» Fresh Paint

Billy Dee Williams X Colt 45 40oz. X Lando Calrissean X Culture Initiative

skernick — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:48:20 +0000

The Uncanny Culture Initiative is gearing up to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary of growing and supporting the creative culture in North Carolina. They are doing it up properly with a 3D themed showcase featuring roughly 50 artists freaking it in the third dimension. If you are anywhere near Charlotte this Saturday you need to make like a fetus and head out to AKA Creative.

My submission is a nod to the man Billy Dee Williams and his smooth, seductive and awkwardly sexual support Colt 45 Malt Liquor. If there was ever a man who could convince me to drink 40 ounces of liquid libido, Lando Calrissean is the pusher. You the man though, Lando.

How to Paint Biggie – Graffiti 101 Teaser Video

skernick — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:41:21 +0000

I have joined forces with the man Joe Bruno and Critical Cutz to create a series of instructional videos to teach spray painting and illustration techniques. We are finishing up the first installment showcasing a large format caricature of Biggie Smalls on a wall and the teaser video is ready to roll. Check it out yall. The Bob Ross of can control.

United Arts Council – Skate Deck Art Show

skernick — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:27:08 +0000

The United Arts Council recently opened a new office on downtown Raleigh. Commemorating the event they sponsored a skate deck art show/contest including NC heavyweight artists Matt Curran, Garrett Scales, Derek Toomes, Victor Knight and others. The show had a strong turnout and I ended up taking third place which was a bonus. The man Joe Bruno was busy catching video so stay tuned to 24Flinching TV for the spot.

[Show as slideshow]

Seano Interview and the Bridges to Digital Media

skernick — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:09:43 +0000

Check out the ‘fresh-off-the-press’ interview I was blessed with at The Daily Single. The interview was conducted by my friend Nene Kalu who hooked it up proper. The format of this online publication is pretty interesting and innovative. It looks to be a dynamic player in the sometimes-awkward transition from print media to digital. I have been very intrigued at the contemporary bridges that are being made. There is a lot of play that can be found within the boundaries of a standard magazine format including iApps, page-turning software and (my personal favorite) video integration. Daily Single takes a slightly different approach featuring one person everyday and leveraging the pipelines of social media integration. See for yourself and tell em’ what you think.

*side note: My 5 year old daughter and partner in crime, Nina Simone, took the cover shot they used. win.

Seano blasts panels on Raleigh Public Bus Line

skernick — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:46:48 +0000

The City of Raleigh Arts Commission organizes a public art project called “Art-on-the-Move” that places a curated collection of artwork directly onto the side panel of Raleigh city buses. So yea, my original steps entering into the art world through the gateway of graffiti has now come full circle. I am actually being commissioned by the city to put artwork on panels of public transportation. Crazy world.

I decided to focus on the rich heritage that North Carolina holds with jazz music. It only seemed natural to put together a dream team quintet consisting of legendary musicians that were born here in the great state. Nina Simone on lead vocals, Thelonious Monk on the keys, John Coltrane on the tenor sax, Percy Heath donning the double bass and Max Roach keeping rhythm. In addition to the artwork I had to write up an artist statement as part of the submission process. I saw it as an opportunity to profess my affection for the fine art of riding the city bus. Check it out and stay tuned for the bus launch information.

click image to enlarge

The Bus.

I grew up riding the SEPTA bus. Every morning I would put my lunch in my backpack, double-knot my sneakers and make my way the half-mile to the bus stop. Over time you would develop a sonic ear for the noise of a public bus engine and if you heard it coming, you better move your tail. Once on routine the people who rode the bus converted from complete strangers to silent traveling partners that you would inspect and admire in the subtle changes in their hairstyle, wardrobe and demeanor. We were regulars. Everyone had their favorite and preferred place to sit but it wasn’t always a guarantee that it would be available. On a bad day you would have to stand for the route. Sometimes you would have to give your seat to an older, injured or pregnant person and in some cases you would offer your seat to someone just because they looked like they were having an exhaustively bad day. The practice of standing on a bus for an hour will crown you the master of your center of gravity. Hawaiian surfers have nothing on a woman with an armful of groceries and a two year-old standing on a bus as it curls through the city. If you’re really good you can go “no-hands” reading a book while your internal pendulum anticipates sudden stops, sharp turns and rushed accelerations. A sharp tug on a cord above the windows would signify to the driver that I wanted to get off at the next stop. As my feet would tumble down the steps and the fresh city air flushed into my lungs I would feel a satisfaction that only riding the bus can provide. It is an intimately shared journey with the people you normally wouldn’t even connect eyes with in your community. It is a reminder that we are all in this together. An understanding that we all have our individual hustles and stresses yet we all flow down the same current. I love the bus.

