Rococo Cocoa

I did a drawing for Civilian Art Projects here in DC for a Barack Obama benefit. It's the largest drawing I've done to date at nearly 4 and a half feet square.

© Joseph Lamour 2008. If you would like to post this, please let me know. Thanks!

I will be entering this a lot. Simply cause it's so easy and a hoot. You should too. I just uploaded a drawing from college, Buh-Caw:
but I plan on doing a tequila related piece or two for it.

This has gotten me thinking about tequila at 10AM. Which I suggest you do often.

pluck (n.)-
1. the trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury [syn: gutsiness]
2. the act of pulling and releasing a taut cord


I've decided a title for my first Black Fruit series piece. Pluck is basically an emotion piece, which is to say it really doesn't have concise message, I really want people to take what they will from it. I know I have my own meaning, and I bet it'll pretty clear once it's in the context of my other pieces from this series.


Here's a closeup of what the vines will look like. I hope to finish this by next week. With any luck!

Excuse the blurriness... And the shadow. But here's the first piece from my new seires "Black Fruit". Just polling... what does the fruit I'm holding look like?



Here's an artist's statement:

• "Black Fruit is a discovery of my unique situation of belonging to two well talked about social groups- African Americans, and gays. As a black gay artist I want to talk about my relationship dynamics affected by my upbringing in a Haitian household, and my race in relation to my love life. Black Fruit is a symbolic study of two things that make up who I am and the experiences I've been through because of them."
  

Collage reference for upcoming drawing.

I'm going to title it "Self Portrait with Heads from March 21st issue of Entertainment Weekly, Coincidentally the Artist's Sister's 33rd Birthday".

I like long titles.

Finally, another illustration. I'll post my sketch for the next idea soon! Also, some information:

"The Shop presents Unique Art Auction in humanitarian effort Local artists will donate work for showcase event. In an effort to contribute aid and draw attention to hardships in Darfur, Africa, The Shop Salon will be hosting a unique art show. Local professional artists are graciously donating a wonderful array of artwork to be sold at a silent auction during this worthwhile event. Everyone is invited to attend!

TIME/PLACE: 6 PM to 11 PM; April 6 2008
LOCATION: The Shop, 8231 Woodmont Avenue, downtown Bethesda
Beverages and appetizers

A minimum donation of $10.00 per person (entry fee)


PROCEEDS from the cover charge and art sales WILL BE DONATED
to the SaveDarfur fund to help with humanitarian aid efforts in the Sudan.
PLEASE JOIN US AND HELP!

Proceeds will go to SaveDarfur.
www.savedarfur.org
www.one.org

www.theshopsalon.com"

Wee!

This is a pastel I've been working on for a charity benefit for Save Darfur. I'll post the finished piece on here, as well as pictures from the event, I imagine. I credit them for getting me back into the handmade arts. I needed a push to start again.

To explain the piece, I wanted to focus on the beauty of the Sudan rather than the pain, since, someday, with any hope, there will be happiness there again. The vine like flowers around her are... the scientific name is Utriculara inflexica, and for some peculiar reason I can't find the real name of them... anyone know a botanist?

About a month ago I participated in Visual AIDS's Postcards from the Edge.

"Famous in the art world as the most exciting and affordable way to build a collection of work by internationally renowned artists, as well as young and emerging artists, all works are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The works are signed on the back and exhibited so the artists signatures are a secret till after the purchase.

Visual AIDS strives to increase public awareness of AIDS through the visual arts, creating programs of exhibitions, events and publications, and working in partnership with artists, galleries, museums and AIDS organizations.

By mobilizing the visual arts communities, Visual AIDS raises money to provide direct services to artists living with HIV/AIDS."

Postcards by Kiki Smith, Yoko Ono, (and me! as well as my beautiful and talented friend Carin Johnson) were in the show at James Cohan Gallery in NYC.

I'm only showing you now, because it was a secret previously, on the off off off off hand chance someone saw this before it was (hopefully) purchased. I like it. I love the dimensionality of a drawing in a diorama format. Its a good thing.