New favourite artist found at the V8 Vixens show

My partner and I wandered down to Kustom Lane Gallery in Hawthorn on Sunday. On show were Sara Ray (USA), Leighderhosen (QLD), Isobel Von Finklestein (SA), and local lass Kat Weir.

Beatnik de Milo by Sara Ray

Overall, it is one impressive show - the walls are bulging with lowbrow brilliance, by this fantastic foursome.

For me, the one stand out collection of work was by Leigh Carnachan (aka Leighderhosen). The ex tattoo artist had 18 pieces on show, and we found ourselves constantly going back to them. In fact, we liked them so much, we bought 3!

Leigh in front of some of her works.

Miss Talulah, inspired by the showgirls of vintage Burlesque, both past and present.

Ida the Goose. Watercolour & ink. 5/6 Gangs Of New York series. Former burlesque performer, prostitute & member of The Gophers gang in the 1800s, Hells Kitchen, New York.

DEAD RAIBEADS Watercolour and ink. 2 of 6 Gangs of New York series. . ‘DEAD RAIBEADS (Irish for Dead Rabbits)’ was inspired by John Morrissey also known as ‘Old Smoke’, an Irish bare-knuckle boxer and a Dead Rabbits gang member in New York in the 1850s. Later he became a Democratic State Senator and U.S. Congressman.

The show ends 23 November, Kustom Lane Gallery, Luton Place, just off of Glenferrie Rd.

Latest CGS Features

A few more features for my pals at CGSociety ...

Free shipping on Big Fat Tshirts

Time is running out to get some big fat loving on ya bods with free shipping. That's right, nada, zilcho, a big fat zero! Runs out this thursday.

New tattoo

Those of you who have tattoos know how addictive they can be. Hence my new inked masterpiece by Danny Young at Tattoo Magic ...


It's a touch old skool, with a bunch of common tattoo motifs plonked together.

The green-eyed beauty is my gorgeous girlfriend.

The scroll says "Eternity" in some Sailor Jerry-like script. The meaning of this is two-fold. Firstly, I hope this whole love thing I'm feeling will be eternal. Secondly, my GF is from Sydney, where a homeless man known as Mr Eternity wrote the word on sidewalks all over the Harbour-side city. He had converted to Christianity, and this was his gentle way of spreading his gospel.

The nautical star is an old sailors' tattoo, which they had inked to help them sail home and protect them. The swallows are also a favourite tattoo motif for sailors. It’s often a sign that land is near. During migrations, swallows are known to travel far out to sea, but would alight on boats when close to land – a welcome sign for the sailor hoping for landfall. It’s a tradition for sailors -- after logging 5,000 miles at sea -- to have the swallow inked. Two swallows proclaims 10,000 sea miles. Since I've travelled a lot more than that, I feel comfortable about sporting the two swallows.

The cherry blossoms is my nod to the amazing tattoos of Japan, where they are a metaphor for life. Bushido, the samurai’s code, takes the cherry blossom as its emblem. The blooming of the cherry tree is the purest manifestation of beauty in Japanese culture, but then the blossom swiftly fades and is scattered by the wind. The essence of Bushido is that the true Samurai lives every day knowing it may well be his last. The cherry blossom is a powerful reminder that life is fleeting and we must live in the present and cherish every waking moment.

I'm swimming in dunnies...

... the kidrobot kind that is.

The last blind box revealed this black beauty by the Japanese graffiti artiste Reach.

This pink masterpiece was inked by JK5, a New York tattoo artist.

Metal Gear Solid 4 feature

A little (actually huge) story I laboured over for my good chums at CGSociety, SOFTIMAGE, and Konami....

Latest commissioned illustration

New CGS articles

Latest articles I did for my good chums at CGSociety ...

New commissioned illustration

Whipped up a new illo for a soon-to-be-named client ...

New web site: Mountain Breeze

Just popped up a new web site for the good folks at Mountain Breeze ...

Dunny Series 5: Amanda Vissel

Couldn't resist getting another Dunny. This time the blind box revealed a treasure by Amanda Vissel. The American artist gives a healthy nod to the wonderfully simple angular shapes, and muted tones of 50s Beatnik art.

Thanks to my new chums at Villain in Sydney Rd, Brunswick.

696 Opening - hats what I'm talking about

I'm becoming a big fan of a little store on Sydney Rd, Brunswick... 696 is a low commission based, free rental space, shop/indoor-outdoor gallery, which supports local, national and international talent and just cool knick-knackery in general.

Last night I sucked back a few VBs at their latest gig - Get Trucked. Dozens of artists were given a blank trucker cap to customise. All were sold at a flat rate, and proceeds will go to charity.

The small space was bursting with millinery magnificence

An outstanding piece by M2O

Melika. of 696, in all her truckery finery

Pierre Lloga with his hat creation

Tam in front of the hat she bought by Shauno

Tam's buy

Me in front of my new hat by Beastman

The Beastman cap

Gallery Openings Galore

One of the main things I wanted to do when I arrived in Melbourne was to drink free wine. The best place to do that is at gallery openings. The fact that I'm fond of art makes for a happy, drunken marriage.

September saw me drink quite a bit of free wine. Here are some highlights ...

Making-doo by Niels 'Nails' Oeltjen
Lamington Drive, Fitzroy

Niels' work looks like Steampunk scenes painted by an Eastern European folk artist. Huge boards are covered in sundried colours, and depict machines as houses, and birds free of their cages.

Niels in front of the mural he created for the exhibition

Niels and his mum in front of a quilt she made, based on one of his paintings

The very lovely Carly and Tam in front of Niels' signature piece

Japanese Pop and Modern Art
Collingwood Gallery

30 Japanese artists came together for a very eclectic show. Everything from calligraphy to manga was bursting from the walls in the sizable gallery.

Izumi Ishihara provided some live painting

Some sculptures chillin'

Tam in front of her favourite piece ... I was 1 wine away from buying it!

BOMBSHELL BABES
Kustom Lane Gallery, Hawthorn

One of my favourite galleries in Melbourne is Kustom Lane in Hawthorn. The refurbished shed is packed with Lowbrow goodness. The latest exhibition did not disappoint!

Several photographers got together to show their take on the pinups of the 40s. Not only was there great art on the walls, but great art spilled out into the streets - 50s cars and rockabilly lasses as far as my happy eyes could see.

Paul Vanzella's Cadillac .... yum! Now this is a real car!

A handcrafted steel Tiki wood burner ... now I know what I want for my birthday!!!

Dunny Series 5 is here!

'tis the season for Kidrobot to release their 3 inch masterpieces... Dunny Series 5.

The series features 19 different designs including two mystery figures. Artists included are Amanda Visell, Aya Kakeda, Clutter, Devilrobots, Dirty Donny, Frank Kozik, Huck Gee, JMGS//Jellymoon, Jesse LeDoux, JK5, Junko Mizuno, Kathie Olivas, MAD, Mad Barbarians, MISHKA, Reach, Sneaky Raccoon, Steven Harrington, TOOFLY.

I eagerly tore upon my blind box to discover a gem by Steve Harrington. This is the beauty of the Dunny world, I wasn't very familiar with his work until I got his big-eared little creature, now I'm a fan:)

Sneak preview of new illustration

A new client, which I can't name yet, wanted an illustration of a stressed-out, business bloke. Here he is ...