Shutting Down the Art Machine

Hi everyone, I'm going to leave this blog up, but from now on I will be posting on my hitestudios.com website bolg. Check it out for future updates here.  Thanks!

Behind the Veil

In many cases, when I start a piece with a simple idea, it blossoms into something entirely different that inspires me to push the envelope. I can only achieve this when I don't limit myself. That, is how I create great art. With this piece, I started with a simple sketch. For this, I try not to think to hard about what I am sketching. I just hold onto a thought, idea or a feeling and let it flow. In many cases half a drawing will suffice.  I like perfect symmetry and will flip it in Photoshop.

  I usually do a few sketches and gravitate to making whatever feels right to make. Originally this was going to be a base for my Shiva figure but after I established the size and was well underway, my wife Erica, pointed out that most people wont have a shelf or area large enough to fit my 18"x 24" base, not to mention the materials would cost more than the Shiva figure. My wife will tell you I don't admit this enough, but she was right. Then I thought, well I could stop here and start over, but I was really starting to get into the piece. Sorry Chris, I will be doing the base next :)

I love organic shapes and free flowing forms, but the idea that kept me focused on this particular sculpture was a revelation I had on making it translucent. For years I have been creating pieces with PVC tubing, resin parts and lights which are fun, free-form model building exercises in my patience. My fingers were constantly caked with glue and I was getting head aches from the fumes. I knew for my next art piece, I wanted to put aside the glue and the thousands of parts I constantly dig through and DIVE INTO SOME FUCKING CLAY! The wonderful thing about clay is that I have so much more freedom to make the shapes and things I see in my mind. The trick is how to convey my vision in the proper material without it looking like every other sculpted piece I've made or seen. This is when I started thinking about vacuum form. I fell in love with vacuum forming in 1995 at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh when I threw together a crotch piece for a creature I made using a dinner plate and some tubing. Since then I have done countless masks,  chest pieces, and a myriad of other parts on this odd machine of heat and suck. So I coughed up the dough (OUCH) to get my own. I haven't fired her up yet but I hope to this week! I've already molded the piece pictured above, now I am sculpting an under piece (pictured below) that will be seen through the vacuum form. I only have half of it completed so far, the image is flipped.

I have a LOT of work to do to get to where I want it to be, but you can see my mock up Photoshoped image of the two combined below. I can't wait to see how this turns out! Especially with a good paint job and internal lights :)

THE STORY OF SHIVA

Two weekends ago, my wife Erica and I took the kids with us for the Monsterpalooza convention. Needless to say, it was a very busy weekend. The two weeks before the show, I was scrambling to complete two new sculptures that had been haunting me for years.

In late 2007, I was approached by Andrew Cawrse of "Freedom of Teach" (now Anatomy Tools) to create an instructional DVD for his site/brand. The DVD was to be about the creation of a Stop-Motion Puppet, from the script, storyboards, design, sculpting, armature building, casting, painting...the whole gambit. I had been working on a new installment of STASIS, so it was not a stretch that I was going to be creating new puppets anyway. I was thrilled to do something with Andrew and immediately set about designing. One of my first rough ideas was sketched below. Bet before I got too far into the design phase, Andrew wanted me to buy every single instructional DVD I could find about sculpting in small-scale to armature creation. I ended up with like 10 DVD's, that took me forever to watch because they mostly bored the shit out of me. I told Andrew that I was determined to make an instructional DVD that was not only professional, but funny and entertaining. I spent the better part of the next month or two writing my syllabus for each DVD chapter in conjunction with 50 or so storyboards illustrating what the character I was calling "SHIVA" had to perform on film. I also came up with budget scenarios for a low-end to high-end production. Then I was ready to move forward, BUT, by this time Andrew was changing the name of his company to Anatomy tools and now wanted to put forward only "anatomy" type instruction. I totally understood, but I was crushed. Andrew asked if he could pitch the idea to the Gnomon school and I agreed, of course, and asked if he would please let me know what the outcome was, but never heard from him again. I didn't care that much about scrapping the instructional DVD, but it burned when he never called me back, even after I left messages. Friendship was more important than a stupid DVD to me.

