Artwork in the Works (AKA Marathon Blog)

I've been a slackity-slack slacker on blog posts lately, so here's one that's jam packed for your Thursday (I almost said Friday...shows you where my head is...although I don't share the same weekend joy that the 9-5ers thoroughly appreciate.)

The McDonough Sisters (AKA The Sisters Rabbit)

I'll start by sharing the painting that's taking up most of my time right now. While 36"x48" certainly isn't a gigantic size for a painting, it's larger than I've worked in years, my standard painting size being 18"x24. That said, this piece has been a bit of an (exciting) undertaking...especially considering that I have two weeks to complete it, start to finish. I still have quite a way to go on this one, as only Caitlin (the figure on the far right) is getting close to completion.

For those of you who have asked my about portraits with multiple figures (you and your boo, your kids, whole fam, etc,)this is the way that I choose to compose such a piece. Rather than everyone posing together (cheesy!) I photograph the subjects as individuals. The viewer will naturally relate the figures on the canvas w/o me having to duplicate a Sears portrait.

Next up, I recently photographed some of Annapolis's gorgeous, young, and talented to use as reference for upcoming paintings to be shown at Tsunami (Annapolis) early this summer. I still have one more photo shoot to do for this series, and I'll post those shots when I get them. Feel free to click on the small images above if you want to stalk out larger images of these peeps on my flickr. I'll give you show opening details when I get them, and in-progress pics of the paintings will be up as they're completed.

Tall guy...short skirt!

Moving right along...I'm a little late, but here are a few pics from The City Paper's annual Cosmic Cocktail party.

Charisse and Geoff

Shay, Dude, Zen, Stacie

Trans

Cuties, Megan and Lauren of the blog, acharmedcity.blogspot.com

Everyone loves Jen Marsh!

Twins, Xavier & Patrick

And finally, Buck and Missy. Buck wanted me to take a photo of them pretending to fight...I guess that's his game face :)

I'm not done yet! Here's me and some budds on my "it's my birthday at midnight."

Hilty!

So goofy.

THE END

What a marathon. I think I'm out of breath. Sike, no really. Happy start to baseball season, y'all. May my fantasy Team Fitzbomb rack up points from now through October.

xo...gotta go,

-Fitz

Snow Falling on Cedars

Just in case you were wondering, it's not all painting and parties for me...there is BASEBALL(!), and 3-4 times a year I like to enjoy a play at CENTERSTAGE. If you live in Baltimore, there is no good excuse for having never been to CS to see a play. Tickets start at $15, so go get some culture in your life :)

On Tuesday night I got a chance to see the play Snow Falling on Cedars. Adapted from David Guterson's book of the same name, SFOC uses the story of one man's trial to to tell love stories and the plight of Japanese in the United States following WWII. Set in the Pacific north west, projected snowfall trickles down the backdrop.

One of the most striking elements of this play is how the small cast and simple set were able to convey so much information. A cast of 12 played nearly 40 townspeople with just some simple additions of accessories to the costumes. The rotating stage, topped with one cabinet, a table, and 12 chairs, served as a courtroom, strawberry fields, an internment camp, a ship at sea, and a war zone. See the video about the rotating stage below, provided by CenterStage.

It's amazing how the actors are able to lead you from courtroom to a childhood hideout in a cedar tree without ever leaving the stage. A slight rotation of the stage, and the viewer is transported back many years.

The trial itself, in which Kabuo Miyamoto has been accused of the murder of fellow fisherman and childhood friend, Carl Heine Jr., follows the town's cast of characters, often humorous in their simpleness, through the evidence, witness list and investigation. Although as boys these two played and worked together, the changing attitudes of white Americans toward Japanese Americans in the United Stated following Pearl Harbor have ended their friendship. While Miyamoto and his family are sent to live in an internment camp Heine's family has sold their farmland out from under them.

Is the loss of land and obvious discrimination motive for murder? I suggest you go to CENTERSTAGE and find out for yourself.

Snow Falling on Cedars, adapted by Kevin McKeon and directed by David Schweizer runs now through April 3rd at CENTERSTAGE. Tickets may be purchased here or by calling 410-332-0033

Hearts,

-Fitz

Novelty Haus!

On Monday I stopped by Noel Conrad's new store, Novelty Haus. They sell cool toys, records, books, magazines, locally made items, and YOU CAN GET BUTTONS MADE WITH YOUR FACE ON THEM!

OMG!

And Noel is super nice and he might even take a really cool photo of you for his website. The store is brand new. You should go eat pie (I'm a key lime fan myself) and then head to the back of the shop for a shirt*

or a cool toy like this

They also have Japanese toys and some Star Wars toys that I couldn't identify or properly appreciate SINCE I HAVE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS. Any of them.

Here's the info you need

Novelty Haus

Tuesday - Sunday 11am-9pm
Monday Closed
1036 Light St. Baltimore MD 21230
Inside Dangerously Delicious Pies
410-343-9282

Novelty Buttons

I'll be back soon.

Later Y'all

-Fitz

*These photos weren't taken at the shop. Check out the Novelty Haus link for shop photos.

I Have So Much Catching Up To Do!

Dang, it's been a minute... but I have some photos for you! I have to wait a bit for the reveal of the painting that I just finished. It's an album cover, so I'm going to wait for the record release. It was a really cool project to work on, so I look forward to posting it!

These photos are from No Rule at Metro a few weeks ago. Simon Phoenix was really into putting cups on people's heads.

I also have photos from the City Paper's Cosmic Cocktail party and like three pics from my birthday, but you can wait a day or two for those.

Tomorrow I'm going to photograph an old buddy for my new painting series and then maybe shoot some photos at the Otto Bar's Staff Infection (smart, but sickest name ever, btw!)

Then on Sunday I will be heading to Tsunami in Annapolis to photograph 10-12 people for an up-coming show that will be held at Tsunami in late spring.

Let's see, what else... Tuesday I'm going to Centerstage to see their latest play, Snow Falling On Cedars. Thanks to Centerstage, I'm receiving free press tickets to review the show here on Fitzbomb, so stay tuned for that.

I'm mostly really looking forward to April. Why come, you ask? First, I'll have a piece of art in Maryland Art Place's Out of Order event.

Second, and MOST importantly, April 4th is my favorite day...Opening Day! I love baseball season. I'm gonna marry it.

Third, I'm going on spring break vacay with my sister and niece. Hey beach- wait 'til you see what all this working out has done for me.

(Maddie at her first art exhibit. She is showing at The Walters Art Museum. That's better than my resumé.)

Alright, buddies. That's your taste for now. I'll be back tomorrow or sometime in the next couple of days. I also want to post the cool stuff that I got at Noel Conrad's new store, Novelty Haus. I got some buttons with my face on them! Holler at that.

Sleep tight. I'd say, "don't let the bedbugs bite," but that's gross and not really funny anymore.

Kisses,

-Fitz

New Painting:Jonna

This is the latest painting from my new series. I'll be taking a two week break from these pieces to work on a super cool album cover.

I'm SO tired from birthday weekend...I'm going to head back to the couch now, but we'll talk soon.

Hearts,

-Fitz