new website

I have to take a break from my studio for a few weeks, so I am taking this time to work on a new website.
www.crystalbarbre.wordpress.com

Write up from Keith Wigdor on his site Surrealism Now

Below is an artwork by one of the most talked about and brutally intense artists EVER to come out of the LA UNDERGROUND DARK ART SCENE and that is The Master, CRYSTAL BARBRE! The Art of Crystal Barbre is of an extremely proactive nature, her successful formula is producing The Synthesis (as well as) The Morphing of States of Human and Animal to an immediate level of Intense Examination and Consciousness!!!!!!!!! Crystal Barbre's unique artistic and intellectual desire (as expressed in her paintings) raises the level and boundaries of Synthesis of human and animal to the Whole UNITY of human and animal, where the true medium of reality is elevated to a state of consciousness that the artist and her audience becomes one with, upon examing her work!!!!! This is a very hard and difficult task to accomplish, yet Crystal Barbre does it with such grace, its inevitable not to become drawn into her Sphere of Art!!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!! THE ART OF CRYSTAL BARBRE!!!

"The Bird Has a Four Chambered Heart" by CRYSTAL BARBRE (19"x25" framed oil on canvas) from The Keith Wigdor Collection

fun times without pants...

I am happy to see the last few weeks of the Hyaena show have been going well. We have had plenty of visitors without pants. Thats when I know a show is going well. The less pants, the better.

June 16- June 30 at Hyaena.

The opening show at Hyaena was a big success! Sold some pieces, met some amazing people, and learned a ton. Fell in love with LA and can't wait to go back. Talked to a guy at the show who thought I was a male meth addict. Always interesting to see how people picture you as an artist before they meet you in person. Realized most of the comments on this blog are from a Japanease porn site. Its nice to know I'm drawing a good crowd.

Roadtrip to show at Hyaena Gallery in LA...

Public art these days deserves a swift ball kick...

I got up this morning and went for a jog (alright, lets be honest here - fast-ish walk) along the water by Seattle's sculpture park. It was a beautiful day and I took the oppurtunity to lay down on the grass for a bit. I noticed they were erecting a few awnings for some upcoming sculptures that will be visiting the park soon. As I sat there enjoying the rare seattle sun I noticed a crowd of people arranging themselves around the awnings talking to each other and staring. One of the sculpture park security guards walked up and someone from the crowd said - "Excuse me, do you know who did these pieces? There isn't any name here." and the security guard explained to the crowd that it was, in fact, not an art exhibit, but just a FREAKIN AWNING for the sculpture that hadn't even arrived yet. The crowd quickly dispersed.
COME ON?! REALLY?? wait, i'm not surprised. with the crap that qualifies as public art these days I can see why people would be confused. If a giant typewriter eraser and an upside down umbrella are the best we can get why not just throw in a couple awnings for kicks. If public art was a dude I would give it a quick punch in the balls. Coming back from florence has made my already low tolerance for crap art even more unbearable.  Its a little sad to come home to a place whose idea of public art is a giant typewriter eraser. Such a bummer.
on a brighter note:
I have a show coming up at Hyeana gallery in LA in only four weeks. I tried to get as much done as possible before I left but there is still so much to do. Being in one of the greatest centers of art in the world gave me just he shot of perspective I needed to return to work and try to finish off the rest of the paintings for the show with a bang. hopefully they won't suck.

I'm in florence until May 13. Catch you later! xox

late night photo shoot...

 I have corn syrup in my hair and tequila on my breath - but it was all worth it. we got some fantastic photos. Luckily the model's friend came along - he brought his camera which gave me extreme camera envy. Too bad it costs more than both my legs. He was kind enough to let us use his camera and skills so the shoot turned out even better than expected. My reference setups are beginning to get more and more complicated. I'm always grateful for the results. I find unexpected surprises from each shoot I've done. Dozens of happy accidents along the way that continue to add more beauty to my paintings than I possibly could have planned for. Exhausted, but can't wait to get painting...

8th Deadly Sin Art show at The Congregation Gallery...

What a great show on Saturday night! I was only able to be in LA for a few hours before having to fly back to Seattle but it was all worth it. Everyone was so friendly and supportive. I was surprised at how easy everyone was to talk to. It was a refreshing experience to be in a room full of people so driven and dedicated to their artwork. It was a great opportunity to feel out the LA art scene and to meet a bunch of wonderful artists. Just to have a chance to talk shop for an evening with people who are struggling along similar paths was exciting. I look forward to being able to go back to spend more time in June.

I'm flying to LA tomorrow...

...for the 8th Deadly Sin show at The Congregation gallery. I've already talked to some of the great artists that are going to be there so I'm really looking forward to it. Its going to be a great time for sure. I'll be posting plenty of pictures when I get back.

I've been busy with this, that, and the other the last couple days so I haven't been in the studio. I have a couple pieces going at once for the solo show coming up in June that I am itching to get cracking on. Like, seriously, a giant mental itch...it sucks when you are just getting in the flow of a piece and its all working out and then life happens and you have to abandon the studio for a bit. The painting gods hate that. I am worried that when I get back from LA they will punish me with some a creative asswhooping. not looking forward to it.

8th Deadly Sin show in LA...

 

I'm excited to have the chance to show a piece in the group show at Forgotten Saints on March 13th. I'm looking forward to flying down and meeting some great artists. It should be a fun time and a good prequel to my upcoming show at Hyaena gallery in June.

I just finished sketching out the next 6 paintings for the solo show. I can't wait to get painting. The prep work is such a bore. But I've learned not to jump ahead of myself or I'll be sorry. There's enough that can go wrong in a painting already - no need to tempt the painting gods.  So,  accept for my little trip to LA in a couple weeks I'll be in the basement working til my eyes give out. Did I say working? I meant partying like a rockstar til the wee hours of the morning. That's how we artists roll.

It's about time...

The new year has started with some serious lack of attention to the internet
but I decided I couldn't let January pass completely by without at least a little update.

Since the holidays I've been busy preparing for an upcoming show at the Hyaena Gallery.
I've had lots of prep work to do to get my game plan down but its about time to get up to my elbows in some serious painting. I'll be leaving for a month to Florence to do some studying so that takes away a good chunk of my painting time before the big show. That means I'll be spending the next two months deep in the painting cave to make sure I get some good work turned out while I can.

On top of that I've got a couple of paintings due for some Valentine's Day group shows, the SEAF submissions in 2 days, and a mural to get painted at a new bar opening up soon. So I'll have to prioritize hardcore these next few weeks. Goodbye social life, and sleep. Hello 2am coffees and cigarettes.

This new year is starting off with a bang. I can't complain. It feels great to be busy. If I can get through  the next few months with some good paintings and without gouging my eyes out with the business end of a paintbrush it'll be a good start to a good year.