Art is Love. Love is All.

I have had the privileged opportunity of participating in a love-themed show along with 98 other artists that opens to the public on May 3rd in Fullerton for the Art Walk. "Love. Sex. Unity. Respect." aims to promote love, equality, and understanding in our community.

My painting titled "Awaiting a Brighter Future, Together" will be on display and up for auction at this show, half of the proceeds of this show go to charitable causes.

This painting is not typical of my usual subject matter or themes, but the issue of equality is one that is very dear to my heart and I wanted to treat it appropriately: with lightness and care. My painting features two male cardinals, toes clasped together as they fly or fall together, symbolizing the bond of love. Love is not dependency, it is a willingness to live selflessly with another, and share each others' triumphs as equally as one's defeats. Love is a delicate bond and should be treated with respect; I hope we can learn to respect others' choices to love beyond societal boundaries of gender.

"Awaiting a Brighter Future, Together"
Oil on wood panel, with metal and glass framing elements 9" x 12"

"Awaiting a Brighter Future, Together" by Cody Raiza

"Awaiting a Brighter Future, Together" by Cody Raiza

"Awaiting a Brighter Future, Together" by Cody Raiza (detail)

'This Wilde Abyss' in Laguna Beach

"This Wilde Abyss" at Gallery AR4T in Laguna Beach was a success!

Hosted by Splendor Device, a female art collective I am a member of, artist and founder Kelly Castillo played DJ as artist Michelle Orozco live painted during the opening on March 2nd, 2013. Many thanks to Torrey Cook of Artists Republic 4 Tomorrow!

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My oil painting for the show, available through AR4T in Laguna Beach:

10" x 20" oil on canvas wrapped panel.

"Wild Abyss" by Cody Raiza

Cover art on flyer by artist Jennifer James.

Seven Deadly Sins show @ Rothick Art Haus , "Hungry Hungry Glutton"

I am a day late and a buck short on this blog entry! Last night was a very successful Seven Deadly Sins themed show at Rothick Art Haus in Anaheim, CA, that I was super fortunate to partake in. I met some new friends and got to spend time with the Rothick family, a good time was had by all. I chose Gluttony as my sin and theme for my 16" x 16" oil painting titled "Hungry Hungry Glutton."

The piece was a culmination of several ideas and influences, one being a video of two hippos in a vicious territorial battle in Kruger National Park in Africa, and a watermelon that I was gluttonous enough to devour in Costa Rica. I love painting animals and reflections so this was a ton of fun, get it? Ton of fun? Okay okay I'm not funny, but I hope you enjoy this hippopotamus!

"Hungry Hungry Glutton" hippo

Rothick 7 Deadly Sins show flyer

"Gilding the Lily" Rhinos for Wonderland

Here is my entry for the "I Want To Be First" show at Kat Von D's Wonderland Gallery. The title is "Gilding the Lily" and it is a fairly large piece with dimensions of 30 inches x 40 inches. 
My artist quote for the painting :  "An international leader in wildlife conservation and animal husbandry, and founder of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick was the first person to successfully hand-rear milk dependent elephants and rhinos. Orphaned due to poaching and left for dead, these animals are given a second chance at life while living at the Trust's nursery, slowly being rehabilitated and introduced back into the wild. With the help of de-snaring projects and patrols led by the Trust, I hope that someday poaching will be a problem of our past and not our future."

 It is projected that if rhino poaching continues at the same rate, we will lose them in three generations, that means that in 30-60 years there will be no more rhinos on planet Earth. What a tragedy. I hope that you will share this image with friends to spread awareness for the campaign and help The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and others that are on the forefront of saving our wildlife.

"Gilding The Lily" framed

"Gilding The Lily" Detail shot

New painting for the Bee Rotica show at The Hive Gallery 8/6/11

The last Art Walk I attended in downtown L.A. was absolute madness! Thousands of people crowded the streets, shoulder to shoulder, headed to art galleries, food trucks, and bars. I had to get the heck out of there, but first I had to swing by The Hive Gallery after being asked to participate in their annual Bee Rotica art show; and what an awesome space! The bee inspired decor mixed with the concoction of cool art made it a buzzing hive of culture and love. 

Their annual Bee Rotica show (yes the inspiration is erotic art and bees) should be a very cool opening and I suggest all attend if you are local to the Los Angeles area. This will be my first group show where the participating artists all adhere to a common theme, so I am interested to see how the rest of the artists interpreted their erotic honey pots filled with sex appeal. For the show, I created a small oil painting that I am quite proud of. Many more oil paintings in the works, but you should make it out to the event to see this piece in the flesh, and I will be there of course, come say "hello!"

"Nectar Baby" oil on canvas

Nectar Baby for Bee Rotica show at The Hive

Bee Rotica show flyer

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