Some artists take their art very seriously and leave all shreds of humor out at any cost. For me, I like to mix some humor in when I can, especially when you consider the subject matter of my latest die-cut paper art. Albert Einstein did groundbreaking work in the field of physics, and yet one of his best known portraits was one of him sticking his tongue out. This type of dichotomy definitely appeals to me, and that’s why I chose to abstract it. Thanks for viewing. Cheers.

Einstein, 12 x 12″, archival paper.

While Salvador Dalí had won the Facebook poll last month of who I should make a topographic art of next, the runner up was famed film director Alfred Hitchcock. As I’m constantly trying to evolve this process of converting photos into layers of die-cut paper, this render fell somewhere between Dali and Satchelmouth in terms of complexity. I also played around with using more of the metallic papers. Thanks for viewing. Cheers.

Hitchcock, 12 x 12″, archival paper.

After doing a quick poll on Facebook of who I should make a topographic art of next, the winner was surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. With this piece, I decided to try rendering the shadow areas of the image as the top layer and the highlight at the bottom layer. This made the image slightly more abstracted when viewing close-up, but had the real payoff from about 12 feet away. I also went a little smoother on the details of the shapes as compared to Satchelmouth, which helps with the close-up abstraction (and my sanity!). Overall, a fun subject and project. Thanks for viewing. Cheers.

Salvador Dalí, 12 x 12″, archival paper.

In our ongoing series of converting photos into topographic maps, the next subject has a roundabout quality. Last summer, Sharon and I went to New Orleans and visited Mardi Gras World, where most of the parade floats are made. Anyway, we took lots of photos there, and I took one of a cartoon caricature head of Louis Armstrong that had great chiaroscuro… which of course, works great for the topographic effect. While a mild fan of jazz, this isn’t a tribute in any way, I don’t even own any songs by ol’ Satchmo. But inspiration can come from all sources. In this case, I loved the expression of the caricature and as you can see below, made for an enjoyable piece of art. Thanks for viewing. Cheers.

Satchelmouth, 12 x 12″, archival paper.

Our second transformation of a photo into a topographic paper image comes with a heavy heart. Hudson the cat, the source matter of the piece, passed away this past week from complications of feline heart disease. This was a huge blow to the Somrod studio as Hudson was an important part of our lives. She will be greatly missed, but we hope this artistic tribute can help her stay just a little closer to our hearts. Thanks for viewing.

“Russian Blue”, 12 x 12″, archival paper.

The concept: transform a digital photo of myself into a topographic map but still be able to see the photo when looking straight on.

The result (click below to view full size): Paper Champion (Self Portrait I), 12 x 12″, archival paper. Thanks for viewing!

Sharon and I didn’t have enough room in our living room to fit the full size glass top to go with the wood base of a Isamu Noguchi Table. So we decided to make our own custom one, just slightly smaller. We started by purchasing a reclaimed piece of 3form Varia Ecoresin, then drew the shape against the base, cut it with a jigsaw, and finally sanded & polished the edges.

The result: our new “3-Guchi” Table. Since it was a lot of fun to bring together, I’m labeling it as #1 since I expect that we will be making more. Cheers.

Every so often, it’s nice to surprise yourself. Even if the surprise is at the expense of your vices.

On May 22, I was feeling overwhelmed by too many things on my mind. So I decided on a whim, I would give up a few things. Consider it lent for an agnostic.

So that morning, after getting dressed, I wrote on Twitter: “As an experiment, I’m trying to eliminate as many unnecessary distractions from my life as I can for a month. Including Twitter. So, cheers!” I posted the same thing on Facebook. I then unchecked all email notifications from both, deleted their apps from my phone, and went so far to block both sites from my browser, both at home and work.

Since I checked both sites several times a day, it felt very liberating to disconnect. So I decided to take it a little further. I then decried that I would not watch any sports on TV and, most importantly, would not drink any alcohol in that time. As an NBA fan and a connoisseur of fine beer, these were tough to greenlight. But I deemed it for the best.

The way I see it, most people are able to rationalize that as long as they’re not abusive about their vices, then it’s okay to indulge at will. But is watching sports every night needed? Is a beer or two every night necessary? Will the world end if I don’t know what funny comments or status updates were left in the last hour? The answer is no for all.

I’m writing now to say that the experiment was a success. For four weeks, I never logged onto Facebook or Twitter (even though my wife told me people had commented on my last status), never watched sports on TV (even though I heard that the NBA Finals were fantastic), and never touched a drop of alcohol (despite it even being offered to me).

What does this all prove? Nothing. Will I go back to engaging in all four? Sure, why not; I’m not a self-sadist. Then why do this? Just to remind myself that (a) I still have a choice about the things I do every day, and (b) despite feeling older and less energetic, I still can summon extended willpower whenever I should need it.

This is something to build on. And I plan on it. Now it’s time to do the work. Cheers!

It was a beautiful day outside in New York City, so in the scant time I’m legally allowed to take for lunch, I took a quick stroll through the heart (and maybe lungs) of the Financial District. About a mile in total, which is pretty good for a desk bound production manager. Stopped for empanadas along the way (and hoping I don’t regret that decision later).

Click on the map snapshot to the left to view the path I took. Cheers.

We have some news this morning that we’re very humbled and honored to report. Totally fantastic news that is! Mark has been featured on Herman Miller’s blog, Lifework.

Check it out here: http://www.hermanmiller.com/lifework/inspiration-artist-mark-sahm/

If by chance you’re not familiar with them (but you should be!), Herman Miller is a legendary furniture design company (learn more here). We couldn’t be more thrilled to see Mark, his paintings, and part of the Somrod studio featured here. Feel free to take some of the positive energy for yourself! Cheers.

