"More Than Hope"

Alright people here's an original tune, a solo guitar piece that has a great latin jazz feel.  Sometimes we need more than hope, it's a great beginning but we need to push ourselves to really make things happen.  I give lessons in guitar, music, and art so if you're in the Boston area contact me at aaldereteart@gmail.com or 857.891.2420.  Skype will be coming up soon so everyone else in the world can join in.  Also have a look at http://alexalderete.com/ to view and purchase my art.  Thank you!

New Job, Comic Artist!

Well who said there was no money in comics...I said that because no one was paying.  It was all "lets do this project and we'll enter it into this contest" or "this is a passion project of mine and lets do something great!"  No thanks, my landlord doesn't accept hugs for payment and neither does Sallie Mae.

So I was approached by Shot in the Dark Comics via facebook and through a month of deliberations I accepted their offer.  To start of with I'll be working on a graphic novel, Southbound Redemption.  It's a true life story about a guy that grows up in a crime syndicate in South Boston.  It's in the style between Sin City and Boondock Saints.  And me living about 15 minutes from South Boston I'll have alot of source material to draw from, literally.

Well I guess I'll be making the rounds at the conventions now.  I'm just glad to be a step closer to providing for my family with my art.  That is the most important thing.  Thanks again and go to http://www.alexalderete.com/ to donate and keep steamship a chuggin' along, thanks!

http://www.shotinthedarkcomics.com/index.html

Heavy Metal Magazine and AGENT 88!

So here we have my latest project, AGENT 88 a crazy new web series.  I'll let the site describe it, "Agent 88 is extreme comic book style cinematic romp full of martial arts action, killer special effects and unforgettable characters.

Throughout recorded history spies, secret agents and assassins have engaged in subterfuge, violence and murder to shape the desired course of mankind for their masters. This deadly craft continues even today, and remarkably, one of its most lethal participants is not a member of the Yakuza, Massad, or the Colombian Drug Cartel, but an 88-year-old British woman currently living the quiet life in Los Angeles.

She may suffer from the occasional bout of forgetfulness, and hasn’t updated her wardrobe since the late 1970’s, but underestimate her at your own peril. Agent 88 may appear to be a decrepit old lady, but in reality she is a highly skilled warrior assassin."

In solidarity for the AGENT 88 project Heavy Metal Magazine has agreed to publish its very first Kickstarter exclusive book. “HEAVY METAL Presents:The ART of 88″ will feature 88 world renowned artists including Simon Bisley (LOBO, DREDD), Kevin Eastman (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, HEAVY METAL), David Mack (KABUKI, DAREDEVIL) and Jim Mahfood (SPIDERMAN, Kevin Smith’s CLERKS). Sponsorship for the campaign also comes from Diamond Select Toys with limited edition MINIMATES, the highly collectible designer toy-line created by Digger himself and currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

This project is still trying to raise $$ so please check out these links below.  Thanks again!

http://www.agent88films.com/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1460783231/agent-88-the-web-series
http://www.agent88films.com/video-a88-party-at-meltdown-comics/#.UB6Wqt3Pe2l

The Truth!

I don't know what it is, I just like Paul Pierce as a player and a player.  So must Danny Ainge because Pierce is the captain of the Celtics.  And when they destroyed the Lakers in the finals I thought this guy really deserves that championship after carrying the team for so many years having to play with sub par players.

With each painting I'm getting a little more confident and looser with the technique letting accidents seep in or should I say letting accident stay.  I want this new work to look alot more passionate it's still a bit reserved, I'm looking for alot more movement and electricity, soon enough.  Again this is for sale and I do take commissions whether it be your favorite icon, family portrait, or anything in between.

!Mojo has Risson!

This latest piece is for my beloved cousin.  She wanted a Jim Morrison so that's what I gave her.  I decided to go a more intimate route.  Instead of the enigmatic genius I thought the poetic side of Jim needed to come out.  A Subtle Embrace works on so many levels.  This one seems more of a David Mack style but I'd like to combine Mack with Sienkiewicz if possible at least that's the hope.  Hope you enjoy and if you'd like something for your own whether it be a favorite icon or a family portrait please let me know at aaldereteart@gmail.com or message me on facebook/ twitter @aaldereteart .

