1959 Plymouth Fury Dash Cluster

20"x30" oil on canvas ••• Hopefully, my love of good design is apparent in my selection of subject matter. Design projects, just like fine art projects, are opportunities. Opportunities to bring your best to something—to hit it with all you got and hit it hard. Back in the day (what does that actually mean, anyway?) industrial designers did just that. They created sound, functioning designs with uniquely beautiful personalities. A metal power drill or a tube radio set or a camera weren't just functioning objects, they were opportunities to design something wondrous that reminded us of our love of fantasy and our joyous race into the modern age. • My proclivity to collect things (addiction seems like such a strong word) has led me to acquire a few classic automobile dash/gauge clusters. I think they are just beautiful. • My constant exposure to brain damaging paint fumes and the dash clusters' stand-alone beauty have prompted me to experiment by painting them as isolated pieces, rather than part of the overall dashboards they were extracted from. • My five remaining brain cells and I think the experiments worked. We hope you do too.
  
Posted December 2, 2016

Airline Radio

8"x12" oil on canvas panel ••• This piece is part of a loosely affiliated trio of paintings (see inset photo) that I purposely used a similar color palette on. I really do not know why I controlled my palette like that. All I know is that I was itching to paint the subjects, who had been idly sitting in the studio taking up space without helping pay for their keep. • Yes, I demand that all the... stuff (The Spousal Unit uses a different term for the items that make up the avalanche-waiting-to-happen in my studio) crammed into my studio pay for their existence in said space.

Posted November 4, 2015

Zenith K725 Mid Century Radio

4"x6" oil on masonite panel ••• This is the last of the mid century Zenith tube radio paintings I have for you. That does not mean that I will not paint more. It just means it will be the last for at least a good chunk of time (if ever), and that you have won a well-earned reprieve from my torturing you with them. • It looks like I have painted five Zeniths—that might be enough for this artist. (Evidence: See the little Zeniths above.)

Posted September 17, 2015

sold • private collection hays, ks

Zenith H615Y Mid Century Radio

4"x6" oil on masonite panel ••• There are a few of these mid century Zeniths hiding in plain view in the Mother Unit's garage. • Some of the old radios are pretty cool looking. But, as it is with most things, there are some that look so odd or downright ugly, that you wonder who on earth would have bought and displayed them in their home. Oh well, to each his own. • I thought this one looked pretty cool, so I tested it out as a possibility for membership in a series of three Zenith radio paintings. • By the way, the The Cityscape Show V over at the George Billis Gallery in Culver City is up for only a few more days (last day: August 22). I have three pieces in this show, so if you have not seen it, go and check it out while you can. (Particulars pasted in below.)

Posted August 19, 2015

sold • private collection ridgecrest, ca


The Cityscape Show V
July 18 - August 22, 2015
George Billis Gallery/LA
2716 S. La Cienega Boulevard / Los Angeles, CA 90034
310.838.3685 / la@georgebillis.com
Summer Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm

GE Clock Radio Red and Square(ish)

8"x12" oil on canvas panel ••• With this post, I put this series to rest. • I will not kid you or myself and commit to this being the last mid-century clock radio I will ever paint. Let's just say it is the last for a good, maybe long, while.

Posted June 18, 2015

sold • private collection irvine, ca

GE Clock Radio Pink

8"x12" oil on canvas panel ••• This painting is one in a series of six, three of which I have shown you before. In case you forgot, I have included the entire series below. • I told the story of how this series came about a few times this last weekend at the Beverly Hills Art Show. When I say a few times, I mean in the neighborhood of 3,000 times. Being the gas bag that I am, here is it once more. • Another "What the... I thought I posted this!" painting. Hopefully, you can forgive the mistake because I did post the smaller version of it and probably took it for granted that I showed you the larger one. When I type larger, I mean just a bit larger at 8"x12" in size. • I initially did three of these (white, green, and pink) hoping they would sell as a series. Then, somebody sabotaged me by purchasing the white Emerson, so I went ahead and painted the red GE to keep the trio (pink, green, and red) going and somebody bought all three together. I admit that it is gratifying that the trio will stay together to be enjoyed by somebody as a set. (See all four below.) 

