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The Boston Map
36" x 48", oil on canvas. My work has been influenced by cartography for as long as I can remember. In fact, my master's thesis exhibition at Tufts University was a series of abstract maps. This particular piece was inspired by a 19th century "plan of Boston" crafted by a cartographer by the name of Mitchel. While much of what was included in this rendition is accurate today, much has changed, which is what drew me to that earlier period. My focus was to balance the subjects worn, monochromatic, antique feel with strong hits of rich, intense colors, mainly in the water. As with most of my recent works, this piece contains quite a bit of gold paint, which adds a crispness to the surface quality of this iconic image.
2013
Painting
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The Sardine Watch
A one of a kind timepiece designed by Seth B Minkin and created by The Montana Watch Company. Swiss ETA, 17 jewel movement, exhibition case back, buffalo leather strap, sterling silver 1930 case, 18k gold face, engraved by Jake Newell.
2013
Fine Arts, Painting, Product Design
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Barong & Rangda
72" x 96", oil on canvas. This painting depicts two characters that represent good and bad, and the importance of balance between the two, within Balinese culture. As with most of my commissions, this project began with a series of blue print-like drawings which illustrated and conceptualized scope, dimensions and composition. The time piece shown below is another Seth B Minkin/ Montana Watch collaboration inspired by this painting.
2013
Painting
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Blue Crab
36" x 48", oil on canvas. This piece is an excellent example of a commissioned work in which my artistic license and my client's specific preferences dovetail in a collaborative manner. The end result is a bold combination of the subject's highly specific characteristics and a few key decisions based purely on aesthetics. This is essentially what painting means to me; the act of simultaneously reacting to and embracing a subject, while remaining highly aware of how and why each mark I make is a step toward creating a significant and exciting work of art.
2013
Painting
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Rhino
60" x 72", oil on canvas. For this image, I used rich metallics to enhance the dense, rugged details in the rhino's skin. The texture and surface quality of the subject was further exaggerated by applying multiple layers of line drawing and wash; a technique that causes the canvas to physically wrinkle. If you stand in front of this painting and slowly walk along side it, you will see the surface change before your eyes. That is because this work is literally soaked in silver paint.
2013
Painting
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The Bente Box
42" x 78", oil on canvas. Bente, my friend who commissioned the work (hence the title), requested a rich blue background. This worked perfectly with the subjects I had chosen since many of them are creatures of the sea. Once this first paint is laid down, objects take shape and come to life. After the wash is set, individual subjects are gradually built up with many layers of paint. For this piece, I was careful to give each individual subject its due while making sure each of the 90 sections were related and cohesive enough to make the piece successful as a whole. A bento box is perfect for this because of the structured, somewhat rhythmical framework it provides for multiple ingredients. Along with the use of various metallic paints, rich, complex surface qualities were built up through multiple layers over time. This work is a 35th year anniversary gift for the couple who purchased it. Can you identify any of the references to the number 35 in the piece?
2013
Painting
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1930 Harley Davidson 402
36" x 60", oil on canvas. Lots of folks confuse this model for the "knucklehead", which actually came a few years after this. This model does, however, posses many similar features. This bike just has such great lines and the engine has some fabulous details to work with, particularly around the cylinder heads. When you look at these bikes you really get a feel for the innovation, invention, and passion that went into their creation.
2013
Painting
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Dark and Stormy
48" x 72", oil on canvas. This is one of my all time favorite subjects. Point in fact: The final year of my masters program at Tufts was dedicated to large scale elephant paintings. Ironically, and totally coincidentally, our school mascot was the jumbo. The dark palette in this particular image lends a mysterious quality to the composition, and emphasizes the quiet strength of these majestic beasts.
2013
Painting
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The KAYAK Kayak
Approximately 96" kayak circa 1930 restored and resurfaced in preparation for exterior oil paint.
2013
Painting
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Old School
48" x 72", oil on canvas. Inspired by the arrogance and prestige of early court portraiture, Old School is a tip of the cap to my own personal art history, more specifically, a series of works from the mid-1990's that were inspired by the classic masterpieces. The title of the piece is a tongue in cheek play on the haughty, academic nature of these subjects.
