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Doc-Hammer β€” Saint No.48

Published: 2005-09-08 00:07:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 20756; Favourites: 143; Downloads: 1099
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Description OIL ON CANVAS, 16" x 20":
Arcadia is pretty fucking generous with the framing. When they asked me what I wanted, I asked for the impossible. I was all "I see a gigantic gold frame. Carvings but no vines or shells or that kinda thing. Ya know, more pill and dart kinda shit. No coves, just steps. And it should be imposing. I want it to dwarf the painting. The bright luxury of the huge frame should make the painting darker and more untouchable. A big-assed stepped frame! Like an over designed Whistler... Ya know, shameless." I figured they would give me a signed reality check and we would have to compromise. WRONG! They just did it. AND they fucking agreed with me. Ya gotta go see this show... These frames are insane.

MODEL:
Her name was Sky. Lord knows if she renamed herself that, or if her parents came up with that one. Sky wasn't willing to comprehend the word "bra". After I sent a long email about the do's and don'ts of a bra, she showed up for the sitting in a wrap that was made of like silver metallic mesh. You would think that I have this huge pile of bras, in every color and every cut. I don't. And, frankly, it would be almost creepy if I did. So I was stuck with the wrap. I painted it as if were a black linen as to underplay the area and went with a strong contrasts of shadows on the nimbus and the thing that was my original reason for choosing her as a sitter...her face. Great head on her, huh? Really unique and eligant. Makes this one of my better paintings, I believe.

APOLOGY:
If anybody has sent me a note or an email or anything of that nature, I swear to holly hell that eventually answer your query. I have been beyond busy these days. I have a few paintings to finish (and a bunch of related graphic tasks) for my gallery show. I'm working on the special features for the Venture Brothers DVD set. And let me tell you this; you guys are in for a treat with that. Even though Adult Swim keeps changing their money conscious minds about the number of discs we get to dick around with, there will be some exclusive material that is guaranteed to make you wish that Jackson and I lived in your basement. And yes, I have no idea what that means either. AND Jackson and I are in full production for Season Two. We just finished writing our first coauthored script last night (Okay, it was 4 this morning... But come on, you know that counts as last night.) So cut me a little bit of rope. I sleep in the studio and do this crap 24 hours a day. The worst part of that is that the Astrobase has a vinyl couch and it's like sleeping on a huge colorform. I wake up with the distinct imprint of fake cowhide on my boney, sweat-soaked back. Attractive? No?
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Comments: 154

alexandriaelizabeth [2011-07-08 20:08:12 +0000 UTC]

this is so beautiful!

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GoldManeRoyale [2011-04-07 23:39:45 +0000 UTC]

Doc-hammer, Whats the reasoning behind naming all your paintings "saint No. "?

by the way, this girl has the face of a tiger but the heart of a virgo. her hair is wild like her feminine prowess..i love it.

good idea with the frame...that thing is gawdy haha.
Amazing work.

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AkikoMiyahara [2010-11-15 05:13:14 +0000 UTC]

The frame is so imposing!

There is no accurate description for what I'm feeling right now. I think I'd have to call it "oonf".

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xxaihxx [2010-11-01 01:22:56 +0000 UTC]

your work is astounding...what skill and talent you have!

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sinnaminsun [2009-11-29 15:33:14 +0000 UTC]

Your work is amazing!!!

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deepfriedtofu [2009-03-30 03:04:23 +0000 UTC]

that frame is INSANE! almost hard to look at the painting..

one of my good friends took it upon herself to draw a tree in her backyard 100 times, so as she could really "know the tree"..

not necessarily that your reasons are the same, but that girl can draw a mean tree now.

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SaidieHawkins [2009-02-17 02:03:25 +0000 UTC]

I really do love this painting.
The framing is indeed very rediculous.
I honestly think that I had to favorite this for many reasons.
1. the painting itself is MAD awesome.
2. your commentary is worth favoriting it so I can come back and read it again.
You are highly amusing to listen to.

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TheWindWraith [2008-10-23 12:12:24 +0000 UTC]

Love the frame love the expression you captured on your lovely model's face. Pity she didn't get the bra note or comment - but it resolved itself nicely in your work either way.

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Doc-Hammer In reply to TheWindWraith [2008-10-25 00:53:54 +0000 UTC]

I was trying to be nice... I think this work has been up long enough that nobody's really paying attention to my comments anymore. So I'll let you in on the truth: That was the most unpleasant sitting I've ever had. Excruciating, and a test of my ability to pretend I don't want to yell "Get out!!!"... But you are right, the finished piece is kinda worth what I went through. Still, I never wanna go through that again. I've been so spoiled with all my other sitters being so cooperative and downright collaborative, that I didn't know what to do with someone who didn't want to understand what I was doing. She just refused to get onboard.

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TheWindWraith In reply to Doc-Hammer [2008-10-25 01:31:32 +0000 UTC]

Ughhhh. There's nothing worse, I *completely* understand that one. We had someone come in once who refused to stand in a certain pose we wanted - which was so frustrating because it wasn't a hard pose, she was just being difficult. We ended up having someone from CLASS do it instead the following week *shakes head*

*hugs* You did wonderfully with a difficult situation IMO, as I said before. Cheers to that!

