BATTLE OF THE SEXES : PART 2

ROUND TWO, PAINT!

Hey all, welcome back! First off, thank you all who have shared El Travo Collabo with all of your friends! It is so cool to have people contacting me and asking me

about what we're doing and to hear them get all excited really just makes my day. Help spread the word and the art by posting a link to your facebook so we can get more followers- the artists on this project deserve to have as much exposure as they can get!

Ok, let's get down to it- Last we left off on the Battle of the Sexes panels, Ed He of San Francisco painted a crazy man-rooster [yeah, you know...a cock] on the boys panel while Jen Oaks of Berkeley went all out with a sexy bikini babe on the ladies board. Both panels have since left the bay area and traveled in opposite directions- the ladies panel went down to SoCal, while the boys' went to Roseville [out past Sacramento]. Let's catch up on the two panels, and of course, LADIES FIRST!

The second stop on the road for the ladies panel is down in sunny Moreno Valley with tatoo artist Janelle "JDUB" Cuba of Inkaholics. She's a tattoo artist and an all around bad ass and I HAD to have her on the project! After participating in a mini art group show at the Rogue Elephant Gallery in MoVal with her, I hit up Janelle kind of random style via the facebooks and asked her if she would be interested in the project. This girl was perfect for the bill and she was more than down to contribute to the project. Check it out!

My Name is Janelle Cuba aka JDUB. I was born in Honolulu, HI. and currently reside in Moreno Valley, CA. I am a tattoo artist, and have been tattooing for the past 8 years.

What is your earliest artistic memory?

My earliest artistic memory is in kindergarten, when I did my first watercolor that I still have to this day. (Thank you for framing and keeping that for me mom!)

Three words that describe your art:

Free, easy, and heart.

What inspires you?

My family. they have always encouraged, supported and lifted me up in whatever I do... and I am thankful for that.

What is your goal in life?

My goal in life is to breathe everything in, accept whatever comes along and roll with it the best i can, bettering myself everyday [hopefully!].

Name something that makes you angry.

I think the number one thing that makes me angry is people who are inconsiderate of others.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

My favorite was my Popple... hahahaha! I don't know if anyone remembers Popples [they were awesome].

What is your favorite toy now?

Hmmm... I don't think I have one. I wanna say my nephews. they are like toys but waaaaay better.

What is your dream art project?

My dream art project is to work with children, and illustrate a book about it.

What have you been listening to lately while you work [on your art]?

I listen to all types of music, mainly underground hip hop, classic rock and some punk rock. I do have my guilty

pleasures... I like a couple of one hit wonders from back in the day and a little bit of mainstream nonsense [that I will not name.. hahaha].

If you where a cocktail on a bar menu, what would your name be?

I actually do have a cocktail that was named after me [where i actually got "JDUB"]. I specially ordered it so much that the club named d "JDUB".

If you could go back in time and talk to 8 year old you, what would you tell him/her?

I would tell myself to save more money and pay attention in high school!

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?

If I could collaborate with anyone, it would be Pablo Picasso, just because he was free, the art was honest, there were no rules with him... and it seemed like he was an awesome person to hang with.

What is the best bit of advice that you ever been given?

Always do your best, never lie. ... 'cause you will always get caught.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would it be?

"Rock and Roll will all your HEART!"

Big ups to JDUB for getting down on El Collabo and for sharing all the goodness with us. Her boom box addition to the panel is crazy cool and that gloomy bird is too sweet~ LOVE. Bright, bold and ROCKIN'! Just like Janelle :)

Speaking of rockin' folks, let's keep this party rollin' and check in on the boys! The second artist to paint on the Boys' panel is none other than my brother from a different mother [a really sweet mother who makes thebomb diggidy arroz con pollo], Oscar Padilla aka P. Dilla. Oscar is another artist that I met super randomly and asked him to take part in the FIRST Travo Collabo [2009]. He also rocked the first panel of the project and it's so good to have him partake in the festivities again. He's a muralist from the East Bay who is now based out of Roseville, CA. His work is always bold, bright and are sure to give you a smile. So, remember how Ed He did that cool ass fighting rooster? Well, rooster, meet the Colonel. Colonel Sanders:

"He's an evil sunomabetch!"

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

My earliest artistic memory was when I went to George Hall Elementary, out in San Mateo, The school had a art contest for “Keep San Mateo Beautiful”. I remember my older sister, Denisse, won and received a plaque. As the younger sibling, I followed her lead and strived to work towards receiving recognition for something I created…I’m still working on it.

What are three words that best describe your artwork?

