Vinyl Art News
I've started a monthly email newsletter to keep you updated on continuing stories of my life and my art, and to share exciting events. If you'd like to subscribe, please email me at the address above and let me know! You can unsubscribe anytime by emailing me and telling me. You'll get first looks at new pieces. It'll become probably the most intimate and most reliable way of keeping up with me. Below are some excerpts from each issue.
no.22 - June '11
I have no idea where it will lead, but full circle is one direction. Can't say more now, but I will. We'll see where it leads.
I've gotten my pieces back from VH1 in NY and no sooner did they arrive on our doorstep and VH1 Save The Music contacted me about displaying them at Billabong's Design for Humanity event being held on Paramount Studios NYC backlot that was benefitting them! They needed my work to dress up the room where they were going to show some autographed guitars for auction. My wife and I got to go and stay for the whole shindig. Crazy. The event raised over $100,000 and all the guitars were auctioned off. My pieces looked great and got a lot of attention and random cellphone shots.
no.22 - May '11
I'm hoping to get some kind of exposure and credit. I don't know yet. I'm also starting to reach out locally to find places that might buy or show my work. A couple have already responded with interest, and I'm going to get the pieces back from VH1 soon so the timing is good. I'm also going to work on how to package and present my Liter(art)ure for sale. We'll see how it all goes.
I've also decided to start posting again on my blog when I can and something strikes me. I'm going to put a page together of all the pieces I've done for DLF too, and maybe do posts about those. Some interesting stories to tell there for sure.
no.22 - April '11
Having lived here for so long it's hard to let it go, but the escrow process did allow us to do so quite gradually I guess.
Transition too in my business is feeling weird. I'm going to go from staying home watching Abbey and painting during naps to working my art full time. Painting, doing Literarture, finding people who might want commissions, and continuing to do pieces for the David Lynch Foundation. That last one has taken up a LOT of time this last month or so. I've had to deal with "the talent" quite a bit, making it work so everyone's happy. It's worked so far, with my pieces bringing in about $5000...
no.22 - March '11
3) Soooo as far as my Vinyl Art goes... dreams do come true. This has been amazing. Connecting with the David Lynch Foundation Music cause has allowed me to give and give back and give thanks, all at once. Tom Waits handpicked a photo for me to paint and then signed the piece which within a half-hour of listing was pledged for at $750! Tom Waits! The guy being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this month! Man. Iggy Pop and Dave Stewart are among the 16 other artists signing paintings for DLF too. So cool. Hopefully by my next newsletter I'll be able to tell/show you the most amazing one for me. I hope.
I also hope I'm able to get to writing a letter next month. It's going to be crazy with our moving, but I'll try. The pieces at VH1 in NYNY will be coming down soon too, but I'll leave up http://vinylart.info/vh1.htm with the PayPal buttons for awhile.
no.21 - February '11
So, yeah, I'd painted David Lynch and he'd autographed the piece quite awhile ago for his DLFTV. They still have that piece. But now he's started a charity music label. People pledge money and get to download tracks musicians have given to the foundation to bring in money for their projects and such related to Transcendental Meditation. My pieces of the 1st 17 musicians will get autographed by them and then become pledge incentives for more money. A digital version of the painting will be turned into the graphic that shows up on your MP3 player when people download the music. I'll be credited somehow too!
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/davidlynchfoundationmusic/updates shows the first piece. The musician might want a different piece done instead or in addition, but this is the idea anyway. I recorded a little video about why I'm doing this as well, that should be posted at some point. It's such a honor to get to help.
The pieces at VH1 are still up as well, for another month.
no.20 - January '11
I also got the signed contract from VH1 to display the 24 pieces during all of February and March in their NYC corporate gallery. I'm really nervous about it, sending that many pieces across the country. The cool thing though is that they are paying for packing, shipping and insurance! They are hopefully also going to be able to put up a monitor playing my http://tinyurl.com/VAvideo loopingly.
