Found Friday; Achemon Sphinx Moth

This moth was found a few days ago at the hangar - it was taken outside, but tragically it did not survive the extreme heat we've been experiencing here. It is a beautiful specimen - so we got a bell jar and some moss to display it. I found out it is a Achemon Sphinx Moth.

Supplemental Aerial Photography

Photo by Rocky Mountain Aerial Surveys

Photo by Nathan Abels

Photo by Nathan Abels

In conjunction with Moonriver's post on aerial photography - I've put up a couple aerial photos I haven't posted before. My flickr album of aerial photography has much more.

Callum Morton

Callum Morton, "Piles, Pools and Projections" Installation view - Roslyn Oxley 9 Gallery, 2006

Callum Morton, "Screen #5 Outer Limits", 2006
wood, acrylic paint and aluminium 93 × 110 × 45.5cm table 75 x 180 x 90 cm

Callum Morton, "Screen #5 Outer Limits" (Detail), 2006
wood, acrylic paint and aluminium 93 × 110 × 45.5cm table 75 x 180 x 90 cm

Callum Morton, "Brain Dead", 2006 wood and acrylic paint; table: pine, interior ply, wood and epoxy tupac93 x 110 x 45 cm

These sculptures remind me of a photo I took a couple of weeks ago at the drive-in on 88th:

John Glassie's "Bicycles Locked to Poles"

John Glassie - his collection of "Bicycles Locked to Poles" photos is in a book with the same title, found here.

Drawing Still in the Works

This photo shows the full sheet - not just the section I'm working on.

here's a detail shot

Toba Khedoori's Most Recent Mysteries

Toba Khedoori, Untitled (Black Fireplace)
2006

Encaustic, wax, oil paint on paper
Image Size: 11.66' x 15.26

Toba Khedoori, Untitled (Black Fireplace) - Detail
2006

Encaustic, wax, oil paint on paper
Image Size: 11.66' x 15.26

Toba Khedoori, Untitled (Holes)

2006

Wax, oil paint on paper
Image Size: 11.87' x 16'

Vija Celmins Star Field III 1983
Graphite on acrylic ground on paper 53.5 x 68.5 cm

Toba Khedoori has long been one of my favorite artists. I especially enjoy how unexpected some of her imagery can be while maintaining a unified tone, atmosphere, and sense of mystery. Her works from last year include subjects like holes, logs, a stick, and blank windows. The newer work (Holes) of hers posted above reminds me a little of the visual opposite of Celmin's Star Field drawings. The fireplace may also relate to the nighttime paintings I posted about a few weeks ago by Dan Witz. I would love to experience the scale of Khedoori's work in person, but sadly I have not had the good fortune.

Found Friday

This looks like it could be a band photo.

more work on drawing

This photo isn't very good (the paper is white in actuality), but you can see the drawing is coming along.

More Found Photography from Craigslist

More annonomous photography found on craigslist. See also my post entitled, "useful photography."

Press: feature on Orangebeautiful.com

A nice write-up on the blog orangebeautiful.com - check out the scoop.

More New Abstract Aerials

I took these this morning. Images copyright Nathan Abels. Click 'abstract' or 'aerial' labels at the bottom of this post for more.

Coming Along

I'm spending roughly 1 hour per house. The paper in the corner is my reference material. Its a slow process, but this drawing should be done in half the time of the previous one.

In Continuation

It's coming along - slow and steady. I'll keep posting progress.

In Progress

I haven't been keeping up with the blog as well lately because I'm getting pretty busy with my upcoming exhibition. It opens three weeks from tomorrow. I hope to have this piece finished this weekend - I'll be working right down to the wire for the show, but it will be worth it to present some newer work. This drawing is very similar to the last drawing (the one on the postcard) - a full 22x30" sheet of paper with a selective focus aerial housing development as its subject. Here's a not very good detail/progress shot of the what I'm working on now (you get the idea):

Joseph O. Holmes Photography

I love these photos by Joeph O. Holmes via iheartphotograph blog. The whole series is great.

