This picture above pretty much sums up why I love summer. The contents of this picture were thought up a while ago maybe on a cold spring day (maybe that’s just my memory making it seem more perfect then it was).

Happy Summer, be safe!

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CONTRIBUTOR : )
BRAD BLONDES

here’s a look at some of his work…



YEARS
ARCHIVAL INKJET PRINT
30″x40″
2010



MONTH
ARCHIVAL INKJET PRINT
30″x40″
2010

A few of us at Be Nice Art Friends made our way out to brooklyn tuesday night to see Chad Vangaalen, one of our favorite musicians and artists. His latest release on Sub Pop titled Diaper Island has been running on rotation for about a month now and is definitely a must listen. Check him out performing “Sara” captured here on the iPhone.

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art is offering a brand new course in their summer workshop schedule. Register now! Enrollment is limited.

WATER MEDIA: PAINTING INTENSIVE
instructor: Diana Corvelle

TUESDAYS
July 5th – August 29th
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

This class invites all levels of artists to translate their skills to water-based media. Gouache, watercolor, acrylic, and water-soluble crayons or colored pencils all provide a rewarding relationship with color and form, and can also be used together in creative combinations. After an introduction to the basic techniques of each media, and an overview of how combining the materials can best be achieved, students may choose which medium they would like to explore and begin on their independent project. Students will begin by mapping out their composition in pencil and will then progress to the color in the medium(s) of their choosing. Subject matter may include still life, self-portrait or master copy works.

Students may choose gouache, watercolor, acrylic, or water-soluble crayons or colored pencils, and focus on still-life, self-portrait, or Master copy projects. All levels welcome.

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art
14 Glen St.
Suite 201, 2nd Floor
Glen Cove, NY 11542

The website SoundCloud is streaming a mega-super-duper tribute album for the great Buddy Holly that features EVERYONE! No joke, this album is stacked with musical greats such as, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Lou Reed, Sir Paul McCartney… need I continue? Didn’t think so. Peep this shit bellow:

Rave On Buddy Holly by concordmusicgroup

As of course everyone knows, the Summer Solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky resulting in the longest day and the shortest night of the year. We here at Be Nice Art Friends couldn’t be happier. The Summer Solstice means outdoor beer gardens, air conditioned movie theaters, Coney Island play dates, and most importantly, excessive amounts of energy and change. Summer is when all of the magic happens. You’re learning new tricks and perfecting old ones. You’re developing new compositions while refining tried and trusted methods. Color palattes are expanding as are social circles. Canvases are larger and margins no longer exist.

Summer is a season to embrace change and to make moves. Serious moves. Move your body. Set your goals high and activate your life. Get creative and don’t stop moving your body. Say hello to all of those strangers you want to say hello to. That’s how friends are made. Be nice art friends.

Remember the other night when you had one too many drinks? Of course you don’t, you were wasted. What you do remember is the morning after when you had that wicked wicked hangover. I know every time I’m hit with a hangover two thoughts cross my mind, why me???? and what the fuck causes this misery. Follow the link to watch an terrificly informative video, via the BBC News and James May, that helps to explain all of the mystery behind THE HANGOVER!!!! (<— The link)

UPDATE: It appears the embedded video has stopped working in the good ole’ US and A.

Jeremy Fish
Pulled Out My Worm (as told by Snoop Dogg)
Acrylic on handcut wood panel
2011
24 x 36 in.








Jeremy Fish
Shining in Gold, Dripping in Blood
Acrylic on Old Redwood Fence
2008

LISTEN AND LEARN
June 21 – July 16
Joshua Liner Gallery
548 West 28th Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 244-7415

As previously mentioned Long Island City artist Jason Douglas Griffin opened a line up of group shows at the Christina Ray Gallery in SOHO New York this past Thursday. Griffin’s latest installment is made up mostly of works from his “1 Million Ninjas” series, a truly unique installment that pulls a large amount of its materials from the social network Facebook.

Griffin has taken it upon himself to help “Ninja-fy” Facebook, one “like” at a time with his 1 Million Ninjas page on the social network’s site, thus creating completely original works of art a la minute.

This use of Facebook is a great example to showcase one of the many untapped potentials social networking and social media have to offer the art world. The artist incorporates his audience into his art helping to create a real personal bond between the two parties. “Ninjas” is just the beginning, I don’t think the art world and social media have had their last tango just yet.

If you have a chance, please check out this great exhibition:
Exhibition Dates: June 16 – July 3, 2011
Location: 30 Grand Street, Ground Floor . Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6pm
Directions: A/C/E to Canal Street or 1 to Canal Street; gallery is located between Thompson Street and 6th Avenue

This is an interesting edition of SIMILARITY SATURDAY! This one isn’t your average two party comparison and here is what I mean…

Let’s introduce (or re-introduce) ourselves to these four classic and very popular Marvel Comics super heroes.



Spider Man…



Dr. Strange…



Ghost Rider…



and the Punisher!

Put them all together and what do you get?!

…

SPAWN!



Todd McFarlane is a writer and illustrator creating the character Spawn, as well as being one of the founding fathers of Image Comics. This all happened somewhat right after he had left Marvel Comics after a very rocky relationship. As a former Marvel illustrator, Todd McFarlane worked with such popular heroes like Spider Man, The Incredible Hulk, as well as taking minor part in Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, and The Punisher.
Some say it’s strictly coincidence, but there are also rumors speculating that McFarlane purposely implemented all of the important features from the other characters seen above to mock Marvel Comics and its ideal super hero criteria of always doing the right thing.

Take a look at this cover for issue eight of Todd McFarlane’s popular series.
The first thing everyone usually notices is his face. Take away those green glowing eyes and it becomes a spitting image of Spider Man!
Next, and almost just as obvious, there is almost too shocking a similarity between Spawn’s cape and that of Dr. Strange.
Then we move along to Ghost Rider, noticing both characters wielding chains of what seems to be a limitless length.
Now last but certainly not least, take a look at that belt and those cape clasps holding Spawn’s cape on. Punisher logo much? Talk about wow!