I continued to do sketches of "SHIVA" because I was not going to let go. I built an armature based off of my sketches. Then, for some reason, it sat for maybe a year, collecting spiderwebs and dust. Then one day in August of 2011, my friend Clint Burgin had a sculpting party at his sculpture shop in Santee. I grabbed my armature, clay, my heat lamp, and dove in. I had an old casting of just the chest and face of my Eve character I did in 2000 that Andrew and I originally planned to use and include as a selling point for the DVD. Below, you can see me integrating the white resin chest into the oil-based clay. That was a fun sculpting party, with old and new friends like Jim Moore, Jonathan Fuller, Mike Biasi, and Ryan Buckalew. When you get a group of like-minded guys working together in the same room, the stories shared quickly digress....I had a blast.
Pictured from left to right: Clint Burgin, James Moore, and Jonathan Fuller. Not pictured: Jason and Rachele King.

Unfortunately, the day after that party, I was in pain. I tried to keep working on SHIVA at home but my neck was really stiff.

I thought maybe I slept on it wrong, but as the weeks went by, it was steadily getting worse. After an MRI, doctors discovered two herniated disks in my neck. My life took a turn for the worse. I was having trouble raising my arms and the pain in my upper shoulders and neck was becoming chronic. Thinking that my career as a sculptor was done, I became severely depressed. At one point, I even considered taking my own life. After about a year of physical therapy, chiropractic care, and corrective exercise, I finally turned the corner. What I discovered, was that being active and going back to Karate, of all things, is what saved me.
On June 22nd of 2012, I was home for a long weekend after a vasectomy. I was bored out of my skull icing my crotch and wanting to sculpt something fun. I dusted off the Shiva sculpture, and found my old self again. I spent many nights that summer listening to H.P Lovecraft stories like "In the Mountains of Madness" while sculpting her. She was a pleasure to create and a reminder never to give up on my dreams.

Cartwheel Art

At the opening of Copro Nason's "Futurology" show I met Keith Dugas from Cartwheel Art, a hub for collecting and collecting art. Check out this great article about the show by Mr. Dugas here

Photo by fellow artist Jenn Porreca

Posted with Blogsy

RESISTANCE

I have been outraged at the way our government has been treating other countries and its own citizens. Raising our payroll taxes, and killing American's and innocent children abroad with drone strikes, while they try to stifle the 2nd amendment. Thus, I have started resisting and exposing them the only way I know how. WITH MY ART. I have a showing at a gallery in Santa Monica called the Copro Nason Gallery, this weekend March 23rd. The themed group show is "Futurology" meaning, what the future might hold given the current state of the world. Come by and check it out. Show runs from March 23rd to April 13th at the Bergamot Arts Complex, 2525 Michigan Ave T5, Santa Monica, CA 9040 

  "American Nightmare" was inspired by everything I've been hearing on AM radio and conspiracy documentaries about the US becoming a "police state". I listened so much that I started having nightmares.

The “Game Of Drones” sculpture was created to draw attention to the questions I have asked our Administration about the use of drone strikes abroad, killing children and American Citizens. In my opinion, too many of us Americans don’t really see what our government is doing and question them.
 

In addition, I would like to thank friend and colleague, Clint Burgin, for his amazing likeness sculpture of President Obama as my center piece.

The letter below was emailed to the White House on March 2nd, 2013. I am still waiting for a response. 

Mr. President,

I am greatly concerned about the Administration's Drone-kill policy. American citizens should have the right to due process of law no matter where they happen to be in the world. Why was Anwar al-Awlaki's son killed by a US drone strike while eating at a restaurant in Yemen in September 2011? He was a Denver Colorado native and only 16-years-old? How did this happen, what possible evidence justified execution? Why was this not explained to the citizens of the United States? Even if Ibrahim al-Banna, an Egyptian believed to be a senior operative in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was the target, why was the attack on a restaurant? How may other innocent people died as a result? I am also appalled at the 176 reported children deaths in Pakistan alone from drone strikes. I understand that we are not sending troops in, but their HAS to be a better way.

If 20 tragic Newtown children deaths, are resulting in the restriction of law abiding citizens, 2nd amendment rights, shouldn't the deaths of hundreds of children from all around the world, including the United States, result in a more restrictive DRONE POLICY?

In a popular TV show called, "Game of Thrones", the main character opens with the following quote, which prompted me to write you today.

