A great guy!

[Olias of NYC]

I went to the Grant Gallery opening of Roger Dean's solo show here on 6/28 and my mind is still reeling. I got there at the beginning so it wasn't crowded and started talking to Roger Dean! I couldn't believe it! For me this was a dream come true as it was his artwork as much as the music that made me start listening to Yes as well as inspiring me to start painting in high school. He is funny and very generous with his fans, I mean I basically talked with him for an hour. He walked around taking us to the different paintings and discussing them and answering all of our questions. He was also willing to sign anything and everything, one guy brought more than a few albums and got them all signed. No pretension or aloofness, just an artist who it seems to me does this artwork basically just for fun. His personality just adds to how great his work already is. To look at his canvases is something spectacular. There is much more to them than can be seen in the reduced, reproduced versions on album covers. The silk screen prints are amazing to look at as well, from what he said, "Tales from Topographic Oceans" is made up of 80 layers of color. It is beautiful. It may be hard to leave without buying something! Indeed, I certainly couldn't.

If you can get to this show, check it out, it's a good one! It'll be there until July 25.

[luckyseven]

That is fantastic! I wish I lived somewhere near NY and I would go, no doubt. What painting did you buy?

[Olias of NYC]

I could not nearly afford a painting (for example, the painting of Astra is selling for 250,000), but I did buy the screen print of "Tales from Topographic Ocean." It's signed and one of a limited edition of 5 prints. Now I just need to frame it and figure out where it's going to go.

[luckyseven]

Wow, no sh**. 250 grand. I never would have guessed. I wonder how much Yes had to do with his success? You can't beat a ltd. edition signed print if you can't get the original.

[jerry keller]

roger dean made an appearance at nearfest this year and was selling limited edition lithos as well as posters. unfortunately,
i didn't get around to buying anything until the second day and most of the posters were sold out. i did get the first asia album artwork which he signed and dated. he also designed the nearfest tee shirt logo this year which is pretty nice and of couse that was obligatory. its far superior to either of the first two years tees.
on saturday, on the dinner break before porcupine tree, i attended the gentle giant list dinner held a couple of blocks away from the venue. there were about 30 members attending. someone had invited roger and indeed he showed up. he sat down to dinner and a couple of beers and was extemely affable and conversational. a really down to earth person.
jerry

[deelovesyes]

we weren't able to attend the nearfest, but a friend of ours did
he said roger dean was a wonderful man.
he bought us a tales poster and got roger dean to sign it.
hehe it has been framed and hung already.

if i knew ahead of time, i had bought a Yellow City litho from rogerdean.com, i would have sent that to be signed.
but hey, i love my poster it is great!!!

dee

thank you john, for thinking of us!

[jerry keller]

yeah, i like my poster too. unfortunately i can't stand ASIA!
haha. but the artwork is dynamite and you can't beat $12
for it signed and dated.i just wish i had gotten there earlier for the yes posters.
jerry

[Olias of NYC]

I agree with you there Jerry. The covers of Asia's albums are great, some of the best work he has done. The name of the band is cool, the only problem is the music they make.:eek: