Category: Paint

Paint For Peace

7/10/2020

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of contributing to a public painting project called Paint For Peace in downtown Albuquerque. Spearheaded by the fine folks at OT Circus, the project aims to liven up the drab and desolate-looking Central corridor after a majority of businesses closed as a result to the Covid-19 outbreak. Windows and doors have been locked and boarded up for months, especially after tensions escalated when a peaceful protest turned violent, resulting in broken windows and damaged properties.

In an attempt to reclaim some of the overall visual appeal of downtown Albuquerque, a collective of local artists were recruited to make some lemonade out of life's lemons. With approval by the city and consent from the owners of each business, we were each urged to lay claim to any of the plywood boards affixed to the building and do what we do best. Some of us even made it onto this week's news report! https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/artists-create-murals-on-boarded-up-downtown-storefronts/5786615/?fbclid=IwAR0DZZKJS5s_KcGMEUhZsfE1dhum9rtifQVMJK7z5sIB0ezsFqBCR5ZFXuA

Needless to say, I'm ecstatic to have been offered such an opportunity, as developing the large-scale mural and public art aspect of my repertoire is one of my priorities as an artist. Of course, it's a pleasure to have something up alongside some of the other dope artists from around Albuquerque for such a good cause, but if and after our nation regains some sort of normalcy beyond this pandemic, the boards will come down and the art will be auctioned off. I'll have more info on that as things progress. In the meantime, if you're in or around downtown ABQ and have about ten minutes to spare, do yourself a favor and take a cruise down Central Avenue for a free art show. You won't regret it!

Shout outs to:
OT Circus
Jennifer DeSantis
Victoria Van Dame
Jessica Nicole
The Paint For Peace artist team
City of Albuquerque
All the business owners who gave the green light to us artists

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OCTO STAIRCASE AT DESERT VALLEY BREWING CO.

7/8/2019

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A few weeks ago, I had the surprise on-a-whim pleasure of being invited to contribute some graffiti artwork to one of the local brewpubs here in Albuquerque. It's been a serious minute since I'd done any sort of large-scale work with, especially with spray paint (and I'm pretty sure that the majority of what was doing at the time was illegal), but that's neither here, nor there. What matters is that IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME, and it gave me the bug to want to do more large public pieces.

If ever you are in Northeast Albuquerque looking for a place to grab a bite and sip some suds, visit out Desert Valley Brewing Co. on the corner of Wyoming and Comanche and check out the progressing urban graffiti theme taking over the walls inside.

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AMONG SLEEPING GIANTS

8/1/2018

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It's been about a year and a half since my last blog post. My art has been ever-so-slowly been making progress, as I have majorly been working at my own leisure. What can I say? It tends to be the conditioned pace at which I find small windows of opportunity between work shifts, home maintenance, my relationship and other life aspects to dedicate to art. It seems my work is always in a perpetual, stagnant state of "in-progress" as it sits in my studio...

...that is until an opportunity presents itself that provides my work public exposure and me with a deadline. (Due dates and deadlines have always lit a fire under my ass; it was true at university, and it's true now.) I'm beyond excited that that opportunity comes in the form of one of my first public art shows since moving back to New Mexico. Not only that, but it worked out into a collaborative show with one of my very good friends from childhood, Eric Pullins.

This Friday, August 3rd, is when we will both showing our latest works for all of Albuquerque to see. Held at the OT Circus gallery, this event will be a fraction of the goings-on around downtown as local businesses participate in First Friday's ABQArtwalk. I am so honored to be able to participate in this event, and I hope it to be the initial shove of the proverbial "ball" that desperately needs rolling.

Consider this an open invite to all! Not only is the event free and all ages, but it's a good reason to spend a summer evening among Albuquerque's creative talent as we transition into August! We hope to see you there!

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It's Crazy To Think...

2/1/2017

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...that it has been an entire year since I've update my blog. It's even crazier to think that I've been back in my home state of New Mexico for just over that year. In all the time that's passed, there have been some pretty significant milestones, the biggest of which has been securing the mortgage of my very first home; and with it comes plenty of extra room to play around in!

I have turned one of the spare bedrooms into my own music and art studio. I plan on separating them into their own individual work spaces with some future additions to the property down the road, but for the meantime it's perfect.