What I'd appreciate is, if you can, share http://vinylart.info/vh1.htm with anyone you think might want to see the exhibit or buy a piece. Prices are listed on that page.
no.19 - December '10
The pieces my mom had in her studio are now up at Cafe Vida in Pacific Palisades, CA. Some 20 of them. They look terrific. A couple have sold already, one going to a member of the band Tool. Very cool.
Also very cool is a show coming up in January in New York City! It'll be 25 pieces! I've already got them all done. Just need to hang them. They'll be on display in the corporate gallery of VH1 near Times Square. Heeyeesh! Wow. So exciting. Really famous rock photographers and artists get shown there. I wish we'd be able to go see it, but I'm not sure.
no.18 - October '10
Another bit of news is that I don't think I'm wearing glasses anymore. Prior to buying the iPhone I had my eyes checked to see if my prescription had changed enough that I'd need new glasses to read what can be VERY small text on this thing's amazingly clear screen. I've worn glasses for several years to correct an astigmatism that used to give me headaches at my job years ago. This time the doctor suggested I try not wearing them at all anymore. I did and I haven't gotten a headache! Surprised me. I'm still not used to not having them on my face but it's certainly more convenient.
As far as art goes, today I found out that the people who were interested in putting on an exhibit of my work in NYC have put together a tentative list of pieces they're interested in displaying! This will be VERY cool I hope. I'll let you know details when I do but it really is kind of the perfect place for my work to be shown.
So as we still try to sell our house...
no.17 - September '10
So, we've listed our home, ready to leave this chapter, this part of our lives, this blasted heat. This house - http://tinyurl.com/VAhome
To move where? Southern California, back home for me. An interesting and unexpected pendulum swing for sure. But then I do love when I say in my head, "THAT was unexpected!" I'd left that part of my life fractured, reacting to circumstances and emotions that I am thankful for because of where I ended up, but not for the moments left behind. Trying not to swing all the way back, seeking that balance, my focus is on family now, providing for Abbey what my parents wonderfully provided for me.
And a great opportunity for my art for sure!
no.16 - August '10
And I'll still accept commissions for the holidays and so forth. Just tell people to give me a little more lead time.
Before things do get crazy, I'm going to release my Groovy Portraits Vol.2! Officially the webpage will change September 1st, but here's the link to the new one:
http://vinylart.info/groovyportraits2.pdf
The easiest way to view it would be to right-click and save the PDF to your computer. It'd also make it easier to share with others too. Which I hope you'll do, any time to anyone.
I hope you enjoy it. It is some of my best work, a couple pieces never before seen completed. It is some of my most personal work too, music that has been important in my life since meeting my wife.
I'm really excited about what this move will allow for my art.
no.15 - July '10
Third, also new is the content for my second volume of Groovy Portraits. This is mostly the music meaningful to my life since meeting my wife. Really good stuff and I'm really excited to share it with you. You'll be the first to know when it's available, sometime in September. For now, though, you can get a sneak peek into what will be included by checking out the YouTube playlist I created:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=58F5DD51FA122EFA
The videos from Vol.1 are first, then extras from those artists, followed by new ones that will be included in Vol.2. Several of the artists have a lot of great videos, and they're collected into YouTube channels. That'll show up to the right of the video. Check out other videos too, if you find a group you like. It's so fun to share this!
Finally, I reminded previous customers about my reward/referral offer.
no.14 - June '10
- I am SO proud of the eBook. It is really cool. Unique enough to be hard to share. So, I'd ask that if you liked it, please share http://vinylart.info/eBook.htm with anyone who you'd think would like it or know someone who would. If you saved the eBook to your computer, you can even send it via email to anyone you'd like. It's not about selling my art. It's about sharing my excitement for it.
- Likewise the event at Bookmans was about sharing my excitement for Ear Candy Charity and the opportunity my art has to work for the cause of music education for kids.
no.13 - May '10
- The pieces that were up in Santa Monica will stay in SoCal, moving to an exclusive restaurant in Pacific Palisades. I don't know exactly when, but the owner is excited to share them with their celebrity clientele.