How about two? WINNING!!...DUH!!

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by other people, I’ve always been inspired by things I’ve been through, but lately, i’ve been more inspired by others. I paint what they think up, I like it because it challenges me to think outside my normal relm of imagination and dip into someone elses.

What is your goal in life?

Success, however it may come. I want a family and want to make sure that they are well taken care of.

Name something you love, and why.

As corny as it sounds, I love my girlfriend Amy. She has kept me grounded and more level minded than I’ve ever been. She’s always pushing me forward and she’s always been a huge support. I also love my truck, her names Betsy. She keeps me busy and out of trouble, but she is a fucking gold digger!! Always taken money out my pocket.

What makes you angry?

I get angry when I see people that grew up in a good household, who had lots of good opportunities, and a great upbringing that try to act “hood”. People that didn’t know what struggle was, that didn’t grow up seeing their parents struggle to be able to offer them a better life and then they grow up disrespectful and they act “gangsta”. It really irritates me. My family didn’t come from a wealth background, and we grew up in small one bedroom apartments with one car households, but what we lacked made us humble, it made us appreciate things. I don’t think you can appreciate something when you’ve had it all your life.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

Grant! I got this 12 inch G.I. Joe action figure. He had a scar on his face from the war!! He came with guns and ropes and awesomeness!!! I swear I had that toy for hella years, then one day I tied him to the back of my bike, to prove to my friend that my G.I. Joe was tougher than his, I was wrong…Grant’s plastic chest broke open, his rubber head went rolling into the gutter, and all that was left were his two non-bendy rubber legs. *tear* Damn you for reminding me Leanne!!

What is your favorite toy now?

My favorite toy now is probably my fixie, I love that thing, other than that, my PS3 that my girlfriend hates.

What is your “dream” art project?

My dream project would probably be to paint the side of a building with a bunch of close friends and some ice cold brews.

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

I listen to a shuffle mix of Credence Clearwater Revival, Tupac, The Black Keys, Hendrix, Marley, B.I.G., Elvis Presley, and a couple old school bands like Zepplin and ACDC. Its like P90X for your earlobes, musical confusion.

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

Butterface. It would make anyone look good.

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

“Quit playing with that thing so much, it’s gonna fall off!”

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

Probably Salvador Dali. I think it would have been great to try to not sleep for hella days and start to dream while I was still awake. I read that he use to do this for inspiration.

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

Growing up my mom didn’t always agree with me on things, but she would always say the same thing, “Si te hace feliz” I’ve continued to live by those words, sometimes for the worse, but I’ve learned. It’s always stuck with me.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

Do what makes you happy no matter who you hurt, if they care, they’ll see you happy and will be happy as well.

Thank you, hermano. I am forever grateful for you participating in the project and for believing in my vision- And your Colonel is effing ridiculous and I love it! hahaha! You can check out more of Oscar's work here.

So what do you all think? Did Janelle's boom box blast your face off your head or did Oscar's evil colonel make you laugh your feathers off? Tell us all who you think took Round 2 in the Battle of the Sexes!

Mile Math:

Panel #5 Ladies- From Berkeley to Moreno Valley- 477.59 miles

Panel #6 Guys- From San Francisco to Roseville- 117.06 miles

Next up for the ladies is Erin Hamilton of Oakland and for the guys it will be Eddie Schiffer of El Centro. Both are amazing artists that I deeply admire and I'm dying with anticipation to see what they do!

Much Love and Respect to You All,

ELROD

Panel #3- Forest Stearns, Oakland CA

My Friends!

Thank you for returning and thank you to all of you who have been sharing this artistic endeavor with your friends! I've been scoping out [stalking] the facebook comments on the links and it's so cool to see what people think of this madness! Please share this with as many people as possible and always feel free to send new artists my way. I'll be recruiting new artists in a few weeks so feel free to send me as many talented people as you know! [email to mexakitsch@yahoo.com]

This time around, we're checking in on Panel #3 which was back in the bay

for a few days with the prolific Mr. Forest Stearns! Pretty much, prolific is the best word to describe this artist [I'm convinced he should just go and get the word legally attached to his name since it is used so often when referring to him] but you could also throw in ingenious, relentless, mad-skilled, always moving, always pushing... dude knows how to get sh*t done. And he does it well.

