(EMPIRE, acrylic on canvas, 36" by 36", $450)

I currently have a show up at the Cafe Verite/Cupcake Royale in Ballard, WA. I have been working hard over the last 6 weeks… putting in some substantial time to make some good studio work. Most of what I create is in front of an audience and takes about an hour… that’s what I’m remembered for. But what I think artists are known for is their studio pieces, their portfolio.  So it’s important for me to take some time out every year to work on a series of paintings based on whatever I’m thinking about.  That’s what this show is.

Above is EMPIRE. This was the most recently finished painting I have done.  I needed to something funny as I was creating some heavy work and this is what came up.  Even though it’s to get a laugh, I do think it has some interesting comments on using power and military force to make people adhere to a set of beliefs.  If you put in a stormtrooper to a normal saint painting, it becomes funny, yes, but it can also stir thoughts about what are the belief agendas we promote through military pressure… even if it is in the name of God.  Remember, don’t think too much about it.  It’s supposed to be fun.

(FORGIVE THY BROTHER, acrylic on canvas, 48"x48", $675)

These next four paintings are based off  thoughts, experiences, or events that pertain to humanity’s interaction with God.

Forgive Thy Brother is about just that…. forgiveness.  Jesus says that we are to forgive or neighbor/brother just as our Heavenly Father forgives us… and if we cannot do that that He is reluctant to forgive us.  How do we do this when we can be so tragically hurt by someone else?  And it seems that the way to reconciliation with God is through reconciliation with each other.  Why is this?  Why is God so interested in us learning to forgive one another? Why can’t our hurts and grudges be justified in His eyes?  This was a very heavy painting to live with…..

(CONVERSATIONS, acrylic on canvas, 48"x48", $675)

CONVERSATIONS comes from my experiences being a surfer up here in the northwest.  The coast is a magical place and there is something about leaving the city, being out on the water that lends to it feeling holy.  Except for the dickheads who yell at you for being to close to them in the line-up. (apparently 4 people in the water is too much.) I feel like I’ve learned a lot about God from the ocean.  One is the ocean demands my respect.  It’s big. Beautiful. It has it’s own rhythm and character. Entering into that can be some of the most joyous experiences imaginable.  But the ocean can kill me, and I must play on it’s terms.  

(THE DEALING WITH DEAD FAITH, acrylic on canvas, 48"x48", $675)

This painting came out of a few conversations I’ve had with friends who used to have beliefs in a certain faith, but then, mostly after they graduated college, no longer believed in what they had.  Why is this?  I have my own thoughts about this and I would gladly share them with you if you like. But this painting is more about that place of coming to that understanding.  To holding the “spirit” of your belief and realizing that it’s dead.  

(THE HEAVENS AND ME, acrylic on canvas, 36"x36", $450)

This painting has a lot in it. From memories of living in Minnesota watching the geese migrate to what is that distant between the earth and the sky and where is God in all that.  Do what you will with it.

(KINGDOM COME, acrylic on canvas, 20"x30", $350)

This image has come up in some way shape or form a few times and I think it’s very strong.  So I decided to make a more iconic version of it using gold in the painting and aging it to look like an old relic of cultures past.

(YOU ARE STILL BEAUTIFUL, acrylic on wood, 36"x48", $650)

YOU ARE STILL BEAUTIFUL and FOR THE RAPED IN CONGO are both responses to a 60 minutes article I saw about the unprecedented amount of rapes that are occurring in Congo.  Rapes from 3 year olds to 80 year olds… it’s happening all the time and starting to become a normal experience in this conflict ridden society.  It’s a completely overwhelming tragedy and I’m glad for the 60 minutes article…. but what do I do with that? I have no army. I”m not a superhero. I don’t have billions.  I feel helpless to do anything about it.  And in fact, I probably can’t.  But I can paint… and I can grieve. So that’s what I did in these paintings. The woman above was raped and brutally traumatized.  The girl below is ten yrs old and was raped twice.  Both were victims of horrible events. Both had something taken away.  I wanted to let them know they are beautiful…. and what they have can never be taken away.  I wanted to give them the beauty they deserve.  I used Gustave Klimt as my muse for these two paintings.

