Come check out Daniel Edlen's Vinyl Art at our Mesa store. We'll be hosting a display of his artwork during our Mesa Cafe Media Night on Tuesday, June 15, at 6:00 p.m. Ear Candy Charity will also be showcasing the music of Casey Lee Smith. Daniel, originally from Pacific Palisades, now lives in Gilbert with his wife, four dogs and a new little girl. He paints Vinyl Art, portraits of musicians and entertainers on vinyl records made by the subject. Instead of Elvis on velvet, think Elvis on an Elvis record. He also does Liter(art)ure, drawings of authors in their books.

 

 

We asked Daniel 10 questions... check them out below:

1. What inspired you to do this type of artwork? Where did you get the idea?

I had gotten into music as a teenager, as well as taken a bunch of art classes. When I got duplicate beat-up copies of albums I loved, I tried painting on them. The idea initially came from a white pencil drawing on black paper.

2. What was the most difficult piece you've ever done?

I've never thought of that before. Probably the one of Nick Drake because I was hesitant to paint on one of his records in the first place, and finding a photo with enough detail was tricky.

3. Favorite artist, both musical and visual?

I did a double album of the Kings of Leon with all four members that turned out really nicely, and they definitely have been one of my favorite bands for the last few years.

4. Do you have any upcoming shows? What tools are you using to market yourself?

The pieces that were hanging at the Santa Monica Airport in California are going to move to a restaurant in Pacific Palisades later this year. I'm excited to reach a whole new audience that way. I've gone through galleries, word of mouth, and social media to market my work. Each has had success in chunks, so I need to keep finding new ways, new audiences.

5. So, what are you currently listening to?

Dead Weather.

6. First album and first concert?

Revolver by the Beatles was my first album on vinyl. My first rock concert was Peter Gabriel.

7. Musical guilty pleasure?

10cc

8. Most meaningful piece of artwork to you? How about most meaningful artist (visual and musical)?

The most meaningful piece is a secret one of John Lennon and Yoko Ono I gave to my wife. The most meaningful artist would probably also be Lennon, or the Beatles.

9. What new artists do you know about that we all need to know about... what secrets are you hiding? :)

If you don't, Dead Weather. Not that Jack White is a secret. Gnarls Barkley as well.

 

You can find more of Daniel's art and info at the Vinyl Art website.