Photograph of Mark Kozelek by Wayne Rainey

Photograph of Mark Kozelek by Wayne Rainey

A twist of fate put photographer Wayne Rainey together with acclaimed and controversial indie artist Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon & Red House Painters. After a quick introduction, Rainey was able to get Kozelek in front of the camera for a couple of minutes. The result, entitled, "Broken" is a stark portrait set within a jagged frame. A departure for Rainey, but indicative of the power of his photographs.

Mark Kozelek was in Phoenix performing at the Crescent Ballroom. An American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and occasional actor. Kozelek is best known as the vocalist and primary recording artist of the indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums, and as the vocalist, guitarist and founding member of the indie rock band Red House Painters, with whom he recorded six studio albums from 1989 until 2001. He is currently on tour.

Wayne Rainey is showing his work tonight as part of Chaos Theory 17 in downtown Phoenix.

More Information about Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey is a fine-art and commercial photographer, and an artistic community activist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Educated in photography through 25 years of practical experience, Rainey has specialized in commercial fields such as food, lifestyles, resort, and major production advertising. In addition to his commercial career, Rainey’s reputation in the fine arts world is well known through exhibitions at Bentley Gallery and reviews in publications such as ArtNews and Communication Arts.

Continue reading about Wayne Rainey, or contact Store 44 Reps for inquiries regarding future projects.

Wayne Rainey Photography Galleries: Arizona Tourism, Africa, Food, London Tourism, Video Reel

Follow Wayne Rainey: Facebook, Twitter

Wayne Rainey Demolition Photo Stands Out at Juried Artlink Exhibition

"Illumination" by Photographer Wayne Rainey

The exhibition, featuring a photograph by Wayne Rainey, was a one night only event at The Heard Museum. Excerpt from the Phoenix New Times article by Lynn Trimble:

Phoenix photographer Wayne Rainey, a longtime artist and activist in Roosevelt Row who owns the monOrchid building, opted for provocative rather than pleasing. He showed a large-scale photograph that’s both strangely alluring and deeply disturbing.

Titled Illumination, it’s a nighttime capture of construction debris from the properties destroyed in March 2015 to make way for iLuminate, which is one of two Baron Properties multi-level housing developments currently under construction at the intersection of Roosevelt and Third streets, iLuminate sits adjacent to monOrchid, Rainey's arts and events space.

Rainey’s intention with the piece is clear. He’s voiced strong criticism of Baron Properties through social media, and expressed his concern that artists who partner with Baron Properties or other developers who demolish beloved buildings are taking part in the demise of their own arts community.

Within hours of Artlink wrapping up its single-day exhibition, Rainey posted comments on his Facebook page that included the following, and he's posted additional comments since:

"Well that was an interesting night. It had all the components of a good drama with no casualties except perhaps an arts district. If only there were an organization present, that promoted the arts and artists, that could have stood erect and told Baron Properties that we are not the cheap sluts you take us for and what you're trying to buy is not for sale."

After Baron Properties demolished a building bearing Lauren Lee’s Three Birds mural to make way for iLuminate, it commissioned Lee to create mural-inspired panels collectively called Three Birds in Flight, which they’ve already mounted on iLuminate’s west-facing façade.

Rainey also called out Artlink in his post on exhibition night, writing, "ArtLink is dead. It died the minute it wed the Dev that tore into our heart." For Rainey, art took the form of activism. And activism took the form of art.

The bold nature of Rainey’s work, an exquisite composition even without its powerful context, made everything around it look safe – including the trio of works chosen for special recognition.

Wayne Rainey Shows The Passenger at Bokeh Gallery

Photography by Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey's latest body of work is presented in "The Passenger" at the Bokeh Gallery in the monOrchid. In this series, Rainey acts as a quiet observer, illustrating his own stories set in modern times in an urban landscape. Reinventing the base stories of original fairytales through captivating vignettes, Rainey hopes that the viewer will create their own stories when viewing his work. 

The Passenger in Bokeh Gallery. Phoenix, AZ

More Information about Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey is a fine-art and commercial photographer, and an artistic community activist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Educated in photography through 25 years of practical experience, Rainey has specialized in commercial fields such as food, lifestyles, resort, and major production advertising. In addition to his commercial career, Rainey’s reputation in the fine arts world is well known through exhibitions at Bentley Gallery and reviews in publications such as ArtNews and Communication Arts.

Continue reading about Wayne Rainey, or contact Store 44 Reps for inquiries regarding future projects.

Wayne Rainey Photography Galleries: Arizona Tourism, Africa, Food, Video Reel

Follow Wayne Rainey: Facebook, Twitter

How to Name Image Files

A Red Ripe Tomato Sitting on a Cutting Board. This is a typical image caption.
It may be redundant, and could negatively impact your SEO.