Exhibition Post Card

(front)
(back)

This is the design for the exhibition post-card for my upcoming show entitled, "Last Seen". If you would like to receive a postcard - email me and I will you on the mailing list. If you're in the Denver area - come on out for the opening.

New Abstract Aerial Photography

I took these this morning. Take a look at my flickr album of aerial photography for a few more new ones. Images copyright Nathan Abels.

Found Saturday

I found this in Silverton, CO last week. It's a very small photo (maybe 1" square).

FINALLY - NEW WORK!

Nathan Abels, (Untitled), Graphite on Paper, 22x30"

Nathan Abels, (Untitled) - Detail, Graphite on Paper, 22x30"

This drawing has taken over three weeks to complete. Much longer than I anticipated. I'm happy with the result. The new piece is for my upcoming exhibition here in Denver - opening July 6 at Sliding Door Gallery. More to come.

Recommended New Music: The National "Boxer"

Great new album from The National that came out recently. Check them out on myspace and get a listen. You can order it here. It reminds me of Interpol, Radio Dept., New Order, and a few others - but it stands on its own. Solid album all the way through.

KARL HAENDEL Drawings / Installation

KARL HAENDEL : Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Installation View - Anna Helwing Gallery)

KARL HAENDEL : Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Installation View - Anna Helwing Gallery)

KARL HAENDEL : LAAC #6 (for Peter Jennings) 2005 pencil on paper 51 x 78 inches

KARL HAENDEL : LAAC #5 (for John Kerry)2005 pencil on paper 52 x 84 inches

I found out about this artist from coolhunting, and my first impression was not entirely positive. Some of his subject matter I found to be somewhat kitsch or bizarre (see sad clown drawing) I've been working on my own far-too-complex graphite drawing right now and I've been thinking about Haendel's work. It has grown on me - especially the installation of his recent exhibition at Anna Helwing. His choices in subject matter consist of everything from abstract geometric imagery to vintage magazine photography to text/typography and cartoons. I'm not exactly sure how to interpret the relationships between these images, but I'm intrigued.

When preparing for upcoming exhibitions I often find myself getting extremely hung up on the cohesiveness of the show. I have this compulsive need too make every exhibition of my work so cohesive that if it were a music cd it would surely be a what a friend of mine referred to as 'atonal'. Lately, I've been considering taking a more "various artists" or mix-tape approach to my exhibition - with some inspiration from Haendel's complex and confusing installation. I am planning on having some large scale paintings up, some new drawings and possibly some more abstract or simplified imagery. I've also been really interested in objects - as much as architecture or landscape. The exhibition is starting to coalesce but it is still in process. I'll keep you updated.

Alex Lukas Drawings

Alex Lukas, "BUILDING ON FIRE #3", 2007Acrylic, ink, gouache, enamel, and spray paint on paper, 10' x 9'
Alex Lukas, "FACTORY ON FIRE #6", 2006 Acrylic, ink, gouache, enamel, and spray paint on paper, 9' x 12'.

Alex Lukas refers to these pieces as drawings on his website, but as you can see by the materials involved they could easily be categorized as paintings or mixed media. He is currently showing at the Limited Addiction Gallery (page 3 of current show) here in Denver. These are very small scale works that possess exceptional attention to detail without sacrificing spontaneity in the spray paint smoke clouds.

Write-Up: Designage

I was mentioned in another design blog called Designage last week. Be sure to check out the three web pages worth of work available at shopSCAD if you haven't already.

Media Spotlight Monday - Masking Tape

Rune Olsen, "Installation Samson Projects", 2007

Graphite, masking tape, blue mannequin eyes, newspaper, steel, wire, acrylic medium, glass-fiber and resin

Kayt Hester Lent, "Complete 4x4", 2007, black masking tape

Buff Diss - Masking tape on cement (detail)
Buff Diss - Masking tape on cement
via Wooster Collective