sketchbook pages and works in progress from the last month:

 I've been obsessing over a certain few things for the past 10 years... profound experiences I've had at Arlington National Cemetery (when I was 13), the old Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw, Eisenman's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Hitchcock films (specifically North by Northwest, Vertigo and Rear Window), Jochen and Esther Gerz's Monument against Fascism in Hamburg, the Washington Monument, concentration camps and American suburbs, the use and misuse of pattern within contemporary art and the art historical canon... ruins, the pyramid and the diamond (tangibly and symbolically), the repeating form as analogous with the failures of history... plus the work of Andrew Schoultz, Ryan Travis Christian, Chris Johanson, Steven Parrino, George Grosz, Giorgio di Chirico, Piet Mondrian, Alan Moore, Alex Lukas, Ben Shahn, Barry McGee, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Tauba Auerbach, Francis Alys, Chris Duncan, Georges Seurat, Rachel Whiteread, Gerhard Richter, Anselm Kiefer, Picasso. And a few more. I obsess. 

At any rate, look at these works in progress. Then cruise over to the other website I'm working on and look over some projects I did from 2008-2010: 

http://cargocollective.com/bridgethevoid

I'm looking for some places to show. Drawings, installations, publications. Hit me up. 

louismschmidt at gmail 

the 8.5" x 11" sketch. scroll down for the finished 22" x 30" drawing.

working on a raised brick pattern

the 8.5" x 11" sketch. scroll down for the 15" x 15" finished drawings: one straight, two with blobs. 

another 8.5" x 11" sketch. finished 22" x 30" drawing is below. keep on scrollin'.

trying to come up with a decent wave pattern. not too into this one.

I'm gonna work idea this into a big drawing. dark rocky/landscape shape at the bottom, window/building pattern above. 

just an idea. it's not really working.

another horizon line blob disturbing a pattern. I'll work it out.

this one reads "Christians kill" (not the other way around)

working on a house pattern, too. 

silly, I know. I still like it despite the fact. 

whatever, pool. 

a North by Northwest pattern, pushed downwards a bit. 

slightly wonky perfection. I gotta make a bigger drawing of this.

reminiscent of my undergrad sketches. deep thoughts, right? 

possible sticker design

not possible sticker

this image, and the next few, are just crappy snapshots of the "real" drawings- many are still in progress- including the bigger teal blob and the smaller blobs with figures. all of the small figure drawings are still in progress. don't judge. 

I'm pretty stoked on these two. Ink on paper, 22" x 30", 2012.

detail

detail

this one's pretty great, too. You'll have to imagine all these pieces floating on walls covered floor to ceiling with similar patterns. wallpaper made from xeroxes of pattern drawings. hopefully someone will ask me to do this in a real gallery. I'll just start holding my breath...

the North by Northwest pattern... came to me subconsciously. realized after the fact how heavily Hitchcock has imprinted upon my brain. 15" x 15", Ink on Paper, 2012. 

this other thing

although you can find everything I do on this blog, it can be a bit of a challenge to make sense of my work... there IS a bunch of new stuff and all of my old work if you keep scrolling down and down and really invest some time into it. However, I AM slowly working on this other thing... a proper website... it doesn't have any of my 2011-12 work (which is quite different) on it yet, but it DOES have most everything from 2008-10 is there. check it out:

http://cargocollective.com/bridgethevoid

here's a detail of something new:

In the meantime

Stay tuned- I'm spending long nights working on a bunch of new drawings... I'll post some within the week! I have a couple new series in the works- more crazy cross-hatched pieces, and some new pattern drawings, and a slew of new gesture drawings. And maybe, just maybe- some will have color. Yep. Color. Don't hold your breath, though. They might get burned before anybody sees them. 

In the meantime- look at this mug:

That's my good buddy Alex Sweetman. He paid a visit to San Dawg recently to visit his daughter- fellow artist and UCSD MFA alum Katherine Sweetman. He's an old school faculty member at CU-Boulder, a fantastic (and dramatically under-appreciated) photographer, a rabid book collector (he knows more about photo books than anybody you will ever meet. EVER.) and all around amazing guy. One of the few reasons I miss Boulder, CO! 

Nobody Wins tee is now available!

Here's the new t-shirt I made- "Nobody Wins" (slightly different drawing from the one posted below). It's a death's head, inspired by puritan tombstone designs. Available only at Double Break!! If you want one, stop into the shop, or paypal $28 ($24 for the shirt, $4 for s/h) to info@doublebreakstore.com. Be sure to specify size and color. Available in black and white (s-m-l-xl). Cheers!! 

Nobody Wins

I'm having some t-shirts made up soon:

a clear way to see

I've been working on another site- I don't know too much about Cargo Collective, but so far it looks pretty good. It doesn't have any of my projects from 2011 yet, but it will, soon: 


http://cargocollective.com/bridgethevoid

Chris Johanson's band Sun Foot live at Double Break!!

This pretty much falls into the category of "ridiculously awesome" for me. Please join us DECEMBER 11, 2011 (4-7pm)!! 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DOUBLE BREAK EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Closing Reception for our Double Breaks group exhibition!

PLUS Darin Klein & Friends present: Box of Books, Vol. IV (release party!!)

PLUS Live Performance!! Sun Foot (feat. Ron Burns, Chris Johanson and Brian Mumford)

DECEMBER 11, 2011 (4-7pm)

Darin Klein & Friends touch down at Double Break in San Diego for the release of the latest in the ongoing Box of Books series. This unique and affordable boxed set of 20 artist-made ‘zines is perfect for collectors and gift-givers alike! A limited edition of 100, don’t miss your chance to grab one.

Box of Books, Vol. IV showcases the work of Heather Benjamin, AA Bronson & Ryan Brewer, Julia Dzwonkoski & Kye Potter, Brennan Gerard & Ryan Kelly, Abel Baker Gutierrez, Darren Ankenbauer (Handbook Magazine), Johanna Jackson, Chris Johanson, Christopher Kardambikis, Dawn Kasper, David Larsen, Sarah Locke, Jeaneen Lund, Francesca Mirabella, Zac Monday, Erwin Ong, Davy Rothbart, Jen Smith, Chris Vargas & Greg Youmans, and e war.

Portland, OR and Los Angeles based trio Sun Foot create barely amplified, feel-good vibes on electric guitar and bass nicely intertwining with analog and digital percussion. At live gigs, they deliver spare, honest jams filled with friendly humor to appreciative audiences. Join Sun Foot on the San Diego leg of a California tour supporting their new LP, Songs in the Key of R, B & C, on Awesome Vistas/Teenage Teardrops. Recent appearances include a Quiet Fruit Party in the Los Feliz Hills and legendary venue The Smell in downtown LA; Breeze Block Gallery in Portland, OR; and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Oh – did you know that one time they even played on a barge at Art Basel, Switzerland? Sun Foot members are Ron Burns (IS and Amen, again Amen), Brian Mumford (IS, Collectivo and Dragging an Ox through Water), and Awesome Vistas record label founder and Box of Books, Vol. IV contributor Chris Johanson (IS, Deepthroats and Tina, Age 13).

Tonight is also the closing party for the fifth Double Break exhibition, Double Breaks. Co-curated by artists Jay Howell and Louis M. Schmidt, Double Breaks brings together 30 artists working in nearly as many styles. The show features a slew of fantastic artists, including Box of Books, Vol. IV contributor Christopher Kardambikis, 80’s skateboarding legend Neil Blender, iconic comics artist Bill Griffith (creator of Zippy the Pinhead), plus widely exhibited artists like Thomas Campbell, Mel Kadel and Travis Millard.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 (4-7pm)

Box of Books, Vol. IV Release Party

Live Performance: Sun Foot

Exhibition Closing Party: Double Breaks

(Free admission)

Double Break

1821 5^th Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

619.238.2325

info@doublebreakstore.com            

www.doublebreakstore.com

www.facebook.com/DoubleBreak           

www.twitter.com/DoubleBreakSD           

Last week's work... took me (ballpark) 25-30 hours for each of these three self-portraits. Who knew crosshatching could be so meditative? These look pretty good as a triptych, don't they? 

and, individually: 

 Untitled (Self-Portrait), 9" x 12", Ink on Paper, 2011. 

 Untitled (Self-Portrait), 9" x 12", Ink on Paper, 2011. 

 Untitled (Self-Portrait), 9" x 12", Ink on Paper, 2011. 

Here's a few quick phone pics (please forgive the poor quality) of the new series I'm working on... the first one is in our group show Double Breaks (co-curated by Jay Howell and myself) at Double Break! The reception is today, November 11, 2011 (6-10pm). The show runs through December 11. 

Untitled (Floating Heads)

Ink on Paper

16" x 20"

2011

(work in progress- also pictured below)

Ink on Paper 

9" x 12" 

2011 

(Works in progress)

Image on left: 

Ink on Paper

16" x 20"

2011

Quick update...


I know, I know... I haven't gotten the Big Cartel store up yet... I'm sorry! Getting ready for the Art Book Fair, now back to running Double Break most every day, has gotten the best of me. I AM working on some new work- from which I'll choose a piece to go into our November group show at Double Break, curated by one Mr. Jay Howell. The show will feature 27 artists, including several people whose work I have admired for a VERY long time... It opens November 11 (6-10PM). You don't want to miss it! 


