Ninja vs Penguin

Ninja September 23rd, 2009

Photo credit: Fritz Mesenbrink

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Greg Laswell is re-interpreting some of his favorite songs for his new aptly titled EP, Covers, which will be released October 6. In addition to playing many instruments on the album, Laswell also produced it in a cabin in Mountainaire, Arizona.

The five-song album features the following covers:
01. Killing Moon (Echo And The Bunnymen)
02. In Spite Of Me (Morphine)
03. Take Everything (Mazzy Star)
04. Your Ghost (Kristin Hersh)
05. This Woman’s Work (Kate Bush)

Here’s a preview of Greg’s take on Echo And The Bunnymen’s Killing Moon:

Your Ghost is on Kristin Hersh’s first solo album. The chorus is so beautiful and agonizing, that I couldn’t resist it. The chords turn around in a unique way and Michael Stipe sang harmonies on the original. I used his harmonies on my version, although I changed a few chords in the verse to fit the way I sing. I added the strings that close the song.
– Greg Laswell

For your listening pleasure, here’s a free download of Greg Laswell’s reinterpretation of Your Ghost:
+ Your Ghost — Greg Laswell mp3

Related links
+ Greg Laswell’s official website
+ Greg Laswell’s myspace

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Tags: Covers, Downloads, Echo And The Bunnymen, Free, Greg Laswell, Killing Moon, Kristin Hersh, Los Angeles, mp3s, Your Ghost

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Ninja March 25th, 2009

Here’s your dose of Wednesday inspiration—gorgeous, glittery Hookers.

Los Angeles painter, Natalia Fabia, is too adorable and incredibly talented to boot. Here’s a short video she shot in her studio of a photo shoot for her oil paintings. It’s a small glimpse into her jewel-toned, fantasy Hooker world as she prepares for her Hooker DreamEscape solo exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery.

Here are some paintings from her Hooker DreamEscape show:

Jessica Louise, Cupcake Monster
Oil and glitter on panel, 12″ x 12″

Getting Butterflies
Oil and glitter on panel, 40″ x 30″

Hooker Sleepover
Oil on panel, 48″ x 48″

Aileen Ice Cream
Oil on panel, 11″ x 16″

Nap
Oil and glitter on panel, 36 x 24″

Peacock Dancer
Oil and glitter on panel, 24″ x 36″

Pink Castle in the Sky
Oil and glitter on panel, 24″ x 36″

Pizza Party
Oil on panel, 48″ x 48″

Happy hump day,
Ninja

Related link
+ Visit Natalia Fabia’s website

Purchasing link
+ Get Hooker prints, clothing, and jewelry from Natalia Fabia’s online store

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Tags: Corey Helford Gallery, Hooker, Hooker DreamEscape, Los Angeles, Natalia Fabia, Oil Painting, Process

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Ninja March 5th, 2009

Ms. Jenn Porreca’s art will be on view in the Everything But The Kitchen Sync show tomorrow, March 6th, at the La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Gallery Hours
Monday–Wednesday 11 AM–7 PM
Thursday–Saturday 11 AM–9 PM
Sunday noon–6 PM

Here’s a sneak peak:

6 Kon
16×20 inches on maple panel

The edge
12×12 inches on maple panel

The Alchemist
8×10 inches on maple panel

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Tags: Everything But The Kitchen Sync, Exhibitions, Jenn Porreca, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

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Ninja November 28th, 2008

When
Friday, December 12, 2008
7-11 PM

A special talk with both ARMSROCK and ELBOW-TOE and a book signing with ARMSROCK will take place the next day, December 13.

Where
Thinkspace Art Gallery
4210 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Here’s a sneak peak at their work

To see more, check out Thinkspace’s Flickr here.

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Tags: ARMSROCK, ELBOW-TOE, Exhibitions, Graffiti, Los Angeles, Mostly Memory, Street Art, Thinkspace Gallery

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Ninja November 12th, 2008

I probably wouldn’t need to twist your arm to get you to pick up the latest James Jean book (they’re always so well made and so beautiful). As an added incentive, James will be signing copies of his latest book, Fables Covers, at Golden Apple Comics (Map) tonight from 8-10 pm, and at Nucleus Gallery on Nov. 29th.