"If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes
and hear his final words. And if you cannot do that, then perhaps the man
does not deserve to die. A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon
forgets what death is."
- Eddard Stark

Mr. President, I am your constituent and I vote. Please represent me. I voted for you both terms, and I believed you when you told us that their would be real change, but I never fathomed change like this.

Sincerely,
Jason A. HIte

FUTUROLOGY

On March 23rd, I will be participating in another group show at the Copro Gallery, called Futurology. I'm VERY excited about the theme as 90% of my work deals with ideas and thoughts about the future.


Copro Press Release on Futurology link here.

Thus, I've been listening to lots of NPR, AM news stations, and watching documentaries about Globalization, Neoliberalism, our corrupt MONETARY SYSTEM and other government conspiracy type shows lately...I have to say, we live in a f%$#ed up world. Did you know, that the United states represents just 3% of the worlds population and we use 25% of the Earth's resources? If the rest of the would used up that many resources we would need 2 planets. At one point I had to stop watching/listening, because I was literally scaring the shit out of myself. If even a quarter of what I learned about is true, something HAS to be done. We, as a species are heading in some BAD directions. I want my children to live in a would where they don't have to rely on a government that monitors it's citizens using drone planes. I want them to live in a "Resource Based Economy" where their is no monitory system of debt slavery.

My concept design for my new assemblage sculpture.

Conjoined III The Final Chapter

This past weekend was the closing of a group art show I was in at the Copro Nason Gallery in Santa Monica. This was the third year for this amazing sculpture show curated by artist Chet Zar, who also released his new book Black Magic The Art of Chet Zar.  It's a fantastic collection of special effects artists, painters, and 3d artists showcasing their latest work. Below are some images I took of the show and links to magazine reviews, etc.

http://www.copronason.com

http://hifructose.com/2013/01/17/preview-conjoined-iii-the-final-chapter-at-copro-gallery/

http://laughingsquid.com/conjoined-iii-a-dimensional-group-art-exhibition-at-coprogallery/

http://dermagraphink.com/?p=190

 Me and Chet right after he signed my copy of Black Magic, The Art of Chet Zar!

 The huge crowd outside building up before the show

 Jaremy Aiello's "Guardian Something"

 Me and Gary Pressman, Copro Gallery Director.

 People checking out my latest piece, "The Virgin"

 My good friend Russ Lukich and his "Insmouth Look" creature

 Don't you just want to kiss those fish lips!

 My favorite painting by Scott Stoddard

 My "Make Me pretty" piece

The Top half of Laurie Hassold's "Lady in Waiting"

Make Me Pretty

"Make Me Pretty" is my latest 11"x 14" x 8", sculpture  that explores youth and human aging. So many of us hate the fact that we are getting old. Including me. Our society has such a fixation on beauty and youth, that millions of people surgically alter-themselves to try and cheat the effects of aging. A wrinkle here, a sag there, and our lives are all over. No bones about it, some day we and everyone we love are ALL going to die. If your lucky, you might live past 90, but at that age, our bodies are certainly not what they used to be. Maybe within the next 20-40 years, surgery and bioengineering technologies will be advanced enough to give us a new face, or possibly even a new body. The question is, what will we have to give up in order to do be young again? Is youth worth selling your soul?

This piece can be seen at the Hive Gallery from now till December 1st along with dozens of other sculptures from many of the best sculptors in Los Angeles.

The Hive's Master Blaster Sculpture Show IV

Once again The Hive Gallery in downtown LA is holding it's fourth annual sculpture show. I managed to finish a new piece in just the nick of time for them. Check it out if you are in LA between:

OPENING: November 3rd, 8-11:30PM FREE
Show Runs: November 3rd-December 1st

Guaranteed to be a heck of a show with some amazing sculptures!

WALKING DEAD ESCAPE 3D

This past weekend I was lucky enough to get into Comic-Con and be a survivor in The Walking Dead Escape.  Both events were a lot of fun. The Con was not as packed but it was still pretty damn packed! Above is some footage I managed to get with my new Gopro 3D camera while tearing through the Walking Dead course. Hope to do more with that cool little camera involving sculpture and animation! Oh and the girl on the right is eating a dead dog. Enjoy!

