Relief in the form of art

The last few weeks have been a buzz and blur with building, construction, hauling, cleaning and everything else associated with moving my workshop and setting up a new one. And as exciting as that story is, I’ll have to share it later. This story is about how the chaos was quelled with the arrival of a flat in the mail from our friends at PluraBella Tattoo Studio. I stood in front of this watercolor for 10 minutes before I realized how the world washed away and the aesthetics rolled in. That truly is the real work of art, the effect of the communication. Thanks a million Kore. It was the right thing at the right time brother. And it’s going in my new office.

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Hockey & Punk Rock

The Vancouver Canucks were in LA today to deliver a whooping to our LA Kings. So of course with so many of my favorite Canadians here (and a special delivery of a beautiful Nucks Jersey from Langdon), I proudly went dressed as the enemy, and I loved it. We were but smidge of blue in a sea of black. Nice work Kings, we’ll (they’ll) get you next time! Also, the blimp is cool, the white towels are lame. However, what’s not lame… The Briggs. They’re a bitchen’ LA band, they played at the game tonight. And Jason LaRocca is my friend!

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Streets of Long Beach

I spent the weekend with some very fast friends at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Walker Racing is running Speedy Dan Clarke in the Indy Lights series and I was lucky enough to see it from the inside out. Nothing like being on the starting grid when they fire those suckers up, I even said aloud today “it never gets old” about the thump and roar. Thanks a million Deano & Derrick, another brilliant weekend!

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The King Is Open

The grand opening of Mario Barth’s King Ink in the Mirage happened this last Saturday. It was a bash in grand style, replete with drink, beauties and familar faces. I’ll let the pictures tell this story. But please feel free to stop by the shop to recreate the fun the next time you’re in the Mirage. And get yourself some GOOD ART. Tell ‘em JW sent you and you might get a gratis swill with purchase.

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Road Trip Delivery

With the opening of Mario Barth’s new shop King Ink, in Las Vegas, I’ve been scrambling to get the place stocked up with GOOD ART. The actual delivery called for a road trip with security (unarmed, but dark & surly). TC and Bubs in tow, we started the trip with a stop… at Langers for a few Number 10’s – sorry no pictures, we were enraptured by the smokey pastrami goodness. It was a brilliant Thursday afternoon drive up. We managed a gratuitous stop at the Mad Greek, though only I ate, and after telling a guy to stop throwing trash out his parked car window, and then having him tell me to “get real”, I was a little sorry about the stop. Night one was a breeze. Day two was 13 hours of unpacking and logging in SKUs, we were all run ragged. But not too tired for a little poker. I only remember this; two of the guys at the table were named Kevin, I took money from both my friends and everyone else, and also that I was scolded for taking this picture at the table. The rest of the night was a glass of bourbon.

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Nice Charms

Not much to say tonight as we prepare the first delivery of jewelry to Mario Barth’s new shop up in Las Vegas, so I thought I’d share a fan photo. Gotta love the tribe! Yes, I was given permission. Yes, I would have shared this without permission. And yes, please keep sending in fan photos. More on mario’s new shop in a week.

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A Slice of Mexican Heaven

I was hoping to capture enough photos to tell the story of what I’m doing this week. The problem is I’m too busy doing it (and nothing at all, at the same time) and then when I go to get a photo, it just isn’t speaking the volumes to properly tell the story. The short version is this; After a couple years of my friend asking me to come down to his vacation home, I finally had no good reason not to. A short flight from LA to Puerto Vallarta, picked up by JC (yes, you read that correctly), driven through the jungle for 40 minutes, through 2 sets of Jurassic Park-style gates and eventually greeted by Evee with a plate of homemade frejoladas and a margarita, I can truly say, I am Mexican. Or should be. Or at least I’m feeling very much at home. With just a few hours of travel I’ve been transported to paradise, in the most grand style. We’re in Punta Mita, a point jetting out into the pacific, with water on 3 sides, and service that puts the nearby Ritz Carlton to shame. Great friends, drink and food, and this really is Heaven. Thanks a million Deano!

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Sounds Good

Another Satisfied set of ears, and looking good too. Our partnership with Ultimate Ears is making audiophiles and musicians alike very happy. These ones for our friend EP were done with the Jack Skull instead of the usual Round GA Skull (that’s his matching Jack MotoRing at the top of the photo). Ask for Brad Jensen e-mail or 949-502-8349 and tell him you want the GOOD ART HLYWD Specials. Rosettes or Skulls.

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A concise study in Westcoastsynthesizerbeachbumgangstermusic

I’ve been sitting with baited breath for more than a month wanting the world to hear this music. It’s the work of Killer Reese One and Troublemaker. If you rode in my car you got to hear it, it’s been bumping at the shop most mornings, I even plugged it in at a party (until the hostess got bummed at me for messing with her playlist). Now you can have it for your very own. This is King Fantastic, it’s incredible. Below is the release of the first track! The rest should be out soon. And let me be the first to start a rumor of a GA / KF jewelry collaboration coming down the pike.

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Next Level Südafrika

This is Die Antwoord. Enjoy.

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