(FOR THE RAPED IN CONGO, acrylic on wood, 36"x48", $650)

and last but not least….

(SEATTLE SKYLINE BLUE, acrylic on wood, 36"x48", $750)

For all you looking for the perfect addition to your living room collection…. here it is! This is a painting of the Seattle skyline from West Seattle.

So stop on by the Ballard Cafe Verite sometime during the month of July and see what it looks like in person.  In fact, on Saturday, June 13th, I’ll be hanging around the shop during the Ballard ArtWalk to shake hands, answer questions, and mostly look out of place if you want to make an event of it.

And… if you are interested in purchasing any of these paintings, feel free to email me at transpireproject@gmail.com.

Cheers

SCOTT ERICKSON

I recently participated in WorldVision’s Acting On Aids Summit On The Hill and Sojourners Mobilization to End Poverty Conference out in Washington DC.  Both events were designed to ramp up people’s involvement with advocacy for the poor and to actually go meet with their states representatives to lobby for initiatives that benefit the poor nationally and worldwide. 

With Acting On Aids, I painted alongside fantastic Josh Garrels during an evening concert, painted with Scott Bessenecker from Intervarsity as he shared his thoughts on advocacy, and hosted a seminar with Josh about being a creative advocate.  This event was focused on college students from around the nation.

My involvement with Sojourners was a bit different. Their conference was a large event at the Washington Convention center and involved a lot of big named people from around the nation.  My part was small as Caitlin Beidler and I painted during the worship response time.  Not that I wasn’t thankful to be there.  It was a great pleasure to work alongside Martin Smith from Delirious and Vicky Beeching as they led in music.  Basically, good times all around.

Want I really want to write about was an interesting conversation that I had with Aaron Graham (one of the greatest people in the world) from Sojourners.  I’ve been thinking about this conversation and I would love some in put from you if you have any thoughts.

During my time in DC, I wandered down to the national portrait gallery and saw some amazing work. Currently they have a folk art exhibit that was very powerful in it’s portrayal of racism, sexism, and many other realities that we face in this country.  It got me thinking about the power of art and it’s role in society.  Along with that experience, someone shared with me this quote that I can’t remember word for word. But it’s by Daniel Berrigan and it’s along the lines of “if a movement isn’t creating/producing art, it’s not really a movement.”

So I’m talking to Aaron the last night of the conference and I share with them this quote and this thought: If this quote is true, and a group like Sojourners is doing a great work on poverty issues… trying to motivate the Church into action on such subjects, then how does and artist like me help with that? And how does a large organization like Sojourners utilize artists in their work?

Aaron had a great twofold response. One is that for most large organizations, the way in which they really only utilize artists is along the lines of branding and design.  This is a really good point, and I think a legitimate way that art can be a powerful communicator through things like film and design.  But as for artists like me and others, his second response is he doesn’t know. 

And I don’t know either.

Film and design are huge influencers in our society today, so maybe that’s all that large non-profits really need.  A lot of visual 2-d art like painting really just comes from the inspiration and particular desire of the individual artist.  There are paintings that we could probably just pick out that have to do with poverty issues that they could use to represent the work of a non-profit.  But it seems that great work really just comes from the artist wrestling with an issue and then trying to manifest that struggle. 

I guess large organizations could commission artists to do work, host art shows, stuff like that.  I’m sure there would be some push back from supporters wondering why they would waste money on art instead of directly putting it into the field.  Point taken.  I would push back and say a great part of the work of the NGO is to tell the story of why they are doing what they are doing and to touch the hearts of those who would support their work.  Artists are storytellers.  So they are utilizing the power of art storytelling. 

So that’s one idea. Anybody got any other ideas?

