekend for construction. And we all know Mayan prophecies always come true -- they've already correctly predicted that a movie called 2012 would come out.

Carmageddon is coming, or as I like to call it, "Vroomsday 2011: The Carbinger of Death."
Steve has dubbed it "The Autocaust," while Jenni calls it "Hurricane Kartrina" for the win!

Nozomi

Since I haven't been tweeting for a while, it's probably been tough for you to stalk me, so I figured I'd give you all a heads-up on the next place you can find and harass me. This Saturday, June 11, 2011, I'll be featured in the Nozomi - Hope for Japan Artshow, a charity auction with all proceeds going to Global Giving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

Here's the painting I made for the show, and you can bid on it this Saturday from 3 - 8pm in Long Beach, California:

"The Sun Always Shines" (12"x24", acrylic on canvas)
Dedicated to my father (Jan 11, 1940 - May 16, 2011)

Mealtallica

Today, we saw a food truck named after Metallica's Kill 'Em All album, but since the eatery on wheels specialized in serving up burgers, it was called "Grill 'Em All." In honor of the heavy metal-inspired burgermobile, we've come up with some other Metallica-themed food trucks:

Call us, Lars, and we can go into the food truck biz with you. Otherwise, we'll sell these ideas to Napster.

Love,
Hands in the Air

We Heart Japan

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're in L.A. today, celebrate until you're green in the face at We Heart Japan's charity auction at Meltdown Comics on Sunset. There will be food trucks, free drinks, raffles and appearances by anime voice actors. Plus, you can bid in the silent auction for art, including three paintings by me! All proceeds go to the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.

Sanrio Grande

It's the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty's company Sanrio, so last month, we visited Sanrio's Small Gift expo, which featured carnival games, a gift shop, mini golf, food trucks, an arcade, an art show and more cuteness than you could shake a stick that has googly eyes and rosy cheeks at (see, everything in the Sanrio world has a face). Anyway, this post is a month overdue, but it took us that long to recover from our cute overload. Seriously, stop staring at me, hamburger!

Check out our picture blowout after the jump.

Getting LOST: The LOST Auction

Now that LOST the TV series has ended, it's time to clean house and get rid of all the props, so ABC is holding LOST: The Official Auction and Exhibit in Santa Monica, California this weekend.

The event continues through Sunday, August 22, 2010, just two days before the Blu-ray/DVD release of LOST: The Complete Collection, which contains "The New Man in Charge," an all-new 12-minute chapter that reveals what happens after Hurley becomes protector of the island.

Here's a sneak preview:

If the Weezer news can't tide you over, check out some highlights from Saturday at LOST: The Official Auction and Exhibit after the jump.

Now Fortified with Iron

As Seen in L.A.

Random pictures we took around town! Wheee!

"Ded cat at every turn."
I think it was supposed to be "Dedication at every turn."
Or, "A chicken in every pot."
Or "A woman in every port." Something like that.

Posted on Melrose Avenue by a lover of the ladies.

Somewhere between the sex and drugs,
rock stars are livin' the dream of rinsing and repeating.

I totally broke my ass on that sign while trying to read it.
I broke it again on the second sign, too.

Attention, Cyberstalkers: Jason's Next Art Show

Dear Cyberstalkers,
I'm participating in BoredLA.com's upcoming art show, "Underwater Is Where the Action Is." The opening reception is Saturday, March 7th from 7pm to 11pm at the Ragazzi Room in L.A.

There will be live music, a DJ, food, drinks and some live art demos. Basically, it'll be a very public event, so it's not ideal for abducting me if you're that sort of cyberstalker. Also, if you happen to be that sort of cyberstalker who wants to kidnap me, I'm actually gonna be somewhere else that night so maybe look for me across town or something.

If you're not a cyberstalker or if you're a harmless cyberstalker, please check out the art show. Otherwise, thanks in advance for not raping me.

Sincerely,
- Jason

Jason Attends American Music Awards, Declares He Is... Sasha Fierce

On Sunday, I spent my second year hanging out in the green room of the American Music Awards for work. No, I don't work as a male escort, caterer or makeup artist, and I actually didn't have much to do, so I spent the whole show Twittering and Facebooking the backstage events.

For those of you who don't subscribe to my twats (I think that's past-tense of twitter), here's the transcript in chronological order:

1:53 PM Nov 23rd
Off to American Music Awards, where I'll be hanging in the green room. To prepare, I've marinated myself in Jack Daniels & Axe Body Spray.

3:08 PM Nov 23rd
Riding shuttle to American Music Awards w/ white dreadlocked catering guy. Oh, how far Soul Asylum has fallen.

3:36 PM Nov 23rd
Escaped confused mob of David Archuleta fans at AMAs. I look nothing like a Monchichi.

