Felix Chevrolet

10"x 10" oil on canvas

Posted September 25, 2024

sold • private collection

 

Telechron Alarm Clock

10"x10" oil on canvas ••• First off, I just want to say that I love this clock. It is beauty in bakelite. It is the epitome of classic deco industrial design. Why make it look so stylish? After all, it is just a little 4-1/2" tall alarm clock, right? Who cares what it looks like? Back when this was produced, even with World War II raging, they cared what things looked like with the industrial designers of the era throwing everything they had into everything they designed. • When it was first produced, this clock was called the War Alarm because it was made to make sure people woke up and arrived on time to their jobs in the war factories. After the war, it was renamed the Dispatcher. Mine is a Dispatcher. • The history lesson is neat and all, but what I really care about is aesthetics and this little clock is just wonderful to look at. So, I hunted for years until I finally found one that did not cost me an arm and a leg (it must be the Scotsman in me—he's in there somewhere). • And here you have it, in gooey oil paint, the little clock that helped win the war. (And looked great doing it!)

Posted January 10, 2019

sold • private collection los angeles, ca

 

Keystone #5 Meat Grinder

10"x10" oil on canvas ••• The original title for this diminutive piece was actually going to be "My #@#?$%€ Meat Grinder from Hell That I Want to Fling Into My Neighbor's Yard." I thought it had a nice ring to it and, at the time, seemed wholly appropriate. You see, for such a small piece, I had spent far too much time on it and had over painted it—in other words, the piece and I were not on friendly terms. The original drawing (see below) had life to it, but the resultant painting did not. • Now, in such instances as these, I have varying options. The main three being: Let it ride and let the market decide OR completely scrape it off and paint something else later OR destroy-to-save. Destruction being a firm component of my bent personality (probably because I listen to way too much Tito Puente—he really attacked those timbales), destroy-to-save seemed the obvious choice. I pushed myself and attacked it, completely painting over and mushing into the original abomination. This rescue mission probably took about a quarter of the time it took to paint the original iteration and I think came out far superior with much more life. It also took a ton of paint, but my color work is more in sync, so it was worth the extra five gallons or so. • I sometimes tell people that the process of painting a 4" piece can draw out strong emotions and drain me just like a 60" piece can, and this #@#?$%€ little piece proves my point.

Posted August 9, 2018

KitchenAid Model 4-C Mixer

10"x10" oil on canvas ••• I love tools. • I did a little painting of this back in late 2013 or early 2014 (don't expect me to remember the date—I have the memory retention of a donut) called, "KitchenAid Mixer That I Am On the Fence About Ever Painting Again." I believe the title originally had cuss words in it. • Well, I was still on the fence when I was looking at this thing-that-weighs-a-ton taking up space in my studio, and I said to myself, "Myself, that thing needs to earn its keep—paint it again!" (The reason for the exclamation point is that I usually yell when talking to myself.) So, here it is a little bigger at 10"x10" and in a different pose.

Posted April 29, 2015

sold • private collection los angeles, ca