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lydiajae [2008-06-26 10:08:35 +0000 UTC]

that frame is fuckin brilliant! and wow. it really does work with the paintings.

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FeyPhilosophy [2008-05-03 13:16:13 +0000 UTC]

I totally agree with the framing choice.
Beautiful piece, I love this series!

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msfeistus [2007-04-25 00:01:46 +0000 UTC]

I think this one is my favorite of all your saints, so far. Maybe it's because of the pose she has, or the way her lips are pursed ... either way, you did an amazing job capturing her expression. I hope that someday, I'll get the chance to see one of your gallery shows in person ... I have a feeling DA doesn't do the emotion of these paintings justice. The scanner tends to take a bit of the soul out of things.

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mayney [2005-12-15 13:43:54 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful, youre an inspiration mate.

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painters [2005-10-31 14:26:11 +0000 UTC]

beautiful

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Oscura [2005-10-21 13:39:05 +0000 UTC]

Sky is amazing, a very unique woman. She just has this powerful, beautiful aura. She really seems untochable even in person. This is such a beautiful, breathtaking piece of art you did. I took a photo of her doing her fire dance last month that I have in my gallery now. It came out the way it did because of her, not me.

I must this.

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MattBenn8 [2005-09-18 03:31:02 +0000 UTC]

Damn Doc, you keep raising the bar. I wish I could make the show to see the real things. Being so far away I've become a big fan of Arcadia's web site. When I saw your work featured there I could only think it was an appropriate place for your paintings. You must be terribly excited.

Good luck!
Matt

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seven-more-souls [2005-09-14 10:26:32 +0000 UTC]

i love the way the frame IS so imposing, it's like she's trying to hide from it.
brilliance.

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mayney [2005-09-14 02:25:51 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful mate! lovely tones.

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supremextreme [2005-09-13 23:01:34 +0000 UTC]

My word, that is some fine exquisite painting. All respect to your talent. One small question. Are you always attracted to the sadness you see in these beautiful women? I always wonder what they look like when they are happy. But you do capture the essence of their emotion and that is a grand thing.

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carts [2005-09-13 22:25:47 +0000 UTC]

I love your work. Very classical and beautiful.

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Reyne [2005-09-13 21:30:59 +0000 UTC]

Your just fuckin' awesome and you fuckin' shit me, now fuck orf.

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Doc-Hammer In reply to Reyne [2005-09-13 22:16:12 +0000 UTC]

Fuck'n thank you for your kind fuck'n words.

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Reyne In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-14 20:57:53 +0000 UTC]

pleasfuckin'ure

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aseariel [2005-09-13 01:33:15 +0000 UTC]

she's beautiful, and your painting (and frame) look amazing

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Doc-Hammer In reply to aseariel [2005-09-13 15:39:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, but I can't take credit for the frame. I never saw any of the frames till they were around my paintings. I just described this crazy thing and it magically appeared. Not sure if it was exactly what I was imagining for the frame... But I have no complaints. Well, okay... I have one. I would have exposed more of the red bole.

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aseariel In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-13 16:00:47 +0000 UTC]

well, the concept was yours, at least... and you're welcome on the rest

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Landscapist [2005-09-12 02:21:45 +0000 UTC]

Beautifully executed, has a very classical unique feel

Well done!

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Doc-Hammer In reply to Landscapist [2005-09-12 05:16:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. Lot sweat in that one.

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Landscapist In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-12 22:13:14 +0000 UTC]

Good, every artist should put a lot of sweat into their work.

Well done!

out of curiousity, have you ever painted classical scenes like Rubens or Rembrandt have? I think it would work out amazing for you with your style, may take months even years but that would be great.

~Eugene~

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Doc-Hammer In reply to Landscapist [2005-09-12 22:45:36 +0000 UTC]

I don't really like to paint narratives. I like the solitary thing ya get with portraiture. And I am also not particularly keen on classical narratives. I like to have a "this time" feel to my work. That is one reason I like the bra. It removes the painting from a classical or historical work and makes it more of this time... Our time. I just don't want all the stylistic and trendy trappings of most contemporary work.

I do have a slight interest in multiple figure portraiture. So, when I tire of this series, I may consider that kinda thing.

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dV0 [2005-09-11 20:12:56 +0000 UTC]

It is wonderful! The style reminds me of (Russian) Orthodox icons - awesome!

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Doc-Hammer In reply to dV0 [2005-09-12 05:21:14 +0000 UTC]

I guess in the halo. Maybe in the tight, confined composition... But it's a stretch. I think of them as a "similar opposite" to iconography. In iconography, the humanity is stretched out to symbolism. I try to return the humanity to the same basic format. I know what you mean though.

