Happy 2015, Lurkers. Hope it's going well. It's action packed over here so far. Instead of weighing this blog down, I'm going to throw some fun links and pictures at you. What a fun way to kill a couple minutes, right?
I just saw a dude named Aaron Drapin talk yesterday. I dragged my friend Terri with me, she says she doesn't get out much.
Mr. Drapin is amazing designer who's done a logo for anything you can think of. Nike? The Government? A hot dog stand? The legendary John Hughes (RIP)? Sub Pop? Done and done and done, etcetera.
We are almost the same age, the same build--cut from the same cloth one could say, except he is a success story. I'm still waiting for mine. Check him out here, you'll love him:
http://www.draplin.com/merch/
instagram: @draplin
Notice I linked you to his merch page. He don't pay the bills with sweet sweet words. Buy something cool and support good design.
Here's what I've been up to. If you don't follow me on instagram (@nealbretonart) you really should. You gotta be bored waiting around for the bus blog to arrive to internet town.
Anyway, pictures!!!

Digital Rainbow #2 (Slight Return)

 The clusters below are from a show I did at Baxter Moerman Jewelry in Downtown SLO. The show runs through January 2015.

 Death's Harvest Series.

The Leaf Series.

The Bummer Series.

If you like what you see here, head on over to my online store or write me if you see something that isn't on there. Almost every piece you see here in these clusters is super affordable, between $80-$100.

I also ventured out of my comfort zone with the help of some special people to create this baby:

La Espejo De Los Muertos

 Here is a closeup of all the weirdness.

I'll probably be spending the majority of 2015 creating new work. This year's show slate is tentative, possibly something in Orange County, Palm Springs and maybe one big thing in SLO, though I am awfully sick of doing shows in this town. 

My good pal Nick Wilkinson is got some exciting things going on, you should check them out. If you're a local lurker, check out Left Field. He'll be opening a gallery in the back of this sweet curio shop. If you're lurking in the LA/Santa Barbara area, check out his MCA Santa Barbara show coming soon!

Also, local lurkers--check out LEE GOLDE if you haven't already. I'm pretty hopeful for these brave young men, it's not easy opening cultural hotspots in a whitebread town like San Louie.

Until next time, lurkers.

Darkness falls on this blog from time to time, lurkers, but don't worry. I'm still alive. September is a boring month anyway, isn't it? October is where it's at. I started a new series in an attempt to paint like an adult:

I'm not sure what I'm calling this series just yet, or how many I will be doing, but they are far more personal than most of the things that I paint. A lot of meaningful symbolism will be embedded in these works.

I'm also still largely interested in painting pretty pools and other fun stuff like cacti:

A studio visit to my good pal Nick Wilkinson always seems to inspire me color-wise, but confuses me in that his body of work can be so different but make sense in the same way through his use of different mediums. I look at these two paintings and they could have been done by two different people. My work is schizophrenic and although that's bad for gallery owners trying to sell my stuff, it's the only way I can continue to paint, which has been very difficult this year. I just want to give up and be an accountant. 

In other news, Jeff and Bret and I are planning a holiday group show at Fiasco! Gallery's new location.

Yeah great work guys holding down that wall while I paint something

The show will include several local artists, an awesome DJ, a food truck, and some local beer. It's on December 6th, from sundown to about midnight. You should really go, it's good for you to get out of the house now and then. I'll post the address everywhere in due time, for now just keep your pants on and remember that something is going down on the 6th of December.

There was a show at Casita Del Pueblo in Whittier this month, not many people attended it and it was weird/awful to be back in a town I spent a brief moment living in. At least I like what I painted for the show:

There are some really great artists in this show, there are some really great pieces. I was lucky enough to co-curate this annual affair, and despite some resistance I think the walls looked pretty good. What do I know, I'm not some jerk from LA anymore, I'm a jerk who lives in a podunk town on the central coast of California.

Luckily, aside from the holiday-ish party in December at Fiasco!, I have no other shows to do. I am burned out and hate painting so much if it had a face I'd spit in it. Maybe if you're reading this you have purchased work from me, thank you, good for you. I don't think I'll be making much work next year and the year after that I hope to make even less. Does that make them more valuable? According to what I know about comic books and beanie babies, yes. 

If you're reading this and you hate me, I guess you were right about me and you win. Congrats. Happy Holidays everyone!

Lurkers-

I am happy to announce that you can now see a couple of my paintings in Fiona Bleu Gallery in Morro Bay. I figured if Jeff is cool enough to show in there, I should just barely make it in riding his thai-iced-tea-stained coattails. I don't have a picture of the gallery, but I did just take this pic with FBG owner Rowan Chase:

this picture of Rowan from Biz Buzz and I go way back

I also will be showing some of my pool paintings at Sans Liege tasting room in Pismo Beach come September. I guess my paintings wanted a coastal vacation. 

Worry not, SLO locals, or SLOcals as some people say, you can still catch me painting away at Huckleberry Market. Oh, you want a link? Here you go.

More news sooner or later. In the meantime, buy something cheap I need money for coffee:

www.mkt.com/neal-breton

yours truly,

n

Hello Lurkers-

It's been a minute, I know...but check this out:

I was delighted to be asked to be a part of Flower Pepper Gallery's "Extravaganza" in late July, where Walt Hall, Jon Measures and I were painting for real life in front of curious gallery goers.

Huckleberry Market opened, a project I am excited to be a part of. I am the resident artist & illustrator there, where I will be working part time trying to sell all kinds of fun stuff, including plants selectively picked by my good pal Nick Wilkinson, owner of Grow Nursery.

