MadArt

2 New paintings and explanation

2010-08-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

An explanation of my Jazz cafe paintings ( with Jack Kerouac quote)

By Carl Ristaino

Through-out the years I have created a series of paintings and drawings on this theme.

Each one influencing the last one, in a continuous evolution.

I spent a good part of my youth in smoky bars and dank basements listening to bands of all types,

under the influence of alcohol among other things.

I think one can go out an experience something in the moment of the music

that can not be translated on film or recorded with audio.

I have been painting this painting all my life in different forms.

I've been trying to capture that blurry memory,

that untranslatable feel that is there and then gone.

It's a flow, it's a vibe, and the whole room is moving with it.

I believe the great Jack Kerouac said it best…

"...now it's jazz, the place is roaring, all beautiful girls in there,

one mad brunette at the bar drunk with her boys - one strange chick I remember from somewhere,

wearing a simple skirt with pockets, her hands in there, short haircut, slouched, talking to everybody -

Up and down the stairs they come - the bartenders are the regular brand of Jack,

and the heavenly drummer who looks up in the sky with blue eyes,

with a beard, is wailing beer-caps of bottles and jamming on the cash register and everything is going to the beat

-- it's the beat generation, it's beat. It's the beat to keep, it's the beat of the heart,

it's being beat and down in the world and like old-time lowdown and

like in ancient civilizations the slave boatmen rowing galleys to a beat and servants spinning pottery to a beat...."

Club

2009-04-10T18:35:00.001-07:00

Spring Training

2009-03-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

2009-03-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

This is a close up of the crowd (from my latest fenway painting). Some notable characters in the crowd are Bob Marley, Steven King, Jeff Smith, Ankit and Darsh.

Almost 2009

2008-12-25T21:58:00.000-08:00

Veiw from a window in work

2008-12-25T16:38:00.001-08:00

This is a view from a window from work , I drew on a post it ... also on post it project

Fishing

2008-12-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

With this snow storm on the way. I figured I would put up nice summer fishing scene.

Second life

2008-12-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

This Artwork also lived a second life as a poster for Andy Santospago's concert poster

AmericanRecorder

2008-12-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

Design I created and sent in for American Recorder Magazine.

England

2008-11-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

if you look closely there is a spirit rising from the church cross

Lady with the Green Dress

2008-11-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

This Painting is currently with a collector in L.A. I called it lady with the green dress 'cause I like how that lady melts into the background.

Delaware

2008-11-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

I love History , here is the original painting and my rendition of Washington crossing the Delaware.

Lady with Fish

2008-11-02T16:23:00.001-08:00

This piece I had worked on a while back and forgot about.

What is the Pointillism

2008-10-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

This is a post-it note drawing that i drew for my brother Andy's collaborative blog (P.I.P.) (The Post-it Project)

Check it out at.... The Post-It Project

Sundial

2008-10-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

This painting was done after a trip to Ireland where my friends Richie and Ruth were married, they suggested the name Sundial.

This piece has a vague Celtic theme running through it.

Sketches for Sundial

2008-10-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

I was looking for an idea for my next piece. My daughter Izzy rifled through an old box of notebooks one day and left one open, on the floor, with the page open with these sketches. I used them in a painting called sundial.

Nantucket Sleigh Ride

2008-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to work on a project relating to New England history. This painting is based on some historical prints of a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" This is when a whale boat is dragged up to 23 miles an hour by a speared whale.

I almost did this painting in black and white (pen and ink) but decided to add some color to it.

2008-10-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is my study of the Egyptian Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

I used to fill my high school note books with many sketches of cities, this brought me back there, if only for a moment,

Muhammad Ali

2008-10-22T18:49:00.001-07:00

There was a weird used book store across from a suburban apartment I used to live in . It looked like a barn, and eventually during a snow fall myself and my daughter wandered around the store. Iz ran around like a maniac. I found a cool book of arial photos of Egypt. I based a painting on it which I will put on my next post.

2007-10-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

A while back I met up with Bird Dog in a Pub and he asked me to design an album cover for his Album "Untucked".
Thi is what I came up with. The Image was painted with Gouache on paper. I generally am happy with the work , but i've been told it looks like the bird is vomiting. This was unintended.

MadArt Intro

2007-10-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

In this Blog I am going to post new and old art and attempt to give some insite into my thought process and other details surounding the piece