Im still out here!!!

Its been a while since i have blogged but I'm back. I apologise i been away for so long. I have been working on several projects and been in a few shows as well. Here is a quick rundown

AUG 22nd 

I was asked to be apart of the Grand opening of a Gallery In Bushwick Brooklyn NY by my friend, fellow artist and New gallery owner +Carlos Long 

For this group exhibit I displayed for sale my long anticipated scratch off series "Make My Money Back". This series was how i saw people act with & for money, it also show how i felt losing money gambling hoping to win. We all want to be winners, but at what price?

All pieces were painted on NY lottery scratch off tickets. I used acrylic paint along with Chinese markers.

*You can see each individual piece here on my blog under art work tab

The following week i was part of two shows on the same day.

AUG 29TH

I met the owner @JacquelineSJoseph of a pop up shop #admittobitter in South Street Seaport after having a drink and pow wow with my brother. We were admiring the work that was being put up by another artist. My brother mention to them that i am an artist. I showed them what i would like to show and she loved it. 

Each deck is made of Canadian Maple Wood, Original designs and hand painted with acrylics.

For this amazing event I was asked by one of the dopest artist i know and my Friend +Gazoo tothemoon. The show was curated by him and Kevin Michael, each artist did a piece that was a cut out, most of us used wood and was assisted by Gazoo at his work shop studio. 

SEP 7TH

The following week +Nicholai Khan of #REDSTARMOVMENT asked me if i would like to be apart of "THE TIMES SQUARE ICE PAINT EVENT" along with other artists.

The event was a remix of the #icebucketchallenge for ALS, adding paint a canvas underneath us. A video was taken and will be released shortly along with , pieces of the canvas to be auctioned off. Participating artist can donate their percentage to the charity of their choice. I choose www.freeartsnyc.org

These Pics of event are taken by +Justin ArtBecomesMe Muñoz 

I was very blessed and fortunate to be apart of each show. It was also a pleasure to display my work among other great artists. 

Thank you also to those that support #KennyHardwork

"Chief of Dreams"

Original

Completed

I scanned my sketch and worked on it in photoshop using my Wacom Bamboo tablet.

$10 Prints for sale sizes 4x6 and up. 

*Rights for the Design Not For Sale*

"MAKE MY MONEY BACK" Series

I have won a lot from playing scratch offs but i have also lost money as well. I never throw away my tickets because i figure i may have read them wrong and can double check them later on. One day i took the time to re read them all but they all was losing tickets. I took a min to think about how much money i spent, won, and lost. With my winnings being more than everything else i still wanted to make up for my loses. I mean who wouldn't, right?

Then it hit me "MAKE MY MONEY BACK" by sketching, doodling and painting on the losing tickets. This series i wanted to not only make my money back and low affordable art, but express that even tho you lose sometimes never give up.  Some pieces i mock myself losing, some sympathize/empathize, and some  show the emotion of  when i was hoping to win. 

Below i posted 14 pictures from my original and creative idea "MAKE MY MONEY BACK" series which the first 3 sold in one day. I kept most of them to one day  display in a gallery, framed and ready for sale. I plan on making 20 more which will make a total of 34, the same number of the age i turn this year. Please take a look and tell me what you think, also share if you think my work is worthy to do so. Thanks and enjoy

 "MAKE MY MONEY BACK"  Series

By Kenny Hardwork

 -Mercy-

-Assorted Bandana Drops-

-Bugged Out Puppy Skull- 

-Eye Of The Tiger- 

-Greedy Bastard-

-Hungry Wolf-

-Loser-

-Mean Shoe Game-

-Pay Up-

-Raunchy Rabbits-

-All White Rose-

-Silly Clown-

-Ski Mask Way-

-Still Poppin-

"Electrifying Beast"

I present to you the first skate deck of many i will be designing

"Electrifying Beast"

By Kenny Hardwork

-Screw it #1-

7.62 deck

Acrylic paint and chinese marker, finished with medium gloss varnish. 

$260

*Photo by Kenny Hardwork*

Tributes vs Exploitations, Creativity vs Mimics

My Thoughts:

"If today's artists are mostly doing what they call "tribute" pieces in the same styles as artists that are dead and gone, whose going to do any "tributes" to today's artists when they are dead and gone? It won't happen because today's artists were too busy mimicking the art of past. It's sad to think that many artists won't be remembered or have "tributes" done in their name all because they chose to copy the styles of someone else. Don't belittle your creativity, MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF!!" - @Yoli_a

With that being said. I just saw something disturbing http://m.vh1.com/videos/video.rbml?id=mgid:uma:video:vh1.com:981383

#Swizzbeats is a Painter now? Wow, well that's cool and I'm all for artist exploring other art forms but come on. Did you see the video? (click link above) Am i the only one that realizes what he painted is exactly like Basquiat style and characters. Enough is enough. There is a big difference between paying tribute and exploiting. I really dont see how everyone thinks artist of the past are better than artist now. Too much #jayz ? To much ...........?

A artist is a person that expresses themselves creatively their way. A true artist is some what a visionary, not some one that use crowns for example to sell their work I don't study other artist, style, and techniques but i do listen to constructive criticism about my own work it helps me evolve.

Being a artist myself, i am really fed up with society foolery let alone the virus of  copying and exploiting the arts to make a buck. Sadly enough it is flowing heavy in the art world , plus the riding coat tails and bandwagons are at a all time high.. This isn't just in music any more, its in painting, sketching, sculpting, fashion, dance, etc. It is becoming so hard to tell the difference between originality and mimics, Artist copying artist let alone artist that aren't alive, they  don't come to your shows and im sure you haven't been to theirs. I go to galleries, put together group shows, consult for shows, and constantly support artist in NYC as much as i can.. I put in work, i pay homage/ tribute, i've paint with artist with talent and at the Legendary #5pointz.(If i didn't have to work i would have been at all the court dates and etc).  On that note i never seen #Swizzbeats there painting, or #ChrisBrown, or #JustinBeiber, #LadyGaga or any other big name self proclaim multi talented artist that exploits art for personal gain. At least #Banksy said #save5pointz. (who by the way i strongly believe is a group and not a particular person)

Every one is entitled to an opinion. Just like how some may disagree with me, i do disagree with others and not affraid to voice it nor admit being wrong.

Advice:

-Tribute and homage pieces should incorporate the current artist individual style(s). If you make money from it, share with others.

-Don't believe the hype, or let society(non artist), media, entertainers determine whats hot or art.

-Show support to current artist, and galleries.

-If you promote peace and love be about that life, Build a relationships not just colabos

-Invest in yourself, just don't spend money on supplies.

-Give constructive criticism.

-No more crowns!

-Create master pieces, not commission pieces.

-Express and explain your work.

-Be creative

-Be genuine and honest.