Questions I’m thinking about:

What does art from a movement look like?

How and why was it created?

Who made the work?

Who are our movement artists today?

A FEW THINGS…..

1. Thanks to Holly Strand (www.beautifulendings.com) for most of these great photos over the weekend in DC.

2. A film crew from WorldVision was at the conference and took me aside and did a little interview about being a creative advocate. Here it is….

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 1-31 | Art Show | Ballard Cafe Verite

I’ve been working for a couple months on new paintings. I will be showing at Cafe Verite for the month of June, most likely having an artist reception on the second saturday of June, during the Ballard ArtWalk

ROUND 50 | JULY 7 | THE TRIPLE DOOR, SEATTLE

Wow.  Round 50.  It’s been a long haul and the Round keeps getting better and better.  To celebrate, we are taking it out of the Fremont Abbey and going to Seattles swanky Triple Door. Here’s the line up:

Music: Damien jurado, Jesse Sykes, Seattle Rock Orchestra, and special guest

Painters: Glen Case (does the Easy Street Records murals, me, and one other painter

Poets: Buddy wakefield and Youth Speaks poet

Tickets $12 adv/$15 day. Click Here.

Cheers Ya’ll

Scott

Busyness.

Sometimes everything just comes together at once…. and April has been that month for me. Above is a photo from a show I did with the Classic Crime at the Showbox at the Market.  Really cool guys… and a super fun show.  Mostly I paint with really mello bands.  But being on stage shaking it while the rest of the guys head bang and jump around was a great time.  Admittingly… I felt a little old.  But I’m fighting that disposition, so don’t worry about me.

Earlier this month I was down at the Grove Church in Chandler, AZ working with them for several days.  They put on a 3 day conference talking about how we can look to Jesus for spiritual development as individuals and a community, and I created two paintings per day while Joel Stohl spoke.  Then I stayed for Sunday morning painting during three services…. and then finished off the weekend by doing a commission painting at someones house on Sunday evening.  10 paintings in 4 days.  Needless to say I was a bit exhausted when I came home. Here are some pics from that time (all of these were created within an hour)….

(painting on the back porch of my friends house... with help from their kids!)

In the midst of all this, I’m also working on some studio work that will be shown in Ballard in June.  Here is a piece that is still in process for that show….

(acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48")

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 14 | ROUND 47

Tonight! I’m painting at the Round tonight with awesome musicians and some great poets. 

VANCOUVER PROJECT IN GREENWOOD

The Vancouver Project is at the Green Bean Coffee House for this month.  If you haven’t seen it, stop by for a cup of joe and enlightenment.

APRIL 25-28 | MOBILIZATION TO END POVERTY | WASH D.C.

I will be participating with Acting On Aids’ Summit On The Hill and Sojourner’s Mobilization To End Poverty.   I will be painting at various events and will be hosting a seminar on how utilize creative arts in the way of advocacy.

JUNE | CAFE VERITE BALLARD | ART SHOW

New work for a great venue.  Art opening to come….

For more info, pics, and other calendar events, you can go to www.thetranspireproject.com.

And I’m now on Twitter. If you want to get updates about my exciting life (whatever) you can add me at www.twitter.com/scottthepainter.

Word up.  Keep it really real.

scott

( I Will Be The Glory In Her Midst, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

I was asked to participate in an art show in December of 09.  The theme of this show was to be around spiritual art.  Most art in my opinion is spiritual in nature.  Not that it has anything to say mind you… and not that it’s not crappy either.  But to create is to participate in a Divine activity.  yadda yadda yadda….

The show was cancelled unfortunately and rescheduled for February.  The show was nothing much to talk about… mostly a “growing as a human being” experience…. but I did work hard on these four images and I thought I’d share them with you.

(I Go To Prepare A Place For You, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

My theme is based out of the meta-narrative in the Bible that God’s overall intention is to dwell with human beings on this earth.  It’s not about “going to heaven” and trashing and ditching this place and people in the process, but that His intention is TOGETHERNESS here.  This world. These people.

