Denno’s Museum Center NW Michigan Exhibit
Posted by Troy | Filed under News, Traverse City
I’m lucky to be one of only five artists to have multiple pieces included in the Denno’s Museum Center regional artist showcase.
It was interesting to see the diverse styles represented in the show and wonderful to be among so many talented individuals who call northern Michigan “home” at the opening this past weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: art, Denno's, Traverse City
New Print: Winter Forest
Posted by Troy | Filed under Work
Just finished this awesome commission piece. My instructions were “maybe something with winter trees” and “you are free to do WHATEVER you want.”
Well I’m not sure I’d take on a commission any other way.
I was so excited with how this turned out, and the custom frame that Robbie and I collaborated on made it even more fantastic. Visit the Maker’s Market site to check out 5 steps we followed to create this totally amazing custom handmade recycled frame
Tags: art, commission, deer, original illustration
Odorifous: Thomas Allen
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous
Sometime last year I had just a hint of an idea that involved taking my designs and photographing them to give it a little dimensional feel. I think the idea came when I was maxing out my photoshop skills to make client photos respectable for their print pieces. I come up with about a dozen new ideas each day though, so this one like most others came and went and was buried in my mental rolltop where all the clutter is stored.
Around that same time Ward Jenkins posted a few photos on Facebook of one of his favorite artists – Tom Allen.
Tags: art, interview, photography, Tom Allen
Odorifous: Lisa Congdon
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous
Reindeer by Lisa Congdon
Lisa Congdon is inspiring to me because (like me) she’s a self-taught artist—no fancy art school, no grad school connections with whom to jump-start careers—and didn’t start working as an artist until she was in her thirties.
She’s one of those people that give the self-taught, mid-thirties, bible-college-grad like me a bit of hope for this “career” I’m working on.
Because I have a tendency to want to do everything NOW.
Tags: art, illustration, interview, Lisa Congdon
Strong Odors Art Exhibit: Opening Party July 16
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Beer, News, Traverse City
Illustration by Troy DeShano
I’m excited to announce my exhibit opening at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City next weekend!
All the work is already up, so you can stop by anytime to check it out, but I’d really love it if everyone could come to the opening next Saturday night!
If you are anywhere near Traverse City or even in Grand Rapids or lower Michigan wondering what to do for fun next weekend you should definitely make the trip up to beautiful Traverse City! Nothing’s better after a long day at the beach or hike along the dunes than a hand-crafted brew from Right Brain Brewery!
My reception will be from 7-9pm so please stop by and say hello and hopefully you or a friend can go home with some radical new artwork for your walls.
TCFF John Huges Posters behind the bar
If you’ve never been to Right Brain then you’ve been missing out! Each beer is hand-crafted with the same kind of TLC that we visual artists know is required to create something that we can be proud of. The atmosphere is really fun and relaxed—way cooler than a bar with no big-screen TVs in sight!
Come support local art and just have an awesome Saturday evening at Right Brain!
Let me know if you can make it by Likeing the event on Facebook.
Here’s the details
Right Brain Brewery July Artist Reception
- Date: Saturday, July 16th
- Time: 7-9pm
- Place: Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City’s warehouse district. (map)
More on Right Brain and the Artist Reception
- RBB’s July Artist Reception announcement
- RBB on Facebook
Never miss out on Strong Odors news!
If you haven’t signed up for my email newsletter yet, do it today. I offer regular contests, giveaways and other big announcements like this one that you’ll never want to miss. Sign up now!
Tags: art, Beer, original illustration, shopping, Traverse City
New in the Shop: Lots of Crows
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design
Illustration by Troy DeShano
I suppose I could have called this “angry birds.”
5″ x 7″ limited edition giclee on fine art paper – $22
Tags: art, birds, original illustration
Odorifous: Edward Orato
Posted by Troy | Filed under Odorifous
Orato
On my last night in Kenya last February the team was invited to the national director’s home to meet his family. It was quite an experience considering he and his wife currently have 19 children they’ve adopted (or merely taken in) living at home right now..
Just prior to the kids sending us off with a staircase seranade (imagine the Von Trapps were from east Africa) I happened to notice a painting hanging in the family dining room.
Girl Talk: All Day
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Film
I’ve had perma-grin all week listening to this.
I’ve said before that I’m a sucker for collaborative music projects.
Mashups aren’t really collaboration, but combining all different genres of music into one track has the same kind of affect on me. Even though most mashups are pretty forgettable, they are almost always fun to begin with.
Girl Talk (aka Gregg Michael Gillis) however is anything but forgettable.
Odorifous: Miller Mobley
Posted by Troy | Filed under Autism, Odorifous
Earlier this year there was a bit of a buzz about an article in The Atlantic about Donald Gray Triplett—who in 1943 was the first child to ever be diagnosed as “autistic.”
The article itself (by John Donvan and Caren Zucker) is really fantastic. Even though it is a bit long for a web piece, it is totally worth your time. I love the introductory story where Donald’s talent (in other words—savant capabilities) for math catches the attention of a travelling entertainer who asks if Donald can join him for his travelling show:
whether they spoke this aloud to their guest or not, [there was] the sheer indignity of what Polgar was proposing. Donald’s being odd, his parents could not undo; his being made an oddity of, they could, and would, prevent. The offer was politely but firmly declined.
I really can’t say enough about this article. I haven’t read anything on the topic that I’ve appreciated so much.
But of all the connectedness of an article like this to my own heart’s strings, it is this image that invoked the most emotion.
For even in a photograph you can see his eyes are so piercing that they’re transcendent. Like the eyes of most individuals whom I’ve met with autism—on the rare occasion that they happen to look straight into your own, they’ll see right through into your soul.
After years of practice I’m lucky to now get a chance to look my son in the eye at least once every day and it still gives me butterflies every time.
Luckily it took very little research to discover the man behind this particular lens—Miller Mobley.
Tags: art, Autism, photography
My So-Called (under da sea) Life
Posted by Troy | Filed under Kids
Apparently that whole becoming-human thing wasn’t ultimately satisfying in Ariel’s search for self-discovery.
This new phase involves tattoos, a self-inflicted haircut and extra eyeliner.
Who knows, maybe this is the real Ariel.
Tags: art, kids, movies, original photo
