Newly Updated Artist Biography

My newly updated artist bio, that will soon be added to the blog. I felt that so much has happened in my life, since I first wrote the original bio, that it was time to include more of the story:
Artist's Biography- Born in San Francisco, Ethan Cranke was raised in Sonoma County, both aesthetically and intellectually, on the values prominently associated with Northern California. With an emphasis on free-spirited creativity that is anchored in a devotion to nature and humanity, Ethan conveys what is around and inside of him almost exclusively through the medium of oil paint. Ethan has painted ever since he can remember. His intentions became serious when he first encountered his earliest mentor, Elfi Chester. She was a good friend and a great painter, whose advice he has dearly missed since she passed away July 16, 2004. She made clear that it was perfectly viable for a person to spend their life as a professional artist, rather than as a hobbyist. He left the comforts of the West Sonoma County redwoods, in 1997, to study painting at the San Francisco Art Institute. There he was allowed to thoroughly explore his medium, mostly under the guidance of Bruce McGaw (of the Bay Area Figurative Movement) and Jeremy Morgan. Having returned to Sonoma County in 2002, he has been painting full time at his Guerneville studio ever since.
The morning of March 25th, 2011, Ethan suffered a severe cryptogenic stroke, whereupon he awoke to find himself completely paralyzed from head to toe on his right side. He managed a miraculous and full recovery within the following five days, and therefore considers himself lucky. The experience of losing the use of his painting hand, temporarily as it may have been, left Ethan with an even more fervent dedication and passion towards his work. He found himself staring into an abyss that most people are afraid to acknowledge, much less venture into and return from, and was ready to report his findings. The hyper-awareness of his limited time on earth, and knowing there remained much work to be done,, stoked the fire in his belly on a massive scale. During this time he painted the “Fire Man” series, exploring notions of artists as monks who set fire to their souls for the sake of humanity; which led to a show that took place in Santa Fe, NM.
Following the Santa Fe show, and wanting to take advantage of the forward momentum that he was experiencing at the time, Ethan began working on a new series of works that he calls “twisted horizons.” At the same time, he was developing an online correspondence with his friend and fellow painter, Isabella Urbina. They both became stunningly aware of how similar the direction of their aesthetic paths was taking. Sharing photos of their paintings via email, and having art critiques via online chats, they began pursuing a new aesthetic in tandem. This was an exciting time for both of them, feeling that they were really on the verge of discovering and sharing a new visual language that they had both naturally happened upon by chance. They decided to plan a show for that following June, 2012. Working steadfastly, and checking in with each other almost daily, they had agreed upon a set number of paintings and were working diligently towards their goals. Within a week of Isabella’s informing Ethan that she had completed her set of paintings, and that it was time to get the show going, she was struck down and killed by the driver of an SUV while she was crossing the street in the SOMA district of San Francisco. Ethan was devastated, and socially paralyzed. It took him nearly a year to get over the initial shock and grief.
Ethan is now back to painting seven days a week, as well as providing weekly oil painting lessons for his private students, and is currently looking for gallery representation. His work continues to tackle a vastly diverse range of themes and aesthetics. From his current #PostPop series, to his landscapes, figures, and abstracts, Ethan continues to challenge himself through the medium of oil paint.

After a year's absence, I have decided to start blogging again. Firstly, I would like to explain why I have been gone for so long.
After losing my friend Isabella, in such a shocking and abrupt way, I was pretty much floored. I became obsessed with honoring her with my blog by leaving her posts as some of my last entries. I was terrified of them sinking away, into the past, like something of only mere importance. I was also angry with myself for not being able to arrange on my own for our show that we had planned together. She was the one who knew the gallery owners, had the connections, etc. I have felt inept, paralyzed, and ashamed for not honoring her and the art that transpired between us as much as I would like to. That said, it is time to get things going, again. I know that she would be rather upset with me, were she alive, to find out that I may have been contemplating giving up. I will create a permanent link to my posts about her, to honor her, so that her memory lives on.
Secondly, I would like to announce that this blog will be entering a new era ( my work has continued to evolve, as you will soon see.). I plan to run this thing a bit differently than I have in the past. My aim will be to make it easier for the viewer to navigate from painting to painting, for the blog to have a more professional art site look, and to not be as random with my posts. I will continue to welcome all comments, and appreciate those who have stayed with me through out the good and the bad. Let us hope that the future provides us mainly with good. 

"L"

"L"
3.5 inches x 4.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
May 18, 2012

Another painting that Isabel had made for the show.

"Self-Sufficient-Succulent"
24 inches x 24 inches
Oil on Canvas
"plants personify my personality in private and in public (thus the bright artificial color...) It's also about the theme of tending one's garden."~Isabella Urbina

I've lost my friend.

My friend, Isabella Urbina , with whom I've been secretly planning a duo show with for the past 5 months, was hit by a car and killed, last Thursday. I am heartbroken and completely beside myself. I'm still having difficulty grasping that she won't be reading this and responding. Here is one of the paintings that she'd made for the duo landscape show that we'd been secretly planning. She sent it to me in private, as part of our almost daily correspondence, regarding the show and our life/process/art. Obviously, I wasn't able to get permission, but it deserves to be seen.

"To get through was hopeless."
30" x 20"
Oil on paper.

'"but to get through was hopeless, so she sat down and cried" is from Chapter 2 of Alice and Wonderland. It's printed on the white diamonds in my painting. Prior to this series I did some paintings and drawings based on Alice. I just wanted to make a transition to my landscape series from the previous series. (The quote is personal to me because at time I was living in the TenderLoin and was struggling financially. I met a lot of interesting characters, so I felt like Alice.) "~Isabella Urbina

Opening's Tomorrow!

http://nygroupshow.tumblr.com/rsvp

The New York Group Show - Housewarming Reception & Hours

nygroupshow.tumblr.com

Housewarming Reception & Hours Please RSVP to attend the opening reception at Kianga's loft apartment in Brooklyn on December 28, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:00pm. Please email kellis(at)nygroupshow.com to view...

"Portrait of My Left Hand Deconstructed"

"Portrait of My Left Hand Deconstructed"
5 inches x 3 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
November 18, 2011

"Landscape V"

"Landscape V"
12 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Poplar Panel
November 15, 2011

"Landscape IV"

"Landscape IV"
12 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Poplar Panel
November 14, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe VII / Deconstructing The Form IX"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe VII / Deconstructing The Form IX"
12 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 31, 2011

"Landscape III"

"Landscape III"
6 inches x 8 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 26, 2011

"Landscape II"

"Landscape II"
6 inches x 7 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 21, 2011

"Landscape"

"Landscape"
6 inches x 7 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 20, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe VI / Deconstructing The Form VIII"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe VI / Deconstructing The Form VIII"
12 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 19, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe V / Deconstructing The Form VII"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe V / Deconstructing The Form VII"
12 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Poplar Panel
October 8, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe IV / Deconstructing The Form VI"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe IV / Deconstructing The Form VI"
7 inches x 6 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
October 1, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe III / Deconstructing The Form V"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe III / Deconstructing The Form V"
7 inches x 6 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
September 26, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe II / Deconstructing the form IV"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe II / Deconstructing the form IV"
7 inches x 6 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
September 21, 2011

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe / Deconstructing the form III"

"Déjeuner Sur L'herbe / Deconstructing the Form III"
5.875 inches x 4.75 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
September 18, 2011

"The Vertigo of Attraction / Deconstructing the Form II"

"The Vertigo of Attraction / Deconstructing the Form II"
5 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite
September 11, 2011

"Storming The Beachhead / Deconstructing the Form"

"Storming The Beachhead / Deconstructing the Form"
10.5 inches x 7.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
September 7, 2011

Oil Sketch

"Eros and Thanatos XIV: Deconstruction"

"Eros and Thanatos XIV: Deconstruction"
5 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite
September 1, 2011

Alla Prima

"Eros and Thanatos XIII: Peas in a Pod"

"Eros and Thanatos XIII: Peas in a Pod"
3 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on 3/4 inch thick Solid Oak
August 28th, 2011

Alla Prima

"Eros and Thanatos XII: Depth Charge"

"Eros and Thanatos XII: Depth Charge"
4 inches x 5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite Panel
August 25, 2011

Alla Prima

"Eros and Thanatos XI: Keeping Warm While We Wait For Charon"

"Eros and Thanatos XI: Keeping Warm While We Wait For Charon"
2.75 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite
August 24, 2011

Alla Prima

"Eros and Thanatos X : La Petit Mort en Mer / Explosion At Sea"

"Eros and Thanatos X : La Petit Mort en Mer / Explosion At Sea"
4 inches x 5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Masonite
August 21, 2011

Alla prima.

Further Along...

I decided to continue working today on the portrait of my friend.

Working On A Portrait of a Friend

I decided to do some work on a portrait of my friend and fellow painter, Servando, today. Mostly, reemphasizing the darker areas.