I know I've posted photos of this painting before, but it excites me to get back to it after such a long hiatus, not to mention getting back into my oil paints period. I've now entered the intricate detail-oriented phase of this painting, and I'm stoked :)

Slow and steady progress...

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Put On Your Art Goggles!

2/9/2016

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What's up, everyone?

I just want to invite you to join us at the Kaktus Brewery Nob Hill location on Saturday, February 13th for the debut of Art Goggles!

Caitlin Padilla and I will be instructing groups of folks (just like you!) on how to paint simple, yet, beautiful compositions on canvas while enjoying a pint or two of your favorite Kaktus brew. This is the first time I will be doing something of this nature, so I'd love to have you join us for this event.

Spend opening evening with your significant other or your best friends as we first demonstrate how to paint this pair of love birds cuddled up on a branch, then gift your masterpiece to that special someone the following day - Valentine's day!

There are a limited number of spaces available, so act fast. $35 admits one and gets you your first drink as well as all the supplies you need to paint. And, if you stay for dinner afterward, you'll receive 10% off of your meal!

Visit the Art Goggles website for ticket purchases and more info.

Thanks, and we look forward to your presence!

Will Wooten

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A Book O' Bones

9/18/2014

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I can't remember exactly how I came upon an absolutely fantastic contemporary art book dedicated solely to the octopus (I think it was a google search of some sort, entailed by leagues of research to find out who the publisher is and from where I might purchase a copy, blah, blah, blah...). Once I discovered the publisher, I discovered its website. After I discovered its website, I discovered that the art featured within the pages of its books is really a showcase of artists whose works (paintings, drawings, sculptures, tattoos) make the final cut following an themed open submission.

Earlier this year, I responded to an open call for skull & skeleton artwork, entitled "Excavate: Unearthing Artistic Skeletal Remains", by submitting three of my oil paintings. Today, I'm happy to announce that two of my three made it into the final publishing. My "Portrait No. 3" and "Outer Orbit" paintings will be featured alongside hundreds of other talented artists' works from around the world. I am extremely humbled and grateful to have my art chosen for it.

Portrait No. 3

Outer Orbit

Out Of Step Books is the publisher and the folks there are now taking pre-orders for this book through their website. The books are expected to ship the second week of October. I have been in correspondence with Jinxi Caddel, one half of the owner/husband-wife/luchador tag-team duo, and she is one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know. They ensure quality, love and care with every single transaction. You shan't be disappointed.

You can order your copy by clicking here or on any of the links above: Out Of Step Books

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Galaxy Knuckles

5/22/2014

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I must once again apologize to the folks who have been anxiously awaiting tattoo designs, drawings and paintings from me. A pretty epic art show suddenly caught my attention and sounded too damn good to pass up. I have been putting in work on a skateboard deck over the last few weeks and today I finally finished the thing, right on time for the deadline.

Because of my late participation, this piece was challenging. For the first few weeks, I had no idea in which direction I was going to take it and I was seriously second-guessing the first few layers of paint, especially my sudden decision to jump mid-way from acrylics to oils. Luckily, oil paints play real well off of acrylics, (but not the other way around) so I just kept pushing it until the image slowly started to reveal itself. I'm really glad I kept going because it turned out better than I had hoped.

I've uploaded a sequence of photos, stages from start to finish, showing how the painting evolved. Haven't figured out a title, yet, but I've been bouncing between 'Iron Galaxy' (a nod to Cannibal Ox, a favorite hip hop duo of mine) or 'Galaxy Knuckles' (one of the many self-acclaimed aliases of the hilarious hip hop blogger, http://bigghostlimited.com/)

I've also uploaded the flyer for the show, which cusps the last day of May and the first of June. To date, there have been over 300 submissions from artists around the globe, so it's going to be pretty huge. In addition, one of my all time favorite LA graffiti artists, MEAR ONE, has not only submitted his own piece, but will be at the opening event painting live. This all happens at Refuge PDX.

If you need something to do on the last Saturday night of May, swing by and check it out!

Thanks to ArtDeckCo and Future Shock for the last-minute opportunity and for the board to paint on.

Thanks for reading!

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A Breath of Life..

3/20/2012

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I've pulled a couple of canvases from the (upright) stacks that have been lying in wait, unfinished, since my last term at PSU. Aiming to complete the set, these are a set of four paintings based on the four elements: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. Only Fire and Air have reemerged with Earth and Water slated to make an appearance by summer.