Every time I stepped foot on the bus I would be packing my trusty Walkman in pocket with over-sized headphones keeping my head warm and my ears entertained. It was on these long rides that I fell in love with music and began my lifelong exploration of the selfless collaboration and individual expression that is jazz music. When I moved to North Carolina I began to unearth the rich and robust heritage of jazz music and the musicians that this state gave birth to. I was surprised to hear that our beloved NC gracefully gave to us the legendary Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Percy Heath and Max Roach. It seemed only natural to combine my sincere admiration for the public bus line with jazz music and create the NC-born Jazz Quintet. A bus ride and jazz music both reflect a textured American experience, communicate without saying a word, sit colorfully and loud, run muted and hushed while bringing people together and taking them on the ride of their choosing. It is a beautiful thing really.

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Death of a Pop Star – Episode 2!

skernick — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:47:27 +0000

Episode 2 has officially been released and ready for roar. Join David Banner and 9th Wonder as they smash through their comic book adventures. Stop by the Death of a Pop Star s ite and check it out (episode navigation on the left). If you haven’t already, cop the album on iTunes or Amazon MP3. Check it check it check it out!

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Death of a Pop Star comic f. David Banner & 9th Wonder

skernick — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:18:47 +0000

I am a huge comic book fan. I am also a huge fan of authentic hip-hop music. Fusing the two would be something of a dream gig right? Well, here it is. I have been lucky enough to be picked to illustrate and assist in writing a comic based on a story by David Banner himself. As of now we have a few episodes planned out but if all goes well we will hook up a full blown graphic novel. You can check out upcoming episodes and track from the album on the Death of a Pop Star website. Awesome.

For those that don’t know, Banner has teamed up with 9th Wonder in pursuit of a more fulfilling artistic and inspirational approach to making music. The title “Death of a Pop Star” describes the state of the music industry and the fall in stature of the great American pop star. You can pre-order the album on iTunes here or on Amazon MP3 here.

click image to enlarge.

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Denise Milani illustration for AskMen.com

skernick — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:17:53 +0000

Check out my new illustration hot off the press for AskMen.com. I remember being a wide-eyed aspiring artist in 6th grade caught up in wondering how cool it must be to be able to draw nudey women whenever you wanted. My friends, I have arrived.

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Respect Due: Life-size Dangerfield.

skernick — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:15:57 +0000

The Charlotte-based powerhouse “Culture Initiative” invited me to participate in a group art show/ dance party/ cultural happening titled “Epic Proportions“. Each artist was tasked with getting loose on a 6ft x 3ft canvas. These pieces will be showcased amongst a venue thumping dance party headlined by Treasure Fingers. In other words, this event will be hotter than a goats ass in a pepper patch! If you are in the Charlotte area you can’t miss this one.

So who else should I paint when I’m thinking of epic proportions than Rodney “Easy Money” Dangerfield. Smoking, overeating, gambling, booze and boobs! The man was a comic genius and the proportions were epic my friend. Since I was working with a 6ft canvas I figured I may as well hook up a slightly-larger-than-life-size portrait of Rodney. Blue, crude and one cool-ass dude – I show my respect Mr. Dangerfield.

Teaching Young Nooch the fine art of wheat-paste with a dash of Bill Cosby appreciation.

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My Kayla Rae is turning 4!

skernick — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:26:45 +0000

My little birdy keeps on growing. Every year I hook up an illustration for their b-day party. I’m sure the time will come where they want me to get lost but for now I’m going to keep on with it. Love you girl!

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Raleigh…..UNDEAD!

skernick — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:19:52 +0000

There is less than a week before the NC Comicon opens its doors to the public. Make sure you come through and check out the action on November 13th and 14th at the Morrisville Outlet Mall. There is a rock solid list of professional talent that will be signing autographs, a load of family friendly events and a collection of local artists, vendors and collectors. I am setting up a table promoting this very Two Four Flinching blog that you are reading right now as well as selling prints, hooking up sketches and promoting The Faculty‘s mural & live painting services.

The whole operation is being put together by my friends at the legendary Ultimate Comics. You can buy surprisingly affordable advance tickets by clicking here.

Below is a preview of one of the prints I made specifically for this event. If you read this blog then you know I am an enormous fan of The Walking Dead. It seemed only right to have the undead infest our beloved Capital City and spread the zombie love across Raleigh. I will be hooking up a limited signed and numbered run of 100. We will be accepting cash, checks or brains.

See you at the Comicon!

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Jon Stewart Crossing the Dailyware River

skernick — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:26:07 +0000

I was approached by AskMen.com to hook up and illustration to accompany an article detailing the political leverage and satirical might that Jon Stewart and the Daily Show has among young (and not so young) Americans. After sifting through a few concepts we settled on this bad boy. I am very happy with it and the article is a solid read as well. Check it out and leave a comment if y ou’re feeling it.