Here is the newest addition to Panel #3 by Mr. Stearns! Low and Three-Toed Slow baaaaaby!:

Heeeeeeeey! How tight is that? Best part is that you can check out his blog and you can read aaaaall about his creative process for this piece here. Dang, so fresh! Let's get inside his head a little more:

Good afternoon, My name is Forest Stearns, and I am from a town in the Cali mountains called Sonora, from then on I have lived in various places and had many jobs. From Alaska to Yosemite, Pittsburgh to Humboldt, SoCal to Oakland. I am an only child that both loves and hates graffiti, gravity and poison oak. Thankfully there has always been creativity and love in my life, constant inspiration, nature, athletics, problem solving, and adventure. I have studied art empirically and academically as long as I can remember and now it is a way of life. I am a strong advocate for education, communication and accessibility. A questioner of ownership and control. A huge fan of fun. I love spending time with my girl and our team of friends. And I love my job as an illustrator in Oakland it allows me to practice my skills and push my limits every day, draweverywhere.

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

My mother is super industrious and as a child I have endless memories of her doing calligraphy, logo design and glass engraving, my father built cabinets and I was in his shop as a tike creating things with wood and nails. Outside of the house I have another super early interesting 3/4 year old memory; of going to a small sculpture gallery in my home town where a guy had built 3D dioramas of alien encounter stories. It was amazing, I was a small kid and I can still see pieces in my mind. They were beautifully made and ultra convincing. Pretty rad to see as a young guy, I think this is why I like aliens so much now.

What are three words that best describe your artwork?

Strong, bold, adventurous

What inspires you?

Loud textured sophisticated bass-ridden organic electronic music, animals in your backyard, letter science, sunny day bike riding to the farmers market, great meals with juice and coffee, catching characters with my team, Smart worldly people willing to have tasty conversations, the hard work and never ending love of my mom and dad, Epic views from mountain tops, hearing my girl laugh, smiles of strangers, old people dancing, ninjas and friendly cats and dogs.

What is your goal in life?

To do what I love best for the people who see it as the most valuable.

Name something you love, and why.

Sushi dinners with friends because of the wasabi and the laughter and the hot tea and the chopsticks.

What makes you angry?

Racism, hate, bigotry, road rage, inconsideration, and poor design

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

frogs, snakes, legos, dirt, chalk, and my bike

What is your favorite toy now?

my sketchbook and my bike

What is your “dream” art project?

a transglobal multimedia live art music tour through festivals, preschools, town squares, city centers, space stations and universities, getting people stoked on sustainability, responsibility, communication, education, compassion, and resiliency.

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

Amon Tobin, Aceyalone, Telefon Tel Aviv, Blackalicious Cinematic Orchestra, Beats Antique, Mimosa, Bonobo,

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

The mover and shaker, (never on the rocks)

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

Read more, ask more questions, and Tell the people that you love that you love them.

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

I would take figure drawing with Egon Shellie and Gustav Klimpt because their work is spooky, tight and brilliant, catch tags with Twist and Dream because they care about style from the micro to the macro, build alien sculptures with Lee Bontecou because she is on some next level thinking, sketchbook session with James Jean because he is a legend of prolificness, talk god and myth with Joseph Campbell and Richard Dawkins because they understand, illustrate an album cover with Amon Tobin because he builds universes, ride my bike with Einstein because he showed up and rocked, Garden with Michael Pollan because he works with the seasons and celebrates the harvest, and grow mushrooms with Paul Stamets because he will save the planet.

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

Build an Empire, Breathe, Practice, Enjoy, and Live Up.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

Go Practice!

Wow, thanks for all those wonderful words Forest! And so much love to you for getting down on the Collabo AGAIN! For some of you that don't know, El Travo Collabo began in 2009 and Forest was among the first group of artists to collaborate. Look in the side bar on the right, last panel on the bottom... that's the one!

Feeling mighty inspired right about now, friends! I love to hear form someone who is so into what they do with all their heart, mind, and soul. The passion just drips from these words and I am so thrilled to share this with all of you admirers out there. Follow Forest's blog and you can be sure to see marvelous and BIG things coming from him [as if his previous projects have not already blown my mind... painting onstage with DJ Shadow and whatnot... tiiiight].

MATH-A-MILEAGE! ::Reaches for abacus:: OK, so she went from SF to SD and put down 483.38 miles and now we're adding her trip from SD to Oakland ::slides little wooden beads back and forth:: So now Panel #3 is looking at 3 artists and 982.77 miles! We have one more SoCal aritst to go, GIAN NORTE of Montebello, CA and then she arrives back to the homeland for some finishing touches a la ELROD [me!]

See ya'll next time! Peace and so much love to you all!

ELROD

Panel #2- David Rogers, Provo UT

My friends! I bring with me good news and artistic splendor for we shall finally have another update on Panel #2!!

