Karmanart.com and the newest store is live...

So many things have changed over the last few years...

I've been challenged with health issues and more side line stuff than anybody should have to deal with.. but things are looking up... a lot of whats been happening with my art. You can be find a lot of my latest creations on Instagram and the new site... Thanks to those that have found this relic of a site, and please, stop by the new site, Instagram or Facebook and say hi.. would love to connect with you.. have a great day..

Karman

Tom Huck...Who's That?...

The Master Mind Behind Evil Prints...

   Tom Huck (born 1971) is a visual artist best known for his large scale woodcuts. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri where he runs his own press, Evil Prints.

   This Saturday's unveiling of Tom Hucks' "Tommy Peepers" was the highlight to a great weekend. Displayed at the Thaxton Speakeasy in downtown on Olive Street St. Louis Mo.. Which by the way, is a very interesting venue worth checking out.

    The three part series of wood cuts are huge. The largest is almost 4x5'.  But the detail can captivate you for hours. Tom's styles is a mix of old school, hippy comic book artist like "R. Crumb" and of Political Caricaturist like Honore Daumier and Heinrich Kley. 

   The subject matter may be a little controversial for some. But the heart of the images are done with a whimsical mirth that plays with the topic and creates a fun & inviting look into the way Tom shares his childhood memories.

I really enjoyed this opportunity to see Tom's new art and I'm looking forward to seeing his studio real soon.

If you would like to learn more about Tom, his work and the studio, Check out his wesite at EvilPrints.com.

Being A Part Of Something Bigger...

The Rocky Fork Church Exhibit....  

   I'm very honored to have been asked to create a few portraits (10 in all) for an exhibit at Lewis And Clark Community College.

   The exhibit, entitled “Let the Church Say Amen: Rocky Fork Church in Voice and Vision,” Is in the Hathaway Cultural Center Gallery on Lewis And Clark Community College Godfrey campus.

   My small part in this beautiful tribute was to recreate portraits of some of the family that had an important role in the history of the Rocky Fork Church. One of the challenges was to create these portraits from very very low resolution images taken from old news paper reference. Most all of the original photograph's where lost in the fires that this church had endured over the 150 year legacy.

   Outside of working with one of the most incredible teams of craftsmen and curator, The joy of bringing the people of Rocky Fork back to life in these portraits touched me spiritually. As I read about each person I painted, I felt I had gotten to understand some of the trials and triumphs the people of Rocky Fork had went threw.

   Learning and growing is an important part of being human. The rewards are far greater than one can imagine. I invite everybody to take that opportunity, when ever possible, to be a part of something bigger than yourselves. It is an enlightening and enriching experience that will make you a better person and a fuller soul. 

   I'm thankful for being a part of this outstanding tribute to a wonderful group of families and there history here in Godfrey Illinois.

   If you would like to learn more about The Rock Fork Church Exhibit, please stop by Lewis and Clark before March 21, 2014. Or you can learn more by reading about this event on the link below.

Rocky Fork Church in Voice and Vision

Rocky Fork Exhibit Video by Route 3 Films 

Long Time, No See!!

Will now, it has been a while since my last post... 

Let's see what I can do about that.

  A lot has happen in the last few months, so much so that I dare not post due to fact that my thoughts where in a whirlwind of indecision. That's just my fancy way of saying that I didn't have a clue what I was doing or where I was going. But I believe I can safely say that I'm coming out on the other side a much better person. "At least I feel better...."

  Where do I start.. hmm... I guess a little back history before I get to far ahead of myself. For those of you that don't know me, I have been a part time artist for most of my life. Working at what ever job that would allow me to create art on the side. For the last 10 years I have had a sign business. There were a lot of things about the business that was great, but still, it was a job and my art was still a part time, or after hours. For the most part, I was still trying to make time to do the things I really wanted to do. Well, about a year or so ago, a wonderful friend of mine ( Michael Gebbon ) planted a seed in my head that really got me thinking. The shop was struggling at the time, mostly because the industry took a big hit, ( like most everybody else) in 2008. It didn't help much that the sign business was getting choked out by an over saturation of shops in my area, most of them working out of their homes. But the truth be known, I was becoming overwhelmed and just burned out trying to keep things above water. So, anyway, my good buddy shared a phrase with me that I had heard before, but really never applied... He asked, " Have you ever heard Einstein's definition of insanity?".. I "being the know it all" said to him, sure.."Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results!". After a short pause, and a couple funny looks... It hit me. And for some "Good Reason", I could not get it out of my head. That is exactly what I was doing with the sign business... banging my head against the wall, waiting for something to change. When all it took was opening my eye's to see that it was not going to change unless I changed it. So over the course of the past few months, things and thoughts have been melting and focusing to what it is I really want for myself and what is best for my own will being. Note: I do have to interject here and say that none of this would be remotely possible with out the complete and "sometime blind" support of my awesome wife, daughter and outstanding group of friends. So with no further a due... let the rest of the story unfold...!

  So let's go back to something I said earlier and expand on it a little. I mentioned something about the way I was thinking. More specific, the questions I was asking myself. I was in a rut and just couldn't get out. The change came about when my buddy introduced a better question. What I learned from my friend was I had to ask better questions... Sounds simple doesn't it? Well, it is and it isn't. It works kind a like when you learn anything new for the first time. And when you start anew, you can't jump to the middle or the end of the story and expects everything to work out. You got to go back to the basics. You start learning how to get better results from the questions your asking, and before you know it... your heading down a better path. I know this has been a long introduction and I promise to share more about the process and methods I've used to make the changes that I have been going through, but I will save all of that for another time...