Posted May 27, 2015

sold • private collection irvine, ca

GE Clock Radio Red and Square(ish)

4"x6" oil on door skin panel ••• Some of the details in these little paintings can be somewhat challenging. The grille in the middle of this old clock radio is a good example. It is a defining element, so I think it is necessary, but it is a royal pain in the neck. When confronted with this kind of widely varying dilemma, I usually fall back on one approach: Just dive in and do it. And, as further evidence of my insanity, make it even harder than it has to be. Here, I painted against form on the grille instead of just painting up and down in the same direction. • I think it was Jean Paul Sartre's right eye that said, "Easy? Who wants to live there?" Or was it maybe John Cleese using an outrageous French accent or, and this is more likely, was it one of the sage waiters down at The Pantry? I can't remember.

Posted March 26, 2015

sold • private collection calabasas, ca

Emerson Clock Radio

8"x12" oil on canvas panel ••• At about 9-inches wide, this is what would have been considered a small clock radio in its time. It is kind of small and weighs just about as much as a Sherman tank. No kidding (well, a little kidding). It seems that the manufacturer equated weight with perceived value. So, when confronted with a smallish radio they felt compelled to put a 200-pound lead weight in the bottom to lend heft and a sense of "You're still getting a lot for your money, mister." • Reminds me of when devious little Cub Scouts carve out the bottom of their pinewood derby cars and fill them with nuts and bolts to make them roll faster in the race. They somehow think that nobody is going to notice the little 7-inch car that once weighed 12-ounces now weighs more than the kid. Not that I ever did such a thing—I was a saint of a Cub Scout. (I used my Dad's tube of graphite powder to cheat.) • How the heck did I go from an old heavy clock radio to cheating at pinewood derbies? It must be all the paint fumes in here.

•••••••

The Beverly Hills Art Show

(http://beverlyhills.org/exploring/beverlyhillsartshow)
I will be showing my wares in space #139, that's in the first park between Rodeo and Beverly Boulevards. • Saturday & Sunday, October 18th & 19th (that's this coming weekend) / 10am to 5pm both days. • If you, like everybody else, are coming just to see The Spousal Unit, She will be holding court starting Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Yes, I will be alone Saturday morning—unsupervised and probably getting into all sorts of trouble with the park rangers. They only tolerate me (i.e., don't tazer me) because they like Her. • If you are going to be on this side of the world, come and see me—the weather looks like it is going to be fine.

Posted October 13, 2014

sold • private collection beverly hills, ca

General Electric Clock Radio Pink

4"x6" oil on raymar panel • This wonderful mid-century clock radio has just enough angles to really tick me off. Not only does it lean backwards—the clock face at one angle and the radio face at another—it also has gently canted sides. Of course the sides are at a different slant than those of the inset clock. This pink baby has just enough wonderfully graceful mid-century, Jetsons-like angles to drive an artist absolutely mad. I love it. I liked the insanity so much that I am thinking of painting it again—a bit larger. • Oh, I almost forgot to walk Astro on the treadmill. That thing terrifies me—the treadmill, not Astro. Where's Elroy when you need him. Jane! Jane!
 
Posted August 6, 2014

sold • private collection marin, ca

Red Caps

6"x4" oil on raymar panel • I would say that there are—roughly speaking—about a million bottles in my studio. At least that is what if feels like. I keep them low in case an earthquake smites the studio. If an earthquake did hit and I was in the studio, with all the stuff in here, I would be dead anyway, so I do not really know why I keep the bottles down low. I can just see the  headline on page 22 of the local rag (that has only 16 pages): "Artist Killed by Vengeful Philco Radio!" I threw in the exclamation point just to make myself feel important. • These three, with their red caps, caught my eye one day, so here they are in oil paint.
  
Posted June 28, 2014

sold • private collection bradbury, ca

Little Red Radio (Emerson)

4"x6" oil on masonite panel • I thought we should take a break from the lollipop paintings. Just too much sugary goodness for me. • In an effort to avoid cavities, please find the above  little painting of a little red radio.
  
Posted June 16, 2014

sold • private collection malton, north yorkshire, uk
 

Westinghouse Clock Radio

8"x12" oil on canvas • I haven't shown you a clock radio in a while, let alone a green one, so here you are.  • There are three things I could talk about considering this painting. The first being how challenging it was to paint, in particularly my management of the values and colors. The second option would be to discuss how difficult it was to photograph (you know—my usual whine about wanting to kill my camera because it is secretly plotting against me). Or the last and obviously most important thing about this painting: Does this clock radio look like an owl? Being the sophisticate that I am, I vote for option number three: Does this look like an owl?
  