I collected the active correspondents (minus the newest Olivia Munn) as well as a few of my favorites from the past. From left to right: John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Cenac, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jason Jones, Samantha Bee, Lewis Black, Rob Corddry and Aasif Mandvi

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The Assassinated Public Figure Playset ®

skernick — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:46:11 +0000

My generation hasn’t had any significant progressive leaders that have served as role models in the public sphere. I’m pretty sure we can all point to people in our smaller circles that live their life in a manner that you try to live up to. But as far as progressive leadership with a substantial voice in mass media, nada. Michael Moore would be the closest thing to someone who consistently put himself out there to get people thinking, talking and inspiring organization. But at his core he is a movie maker. Not a leader.

My generation grew up in the era where Rambo, The Terminator and the World Wrestling Federation dominated our eyes and ears and in the process we became more intimately acquainted with guns, ammunition and violence than we did with any sort of progressive thinking or leadership on a large scale. The dominant leaders from our history who began to successfully organize the people with a broad, accelerated, positive structure were taken down by the same bullet that dominates our popular culture and threatens to completely pollute the next generation.

Enter The Assassinated Public Figure Playset!

What better way to teach the next generation about the progressive, peaceful leadership who gave their lives to senseless violence in their prime than by picking up the Playset at your local Wal-Mart, Target or K-Mart and break it out on family game night.

Too much? Maybe. You get what I’m trying to say here.

This piece will be shown in the “My Uzi Weighs a Ton“, guns & pop culture – art show at the Neon Forest Gallery in Orlando. I chose to depict Abraham Lincoln, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy and Malcolm X. Each person is hand painted on a .50 caliber (non-firing) round. This is the largest bullet a citizen of the USA can purchase. No permit necessary. I found it overwhelmingly troubling that it was easier to buy a bullet that could kill from over a mile away than it was to come up with a relevant, progressive thinking leader that is accessible to our next generation. (although I still have hope) Let’s do the damn thing.

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“Shark Bite” for the ‘Save Our Shore’ fundraiser

skernick — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:24:49 +0000

In response to the BP oil spill that may effect the Carolina Coastline Solas Culinary and My Restuarant Guru are hosting a fundraiser for The NC Surfrider Foundation. It is our goal to help fund this non-profit so that it is prepared to deal with the effects of the BP oil spill on the NC coastline.

Check out the event page for more details and photos.

Here is my little, big guy.

Thirty local artists, will donate custom painted ceramic pieces to be sold during the night’s silent auction. This project combines… the talent of our local artists to raise money for The Surfrider Foundation.

Cover charge of $10 includes NC seafood hor d’ouevres, live music, and silent auction. Proceeds benefit The Surfrider Foundation of NC.

Check out the event page for more details and photos.

Participating Artists:
Alan Bowling
Bart Cusick
Briana Martinez
Chris Williams
…Clark Hipolito
Derek Tommes
Domingo Vega
Elke Brand
Emily jesserer Dean
Fabrizio Bianchi
Garrett Scales
Gavin Jones
Georges Le Chevallier
Greg Davis
Heather Goldstein
Kristin Matwiczyk
Lee Williamson
Liz Roetzel
Matt Curran
Matt Scofield
Pablo Dumlao
Paul Friedrich
Ron Cox
Sean Kernick
Victor Knight

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“Fundraiser is quite a draw” – N&O write up!

skernick — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:39:51 +0000

Fundraiser is quite a draw

COURTESY OF SEAN KERNICK
Sean Kernick depicted himself as a worker bee.

BY ADRIENNE JOHNSON MARTIN – Staff Writer

If given the choice between Muhammad Ali’s poetic descriptives to “float like a butterfly” or “sting like a bee,” it seems artist Sean Kernick would go bee.

“I’ve always been enamored by the social function of bees,” he says. “Their work ethic; the way they work for the common good. We should be glad that ants and bees are small. If they were even three times their size, they would take over.”

Kernick’s admiration explains why, when given the chance, he depicted himself as a worker bee with a pencil and a Kangol hat. That buggy depiction earned Kernick the people’s choice award and a finalist spot in The Love Bug, the on-the-street art competition and gallery opening hosted by and benefiting Toxic Free NC.

Now in its second year, The Love Bug was inspired by a fundraiser that Toxic Free NC executive director Fawn Pattison saw in California that had artists drawing their biggest, baddest monsters, according to Ana Duncan Pardo, the group’s communications coordinator. Because Toxic Free NC’s mission is to reduce pesticide pollution, bugs seemed the right way to go for its First Friday event.

Artists in The Love Bug go hand-to-hand creating a bug-centric artwork; a silent auction is held at the end of each 30-minute round, and the artist whose art receives the highest total bid wins and goes to the finals. (There are two adult artist rounds and one round for kids.) The two finalists go at it, and there’s another auction.