The Silver Surfer

Joe Satriani has been a guitar hero of mine since his Surfing with the Alien album back in 1987 and his follow up album Flying in a Blue Dream really solidified me as a fan.  That is such a great album!  He's  more bluesier than technical but he's also been the teacher of Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Steve Vai.  I did get to see him in Ventura, CA in the 90's at the Ventura Theatre, great place to see music.

The guitar was a bit of a pain in the ass to pull off but I didn't want to give great detail to the whole piece, it's better to give detail to certain areas and leave other areas vague.  It gives more depth to the artwork and controls the viewers visual journey.  Highlighting certain areas can also help in the composition.  This guy is watercolor and colored pencil on watercolor paper 9" x 12".  Email me at aaldereteart@gmail.com if you're interested in purchasing this.  I have a Jim Morrison commission coming out next and then it'll be more athletes and musician.  Enjoy the day and keep that creativity flowing, it's all around us!

Celtics!!!!

I'm loving this new direction I'm taking with my work.  Like I was saying in the last post I'm subscribing to the Bill Sienkiewicz school of thought as opposed to the Ben Templesmith school.  Which really means that I'm actually creating work entirely without the use of a computer.  Anyways I'm creating a series focusing on people that I admire and in turn use these pieces to draw bigger companies like Nike and such.  I have more athletes and musicians on the way.  This painting is available for purchase leave a comment or email me at aaldereteart@gmail.com if you're interested.  Thanks!

Self Portrait with Herdez

Let's get crazy people, it's salsa time!  The more that I look at this it looks like a ghost that loves little cans of red chile.  I guess that's what a get from spending too much time on the east coast.  I scare myself sometimes.  But what the hell lets try something different.

I'm trying to work with color alot more as far as actually applying color to the page instead of using the computer.  So with the advice of my good man Randy Martinez (http://randymartinez.wordpress.com/) I'm going to move into a Bill Sienkwicz (http://www.billsienkiewiczart.com/) style, he's soooo awesome!  So here's a little trial run.  This is my follow up to Self Portrait with Burrito which sadly was lost in the catacombs of the Kansas City Art Institute.  But this guy will carry the flame.  So we have a little colored pencil, water color and pastel on water color paper 8.5"x 12".  And for some reason this is available for purchase, a shirtless gnarling Alex ready for the hot stuff!

Fun With Chords #1

Now I'm throwing these lessons out in no chronological skill order. Take what you can from these and let me know if you want me to clear up some points. But I do want to cover all bases as far as skill level is concerned. So here it begins. I'll be giving house call lessons and I should set up Skype lessons now that I'm thinking about it. You can reach me at aaldereteart@gmail.com if you'd like lessons. I'm more of a blues player that incorporates different styles into the dirty blues. What ever you do play it with PASSION and have fun because it is called playing and not desk work.

Here are some 3 to 4 note chords that you can use to help with chord soloing or comping. The same chord shapes can be interchanged with other chords. One chord voicing can be shifted around and used as a 2nd inversion Cmaj 7, root position Fmaj 6, 2nd inv E min, 3rd inv C dom 7, etc. I'm showing easier wasy to play chords up and down the neck. A chord shape played in one position can even be labeled differently depending on the bass note, for example combining the notes G, B, E can be labeled as a Cmaj 7, G maj 6, Emin, D dom 7 sus 4 or an A dom 7/9.

Have a look at the lesson and enjoy!

http://youtu.be/PgnsJ_xvTSQ

Daily Jam 3/16/12

Video Time! A little daily sketch of a musical idea. Some areas are prettier than other but you never know what is going to stick. Subscribe to my channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/AAldereteArt?ob=0&feature=results_main for upcoming lessons and such.

Now on with the show!

http://youtu.be/8ZGcgksqdi0