Posted May 27, 2014

sold • private collection irvine, ca

Tea Bowl and Pot

4"x6" oil on raymar panel • There are a few—at least two—of these funky, fully seasoned aluminum tea pots in our house. They belonged to my late mother in-law (a wonderfully gregarious woman of strong constitution, who could have pummeled me to death if she wished). This tea pot is neat because it has a leash for its lid; as if the rebellious lid is going to run away or something. The bowl has artwork on it, a good reason for me to avoid painting it, but residing in my domicile is a power so great, so powerful, that I dare not refuse its demands. Yes. The Spousal Unit wanted me to paint these… together… and… now.  •  Aluminum has different characteristics than chrome. Beside the fact that it is not as reflective, it can also be warm, somewhat dullish, and its value and temperature shifts elusive to the eye. In other words: a nightmare. That nightmare (challenge) is reason enough to paint it, but I also think this pot's other characteristics are interesting. So, here it is in squishy oil paint.


Raymond on the Radio
My interview with Jeff Burr went well. Amazingly enough, I did not cuss or spit. (In a conversation earlier that day, my mother told me to be nice—mothers know their sons.) And even if I did spit, they had these cool screens in front of the microphones to block it. I always enjoy being in the presence of Jeff, so I think we had fun.
Here is a link to the iTunes podcast for you:  Link to Podcast
 
Posted February 6, 2014

sold • private collection los angeles, ca

 

"No tequila for you!"

4"x6" oil on raymar panel • Now, for this to really work, you have to say the painting's title like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld.  •  Via strict monastic practices, I usually try to only humiliate myself in type, but tonight you will actually be able to HEAR me humiliate myself on the radio (see below).

RADIO INTERVIEW… TONIGHT!
My interview on "Spirit Matters" will be tonight. Tune in by going to link below, then click on the button in the upper left hand corner with "CHANNEL 1. Click here to listen now!" It will be live tonight and then accessible through the same link as a podcast.
Tuesday, February 4th at 6pm (PST) / 9pm (EST)

Here is the link to the online broadcast:   www.gvbradio.com/spiritmatters.
 
Posted February 4, 2014

sold • private collection marin, ca

 

KitchenAid Mixer That I Am On the Fence About Ever Painting Again

5"x5" oil on door skin panel • Sorry for the long title, but it is the truth. This mixer was given to be by my Mother Unit and has sat for years in my studio waiting for its day of glory. Besides being dang heavy, it gave off an odd vibe while I was painting it. Can't explain it… just odd.  •  And now let's return to reality, leaving that odd world that only exists in Raymond's head (vibe?):  If I paint this mixer again, the piece would be larger and I am just not sure how it would work out. The little paintings do not always prove that a larger version is a good idea. I shall have to consult my Ouija Board on this one (aka: Just put the decision off until another day).

sold • private collection rancho palos verdes, ca
 

•••••• MORE NEWS ••••••

RADIO INTERVIEW
I going to be interviewed on the radio next week. The program is Jeff Burr's "Spirit Matters." To those of you who know me, this occurrence may seem a bit odd. I am not a very… public person (large groups of humans and certain petite dogs terrify me), so agreeing to be interviewed was a big "issue" for me. Jeff is a great guy, a friend and a lot of fun, so let's hope for the best (i.e., minimal public humiliation for Raymond is really the best we can hope for).
The live interview will take place next Tuesday, February 4th at 6pm (PST) / 9pm (EST).
Here is the link to the online broadcast:   www.gvbradio.com/spiritmatters

ONE MAN SHOW
I am cinching up a deal to hold another one man show in early 2015. More news to follow. (How exciting!)

EMAILING LIST(S)
I am thinking of switching my emailing/subscription system from being "in-house" to being via Mail Chimp. Any thoughts?

STUDIO MUSIC
I have become addicted to Fats Waller. (Yes, it's serious.)
 
Posted January 30, 2014

sold • private collection rancho palos verdes, ca
 

My General Electric Six Transistor Radio

6"x4" oil on raymar panel • Whilst I love my little radio, in reality, it is not so… intense. It is more of a subtly refined sophisticate. Me? Reality terrifies me and I am so far away from being sophisticated that it's pitiful. Good thing the radio is inanimate, because if it could, it would have surely walked out on me by now. •  Painting a subject like this really brings out the "let's throw the palette at the thing and see what sticks" mentality in me. It is just such a great format to push back and forth with my warms and my cools and test the intensities of my pigments (or rather my willingness to accept those intensities). Remember—reality terrifies me anyway.
 