The big winner is proclaimed Monarch. Last year, the event raised $2,300. With the help of corporate sponsor Burt’s Bees and local sponsors, the group hopes to double that amount this year.

Kernick says the allure of the event comes from its public nature. “Art tends to be a solo sport. You’re doing it at home in private for the most part,” he says. “Here, you get to see it live, you see artists competing. It’s rare to find a compelling competition that includes artists.”

The artistic pugilist, whose style could be called urban illustration, came close to a win last year but lost to Low-Pop Art artist Paul Friedrich.

“I wanted a rematch,” says Kernick, who worked on his technique in the interim. “I did some trash talking on Facebook.”

Alas, Friedrich isn’t among the 11 adult artists competing. “So now I’m not focusing on one person,” Kernick says. “I plan on stinging them all.”

adrienne.johnson@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4751

Get the biggest news in your email or cellphone as it’s happening. Sign up for breaking news alerts.

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“PBR Brews Strange Company” – custom painted tall boys

skernick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:37:28 +0000

Pabst Blue Ribbon will be sponsoring a rough and tumble, beer flavored art show called “The PBart Show” in Raleigh during the Cherry Bounce Festival on July 29th. Artists were encouraged to create PBR inspired artwork so I took it quite literal and create a few custom painted, full, unopened 22oz tall boys. I built the theme around the concept that “PBR brews very strange company”. This was my first crack at customizing beer cans and I think I have stumbled into an arena that I am going to be playing in for a little while.

The festival will stretch over a few days and looks to be full of all kinds of tomfoolery. Check it out. See you there….

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LoveBug 2010

skernick — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:34:53 +0000

I had a dream that I was fighting off the best artists in Raleigh armed only with a spray can, a stack of canvas cards, a sharpie and a swarm of killer yellow jackets that had built a hive deep inside my libido. I woke up with a startle, a cold sweat and a tingly libido. This could only mean one thing….. LoveBug 2010 is approaching fast…… and this year…… I’m packing heat. (heat = overinflated, machismo driven creative ego)

It would be hard to top last years event but the plans that are set for the August 6th event at Epona & Oak are primed to drop it like it’s HAWT!

A draw-off tournament will set the stage for the bloodiest, most ruthless competition this side of “Enter The Dragon“. Artists submitted a bug-inspired self-portrait (mine below) that will be placed in an online voting competition so stay tuned and make sure you vote for your favorite man-buggery. Proceeds from the event will go to Toxic Free NC to fight pesticide pollution in North Carolina by advocating for common-sense alternatives that protect our health and environment. That being said, I expect my people to come in swarm and carry weight like army ants. Lets do the dang thang.

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RIP Harvey Pekar

skernick — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:07:01 +0000

I wanted to pay my respects by way of the pencil. Our favorite curmudgeon will be sorely missed.

*taken from Newsweek:

Goodbye, Cleveland

‘American Splendor’ comic-book writer Harvey Pekar dies at 70.

Courtesy of Vertigo-AP
A portion of a panel from Pekar’s comic book ‘Quitter’

Harvey Pekar, who died Monday at the age of 70, should be the patron saint of soreheads. Even when he got successful he stayed cranky, maybe because being a crank was what made him successful. Not even Pekar was fool enough to fuss with that formula. After the American Splendor series of comics came out starting in 1976, he was hailed as the bard of the common man, a sort of genius of ordinariness. He was nothing of the sort. He just happened to have an unglamorous job as a file clerk at the VA in Cleveland, which is enough to make most critics call you ordinary. But the day job was just that: a means to support other ends. On his own time, Pekar was an avid collector of old 78 records. Now, all 78 collectors are by definition avid, but Pekar had the self-awareness to step back and see his own mania. So there was a certain inevitability about his friendship with the graphic artist Robert Crumb, another collector of 78s and a man who has made his fortune by being both self-aware and brutally honest about his own life.

Out of that friendship came the earliest installments of the autobiographical American Splendor, which paired Pekar’s narration of his own life with comic panels supplied by Crumb. Using that template, Pekar would ultimately work with a who’s who of artists in the world of the graphic novel, including Joe Sacco, Dean Haspiel, Alison Bechdel, and Alan Moore. It was a critical and commercial hit, with multiple installments over the years. It even inspired a movie. Somehow Pekar seemed to survive it all unchanged, maybe because he became well known when he was already middle-aged and set in his ways. Or maybe he really didn’t want to mess with the formula (a formula that very much depended on Pekar being Pekar) that got him where he was.

