‘the pills that make the magic fade’ [acrylic on A3 canvas]

like the pieces i showed you in the last post, im using these to figure out my own head – and understand how i feel about certain issues. some elements are decipherable, others wouldn’t even be know by those few people who know me well.

not that i imagine anyone would care for a copy of this, or indeed any of the self portrait pieces – but for my own record i upload most all of my work to society6. [link]

following in the vein of ‘the tempest’ piece i wrote about in my last post [link], i’ve wanted to explore a more narrative/storytelling approach with some of my work.

i’ve found the work of chiara bautista [checkout her facebook here] a massive inspiration for this possible direction. so this first sketch and painted version were done with her work in mind..

this attempted style is very new to me, which is why i tried creating it in both digital and painted format — though i don’t feel as though i found my groove with either for this image.

weirdly, one of the issues i felt hindered me on this piece lies in the fact i was attempting to depict my own personal thoughts and feelings about a situation. but this was a private train of thought that i didn’t really want to discuss with my friends/family who follow my art page – so i ended up making using cryptic/symbolic visuals rather than a more direct approach to the subject.

anyway, it was an experiment and useful in itself for a number of reasons; it informed me regarding aesthetic and how willing i am to wear my heart on my sleeve.

the text used in the painting is the start of the phrase, “don’t wish, don’t start. wishing only wounds the heart.” (from Wicked).

this next one is another digital piece…  i’ve titled it “the artefact”, and if i am completely honest it is simply another version of the idea i attempted to illustrate above…

i returned to a more familiar digital style which used in the past. and the male character present is very definitely myself – this would be completely apparent and recognisable to anyone who knows me in real life.

so there’s a little more opening myself up to the world, but at the same time it’s still ambiguous enough that i don’t feel i’m completely spilling my guts to the world at large (or indeed my friends!).

what is incredibly weird though, is how utterly self indulgent it feels to be painting myself – and then showing it off.  i’m really quite shy and introverted, and (hopefully) not particularly prone to narcissistic tendencies.

making these pieces are akin to writing in a diary for me – granted a diary i am waving around allowing anyone to see – but a diary nonetheless. it helps me understand my emotions and deal with the mental struggles i am faced with on a daily basis.

i really dont imagine anyone would actually care what goes on in my life… but i do. so, for the time being i suspect i’ll keep making creating these abstruse reflections of my own life.

checkout more of my work (though less rambles) over on my facebook page [link]

‘The Girl with X-Ray Vision’ 
[acrylic on 80x30cm deep edge canvas]

“if you were born with x-ray vision, you would never feel the need to wear clothes either!”

This canvas needs a home, priced at £225, plus shipping  [UK +£25 / Rest of World +£65] – so please drop me a message via the contact page if interested [link]

Prints of this piece are available via Society6 [link]

‘Jude’ [acrylic/metallic paint/gold leaf on 80x30 deep edge canvas]

This piece is about giving oneself fully to another – blindly giving trust – and being utterly vulnerable to betrayal.

There is also a nod towards Klimt’s piece ‘Judith & the Head of Holofernes’, which I used as inspiration towards the quite late in the creation of this painting as I felt there were to existing similarities in themes and composition.

Prints available on Society6 [link]

only a few days to go before our resident exhibition in mellomello  (liverpoolUK) is live!

this is a joint exhibition featuring myself, and my two other studio buddies who are resident in the art studio above mello.

paul burns aka AMBIDEXTER [link]
surreal/slapstick canvas based relief sculptures

VIRGINIA CHANDLER [link]
vibrant & textured glitterscapes.

and of course, myself ZOMBIEKING [link]

we’re having an opening night party on the 18th, with entertainment for your ears provided by from several of our musical friends -

WEDDING HOUSE [link]
KALIKA [link]
CAT MIAMI [who our friends know by a different name]
DOG’S POCKET [link]

it’s going to be brilliant – please come down and say Hi if you’re local!

Exhibition runs until 30 june everyday 10 ‘til late

@MelloMello [link]
40 Slater Street (entrance on Parr St), Liverpool
www.mellomello.co.uk

FACEBOOK event listing [here]

THE COLLECTOR [acrylic on 80x30cm canvas]

what to say about this piece…?

well, there an obvious initial shock value – one which makes most men pull a face which says, ouch!  but if you take the time to look further you’ll hopefully see there’s a deeper narrative at play..

for those who may be curious – the carving is a representation of the aztec goddess, Itzpapalotl.

the original canvas is for sale, at £250 plus shipping. give me a shout if you’re interested in purchase [hello!]. and if you’re interested in prints head over to society6 [link]

keep up to date with progress on new work over at my facebook page! [link]

i’ve been doing a few pieces that are a bit more figurative in nature. but because they aren’t in the vein of the work i usually sell or upload to society6, they’ve been absent from this blog.

so, in an attempt to rectify that…  ta-dah!

all of these on 80x30cm canvas, done in acrylic (even the ones that look like watercolour!)

i adore painting figures and faces, but consider these to be more personal works and have never tried to sell them. on the same hand, nobody has ever really expressed interest in buying them either so it works out quite nicely! lol

i used photo ref for the very first one posted at the top, but the others are all just imagined shapes. i’m disappointed to say it’s been over a year since i managed to draw directly from a life model. pretty sad at that, it’s one thing that i really miss..

i’ve noticed that i always seem to default to using reds and blues when painting life. i find it quite interesting that when my subject matter is dead things, i use vibrant rainbow hues. yet when the figures are supposed to be alive, they are tackled with these sombre unnatural tones. i kind of think it reflects my worldview somewhat.. death is vibrant / life is bleak.

anyway. enough of my ramblings..

i post a lot of these works on my facebook as they’re progressing, and an awful lot of other pieces that never otherwise see the light of day! so hit me up there and say hi [link] or drop a follow on my instagram [link] as i’m trying to get in the habit of keeping that updated too.

chris z

as ever, the storytelling from the henson studio is outstanding, but i always adored this movie more due to the character and world design by brian found. such vision and inspiration.

so this trio of character mark out my favourite segments in the flic.

passing time in the ur-ru village..

the heartbreaking moment at the films climax – the world is saved, but Jen has lost everything..

and the skeksis during the Haakskeekah ritual..

i’ve made these available as print over on my soc6 page, both individually; ur-ru, gelfling, skeksis, and as the entire set [link]

curiously this piece started life as a canvas which had become marked by paint drying atop of it. i blog about this stuff, post progress shots, and ramble on somewhat over on my facebook page. please drop by and say hi! [hello]

AND

the original canvas is also available for sale. link to the shop here [link], but if interested drop me a message [here] or on facebook and we can chat about it. cheers!

yep, me too

[acylic on A3 canvas]

bit of a self portrait this one. not that i’ve been having this dream of late, but certainly had the feelings that are traditionally associated with it’s meaning.

anyways. it’s available as a print over on my soc6 page [link]

[acrylic on A3 canvas]

i did this piece back in august, but only getting round to uploading it now. it was based on an amazing image of bjork by photographer juergen teller [link]

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i’ve made prints of this painting available as a print via my soc6 page [link]