These four images represent specific passages that talk about this.  If you want to read more about the background of these images, I expounded on my thoughts in my blog -  click here.

(The Word Dwelt Among Us, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)


(Home In Its Branches, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

Keep it real homies.

Scott

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 70 minutes @ Portland youth conference)

I’ve been traveling a lot these past two months doing a number of different things… from painting at a marathon in Carlsbad, CA to riding in a van with the Robbie Seay Band during an ice storm in north Texas.  Although at times my job can be frustrating for the uncertainty of constant paychecks, it certainly keeps me on my toes for providing an adventurous journey.  And for that I am thankful.

I was recently in Portland, Oregon for a youth conference where I was working with my friend Logan Martin and the good people in his band. This whole group is a delight to work with… and when you have down time in a different town, it’s nice to have good friends to spend your free time with.  One night we were at BJ’s restaurant, I was talking to my friend Brian who plays the rhodes in the band.  We were talking about a range of things… usually our favorite thing is new bands we are listening to… but Brian brought up the paintings I was making at the event (shown above and below). He dabbles in paint and he was going on about how much he loved watching me work.  Now painting is just old hat to me because I do it all the time. I see a talented guy like Brian who plays the keys amazingly and I think “sheesh, wish I could do that.”  What I’m trying to say is that we have a mutual admiration for one anothers talents.  He then was saying what he likes the most is that not only did he think my images were great and meaningful, but he loved that I was making them in front of 800 high schoolers. 

“Your art actually changes peoples lives.”

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 65 minutes)

Now please understand that I think that what I do is good for the context in which I do it.  But every artist has this voice in their head that tells them to “stop wasting your time and get a real job” and says “everyone is better than you”.  So I want to assure you that in no way do I think I’m some superior artist. But Brian’s words rang in my ears all night and throughout the weekend.

As I talked with students and encouraged those who are artists to make good art in their lifetimes, I  heard from them that they appreciated what I was doing and they appreciated me being there and giving value to their giftings.  Even the leader of the event told me that I had a part in the impact that the whole event was having on the students.  As I’ve been home (sick in bed) the last few days thinking about it, I have a huge sense of gratefulness in me.  I’m grateful that all this hard work over that last 5 years is paying off.  I’m grateful that my prayers have been answered in the way of wanting to be an artist but wanting to also to make work that in meaningful in the lives of others.  I’m grateful that allowing others to see the process of making art isn’t just some “neat” performance, but in some way it is connecting with people in a deep way.  

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 70 minutes)

Maybe you could care less about this and sorry for possibly being too self reflective in this post.  But I think all of us have a deep desire to know that we are not wasting our lives with the hard work we are doing.  In a field that has little to no monetary appreciation put on it, it’s a very hard journey to keep carving out time and sacrificing parts of my life to make sure that I keep making a space to create.  I’ve become convinced that this is what I will ultimately spend my life doing… no matter what.  And that’s a bit scary now at 31 seeing that my ladder to climb is something that I will have to create.  There are no outside structures providing a road map to success… or assisting me in that journey. But Brian’s words were an unbelievable booster for me to know that all this “un-knownness” is worth it. It’s doing something. It’s fulfilling something. It’s fulfilling.

So thanks Brian.  

(interactive response mural at conference)

UPCOMING EVENT

February 20 | Art Show | Seattle

I will be showing at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center through the Art on the Ridge program.  The theme is: “Think, Grow, Be…”  and I will be showing with other local artists. I will have all new work up and  it should be a cool event (no promises). Maybe see you there.

6532 Phinney Ave N. Seattle

Phinney Neighborhood Association Rm #3

5-9pm

SIDE NOTE

Most of you know this and have probably already seen this but I was on the Price Is Right game show ten years ago and I finally put it up on line.  You can click here to watch it.

