FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – May 1, 2012 — StumbleUpon Art Program has acquired Poïesis for it’s permanent collection. Employees of the New York City and San Francisco offices voted to determine which painting from the “Particles and Waves” exhibition to add permanently to the StumbleUpon collection. In a close vote, Poiesis an abstract work, was selected from the exhibition featuring several styles from Lankins diverse oeuvre. [View the other paintings in the show]
The art program at StumbleUpon was created to support local artists by utilizing StumbleUpon technology, help grow local arts communities both on and offline, and enhance the StumbleUpon workplace. View the recap of the opening reception.
Poïesis | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2012
Click the image for a step by step process and a stop animation video of the painting from start to finish.
Painting Process Movie of "Moto For Miles" - by... by
“Make an awesome painting with Miles’s favorite motorcycle, his father’s Norton. It’s a surprise for his birthday.”
With that request I decided to focus on the bike and include personal references to Miles.
While working on this commission I got a new appreciation for the visual aesthetic of motorcycles. Especially an older model like this Norton, where every part serves a function and is stylish
“Form follows function.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
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I had a few photographs taken by his father to work from. I decided to work from a picture of the bike parked in the driveway. At first I was thinking go completely sepia like some of his favorite motorcycle photos.
3
After laying out the negative space around the bike, I added form to the positive space with a blue in my CMYK palette. These are the colors I have been using to start many of my recent paintings.
2
Coming in with black to refine details in the bike. In the negative space I’m freestyling with graffiti writing incorporating Miles’s name. This starts to create some play in the space.
3
The text looked like plants so I began teasing out the idea of a cliff overlook. Soon after this picture I found out about his appreciation for the Isle of Mann TT and his connoisseurship of Guinness.
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I used that information to establish the major components of the space. The background is a view of coastal mountains on the Isle of Man. In the foreground the bike sits upon a Guinness. You’ll see in the next shot I had to increase the head, because the head of a perfectly poured Guinness is about 1/4 the width of the opening of the pint glass. One of the main reasons I love painting is because I get to learn about my subjects, especially visually.
5
Now that the Guinness was legit, I added a reference to Miles’s tattoo of the Isle of Man Triskelion, known as the “Three Legs of Man.” The three legs symbolize the motto of the Manx coat of arms “Wherever you throw it, it will stand.”
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A Guinness isn’t 100% perfect unless the foam is stamped with your initials and marinated with moto tires before it’s handed to you. As I came down the homestretch with the final details on the bike I added some energy to the sky by incorporating some of my signature abstraction. The visual solidity and motto of the Triskellion overcome the unpredictable forces of nature that form on our horizons.
Click the final image below to check out one of my favorite parts of the painting, the CMYK rainbow on the chrome at the beginning of the exhaust.
Moto for Miles | 18 x 24 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2012 | Sold
Let us raise a pint, ride forever, overcome all obstacles, and remember all those we have loved.
There are few other references to Miles and layers to the stories but we’ll leave that for him to share with you.
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I showed Miles the blog write up before publishing it, and he responded: “The motor and exhaust sound are as ethereal as the bike is aesthetically pleasing. A proper motorcycle; which you have captured superbly.”
Happy Birthday Miles!
This Norton which I now have a crush on was restored to pristine condition by Colorado Norton Works. A few changes have been made after the original restoration shown in the link to CNW.
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Other recent commissions: a beach landscape, a Bald Eagle, a hockey player, and a new born child.
-INFO AND IMAGES OF THE PAINTINGS IN SHOW -TAG YOUR PICTURES AND MORE ON FB
Last week StumbleUpon held an unprecedented five hour opening of “Particles and Waves” at their NYC headquarters. Many thanks to everyone who came out, and the awesome crew at StumbleUpon that helped make it a night I will never forget. Here’s a sampling of the nights festivities in the sequence it unfolded captured by photographer Greg McMahon…
All the people who didn’t get their picture taken during the madness, or came after hours, you are remembered in spirit.
The last photo of the night as we hit 10PM. We may have to make the group photo of the “closer downs” an opening night tradition.
The ever punctual NYC mover-and-shaker Shiva and I discuss my latest painting Poïesis.
Artist Michael Serafino, and Jean, Account Executive at StumbleUpon kickback as the show opens. Check the link to see Serafino’s new splice paintings.
Co-Founder of Galleray, Davis Mersereau, and Vanessa, Digital Account Executive at StumbleUpon flashing perfect smiles. Keep an eye out for the launch of Galleray.
Yours truly in front of Emotional Architecture.
StumbleUpon’s National Accounts Manager for the Advertising Platform Ari on the right side.
