Abstraction by Abbott

Panel #2 is hittin' the road and making it's first leg down south! But before I get into that, Let me introduce you to the new panel and it's first collaborator, San Francisco's Annie Abbott. Annie is a fine artist from San francisco who emphasizes in abstraction works with amazing color palettes and lyrical patterns. Be sure to check out her website and full biography *here*. Here is a little snippet :

"By referencing past movements such as: Lyrical Abstraction, Color Field Painting, Art Brut, and Formalism, I begin each work as a search for the ultimate story that has a beginning, middle and end. Inspired by the pieces of everyday “light and shadow” that quickly move before our eyes, I seek to capture these fleeting moments that are often gone within seconds, yet leave an imprint upon the eyes. A shadow cast upon a floor, wall or ceiling that moves, jumps or fades - and is quickly gone or removed by something else. By combining process and concept, I am led through various landscapes that float temporarily before our eyes and then vanish."

And here is her panel work:

Ok, now before I get into the mini interview, I just want to throw this out there really quickly- I'm sorry for the lack of insightful interview questions! I didn't realize how hard it is to actually formulate questions that would convey a cohesive and accurate image of the artist and their thought process, but I can only try! Haha, oh well, I hope some of you enjoy these anyway!

ETC What is your name, and where are you originally from?

AMA Annie Marie Abbott, originally from Southern California~ Long Beach

ETC Describe your artistic style

AMA Colorful, Non-Figurative, lyrical abstract

ETC What inspires you to create your art?

AMA The need to express and communicate through my hands

ETC Favorite color[s]?

AMA All colors

ETC Favorite medium to work with?

AMA Oil and Ink

ETC Favorite toy when you where a kid?'

AMA Tape recorder

ETC Favorite toy now?

AMA Cannot tell you

ETC If you could have one super hero power, what would it be?

AMA To grant the power of love OVER hatred and violence

ETC What is your idea of the ULTIMATE collaboration?

AMA Several artists from all walks of life and ages coming together for a large mural in a big city

ETC If you had the chance to tell the word one sentence, what would it be?

AMA Live every moment like it's your last, with an open heart and as much love as you can possibly give

I know, not exactly Barbara Walters worthy, but c'mon people! I'm an artist, not a journalist! I promise they will get better though!

A big thanks to Annie for throwing down on this project [Glamazons united!]!

Next up, RAMBO1 of Fontana, CA. This cat hit me up wanting to get down with us, so I am eagerly anticipating his work!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." ~Henry Ward Beecher

Peace and love to all,

ELROD

Completion

Hey art headz!

I am so thrilled to announce that the first panel of El Travo Collabo '09 has arrived as a completed work of art, and I CAN'T STOP LOOKING AT IT!  There is so much art and madness on this thing that's hard for me to look away! I took as many pictures as possible so you can have a good idea of what it looks like, but i guarantee you it's sooooo much better in person! These snapshots don't do it justice, but it will have to do for now- ENJOY!!!! [hit us back with comments, we dig those!]

Here she is! Bask in her glory!

 Close-up on my section- My heart bleeds for art:

Top-O-The panel [arteries by me, characters by Forest Stearns]:

Close-up on Danee123's stencil skills [I love his subtle nuances and details!]: 

Check out more of his awesome work *here*

Detail shot on Danee123's piece: 

I didn't realize this section of insanity until I received the panel the other day! judging the style, I'm pretty damn sure Danee123 did it! I love you man! 

Oscar Padilla's sneaky little green guy:

Check out more of Oscar's paintings and murals *here*

Letters by Forest Stearns:

Check out that detail work:

To see more of his amazingly inspiring work and all of the other mega-star collaborations [like the one with DJ Shadow...yup, Sh-sh- Shadooow], go *here*

Funky planes and white trash flamingos, Crash n burn McGurn is bringing sexy back:

Poppies, M-yeeees, poppies [Wizard of Oz anyone? no?...ok..]:

Lovely beetle by Tony Van Groningen [thanks again Tony!]

