Feliz Cumpeanos Jefe

Five years ago on March 1st 2004 I lost the most influential person in my life, I lost my hero, I lost my dad.


They say everything happens for a reason. I think they are right (who ever "they" are) losing my dad was very painful, and very hard to accept. But now I see his passing as a blessing. Growing up he was the kind of dad that could do anything. He was strong, he was funny, he was mean, he was nice, he was talkative, he was observant, he was the man. So it was hard to see him sick. He couldn't take being sick too long. He broke his neck many years before and instead of living off the disability he decided to get to work. That's the kind of person he was.



If my dad hadn't passed away I don't know that there would be a Deadend Magazine, I don't know that I would live in Salinas, I don't know that I would be the person I am today. Even though my dad has been gone for a little over a five years I think about him everyday.





Feliz Cupleanos Don Juan "El Bonito", we miss you!

-Juan

Holy Macro

So this past Saturday I spent all day doing yard work (hate it) and deciding whether I was going to drive to Ventura that night.. I didn't, not because I didn't want to but because I should be saving my money for my trip to Austin.

So instead of driving down to Ventura I spent my evening designing, youtubing & taking pictures on Macro mode of random stuff with my sister's point & shoot.

First, I got inspired to take random pics when I was comparing my mom's hardworking hands to my hands as she was putting on lotion.



Then I pointed the camera at my mom & she covered her face. She doesn't like pictures of herself.


I really like this photo.. haha

The following photos were taken in my mom's room...


how cute... or creepy?

Dios te salve Maria..

Jesus Christ!

Another angel..

Another guadalupe...

This painting I actually really like.. its about 8 inches wide & 12 tall.


This is a painting I did on a small canvas for Mother's Day for my mom in 2002.. I should paint more often. I actually enjoy it and I need to get better at it. My dad loved it when I painted stuff for him.

Now I took the camera to my room and took photos of random stuff there... I know I'm weird...

The first thing I saw was shoes on the floor.

Growing up (since I could remember) I've had at least one pair of chucks. First I had them cuase we were broke, then because I liked them.


Now in my adult life, I own at least one pair of chucks & vans...


and lots.... lots of black tees.

One of my tired but hardworking macs (don't mind the mess)

A closer look (dirty keys)

Think the last of the Church Numero Tres books we have left.

The best that I know of..

Cadillac pimpin

Roth Lettering Enamel named a color after us... I think we've pretty much made it.. We have our own color... do you? haha

I need to shoot this.

This keeps lint company in my pocket

So does this

My eye

And last here is an ID card from elementary school. Don't laugh!

That's it for now... I know boring stuff

Al Rato
-Juan

Lone Star Round-Up 3.0

So in a couple weeks I will be making a return to the Lone Star Round-Up in Austin Texas for the 3rd consecutive time! I'm really excited. The first year was great because I rode (& learned how to drive 3 on the tree) with Salinas Legend Rod Powell


in his 56 Chevy Handyman Wagon.


and followed Lee & Suzanne Pratt (2 great people & artists)



It was my first time going to the Round-Up and it was awesome. The show was great, the trip was amazing... but the best part(s) was talking with Rod and Lee on the road and meeting new friends....

I met Flat Top Bob

The first night we got there as we were setting up Rod's artwork in the gallery. Bob asked me if I worked for Donnie at Imperial Kustoms because I was wearing an Imperial Kustoms Shirt. I told him, no, and introduced myself and we hit it off. Bob and Linda (his wife) are 2 of the nicest people in the world!

I met Jeff Norwell

That same night. I was already a big fan of his artwork, and became an even bigger fan after seeing some originals in person. The man can draw! I actually went up to Jeff and told him my name was Juan and just complimented his talents. In about 2 minuted while I was still admiring his work Jeff comes back, "Dude, why didn't you say who you were, I love Deadend Magazine." I was shocked. I guess Jeff got to talking with Rod and Rod told him about our trip and who I was. Since then Jeff and I have become god friends and joke around a lot, he's a Snowback.

The second time around, Rod & I jumped into his wagon again and headed to L.A. to meet Lee Pratt again. But this time Lee jumped in the wagon with us.



and off we were to Austin. This time the trip was shorter, but nonetheless still very fun. This time we had a deadline. We had to get there early for Rod & I to set-up our artwork in the gallery. I was excited to have some of our (my brother and I) photography on display next to some great artists.






the show again was great, but the best part was hanging around with Rod, The Flat-Tops & Jeff Norwell in Wellington Texas. After the Round-Up we drove to Flat-Top Bob's house and he gave us a 3 day tour of his neat little Texas town & salvage yard. We had a great time.







This year will be different, but I still expect it to be fun. I will be flying to Wellington to ride down to Austin with Flat Top Bob.

And again I am excited to be a part of the Round-Up Gallery.. some of the artist are
Von Franco
Jeff Norwell
Rod Powell
John Mearns
Ruben Duran
Jimmy "Jeem" Smith
Dennis McPahil
Keith Weesner

I am honored that my brother and I will have photography hanging next to the works of these talented fellas.