TROY GUA: MEGALOMANIAC

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2010-03-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hello. Nothing much to say. I'm just writing this to try to get into the habit of writing. Umm, working on multiple ideas and projects right now and just trying to stay organized...that's pretty much it. I'll try to be more entertaining next time. Carry on.

Pop Life

2010-02-22T07:28:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about the whole 'Pop Art' label my work's been pinned with. Although I don't mind it too terribly (I don't, however, exactly welcome any label), I kind of feel as though it's dismissive - I get the feeling that, in this town, it somehow connotes a lesser than valid art form to some people. Like the exploring, addressing and referencing of popular American culture is somehow not seen as worthy of serious contemplation here in the NW as it seems to be in other regions of the country, for some reason. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I was asked recently why my work is so 'Pop informed', and I took 'Pop informed' to mean influenced by popular culture, not influenced by the Pop Art movement. I was most likely incorrect in that assumption, but you know what happens when one assumes. Anyhoo, if there has been any Pop Art that has influenced my style, it's because that art has become part of mainstream popular culture and has therefore infiltrated my system - I did not seek it out to study and model my work after. I do invite the influences of our mass culture, the media, the advertising, the technology, the packaging, the entertainment, and the art. I'm inspired by all of it - but I did not set out to make art like anybody else or in a style so easily categorized. But if a label it must have, I'll take Pop.

If I sound contradictory and conflicted about this, you heard right.

Whew! Glad THAT's over!

2010-02-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

Last night was my first ever 'artist talk' at Fulcrum in Tacoma. I didn't piss myself and I didn't pass out, so I count that as a success. I think it went pretty well. I had hoped for a bigger turnout, but then again, no matter what the turnout, I'm sure I would've hoped for more. That's what I do. I am thankful to the friends that made it out to support me! Big love.

Although it was a small talk in a small space in a small town, I'm chalking it up to practice for the bigger future. Hell, it was great - I shouldn't complain! I really need to figure out a way to be satisfied with where I am NOW. To be happy with what I'm achieving, not just concerned with what I may achieve or haven't yet achieved. Or is that feeling of never being satisfied the thing that is going to get me further along? No doubt, but I wish there was a way to reconcile this somehow.

Ok, ok...fine.

2010-02-17T13:56:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a LONG time since my last post, and a lot has come to pass. I'm not going to go back and list the events and acheivements. I just really want to make a move to begin again, tentatively and a bit reluctantly, with the whole blogiverse thang.

I've been rebelling against blogging, because really, I don't see much of a point. Everybody and their dog has a blog, and I don't want to be everybody. The market is saturated. I've got plenty to do without writing about it too. What with the Facebook, the Flickr, the Twitter, the this and the that, it just seems like overkill.

Having said that, a good friend has been lightly harping on me about its worth lately, and I, as you see, have succumbed to her way of thinking. It's true, the blog is a place where you can speak relatively freely (bound only by one's own fear of the unseen and possibly non-existent audience) about your work, thoughts, feelings, etc.

Well, I've been rebelling. Just as I've been rebelling against learning art history. Which just sounds ridiculous - to rebel against learning. But I've bent towards her way of thinking as well. I've been thinking about this rigidity I seem to have, and how I need to bend with the wind so as not to break. This doesn't need to mean jumping on the band wagon, which I have a feeling is what my subconscious has been thinking this would be. I'm self-taught, or sef-developed, self-actualized, and I've always had this "I can do it myself, thanks" attitude that has been a barrier, I'm beginning to see.

So, here I am. I'm blogging, I'm reading some loaned art history books. I'm bending.

I've got some projects on the horizon. Fun ones, hopefully big ones. More on that later. For now, I'm happy to have rejoined the blogosphere (I know that's what it's called - I was just rebelling in the first paragraph;)).

Coo Coo for CoCA Puffs: Troy Gua exhibition “Do You See Me?”

2009-07-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Coo Coo for CoCA Puffs: Troy Gua exhibition “Do You See Me?”

The Boy King of Pop 2.0

2009-07-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yippee!

2009-05-07T09:38:00.001-07:00

Been pretty busy getting things ready for the upcoming Vermillion show in July called 'do you see me?' and painting new hybrids for SAM Gallery. The Seattle Erotic Art Festival was a success: sold The Pleasure's All Mine as well as two limited editions of it. Yippee! Mr. Joey Veltkamp also sold his delicious piece to the same gentleman patron. Yippee! Also, made some great contacts with some local artists that I really admire and respect. Possible collaborations on the horizon. Yippee! Got invited to donate a painting to this year's PONCHO Invitational Fine Art Auction. Yippee! Going to Hawaii next Friday. YIPPEE!!

