I AM NOT LEROY

One thing I value in my life is being able to sing the praises of those near and dear to me who create work that inspires me. I think it's easy to become particularly critical about the art of the people that surround you everyday, because you are exposed to their process, flaws, transitions, and evolution of their talent, editing, taste, etc. So, when any fellow creative I have worked with along the way creates something that blows my mind, I want to shout it from the mountain tops to share with everyone what they're missing from my tiny corner of the world.

I work with Peter Larson on a daily basis, and I've been watching this project, I Am Not Leroy, evolve for some time now. It originally started out as a "doodling" of sorts. I noticed Peter compulsively drew these faces on sketchbooks, napkins, scrap paper . . . anywhere and everywhere, really. I couldn't get enough of them, with each "portrait" displaying a unique and distinct expression, yet having a strikingly similar style to the one before it. They read as a series to me. I wanted to see more . . . and more, and more, and more. Years later, I still wait in anticipation of the next.

What I find most interesting is that I have played favoritism to certain faces throughout the process. There are ones that I am immediately drawn to (below). I admittedly fantasize about one day having a giant wall full of a collection of my own selects. I have a signed original framed in my bedroom, so I suppose that's a start.

Peter has also started a new series of faces using glue and glitter (below). I can't help but think of the endless possibilities for this art. I daydream about the various mediums they could be created with, and the different places they could be displayed: interiors, commercial spaces, creative studios, etc. Their bold, graphic style would make them a focal point in any room.Today, Peter officially launched the I Am Not Leroy site, as well as two shops where you can buy prints or originals of the faces. You can also follow a daily posting on the Leroy tumblr.