Prophets and Poets

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Chet Zar is the Painter of Dark. He paints monsters and ghouls and all things creepy... and we love it. We've been big fans of his work for several years now and are proud to present this insightful look into his background as an artist. He is just that; a very real artist who constantly works and shares his work. He has one of the most prolific bodies of work we have ever seen. We've had the pleasure of meeting him, attending some of his gallery showings around California, and to have collected a couple prints of his work. He has become a well known name in the dark art world and in tattoo culture; inspiring all of us along the way. We tried to ask more than just the typical interview questions and we are stoked on his thoroughness and honesty. Please enjoy the following interview with Chet Zar.    _LR       Interview with Chet Zar ::     1. Where are you from and where do you currently reside?   C: I am from San Pedro, CA an...Read More



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Rory Coyne is emerging as a leader among a group of dedicated painters working in the contemporary allegorical realist movement. He entered school with an inclination toward illustration but after a single painting class his dedication for painting has only continued to grow. He began serious study of classical master works at SUNY Fredonia, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 2003. He then entered the graduate program at the University of New Mexico where he continued exploring and developing his love for classical, figurative technique, while also pursuing teaching. After receiving his Masters of Fine Art in 2007 he moved to Chicago where he still keeps his studio. While Rory has always worked in a narrative tradition, while earning his degrees the influence of myth, fable, and allegory on his work became more and more important, giving rise to a very particular kind of grandiose story telling that he pursues in his daily studio practice. Rory’s work is represent...Read More



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     We stopped by the amazing Black Anchor Collective on our way home from Las Vegas and the Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth, recently. Black Anchor Collective is a tattoo studio and art gallery in Hesperia, CA, collectively owned and run by Nikko Hurtado, Carlos Rojas, Aric Taylor, Jamie Schene, and Mat Hurtado. Our buddy, Carlos Rojas, was just starting a new black and grey skull tattoo when walked in. It was great catching up with him and taking the tour of the studio and gallery. We lurked around, salivating over the extensive collection of beautiful artwork for a while. The tattoo shop and the attached gallery are covered, from wall to wall, with spectacular paintings, sketches, studies, and fantastic art & tattoo trinkets. There is work by Michael Hussar, Casey Baugh, Nikko Hurtado, Carlos Rojas, Jamie Schene, Josh Duffy, Kevin Llewellyn, Shawn Barber, Curtis Burgess, Jeff Gogue, and many more. It is one of the best collections of modern master originals we ...Read More



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Tyler "Telle" Smith is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He has a warmth that you don't find in most people and a genuinely great attitude about life. He seems to be a rarity, considering he is the frontman for one of the biggest bands in modern heavy music. We are stoked to call him a friend. We have been patiently (not really) waiting for his band, The Word Alive, to release their new album, "Life Cycles", for some time now. It just dropped and hit #1 on the iTunes rock charts immediately and has stayed there. We are proud of the boys for putting out their best record yet. It's brutal, honest, and catchy as hell. We highly recommend it to anyone who likes hooky rock, metal riffs for days, and some gangster-heavy breakdowns. Do yourself a solid and get in to it. Here's a little insight in to Telle's life, his band, and what he digs. Enjoy.   _LR   Interview with Telle Smith of The Word Alive   1. What's your favorite part of doing wh...Read More



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I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Mr. Jon Mesa in the summer of 2011. We spent 6 weeks of our summer, without phones or computers, away from our family and friends, while filming a show together. Jon was one of the few variables that kept me sane during that time. I got to know Jon really well and I am proud to call him my friend. He's an awesomely talented artist and amazingly cool kid who works hard to master his craft. Jon loves traditional tattoo art but also has a diverse background in illustrative and realistic tattooing, which he applies to his more current, traditional tattoos. He literally does some of the cleanest tattoo work I have ever seen. Keep an eye out for this dude. He will surely continue to take the tattoo world by storm. I wanted to share some of his work, as well as some insight in to what Jon is all about. Enjoy.   _LR   Name: Jon Mesa   Age: 29   Location: New York, NY   Where were you born? I was born in ...Read More



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     We stopped in to see the "Leonardo da Vinci - The Genius" exhibit at the Imagine Gallery in the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, NV. This exhibit is simply amazing. It analyzes the extraordinary life and body of work of one of the most amazing human beings in history; Leonardo da Vinci.         You will learn about his remarkable inventions, artwork, and theories. For a moment, you can step in to the mind of Leonardo. The show exhibits beautiful life-size models of some of his interesting creations; such as an early scuba suit, army tank, human flight mechanisms, and so much more. There are descriptive historical facts about his life in Europe and the people around him. Also, it is an interactive exhibit, where you can try out some of his inventions, and learn about the meaning behind da Vinci's work, including, the brilliant Vetruvian Man.            The stand-out portion of the exhibit, though, has t...Read More