Until the next time… make space for art.

scott

("For The Raped In Congo", 48"x36", Acrylic on Panel)

I don’t know if you have been listening to the world news very much lately, but there are horrible horrible things happening in Congo.  There has been a war going on for years, and more people have died in that war than the number of people who have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq put together.  Crazy, huh?  But we don’t hear much about it.  Recently I was looking for something interesting to watch online and I came across a 60 Minute article on rape in Congo.  Rape is an awful tragedy in war.  But in the Congo, it has escalated to a level that is horrify.  It is being used as a weapon, and no one is spared. As old as 80… as young as 2.  Horrible horrible things.  Anyway… I encourage you to watch the episode so you can see for yourself what is going on there.

What’s hard about watching this stuff is that I can’t do anything about it.  It’s tempting not to want to know about these kinds of things because you feel helpless not being able to solve it. But in my own faith, I know that God knows these things, and I think He wants us to know what He knows.  But what can I do? 

I was listening to my ipod the other day… my Mello mix… and a Rosie Thomas song came on from her latest album (”These Friends of Mine”).  In one of her songs, she was talking about feeling such pain over some news… and she didn’t know what to do or how to help. But she’s a musician…. so she wrote a song about it.  That’s what she can do.  

I sometimes wish I was a politician, a millionaire, a lawyer, or a superhero.  Then I feel like I could do something to change the world.  But I’m not any of those things.  But what I am is a creator.  So this is what I have. This is what I do…. I create out of the news of the raped women in Congo.  I lament over the issue and work on a whole painting all week cause I don’t know how else to help.  

This painting above is my lament over the hardship the women of Congo are going through.  I pray for relief soon.

————————————————————-

This painting and a few others that I have created lately are hanging at the Cafe Verite/Cupcake Royale in West Seattle.  The show will be up til the end of February.

"Wisdom" 30"x24" acrylic on wood

"Alki View" 30"x24" acrylic on wood

UPCOMING EVENTS

January-February | Regent College, Vancouver B.C.

January 23 | Party With a Purpose | Carlsbad, CA

An event highlighting all the sponsors and charities during the Carlsbad marathon.  I will be painting at the event and the part of the proceeds will go to  Heart For Africa.

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, Sunset Ballroom, 6:30-9pm

January 25 | Carlsbad Marathon

I will be painting at the marathon as a fund-raiser for Heart For Africa.

February 5 | Art Opening | Seattle

I will be showing work with my friends Matt Whitney and Jeremy Mangan on the 3rd floor of the 619 Western building in downtown Seattle. Drinks. Music. Peeps. Art.  Good times.  6-930pm

February 20 | Art Show | Seattle

I will be showing at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center through the Art on the Ridge program.  Theme: “Think, Grow, Be…”

6532 Phinney Ave N. Seattle

Phinney Neighborhood Association Rm #3

5-9pm

April 25-29 | Washington D.C.

I will be participating with Acting On Aids’ Summit On The Hill and Sojourner’s Mobilization To End Poverty.  More info to come…..

June 1-31 | Art Show | Ballard Cafe Verite

Make space for art.

Scott

www.thetranspireproject.com

Last month, I got the great privilege to paint at the New Horizons Benefit Dessert to help raise money for this great cause.  Above is the piece that I created depicting the great work this homeless teen ministry does in Seattle. The painting symbolizes something beautiful and strong that can grow out of community, hope, and love.  That’s what New Horizons does for these kids who find themselves lost on the streets of Seattle. 

 Instead of selling this piece at the event, New Horizons has decided to have an online auction to sell this piece. The online auction will began on Sunday the 4th, and is ending on Sunday, January 11th at 8pm.  In order to bid on the painting, you must have an eBay account.  It is a simple process to register for an account if you do not already have one. To find the painting on eBay, please follow the link below and search:

Item number 270323622451 

30″ x 20″, acrylic on canvas

100% of the proceeds will be donated to the work of New Horizons Ministries

Please contact Carina Schubert at carinas@nhmin.org or 206-374-0866 if you have any questions.