- The pieces that were bought by Bookmans are now on display. Next month on the 15th there will be an official "media night" sharing the opening of the Cafe, my work, and Ear Candy Charity. It's gratifying that they are following through even in the face of the complete remodel of one of their other stores.
- The pieces that have meant the most to me are being compiled digitally into "Groovy Portraits". With two volumes already in the works, I'm going to have an awesome eBook to share with you next month. It'll be free...
no.12 - April '10
If you've bought a piece from me before and want your code, email me back and let me know! I hope this'll let you and others know how much I value people who've shared their love of music by buying a piece of mine.
I don't mean these to be gimmicky. I really think about what I'm going to do to promote, to serve, my art. That's what's important, being able to create the art for you. These are ways to rally interest and genuinely share my passion for music and culture.
The next idea I have is an E-book. Called "Groovy Portraits" it'll be the first volume in a series of PDF files that are basically like digital coffee table books you can share via email, free. 15 paintings or so of musicians whose music I love, each with a little quote from me about why, and with links to YouTube videos and my favorite albums on Amazon...
no.11 - March '10
...from what I heard, I was the only artist to sell any work at the event. Very cool.
I'm hoping the ripples spread wide and deep from the show, and press like http://forthmagazine.com/events/around-town/2010/03/santa-monica-airport-artwalk brings more interest. The main reason I'm hoping this is that I want to be able to support our family. Badly. My wife went back to work this week, and it sucks, plain and simple. I won't go into details but they even messed with her job duties without asking for her input, so now she won't even like what she's doing while she's away from Abbey.
The good news is that my price increase seems ok. The pieces at the show sold at the $250 amount...
no.10 - February '10
...I'M GOING TO HAVE A 30 PIECE EXHIBIT!!!
Yep, in Santa Monica, they have an annual ArtWalk at the Santa Monica Airport. My mom, who's been my West Coast Rep, has studio space at http://www.santamonicaartstudios.com/, one of the hangar galleries that participates in the event. This is the city's press release about the deal:
http://www.smgov.net/Content.aspx?id=10588
So I framed and delivered 30 of my best pieces I had on hand to my mom when we went out to see them and introduce Abbey to the family earlier this month.
And so,
I'M RAISING MY PRICES!!!
Yep, my first significant price increase since reaching out online with my art. As of the 20th, the day of the ArtWalk, the base price for a commission will go up to $250. It'll
hopefully be a regular thing, a yearly price increase around this time. We'll see how it goes.
And we'll also see how my show at Bookmans goes....
no.9 - December '09
...It's tricky hanging a "Gone Fishing" sign up online!
The only event I know of happening between now and then is the show at Bookmans. A big event indeed. I'll be involved as it involves me, but that's it. I do hope to get a bunch of sales and commissions through it to benefit Ear Candy Charity.
Speaking of, through some super-secret channels I was finally able to get Alice Cooper to autograph a piece of mine to donate to Ear Candy Charity to auction off. This is what it's all about people....
no.8 - November '09
...Speaking of Paul McCartney, I have a Vinyl Art related happening for which I'm also amazingly thankful. I mentioned a super special secret piece a couple times this past month online. I think I'll let you in on it. I'm not sure of the outcome of its presentation yet, but I'm just giddy at even the opportunity. So here goes.
I'd set out my life's goals awhile back. Having Paul McCartney know of, see, and perhaps own or autograph for auction my Vinyl Art is one of them. My connection with the David Lynch Foundation has been incredible thus far, having both Mr. Lynch and Mike Love of the Beach Boys autograph pieces that will eventually be auctioned for the foundation. If you haven't seen it yet, my video has a clip of Love and Heather Hartnett of DLF holding my piece. So cool. So anyway, the foundation was putting on a special weekend event at which James McCartney, Sir Paul's son, was going to be the guest artist. Heather, it turns out, is friends with him! I very excitedly asked if I could send a painting of Sir Paul to give to James....
no.7 - October '09
...I've also completely redone my Online Gallery. Completely. From Scratch. And it's live!
http://www.vinylart.info/why.htm
All the pieces are the actual pieces, not representative examples. Each one has it's own page with can be bookmarked and shared, and each says if the piece is still available for sale with a Buy Now button. This makes it more like a traditional gallery, except with a LOT of pieces. They are listed alphabetically in words and with thumbnail images, and they are categorized by genre. The pieces for which I shared the in-process cellphone pictures have a link to those as well, kinda cool. I have a bunch more to add, but I think I have enough in there at this point.