Should we both credit and blame Pekar for the navel-gazing nature of so many graphic novels and graphic memoirs? He was certainly there first, measuring out his life not in coffee spoons but in cartoon panels. The thing that will always elevate Pekar above the herd that followed him was that he courted the limelight but made no concessions to it. He wanted everything but on his terms, and he got closer than most people to getting his wish. He was an interesting guy, maybe not someone you’d want to take a long car trip with, but someone it was always fun to read about, the little guy who made good. American Splendor was a title marinated in irony, but the real irony was that, in the end, it wasn’t ironic at all.

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Beach Walker Pencil Paparazzi

skernick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:06:39 +0000

There is no better place to practice your life drawing skills than the beach. Men, women, young, old, thin, heavy, everyone walking around in socially accepted underpants. Drawing people laying out, standing around or pursuing activities requiring subtle actions is cool but my favorite activity is trying to capture the people that are strolling along the beach. You only have a few seconds to snag their movement, style, shape and personality. It is tricky but your inventory will keep presenting itself for hours. I highly recommend it to my fellow pencilheads.

Here are a few selections from Myrtle Beach, 2010.

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Nina is turning five?!?!

skernick — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:24:19 +0000

This is getting out of control. She won’t slow her grow. My girl Nina Simone is turning 5 and holding true to tradition, I hooked up her invite. This year I was closely art directed my Nina Simone herself. All the way down to the rainbow sleeves and the unicorn horn on the knights horse. She’s got style, no question.

Love ya girl. You got my heart.

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Another Bird in the A-hole…..

skernick — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:02:48 +0000

The first ‘bird in the ole’ A-hole’ that was created for the “Letters” show at the Lodi Project had sold at the opening. I know, the wordplay is endless…… Yes, my A-hole is hanging above the mantle someones house right now. The show was such a success that it is going to be traveling to Greensboro, NC. One problem. No A-hole.

Enter “There’s A Bird in My A-hole 2.0″. It’s a little more rugged and messy…. but when your in the business of putting birds in your a-hole, it only gets messier.

Check out the original A-hole….

and check out the video from the first show…

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“The Villainous” – Life in the pen for those drawn by the pen.

skernick — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:39:15 +0000

What happens when all our favorite villains get locked up in a 1920′s penitentiary with an optional intramural football league? It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

I am going to hook up a limited run on some signed prints. Sign up for my newsletter to get the heads up when the drop.

I think I hit all of the coolest cartoon villains. You guys recognize them all? I intentionally left out Warner Bros. and Disney. I wanted to go a little more gritty with this lot plus I figured the major studios would have bailed out any of their characters if they ever got pinched anyway.

I am betting one of you will have me smacking my damn head about an obvious one I missed. That being said, I still want to hear what you think although I probably won’t actually smack myself.

A few detail shots:

[Show as slideshow]

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NC Jazz Born panels – Durham Performing Arts Center show

skernick — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:00:33 +0000

Matt Scofield, Victor Knight, Greg Davis and myself hooked up a show at the LabourLove gallery last year where we painted a set of panels in the gallery and pulled off a very cool show. We were approached by Kelly and John of LabourLove about showing the panels for a showing at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC). I love that building, inside and out. I was thrilled. So thrilled that I felt compelled to redo that panels completely. I was never really very happy with how my panels came out for the LabourLove show and rarely do you get an opportunity to pull off a “redo” in the art world.

The panels will hang in the windows so the back will face out towards the street. So, not only was I planning on repainting the original panels, I was going to hook up both sides. I decided to go with the big four of NC jazz musicians, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone and Max Roach. Carolina knows how to make em.

Wheatepaste, spraypaint, sweat, tears…..

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The homie Salinger

skernick — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:30:42 +0000

I was approached by the Chair of the Art Procurement committee for Appetite for Art which is an annual auction gala that will support arts programming for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County. She wanted to know if I had any artwork that I would be willing to donate for the event. After thinking and debating on what would do well, I figured “screw it, I’m doing something fresh”.

Growing up I was a huge fan of Catcher in the Rye. Like most kids, I connected on an intimate level with Holden. Really, that is the only book could read over and over. After hearing the news of Salingers’ passing I knew I had to do a tribute. This will be good.

I used the actual pages from Catcher in the Rye book as torn paper texture to create a slightly chaotic energy. I also wanted to express how deeply JD fell into the lonely, chaotic world of fame revolving around the success of this book. His words came to define him as much as his life spent as a recluse. When you think of Mr. Salinger, you think of his words and his difficulty separating his identity from the success of his storytelling. A broken man trying to hold it together in a chaotic world. Interesting guy, no question.

The gala is on April 10th, 2010. I will keep you guys posted as the event info rolls out.Hope to see you guys there.

*Thanks again Nene. Big things in 2010, right?

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THE TWENTY FIVE DOLLAR SHOW – photos and video

skernick — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:44:08 +0000

Hard to really know what to say about the show. A few things are certain.

1. It was raining like all hell.

2. It was ten time more crowded than I expected.

3. The show almost sold out.

4. Things got rough.

Anyways, all in all it was a success. I would like to say to the 20 or so people who bolted once the ‘rastle in the castle started, that was extremely uncommon. Ah well. Here goes….

footnote: ‘rastle in the castle phrase credited to Aneliese. I like that one.

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There’s a bird in my A-hole!

skernick — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:41:35 +0000

A few years ago I was walking through a parking lot in a strip mall. I looked up at the signage above one of the storefronts and noticed that a bird had nested in the recessed portion of a letter A. My pupils dialated, a smirk was crafted and an idea was born….. “There was a bird in that A-hole!”.

Years pass but that idea was such a little gem that I kept it on my low shelf. Easy to reach. Then one day I get an invitation to participate in a show at the Lodi Project that will showcase Raleigh artists, each creating one letter out of the alphabet. I raced to secure the A. I got it secured. The time has come…… my A-hole will see the light of day.

I decided to create a 3-dimensional representation. I figured an A that was slightly human with a stylized bird in a nest was the route. Some of you may know I have a strange repulsion to birds nests in general. I find them incredibly creepy and gross. They remind me of the inside of a bone or something. Plus, when you really look at a nest, it freaks me out to see what the hell these birds are up to with all this random refuse. Yea, I dont know. Anyway, I used this project to push my way through some of that fear. I got an old nest from one of the bird houses in the yard and used some of the actual nest to create the nest in the sculpture. It was a bit messy but I feel better about things now. Weirdo.

Since this sculpture hinges on a punchline I wanted to create something that would be funny but not overtly obvious. A slight puckering of the negative space should suffice. I initially had planned on having the A sit on a shelf but once I saw that everyone else had workd from a 12″ x 12″ base, I knew I had to quickly rethink things. With the help of some friends (Thanks Mike) I was able to pull together a new boxframe/shelf. I painted it at lunch and it was hung by evening.

The show is going to be first class. It is at the Lodi Project which is a beautifully cool gallery where I got a little preview and the work is awesome. 26 of the cream of the Raleigh litter killing these letters. Everyone looks like they showed up. The artists run down is as follows:

A. Sean Kernick -

B. Brianna Martinez -

C. Dan Nelson -

D. Marc Russo -

E. Keith Norval -

F. Lena Corter -

G. Rob Allen -

H. Joe DiGiulio -

I. Robert King -

J. Gavin Jones -

K. Victor Knight -

L. Madonna Phillips -

M. Emily Jesserer -

N. Bart Cusik -

O. Gabriella Corter -

P. Casey Porn -

Q. Matt Yow -

R. Matt Scofield -

S. Garrett Scales -

T. Geoff Helderman -

U. Antre Reid -

V. Domingo Vega -

W. Sarah Powers -

X. Lisa King -

Y. Sharon DiGiulio -

Z. Greg Davis

Rediculous right? And this is the show thats in the Orchestra area. The larger gallery will host a show primarily focused on the use of typography in a variety of mediums. It will be curated by Scott McClure who will also be taking part in an installation in the lobby gallery with horticultural stylist Erin Weston, and photographer Tim Lytvinenko.

Let’s do the damn thing.

Let the A-hole references unleash.

Makayla Rae turning 3! Happy Birthday Old Lady!

skernick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:37:15 +0000

My youngest critter is on the move and about to turn three already. She is daddy’s sweetheart no doubt. Love ya girl.

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Doodles 2.0 featuring “Mangina Breath Mints”

skernick — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:33:35 +0000

The company I work for has a big yearly company meeting that usually spans a few days. They are informative, sometimes engaging and tend to boost morale a bit. For me, it allows a full day of doodling and doodling. Now don;t get it confused, I have become quite skilled at absorbing information while I am drawing. I performed quite well through high school and college doodling profusely. When I work in the evenings I always have a movie on and can follow it all the way through without using my eyes (minus action flicks and foreign films).

ANYWAYS, it is also a time to just get loose. I was pleased with this years output. My favorite was a mixed media piece with a breath mint that was in a bowl on every table. I was certain when I first picked it up that the brand name was “Mangina”. I would change my name even if it was close to mangina, but that’s just me.

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Swoon Unit 10th Anniversary photos

skernick — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:16:57 +0000

The day went great. Congratulations to Swoon Unit. Let’s go another 10.

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Swoon Unit 10th Anniversary – Custom Linoleum

skernick — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:41:25 +0000

The legendary North Carolina based bboy crew, Swoon Unit, is celebrating their 10th anniversary. They have put together a multi-layered series of events that include an open mic MC battle, a NC graffiti Wall of Fame event and a large format Bboy battle. It will be taking place at the Boys & Girls Club in downtown Raleigh on Sept 26th from 12-5. I have created a custom painted piece of linoleum for the battles to take place on.