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dV0 In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-12 11:01:42 +0000 UTC]

I see.
Yes, you are right so I try to be more accurate. Visual clichΓ©s (halo, huge golden surfaces and overdecorated frame) were associated to iconography but the character is much more profane. BUT strain between saint and profane is dissolving here and I think style serves the theme: character taken from life with this classic-archaic style is confusingly perfect. (Actually I'm not an art expert, only amateur – sorry for impropriaty)
Congratulations again, I’m enchanted!

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olive-tea [2005-09-11 08:04:37 +0000 UTC]

whoa the frame... it does match with the word "Saint"
Wonderful work as always !

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Doc-Hammer In reply to olive-tea [2005-09-13 15:35:31 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, right... The frame is insane, yet really fitting. Thanks!

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xbesbix [2005-09-11 00:41:12 +0000 UTC]

First I would like to say that of all your paintings this one has something that grabs me and slaps me in the face! The skin tone you have achieved is insane and so delicate. I would love to be a fly-the-wall in your studio to see how you achieve such masterpieces from start to finish.

Your work is inspiring - almost discouraging in a way that makes me want to give up painting all-together...but then something inside me knows that I too, with time, have a great painter inside me.

Thank you for taking the time to post your work, especially since I can't make it your gallery show!

~Jacqueline

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Doc-Hammer In reply to xbesbix [2005-09-11 08:49:44 +0000 UTC]

Don't wish for the fly on the wall scenario. There is a chance that I would chase you around till I could finally corral you out the window.

I have given that opportunity to people before, and none of them can take it. One guy really tried... But after two days of watching paint with one color, he gave up. I don't blame him. It's an insanely boring process of refinement and correction. At no time can you hear angels sing, and even if they did, the stereo would drown them out. It is as tedious as watching anybody sit there and make tiny decisions.

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xbesbix In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-11 17:07:15 +0000 UTC]

My family owns a jewelry store and I imagine watching you paint would be similar to watching someone hand carve a ring from a piece of platinum. Both processes not totally different, both require strokes from a trained hand.

Do you ever teach? You could start one of those online correspondence course - guaranteed to be an instant smash hit...The online school of Doc Hammer.

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Doc-Hammer In reply to xbesbix [2005-09-11 18:38:19 +0000 UTC]

I couldn't teach my method at this time. It's in constant flux. I'm telling ya, It's all over the place at the moment.

I'm really experimenting at this point in my career, so I don't think that I have executed two paintings with the same technique. I'm a fast learner, and I am still (and forever will be) a student. So teaching is the last thing I should be doing. I should be learning, growing, and changing. True, each painting is rung to rest my foot on as I climb to the next painting, so you get a sense of unity. But trust me... I have no idea what I am doing.

I get a lot of compliments on my technique. But in truth, they are not properly grounded in fact. The real reason my work looks like this is not how I paint... It's how I see. I can't teach people to see like me. And I wouldn't force my ever changing technique on my worst enemy.

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inquiringmind07 In reply to Doc-Hammer [2011-11-30 04:02:11 +0000 UTC]

You wouldn't wish your ever-changing technique on your worst enemy? The terror of painting like you! The inhumanity! It's a punishment so severe, it's almost beyond comprehension.

I can just imagine it, your enemies weeping in agony after discovering they can paint beautiful oil paintings. They'll scream in horror, "One day I paint one way, and the next another! I'm not consistent! Why God? Why have you done this to me! Why all of a sudden am I so skilled? Damn you!" People with absolutely zero technique would be mortified that all of a sudden they could paint. I can just picture their torment. Your enemies would be suiciding all over the place.

You're right, that's far too cruel to wish upon anybody. Especially me. Please don't show me how you create such beautiful paintings. It's just too painful to think about.

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inquiringmind07 In reply to inquiringmind07 [2011-11-30 04:06:59 +0000 UTC]

P.S I know I am commenting on a ridiculously old post, but I just couldn't help myself...

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realitybox [2005-09-10 04:46:30 +0000 UTC]

Where is your show?

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Doc-Hammer In reply to realitybox [2005-09-10 10:13:14 +0000 UTC]

If you click on my featured deviation you will get all that info.

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EasterMorningStar [2005-09-09 07:51:52 +0000 UTC]

Amazingly inspiring. Wow!

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Doc-Hammer In reply to EasterMorningStar [2005-09-10 10:23:52 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear that... Inspiration is an like food to a painter. Also pasta... Pasta is just like food to a painter. Like, almost exactly like food.

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EasterMorningStar In reply to Doc-Hammer [2005-09-11 05:21:29 +0000 UTC]

If inspiration is your food then you must certainly eat like a king! Your work is awe inspiring. Thank you for sharing it.

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Amaria [2005-09-09 03:07:46 +0000 UTC]

I'm amused that you managed to get her to understand where and when but not bra. Of all the things...

Amazing painting, man. The hair is marvelous, as is her expression. She seems very confused and angry -- my favourite expression of the angels' thus far.

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Doc-Hammer In reply to Amaria [2005-09-09 06:28:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks. I think she brought the "confused" part with her. I supplied the "angry". We made a nice team.

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lostmessage [2005-09-09 01:38:50 +0000 UTC]

is she the ladydown the street from the astrobase?

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