Long break time

I have taken a long break from social media. I will update my website and my Etsy page but recently I have just become ill from the state of the world and I just need some time off from FB.

I have been back to taking care of my health and looking after the house. The studio got cleaned up some. I took a summer break to smell the roses and just enjoy the work I have put in to get me to where I am today. My shoppe is doing fine and is full of shirts, posters and overflowing with my art. My dog and I are bonding and he is making great progress in listening and hopefully we will be walking arround the neighborhood soon together.

 I have been reading The Book of You by Dr.Oz which has helped me with morning stretches and healthy recipes. It has great illustrations of the human systems and it's pretty funny to read. I got into an old comic book called Moon Knight which I got the first run of online pretty cheap. 

 I am working on another painting for my Uncle Bill on my mom's side of the family. This one he wants Hanna Barberra's wacky racers vs. a made up hot rod of villains. He's pretty cleaver with his ideas and it's fun to paint for someone who really enjoys the work. He and I both collect action figures and comics. He often gave me subscriptions to marvel comics for my birthday growing up.

I have been working on my Alien guitar lately too. I got some new pickup covers and knobs in silver. I also picked up some better black tuners. It may need to go up to Alvas Music soon to get the final details done. I also finished a new flyer for Toys That Kill yesterday that turned out great. It's for a local show here in town this October. 

I have been wearing my carpel tunnel brace on my left hand which has helped a lot. I am back playing guitar again too. Really fun to be playing again. I found a book of lyrics I wrote in my studio too. I woke up this morning thinking of band names. The one I thought up I liked the most today was The Book Readers. The weather is cooling hopefully which makes jamming easier. 

I mostly like playing my nylon acoustic I picked up at the flea market for 20 bucks and fixed up. The dog loves to hear my play. He falls asleep when I play...is that good or bad? I stopped drinking diet cokes about six moths ago too. I switched to unsweetened iced tea and black coffee. I tried a Diet Coke a few weeks ago and could not stomach it, so I guess that's that. Also gave up ice cream too. I'm a bit lactose intolerant anyway so I switched to nonfat zero fro yo fro trader joes awhile back and frozen mango to beat the heat. Did I mention ice water? Lots of that too.

I plan on making new poster with the new flyer design soon this month... Maybe I will have them in time for the show on the 17th. Of course with help from my pals at Calimucho, San Pedro again. In the next blog I hope to take some photos around the studio that show my work process. Maybe that will be a page on my website? I know people want to see how I do the art so I hope to have that for you guys soon.

Until next time, be kind to animals...even humans... 

Tinkering project

Working on finishing up this long time project. I found this guitar at a flea market in town. It's a 1987 (I think?) Squire Bullet Strat. It was blue and beat up when I got it. I think I paid 20 bucks for it. The parts worked sort of but needed re-wired which was fine because I had to strip it all down to paint it anyway. I painted it with acrylic paint and 11 coats of krylon crystal clear coat I think... Maybe satin clear because it's kind of satin finish...anyway... I had it for sale for $800.00 in my shoppe for about a year or so. It got attention and a few close offers (I would have gone as low as 500) well I just decided to hang on to it. The paint job is an homage to the late H.R. Giger whom I have loved since Alien first hit theaters. (Did you know he also designed the batmoble for batman forever?) Today I tracked down the parts I need to finish this project.... Chrome pickup covers, switch knob and volume knobs. I also found some black mini tuners (I was looking for matte silver, but could only find locking ones and I just want basic tuners for this) picked up a batch of new stainless steel pick guard screws too. Now I just have to wait for the parts, in the mean time I got two new sets of extra slinkys from Alvas Music (they re-wired and did the full set up after I painted the thing too) I oiled the neck which had got a bit faded from all the sun at my shoppe. I used the oil my wife got me for my dry elbows, Aragon oil... It seemed to work just fine. I put on one of the slinky sets and cleaned off the dust from the warehouse (my shoppe is inside an old ww2 navy warehouse) I have been cleaning the studio and when it gets cooler I will plug it in to my Princeton (it's sold state, not tube, but someday I hope to upgrade to tube but it does the job for now) it's a low budge model but it's super light and very thin fast neck and the set up from Alvas was fantastic...the frets are still gleaming. When I get it all done I will try to add an update here. Keep on rockin in the free world!

Begin the begin...