As we head into the holidays...
no.6 - September '09
...Imagine that. One nice thing about doing a course again, is I don't expect myself to be perfect right away. I'm supposed to not be, that's why I'm doing the course! So I don't put things off as much because, while I have the end in mind, I know I don't have to be perfect. I can actually get stuff done with intention.
One thing that's getting done is the show at Bookmans. I got all giggly last night because I got an email from Scott, the marvelous idea man at Bookmans putting this together. Remember I'd told you that they were going to be buying some outright before the show, so that Ear Candy Charity would definitely get some and that they could put sold dots on them to get people more excited about buying the remainder? Well, they are.
19 of them.
That's almost $1000 to Ear Candy.
As far as other shows, I sent 4 pieces to London. The Hendrix apparently sold...
no.5 - August '09
...That way we can put 'sold' dots on them and it guarantees that Ear Candy Charity will get some money out of the deal. My heee-UGE thanks go out to Scott for making the big idea happen. Details will be trickling down, and hopefully run smoothly.
I was asked by the David Lynch Foundation to paint another piece for auction! This time it's Mike Love of the Beach Boys! Yeah! So this next week at the benefit concert at which the Beach Boys are playing, he'll autograph the piece, I'll frame it and then it'll be auctioned for the foundation. Holy smokes. I'll definitely be updating you on that, and the auctioning of the David Lynch piece as well.
Rob Dyrdek's "Fantasy Factory" premiere's this Thursday evening. I don't have any idea if you'll be able to see my painting of Steve Winwood on Traffic's "Shootout at the Fantasy Factory", and won't see it anyway, as we can't afford cable, but the piece should be hanging somewhere in the offices of the factory. Hopefully somebody'll let me know if it's visible.
I have a fan page on Facebook now thanks to Barbara...
no.4 - July '09
...It'll be the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas gifts, and helping kids learn how to play an instrument would make a great story to go along with the piece. So keep that in mind. I'll certainly talk more about it the closer we get.
Another event I'll talk more about as details emerge is the auction of the David Lynch piece. His foundation received it after he signed it and I framed it, and they like it so much, they're kind of planning some event just for it! Really cool. Also, I'm going to find out the headliners of their next benefit concert and hopefully do some pieces for an auction associated with that as well.
This promotion of my art in connection with charity is most exciting for me right now. I've actually started to sell pieces directly and through galleries surprisingly consistently, and I'm turning around and trying to get more exposure and attention for my art by linking it with charity. My main purpose in creating my Vinyl Art is to reconnect people with their music, their memory, and other people, and getting to give back makes it even better...
no.3 - June '09
...Last month I also shared with you the cool news that I was going to get to donate a piece to the David Lynch Foundation. I get to donate, that's my mindset right now. So it went down! It actually happened! I painted that piece on the contest page, sent it to Mr. Lynch's assistant who had him sign it, she sent it back to me for me to frame and send to the DLF to auction off. They should be receiving it tomorrow! So cool. I hope it brings in a lot for them. I'll certainly let you know when I know details about the auction.
I also will get to donate a percentage of any proceeds of sales and commissions at my show in Bookmans early this Fall. I found and am in contact with the charity I will be working with called Ear Candy Charity...
no.2 - May '09
...I love giving in one way or another, like with the MPP. It's the Music Preservation Project created to preserve large collections of music and memorabilia. Specifically the amazing Bob Marley ark-hives of Roger Steffens. Having had the privilege to see his collection in his home, I can say it is stunning what he has amassed. That it will be in a safe environment all together is very very good. I was hugely honored to have been able to contribute 2 of my pieces to the collection. One piece is a painting of Bob inspired by a photo that Roger took himself. Very cool.