Allentown

Hi Everyone, 

I recently took a little trip with my family to the East Coast to attend a Museum show opening in Allentown PA which my one of my sculptures is in.

The show is called At The Edge Art of the Fantastic. 

Here is a little description of the event: 

The Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley is pleased to showcase an exhibition that will introduce contemporary fantastic art to the museum setting.  At the Edge: Art of the Fantastic will not only be the most comprehensive exhibition of fantastic art to date, it will also be the first time that this discipline has been presented on such a large scale.  Sometimes labeled as science fiction or fantasy art, such imaginative realism distinguishes itself from other forms by portraying ancient myths and legends, modern day fantasies in the form of divine interventions, the imagination, the dream state, the grotesque visions and the uncanny as common objects.

Here is a link to the Museum: http://www.allentownartmuseum.org/

For me, this was a must see show. Many of the artists that have influenced me all my life were a part of this. Artists like H.R. Giger, Frank Frazetta, and the Hildebrandt brothers take the viewer to different worlds or alternate realities. They dare to imagine beyond the scope of reality.

Here is a short video explaining the event:

At the Edge: Art of the Fantastic

Thanks to my friend Thomas Kuebler, I've been invited to participate in a HUGE fantastic art collection at the Allentown Art Museum. I'm so thrilled and honored to be a part of this AMAZING collection of art from 1860 to the present.  Many legendary works of art will be in this 175 piece collection.  Art from H.R. Giger, Frank Frazetta, Hildebrant brothers, will be on display just to name a few... I still can't believe that my work will be among such big names in the art field! Click here for more info.

Zombie Training

Not long ago I met Simon Gregory, creator of a new magazine called Zombie Training. It's a super cool survival guide in the event of a Zombie outbreak. It has everything, even some interviews with cast from The Walking Dead! They also did an interview with me on my art. Like a lot of people, I've been on a Zombie kick lately, and it was a real pleasure trying to answer questions like, " What would be your number one weapon choice in a zombie epidemic"

You can see the Zombie training site here, and here is a link to get the 130 page magazine. Check it out!

STASIS comic gets new life!

A few years ago I finished a comic based on my animated short called STASIS. I took the sets, and puppets from the film, my camera and a little Photoshop skills to create it. Unfortunately, it never made it into the Diamond catalog for distribution. I did Comic Con and a few other shows getting some good exposure but had no real way to sell them, other than Etsy, until now.

Pulp Free publishing offers digital comics in the itunes store! They've created an ingenious free app that allows you to download their content of creator owned  comics! It's easy and user friendly. I reformatted the comic to fit on an iphone or ipad. Whats' great is that the the style of this comic totally lends itself to a digital format. Not to mention the cost to print just 1000 copies in traditional format is over $2000. Pulp free is, well nearly free in comparison!

I felt a little defeated after initially completing the first issue because of the cost to self publish, so the second issue fell by the way side. Now, with this new publishing format, the STASIS comic series has new life in my eyes and I'm back on creating issue #2!

Check out Pulp Free here, if you have a comic you'd like to publish. The first 100 publishers are FREE. STASIS and other comics will be available in the coming weeks in the itunes store, search under Pulp Free Publishing LLC.

Go Carving!

Recently, I was asked to show some of my work on a new sculpting website  called Go Carving. Their are some amazing sculptors their and I am proud to be displaying with them. Check it out here.

Conjoined II art show!

Come one, come ALL, to the CONJOINED II sculpture show! Bound to be an interesting display of intense sculpture and painting at:

Copro Nason Gallery in Santa Monica CA,  from January 21st to February 11. Check out the flier for artists and opening times. I am thrilled to be a part of this show!

Here they come.....

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I slept next to a window which overlooked my backyard. My bed was literally butted up against it. I could sit up anytime at night and look out into the blackness of my backyard. Like any kid, my imagination used to run wild and one of my greatest fears at that age was to wake up and find something horrid staring at me through my bedroom window. I can't tell you how many nights I spent sweating under those covers. The funny thing is, later, around the ages or 15 or 16, that same window I slept next to became a gateway to freedom at night when I'd sneak out to do stupid things with my friends. Once, I recall terrorizing some poor girls slumber party with my friends by peering into their window wearing a Halloween mask. Somehow, becoming that horrid starring thing that used to drive me under the covers, got rid of my fear.

