Mark Hope @ Uptownboogiedown

A Portrait of Mark Hope

A Portrait of Mark Hope

A Portrait of Mark Hope
Acrylic and Marker on Canvas
2 Canvases (30″ x 40″ each)
Painted Live @ Uptownboogiedown
May 11th 2008
Sold - Private collection London, England

A Portrait of a Hunter

A Portrait of a Hunter
A Portrait of a Hunter
Acrylic on Canvas
24″ x 36″
61cm x 91.5cm
2008

Girl with Locks of Gold

Girl with Locks of Gold
Girl with Locks of Gold
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas
24″ x 36″
61cm x 91.5cm
2008

Woman with Candy Hair

Woman with Candy Hair
Woman with Candy Hair
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas
24″ x 30″
61cm x 76cm
2008

Self Portrait in Striped Suit

Self Portrait in Striped Suit
Self Portrait in Striped Suit
Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas
24″ x 30″
61cm x 76cm
2008

The Artist Project

Free invitation to Artropolis in Chicago from Pete Nawara
Continue reading ‘The Artist Project’

Woman in Bright Pink

Woman in Bright Pink
Woman in Bright Pink
Acrylic, Gouache Marker and Gold Leaf on Canvas
69″ x 60″
177.5cm x 152cm
2008

Woman in Bright Pink (Detail)

A Portrait of Robert Schultz

A Portrait of Robert Shultz

A Portrait of Robert Schultz
Acrylic on Canvas
65″ x 63″
165cm x 160cm
2008

Picturing Mary: Annunciation

OPENING SATURDAY MARCH 28TH!

Pete Nawara in the Picturing Mary Group Exhibition March 22 to May 24, 2008

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Annunciation
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2004

PICTURING MARY: CONTEMPORARY IMAGES OF THE MADONNA

The Orleans Street Gallery presents Picturing Mary: Contemporary Images of the Madonna from March 22 to May 24, 2008. This group exhibition will feature fresh interpretations of the Virgin Mary, stretching traditional representations and crossing cultural boundaries. Through painting, photography and mixed media, Chicago-area artists reflect upon and rephrase the Marian image. Selections span the allegorical and the literal, the maternal and the divine. Curated by Ruth Nelson.

Artists include: Diana Arrieta, Chantal Baros, Dorisa Camps, Margaret Carsello, Alicia Chester, Brian Dortmund, Makeba Kedem-DuBose, Elisabeth Dzuricsko, Bro. Mark Elder CM, Valerie Fuqua, Felipe Garcia, LeeAnn Gause, Diane Green, Violet Jaffe, Aphrodite Navab and Richard Jochum, Pete Nawara, Kristine O’Reilly, Enrique Ortiz, Elizabeth Parker, Rosie Presti, Cheryl Quick, Ben Speckmann, and Rachel Weaver Rivera.

The Picturing Mary Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Orleans Street Gallery is located in the Bourbon Street section of Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174. Gallery hours are Thursday 12-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12-8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m . – 4 p.m. For more information contact Gallery Director Anni Holm at art@orleansStreetGallery.com or 630.524.5048

Pete Nawara in the Daily Herald Here’s a write up about the show in the Daily Herald.

Uptownboogiedown Launch Video


Uptown Promo HD
Uploaded by lukesnellin

Drawing Sale!!! $150 EACH!!!

nolanfarrell.jpg The Scream Automatic Portraits

 

Christelle William Mackendree Boy With an Electronic Toothbrush

 

Christelle Charcoal Elsa Jagger Pigs

 

Self Portrait suzy Yaroslavs

Check it out people. All of these drawings are on sale until April 15th. A measly $150 per piece. THAT’S RIGHT! Only $150. This does NOT include shipping or framing. Buy 2 for $250 and save yourself some doughnuts. I know, I know… it’s crazy. Click on an image for a closer view and to make comments on the piece. Email me if you’re interested in buying one.

Man in a Houndstooth Suit @ Zella Brown

Hey all you Chicagoan tricksters. Check out my latest studio work on display over at the beautiful Zella Brown. It’s for sale, so get down there and buy it before someone else scoops it up. Why not get that beautiful sofa or a lovely accent pillow as well?

Man in a Houndstooth Suit @ Zella Brown

Uptownboogiedown Launch Time Lapse

Check out this time lapse video from the Sunday party that blew all of our tube socks into the rafters.