Multi talented artist Diana Oh stopped by before her performance in History of the World at Theater of the Living Arts, by Judith Malina.
Taking a moment with the legendary arts and music aficionado According 2 G. Check out his blog for cool NYC experiences, intimate views into the lives of artists, and his recap of the opening.
Raise your camera and take a picture of the party.
Brian, sommelier at 508 Gastrobrewery sandwiched between me and Jean.
One lucky man, two lucky ladies.
The viewer interacts with In the Garden, Good and Evil
How could I not include this picture? Just enough fun for the Internet.
Revelers pose in-front of One Outlet.
Joined with the lovely artist Zehava.
International baritone Joseph Flaxman. Follow the link to hear the voice.
Anthony, Director of Sales and Business at StumbleUpon, with Danielle and Jillian, Account Executives from Sharethrough.
I like being in the middle of a happy sandwich. Try it.
My man Borbay. Great artist you should have on your radar. Take a long look at all his projects.
Raise your camera and take a picture.
Stumble’dUpon the blue couch.
Environmental expert Geoff takes a close look at In The Garden, Good and Evil, from the never publicly exhibited Love Conquers All portfolio.
Sexy people, in front of a sexy Lady Gaga painting.
The first round of Johnnie Walker.
International photographer Charlie Rubin stopped by to show some support.
Z, C, and B, kicking it in three.
Borbay, According 2 G, and Tres (pronounced Trace) showing the love.
Awesome group of friends came out to show their support.
Always great hanging with Garrett and Chapin.
Fellow hockey and art enthusiast Jeff and I give his friend a big welcome to the party.
Great seeing business mogul and idea specialist Byron Bennett.
Byron and Borbay.
On the left, illustrator James Serafino anchors these happy folks.
Mike and Greg, almost looking like brothers.
Max, aka Kostanza, graced us with an impromptu ipod DJ set, and socialite Fernando Javier.
Pete catches up with Max and I.
Nimo Kally, NYC singer/songwriter , always living the rockstar lifestyle. He is playing at Piano’s March 9th. Check him out.
Artist Anu Annam glowing for the picture. Look at her powerful watercolors.
The man behind the lens, ain’t no myth here, photo/videographer Greg McMahon.
Contemporary artists, so contemporary they are alive, definitely check out their websites, from left to right we have: Joseph Meloy, Ben Katz, Borbay, me, Paul Zapeda, and Julian Rapp.
You can hear the buzz.
A low perspective inspired by Gaga for dramatic effect.
Ben Katz and I posing in front of his favorite painting of the evening, New Years Eve — New York City.
Feeling good, feeling great, where are you?
On the left, Andrew Matsumoto, a creative fireball.
Artist Mike Serafino on the left, and founder of the Vandal Expressionist movement Joseph Meloy on the right.
Ladies pose between Madison Square Park and One Outlet.
Tony, fellow artist Anu, and Glorie.
One for the history books.
Having a little fun.
Having a lot of fun. Congrats to newlyweds Rachel and Greg on the right.
Mike and Paul choose alternate paths.
This is definitely a Kodak moment.
Pete stayed for the entire show, great to meet you. Let’s go Flyers!
They met tonight, believe it, that’s the power of art viewing experience.
Super groovy ladies from Germany.
Click for larger image. The second to last photo of the evening around 10PM, an hour before most people left.
Click for larger image. The last photo, partially related to The Last Supper.
Those in favor of the group photo, say aye… Aye!
For more information on the exhibition, acquisition, and the Art Program at Stumbleupon follow the info link below, or contact info@arilankin.com
-INFO AND IMAGES OF THE PAINTINGS IN SHOW -TAG YOUR PICTURES AND MORE ON FB
Here is a recap of the opening reception. Viewings by appointment for collectors and press until mid April.
What: “Particles and Waves” by Ari Lankin, February, 23rd – 6-10PM
Where: StumbleUpon NYC HQ – 73 Spring Street (bet Crosby and Lafayette) Suite 206 – Almost all subways are nearby, click the link for a map.
- One Outlet | oil on canvas | 24 x 18 inches | 2009 | $1400
- New Years Eve – New York City | oil on canvas | 30 x 40 inches | 2010 | $2200
- Poïesis | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2012 | $2000
Click above image for process and video.
- Lady Gaga | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | $2000
Click above image for process and video.
- In the Garden, Good and Evil | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | $2000
- Sand Flesh and Sky | oil on canvas | 48 x 48 inches | 2008 | $3500
- Emotional Architecture I | oil on canvas | 30 x 40 inches | 2009 | $2200
- Warm Autumn | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2012 | $2000
Click above image for process and video.