I took a part-time job at the first job I ever landed in SLO (er, re-took?)

I am painting the wall of Artisan, the coolest eatery in Paso. 

Don't judge me it's not even close to being finished in this picture.

Jeff is painting a wall too, isn't that precious?

Hi, I'm Jeff, take my pitture

Saturday, August 2 marked my last Art After Dark in Paso's Studios on the Park. Why? Well, I've been asked to leave for trying to make things better, or at least trying to make the powers that be treat the people paying their rent treat resident artists like people and not cows. Fascism is heavy, man. I just want to pay rent and paint stuff for cool people. I highly recommend NOT putting dollars into the pockets of Studios. If you happen to be in town for the weekend, walk right by "suggested donation" box and give those dollars to the artists you see (that don't have the last name Laddon).

So, some good stuff, but also some bad. It's been a great summer for painting pools & tennis courts!

A great big thank you to those lovely people (mostly from LA and SF) who have made this a successful painting sales season. You are keeping the dream alive! Talk to you soon about my next advenutre!

instagram: @nealbretonart
store: www.mkt.com/neal-breton


October 4: 138 Skulls Group Show
@ Casita Del Pueblo, 13100 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, CA
Opening reception October 4, 6-9pm

Greetings Lurkers-

How's the heat treating you? Don't answer that, I don't know if I care to talk about the weather right now.

Oakland was a blast, thanks to all those who came by ONLY. If you didn't come by, don't try sneaking off with any accolades. Big ups to Katie, Cortney and Julie for being such good sports. Also, superstar painter Nic Rodriguez came by to paint live like a real person. It was pretty cool.

That was then, this is now. Check out this show coming up:

Flower Pepper Gallery & Walt Hall present
A Summer Type Show (actual title may vary)
Date: Saturday June 28
Time: 6?
Address: 121 E. Union Street, Pasadena Calif., 91103

Featuring: artists! Walt and Jeff and me and other cooler people.

Check out my Square shop, it's got fun stuff you can buy while sitting on a bag of frozen peas in your unmentionables. It's easy (the shopping, not the sitting part, though that is easy too)!

My mom has a new cat in her life. Watch the video below and get 15% off anything in the Square Store that makes you happy! Excite!

See you at the show, lurkers!

ps: instagram!

Greetings, Lurkers-

Happy Mother's day to those who happened to have given birth to something out there. I spent Mom's day with my mom in the garage, nicknamed "The Vault" because it holds everything I have ever collected. Sports cards, Japanese robots, GI Joes, comic books from the 80s and 90s, it's all there. At least it was cool while we were in there sorting through boxes of stuff that I can hock for art supplies and gas money. If you like any of the aforementioned nerd manna, feel free to email me inquiries here.
I am hitting some old stomping grounds this year. Come on by and say hi/pick up a piece of art/slap my face for breaking your heart:

June 6th: The Fiasco! Gallery Travelling Circus
@ 17 Jewels Salon, 4801 Telegraph Road, Oakland, CA.
Opening reception, June 6th,  6-9pm.
Featuring: Jeff Claassen
Running until: June 30

June 28th: Summer Group Show
@ Flower Pepper Gallery, 121 E Union Street, Pasadena, CA
Opening reception June 28, 6-9pm.
Featuring: Jeff Claassen, Walt Hall
Running until: tbd

this lil' 8x8 entitled "Eskimo Summer" will be on display at Flower Pepper gallery in Pasadena

September 5th: Group Show
@ Rise Above Printing, 4770 Telegraph, Oakland, CA
Opening reception September 5th, 6-9pm.
Featuring: Jeff Claassen, Nic Rodriguez, Ty Hjortland
Running until: tbd

October 4: 138 Skulls Group Show
@ Casita Del Pueblo, 13100 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, CA
Opening reception October 4, 6-9pm


I've updated my Square Store, you can view/buy pieces from my latest series The Lonely Iceberg there. Also, I have some other allegedly cool stuff on there to buy as well. Pay my bills!

Thanks for clicking, see you around.

May/June Events in Oakland!

Lurkers-

So nice to see you. Here's what's happening lately. Lots of upcoming events involving me and my pals. 17 Jewels Salon in Oakland has decided to be nice to me. Not only are they showing Jeff and I in their space in June, but in May they gave a show to my good pal Nic Rodriguez. Here is the skinny on that dude:

Tracy, California artist Nic Rodriguez has only been painting canvas for 5 years, but has always had an innate ability to craft amazing compositions in dozens upon dozens of sketchbooks. A proud graduate of continuation school, he taught art to his fellow students. Despite "settling down" as father and husband, Nic's quirky sense of visual humor and social commentary remains unchanged. With roots in graffiti art, he explores the underbelly of everyday life through his dynamic figurative linework and bold color choices.

Here are some examples of his work:

All Bay Area friends would have a great time hanging out at 17 Jewels Salon at 4801 Telegraph on Friday May 2 from 5-9 pm. Snacks provided by Laced Cakes Bakery, even! 

Scheduled to appear: yours truly! I'll be helping my pal Nic make sure his paintings aren't crooked and he doesn't say the F word in front of families. Come by and say howdy and have a cupcake!

I will also be delivering some artwork to some awesome Bay Area people who stopped by Fiasco! Gallery. With help from some nerdy woodshop/engineer friends, this piece is now powered by a plug and not batteries!

Now if I could only find the contact info for the guy who bought it...