The Importance of Naming Image Files: A How-to for Artists

As a rep agency, we receive images from all over the world. usually attached to an email in the form of an artist submission. And while the photographer or illustrator may have put a lot of thought into the images selected to make a cohesive portfolio, most seem to care very little about naming the files. But did you know that a good file name can help with your SEO? Whether it's on the internet or in your client's Gmail, an image with a proper file name can help more people find it. A proper image filename is your first step on the road to a cohesive strategy for image SEO.

This article is part of our ongoing series of tips and tricks for commercial artists.

Arizona Swimming Holes Map by Michael Gellatly

Arizona Watering Holes.
Map by Michael Gellatly.

Spend your summer holidays exploring some of Arizona's popular watering holes with this map courtesy of illustrator Michael Gellatly for Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine.

More Information about Technical and Fine-art Illustrator Michael Gellatly

Michael Gellatly's work would simply be characterized as technical reference illustrations, maps, or instructions, were it not for the otherworldly, erotic, fine-art twist he weaves into his images. He is an accomplished studio artist, drawing inspiration from the many mediums he works in, including sculpture and digital photography. He lives and works in Miami, Florida.
Continue reading about Michael Gellatly, or contact Store 44 Reps for inquiries regarding future projects.

More Portfolios from Michael Gellatly: Reference and Nature, Maps, Fine Art

Follow Michael Gellatly: website, blog, AltPick.

Wayne Rainey Shoots Hance Park Panoramic

A View from Above Margaret T. Hance Park.
Photography by Wayne Rainey

"Rainey Studios enjoyed working with ad guru graphic designer Erik von Weber and our client Alvaro Sande (Sencorp) on the forth coming en Hance Park project. This will be the view from the 4 floor of the parkside condominiums designed by Shepley Bullfinch. We photographed more than 6 panels and then stitched the best together to create a 3.5 GB final panoramic file, large enough for a high detail wall cover that will be some 5 feet wide. An extra special thanks to Natasha Mishano (crew/post production assistant) and Michael Muratore (our agent and producer at Store 44 Reps) for as always helping us prepare the front end so we get the job done right. FYI we got this turned around in just 24 hours. Learn more about the beautiful homes and see this and building renderings at en Hance Park, New Modern Condominiums".

-courtesy Rainey Studios.

More Information about Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey is a fine-art and commercial photographer, and an artistic community activist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Educated in photography through 25 years of practical experience, Rainey has specialized in commercial fields such as food, lifestyles, resort, and major production advertising. In addition to his commercial career, Rainey’s reputation in the fine arts world is well known through exhibitions at Bentley Gallery and reviews in publications such as ArtNews and Communication Arts.

Continue reading about Wayne Rainey, or contact Store 44 Reps for inquiries regarding future projects.

Wayne Rainey Photography Galleries: Arizona Tourism, Africa, Food, Video Reel

Follow Wayne Rainey: Facebook, Twitter

Wayne Rainey Photographs Phoenix Former Mayors

Former Phoenix mayors Paul Johnson, Skip Rimsza and Phil Gordon at the home Frank Lloyd Wright House built for his son in Phoenix.
Photograph by Wayne Rainey.

Wayne Rainey was recently called upon to photograph former Phoenix mayors Paul Johnson, Skip Rimsza and Phil Gordon at the home Frank Lloyd Wright House built for his son in Phoenix. In May 2012, Phoenix nearly lost this architecturally significant historical home — the David Wright House in Arcadia.

In 1950, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home for his son David on 10 acres in the middle of citrus groves with magnificent views of Camelback Mountain and Papago Peak. Completed in 1952, the David Wright House is one of three spiral designs by Mr. Wright. It is a precursor to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The house is regarded as Mr. Wright's last residential masterpiece. It is an architectural jewel, but until recently very few knew it even existed.

Continue Reading on Arizona Central.

More Information about Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer Wayne Rainey

Wayne Rainey is a fine-art and commercial photographer, and an artistic community activist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Educated in photography through 25 years of practical experience, Rainey has specialized in commercial fields such as food, lifestyles, resort, and major production advertising. In addition to his commercial career, Rainey’s reputation in the fine arts world is well known through exhibitions at Bentley Gallery and reviews in publications such as ArtNews and Communication Arts.
Continue reading about Wayne Rainey, or contact Store 44 Reps for inquiries regarding future projects.

Wayne Rainey Photography Galleries: Arizona Tourism, Africa, Food, Video Reel

Follow Wayne Rainey: Facebook, Twitter

Michael Gellatly: Artist in Residence

"Dig Turned Painting"

After the jump, technical illustrator, mapmaker, and sculptor, Michael Gellatly reflects on his second residency at The Vermont Studio Center.