I recently decided to take my ongoing Type Face portrait series to the walls. Here is the first. These are part of my ongoing body of work involving mixed identity portraits. This time the emphasis is on juxtaposing different languages and typography. Enjoy!
Linked In SF
Here is a wall commission I painted at Linkedin San Francisco Offices. The wall spans 100 feet wide and the concept is based on a 'meeting of minds'. Enjoy!
Triplets
Here is another set in my Phase Value series. Enjoy and stay posted for more!
New Series In Progress
Recently I added another series of work to my plate that I call Phase Value. I will be painting & fabricating duplicates of the same face each with a unique treatment. I am interested in phases regarding identity, and visual perception. Below is just the beginning. To be continued...
How A Painting Grows
This is how my paintings look as they develop.
Instagram @samrodriguezart
Lately I haven't been able to do as many sketches as I would like to because of project deadlines. But on a good week, you can catch a new sketch of mine almost daily via my instagram feed. I consider social media a modern day artist tool essential. The feedback and support is motivating and it's a fun way to explore different ideas. If you are interested in my process follow my instagram @samrodriguezart. What would be the point of making images if you weren't there to look at them?! Thanks for the support!
Ellington
Here is a piece I recently completed for Coltrane Curtis of Team Epiphany. Curtis, who is the son of one of my favorite musicians John Coltrane gave me the honor of portraying his son Ellington. In the spirit of creative experimentation such as the music of his father John, I decided to blend digital with hand made application. Hope you enjoy.
Complex: Honorary Degree
Here is a recent project I did with Complex Online Mag for an article they wrote that looks 10 years back at Kanye West's career since his 'College Dropout' album release. The images were created for an animated digital cover. I love technology for this type of stuff! Here is the raw animation by Robert Hribernick. Big thanks to Art Director Brent Rollins! Also I have attached all the sketches worked on including the ones that didn't make the cut. Enjoy!
The Process...
Raj Jayadev: The Power of Community Journalism
Here is an interview with one of my best friends Raj Jayadev. The organization he speaks of in this segment is where I gained the confidence to pursue my career as an artist and more importantly deal with adversities that I experienced in the past.
From KQED:
"Not all workers in Silicon Valley benefit from stock options and catered lunches. In 2001, Raj Jayadev and his friends founded Silicon Valley De-Bug, a local newsletter meant to give less affluent employees a voice. Today, De-Bug serves as a hub for community organizing and criminal justice reform, as well as a multi-platform media organization. Jayadev joins us as part of our First Person series on the leaders, innovators and others who make the Bay Area unique."
Host: Dave Iverson
Complex Mag Portfolio Review
Complex Mag recently asked me to participate in their online Portfolio Review series. Here is a link to how that went including brief thoughts I have behind some of my works. Click here to read more: http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/12/samuel-rodriguez-art-portfolio-review/
Words by Complex: "Samuel Rodriguez's paintings capture the multifaceted identities of his subjects. Instead of portraying an ideal whole, he fractures his compositions to suggest that we are made up of more than just a single belief, history, or culture. Rodriguez touches on themes of race and ethnicity, stressing that in our diversity...Read full article here >>