2013
Painting
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Various Types of Muzzle-Loading Guns
36" x 72", oil on canvas. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in these early firearms is absolutely astonishing. The inspiration here is to pay homage to all that is sculptural and attractive about these rusty old tools of the trade. While certain details of each model require a substantial amount of accuracy in order to give each original craftsman his due, many of the ornamental elements are more open to interpretation, which is precisely where I took a few liberties and injected a little of my own personality.
2013
Painting
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Naked People Doing Drugs
36" x 72", oil on canvas. While this painting's over the top and in your face content is intentionally humorous, it also presents the viewer with the more serious task of contemplating how and if they connect with it, and where an image like this finds itself within the art world as a whole. If you look closely, you may notice that the painting is a bit hazy. The subdued pallet and heavy dose of bright gold are intended to create the sense that the drugs have taken effect.
2013
Painting
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Scales
60" x 72", oil on canvas. Painting each individual scale is truly a labor of love. Each section is its own tiny abstract work of art. In order to achieve the desired effect, I painted over the dark lines that define each scale, then re-carved them in and repeated this process several times. People often ask me how I work. Do I paint vertically, horizontally, sitting, standing, etc.? The truth is, I cannot think of a technique I have not used, or an approach I have not tried. Basically, a work of art dictates what is required of me and I feel that when I am at my best, I am simply following suit.
2013
Painting
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Gibson Les Paul Custom
24" x 48", oil on canvas. The Gibson Les Paul Custom has had so many incarnations over the decades that it is impossible to choose one. This particular painting represents borrowed characteristics from a few of my favorite renditions from the 1970's. When you consider the various artists that have owned and played with these guitars over the years, it is enough to inspire anyone.
2013
Painting
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Big Pig
60" x 72", oil on canvas. While I have worked many times with this subject, this is my first experience working with the pig on this grand a scale. I find it to be a rather flexible subject, which offers a tremendous range of possibilities. The dark background is meant to lend a quiet sophistication to the composition, while providing an unexpected break from a typically more traditional lighter landscape.
2013
Painting
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Chinese Dragon
48" x 96", oil on canvas. Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. My goal with this piece, was to convey that same sense of power, intensity and strength.
2013
Painting
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BMW R32 1923
36" x 60", oil on canvas. This is such a cool bike. I love how the distinctively Art Deco lines, so quintessential to the period, manage to lend a modern feel to this machine. Shortly before the creation of this motorcycle, BMW's focus was actually aviation. 1920 was their first crack at two wheeled transportation, but I simply had to work with this particular model. So much of what is compelling about this bike would be completely covered up years later.
2013
Painting
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Yellow Lobster
36" x 48", oil on canvas. The Lobster has been a favorite subject of mine for years now. Maybe it is the exquisite variety of patinas on this creature's elaborate armor that appeals to my aesthetic. Or perhaps it is their prehistoric, almost alien-like appearance that I find so intriguing. In this recent effort, the unique perspective is what makes this composition particularly dramatic and compelling.
2013
Painting
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White Horse
60" x 72", oil on canvas. Although this image is quite large, the subject has a calm demeanor that draws the viewer in. I made the bold choice to go with a black background in order to heighten the contrast and intensity of the composition. The dark background also accentuates the subtle tones and details of the painting.
2013
Painting
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Rooster
36" x 60", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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US Map
48" x 60", oil on canvas. Based on a previous, more loosely interpreted work, this commission was created for the Department of Defense, and therefore required more accuracy in the portrayal of our great nation. Part of a year long, 30 painting project for Military Onesource, this was one of the first pieces chosen to become part of the new defining personality of this family oriented government project.
2013
Painting
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1930 Indian 402
36" x 60", oil on canvas. I prefer to work with bikes from the 30's, 40's and 50's because these are the decades in which motorcycle design becomes substantial and veers away from the motorized bicycle look of earlier models. Many man hours go into the creation of these paintings, just as it would take a considerable about of time for one to be built. The right approach when it comes to subjects like these is to focus on the fact that they are serious innovations that require the proper respect and attention to detail.
2013
Painting
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Golf Bag
36" x 60", oil on canvas. My first experience working with this subject resulted in something far more whimsical. In this recent effort, the subject is intended to play the roll of still life and sitter. As is often the case with still lives, subjects like these tend to posses a certain countenance. Idle sporting equipment always seems somewhat fidgety, as though it's waiting to play. As a fan of the game, it's no coincidence that this theme resurfaces in my work from time to time.