Some Video From Today's Session

Self-Portrait

"Self-Portrait"
10.125 inches x 7.125 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
August 8th, 2011

Alla Prima

"Semi-Symmetric IV"

"Semi-Symmetric IV"
4.75 inches x 2.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
August 7, 2011

Alla Prima

"Semi-Symmetric III"

"Semi-Symmetric III"
4.75 inches x 3.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
August 6, 2011

Alla prima

"Semi-Symmetric II"

"Semi-Symmetric II"
5.75 inches x 4.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
August 4, 2011

Alla Prima

#KEP Santa Fe

Over the course of the weekend of July 29th-31st, 2011, the artists of Kianga Ellis Projects, Santa Fe (Ethan Cranke, Peter Daverington, Brian Dupont, Jeannette Ehlers, Sabina Forbes II, Nikita Gale, Clarity Haynes, Laura Isaac, Elisa Kreisinger, Nikolaj Recke, Bryan Reyna, Maritza Ruiz-Kim, Painta, Jason Varone, and Katarina Wong), and Kianga Ellis, joined together for a weekend of ground breaking art talks. These talks did nothing less than raise the bar for contemporary art dialog and new media. Combining a live broadcast (via ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kianga-ellis-projects ) with on site and off site participants via skype and twitter.
Please visit: http://kiangaellisprojects.com/home.html to see further images of the art as well as to learn more about the artists and the project in general.




Archived video of the art talk that was broadcast live, on Saturday, July 30, 2011 (if it has trouble loading, hit pause, and let it buffer for a little while):

"Fire Man" Series and Price List
See something that you like? Please contact Kianga via kianga@kiangaellisprojects.com
Or, fill out the contact form here:
http://kiangaellisprojects.com/contact.html
She will be happy to fill your order, and will make every effort to ensure that your collecting experience is a pleasant and memorable one.
All works have been archivally mounted, matted, and framed (please watch the youtube video above, to see the frames).

"Tree 1"

3.75 inches x 3.75 inches

Oil on Bristol Vellum
April 2011
Price: $270.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Tree 2"
6.25 inches x 7.25 inches
Oil on Bristol Vellum
April 2011
Price: $340.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man"
3 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
May 2011
Price: $290.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man II: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation/We All Like To Watch"
2 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
May 2011
Price: $290.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man III: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / We All Like To Watch From Different Angles"
3 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
May 2011
Price: $290.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man IV: Art Is An Act of Self Immolation / Sometimes We Burn More Brightly When Together"
3 inches x 4 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Solid Oak
May 2011
Price: $300.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man V: Art is An Act of Self-Immolation / We Are All Participants"
8 inches x 11 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
May 2011
Price: $530.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

Fire Man VI: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / Everything Eventually Catches On"
8 inches x 10 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
June 2011
Price: $530.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man VII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / Feel Free To Jump In At Any Time"
11 inches x 14 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
June 2011
Price: $740.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Fire Man VIII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / ... "
11 inches x 14 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
June 2011
Price: $740.00 (plus tax, shipping and handling)

"Semi-Symmetric"

"Semi-Symmetric"
4.5 inches x 2.75 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
August 3rd, 2011

Alla Prima

Art Talks Weekend In Santa Fe, Begins This Friday!

Please visit Kianga Ellis' blog, for a complete schedule of this exciting event, that I am proud to be a part of.

http://kiangaellis.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/art-talks-weekend-kep/

Here's what I've been doing today...

A Taste of What I've Been Working On...

"Eros and Thanatos IX"

"Eros and Thanatos IX: Blissful Paradox"
4 inches x 5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos VII and VIII"

"Eros and Thanatos VII: Arriving or Departing?"
4.33 inches x 4.25 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos VIII: Portal"
4.5 inches x 4.25 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos V and VI"

"Eros and Thanatos V: Tumultuous Shores"
4.75 inches x 6.75 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos VI: Purgatorial Libation"
7 inches x 5.75 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos III and IV"

"Eros and Thanatos III: They Give and They Take Away"
3 inches x 2 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011


"Eros and Thanatos IV: Between Two Worlds"
1.75 inches x 3 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2004

"Eros and Thanatos II: With All Destruction Comes Renewal / With All Growth Comes Destruction"

"Eros and Thanatos II: With All Destruction Comes New Growth / With All Growth Comes Destruction"
4 inches x 7.75 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

"Eros and Thanatos"

"Eros and Thanatos"
5 inches x 7.5 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
July 2011

Announcement!!

I will be participating in a Kianga Ellis Project, in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Summer 2011

Please visit: http://kiangaellisprojects.com/home.html for further details.

"Fire Man VIII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / ... "

"Fire Man VIII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / ... "
11 inches x 14 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
June 2011

"Fire Man VII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / Feel Free To Jump In At Any Time"

"Fire Man VII: Art Is An Act of Self-Immolation / Feel Free To Jump In At Any Time"
11 inches x 14 inches
Oil on Gesso on PVA Size on Bristol Vellum
June 2011