Leinenkugel beer-branded painting

I just finished this branded painting of a local Wisconsin beer logo.  It is a christmas present for my brother-in-law.  The name of the beer is "Leinenkugel".

art show at THE SPACE.

So Im having an exhibit (in a group show) of the "branded" paintings I did over the winter. The exhibit will be in a cute store called THE SPACE (1030 NW 12th Ave. TH1) with a reception this Thursday, September 1st ( 6? to 8?--who knows, partys and party people are such elusive things....).

cat food....

I painted this for my daughter's birthday (she just turned 6). We both saw this bag and its logo in the neighborhood grocery store and she asked me if I could keep it so she could "draw the kitty's face." Its so banal and awkward looking, like cat food you'd find in an army surplus store. I love it.

and cigarettes

These paintings are becoming more and more minimal....almost turning into drawings. I've really been enjoying working with the grain and cut of the wood with varnish in certain areas, and how that adds a "vintage" feel to them.

Im hoping the colors are....implied.

Stella artois....

and another.....

The making of a "branded" painting......

New "branded" paintings...

Just started working on the "branded" paintings. Here are the first three in the series of 15 or so. They are painted with acrylic on found wood.

Hopefully the whole series will be done by early-mid spring when the weather warms, and I can begin painting under our car-port with oil paints again. I have some other ideas for portraits using the screen technique (or whatever you call it)........

Angels we have heard...

I know its late in the game, but if I still have to put up with Christmas commercials, then why not post one last christmas song dang-it!?

Here are some of our/my creative plans for 2011. Im excited, its going to be a good year....
1. Finish recording with Nicole and have CD's available by our anniversary in April.

2. Work with Nicole on an interior photographic mural for the Downtown pizzicato pizza store. These photos include close ups of different sidewalk textures gridded together.

3. Begin and finish a small series of Branded paintings by early spring so I can.....

4. Move the studio outside when the weather gets warmer, break out the oils and begin work on a series of screen paintings using portraits of friends, family, and loved ones.

5. Finish and blog a diary of my bus driving experiences.

6. Maybe, just maybe start a book I've always dreamed of writing.

7. Write a song every day of lent.

8. Lose 10 pounds and quite smoking (just kidding)

Anyways, here you go. Happy Holidays.
angels we have heard... by ryan kennelly

Ps. While searching vintage pictures of angels, I found some really groovy specimens. For example.....

New music this Christmas season.......

Well, I've been a pretty detached blogger these last couple of months. No worries though, after a short hiatus and change of jobs (for those of you who might not know, I've officially become a school bus driver) I again feel the creative juices flowing.
I've drafted up an "achievement list" ("goal lists" are such a 2010 thing!:) for this fall, winter, and spring, here it is:

1. This Christmas season I feel really moved to finish up the final LITTLE CZAR AND THE PSALMIST recording. Except for a redux of "songs of ascent", this is the pieta' of the project, the final culmination of me by myself orchestrating songs late in the night, pouring out my heart and soul in a condenser mic in our basement or linen closet. After this, I will tuck all 6 recordings away until their appointed time and begin work on other projects like......(see number 2)

2. Yeaaah! Nicole and I are getting geared up to finish recording and producing the songs we've written together. We are about half way done, and our goal is to finish it by this spring, so we can celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary by giving all our friends and family a free CD of our music. How egotistic of us, right? No matter, Im really elated over the material and it will be worth every penny....every free penny.

3. Last but not least, I have all next week off for Thanksgiving and my goal is to produce about 15 or 20 more branded paintings.....

Sorry for the lengthy text in this blog, but you've been faithful and barreled on through like a trooper. As a reward, I have posted an excerpt from the current LITTLE CZAR AND THE PSALMIST recording in process. Much of the material is centered around the Christmas season and the God becoming man event--this included. Enjoy (and if you skipped the text to listen to this, shame on you!)

Christmas czar 2010 by ryan kennelly

( FB friends go here http://soundcloud.com/tactilecollective/christmas-czar-2010)