4:39 PM Nov 23rd
Just saw Ashley Tisdale, T-Pain and Jamie Foxx at the AMA green room.

4:54 PM Nov 23rd
American Music Awards backstage update: Daughtry and Jamie Foxx just chatted. Neither is very tall.

5:06 PM Nov 23rd
Saw one of Christina Aguilera's female backup dancers up close backstage about 10 mins ago. Yiiiiiiiikes.

5:11 PM Nov 23rd
Watching Weiland getting his makeup done. David Cook and Lance Bass also in the hizzy.

5:16 PM Nov 23rd
Holy crap! Ron Jeremy just showed up backstage. I might be at the wrong awards show...

5:25 PM Nov 23rd
Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block just swung into the green room, fresh from his performance.

5:44 PM Nov 23rd
Why is Billy Ray Cyrus wearing gloves backstage?

5:55 PM Nov 23rd
I'm surprised at how tall David Archuleta is in real life. He must be at least a whopping 5'0! Julianne Hough is the same height.

6:13 PM Nov 23rd
Watching Julianne Hough talk to Daughtry backstage. Redhead Pussycat Doll and Kate Walsh just walked in...

6:22 PM Nov 23rd
Colbie Caillat looks pretty hot in person. She's blinging it backstage with a huuuuge rock on her finger.

6:39 PM Nov 23rd
Ashley Tisdale and Julianne Hough have been chatting backstage at a table for a looong while. Let's hope they make a Disney movie together.

6:42 PM Nov 23rd
Guess I saw The Fray backstage and I didn't know it. Seeing them on the monitor now and still don't know it's them.

6:43 PM Nov 23rd
WTF? Brigitte Nielsen is here?!!?

6:49 PM Nov 23rd
Nick Lachey, Vanessa Minillo and everyone else in the green room is glued to the monitor watching Beyonce perform.

6:53 PM Nov 23rd
The AMA green room is a ghost town now. Julianne Hough, Brigitte Nielsen and everyone else left after Beyonce finished performing.

7:12 PM Nov 23rd
Motley Crue just walked in. Mick Mars is tiny.

7:18 PM Nov 23rd
Sarah McLachlan just entered the AMA green room. She was followed by an ethereal glow, seven angels and a unicorn.

7:41 PM Nov 23rd
Steven Tyler and Richie Sambora are catching up backstage...

7:47 PM Nov 23rd
Joe Perry and Nikki Sixx joined in on the convo. It's monsters of rock back here at the American Music Awards.

8:02 PM Nov 23rd
American Music Awards are over. Time for the afterparty on top of the Nokia garage. Wheeeeee!

Yay, music!
This is a test photo for the new stop-motion Christmas music video I'm working on. Check back in a few weeks to watch it!

All the Small Things

Last night, Monkeyhouse Toys in Los Angeles had its opening reception for the Itty Bitty Art Show, where I had 10 pieces on display.

Everyone's been asking me how my itty bitty opening was, and let's just say it's awfully sore 'cause there were so many people crammed into it (I hear porn stars charge double for that kinda action).




Sometimes I think the only reason I do art is so I can make awful "opening" double entendres, but in any case, the reception continually drew a revolving crowd for the three hours I was there. It was actually so packed that you'll have a better chance seeing things up close now that the reception is over.

Bigger than itty-bitty thanks go out to everyone who attended, and if you didn't make it out, you can still check out the exhibit through November 30th.


Here's all nine of my robot paintings grouped together. Each one is 2" x 2" and they should still be available for adoption if you'd like to own one.

From left to right, top to bottom: TV-bot, Aqua-bot, Thought-bot, Toasty-bot, Love-bot, Danger-bot, UFO-bot, Fight-bot and Buzz-bot.

All nine of my robots teamed up to battle "Li'l 'Zilla," which is the tenth painting I contributed to the show. The rough version is shown below:

This was painted on aluminum, and I taped off skyscraper shapes before priming. You can see the finished painting in the post immediately before this, or you can see it by clicking here.

Itty Bitty Art Show

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'd like you all to gather at the spectacle that is my itty-bitty opening. Wait, look, I'm simultaneously flattered, insulted and somewhat scared of you now, but I'm actually talking about a reception next Saturday for an art show I'm participating in.

If you're in L.A. next week, please visit Monkeyhouse Toys to see the Itty Bitty Art Show, featuring over 100 artists who've created teeny weenie paintings, as well as teeny paintings that aren't of weenies. All of the works on display will be smaller than 9"x12".

I've contributed 10 paintings, including the three featured here. I'll post the rest after the grand -- yet tiny -- opening.

At last check, my stuff is the smallest, but that's not really something to brag about.

"Love-Bot" and "Danger-Bot"

Acrylic on 2"x2" canvas, shown in actual size.
There are seven other robots in this series.