Uptownboogiedown Launch Time Lapse
Uploaded by petenawara

K$ @ Uptownboogiedown

K$K$

The uptownboogiedown launch party went off like a firecracker (fireworks glasses included) with lots of fun and bounce and pretty ladies everywhere. What a good time. These two ultra-pop laser bright portraits of K were banged out right there in the club amidst the shaking booties and the Boogie Blasters™. They are painted on two 30×40 in Canvases. Look at them.

Uptownboogiedown

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Ladies, Gentlemen and the rest of you. I will be off to London this March to help Poussez with the launch of their all new monthly Sunday madness at Nottinghill Arts Club. That’s right! I’ll be performing a live painting at this sure to be SLAMMBASTIC filled with laserbolts of happiness and swishy good times. I’m expecting Poussez will be feeding me full of delicious rum drinks and pushing the groove that gets me creative juices flowing. It’ll be the sexiest night yet over at NHAC so be sure to check this one out if you’re going to be in the London area. If you’re not.. it might be the right time for a visit. No joke. I’ll keep you updated on this.

Pete Nawara on Spoonfed

Artist Profile: Pete Nawara
By Tom Jeffreys


© Pete Nawara

American artist Pete Nawara is fascinated by one thing: beauty. It’s possible that he finds other stuff interesting too, but basically, for him, beauty is the thing. Beauty, of course, can mean a number of different things: a pretty face, a hot body, a great painting… But beauty also always has to do with concepts of beauty. Ok, so that sounds obvious, but beauty is not just intrinsic: concepts of beauty vary (often quite dramatically) according to society, culture, historical period etc. You wouldn’t see Titian’s plump white ladies on the front cover of Vogue, for example.

Nawara’s is quite a straightforward concept. He has his subjects pose in front of a camera as if it were a mirror. They ‘check themselves out’: they pout, frown, style their hair, smooth their wrinkles, adjust their ties… Nawara then takes these images, fiddles with them on a computer for a bit, projects the finished composition onto a canvas, and colours it with thinned acrylic paint, gouache markers, and gold leaf.
This process is interesting in that the finished images portray individuals engaging with themselves, worrying about the parts they don’t like or admiring the parts they do. Nawara explores the way in which people see themselves, and how this can never be direct or objective. The way in which he distorts the images and lends them a kind of computerized pop-art aesthetic echoes the way in which identity is always (at least, in part) an effect of the consumption of media.

One major thing that Nawara can be admired for is that he seeks quite resolutely to leave excessive theorising to others. Not for him the nonsensical po-mo claptrap spouted by those whose work cannot stand alone without lengthy paragraphs of sub-Deleuzean explanatory flim-flam. Nawara rejects what he describes as “endless babbling” in favour of this simple statement: “I strive to make objects that are aesthetically pleasing”.

So, on these terms, does he succeed? Well, there’s quite a heavy pop-art vibe. If you hate Warhol, then you might not like this stuff. But there’s more too: Nawara’s work is not simply slick or advert-flat. Man in a Houndstooth Suit, for example, shows both boldly clashing patterns and a sensitivity in the depiction of differing facial expressions. And the use of gold leaf in works such as St. Peter imbues the subject with an almost kitsch quasi-Catholic beauty. Direct but also quite subtle, intelligent but mercifully not over-theorized, Nawara’s paintings are definitely worthy of greater attention.

To see Pete in action, head on down to uptownboogiedown on 9th March.

[From http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/articles/Tom/123 ]

Man in a Houndstooth Suit [A Portrait of Nolan Farrell]

Man in a Houndstooth Suit [A Portrait of Nolan Farrell]
Man in a Houndstooth Suit
[A Portrait of Nolan Farrell]
Acrylic on Canvas
64 x 52 Inches (162 x 132 cm)

Help me win the Saatchi Showdown competition! Cast your vote here!!!

Buy A Print of This Artwork

Man in a Houndstooth Suit [A Portrait of Nolan Farrell] (in Progress)

Man in a Houndstooth Suit [A Portrait of Nolan Farrell]Here is the start of a painting of the acclaimed headhunter Nolan Farrell in his houndstooth suit. I have been documenting this portrait very closely and will update you with the records and details in their entirety upon completion of this work. This particular photograph is of extremely poor quality and for this I apologize. The lighting conditions were not ideal during the time of shooting and my Nikon D50 is presently being used for another project in which it cannot be moved from its current location and therefore I was forced to use my Nikon Coolpix S50. While this is a wonderful camera capable of many things, it is not the best in low light conditions. To be honest I could not be bothered to fiddle with its clumsy settings in order to get the shot right. Obviously I will take more care when shooting the finished work.