+ 208 4c pages
+ hardbound, black foil embossing, and 1C tipped-in plate on the case
+ If you’re unable to make it tonight, signed copies available here from the Process Recess online store

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Tags: Books, Comics, Fables, James Jean, Los Angeles, Shopping, Signings

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Ninja November 7th, 2008

Thanks for your thoughtful (and concerned) emails! I’m still here. I’m still alive. ^____^ But a few things have been keeping me from posting:

+ being really busy with work (bleh, boring, but true)
+ taking an Anatomy night class at SVA (yay!)
+ being sick for quite some time & seeing a slew of specialists (early morning appointments, giving up vials of my precious blood for testing, getting poked & prodded = foul mood)
+ being overly sleep-deprived = being cranky, sarcastic, & a giant bore = I go into hiding mode because no one wants to be around me when I’m all miserable (I don’t even want to be around me)
+ trying to get some personal art work in (mostly unsuccessful)

My apologies, my dear readers. And HUGE thanks to Penguin for holding down the fort in my absence & putting up with (& still loving) me.

A quick update as to what I’ve been up to:

In October, I went to visit my dear friends, NC & Tim in LA. While there, I took in the sights, checked out Art Center, celebrated Stefan Bucher’s 35th birthday, & met Ophelia Chong. It was such a dream vacation. Blue skies, sunshowers, & some of the sweetest folks ever.

Oh, yah, & we stopped by LACMA, too.

In more recent news, the breathtaking Ms. Tanya Dakin (model/photographer/Suicide Girl) is allowing me the honor to paint her in the buff (as in she’s posing nude, not me sitting nude while painting). My college friend Tony was kind enough to set up our online introduction—a thousand thanks, Bing Chi Ling!

As always, thanks for checking in & stopping by our humble blog.

Cheers & have a lovely weekend,
Ninja ^______^

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Tags: LACMA, Los Angeles, Ophelia Chong, Stefan G. Bucher, Suicide Girls, Tanya Dakin, Thoughts, Tony Yang

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Ninja October 20th, 2008

I was feeling ill before our trip to LA, but it seems like the warm rays of the sun did me some good. This past month, I tried to get some painting in. Ugh, I hate that it takes me forever to complete one. I was going to wait until I finished to show you the process, but I’ll settle for showing you the process up to its current state.

This painting started off as an inside joke, but it has really grown on me.

Normally, there is a bit of planning involved (rough sketches, tight sketches, graphite transfers). But being that I wasn’t taking it too seriously, I sketched straight on the wood. And this is what my handsome boyfriend would look like if he sprouted antlers.

I sketched very lightly with a HB pencil and then darkened in my lines with a 4B pencil.

I added a bit more detail with the 4B and 6B pencils and then applied a thin coat of gesso on his body.

I applied a thin coat of gesso on the antlers and used thin layers of Payne’s Grey and Raw Umber acrylic paint for his hair.

The painting was looking a little bare, so I sketched some friends.

Here they are after the graphite transfer.

For the deer:
Just like before, I add more detail with pencil, then lightly apply gesso.

After the initial pass, more gesso is applied to areas with denser highlights.

And this is where I am now—building up layers by painting each individual strand of fur/hair. I’ll admit, I went a little cross-eyed, but it’s so worth it.

Happy painting,
Ninja

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Tags: Acrylic, Los Angeles, Painting, Process

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Ninja October 8th, 2008

The talented triple-threat (designer, illustrator, writer), Mr. Stefan G. Bucher, turned 35 today. Stefan has been a good friend to me these past 2 years, & he’s been kind enough share his work & keep me company during the wee hours of the morning (seeing how we share similar sleeping schedules).

Today, NvP had the pleasure of celebrating Stefan’s birthday with the man himself!

Before entering his cool apartment, we were greeted by his flock of festive flamingos.

Oh, and here’s the birthday boy with plushy monster number 80. I commissioned Wenny to crochet this little guy, after all she did such a bang up job making amigurumi versions of us!

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Tags: 344 Design, Amigurumi, Birthday, Crafts, Daily Monster, David Hockney, Los Angeles, Stefan G. Bucher, Tarsem, The Fall

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