Before I get into the business, I'd like to share a few words on the nature of the project. I know we all have busy lives and daytime jobs and even families, so I am continuously honored everyday when someone tells me they'd be willing to squeeze my project into their schedules. For that reason, I can't hold it against anyone who keeps the panel longer than one week. Hell, I've even lagged on a project for months [Anna, I'm totally working on your stuff!!!!] The only reason I put a deadline on the project is because as artists, we tend to get very busy and sometimes distracted and sometimes we're trying out some new techniques through trial and error which is both fun and scary. This is totally what happened to my man David Rogers when he got his hands on the panel. His craft is photography and he is good. He is DAMN good. He wanted to try out some new stuff on the project and so he gave it a few tries before he came up with the final product. Here is a snippet from the email he sent me about his process, which I found to be quite hilarious:

"At this point I'm freakin' out trying to figure out why you would send this obviously cursed panel to me! The demons spoke to me while I slept, cursing me in Latin phrases while eternal melancholy hovered over my head...there was no end to the terror.

As the twinkie wrappers piled up in a tall pile next to my bed I suddenly realized that this is art and I can do what I want. I went to the trash can, picked out the panel and got to work. I cut a wooden panel, painted the edges of it black and stuck my photo to it using a adhesive that won't come off until the dinosaurs come home! I drilled some holes in the panel and stuck my work over my past attempts using screws to hold it in place. I hope you know that we can never be friends again."

The unpredictability of this project is one thing that I can't get enough of and I hope everyone on the bill feels free to do what they will with it! And yeah, deadlines suck, but we all know that if we didn't have them... well, you know [don' make me say it].

THE BUSINESS! Here she is [and David!], in all of her cross-country glory!

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

When I figured out that oil paints were good for something other than eating (around age 23).

What are three words that best describe your artwork?

Colorful, symmetrical, sketchy.

What inspires you?

The people I photograph. When I see them enjoying the photos I just took, it makes me want to just keep shooting more...also Rembrandt.

What is your goal in life?

To return from whence I came.

Name something you love, and why.

I love telling people that Jackoson Pollock is the greatest artist of the 20th century (I just like to see them roll their eyes).

What makes you angry?

That Polaroids are so dang expensive nowadays!

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

Those bears that you squeeze and their nose does something fun. Dang, what were those called?

What is your favorite toy now?

My plastic skateboards.

What is your “dream” art project?

To hook fuzzy balls on El Camino's all across America with Leanne, naturally.

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

Mostly stuff by Enya (gotta' keep it mellow).

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

Appletini (also my nickname in highschool). [I thought it was D Money, money....mooonay]

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

"Don't worry! You'll grow into your mustache."

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

I'd work with JR, traveling the world and putting up giant poster size photos on buildings (if you don't know who he is, look up his "Face2Face" projects).

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

"Don't ever do photos for free." (too bad I haven't been charging lately).

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

"Give Peace a Chance" (naturally).

Funny you mention Enya, Daveed. I was driving to my mom's house on Sunday and that return to innocence song came on And I hadn't heard it in a LONG time [not since I last watched Man of the House with Jonathan Taylor Thomas]. You know, the one with the shaman indian guy chanting in it all "Hiiii yiiii yiiii, oh hii yii yii" hahaha yeah, you all know EXACTLY what I am talking about. Crap, that's going to be in my head all day now.

MILEAGE! From Chicago to Provo- 1,399.07 miles! Daaaaaamn Gina! Totally the longest leg ANY of the panels have done yet! and that's across 5 states too! Impressive #2, impressive. By the time this highly articulated and well-written blog is finished being typed up, #2 will be in the care of some very VERY good friends of mine in Nevada's biggest little city, RENO! We'll check on her in another week but in the mean time, keep you reading glasses on because updates from the other panels are rolling in!

Thank you all for stopping by and please help me spread the word of El Travo Collabo to your friends! Any and all promotion would be awesome! The world must know of the goodness that is El Collabo!

Much love and good vibes,

ELROD

BATTLE OF THE SEXES: PART 1

JEN OAKS vs. ED HE

I have soooooo been waiting for this round to begin! OOooooh, this is going to be some fun because its time for the first update of the Battle of the Sexes round! Just to keep it proper, we’re going to begin with LADIES first ~

First up on the Ladies Panel [aka Panel #5] is Jen Oaks of Berkeley CA. Jen’s style is fabulously girlie and I think it was love at first sight with her art. I could probably spend all day staring at her luscious ladies and plump pinups without ever getting tired of them and just seeing one of them sprawled out on the panel is really putting me over the edge here. Is it hot in here? While I open a window, check out her website and take in a nice eyeful of her work and maybe have a laugh or two [her web comics always put a huge smile on my face]:

www.jenoaks.com

and how about some KITTY BON BON for good measure?