Here's a mock-up of the 'do you see me?' show postcard:

This n' that

2009-04-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, just finished a new piece called The Martin Luther King of Rock n' Roll. I'll be bringing to SAM Gallery along with a selection of limited editions on Tuesday. Director Barbara Shaiman has been absolutely wonderful regarding my work and has requested I keep making new Pop Hybrids in a 36" format for the gallery. I'm more than happy to oblige. She's also asked me to show at the Alexis Hotel this December. That's quite an honor. Gotta come up with some new ones. I've got one ready to start. Stay tuned.

Next weekend is the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. Can't wait to unveil my pieces! Just finished up with Sharon Arnold's interview for her blog Dimensions Variable. She rules. Stay tuned for a link.

Over and out.

It's business, not personal.

2009-04-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Busy. Business. Gettin' bizzy. Things have been sorta hectic. In a good way. I can't believe it still, but I'm continuing to sell like hotcakes at SAM Gallery. Three times now I've been asked to re-stock my work there, only to have it sold or rented before it can be hung on the wall. Wow. My whining is over - I'm validated!

I was featured on an episode of Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on the Seattle Channel last week, which I thought was really sweet and pretty cool. Check it out: here.

In between running around, I'm trying to re-finish my big SEAF piece. The first version's coating did not please me, so I'm doing it again, this time on MDF. Should be pretty beefy and impresive looking.

Later!

Look Ma, I'm on TV!

2009-03-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be featured at the opening of an episode of Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on the Seattle Channel. Ok, so it ain't 20/20 but what the hell? As far as I know, Nancy's gonna introduce me and my work (I won't actually be there) and have The Davids sitting behind her. I think that's pretty sweet. Don't know when it airs just yet, stay tuned!

Also, in this economic climate (I hate that phrase), I am lucky enough to have been asked to bring in more art to replace the pieces that sold at SAM Gallery. Woohoo! I just received an email from the gallery stating that there has been job cuts, hours slashed, and that certain artists pick up their extra inventory and that they won't be accepting any new work unrelated to specific shows, so I feel very fortunate indeed. Take that, economic climate!

Over and out...4 now ;)

Holy Sheep @#$%!!! I sold out at SAM Gallery! (Finally!)

2009-03-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

I found out Friday, that staggered throughout the day, all six of my pieces included in the Introductions 2009 show at the SAM Sales and Rental Gallery were either sold or rented (4 sold, 2 rented, if you're counting)! I'm calling that a sell-out!

Earlier in the week I had been complaining to my fellow artist, artscene mentor, and great friend Joey Veltkamp that it seems that my art has an aversion to red dots (SOLD stickers). His reply was "Sheesh dude -- didn't you already sell 2 paintings this week alone? I don't think some artists sell that much in a year." That put a little perspective on it, but...

I WANT TO SELL MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF ART WORLDWIDE AND BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THIS UNIVERSE AND THE NEXT!!! Is that really so much to ask? I've been working my arse off as my incredible best friend and wife works her arse off so that I can work my arse off so that she can quit working her arse off! Yes, art for art's sake and all that, but I'm sad to report that money does indeed make the world (at least the one I live in) go 'round. I can't keep making this stuff if no one ever freaking buys it...

Well, sonofabitch if it didn't finally bust open! 12 pieces sold so far this year, so I'm pretty stoked. Satisfied for now, but now doesn't last very long.

I wish my folks were around to see this!

Like some cheese with that whine?

2009-03-18T17:06:00.001-07:00

Not much going on this week. Last week was hectic and stressful for me. As much as I want validation, acknowledgement and massive success, the schmoozing part always drains me. Three shows last week, lots of schmoozing. Made some new artist friendships that I hope to nurture. They seem like great people, and are great artists.

I got accepted into another edition of Studio Visit Magazine, which is pretty cool.

Made a few small sales, crossing fingers for some biggies!

Working on A LOT of stuff for this July's Vermillion show - can't wait!

Love, peace, and chicken grease...

A couple o' Chucks to choke on:

2009-03-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

"The truth is you can be orphaned again and again and again.
The truth is you will be.
And the secret is, this will hurt less and less each time until you can't feel a thing."

-Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor

"No matter how careful you are, there's going to be the sense you missed something, the collapsed feeling under your skin that you didn't experience it all. There's that fallen heart feeling that you rushed right through the moments where you should've been paying attention.
Well, get used to that feeling. That's how your whole life will feel some day."

-Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

Seattle Erotic Art Festival!

2009-03-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Hey, looks like I'll be in the Seattle Erotic Art Festival this year! I love Facebook - Sharon Arnold (artist extraordinaire and this year's SEAF guest curator) and I both commented on a mutual friend's posting. Her avatar intrigued me, I checked her out, discovered and loved her art, so I 'friended' her. She responded with some very complimentary words and an invite to show at the festival! Thanks Sharon!

