Randy Antin
Bluest Ninja Studios

San Francisco based oil painter and needlepointer Randy Antin is an L.A. native, born in '74 and afterwards lived in Michigan and Prague which might help to explain the diverse nature of his portfolio. Randy creates everything from duct tape art to puzzles to paintings and needlepoint pieces. His work hangs in galleries around the Bay Area and in collections across the globe.

About is unique duct tape pieces, Randy writes:

In 2004, I bought a huge roll of silver duct tape after learning that
it served as a fantastic foot blister protector. That's not really
connected to using it in artwork but does explain how I first got
exposed to having rolls of tape around. I began taping the canvas at
different stages of a painting, sealing parts while leaving the rest
exposed. At the right time, I peel the tape off (in most cases) or add
another layer and paint some more.
Over the past year, I’ve focused on what kind of effects I can get out
of the various tapes. I’ve expanded from duct tape into shipping tape,
electrical tape, and scotch tape. Each type creates a different effect,
which you can see if you look very closely.


It’s reminiscent of walls that have been painted over numerous times
and then worn through by the weather; old signs that have been covered
in stickers and posters, distorted reflections in water surfaces,
cracks in painted crosswalks on the street. All of these have movement
and time in common, and I’m trying to replicate that in my work.



Now, the second reason I do what I do:

I saw an episode of CSI once where a painting forger was caught because
she couldn’t resist the urge to put a tiny symbol in each of her
forgeries that would prove to people that she was the one who did the
painting instead of the original. After seeing that, I’ve decided to
try to make paintings that are impossible to recreate. And because of
the randomness of how the tape interacts with the turpentine, I will be
amazed if anyone can ever replicate one of my paintings.

Of course, I’d be flattered if someone tried. Well…and highly doubtful
anyone ever will.



Other examples of Randy's work:


16 See Three Second
8 x 10
oil on panel


Shadow Portrait in the Elements
14 x 12
Needlepoint


Jigsaw 3


Love Me Dammit
Needlepoint


He Doesn't Care What You do
Needlepoint


I'm There if You Look Close Enough
20 x 24
oil on canvas


No One Ownes Color
18 x 20
oil on canvas

2005 Exhibitions
2005

Open Studios 2005 at Melting Point Gallery, October 22-23, 2005
Girlventures Fundraiser, Lisa Dent Gallery, San Francisco October 22, 2005
SomArts Gallery, Open Studios Main Exhibition, October 1-29, 2005
Katrina Fundraiser, Travelocity, San Francisco, September 26, 2005
Katrina Fundraiser, 66Balmy Gallery, San Francisco, September 5, 2005
Santa Cruz Art League, Fiber Arts Juried Exhbition, July 2- July 27, 2005
Potrero Hill Library Local Artists’ Show, San Francisco, April 2 – April 24, 2005
Pet Noir, Balazo Gallery, San Francisco, March 31-April 12, 2005
Artist Xchange at 3169 16th St (Valencia), San Francisco, January 15 - February 28, 2005