Meeting the Artist

Serendipity.

Chance.

Timing.

Fate.

Karma.

Whatever you call it, sometimes things just happen. Things work out. One such lucky set of circumstances befell me just prior to my New York trip. Ryan Brenizer had given us homework for the workshop; an assignment to be completed before we arrived. Since much of the workshop discussion would center around photojournalism and story-telling, he tasked us with the first assignment he had received in his college photojournalism class. We were to meet a complete stranger and make a portrait of them….in their home.

It was designed to be a terrifying assignment, and I was terrified. I pushed it far to the back of my mind as I made the desperate last-minute preparations for the trip. And soon, as tends to happen when one procrastinates, I had arrived at the infamous “last minute”. That time which is both horrible and wonderful for procrastinators: horrible because there is no time left, wonderful because at least you have this ONE last chance. I knew I wouldn’t have time for the “stranger” portion of the assignment, but I figured I could make a portrait of an acquaintance in their home. It’s better to show up to class with SOMETHING, right?

So I called my buddy Taylor Lyon of Graphite Galleries, the best and most creatively curated (IMHO) art gallery on Royal Street. He was still at work and I figured I could make a portrait of him at the gallery and maybe one at his house. He agreed; I packed my gear and headed over before he closed up shop for the night. I gave him a mini-interview as I shot him around the gallery. I wasn’t super-happy with what I was getting, and was about to suggest we try his apartment. But then he hit me with it: he was headed over to artist Rob McInvale‘s studio to work with him on his upcoming show for the gallery. CHA-CHING. A stranger in his home. A workspace is like a home for an artist, right? Just humor me.

We grabbed a six-pack of Dixie and headed over to the studio just outside of the French Quarter. Once I got there and met Rob, I realized his was the work I had already been admiring for a few weeks in the gallery. Great stuff, and over the next three hours I got to see how it was created. I had a damn good time shooting while Taylor and Rob ran through different ideas and Rob demonstrated his techniques. Rob has a keen eye for color, and it results in some really striking and powerful artwork. Some of his work is currently hanging in Taylor’s gallery, and his one-man show opens there March 20. You can see more of his work at his link above. Without further ado, here he is:

Hard at work:

It was quite an, um, interesting workspace:

The hands of an artist:

And the intense concentration:

Taylor got into the act, too:

Work it!

And the semi-finished product: