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Why Urban Decay Is My Jam

August 31, 2022 by Lonnie Lardner

Confession: I slam on the brakes and jump out of the car to capture the detritus of life.

It’s the dirty, weather-beaten, peeling surfaces of walls and structures in any large city. You typically won’t find these textures in the fancy parts of town, so that’s why I like to take detours and longer ways home. Some of these moments end up on canvas, some find their way onto the hand-painted jackets in our new “Urban Artwear” collection.

It might just be a simple combination of colors…sometimes it’s just erosion, but most of the time it inspires an idea — or series of ideas — for some funk-ass abstract art.

(Pic #2) Ventura, Cal.

(Pic #3) San Pedro, Cal.

(Pic #4) Los Angeles, Cal.

(Pic #5) Oxnard, Cal.

Filed Under: Found Art Tagged With: Abstract art, art is everywhere, environmental art, found art, graffiti, street art, urban decay

Just Take A Spin — Find Unexpected Art

November 30, 2021 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Facing South, Westlake Village, Cali. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)

(Pic #2) Facing North, Westlake Village, Cali. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)

These two shots were taken from exactly the same spot: in the middle of a field in Westlake Village. Josh stopped to grab the image of the sprawling bougainvillea, and when doing an about face, discovered the wispy tendrils of the dry brush. Kind of a double gift: twice the art — with the effort of one.

So I’m making it a point to take my 180 and find the opposing view. A bonus for staying open to all angles. The life lesson metaphor is not lost on me.

Filed Under: Creative Zone, Found Art Tagged With: art is everywhere, changing angles, found art, nature photography, photography, unexpected art

A Kind Of Beauty I Can’t Explain

October 31, 2021 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Oceanfront property in Santa Barbara County — worth millions.

Shore vs: Street

The views are unspeakably stunning. It’s why the Santa Barbara coast is known as the American Riviera. I get kind of giddy when we drive through its lush landscaped back roads, and get to walk barefoot on the beach. But nothing sends me spinning like the raw, painterly improvisations by local graffiti artists. On this day, less than 50 yards from the crashing waves — I spied a full city block of impromptu abstractions on an abandoned property in Summerland.    (Pics #2 #3 below)

It’s a rush I have trouble explaining to others.

For most, visiting this big bucks zip code, the breathtaking vistas, and sprawling homes are the attraction. For me, it’s the spirit of freedom (and admittedly defiance) that gets my heart pumping.

(Pic #2) Street art on an abandoned property in Summerland.  MY kind of view.

Filed Under: Creative Zone, Found Art Tagged With: Abstract art, art is everywhere, graffiti, oceanfront property, painting, public art, Santa Barbara, street art, Summerland

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