When we first came up with the idea I figured it would be no big deal. Grab a piece of linoleum from Home Depot, hang it up, paint it, curtains. Well, dreaming is believing. I went to Home Depot and told the guys what I wanted to do and they started laughing at me.

Home Depot Guy – “Boy, what did you drive here? I hope you brought an extended bed pick-up.”

Me – ” Um, well, I drove a Honda Accord……”

Home Depot Guy – “What the hell are you talking about boy?”

Needless to say, it didn’t matter what view this guy had on my ability to judge the scope of the projects I take on. The fact of the matter was that I had to leave that place with a 12′x12′ piece of linoleum and I had to paint it in 24 hours time.

First off, a roll like that weight a fucking ton. Second, watching me try and fold a roll like that in half is like watching me do a few sets on a thigh-master. Sure, I can do it, but I look like a total shithead in the process.

Once I got it home and quickly realized it was way way way to heavy to hang on anything. I had to unroll it on the steepest hill I had in my backyard which measured in at about a 5 degrees downward. A fucking molehill. See, a spraypaint can doesn’t spray unless it is upright. My only hope was to get it on an angle on the ground. By the time I get it moved, unrolled and set up I am sweating balls and it is late. I start to lay down my outlines. After a few minutes I decide to test the integrity of the paint and see how well it is adhering to the linoleum. With my barefoot I skuff gently at the paint…… the paint flakes right off of the thing. At this point I lay down on the plastic carpet that is sprawled across my lawn and decide that I will make this happen after I sleep and hopefully dream of a way out of this. I’ll return at sunrise.

I wake and I paint the entire piece. It comes out pretty good and I figure out a little bit of a trick to get spurts of paint to spray even when holding the can horizontal. It isnt the prettiest piece but it is also sopposed to be Old School Graf looking anyway. Fuck it. I figure I will coat the piece with some Mod Podge and pray that it will seal up the paint, allow me to roll it without cracking, and most importantly-allow for a series of bboys to go crazy on the thing without it ending up looking like Guernica. Now the rain starts…… A gift from the heavens stopped the drizzle for about an hour. The hour I needed to coat the thing and drag it into my living room. Once I got it inside all turned out well. The coating sealed up the paint. I tried scuffing it, all good. I sent Makayla running and dancing on it – all good. For good measure I sent my dog tearing ass over it a few times – all good. Yay.

As a celebration me and Makayla had a little breakdance session on it to christen it. I dont breakdance at all but apparently Makayla does. Who knew.

The event should be dope. Lets just hope I can tranport the thing with disaster. See you there.

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Sir Francis Drake – The Original Gangster

skernick — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:39:23 +0000

My final piece for the show is completed. I have been a bit obsessed with Victorian and Elizabethan era explorers and the culture and lifestyle that surrounded them. These guys were half cocked off their asses. The world was an unknown. There was no real policing of any exploratory activities. These mutherfuckers would roll through and wreck shit. Claiming whatever they found as their own. If someone else had what they wanted, they would try and exterminate them. They would steal all kinds of treasures and riches and haul them back to their spot in an old rickety ass ship. No weather technology existed so they would smash through all kinds of storms and sea treachery.

The motivations behind these guys also intrigues the hell out of me. This image is of Sir Francis Drake. This guy had balls of steel and persevered through blind ambition, a heartless soul, and a bounty of fortunate luck. Other guys would pursue these adventures in the name of vanity, greed, tomfoolery….. and each of them was a certified sociopath. Now that the years have passed we sing their praises and take national holidays in their honor…..but don;t get it twisted. These guys were without doubt the original-original gangsters.

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BOMBED: Panels, Pick and Kicks – Custom Shoes for Auction art show

skernick — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:07:48 +0000

Part of the BOMBED show will be a silent auction for these customized shoes that each of us hooked up. The auction will be benefiting the Helping Hands Missions Shoes 4 Souls campaign. We were initially expecting the shoes to be some sort of white sneaker but when I went to pick them up I was surprised to see sparkling white bridesmaid dress shoes. After a few minutes I decided that this was a better idea anyways. A lot of people have been customizing sneakers but I really haven;t seen too much of this at all. I settled on a black and white palette with an Alice in Wonderland theme. The black ink with diamond pattens retaining the sheen of the shoe made for a good look. I’m pretty happy with these.

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The LoDi project DIA DE LOS MUERTOS entry

skernick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:26:56 +0000

My main man Georges Le Chevallier and his wife Carrie are opening up a new gallery called the LoDi project. As part of their big opening they are hosting a juried show featuring work celebrating the Dia de los Muertos. Cool theme, cool people. I had to throw my hat in…. even though this really is probably the busiest month I have had ever. Anyways, I’m pretty happy with it. I’d like to explore these colorful skulls some more. There is something attractive about them.