And please, stay tuned- the webstore and new work will be coming, soon! If you're interested in obtaining zines or original works, please send me an email: louismschmidt (at) gmail.com! 


Thanks! 


-lms

NY Art Book Fair!!

Come visit my booth at the NY Art Book Fair, at P.S.1! I'm in the "Schoolyard" area outside, at booth SY29! The fair runs Sept 30-Oct 2. The preview is Thursday night, Sept 29 (6-9PM) and the fair is open Friday and Saturday (11AM-7PM) and Sunday (11AM-5PM). I've just finished two new books that I'm really excited about! They're smaller editions this time, unlike anything I have made to date and I would love for you to see them! I'll have a few copies of older books with me, too! 


Each book is a hand-numbered edition of 50.


Below you can peek at the covers of each book:


I WILL FACE WEST FOREVER (SEPTEMBER, 2011)

THE GHOSTS OF THE LIVING WILL NEVER HEAR WHAT THE SEASHELL WHISPERS (SEPTEMBER 2011)

sneak peak at new zine pages!

Here's sneak peak at a few new collages, which will soon be pages in my forthcoming zine, tentatively titled What You Are Doing Now is Forever. Edition of 50. Exact size and page count not yet final. It's going to be one of my best. The test pages look amazing... I haven't made much since opening Double Break, and I'm really loving this new series. I have seven collages finished, five-seven yet to go. You know you want like a collage and two copies of the zine right now! You'll just have to wait three weeks, then come to the 2011 NY Art Book Fair!!  

I'm working on stuff for the NY Art Book Fair....

http://nyartbookfair.com/

New work coming soon...

...ish. Sorry it's been so long- getting Double Break open has required all of my attention! I have a new studio now, for the first time since June of last year and I'm very excited to get back to work... I'm once again thrilled and honored to be tabling the NY Art Book Fair at the end of September- so first thing's first- I have to make a new zine! Anyways- stay tuned, or come into Double Break and chit chat- I'm here most days, unless Matt has granted me a reprieve- at which point I'll either be at the movies or the bar. 

Jay Howell, with Christopher Kardambikis

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Exhibition announcement: Jay Howell, with Christopher Kardambikis

Opening Reception: July 22, 2011 (6-10PM)

 SAN DIEGO, July 2011-- It gives us great pleasure to welcome two fantastic artists into Double Break for our second exhibition: Jay Howell, with Christopher Kardambikis. A perfect match for Comic Con 2011, both artists will present new work- Howell with his trademark hilarious paintings and drawings reminiscent of the work of Al Jaffee; Kardambikis with paintings and illustration that draw inspiration from Jack Kirby and other great comics artists. We’ll also have two brand new books by Jay Howell: the latest issue of his hysterical zine Punks Git Cut and, hot off the presses, Pages from Books- Vol. One.

Along with designing the characters for Fox Television’s hit animated show “Bob’s Burgers,” L.A.-based artist Jay Howell has illustrated for Vans Shoes, Burton Snowboards, GNU Snowboards, Anti-Hero Skateboards, Creature Skateboards, OJs Wheels, Lifetime Collective clothing, Rebel-8 clothing and more. With art openings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo before the end of the year, Jay has spent the last 10 years showing his art around the globe. He co-runs the Mt.St.Mtn. record label and publishing project and is currently developing an animated children’s show for the Nickelodeon network.

Christopher Kardambikis is exploring an absurd mythology for the future through drawings, paintings, and books. He has co-founded two artist book projects: the Pittsburgh-based Encyclopedia Destructica (with Jasdeep Khaira) and the San Diego-based Gravity and Trajectory (with Louis M Schmidt).  He has been an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Millay Colony, and the Pittsburgh Center of the Arts. Kardambikis received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in 2005 and is currently pursuing an MFA at the University of California, San Diego.

OPENING RECEPTION: JULY 22, 2011 (6-10PM)

Music and refreshments courtesy of M-Theory Music and Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer!

Exhibition runs July 22- August 28, 2011

Come back on July 23^rd (6-10PM) for a book signing and release party for Ed Luce’s comic book, Wuvable Oaf  #3, and the debut of a new Goteblüd print! The first 25 people to arrive will receive a free mini-poster!

Double Break

1821 Fifth Avenue

San Diego, CA 92101

phone 619.238.2325

fax 619.696.0441

info@doublebreakstore.com           

www.doublebreakstore.com (under construction)

www.facebook.com/DoubleBreak           

Regular Hours: Monday-Thursday 11AM-8PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-6PM

*Image courtesy of Jay Howell

Cy Twombly is Dead.

I'm pretty upset about this. the image below is from his Lepanto series. the most beautiful paintings I have seen.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/cy-twombly-idiosyncratic-painter-dies-at-83/?hp