"Li'l 'Zilla" Acrylic on 5x7 aluminum panel

Itty Bitty Art Show opening reception
Saturday, November 8th 2008
5pm - 9pm

Monkeyhouse Toys & Art Gallery
1618 1/2 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

The art show coincides with the beginning of this season's Silver Lake Art Crawl, so it should make for a fun social event (or perhaps an awkward social event, depending on your tolerance of hipsters who look like roadies for either Weezer or Lisa Loeb).

Here's the postcard promoting the art show:

Please check out the show next Saturday, November 8th. It's the second-biggest event next week after election day! Well, unless you also have a birthday or anniversary or job interview next week, that is. OK, fine, it's just an itty-bitty event, but still.

I Hope That the Light Will at Least Change

It's not even election day, but it looks like every crosswalk in L.A. wants you to vote Republican. I took this photo in front of The Standard on Sunset Boulevard...

"Push button for McCain."
I couldn't do it, so a whole hour passed before I was able to cross.

Downtownin' It

I had jury duty yesterday and I didn't try to get out of it like Chris, the diligent "know your rights, keep your rights--but fuck a civil duty, that's for losers" patriot. It gave me a chance to wander around downtown a little bit, all by meself, which was nice except for the part where it was kind of hot and sunny and I wore shoes that weren't really walkin' on city hills type shoes. The thing about downtown LA is, people who live around here don't actually ever go to downtown LA. They had some handouts in the jury room and most of them were practically begging the jurors to hang out, stay a while, and get to know the city. Kind of sad. And you know, even sadder, a lot of the jurors actually stayed in the jury room or just outside the courthouse.

Above are shots of the Bradbury Building, which you might remember from Blade Runner or the Heart video "Nothing at All." It's smaller than I thought it would be, but very pretty. It was built in like 1893 which is crazy. I guess my favorite part was the historic Subway restaurant inside.

I also visited the Grand Central Market which is a farmer's market and also a place with lots of cheap but it seemed to me pretty shitty food. But there was a terrific Mexican bakery that just made me crazy with its delicious smells. I had to buy one thing, which is pictured. It was yumulous.

There was this awesome drug store that had an actual pharmacy thing but was mostly crazy-ass Santeria shit. Candles, statues, potions, powdered shit like eye of newt or whatever, wolf bones and I don't even know what else. Hispanics is nuts. I wanted to take more pictures inside but I thought they would curse me.

I wanted to go to the jewelry district but I ran out of time. I did pop over to where I parked, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, to get a delicious French lemonade and a photo. And you know what's great about a metal building at lunchtime? All the sweet California sunshine bouncing off of it, making the air a good 30 feet away nice n'toasty. Also, bright. Awesome.

That's all, really. Yay LA!

P.S. Sorry for the not that great pics, my iPhone isn't the bestest.

Man, this was sort of boring. Too late now, tho.

Sk8r Boi

The All-a-Board Custom Skate Deck Group Show opened this Saturday in Los Angeles at Monkeyhouse Toys, and I learned quite a bit from it:

1. Someone out there likes my stuff. Two out of my three boards already sold before the reception had even started! Thank you, random strangers for almost reimbursing me for the iPhone I bought earlier that morning. I should start painting those tiny Tech Deck fingerboard toys and sell them for 99 cents so I can fund my iTunes downloads.

2. I have some really great friends who showed up in support of me. Sure, none of them bought that third skate deck so I could go for the hat trick on opening night, but still.

3. You know how a little red dot sticker by a piece of gallery art means that it's been sold? You can buy those dots at any Staples or Office Max store, so shitty artists should totally invest in those and discreetly stick them by their work so it looks like people like their stuff. If you're a really insecure artist, you should go sticker-crazy and make the gallery wall look like it has measles.

Ahem, see the red dot by my hot dog skate deck? Sold!

Here's a close-up of my buns and wiener. Yes, I'm totally trying to hit on you.

The top deck was painted by this friend of mine and the one on the bottom was done by this other friend of mine. You have until September 7th to see and buy them (the decks, not my friends), so start saving up.

Some cool decks including a polka-dotted plush one by Heidi Kenney and a Mr. Toast deck by Dan Goodsell.

Oh, what's that? Another red dot? Wait, and it's not herpes? Awesome!

Close-up of my skate deck that I titled "Elevations." I hate coming up with names. I took this picture during an early stage of deck development -- it was at about the time when I realized I had to buy a helluva lot more paint.

Here's my third deck, which is called "Depths." I think it's still for sale. Hint, hint, I'm a whore for your money.
I sketched out a tiny fish swimming above the treasure chest, but I forgot to paint it in so it's hidden beneath the finished painting... very da Vinci Code of me to do that.

The All-a-Board Custom Skate Deck Group Show is currently on display at Monkeyhouse Toys in L.A. through September 7th.