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Buckley Crate

skernick — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:51:15 +0000

We all know that Buckleyboos can’t ride coach so a custom crate had to be built in order to ship the Buckleyboo family and its gear from tradeshow to tradeshow. On its first journey the shipping company lost this thing. How could you loose this thing?!? Anyways, it has been found and all is well in the world.

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MAKE IT RAIN! ummmm…ok.

skernick — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:44:50 +0000

I know I have been stressed out and under pressure but this is what I am putting out these days? There is an art show that is showcasing artwork themed on video games at DesignBox. The show is called 2Bit and open this Friday September 4th. Anyways, I was initially going to paint a fairly classic portrait of the original Atari 2600. Midway through I scrapped it and ran with a Ms. Pac-Man strip tease ripe with a drunk Mario, shitfaced ghost, pervy Q-Bert, horny Pac-Man and a retro strip-club catch phrase. MAKE IT RAIN! Ok playa.

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My Baby Loves Music…. growing up so fast

skernick — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:24:42 +0000

The first four installments of the “My Baby Loves” are finished up and will be hitting the stores soon. The first installment “My Baby Loves Michael Jackson” can bur purchased in cd form at Amazon by clicking here or you can preview and download mp3′s by clicking here (also through Amazon). Stay tuned for more installments and the launching of a website. My babies loved screaming throughout the night like a murderer was in the house but I’m doubting we can make a lullaby version of that.

Here are some pencils/colors shots. It’s cool to see the transition….

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De La Soul sketch

skernick — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:11:35 +0000

I have been a fan from go. They have yet to put out an album that isn’t solid. I dont like using the word “underrated” but these guys are among the best and most people don;t know it. Anyway. I hadn’t drawn them yet and I have been feeling a return of the letter form.

Mike Gee-Jungle Brothers, Plug One-De La Soul and Sean Kernick. Keep up people.

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“The Bug-Eyed Betties” and event photos.

skernick — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:25:21 +0000

I am going to be participating in an art-based fundraiser supporting Toxic Free NC. The event has two parts: a bug drawing competition on First Friday in August, as well as a month-long exhibit of mixed media art.

All proceeds from sales of the art will be going to support Toxic Free NC’s courageous work to fight pesticide pollution in North Carolina. More on that at www.toxicfreenc.org.

Should be a cool event. You know I am always game when there is competitive creativity in the mix.

——————–

It took me a little while to decide on what direction I should be headed in with this one. Once the brain-dust settled I figured I would stick to my recent musical-themed art and hook up a musical band of bugs.

Right away I got in touch with the Entomology Dept of the Smithsonian and asked about what bugs were capable of making decent music. I know that crickets can hold a rhythm and figured there had to be more. He gave me a few favorites of his but also directed me to a book called “The Songs of Insects” which not only detailed all of the music making malaria but also came with a cd that had samples of the sounds they made.

I went through the entire book and selected a few of my favorites, listened to the music they made, and from there I decided who would be playing what. After a few compositional sketches I made up my mind and hooked up the full sketch.

I left a space on the drums for the band name. What do you think of “The Buzz”? To obvious? I’ll work on it.

** The band name is “The Bug-Eyed Betties“. Money.

All Finished Up. I know this Step by Step was severely lacking in process and I appologize. Shit has been crazy and I have been trying to keep my head above water. Now that I am done I can comfortably say that this was another transition piece for me. I will be reworking the Tippy project using this process as well as any future (long form) illustration gigs.

I’m really looking forward to the event as well. Make sure to come by if you can. Check out the details for the show by clicking here.

The show:
The event was fun. I was curious to see how they would utilize a small area for such a big event and I was thoroughly impressed with how it all went down.

The amazing Onion-headed Paul Friedrich walked away with the honors. The guy was a machine. We put out 10 to my five…. and I thought 5 was a decent amount. Well, if they do this next year I have already adjusted my strategy and will bring it hard. Watch your back Paul. Hiiiya!

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My Baby Loves Michael Jackson

skernick — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:15:54 +0000

Well, not quite but the title is definitely an eyebrow raiser. The good folks over at Good Hands Records put me on task to do a series of album covers for a lullaby versions of some classic pop. Fun gig no doubt.

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The Love Bug flyer

skernick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:08:35 +0000

I just put together an 8.5 x 11 flyer to help promote the Love Bug event on the 7th of August. We were asked to sketch up a “bug version” of ourselves so I ran with it a bit. After I finished up I realized the irony of the aresol spray can on a flyer for an event intended to fight pesticide pollution in NC….. so yea. My painting for the show is in a bit of a holding pattern due to the workload that I am carrying but we will get there. Check out more information for the event by clicking here.

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» Fresh Paint

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