I've been wanting make something that represents that child hood fear for a long time. Especially since I have lived on both sides of that window.  I call it, "Here They Come". This 20" x 24" x 7", has a six pane glass window suspended above 30 different zombified faces sculpted over the past few years here and there. Several of the smaller ones are original sculpts to fill in around the larger castings.  The hands were given to me courtesy my friend and colleague David Lea from a project that never saw the light of day for the company of which we are both employed. I wanted it to look as old and stark as possible, not to mention "Night of the Living Dead" contributed to those fears back then. Thus, black and white was the way to go for painting. It was a blast to make and I hope it creeps you out a little, especially if you sleep next to a window. Happy Halloween!!!

Francesca?

Hi there! Just in case you happen to visit my blog, your email did not work when I tried to reply. Below is the message that a mailer demon ate....


Hi Francesca,

When I was your age I also wanted to be a comic artist and do animation. Professionally, I am neither but I have experience in both. Web comics are very interesting and fun to read. I'd love to see yours sometime and how noble to do it to raise money for charity! What is you web comic called?

My ideas come from many different sources. Music is among them. I listen to all kinds. Comics, too! The Brothers Quay are an inspiration to me as well. Most Stop-Motion animations is. One of the keys to making art, animation, comics, etc, is being persistent and consistent. You have to keep at it and exercise your talents like you would a muscle and always, always, ALWAYS believe in yourself, no matter what!

Thanks so much for writing me, I love to meet people with similar interests. 

-Jason :) 

The UNDEAD

I have been fascinated with the undead for a very long time. Recently, I finished some interesting 4 inch  guy and girl zombie heads in display jars. I made them in Super Sculpey and am now selling painted castings for $150 & $175. I'm also thinking of selling unpainted castings.... Have a look in my Art Machine Shop on Etsy here for more photos and details.

AUTOMATED RESURRECTION Garage Kit on Etsy

So, I finally got off my butt and am offering some kits of this guy. Details below :)

AUTOMATED RESURRECTION Garage Kit

We will be selling a VERY limited number of 5 castings of this amazing sculpture.

This sculpture is part of Jason Hite's "MECHANICAL CHRIST" series and is 24"x 12"x 12". This free standing sculpture, weighs approximately 3 pounds and was completed by Jason Hite in May of 2009.

This kit comes unassembled and includes:
1 unpainted resin casting of the figure
1 sculpted sculpted hatch
3 Pieces of all-thread
1 wood base.
4 mounting screws

Please note that this is not a simple snap together model and does not have instructions. It will require the following to assemble:

1. Seaming skills! A Dremel and X-acto Knife are musts here. Sanding and some patching for air bubbles and imperfections. Spot putty, Epoxy Putty are OK, Magic Sculpt works great, and so does superglue!

2. A drill for drilling; mounting the figure and hatch to the base.

3. Once the figure is mounted, I recommend unassembling for painting.

4. It will NOT have gray primer as in photos, the piece will be raw resin, black or white.

5. Always remember to wear safety glasses when using chemicals or power tools, and be ready to spend quality some time on this kit :)

6. Yes, we would love to see images of what your piece looks like painted!

PLEASE ALLOW 1-2 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY 

Find it here:  

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72529109/automated-resurrection-garage-kit

JUDGMENT DAY

JASON ANDREW HITE
Solo Show
JUDGEMENT DAY

Saturday JUNE 11th
Doors Open At 9:00pm 
The Congregation Gallery | 7569 Melrose, Los Angeles CA 90046

The Congregation Gallery is proud to present one of the most talented three-dimentional artists; Jason Andrew Hite. His newest collection Judgement Day portrays a religious tapestry of wall hanging sculpture infused with intricate assemblage. On June 11th, you will have the opportunity to see the unveiling these new works and meet the artist!

Sculpting intense lifelike figures, Jason Andrew Hite weaves together an intense environments around his creations using tubing, found objects, custom sculpted appendages, and internal lights. These assemblage pieces hearken to a distant future where man and machine are one for the better or worse.

