In early January, Stephanie, Scott and Ryan (their son) Gurtman came by my studio for an up-close-and-personal view of my work. With a vision of a painting in mind, we discussed a commissioned piece and the Gurtman’s decided to give the image some thought. The initial concept of painting J.G. Melon shifted to the Central Park Boathouse, they place they were married.
I met with the gang on a sunny Saturday, and we walked the entire perimeter of the Boat House, taking photographs… discussing angles, size and technique. After some discussion, we left the park agreed on the painting: the entrance way, 30″X30″ in my collage painting style. And so, the contract was drafted, and the painting has begun. After the jump, a recap of sessions one and two.
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The TriBeCa Citizen showed the TriBeCa Grand commission some front page love.
Design staple We Love Typography shared the love, by way of Able Parris. As did Mitch Lenzen on his blog, the Flaming Monk.
Finally, a recently posted Urbania shout from M&T Bank via their company-wide newsletter.
In mid-February, I was commissioned by the CEO and Founder of BEVFORCE to recreate the storied TriBeCa Grand Hotel on a 48″X60″ canvas. Rapidly growing, the men and women of BEVFORCE required a larger, loftier space and with that came bare walls. After some discussion, we decided on a large canvas versus a mural… so the work could travel as they continue to grow.
While being created, this picture caught the keen eye of the TriBeCa Citizen, and was a topic of discussion during each session on Twitter.
This was the exterior day shot I used as a point of reference.
And for a sense of balance and visual information… the night shot. To create the desired final image, I referenced both the day man and the night man to faithfully capture my vision. Now, without further adieu, a stroke-by-stroke recap of this 20 square foot canvas after the jump.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY - March 5, 2010 – Pabst Blue Ribbon has acquired New York City-based artist Borbay’s painting “Two Pabst for CBIZ” for their permanent corporate collection in Chicago. This 48″X60″ picture commemorates two wonderful creations – PBR and a good friend called CBIZ. “Two Pabst for CBIZ” will be featured on PBR’s gallery, and is eligible for a cash prize and a year’s supply of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Faces and Coffee have been around long before the internet – MyCoffeeFace.com simply puts the two together. Check out today’s edition, featuring Erin and me – enjoying our coffee. MyCoffeeFace is the brainchild of musician, producer and artist extraordinaire – Tony Black, find out more about him here.
Fortunately, the crushing and costly Team USA Olympic Hockey Loss didn’t have time to linger. Hours later, the old art studio was transformed into a film set by the talented Greg McMahon. On the slate – Jamie Frevele’s Mellow Drama. Starring both Jamie and hockey/acting maverick Nick Mahoney, Mellow Drama involved no less than thirty seven takes, twelve tall-boy PBR’s and one nearly severed finger. All of the excitement after the jump.
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Last night, a Facebook conversation about the USA vs. Canada Olympic Gold Medal game resulted in an epic wager. The back-and-forth looked like this:
Me: America will prevail over America Junior.
Canadian Hockey Guy: Jason is a true American Idiot.
Me: I don’t know you, but have taken an instant disliking towards your ethnocentric ways… you and I, we aren’t so different… USA 5 Canada 3
Canadian Hockey Guy: way way way off base Jason
Me: Tell you what… if the USA wins, you have to arrange for me to do a painting of the (Stanley) cup in-person… if I lose, I will do a painting of the maple leaf and post it on my profile for a month. What do you say? Worst case, some drinks with Jim and Mark sometime…
Canadian Hockey Guy: Done deal!!!
So there you have it – if team USA gets the gold, I get to spend a day with the Stanley Cup… making a painting of the Stanley Cup. If I lose, I must paint a Maple Leaf and post it on my Facebook picture for a month. The stakes couldn’t be higher… Now, off to Foley’s to see if I can’t get myself some face-time with the Cup!
As you may or may not be aware, it is snowing with great intensity in the New York City Area. Here’s hoping you are all reading this with your hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee, in some comfortable clothes, sitting on your red couch.
But even if you are one of the few, the proud, the brave – the one’s who made it to work… I hope this update post warms your heart cockles. After the jump, a week-end update from the world of Borbay.
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From Erin’s site: I will be working as her administrative assistant, so come on out for a terrific evening!
“I’d like to formally invite you to a Wellness Event hosted by PURE Yoga East tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 24th 6:30-8:30pm. I will have a table at this event, offering complimentary herbal snacks, tongue and pulse readings, and ear acu-pressure for stress relief. Please stop by to learn more! If you already know the wonderful benefits of Chinese medicine, then come by to see the beautiful studio space PURE has to offer and meet other health practitioners. Yoga is a wonderful way to enhance the healing benefits of Chinese medicine, and I particularly endorse PURE for their variety and quantity of classes (over 100 classes per week, featuring 21 different styles of yoga).
This event is complimentary to both members and non-members alike, so please take advantage of this wonderful evening of health. For more information about taking a class at PURE, contact Shaun – one of PURE’s experienced Yoga Advisers.
To RSVP for this event, please call 212.360. 1888. To read more about this event, click here.
Hope to see you there!
Namaste,
Erin”
Here is an update on my ongoing TriBeCa Grand Canvas.
My friend on Twitter inquired “is there any thought behind the words you collage?” The short answer is yes, the long answer is no. When I broke my leg, I decided to get re-acquainted with the art of collage – primarily because I couldn’t get off of my couch and Oxycodone. When I began this new series, I started out with the matchsticks and xray images – but quickly moved on to the NY Post, which I chose for multiple reasons:
1. Newspapers are dying
2. I love the Post
3. The startling narrative of our times
One headline can be powerful, but 400 on the same plane can be poetry of the worst kind. Occasionally, I will collage the headlines with narrative intent, other times, I let the headline sizes and geometrical pattern dictate the placement. While painting, I often color headlines in the same tone to create subtle, sub narratives when read in sequential order. Tell Woody Allen to send over a strict Freudian, I am sure there are numerous subtexts written by my subconscious.
After the jump, the ongoing process, building upon the first and second entries on this painting done at BEVFORCE in TriBeCa.
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