Posted January 14, 2014

sold • private collection, northridge, ca

Supertone Transistor Radio

6"x4" oil on raymar panel • The first thought that pops into my little mind whenever I see a transistor radio is of those guys (yes, mostly guys) who used to listen to sports on these with those little white mono earphones. They would be walking along, all normal like (and yes, sometimes their pants were hemmed a bit too short), until their team would score and they would punch the air and shout like they were insane. Actually, I guess people still do it, just with much nicer earphones and much more expensive pants.
 
Posted October 8, 2013

sold • private collection marin, ca

Decca Clock Radio on Stripes

4"x6" oil on raymar panel • Here's a recipe for inducing madness in a still life artist: Take an object, pretty much any object, and then place it in front of a pattern. Stripes are simple, but they'll do in a pinch. Artists like me—the ones who cannot leave well enough alone—are particularly prone to such structurally induced lunacy. Oh yes, I could make a vain attempt at maintaining my sanity and just paint those innocent looking stripes flat; ignoring the light as it travels across them, changes temperature, and basically bounces around like a gypsy on acid. But what's the fun in that? I'll chase the light and risk the insanity.  •  This wonderful clock radio (I really emphasize the "wonderful" whilst speaking to The Spousal Unit) represents a solid falling off the wagon for me as far as eBay auctions are concerned. Yes, I admit it, I jumped back into the fray of strategic and brutal bidding and now must seek therapy to wean myself from my addiction (once again). Oh, and as you will see later this week, the institution has started allowing me back into the local thrift store. Thrift stores and ebay: The true Axis of Evil (for still life artists).
 
Posted September 17, 2013

sold • private collection taiwan

Zenith Consoltone Radio

4"x6" oil on raymar panel. • The full name of this radio is actually, "Zenith's Beautiful Consoltone (Yes, We Just Made That Word Up) 6D015, Six Tube (That's Totally Tubularly Awesome, Dude, and Can Really Bring in the Tunes) Mid-Century AM Radio That Will Rock Your World!"  Hey, that's what the manual said. All kidding aside, it is a beautiful piece of industrial design. I was first attracted to the wood version that I believe was designed by Ray and Charles Eames. Still haven't landed one of those, but I got my grimy little paws on this bakelite beauty. Even though I was raised in the electronics business, I do not think I really came to appreciate old radios and the like until I became a painter. The daily painting regimen really enhances your powers of observation—it is the constant hunt for subject matter* (an obsessive personality helps, but let's not talk about that)—and many of these older items are, quite frankly, gorgeous. They also can be very challenging to paint. This radio, in all of its mid-century glory, had me cussing and spitting a bit whilst I was painting it—and that's a good thing.

*If you want to know more about my reason for painting what I paint, go and read my atrocious "Artist Statement" on my website. Here is the link: www.raymondlogan.com/about.html
 
Posted August 6, 2013

sold • private collection lopez island, wa

Sony Six Transistor Pocket Radio

4"x6" oil on raymar panel. • Besides the plain moniker of transistor radio, these little radios were also known as pocket radios because they were small enough to fit in a breast pocket. They all came with a small earphone jack, so that you could plug in your little white earphone and quietly listen—in glorious mono—to a ball game or music whilst sitting in a boring class. That little cord hanging from your head meant either you were cool like a secret agent or there was a good game being broadcast or you were just plain ol' bored. And, if you were talking with nobody around, you were just considered insane. Now, if you have a cord hanging out of your ear and you're talking, people know you're just on the phone. (Though I still think it looks a little insane.)  •  Man, I feel old just typing that.

The Cityscape Show III at the George Billis Gallery/LA
(www.georgebillis.com/exhibitions1.html)
I will be exhibiting in this group show running from July 20th to August 31st. It looks like it will be a great show.  
The opening reception will be July 20th, from 5 to 8 PM, come on by and check it out.

George Billis Gallery/LA
2716 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90034
310.838.3685
la@georgebillis.com
 
Posted July 8, 2013

sold • private collection los angeles, ca