Product designer and sculptor for one of the largest Halloween companies in the world, Jason has a hand in creating monsters, superheroes, and almost anything he could imagine to be a costume. He has worked for companies like Marvel, Disney, Sony, Fox and many others.

On June 11th, he will unveil his new world where religion and the machines fuse together
in the ultimate conflict....Judgement Day. 

New Gallery show in January at the Corpo Gallery!

I was recently invited to display some of my work at a show that Chet Zar is curating. I'm super excited to see the amazing work I will be in company with!!!  Here is the info below;

"CONJOINED - IN 3D!" Dimensional group art exhibition

Where: Copro Gallery

Bergamot Station Arts Complex
2525 Michigan Ave , Unit T5, Santa Monica , CA 90404
Ph: 310/829-2156
E-Mail: CoproGallery@Live.com
Web: www.CoproGallery.com

What: "CONJOINED - IN 3D!" Dimensional group art exhibition
curated by Chet Zar

Opening Reception: Saturday January 22, 2011- 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.
Live Music from Joe Woods

Dates:   Exhibit runs; January 22 – February 12, 2011

Contact:  Gary Pressman, Gallery Director Copro Gallery

Conjoined - In 3D! presents classic sculptures, Life like models, Surreal assemblages, mixed media paintings, life sized toys and other conjoined works in 3-D. Curated by Chet Zar this show will include many artists of Pop-Surrealism as well as motion picture industry special effects and well known Art Toy artists. From the twisted and bizzare to the majestic and unbeleivable there will be many unusual works and all in 3D! 

	SCULPTURE BY CHET ZAR

Adam Jones, Kris Kuksi, Liz McGrath, Annie Owens, Attaboy, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Dave Pressler, Colin Christian, Michael Leavitt, Charles Krafft, Jon Beinart, Joe Ledbetter, Francesco De Molfetta, Tim Gore, Aris Kolokontes, TS Kuebler, Neil Winn, Bruce Fuller, Chris Owen, Bruce Mitchell, Scott Radke, Chantal Menard, Jack Howe, Bill Basso, Paul Chatem, Mitch Devane, Ryan Peterson, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Steve Wang, Zombienose, Jordu Schell, Meats Meier, Craig Skibs Barker, Boomer, Sean Greaves, Scott Hove, John Cormack, Laurie Hassold, Craig LaRotonda, Chris Conte, Akihito Shiniseya, Nathan Cartwright, Ver Mar, Jason Andrew Hite, Cliff Wallace

Obesity

For awhile now, I've wanted to express my feelings in sculptural form in terms of the prevalent obesity rise in America. There are people who are very dear to me in this state, and I wish there was more I could do for them. What is interesting to me is that it is not socially acceptable to comment or advise on the issue like it is with tobacco smokers. Our society makes it far too easy to become this way with quick, easy, and cheap fast-food. Not to mention the serving portions tripling in size over the past 10+ years.  The sad thing is, I don't see it changing anytime soon. Everywhere you go, look at the ratio of healthy fit people verses the obese. It will not take long to realize how out of shape Americans are in. I don't really have any answers or great enlightenment on this subject. Nor do I wish to impress anger or insult to anyone reading this.  I simply wish to illustrate the odd beauty and utter travesty of what we humans are capable of doing to our bodies.

Like all sculptures that I undertake, it is necessary to first collect reference. This particular subject matter has led me to some very unfavorable places on our "world wide web". I've seen things that I cannot erase from my mind now. One of the favorable pieces of reference I discovered was from the movie Blade. Miles Teves designed and created the massively obese character, "Pearl." The images on his website (http://milesteves.com)  of this and other works are stunning!

After collecting my reference imagery, I created an armature using copper wire and aluminum foil. Once that was in place, I wrapped the foil in floral wire and liberally coated it with a 2 part resin to keep the foil from moving.  My 2-year old son also lends me his skills in picking up anything he feels I might need.

After mixing about 6 pounds of Supersculpy with Burnt Umber Premo (2 lbs Sculpy to 2oz Premo), I began the arduous task of covering the foil turkey I made.

 

In working on this, I found it very satisfying to try and make the clay look as if gravity has a say in every lump and fold. Now that the general shapes are in place, I raked it down, smoothed it out, and started my favorite part, detailing! Stay tuned; more pictures and exciting details coming soon!