(Two new shirt designs I am working on this week for the Shoppe...these will be ladies tank tees for summer hot weather. Get them at Aicher's Pop Kustom Shoppe at Crafted 110 e.22nd Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 space 151 in warehouse 10. Can't make it down there? Look for them soon in my ETSY shoppe (https//:www.etsy.com/shop/popkustomshoppe) ...and don't forget my website: www.scottaicher.com

I have been getting my shoppe filled up and stocked for a future I foresee being a lucrative one for myself (as long as I don't look back too often). I have gotten back to a place in my life that I thought was long gone. It's true you can't go back, but parts of the past are there in me still that I thought got lost long ago. Maybe it never left. One thing I know today is every morning is another chance to make good choices. I still have unbalanced days, but now I am aware most times when I get off the path. I woke up this morning swearing at the air, then realized the rest of the day would be pretty lame if I stayed like that. I had some of the coffee my wonderful wife makes for us each morning and to show gratitude went to do the grocery shopping. When i got home I felt I did a Good job of turning a bad start into a good day. 

Was it Jeff Bridges that said how he found success was to have someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to? The someone to love obviously is my wife, but in order to keep her happy she can't be the only one in my life that I love. My dog on the other hand, he just wants me around, but now and then I venture out in the world away from the couch on the search. I tend to keep it to my usual spots involving guitars, comic books, toys or records as that's my bag (but, you knew that, right?) so now and then I go hunting for something that hits the spot. I am pretty picky about exactly what I am hunting for that week is what I hope to find, but often it's not there that day. Internet hunting I really try to pace myself on. I get obsessed online. I find things I think I can't live without and when I get them in the mail I know immediately I don't need it to survive. Which brings me to the pit that is currently occupying my studio. I don't know which area of my collection piles up the fastest. I look around and its usually clear what this months objects are. It keeps building because this is me...this is what I am. Sometimes it inspires me like art books or music. The toys mostly I look at as sculptures. The guitar herd is currently getting thinned down, but I will return to obsessing on them another day and hopefully not regret purging a few. Purging is the only way to keep it balanced. There was I time I felt unworthy of all of it and in turn I felt unworthy of being loved, but as I took small steps toward better health and finally forgave myself for everything I found the wonderful guy that I am and I patted myself on the back and said to myself,"you are worthy". 

I have had to re-learn things. One thing I learned a few years back was I stopped drinking. It does not work for me. I get a buzz from collecting but I have to earn it to enjoy it and get the full effect of the reward. I have to make a few good decisions during the week. I few good walks. Do a few things around the house. Make smart choices. It has to mean something. Otherwise it's hoarding stuff. I really want to earn that package at the end of the week (something to look forward to). I can remember why, when and where I bought most of everything I own and now and then some things in my collection become part of someone else's collection. The balance is not to let it weigh you down. I don't see it the same today. They are all things I can live without. I have my wife and my dog and my health first and foremost. The rest is gravy. 

If you find these posts of mine a bit corny and sappy happy you are right. I make them to pick myself up. To think and remember all of the good decisions and choices I made this week. I telling myself, "hey you, lucky guy I like your smile" and what you want is not on the end of your fork. T.v. Ads will bring you down...don't let them grind you down. Don't worry what people say and don't take shit from jive turkeys. Stop contemplating, start celebrating... And quit apologizing for being you. You have a lot of heart. What's behind you, is not in front of you. 

Here it comes! Let's get it!

Sent away mail order for these Mineshaft Comics to show that yes, they still make underground comics... I am not the only one going through pens and sketchbooks. I have been purging this week and sold some guitars and amps and I am thinking of what to let go of next. Had a few good talks with my best buddy Raul about the future and I am clearing a path in my cluttered life to reach some big goals. The shop is doing real well lately because I have put a lot into it recently getting ready for the brewery crowds which I know are on the way. Today I sold my Gibson (yeowch!) it will only sting for a bit, but I don't have the time to rock it and play it like it should be played so it's a good thing.

Getting ready to invest into silk screening equipment and what I am going to need to be a bit more independent and maybe be able to help my buddy in the future with screen making. Clearing out all of the clutter in my studio is first then we clean the garage. Once I clean out the clutter and get a few things sold I should have the funds for the equipment I need. One day at a time. Baby steps.

I am still on the good health path which means I am taking care of myself which brings a clear uncluttered mind and that's what I need to get things done. So far so good. Today was a great start and a turning point, so a may take a break tomorrow and read some comics. It really does not take much to make me happy. I have it pretty good right now. My friends and family are doing well. Things are good. I am patting myself on the back. Good work! Keep going!

Busy Summer

I have been going full steam the last few weeks getting ready for Brouwerij West. Not just new things in my own shop either. One thing I am working on is for their grand opening. No, I don't have a set day yet, but it is getting very close. They have power washed and cemented. The outside has a new wood skin and I heard the tanks are coming soon. Change is moving fast so I am filling the shop up. New greeting cards are in for birthdays, graduation and love with more planned. Waiting for new greeting card sets with some of my paintings on the front which should be here sometime this week. I had a nice coffee chat with Brian this week too. That guy is under so much pressure. Please go easy on him. He is doing all he can to get the brewery done and really so much is permits and things that have been what the wait is about, but I for one see it going together and I know Crafted is going to get big crowds as well.