2013
Painting
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Sunflowers
24" x 48", oil on canvas. Inspired by the iconic Vincent van Gogh masterpiece, this piece is not only symbolic of my ongoing obsession with flowers, but also an homage to an artist who's work has influenced mine.
2013
Painting
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The Chief
36" x 36", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Blue Scales
48" x 108", oil on canvas. Many of you are familiar with a recent painting of mine entitled "Scales", which began as something completely different and gradually evolved into its current state. Scales was the result of embracing what I found to be the most exciting element of the work (the scales) and editing out that which I found to be unnecessary (the subject). I was so taken by the experience of working on that piece, that I decided to continue the journey on an even grander scale. This painting is on three separate canvases, which offers a variety of installation options. Works like these are truly "built", as they require many layers and a tremendous amount of attention to detail in order to achieve the desired effect. The end result is something as soothing and rhythmical as it is intense.
2013
Painting
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Sea Monster
36" x 96", oil on canvas
2013
Painting
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Pot of Crocodiles
48" x 60", oil on canvas
2013
Painting
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BSA Sloper 1930
36" x 60", oil on canvas. After having worked on a handful of classic motorcycle paintings like this BSA for months on end, I have gained a profound appreciation for the dedication, hard work, and integrity of these magnificent subjects' original creators. I have also developed an appreciation and respect for these amazing machines that reaches far beyond their strength as subjects for my work.
2013
Painting
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The Kiltwearer
48" x 60", oil on canvas
2013
Painting
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Larry's Violin
24" x 36", oil on canvas. I have been fascinated by the graceful curves, intricate details and rich surface qualities of these instruments for quite some time. When I began this commission, the focus was in paying very close attention to all the wonderful details. I find it is best to develop these collective particulars in the early stages of a work, in order to achieve a certain level of authenticity, while simultaneously enhancing its personality.
2013
Painting
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Sea Horse
24" x 48", oil on canvas. As with many of my recent works, the sea horse has a good deal of metallic paint (gold, pewter, etc.) which gives the work a reflective quality that changes with the light and the angle of the viewer. My approach with this piece was to lend an ethereal feel to the composition reminiscent of the subjects natural habitat. The end result is a beautiful balance between the playful nature of the subject and the sophisticated, layered surface qualities achieved through a variety of techniques.
2013
Painting
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103 Sardines
36" x 36", oil on canvas. This piece is the culmination of a year's worth of working with similarly themed subjects on a much larger scale. 103 Sardines is intended to have a compressed feel, as if it had tightened and intensified as a result of being shrunk. The interference greens, blues, and other metallics mimic the shimmering effect of these tiny creatures' surface qualities.
2013
Painting
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Cigar Store Indian & Two Birds
60" x 72", oil on canvas. This commission was originally intended to be one Indian, but with the dimensions needing to be horizontal, there would have been too much empty space around the subject for the composition to work. I decided the piece needed an additional figure to balance its newly increased scale, and thus, "Two Birds" was born; an Indian character whose countenance and regalia compliment the spirit of his regal counterpart.
2013
Painting
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Elephant
67" x 80", oil on canvas. For this image, I used rich metallics to enhance the dense, rugged details in the elephant's skin. The texture and surface quality of the subject was further exaggerated by applying multiple layers of line drawing and wash; a technique that causes the canvas to physically wrinkle. If you stand in front of this painting and slowly walk along side it, you will see the surface change before your eyes. That is because this work is literally soaked in gold paint.
2013
Painting
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Surf Monkey Fun Juice
24" x 36", oil on canvas. A commissioned piece for a truly unique wine label. The label reads: Handcrafted from premium grapes sourced from Split Rock Vineyard, the 2009 Surf Monkey Fun Juice Pinot Noir embodies the spirit of surf monkeys everywhere. This year's wine is dedicated to the loco monos surfistas inhabiting the wilds of Costa Rica near a little spot called Playa Guiones. The label artwork was created by artist Seth Minkin who shares a special affinity with me for simians, fermented grapes, and shared good times.
2013
Painting
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1953 Mondial Factory Production Racer
36" x 60", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Jeff's Elephant
48" x 72", oil on canvas. Commissioned for a client in Livingston Montana, this piece was based on a series of photographs taken during a wildlife expedition in South Africa.