I love how some sections wrapped around the sides of the panel. Here's another view of Tony's beetle:

You can view his professional work [yeah, that's right- artists CAN pay the bills!] and contact him  *here*

BACK OF THE PANEL! 

All artists signed the back of the panel, kind of making it like a second work of art:

Oscar Padilla:

the Stearns:

Danee123:

C-Burn McGurn:

Very few things in my life have been seen through from conception to final execution, which makes me very proud of this completed work of art. If this piece of birchwood could talk, I can only imagine the things it would say! It traveled nearly 2,000 miles by land, air, foot and bike [thanks Oscar  :)  ] and now it an rest a few months until we display the completed series [more on that soon to come!]

One last thank you to the artists involved: You guys are all so talented and have assisted me in executing one my visions to make it a reality, I can't express exactly what that means to me, but it's an amazing feeling!

So, since that took us nearly 5 MONTHS to complete, I decided to send out 3 panels at once so we can stay on track with the deadline for the art shows next year [I know, next year sounds so far away, but trust me- It will be here in NO time at all!] . ALSO- I have decided to do the NON-CALI residents panel, now that I have a handful of artists who live outside of the states. it's going to be so freaking cool to see what comes next, I hope i can stay on track with all of the postings!

OFFICIAL DISTANCE TRAVELED FOR PANEL #1- 1,704.28

"Art is a passion or it is nothing." ~ Robert Fry


Peace and love to all~ Thanks for stopping by! 

ELROD

Beetle from the Vulcan

Hey everyone~

The newest and the truest work has just been added to the panel, and I can officially say that Panel #1 is COMPLETE!

Before I show off the panel in all of it's glory, check out the addition by free-lance graphic designer Tony Van Groningen:

Tony kind of got bombarded by the travo collabo, and he was a real good sport about it [thanks Tony!].  He is a long time friend of travo collabo contributer Forest Stearns and he happened to be in town when the panel made it's way back to the city by the bay. Check out his work online at http://www.tonyvg.info/ .  Check out the mini-interview:

ETC: What is your name, and do you have an a.k.a or anything like that

TVG: Tony Van Groningen, a.k.a. tonybricker

ETC: What do you do for a living?

TVG: Graphic design / information design

ETC: How did you get started in art?

TVG: I've been drawing since my mom gave me that very first crayon...

ETC: As artists, our styles can constantly change and evolve over the years- How has your style, or perspective on art, changed [if it has at all] since you first started pursuing art as a hobby and then as a career?

TVG: My style has changed so much. When I was a little kid all I would draw were cars and animals and Disney characters. When I was first starting to think about refining my skills in high school, all I ever drew were comic book characters and monsters and aliens, and some more "serious" still life and landscape stuff for school. I got into a studio art program for college and learned a ton about the wide world of fine art, it was really eye opening, and I grew to appreciate the value of social commentary and conceptual forces in art. At the same time, I thought a lot of fine art was overly intellectual and ultimately ineffectual, and I kind of got disgusted with a lot of it. Now I am at a point where I just like what I like for my own reasons, and in my own work, now I get bored really easily if I make similar things over and over in content or in technique. 

ETC: What would be your idea of the ULTIMATE collaboration?

TVG: Let's get fantastic and say a huge piece with James Jean, Moebius, and Syd Mead working on some deep psychologicalfuturescience, with Buckminster Fuller and Roger Waters consulting. 

ETC: What is your favorite medium to work with?

TVG: I love ballpoint pen, or ballpoint pen on top of watercolor. Gouache + india ink is something I have been enjoying a lot recently.

ETC: What inspires you the most?

TVG: Beauty, music, nature, technique, ability, fantasizing/daydreaming, people that are smarter than me

ETC: Will we see Tony Van Groningen on the Collabo again? [in other words, would you be up for throwing down some more paint on another panel?!

TVG: I am definitely up for throwing down again the next time I am in the Bay Area...

Thanks for that Tony~ Next up- the final work! 

Peace and love to all!