Comments on Joseph William Francis at Westlake Center

Thanks for posting this. I really enjoy these character studies.

I live in New York during the school year and I just have to say that this guys' work is totally bogus and unoriginal. There is a market for this type of art in New York, which is centered around these "artists" doing their work in front of crowds, finishing their pieces in mere minutes and then selling them for ridiculously jacked-up prices. I dont think its a bad thing that he's doing this to make money... on the contrary. I just think its funny that this guy is getting mentions and has his own myspace when there are 1,000 other novelty artists doing the exact same thing.

This would look awesome if it was made into a blanket and sold from a van on the side of the road at some tumbleweed rural intersection.

In 1994 I spent a few weekends in Pioneer Square handing out condoms for an AIDS awareness org and there was an Hispanic guy making these same type of paintings next to our table on the sidewalk. He sold his art (which were all outer space/planet scenes) as fast as he could make them. His main customers were drunk chicks. He'd create a new painting every 40 seconds or so, while drunk chicks gathered and watched him, swaying in their alcoholic awe. Then they would loudly declare that it was most amazing thing they'd ever seen in their lives, and demand their drunk boyfriends buy them a few paintings to take home. I forget the prices. There were two sizes, priced accordingly.
He had to sell them fast while they were still a little wet because when completely dry they curled up like a scroll.

I liked his technique. He'd start by spraying the entire surface with a bright color - orange or yellow or something - then daub it with a cloth to provide some kind of 'textured' look. Then he'd place an upside-down bowl (or two) on it and spray the remaining exposed area black. When he removed the bowls, voila! colorful planets floating in the black void of outer space! He'd scrape random stars and planetary rings in the wet paint with a pocket knife. Done. 40 seconds. I thought he was pretty inventive, but that may have just been the spray paint fumes I absorbed for hours.
Dude made money though.

they took about a half hour and he sold them for twenty bucks. Better this than just asking for money like everyone else.

Thanks to the people who understand the whole concept around this type of art. A artist has to eat.Pay the bills.Live.Get it? The photographer didnt even see my pencil work. Peices that took 36-42 hours to complete! This technique gives me the revenue that that I will need to accomplish my goals and the time to finish my masterpeice portfolio.I dont TALK shit. Just wait Seattle. And to the haters--- thank you too.

I got one of these in Rio,Brazil back in 1999!
Good on the people that make art instead of panhandle but this is not an original idea.

Check out the guy outside of City Market at Olive and Bellevue.He makes original art from dumpster dived or found materials and is a very nice guy.I kick down a few bucks every time I see him.