Pete Nawara on Daily Candy


For Pete’s Sake - Pete Nawara Portraits

mirror mirror!

The closest thing to art in your apartment is the installation of assorted deodorants in your bathroom. (You call it “Still Life with Wetness Protection.”)

Time to redecorate.

Start with a portrait from artist Pete Nawara.

Read More.

Buy my Book

Pete Nawara - The Mirror Conspiracy

My book The Mirror Conspiracy is now available at Blurb. Please take a look and spread the word.

In other news, I’m considering offering giclée prints of some selected paintings. These prints would be available on high quality paper and on archival canvas at affordable prices. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know by leaving a comment on this post. Also, let me know which pieces you would most likely want to see available.

Woman with a Pearl Necklace

Woman with a Pearl Necklace
Woman with a Pearl Necklace
70 x 52 inches
2007
Available [Contact Now]

Continue reading ‘Woman with a Pearl Necklace’

Rhia [in progress]

Rhia [in progress]
Now I’m just fiddling … Should be working more on definition, but have burnt myself out on other projects. I will finish this up shortly. Fear not.

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At this point I’ve decided to drop in a light grey background to really pop out the whites in the painting. This will help me decipher where I need to push things back and where I need to let things stay white so that they pop.

Continue reading ‘Rhia [in progress]’

Nolan Farrell

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Nolan Farrell
27.5 x 19.5 inches
Mixed Media on Paper
2007

Finishing Bébé #1

bebe01_0004.jpgSo, the time has come to finish up this little bébé. This is when the fingers start to REALLY hurt. Continue reading ‘Finishing Bébé #1′

Bébé Zillay

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Bébé Zillay
Plaster and Wire
0 - 3 Months
2007
Continue reading ‘Bébé Zillay’

Making Bébés with Anna Simonovic

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Anna Simonovic and I have finally started making bébés together. Here is our first bébé in process. He’s currently drying and consists of 20lbs of powedered plaster. We haven’t named him yet and are taking suggestions. Stay tuned for final pictures.

Continue reading ‘Making Bébés with Anna Simonovic’

Debt Collectors

debtcollectors.jpg  Here’s a sketch that happened because of the debt collectors. You know how it is. 

Sketch of Anna

Sketch of Anna SimonovicHere’s a little sketch I did this afternoon when the light was gone and I couldn’t paint anymore. Makes me want to get out the ol’ charcoal pad and do some life drawing. Anyone interested in modeling let me know.

St. Elsa (Reprise)

stelsareprise.jpg Continue reading ‘St. Elsa (Reprise)’

The Greater the Segment

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The Greater the Segment
Mixed Media on Canvas
44 x 78 in
2007

Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Abstract Series

I’ll be working on a new abstract series this month based on the “A Thing That Happens” paintings from Mélange in London.  Get ready for some colorful canvas explosions to be posted soon.

St. Elsa [Reprise]

stelsareprise800.jpgSt. Elsa [Reprise]
Mixed media on canvas
4 x 5ft
2007
Sold - Private Collection - New York

Portrait of Peter J. Shen

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Peter J. Shen
Mixed Media on Paper - 2007
Available (email now)

Available Tour Paintings

Citizen Cope - Denver - The Ogden - June 9th 2007

$1600 Available now [email]
Citizen Cope - New York - Webster Hall - May 20th 2007

$1600 Available now [email]
Citizen Cope - Norfolk - Norva - May 18th 2007

$1600 Available now [email]


Dinosaur Jr. - Houston - Warehouse Live - June 17th


$1600 Available now [email]

Black Keys - Minneapolis - Fine Line - June 28th

Black Keys - Minneapolis - Fine Line - June 28th

Painted live at the concert.Sold

Black Keys - Detroit - Magestic Theatre Center - June 26th

Black Keys - Detroit - Magestic Theatre Center - June 26thPainted live at the concert. Available: [Contact to Purchase]