Most likely if you’re reading this, you’ve already noticed something different around these parts.

Somrod.com has been given a design facelift, most specificially the homepage. We’ve also updated other elements around the site, and added a new series of paintings inspired by classic design.

Please take a look if you haven’t already. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers.

Thanks to everyone who came to see the first solo exhibition of my art. I really appreciate the support and hope to have another exhibition sooner than later.

Here’s the online round up of the exhibition:

• A full panorama of the exhibition with clickable slideshow for each painting.

• A fisheye video of the entire exhibition in 40 seconds.

• The press I received from the local newspaper.

Time: Saturday, July 17, 2010 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: High Street Gallery, 11 East High Street, Glassboro, NJ

Please join us at the opening reception for “A Third Second Chance“, an exhibition of creative works by Mark Sahm, on Saturday, July 17th at the High Street Gallery. Light refreshments will be served.

“A Third Second Chance” will be on display from July 11 – August 1, 2010.

Mark Sahm will be at the gallery every Saturday for the duration of the show.

Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.

The gallery is located at 11 East High Street, Glassboro, NJ, and is open Wednesday through Friday between the hours of 3:30 and 7:30pm and Saturday from 12 to 4:30 pm.

All works are for sale.

As you may have known from my Facebook or Twitter stream, Sharon and I just spent 6 days in New Orleans, LA. I have to admit that it was a good time from start to finish. We were active everyday with local attractions and activities (because I loathe going somewhere new and just sitting around), as well as consuming more tasty food and beverages than we could possibly handle.

Below is the massive summary of everywhere we went in New Orleans, LA (with links if you’re more curious):

• ate at La Bayou Restaurant (once for food, twice for drinks)
• put some money in a slot machine at Harrah’s Casino
• went to House of Blues (saw Zoso, a Led Zeppelin tribute band)
• walked around Bourbon Street (every night)
• had beignets at Cafe Du Monde (twice)
• had lunch at the Acme Oyster House
• took a class at the New Orleans School of Cooking
• took the Mardi Gras World tour
• ate at Deanie’s Restaurant
• stood in no A/C and standing room only for a set of old time jazz at Preservation Hall
• ate at Bourbon House
• visited the Voodoo Museum and went on the Cemetery Tour offered there
  
• took a dinner/jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez
• went on the Garden District Walking Tour
• rode the Canal St. Streetcar
• went to the New Orleans Museum of Art
• ate at Oceana Grill Restaurant
• souvenir shopping on Decatur Street
• had our last meal at Mother’s Restaurant
• and through it all drank a ton of Abita Beer and Southern Pecan Beer

There were a few things that we wanted to do but didn’t (Aquarium, Swamp/Alligator Tour, Strip Clubs… okay, just kidding on that last one, honey), but maybe on our next trip. All in all, it sure beat the hell out of going to Vegas or Puerto Rico again. Thanks for reading. Cheers.

I know I’ve been a bad blogger. Personally I blame Twitter and Facebook.  And ESPN and Wikipedia. They have been stealing internet focus away from blogging for the past 7 months. Okay, maybe the past 23 months is more accurate. As you know, my free time is not what it used to be, and the prime time I have should all be focused on the creative efforts that I’m “supposed” to be blogging about. Alas, I’m sure it’s all the same to you— unless I write something useful for you right now.

So, because I care about the random folks who may be reading my blog, here’s my 2 cents— start your New Year’s resolutions… again. You know you already know them, and you know damn well that you haven’t done all of them. Or even any of them. Yes, fess up.

Because (and I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again) if you have something you want to do, then what is stopping you from doing it? Don’t wait for January—get to it already! You don’t know what the future will hold. You may think you have all of the time in the world, but unless that thing is playing shuffleboard in a retirement home and not remembering what the score is— then no, sorry but you don’t.

Of course, I’d be a liar if I told you that I didn’t say these things as much for myself as I do for anyone who reads this. But I’m right here with you, having a long commute and job that takes 90% of my daily energy, and then trying to cram the rest of my life and dreams into the leftover 10%. It’s not ideal… but we have to make it work. We have to.

Thus, in the neverending pursuit of how to transform Jack Shit into Hot Shit, it appears to me that waiting for the New Year and the fresh start is just an illusion. Time goes on no matter what, it won’t stop for you, and it won’t even be courteous and wait for you if you woke up 5 minutes late.

So get to it. Now. Cheers.

1. Some days, it’s nice to revisit the past. Of course, if you got your ass kicked a lot, it’s best you stay in the present.

2. Congrats on your achievements! I’m very excited to hear that you’ve done something no one’s EVER done before.

3. Somewhere, there’s an ancient machine that measures all of the cynicism in the world. You think the machine overloads during the holidays?

4. Somfucius say: Man who is short on Facebook status updates may have a busy life. Or maybe he just didn’t feel like posting frivolous bullshit.

5. On the grand scale of Twitter trending topics, I’d rather be Tiger Woods than Michael Jackson. A scandal still beats being dead.

6. Always wait for at least 3 Subway announcements before leaving. Twice they said service was suspended. Then 2 minutes later it was fixed.

7. It’s better to be a spontaneous failure than a meticulously planned failure. At least you have some time for a beer afterwards.

8. I’m still trying to figure how the hell I tweeted like this every morning for months. Maybe it’s time to start again? Nahhhhhhhh.

9. This morning’s SomBlock is sponsored by 2012, because the Mayans thought it would be funny to fuck with naive people in the future.