  Now that I have covered what has happened in the last few months, it is about time that I share with you what is planned for 2014. 

  My goal with this new blog is to create articles about my art, what I have learned, and whenever possible... the funny things that happen along the way. I will also be sharing articles and other websites that I have found useful and inspiring.

Upcoming topics for 2014 are:

In The Studio. Step by Steps and How Too's on Art and Projects I'm working on in the Studio.

What's It All About?  Reviews on places, books, and products I have used in creating some of the projects you will be seeing.

Who's that?  I will be introducing other Artist sites and cover a little about how they have inspired me. I'm looking forward to having a few guest artist post as well. 

Contest! Contest! Contest!  From time to time I will be making original drawings, prints and other goodies available for fans of the blog!

Mark Your Calendar.  Information about events, demos, contest and online workshops! 

New Online Store.  Opening soon! I will be offering original artworks, prints, sketchbooks and more...

-You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and we will be on Pintrest very soon. The best way to not miss a post is to sign up for our email list and rss feeds to this blog.

I'm so excited to hear from you all, Thanks for your time and have a Great Day...!

Karman Fairless

New Art / New Art Happens!

Hi everybody, Its that time again, Rodney and I are holding another Art Happens on June 4th. We have both been working on new artwork and the shop has a few more things going on, so we thought it would be nice to invite you all for another Open House. We will be open from 10:am till 3:pm, or until the we run out of art. I will be posting the demonstration times and we both will have new art for sale. So be thinking of art for your Dads and husbands for there man caves this coming up Fathers day! Remember, guys like art too!
Hay, if ya like to draw or create art, bring your sketch pad or your portfolio. Rodney and I are thinking about inviting new artist in to show a piece or two at our next Art Happens and this would be a great day to show and tell. So we hope to see you all there for this June's Art Happens. Make it a great day and may God bless...!

Under The Gun With Laurel & Hardy

I just finished this piece that I had donated to A local Fund Raiser for the American Cancer Society. I had a lot of fun with it but really put myself under the gun trying to meet the deadline. I hope I have learned a lesson from this one, in fact a couple.

First, I was asked if I would donate something a few weeks ago and I knew that I had plenty time to fit it into "at that moment" a very light schedule. Well let me tell you, We have been very blessed over the last couple weeks with an overload of great work for the shop, and with an already full home life, well...you can see where this is going. One thing lead to another and before I knew it, I'm finishing the piece right before the auction...I mean, "RIGHT BEFORE THE AUCTION"...Phew!, nothing like a little pressure...But I'm happy to say, I got it finished and took it to the event with an hour to spare. It had received three bids within 30 seconds. It was great to see peoples reaction to the artwork and know that it is going to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.

I guess the next couple lessons that stands out is that if I'm going to do this kind of stuff, then I need to plan ahead better and manage my time more efficiently. Two things I seem to struggle with at times. I think part of it is because I'm an Artist. Truth is I shouldn't use that for an excuse and just make a better effort to not let that happen anymore. Its to stressful and I'm not any good to anyone around me if I'm all stressed out. In fact my wife likes to point out that I can be a real "Donkey". when I put myself in those situations. And she's usually right!

I'll post an update after I learn what the final bid was...Lets hope that it does well for the cause and let us all pray that we see the day that all of the American Cancer Society's work is not in vain.

God Bless everyone and till next time...Make it a great day.
Karman

Airbrush Workshop

We are happy to announce that we are starting a Thursday night "Airbrush Skills Building Workshop". This is an opportunity for anyone who would like to try airbrushing for the first time or build on their skills in an easy going atmosphere.
The sessions are self paced and limited to just 6 students, this is to insure a focus on developing your skills in a direction that meets your artistic needs. Because of the small class size, we are asking those interested to pre-register for their seat at the workshop. Registration fee is 40.00 in advanced. The workshop is from 7 till 9pm on Thursday nights. This Thursday is already full, so please contact us early if your interested in joining the fun. Call 618-466-7446 for details or you can email us @ karmanart@sbcglobal.net

The Dirtinator Returns!

The Dirtinator Returns!...About time, I have been looking forward to this day for a couple years now. This truck is owned by Eric Gallay of Gallay Motor Sports , a great racer and awesome friend of mine. We had the honor of creating an outstanding decal for the side of the bed for this Dirt drag truck a couple of years ago. Sad to say, I went a little overboard on the design of the graphic.
The darn thing looked great at 10 feet, but you couldn't read it from the stands, where it matters the most...So, I've been wanting to re-letter it ever since. Well, after 2 years it was time for a new look. The theme for the sides of the truck are based on the airbrushing that I had put on the hood back when we lettered the sides.

The nasty green flames started out to be a ghostly white vapor trail, but after Eric and my wife seen the concept on the practice piece, they both said it needed more. So that's how the wicked flames came about...I gotta say, it was the right choice.

I used Planet Color's candy green and yellow for the wicked sick flames rolling down the bed sides. Everything is airbrushed with my Badger Renegade Velocity airbrush. The smooth action and fine quality of the Renegade airbrush made the 20+ hours of airbrushing real easy on the hands. And after this project, I was ready for a break...

Restoration House Collision Center out of East Alton Illinois, is the body shop that has provided a fantastic base for me to work on and also the clear coat. Great quality work from a shop that specializes in collector car restoration.

I'm looking forward to seeing this truck on the track down at Big Rivers Sand Drags in Bonne Terre, Missouri. The best sand drags in the Midwest...This will be a crowd pleaser for sure.

I'll post updates as soon as the truck is back and race ready...have a great day.