New Video

If you haven’t already seen this, I compiled footage from my involvement with Youth Specialties’ National Youth Workers Conference and put it in this little video.  Enjoy…

Upcoming Concert

I will be painting throughout the sets of Hoquiam, Husbands Love Your Wives, and Grand Hallway at the Q Cafe on Friday, January 16th.  All the work I make is for sale… so if you’ve been wanting some work from me… this is the best time to get it!

Happy 2009 everyone!  My resolution is to do the things that I know I’m supposed to do.

Cheers….. Scott

(painting at SPU's World Aids Day Coffee House Concert)

So my last email told you all to come to my art show that was happening on December 19th, this Friday.  Well… I just wanted to let you know that it’s not happening.  The curator for the show apparently got into and accident and is not able to host the show this month.  Good news is she’ll be okay. Bad news… no art party.

Just wanted to let you know since I know some of you were planning on coming. 

(painting from the Holiday Round)

With that said…. I hope you have a Merry Christmas…. and a very happy new year!

Scott

www.thetranspireproject.com

It’s December already.  Sheesh.  Where has the year gone?  I feel like that is something that I will always say as life and work continue to flourish and grow.  Maybe if I’m stranded on an island for a couple years would I think that time went slowly. But since that is highly unlikely, I guess I’ll be like everyone else and wonder at the quickness of time.

October and November were busy because of the National Youth Worker Conferences that I was the artist in residence at.  I was there creating at all the general sessions, making work based upon the words of the specific speaker that day and the general feel of the event.  I was also creating and hosting a creative space called the ArtDen, which allowed participants to have a space to think and create in. There were three conferences this fall in Sacramento, Pittsburgh, and Nashville, and I was able to paint in front of about 10,000 people total.

I was busy non stop during these events…. needing a few days of being a couch zombie afterwards to get back on my feet… but I had the best time and truly felt blessed to be a part of the whole thing. Here are some pics below from Rob Watson who runs Still Life Photography….

(with speaker Andrew Marin of the Marin Foundation)

(speaker Shane Caliborne)

(musician Lincoln Brewster)

to see more pictures, click here

Upcoming Events

So that was all good and fun… but back to being an artist who lives in my favorite city… Seattle!

HOLIDAY ROUND | DEC 12

FREMONT ABBEY ARTS CENTER | 8pm | $8-$12*

* proceeds go to Fremont Abbey Youth Programs

It’s that time of year again where the best of the Round concert series come together and bring some artsy yule tide cheer. There will be awesome musicians singing your favorite Christmas songs, poets spittin’ peppermint delights, and Skye Graves and I as always will make something killer.   Hope to see you there!

ART SHOW | FRIDAY, DEC 19 | 5-9pm

Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association Rm #3

6532 Phinney Ave N. Seattle WA 98103

For the month of December, the Art on the Ridge group is hosting a spiritual art and forum. In a round about way they contacted me and asked me to participate… and I am.  I will be showing with two other artists and I will displaying some new work based on spiritual themes.  Art Shows are always big sexy parties… so put on your snazy wear, eat some apps, drink some cheap wine, and let’s talk about art! Possible after party to follow…..

As always, you can always see what’s going on by going to my website www.thetranspireproject.com.

Have a great holiday season.  I love the lights! We should keep them up all winter.

Merry Christmas!

Scott

I had the great pleasure of painting at the New Horizons Dessert Auction a week ago.  New Horizons is a fantastic ministry that takes care of the growing population of homeless teens in downtown Seattle.  There was about 800 in attendance at the dessert, and I created this painting above which will be auctioned later on.  If you don’t know much about New Horizons, you should really check them out (website).

For my second painting…. it’s something that I just made for Holly and I’s new condo.  We are trying to get art and make art to fill up all the walls.  This is my first contribution to the living room.  I like it a lot.

I have some art hangings coming up in December that I’ll let you know about.  But until then…. cheers.

Make space for art.

Scott