Black Keys - Clevland - Agora Theatre & Ballroom - June 25th

Black Keys - Clevland - Agora Theatre & Ballroom - June 25th

Painted live at the concert.Sold

The Walkmen - Indianapolis - The Vogue - June 24th

The WalkmenPainted live at the concert. Sold

Black Keys - Nashville - City Hall - June 22nd

Black Keys - Nashville - City Hall - June 22nd

Painted live at the concert.Sold

Dinosaur Jr. - Atlanta - The Tabernacle - June 21st

Dinosaur Jr. - Atlanta - The Tabernacle - June 21st

Painted live at the concert. Sold

Black Keys - Dallas / Ft. Worth - The Ridglea - June 19th

Black Keys - Dallas / Ft. Worth - The Ridglea - June 19thPainted live at the concert. SoldPete Nawara painting live at the Ridglea in Ft. Worth Pete Nawara painting live at the Ridglea in Ft. Worth, TX

Black Keys - San Antonio - The Lonestar Pavillion - June 18th

Black Keys - San Antonio - The Lonestar Pavillion - June 18th

Painted live at the concert. Sold
Private Collection New York

Dinosaur Jr. - Houston - Warehouse Live - June 17th

Dinosaur Jr. - Houston - Warehouse Live - June 17th
Painted live at the concert.

Available: [Contact to Purchase]

Black Angels - Austin - La Zona Rosa - June 16th

Black Angels - Austin - La Zona Rosa - June 16th
Painted live at the concert.Sold.

Black Keys - Tulsa - Cain’s Ballroom - June 13th

Black Keys - Tulsa - Cain’s Ballroom - June 13th
Painted live at the concert. Sold.

Kellar Williams - Kansas City - The Uptown - June 11th 2007

Kellar Williams - Kansas City - The Uptown - June 11th 2007
Painted live at the concert.Sold.

Citizen Cope - Denver - The Ogden - June 9th 2007

Citizen Cope - Denver - The Ogden - June 9th 2007

Painted live at the concert.

Available: [Contact to Purchase]

Alice Smith - San Diego - 4th & B - June 3nd 2007

Alice Smith - San Diego - 4th & B - June 3nd 2007
Painted live at the concert.Sold.

Rachel Yamagata - Los Angeles - The Wiltern - June 2nd 2007

Rachel Yamagata - Los Angeles - The Wiltern - June 2nd 2007
Painted live at the concert. Sold.

Soulive - San Francisco - The Grand - May 31st 2007

Soulive - San Francisco - The Grand - May 31st 2007
Painted live at the concert. Sold.

Citizen Cope - Seattle - The Showbox - May 28th 2007

Citizen Cope - Seattle - The Showbox - May 28th 2007
Painted live at the concert. Sold.

Citizen Cope - New York - Webster Hall - May 20th 2007

Citizen Cope - New York - Webster Hall - May 20th 2007
Painted live at the concert.

Available: [Contact to Purchase]

Citizen Cope - Norfolk - Norva - May 18th 2007

Citizen Cope - Norfolk - Norva - May 18th 2007
Painted live at the concert.

Available: [Contact to Purchase]

Citizen Cope - Philadelphia - The Trocodero - May 17th 2007

Citizen Cope - Philadelphia - The Trocodero - May 17th 2007
Painted live at the concert.
Sold.

St. Elsa

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St. Elsa
Mixed Media on Canvas - Diptych - 2005

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

St Handan

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St. Handan
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2005
Available (email now)

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Portrait of Maxime Cescau

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Portrait of Maxime Cescau
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2006
Sold - Private Collection - London, England

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

St. Anna

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St. Anna
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2005
Sold - Private Collection - Paris, France

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

St. Peter

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St. Peter
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2004
Sold - Private Collection - Hawaii

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

St. Stephan

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St. Stephan
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2005
Sold - Private Collection - Barcelona, Spain

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Automatic Portrait 02

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Automatic Portrait 02
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2005
Available (email now)

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Automatic Portrait 01

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Automatic Portrait 01
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2005
Available (email now)

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

St. Yaroslav

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St. Yaroslav
Mixed Media on 4 Wooden Panels - 2005
Sold - Private Collection - Moscow, Russia

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Flow

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Flow
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2006
Available (email now)

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800

Untitled

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Untitled
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2006
Available (email now)

Christelle

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Christelle
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2004
Available (email now)

A Landscape From Memory

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A Landscape From Memory
Mixed Media on Canvas - 2004
Available (email now)

Download Wallpaper: 1280 x 800