Madison Square Park and Plensa's Echo | 14 x 11 inches | oil and acrylic on canvas | 2011 | $700
Click above image for process and action shots.
This is the third painting in a series of abstractions on 30 inch square canvases influenced by the seasons. The imagery is inspired by a synthesis of my relation with the materials and influences in my life: the paint, the canvas support, the square composition, and in this painting, an unusually warm stretch of winter weather in New York City.
The air was fresh and and the light full of clarity. There was a feeling of spring hanging in the winter air…
1
Starting out with a primary palette of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. I have been exploring these standard printing colors in the past year. Cyan bricks referencing the grid, and shards of yellow light.
2
Here come’s magenta, one of my favorite colors of late. I’m building space with geometric pieces. Add black to get the CMYK family.
3
The loose-fitting shapes of the initial composition shift to two puzzle pieces. I like the puzzle piece because it makes inclusion and exclusion obvious. There is the actual piece, and then there is everything that fits around it. True existence.
This set the tone.
4
Now I introduce my extended palette. I started by mixing one color. I painted with just the one color before I mixed a second. Then I would have two colors to work with. Then I would mix the third, and have three colors to work with… etc. This is different from how I usually mix a very diverse palette at the beginning of each painting session.
5
At this point I’m starting to feel a general vibe from the painting and sense a connection to the fresh winter weather. The sun fills my studio as I work, a refreshing air passes through the room. Now that the palette is established for this painting, I would return to mixing a large palette before each session.
6
Dark crisp marks inform the softer capricious forms already present. This creates departure and transition throughout the painting.
7
Flesh, the body, visceral sensation.
Poïesis | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2012
Click the above painting for a larger version.
The final image feels fertile to me. The title is partly inspired by how Martin Heidegger explains poïesis as a moment of ecstasis when something moves away from its standing as one thing to become another: the blooming of the blossom, the coming-out of a butterfly from a cocoon, the plummeting of a waterfall when the snow begins to melt.
Fecund transition.
Below are the other two paintings from this series. Click the images for more information -
Bloom – Exhibited during a recent solo exhibition, “Windows of Self” at RL Fine Arts
Bloom | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | Ari Lankin 2010 | SOLD
Warm Autumn – Will be shown for the first time at my upcoming show on Feb. 23rd at StumbleUpon HQ NYC
Warm Autumn | 30 x 30 inches | oil on canvas | 2011
The Flyers playoff run of 2010 was two wins short of one of the greatest in all professional hockey. Danny Briere continued to find the net and create incredible chemistry on the ice. This painting is inspired by one of his goal celebrations during a 30-point surge in 23 playoff games.
Process and thoughts…
A quick sketch of his iconic uppercut to gauge the space.
Had the pose, but had no idea how the rest of the canvas would develop. Discovery is a large part of my process.
The only way to find out where you are going is to get there. Reacting to the painting as it develops.
After filling most of the canvas with orange, white, and blue a little black to set the figure.
Some times you have to go backwards to go forwards. Hey Danny, sorry for engulfing your head in fire.
The sound and reaction of something hot hitting water and it instantly turning to steam is similar to that of 20,000 fans on their feet.
A quick rectangle to help me ground the figure in the atomosphere. I was thinking about the reproduced image. We use them to remember things. Collective and individual memory is cultivated from videos and photographs. Rectangular media.
Time to get rid the blue except for the ice and a little bit in the glass.
Get Flyered up! Danny Briere lights the lamp. The red trim and the yellow dasher make an appearance.
Can you see any subliminal messages in the flames? There’s a Flyers symbol, and a “D”…
A Flyers symbol, his initials (D and B), and the number 48. His uppercut fracturing the lens of reality all around him.
Danny I don’t mind if you take it easy during the 2012 season, but unleash the beast come playoffs.
1 of 30 Danny Briere | 18 x 24 inches | graphite, acrylic, and oil on canvas | 2011 | Available
click for larger image
When the game is on the line, especially in the playoffs, Briere is a lethal weapon. He probably has the best tight game in the league, and very sneaky. Boom!
Next up…. Claude Giroux #28.
This painting is available for purchase. I am currently accepting a limited number of new commissions. If you are interested in a sports player/moment commission, or different type of commission contact me directly.
Recent Hockey Paintings
Chris Pronger | oil, acrylic, graphite on canvas | 12 x 12 inches | 2011
Jaromir Jagr | acrylic, oil, pen, collage, and cloth on canvas | 11 x 14 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
Immortal Captain | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
Lord Stanley's Castle | 30 x 30 inches | oil on canvas |2011 | Ari Lankin
Warm Autumn | 30 x 30 inches | oil on canvas | 2011
Click painting for larger image. If video is not working follow this YouTube link.