I'm Jen Oaks! I'm from Oklahoma City and now live in Berkeley next door to some chickens. I make pretty prints and buttons and things, and the occasional web comic, but lately I've been drawing babes. Currently I'm working on a fat gi

rl pinup calendar for 2012.

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?
I remember my preschool teacher telling my parents I had "serious artistic talent" because I drew a lacy

border on my valentine heart. Also, when I was six, I drew the scene from Mickey's Christmas Carol where Scrooge is being visited by Marley's ghost. There are leg chains and everything, and it has "Scrooooooooge!" at the top.

What are three words that best describe your artwork?
pretty, funny, colorful

What inspires you?
The gorgeous Bay Area. My menagerie of awesome, brilliant, bizarre friends and all of their talents. Crazy people on public transportation. Design blogs. Ridiculous, decadent fashion editorial spreads. Babes in general.

What is your goal in life?
That my husband and I can support ourselves -- and a future family -- by doing what we love. And also to live somewhere with a porch and a garden. And could I maybe get a window that doesn't look at the

backs of people's fences?

Name something you love, and why.I love springtime in Oklahoma because it's completely schizo and you have to check the weather every two hours. I miss it a lot.

What makes you angry?
Pretty much everything I read in the news that isn't a story about animals being awesome.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

I played with dirt for hours. I made little villages out of mud, leaves and twigs, and then populated the villages with My Little Ponies. They usually met their demise via the lawn mower. And yes, I did love my Barbies.

What is your favorite toy now?
Ink, pixels, and texture.

What is your “dream” art project?
You'll find out when you get the postcard invite. :)

What have you been listening to while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?
Girl Talk, Department of Eagles, Midlake, Broken Social Scene, Tame Impala, Neon Indian, lots of other d-baggy hipster music I'm apt to get judged by.

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?
Fizzy Thunderthighs

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

"BE YOURSELF!"

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?
I'm dying to do something with one of the many incredible comic artists I admire. I see a sexy mashup in there!

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?
"Quit comparing. Do what you do."

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?
"Be excellent to each other."

FOR REAL. And what a HAWT way to start the piece, amirite??? Bikini babe jammin’ to some tunes... lookin real good to me! What do you all think?? Big thanks to Jen for doing her thing and rockin’ out a solid start for the ladie’s panel! She’s another one to keep a close eye on. I feel big things are about to come from this lady.

Let the competition begin because here comes the boys team with a little sumthin’ sumthin’ on the Guy's Panel [aka Panel #4] from Ed He of San Francisco. Ed is currently a Master’s student for painting and his work is no joke, LEGIT. I can honestly say I’ve been impressed with just about every piece of work I have seen of his and I envy his oil painting skills like crazy. Bums me out that he doesn’t have a website [AHEM*...ED] so you’ll just have to take my word when I say all of his work is amazing. But for now, you can see what he did on the Boy’s panel... which is pretty appropriate and RIDICULOUS, hahaha:

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

Copying some other kid's farm animal drawings in 1st grade. He was good!

What are three words that best describe your artwork?
Time, Work, Payoff.

What inspires you?

My peers and instructors

What is your goal in life?
Survive with pencil and paper.

Name something you love, and why.
Learning!, because it's fun!

What makes you angry?
Lack of common sense.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?
Transformers from the 80s.

What is your favorite toy now?
Macbook Pro.

What is your “dream” art project?

Book cover illustration

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?
Epic movie soundtracks on Pandora.

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?
Sake Bomb'ED lol

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?
"drop your homework and get drawing!"

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?
Howard Pyle. He was an amazing teacher.

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?
Practice Practice/ Wrap it around.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?
Don’t be a pussy

Dude, did you seriously just paint a cock on the panel? LOL *face palm*

Ok, so what do you all think? Who’s in the lead so far? Did the sexy bikini girl rock your world or where you too busy placing bets on Ed’s fighting rooster???

Next up to battle are JDUB of Moreno Valley for the girls and P. Dilla fo Roseville for the guys!

Ready. Set.



GO.


Peace,
ELROD

P.S- This is the SECOND time an artist [Jen] has mentioned having The Christmas Carol as part of an early childhood artistic memory, LOL, remember Ryan Martinez's interview? Check it.