As well as my pal Joey Veltkamp, I'll be in the show with a list of local luminaries including Miriam Berger, Chris Crites, Gretchen Bennett, Jessica Dodge, Rachel Budde, Ken Weaver, Ellen Forney, Wendy Small, Jennifer McNeely, Diem Chau, Jennifer Zwick, Rich Lehl, Laura Castellanos, Kimberly Trowbridge, Nola Avienne, Tim Marsden, Daniel Carrillo, Emily Pothast, Ryan Molenkamp. Thanks to Joey for the list!

I'll be doing a piece specifically for the festival - I may post it as the festival nears...stay tuned, it's gonna be a goodie!

NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 12th: SAM Gallery, ArtsWest, and Vermillion! Three shows, one night - whew!

"Life as an artist, more dips and turns than a rolley-coasta!"

2009-02-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

That's what my beautiful wife Catherine said when I forwarded the two emails I got in the same batch yesterday. One was from a prominent figure in the New York fashion world who had seen my work on juxtapoz.com. He had contacted me a couple of weeks ago, and was seemingly interested in a couple of pieces, but wrote to say that because of the lousy economy he needed to stay frugal for now. Boohoo, oh well. The second was from a board member for the Northwind Arts Alliance in Port Townsend proposing a solo show for their 2010 season. Very nice! Some ups, some downs, some dips, some turns - always an interesting ride (I do prefer the ups;)).

VERMILLION in JULY

2009-02-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

This just in: "Do u c Me?", all new work by yours truly this July. Stay tuned for details!

ALSO: a selection of Pop Hybrids on view at Vermillion in March.

Peep Culture

2009-02-12T08:53:00.001-08:00

I just read an article in the February issue of Playboy by Hal Niedzviecki, which I believe is an excerpt from his book Peep Culture. Here's a synopsis from Amazon:

"We have entered the age of "peep culture": a tell-all, show-all, know-all digital phenomenon that is dramatically altering notions of privacy, individuality, security, and even humanity. Peep culture is reality TV, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, over-the-counter spy gear, blogs, chat rooms, amateur porn, surveillance technology, Dr. Phil , Borat , cell phone photos of your drunk friend making out with her ex-boyfriend, and more. In the age of peep, core values and rights we once took for granted are rapidly being renegotiated, often without our even noticing."

I'm totally fascinated by this phenomenon and am planning on doing some work directly related to this subject. It may manifest itself in a show this summer, stay tuned...

Also, coming up in 1 month: simultaneous shows with completely different work at SAM Sales and Rental Gallery, and ArtsWest.

Lucky Beard

2009-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

There's not a whole lot happening right now - just trying to finish a painting I've been totally stalling on while manicly trying to come up with my next new concept. The Pop Hybrids have gotten me some attention, so I need to do some more, but I'm itching for something new. I think I've got something - more later...

January is almost over, and it's been pretty, pretty good:

City Arts Seattle, January: "Curator's Eye" by Greg Lundgren
Seattle P.I., "What's Happening", January 2nd: Visual Art "Best Bet" by Regina Hackett
Seattle Weekly, "Weekly Wire", January 7th: "Two Faced" by Erika Hobart
Juxtapoz Magazine, January 30: "Reader Art"

Plus, a good show at Suite 100 Gallery, AND got accepted into the Seattle Art Museum Gallery (show in March!), so that's pretty exciting.

I'm blaming my good fortune on this: I don't really believe in luck, but ever since the beard showed up, things have been on the upstroke. Who knew?!

Next weekend:

CVG Show in Bremerton, juror Gary Faigin of Gage Academy
Pop Hybrids move to Cupcake Royale in Ballard for February

ALSO, February 5th at Fancy: Joey Veltkamp and Gretchen Bennett!!

"Here I am you lucky people"

2009-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

That's a quote from my dear old departed dad. I thought I'd borrow it, I don't think he'd mind.

So, I'm officially a blogger now. I resisted as long as I could, but here I am. I have no idea if anyone will even read this other than myself and my beautiful wife, Catherine (who happens to be the most supportive, incredible woman to walk the Earth), but that's ok, I guess. But not really.

Like the title suggests, it's all about me. I'm an ambitious emerging artist who has a deep desire to be known by a great number of people. This is complicated by the fact that I am a home-body. I love the couch and my TV. There, I said it. But I must "make it" in the art world, so I am working on changing my ways and getting out there as much as possible. Everyone's idea of "making it" is different, and mine is pretty expansive. I wanna be on magazine covers, I want prints of my work selling in malls, I wanna be famous. Period. I am not ashamed to say so.

This blog will contain information on my journey and any achievements I may reach along the way. I'll be posting new work as well as old work, and trying my damndest to get it seen. I may, now and then, throw in an opinion about a movie I've seen, a meal I've had, or an occasional post about friends and fellow artists, but for the most part, it's me, me, and more me.

If you're out there and reading this, I hope you find some sort of redeeming value in it: a smirk, a sneer, a giggle, a growl. So, here I am you lucky people! Enjoy!

Oh yeah, TROYGUA.COM!