The new space and remodel is really working out nice. The layout is more inviting and people are walking around the booth now. It was I bit intimidating with me right up front before, but my new counter (thanks crafted) has really help allow more access to things in the Shoppe.

My special thanks and shout outs to Keith at Krazy Korner for his valuable help getting me set up right in my new space and to both him and Olga for believing in me and not letting me give up. 

I am getting by with a little help from my friends. It's only going to get better and busier and I say bring it on.

See you down at Crafted From 11am to 6pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Have a bitchen summer! -Scott

Crafted 110 e.22nd street, San Pedro, CA 90731 in warehouse 10

....and if you can't make it down there, shop at my Etsy Shoppe:

HTTPS//:www.etsy.com/shop/popkustomshoppe

Don't forget my website: www.scottaicher.com

Summer Dreaming

I have left behind so much in the last year or so. I am trying not to look back, but looking back has always been such a part of who I am. I try to live every moment and every breath as they come and focus on what good choices I am going to make today. I have such a great supportive wife and friends who keep me focused. The ones around me now in this part of my life I am certain will be at my side for the rest of the journey. Aside from making art which has become the everyday thing I look for distractions from the day to day. I used to play guitar when I really got the blues or was feeling overjoyed but I'm not able to do that as much these days. I feel my rock and rolling self slowing and a maturing and a deeper sense of life taking over. It's not growing up. Getting older yes, but I can accept many things now for what they are. My younger self would have wanted to hang out with Paul Stanley at a Kiss concert, but now I would really rather paint with him in a studio of other artists. There is a connection with creativity that makes sense to me now. I had to learn what it was on my own. I always wondered why I made art, but I did it so long it just became part of who I am. I let go of trying to understand creativity and just did the work. Just like writing this right now I just let it happen. My wife's garden has more color than I could ever hope to paint. She gave me my art education over the years and taught me that inspiration for art is often found in the art of other artists. I collect art books often. I ask other artists what artists they like. A good art friend is one that will turn you on to an artist you did not know about. Music used to be mysterious like that too. When punk was happening it was not easy to get a hold of the records. You had friends who traded tapes from radio shows and made fanzines you mailed away for. I sent away for spike bracelets from the Pouser of Hollywood catalog and for a back issues of Flipside comic relief issue that taught you "how to draw skulls". It took weeks to get them in the mail. The Internet gives it to you immediately and corrects your spelling at the same time. I worked on computers for years and realized early on the value of hand painted paintings. It's still there for me when I make the art. It as valuable as a spike bracelet i waited for three months for by my mail box. Maybe the rock and roll will come back. Maybe I just need to get out and see some bands again. It's hard not to have the music being not as big a part of the art today. My invironments I am in these days don't have a lot of rock and roll unless I make the effort to make sure it has some playing. This tablet takes away time too. I think I will start a new painting. Later.

Avengers age of Ultron Memorial Day may Monday 2015

Finally got to see Avengers 2 with my better half. I really enjoyed it. The movie went to Hawkeye but dang that Black Widow and the Hulk romance thing was cool. I really like Scar Jo in this movie so I picked up her action figure along with some others this week. I don't really like throwing fuel at the corporate mouse monopoly, but soon they run everything... So says Hulk. 

We saw it in 3d which was nice, but the 3d parts looked much better in the Jurassic world trailer. Which I assume will be our next date if I can behave myself. I listened to a big podcast with loads of spoilers before I saw it, but overall I was not let down. Not very much from the Falcon, but I am told he has a good part in winter soldier which we plan to on demand sooner or later. I dug this classic ironman figure I found on my web search so I put him in the cart too along with spider woman who was sculpted so well she got put in the cart too. 

Tried to spend some time with my pup this week too and threw the squeaky (his fave toy) around a bit. He gets mad when I'm padding too much, which keeps me from working on art as well as time with him. The rest of the week was updating my Etsy shoppe putting up new things for sale and getting good and ready to deal with all the traffic that Broujeri West is going to bring to Crafted (where I have my shop called Aicher's Pop Kustom Shoppe in space 151) new this week to the shop is Craig Ibarra's epic San Pedro punk history book A Whaling of a Town which is a must read not just if you live here in Pedro but for the stories taken right from the backyards and nightspots way back when. My good buddy Gary Jacobelly told many of the stories and is usually hanging out at my shop if you need yer copy signed. Craig has told he he will sign my copies too. 

I really want to see the Mad Max too. My Mother and Father-in-law loved it and I have heard good things.

Until next time stay beautiful and watch the language....(that's an ultron joke folks!)

Don't forget to check out my etsy shoppe: https//:www.etsy.com/shop/popkustomshoppe 🎨