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We have been fans of The Used since they released their first self-titled album in 2002. Since then, we have enjoyed every album they have released and the progression they have made as artists. The eccentric, heavy rock and roll of The Used has rattled the souls of millions as they tour the world and even document most of it. Their music is powerful, to say the least. It is brooding with heavy & melodic riffs, layered with interesting hook after hook, and topped off with lyrical content that is darkly optimistic and real. With Vulnerable, the latest effort from The Used, the band showcases what they do best; they write infectious rock anthems that leave you itching for more. The songs sound huge. Producer John Feldmann always seems to pull out the best from the band. As always, the songs are intense, thought provoking, and catchy as hell.   We were very excited when we read that the band left the claws of major label contracts and released Vulnerable themselves, under the...Read More



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We recently had the chance to stop by Timeline Gallery in San Pedro, California, to check out the amazing art collection and to catch up with Carlos Torres & crew.    Timeline began when Carlos Torres, Alan Padilla, and Jed Mardesich decided to collectively open up a new age fine art gallery and studio on the west coast. There, they could create art, showcase their work and the work of others, as well as tattoo their clients during the day. Since opening in March 2011, they have thrown some impressive art shows, displaying the work of Shawn Barber, Chet Zar, James Zar, Michael Hussar, and many more. The walls are decorated with some unbelievably beautiful oil paintings by different artists. At any given time, you will most likely find an incredible piece by Nikko Hurtado, Carlos Rojas, members of the Timeline crew, and other modern masters. They have created an amazing work place for themselves and newcomer, Josh Duffy, another fantastic artist from southern Califo...Read More



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     Joe Capobianco defines what it is to be a "Jack of all trades". He is an incredibly accomplished artist and businessman who's work has inspired a generation of artists, worldwide. Joe, who is originally from Long Island, NY, owns and runs Hope Gallery, a beautiful gallery and tattoo studio, in New Haven, CT, where he resides with his wife. He is constantly creating new art, developing new products such as toys and a hair pomade line, various book and video projects, making television appearances, and developing a tattoo pigment line with his friend, Jime Litwalk. Needless to say; Joe is a very ambitious man. He is well known for his amazing artwork and award-winning tattoo work, as well as his bold personality and fantastic hair. He has traveled the world; showcasing his unique, classic and retro-modern take on the female form. His signature style has become so popular that his pin up girl art, also known as his "Capo Gals", are recognized around...Read More



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We stopped by the Grand Opening celebration of Artistic Element 2.0 on March 27th.  We popped in to see some of the beautiful artwork, catch up with old friends, and enjoy the extravagant festivities. The building was filled to the brim with familiar faces and the walls were covered in artwork by some of the world's greatest artists and tattooers alike; including Bob Tyrrell, Jess Yen, Carlos Rojas, Mike Devries, Mike Cole, Mat Hurtado, Whitney Lenox, and several other brilliant artists. It felt like a really small tattoo convention and after party all mixed into one place. Perfect.    Owner, Roman Abrego, opened his first shop, Artistic Element, in Yucaipa, CA, a few years back with the help of his brother and family, where he works full time with a talented crew of artists and a piercer, Cholo (his best friend since childhood). More recently, Roman decided to open the doors of Artistic Element 2.0 in Hollywood, CA, where he and his crew can expand their clientel...Read More



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     We are from Los Angeles and are often times forgetful that our mecca of art and culture is not the only place to eat good food and see great art. Well, we remembered and decided to "get outta Dodge" for a few days. An hour flight north landed us in lovely San Francisco for an awesome weekend getaway where we walked the gloomy halls of Alcatraz prison, had some fantastic food & drinks, and enjoyed the cold, rainy weather every step of the way.         Our trip was inspired by the fact that the Legion of Honor is showing Bernini's breathtaking marble masterpiece of Medusa. We could have gone home, happy, at this point. It is one of the most amazing works of art we have ever seen. Lucky for us; the Legion of Honor is filled to the brim with other amazing art. As we walked around, we were excited to see several other works by different masters; including work by Rodin, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir, Boucher, and more. For a fe...Read More



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We stopped by the Holding Company in Hollywood to check out Ray Gordon's photography exhibition, THROTTLED, on October 8th 2011. The show was put on by the dudes of Comune. The exhibit was filled with Ray's unique, "fast life" photos. It seems as if he does a good amount of shredding. There were also several gorgeous vintage and custom motorcycles on display, as well as an endless array of empty PBR cans. Spirits were definitely high and the mood was genuintely pleasant. The night ended with an after-party next door, with an extravagant set by musical guest, PLG/VNDR.    _LR...Read More