2013
Painting
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Camacho
24" x 24", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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The Baker's Mistress
48" x 48", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Luna
24" x 36", oil on canvas. Commissioned by a collector in Montana. Pet portraits are a popular request and fortunately, dogs happen to be one of my favorite subjects. The fitted dimensions and overhead perspective of the composition help to make this piece not only a successful portrait, but also a generally unique painting.
2013
Painting
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Rooster
60" x 72", oil on canvas. The ambient evening setting of this composition echos the feel of the simultaneously completed "Big Pig", which hang's in The Liberty Hotel's private dining area in CLINK. This Rooster's bold, dramatic presence found it's home within the equally theatrical interior of an 18th century farmhouse in New Hampshire.
2013
Painting
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The Simians
48" x 60", oil on canvas. A commissioned work for a client in San Francisco who along with a fantastic sense of humor, possesses an extensive appreciation for all things primate. This piece is an obvious parody of the typical family portrait. Lots of bright color was injected to exaggerate the already whimsical feel of the work. The bold, graphic pattern of the wallpaper was utilized to ground the subjects within the composition. Once completed, this wonderful collaboration went on to be framed by a master craftsman who's own creations are featured in the Honolulu Museum of Art.
2013
Painting
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Kato
48" x 48", oil on canvas. A commissioned portrait for a private client. As with all portraits, the trick is to capture a subject's personality. Their essence. This is not always easy, particularly with animals. I find it helps to start by focusing on the eyes, overall expression and posture. For this project, working with a larger scale enabled me to exaggerate features and details that truly identified the subject's charming individuality.
2013
Painting
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The Frankenseins
36" x 48", oil on canvas. I have an inexplicable fascination with Frankenstein. Perhaps it's the iconic, polarizing nature of his countenance or the charming notion of a gentle giant that compels me to continue to revisit this subject. The painting also features another consistent theme of mine; the suit and tie, which provides balance to the composition by way of clean, graphic lines and colors. The Frankensteins now hang proudly at Portland Wine Storage in Portland, Oregon. A perfect fit for the company that organizes 'Scary Bottle Night' for their clients every Halloween.
2013
Painting
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Norton Model 18 1927
36" x 60", oil on canvas. This was the first bike in the series I actually finished. The first bike I started was the BSA, but as the process evolved I continued to dig deeper, commit harder, and generally became more deeply involved with each new piece. Because of this, the process was cyclical and non sequential and I found myself revisiting earlier works that I had previously considered to be completed. Like all the bikes I have chosen to work with, this Norton's quirky, exposed engine and funky details made it a wonderful subject.
2013
Painting
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Monkey
24" x 24", oil on canvas. Used as the cover art for The Word of Mouth Manual, vol. II.
2013
Painting
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Mercedes 540k Special Roadster
36" x 120", oil on canvas. Introduced at the 1936 Paris Motor Show, the Friedrich Geiger designed car was a development to the 500K, itself a development of the SSK. Available as a two seater cabriolet, four seater coupé or seven seater limousine with armoured sides and armoured glass, it was one of the largest cars of the time.
2013
Painting
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The Kraken
48" x 48", oil on canvas. This is not my first iteration of this mysterious sea creature, but like all my works, this piece is completely different than the last version, which was done in 2003 in San Francisco. In this rendition, my mission was to achieve the ethereal qualities of the deep sea and the fascinating alien-like creatures that inhabit it.
2013
Painting
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Red Devon
60" x 72", oil on canvas. Commissioned by a private client in Vermont. This project was unique in that I don't always have the opportunity to personally photograph the subjects I work with. In this case, I shot hundreds of photos of about a dozen Red Devon cows at a ranch in Vermont. I then went through an intensive process of elimination to come up with my absolute favorite. This took some time and was not an easy choice. The advantage was that in each case, I had taken photographs with the composition of the painting in mind. The palette was chosen with the log, stone and bright sunlight of the interior in mind.
2013
Painting
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Silver Scales
48" x 108", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Swordfish
48" x 72", oil on canvas. Commissioned by a private client in San Francisco.
2013
Painting
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Karate Chop
36" x 72", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Boston Terrier
18" x 28", oil on canvas.
2013
Painting
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Butcher Chart
24" x 24", oil on canvas. This whimsical interpretation of a culinary classic is part of an ongoing series of works dedicated to my profound appreciation for the fine art of food. In recent years, the culinary arts have greatly inspired many of the recent works I have created.
2013
Painting
Please do not reproduce without the expressed written consent of Seth B Minkin.