You know him, the beer drinking, pool playing country boy.  Here I've created him the man cave that will make him the envy of his band of bad desperadoes.  My Outlaw from Tombstone art was inspired by those campy old 40's - 50's pulp western movie posters.  And look, the curled up mustache is making a comeback.  

I've been know to crank up the Cash while I'm painting.  His rugged voice and story telling lyrics are the epitome of a bad boy.  While prison cells, gun fights and thievery inspired his music, it's nice to know that his love, June Carter changed him for the better.  Yes, bad boys can be changed.  Good luck with that!  The whole dark black rockabilly honky tonk vibe is evident in my Diamond brand Silver Tipped Boots art.  I could so see it as a mural on the side of some ghost town mercantile or on the back of a leather jacket.  Am I right?  

There's that guy, that one that could smooth talk his way into your life, heart and maybe  your sheets (Bad Girls need love too).  Well this guy is the perpetual bachelor, his 50 shades of desert gray inspired him to go industrial with a bit of slick, potion peddling art.  My Snake Oil piece was inspired by a combination of modern day tattooed carnies and the twisted mustache barkers of days gone by.  I like that it has an edge to it.  There's something bad about wanting to believe in snake oil.  This slick guy has fantastic grooming habits and loves a bit of luxurious living.  What else is he going to spend your four easy payments of 99.95 on?  Act now!

This guy doesn't have your Mom worried because she dated his clone back in high school.  This guy has your Dad all freaked out.  That tattoo wearing, motorcycle driving would-be rockstar is up to no good.   He swept you off your feet and wants to show you his ultra cool urban loft.  Did he mention it's actually in the basement of a brewery?  My Vixen Strings and Straps painting speaks to that character.  It's part tattoo, music poster with a bit of Betty Page.  I hope you can get a cell phone signal in his under dwelling man cave.  You'll need your best friend to talk you out of being the Bad Girl.

I'm an equal opportunity rebel finder.  I thought I'd toss in the Bad Girl.  I know her, you went to high school with her and every man from 16-60 watches her walk by.  Of course they're looking at her tattoos...maybe.  She's a bit more colorful than the brooding Joan Jett rocker.  She knows what she likes when she sees him... I mean it, ya, it!  I'd love to see her tattooed #&@#?^!}+%  that bears the likeness of my Rebel Records piece.

Whew, now go wash your hands, it's been dirty on the blog today!   If these inspire you to do some Bad Boy redecorating don't blame it on me.  You knew when you met me that I'm a bad influence!  Ha!

I'm excited to have been contacted by a TV show producer who's interested in me as a host for a collaborative design show.  While nothing is ever a sure thing, I'm always stoked to have the opportunity to pitch the idea.

The OSAA Dance and Drill Championships have come to a finish for 2015.  In a previous blog post I shared the Architects of Light from Parkrose High School.  Now I'd like to share with you Blue Ocean as performed by the Clackamas Cavalettes. 

A quick bit of background information.  I've been friends with the show designer Kurt Jull since the early 90's.   We've worked on some fun projects together.  Some have been very experimental allowing us both to explore new boundaries.  I'll include a little retro Jull/Christensen project at the end of this post.

This year, Kurt brought his vision for Blue Ocean to the table and I was happy to help execute his ideas.  To bring it to life, we needed two shoreline floor/mat paintings for the dancers to dance on and a plan to create budget friendly, portable giant coral and other props.

The two floors were designed to be part of a secret effect that would be revealed at the state championship competition.  It was quite a risk to wait until the final moment to implement the effect but it payed off and was quite the crowd pleaser.

Here's the entire routine care of Cavalette parent Jodi.  Thank you.

Here is a close up of the effect.  For you non-dance team folks know that the floors are hand painted on a heavy weight vinyl, much like an awning or banner fabric.  Each floor once you add in the weight of dried paint is in the ball park of three to four hundred pounds each as dead weight.  The effect created is only achieved by capturing air underneath the tarp as it is pulled back.  It's quite spectacular.

After painting the floor I decided to take a stroll along the beach.  I know...nice socks.  Black hides all the paint splatters they endure.