The Open House for the MPP will be June 19th and is in Santa Barbara, CA. The honorary board includes Matt Groening and John Densmore among others that I'd be blown away to have see my work. They've hung my pieces surrounded by some amazingly historical memorabilia including a cover autographed by Haile Selassie of his "War" speech at the UN set to music by Marley. I continue to be so humbled by being included in this collection...
no.1 - April '09
...The most exciting news right now is that my work is now hanging in a Hard Rock Hotel! A gallery in southern California contacted me and has reproduced 3 of my pieces at very high quality that are now above the headboards in the high-end suites at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. I got a preliminary
photo which I've posted on this page, (see below). If you're so inclined, please share this with others who might get excited to know too!
As part of the deal, I got my own artist proof copies, so I can tell you that they are amazing! When I first opened the package with the prints and the originals, I got confused because I grabbed the copies first thinking they were originals and wondered why they were so floppy. You can even see the grooves of the
records!
Press Releases
06/11/11
Vinyl Art by Daniel Edlen Premiers at The Rock and Roll Emporium Collectors Gallery for Surf City Nights June 21, 2011
04/24/09
Vinyl Art to Hang in Hard Rock Hotel
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - A series of three pieces of Vinyl Art by Daniel Edlen, reproduced by ArtScans Studio, Inc. through Fresh Paint Art Advisors, Inc., is being installed in 23 suites at the newly remodeled Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The original portraits on vinyl records of Carlos Santana, Mariah Carey, and John Lennon were scanned and printed at ArtScans Studio's highest resolution onto rag paper and framed individually in silver-leaf. They will be displayed above the headboard in the Beacon and Fillmore Suites once the rooms go through their stage of the remodel.
About Vinyl Art by Daniel Edlen:
Vinyl Art by Daniel Edlen is handpainted acrylic portraiture of musicians and entertainers on original vinyl pressings of the subject's recordings. Working largely on commission, Vinyl Art gives people back what they lost going digital with their music. People can once again gather and personally celebrate their music, their culture. Vinyl Art has been seen in several individual and group shows since Edlen began selling his unique portraits on vinyl late in 2006. Boutiques in southern California and Austin, Texas sell works on consignment as well. Pieces have also been given as contest prizes by radio stations in Phoenix, Arizona and sold at auction by music-related charities.
For more information, call 480-239-1688, email vinylart@danieledlen.com or visit online at http://www.vinylart.info/.
About the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino:
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is South Florida's leading entertainment destination featuring a 145,000-square-foot casino featuring 50 live action poker tables, and more than 2,500 of the most popular gaming machines. Property enhancements include a high-limit gaming room, VIP Plum Lounge, and non-smoking gaming room. A high-limit gaming room offers a cashier booth, check cashing services, ATMs, and safety deposit boxes. The new Plum VIP Lounge is an exclusive area for loyal Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Players Club card members. A non-smoking gaming room features ATM and redemption machines and its own Players Club Booth. This Four-Diamond, AAA rated, 500-room hotel offers 17 restaurants and lounges, 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space, a full-service, European-style spa, environmentally friendly hand car wash and auto detail salon, and 22 retail shops and 11 nightclubs in Seminole Paradise. Entertainment aficionados can enjoy national and international musical acts, comedic performances, and more in Hard Rock Live--a state-of-the art and acoustically-sound arena located on property. Lucky Street parking garage offers guests an additional 2,300 spaces for parking. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) exit Stirling and travel west (1 Seminole Way) in Hollywood, Florida.
For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/.
Other Contact Information:
Fresh Paint Art Advisors, Inc.
address: 9355 Culver Blvd. Ste. B, Culver City, CA 90232
phone: 310-558-9355
fax: 310-558-0553
email: info@freshpaintart.com
ArtScans Studio, Inc.
address: 11924 W. Jefferson Bl., Ste A, Culver City, CA 90230
phone: 310-313-3000
fax: 310-313-3302
email: dave@artscans.com
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