Instagram Diary: Notes From A Colorful Week

Acrylic studies, found objects, Halloween fun and reportage from a colorful week.

Mindful that a chapter in my life has recently come to a close, I'm still processing recent events.  

More importantly, I'm analyzing the lessons from the last five years and opening my trust in the future.  

In the midst of this, I'm taking time to observe and give regards to all the beauty in the "now" moment.

Artwork: "It's That Kind Of Neighborhood" (2011)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"It's That Kind Of Neighborhood" (2011)

Watercolor and colored pencil on board.

Approx. Size: 18 x 28 inches

DETAILS BELOW:

Artwork: "We Are All The Entertainment" (2011)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"We Are All The Entertainment" (2011)

Watercolor and colored pencil on board.

Approx. size: 18 by 28 inches.  

DETAILS BELOW:

FULL PAINTING (Uncropped):

Archive: Two Versions Of A Rooftop View (2005)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

Paintings: "12th Street NYC Rooftops" #1 & #2.

18 x 24 inches each.  Acrylic on masking tape-covered drawing pad covers.

Archive: "Spaceboy #2" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"Spaceboy #2"  (1996)

Acrylic on cardboard LP cover and board.

Approx. size: 16 x 24 inches.

DETAILS BELOW:

Yet another painting created at the height of my vintage toy fascination.  

The toy that inspired this piece actually sits atop a high shelf in my living room today. 

Many other toys and games collected during this period have been sold, broken down and worked 

into assemblage pieces or given away to friends, but this particular item has a special place in my heart.

Archive: "Ink Describes Ink" (2007)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"Ink Describes Ink"  

Approx. Size: 18 x 24 inches. (2007)

Ink & watercolor on tape-mounted paper on canvas.

Archive: "Studio Table" Paintings (2004)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE (2004)

"Studio Table" Paintings #1, #2 & #3.

Approx. sizes:  16 x 20 inches each.  Acrylic on masonite.

Archive: "Bunny Trike" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE 

"Bunny Trike"  (1996)

Approx. size:  22 x 22 inches.  Acrylic on compressed board.

This piece was painted on pre-printed compressed board that was pulled from a remodeling/construction site by my friend Jon.  It's a 1960s Kay-Bee Toy Store Student Science Accesories point-of-purchase display backboard that ended up informing my color choices for the painting.  As I had been doing for months, I was once again depicting (and working to give an animated, humanized feel to) another one of the many vintage toys I had begun collecting.

Archive: "Barrel Robot" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"Barrel Robot" (1996)

Approx. size: 11 x 20 inches.  Acrylic on cardboard box and board.

From what I recall, the 1960s Maxwell House box came from either the basement workshop in my 

Staten Island grandparents' house or the (many years defunct) bar in my Pennsylvania grandparents' house.

Archive: "Clown Head Vase" Paintings (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

Paintings: 1996

"Clown Head Vase #1" (Acrylic on wheatpaste and board) 17 x 21 inches.

"Clown Head Vase #2" (acrylic on plexi) 16 x 20 inches.

Archive: "Desk Bear" Paintings (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

Paintings: 1996

"Desk Bear #1" (Acrylic on plexi, collaged paper and cardboard box) Approx. 10 x 12 inches.

"Desk Bear #2" (Acrylic on household wall paneling) Approx. 24 x 24 inches.

When I painted these pieces, I recall that I enjoyed the disparity in the textures 

created by the rough collage under #1 and the comparatively smooth 

1960s / 1970s striped paneling under #2.  The paneling for #2 was pulled from 

a remodeling / construction site by my friend Jon (as were the grounds for other pieces of this period).

Archive: "Spaceboy #1" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"Spaceboy #1" (1996)

Approx. size:  11 x 17 inches.

Acrylic on vintage tobacco premium coupons and foamcore.

The coupons upon which this is painted came from a large stash that had been 

squirreled away by my grandfather Phillip Montone from Hazleton, Pennsylvania.  

Upon clearing out his old house (and shuttered neighborhood bar, which comprised most 

of the downstairs level) by Dad came upon these... and knew exactly who to give them to.

Archive: "Push Start Car" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

"Push Start Car" (1996)

Acrylic on wheatpaste and board.  Size: 17 x 21 inches.

Painted during the peak of my wind-up vintage toy fixation.

Many times, the wheatpaste layer (that I would affix to board as a ground for painting) was cut down 

from large sections of layered advertising posters that were plastered on buildings and sidewalk sheds in NYC.

Archive: "Jalopy" & "Jalopy/State" (1996 & 2008)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

Paintings: "Jalopy" (Acrylic on wheapaste and plexi) & "Jalopy/State" (Acrylic on paper & board)

Approx. size: 16 x 20 inches each.  (Begun 1996, revisited and completed 2008)

Archive: "BBQ Piggy #1" & "BBQ Piggy #2" (1996)

CHRISTIAN MONTONE

Paintings: "BBQ Piggy #1" (Acrylic on wheatpaste and board) & "BBQ Piggy #2" (Acrylic on wood)

Sizes: 17 x 21 inches and 9 x 12 inches respectively.  (1996)

1980s: Francesco Clemente @ Palladium

Another batch of images from the Art Skool Archives: Francesco Clemente murals that graced the upper vestibules of the rather majestic and sadly long-gone Palladium nightclub on East 14th Street in NYC.

Sidebar: 5 Sketchbook Pages

While working on something highly detailed and very involved, I took a completely opposing turn with some ideas for things unrelated:  Ideas for drawn and painted color treatments.  Reportage and demos in color.
October & November 2010.

Wonder Builders & Merry Makers: Completion

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE: "Wonder Builders & Merry Makers". Watercolor on board. 18 x 28 inches. Completed January 2010.

Final Layers: January 2010

The final layers of "Wonder Builders & Merry Makers" being brought to completion. January 2010.