Close to twenty years ago, Kurt thought I might enjoy a simple challenge.  He wanted me to recreate the scene from Michelangelo's sistine chapel "Creation".   Did I say simple challenge?  Not only was I to recreate one of the worlds finest example of religious art I had to do so while painting it in a Longview Washington Bingo Hall during closed hours. It wasn't quite the Sistine chapel environment with the whirling cash machine tucked in the corner and the lingering smell of corn dogs and cigarette butts.  Had there been social media back then, we would have had a fun time posting videos.

I had visions of Michelangelo face palming himself and screaming NO, blasphemy!  Sorry Mick, relax your 16th century self....this is for the kids!

This is a high school team with members that are freshman up to senior in year.  The dancers are expected to maintain good grades, be good citizens are practice together from late summer until now.   This sport requires huge dedication on behalf of the students and their coaches, whom I adore.

The video is the first of two performances.  Here are some close up photos by Patrick Smith Photography (used with permission), copyright 2015.

Last night at midnight, standing outside their store I realized I've designed three stores for Willows over a span of 18 years.  Holy Toledo...18 years!   Over on my Instagram, my friend Stacey said it eloquently "Aaron Christensen and Willows, a match made in retail heaven".  I like to think so Stacey...

I've had the pleasure of working with the owners Sandy and Janna through the many styles of Willows as well.  There was the furniture vending Shabby Chic period, the overstuffed bedding and bath phase, the modern steel and glass era and now our rustic deconstructed glam clothing and accessories boutique. 

This latest trim is constructed of recycled glass objects, plastic utensil handles and a bit of Embellishments distressification.  What was once a black wrought iron, atypical 90's chandelier was stripped of it's functioning parts and turned into a living sculpture.  Its vintage blue mason jars contain plant cuttings that will grow with the season.

I'll have to stop in and check on the cuttings, as sadly despite all their style and grace neither Sandy or Janna have a green thumb.  They've quickly killed every poinsettia over our 17 holidays together...ha!  

For my style loving female friends out there, know that Willows will soon be opening up a web-shop.  I'll share the link when it's ready to go. 

If you're a customer of Willows you can look forward to a pre-summer give-a-way featuring the spring decor pieces...ooooh!  

Everyone needs a space to retreat to.  For men sometimes that space is referred to as a man cave.  I take issue with the term conjuring up thoughts of neanderthal hangouts littered with rib bones and empty beer bottles that smells like dirty feet.  There's no reason the "cave" can't be a well designed space for entertaining friends, family and yes...neanderthals.

With the release of my latest wall art pieces, I decided to render up a few mood boards that explore man cave design.

The much anticipated release of my latest art is upon us.  The collections consisting of 27 new images are available for licensing within a variety of categories.  My authorized art publisher Gango Editions is hosting the works as canvas prints, posters and prints.  They are available to the art industry, retailers and catalog companies on a wholesale basis.  Until I confirm which retailers are carrying the new works I invite you to my website boutique to make purchases.  

If you love pugs give me a snort, snort, wheeze!

I'm loving how the editorial pieces for my dog art line are progressing. Or maybe I just love pugs next to my art, even if it's the noisy end. Wait both ends of pugs are noisy....ha!

It's a beautiful picture huh?  That's my peanut and her boyfriend.  What you don't see in the picture is the mud covered prop dad.  I had to lay down and wrestle plywood so the Promsters wouldn't get mud on their prom wear.  The bike was sinking into the mud and the wind gusts made photographing balloons really difficult.

Between Prom and Mother's Day brunch I had a last minute calling to help my son with a DIY for his media class. With zero notice, let's make a camp stool!  My children take for granted that the studio is loaded, part craft store and lumber yard.   Pulling a camp stool out of my (ahem) is all in a days work.  I wouldn't have it any other way....they need me.  At least for now, ha!

My son's DIY video doesn't mention one should plan ahead for these kind of things. 

The Prom dinner was spared rain showers.  It couldn't have been a prettier evening.

I neglected to capture any pictures of the Mom's Day brunch that was squeezed in.  This guy was busy eating......

A quick shout out to Auburn Sports Physical Therapy - Thanks so much for choosing my art for your office and thank you for sharing a picture of it with me!

These are basketball gym sized floors I've painted for several teams.  The props and sets are also of my design.  Thank you to Patrick Smith Photography letting me share some of your photos.