Like a number of primarily

nonrepresentational painters today,

Aldrich also produces semi-abstract
figuration (or semi-figurative
Issue 17
abstraction).
December 9, 2010

Aldrich's philosophy is that there are

Abstract Expressionism: Richard
no right or wrong ways to go about
Aldrich (1975 - )
working in the studio, only different
ways. Still, he's picky about certain
Richard Aldrich's first studio in New
things, and returns to time-tested
York was a basement space with low
techniques he can always rely on. He
ceilings, small paintings precariously
expresses a sureness about paintings
piled everywhere, and a floor strewn
that are highly refined as well as
with so many objects, books and
others that are not, such as ones that
papers that you a visitor was unsure
appear to be finger paintings made in
where to safely step without causing a
an art therapy class.
landslide.

He says, “I don't want to be confined

Aldrich is now in a spacious studio.
to my own bad taste.” He has also
Aldrich plays a game, combining and
said, “Sometimes there's energy in a
recombining things before deciding
painting and sometimes not. That's
where they should be placed, working
what I look for.”
on many pieces at once. A section of
canvas might be cut out and glued to
another. Aldrich focuses on the
importance of process and to the
amorphous way in which he proceeds.

He will often build up a surface and

then rub it down. Along with brushes,
he employs rags, palette knives, his
fingers, and lots of mediums: wax,
Liquin, mineral spirits, varnish. His
paint handling can be feather-light or
brutalist, tender or raw, spontaneous

or deliberate. To the canvas he
attaches blown-up photocopies,
typewritten short stories and poems,
and found objects such as almonds,
pieces of wood, or a broken knife.
Whether Aldrich subverts or asserts
his taste, both “good” and “bad”, his
paintings have always felt, and you get
the sense that they always will feel,
experimental.
Featured Artist: Justin Aerni,
Macabre King (1984 - )
While Justin's art does not fit into the
abstract category, I've decided to
expand the scope of my newsletter so
that emerging artists can be explored.
I couldn't leave Justin Aerni out. I
own both of the art works featured
here.
Justin is only 26 years old. He was
born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona in April
1984. He grew up in Spokane,
Washington and currently resides in
Portland Oregon. He started selling
his work to collectors and galleries
back in 2006. He is an artist who is
also talented in film production,
sculpture, designing clothing and
producing his own experimental music.
Justin is the self-proclaimed mad
scientist of the art world. He
specializes mostly in
lowbrow/outsider/macabre art. His
work is sought after internationally
with major art collectors and galleries
in France, Germany, Norway, Israel,
Iceland, Britain, Mexico, Canada, and
of course, the U.S. His work has been
published in numerous art magazines
around the world. He is also the author
and illustrator of such books as "Dead
Business Men", "Nonsense Relevant"
and "Fighting For Fiction."
He is a self-taught mixed media artist
and has been creating art since age 2,
exhibiting since 2006.
Most of his work depicts his own inner
thoughts and emotions. It is a raw
expression. Most of his work so far has
been symbolic in dealing with what he
considers the biggest mysteries such
as life and death. His work reflects the
fragile human condition. In the last
couple of years his work has been very
surreal, and has been described by
most of his fans as "Cartoon
Surrealism". His work seems to be
completely disconnected visually from
real life or "realism" yet very
emotionally translatable to the viewer.
A lot of his work is done without any
pre-production sketch work of any
kind. The art that is created is strictly
based from a feeling or emotion that
he is getting at the time of creation.
The thought or emotion seems to force
its way out in paint form. His paintings
are usually completed very fast within
two to three hours and are very raw
and vibrant. Most of his past paintings
 What I’ve Been Up to Lately:

have dealt with the darker side of the

emotional scope: loneliness,
relationships, sadness and love.

“Purples”, Acyrlic on Paper, 8.5 x 11,

December 2010

He has had the following exhibits:

WWA Gallery - Group Show - The Devil

Made Me Do It - March 2010, CA
Empyrean Gallery - Group Show - July
2007, Spokane WA
CGTA (Bruce Mcgaw Graphics) - Group
Show - Spring 2007, Toronto, Canada.
U*Space Gallery - Group Show –
2006, Atlanta, GA
I am sure I will continue to collect his
work.

“Blues”, Acrylic on Paper, 8.5 x 11,

December 2010
 Your laughter filled a room
Like butterflies
Brilliant and free
Poem of the Month:
And your immaculate home, with
everything in its place,
Diane
But still comforting and inviting.
“Catch Yellow Fever
Family photographs in every room
Plant Daffodils”
reflecting your priorities in
Is what the bumper sticker on your car
life.
proclaimed.
Your treasured moments.
Just seeing that old car made me
I’ve never seen so many plants
smile.
I thought I’d stumbled upon the
I remember seeing it on the parkway
Garden of Eden
one morning,
(or got lost and ended up in the
finally catching up to it
backyard)
(warm heart, lead foot)
As I stood in awe,
to see you talking.
with watering can in hand
I thought perhaps you were engaged
Listening to the particulars
in a discussion –
of each plant’s temperament
one far more interesting than the radio
And you didn’t get upset in the least
talking head diatribes -
As I spilled water -
even though there was no one else in
All over the floor,
the car.
All over the VCR,
I later found out
(which I noticed on my second visit
that you were praying.
had been covered by a
As you apparently did frequently while
blanket).
in the car
to maintain your patience and serenity
And the beautiful garden -
on the road.
your happiness personified.
Telling me, “take some of these, and
[We all know what Northern Virginia
some of these…”
traffic can do – even to
Which I did, in respect and with
the hardiest soul].
gratitude,
not telling you they stood no chance
Your face was bright
with me,
like hot air balloons
that they’d meet the same quick fate
Dancing in the sky
of so many plants and other
Dripping joy
unsuspecting flowers
For that moment and always
that were unlucky enough to end up
Those balloons, the “big picture”
on my doorstep.
as you were
Not wasting time
You are a gift.
On bitterness
Not just any gift, but the first gift you
On regret
open on Christmas
morning
I am thinking of you and your cohort
when you are a child
Golden
And those precious moments which
“Thelma and Louise”
can never be recaptured,
I’d call you
but always will be a part of me.
You are a teacher
Of what is true and what is right
And what selflessness and forgiveness
REALLY look like.

I will never forget you, or your laugh

I will carry you with me as I would a
warm blanket on a brisk
and bright Fall day.
And I will look for you every night,
As I open my eyes to the sky,
Knowing I’ve found you when I see the
brightest star.

In Memoriam, Diane Finlay McCain

(1936-2005)
August 2005

Quote of the Month:

All true artists, whether they know it

or not, create from a place of no-mind,
from inner stillness.
- Eckhart Tolle

Celeste J. Heery
cjh@cjhfineart.com
www.cjhfineart.com