Questions? info@arilankin.com
This is the second painting I did after the biblical flu that had me sidelined with a fever for 9 days. Between tripping out on a fever, lucid fever induced dreams, over twenty movies including the whole Twin Peaks series, and not being able to paint I was so ready for this painting to pour out of me.
As usual with my abstract work, I dive in without any preconceived image…
A big yellow amorphous shape, why not?
I kept it very loose and tried to surprise myself. Some strong lines to counteract the organic yellow shape.
New colors and shapes seem to have individualized spirits.
Two strips along the top and the bottom, allude to analog film. This was influenced by watching so many movies and my experience with photography/film. Aesthetically it holds the diverse forms from spilling out of the top and bottom of the canvas.
A canvas is a window to another world. Add light and the image dances. The individual forms start to gather together and a large central form develops.
At this point I’m exploring the organic forms and fleshy feeling. This is balanced by the architectural feeling of the crisp horizontal strips on the top and bottom of the canvas. The self, the brain, and our instantaneous digital connection to the rest of the world….oops, I was just thinking out loud.
There was a lot of destroying and rebuilding while making this painting. I had to take things away to see if they were needed. When I rebuilt them I already had a knowledge of the purpose they served. Also what was was missing in their absence. 
The lower forms are now shining through the strip on the bottom of the canvas. Some people wish their life is a movie. If you ask me, everyone’s life is a movie. Some people turn their projector light up brighter than others.
View With A Room | oil on canvas | 30 x 40 inches | 2011
This is the first painting I made after taking a few consecutive days off from painting. I decided to put hardcore painting on ice for a few days while I was busy working on some other projects.
Immediately after getting home from the Clipped reception after party I started painting. It felt so good to be back at it.
This painting is full of raw energy and excitement, some would even call it joy.
I call it Roarrr.
Let’s take a look at some of the stages and you can decide for yourself…
Diving in with pink, oh how I love pink. It’s almost like a guilty pleasure. Here I’m painting with brushes and fingers.
Introducing some primary colors with a strong linear quality. When I look at a line I experience a sensation of movement from one point to another. The type of line suggests the type of movement. I think it’s safe to say these lines are capricious in nature.
Utilizing the edge of the canvas I flatten the imagery with the picture plane.
New colors and new mark making breathe different life into the painting.
Around this time I’m starting to understand the life of this particular painting.
It’s crucial to harness this life power but not misuse it. That remind’s me of this anonymous quote: “Some say it takes two people to do a painting, one to do the painting and the other to tell you when to stop.”
Roarrr | acrylic and oil on canvas | 30 x 40 inches | 2011
Anything is possible with teamwork. One person made this painting, and the same person knew exactly when to stop. This painting is alive.
Click the painting for a larger image and watch the process video in HD.
While going through images over the weekend I realized I haven’t posted this painting from late Winter.
I started this on one of those winter days when it finally starts to warm up.
So with the sun out, and the windows open, I ripped into this 4′ x 5′ canvas.
Warm weather, and a big canvas is a great combination after a long winter.
Just looked at the time stamp on the photo and I started it February 14th at 2:36PM…oh, that special day
let me take you back….
Starting out with a slick thin black line. Felt great with all the freedom of a large canvas. Keep the paint flowing.
After bringing in some color I introduce 12″ x 12″ blocks.
Playing with the structure and using the blocks to literally build the composition. A big playful signature in the middle. Brush strokes are a type of signature.
Time to push the picture plane back with some white. The “X” in the middle pushes the other imagery back.
Break the grid by exploring each square, and merging them together.
A general cohesion is forming, but not for long…
Simplify and dissolve the geometry. The form becomes more organic.
Increasing surface area with folds.
Changing opacity to alter the depth.
Whats the difference between drawing and painting? Save that debate for another time. It doesn’t matter with strong mark making. More of that.
Getting rid of some of the black that held the painting together since the early stages.
Pink On The Brain | acrylic on canvas | 48 x 60 inches | 2011.
I hesitate to explain the imagery in my abstract paintings. It’s abstract for a reason, actually thousands of reasons.
Sometimes I feel a title can lead the viewer too much. Don’t let it.
Check out the video in HD, and click the finished painting for a larger image.
Century Girl | Process and Video
05/04/2012 • This is the fourth painting in a series of abstractions on 30-inch square canvases. The first three paintings of...Read More
StumbleUpon Acquires Poïesis
05/01/2012 • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK, NY – May 1, 2012 — StumbleUpon Art Program has acquired Poïesis for it’s permanent collection. ...Read More
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