Ron, 2019, Digital Media, 4200 X 24967 PX​

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Ron, 2019, Digital Media, 4200 X 24967 PX $600.00 Not for Sale When I joined FaceBook, I had a lot of people connect to me that saw the Doc King Gimp and a few that also purchase a piece of my art. Ron was one of the lucky ones to own a piece of my art, the brave soul put it on a credit card. When he hung it up in his home, there was one color in the painting he liked so much, he painted the room that color. Ron is a graphic Artist, so we trade work my favorite piece was when he morphed me into the rabbit from Donny Darko!

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Be Thankful, Obey Me, 2002 etching on paper, 9.5 X 10.5 inches

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Price: $350.00

Everyone sees electric chairs as a tool of freedom, but when you get one it morphs into your body.  Everything good as long you treat it well and keep it charge, or stay in places that are accessible.  When your chair need charge, or break it is someone cutting off your feet and stripping away your independence.

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Universe Within, 2018, Digital Media, 24000 X 20550 PX​

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Price: $600.00

Would this still be considered a piece of Ableism, given that the Artist also has a disability? I do not not use many well known people in my art, really this is going into a rare collection along with others as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, David Bowie, Bono and President Obama.  To me, all of these figure have been leaders in the own time even if you do not agree on their methods. I think all of these people had a whole Universe in there mind and we only got to hear a portion of it. I. am sure if we could connect Stephen Hawking to a server, he would fill terabytes of drives. Real leader's work goes unnoticed, but impact generations.

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King Gimp Studio Fundraiser Event on April 1st

My Family and I have decided to open a working studio, not a gallery. We will be holding workshops and private events such as screen printing, wine and canvas nights, and live drawing sessions. We welcome participates of all ages and skill levels, we want to make art accessible to everyone as a tool of expression and bringing people to for fun!

Help us reach our goal so that we can purchase supplies and open shop!

King Gimp Studio is a shop dedicated to providing a fun, educational screen-printing environment for learners and hobbyists of all ages and levels. Learn more about us at facebook.com/kinggimpstudio.

The King Gimp Studio Fundraiser Event on April 1st will be featuring Dan Keplinger drawing live. The completed piece will be raffled at the event and one lucky winner will take it home! Raffle tickets are $50 and all proceeds during the event go towards the purchase of final art supplies required to officially open our shop!

We do offer the option of buying raffle tickets online for those of you who cannot attend or who wish to make donations! The link is https://rallyup.com/king-gimp-studio, any gift that you can offer is appreciated. 

Thank You,
Dan
Please share!

My Computer is so Old...

My name is Dan Keplinger also known as King Gimp; subject of the Academy Award winning short documentary, that won an Oscar in 2000. I am a professional artist with Cerebral Palsy and I have been very dedicated to my craft for the past 30 years. My paintings been nationally and internationally displayed in galleries from New York City to Chengdu, China. I not only use art as a language to express myself, but as a tool to bring awareness to the disabled community through public speaking and live drawing events. I have always said, “My paintings are not for decoration but instead made for conversation”. 

 

One of the most important tools in my daily life, is my computer. I have spastic Cerebral Palsy which hinders my motor skills. When I am in public I have a translator to assist with all my needs but when I am home on my computer I have the ability to do all of my communications independently. On an daily base, I spend 8 – 10 hours sitting at my computer from creating art to book speaking engagements. I also create graphics for social media to draw attention to my art. I have been using a Mac Pro computer since 2008, with great sadness I will have to say farewells of my loyal friend. Without my computer, I am not able to communicate independently as I wish, to continue working as and public figure, nor remain working as an artist with multiple mediums in technology.

This is the budget that would I would need obtain to continue my work as an Artist and advocate for people with disabilities.

 

IMac 27-inch with Retina 5K Display- $2,199.99

3.5GHz Quad-core Processor, 8GB Memory, 1TB Fusion Drive.

2 CRUCIAL 16G 8X2D3 memory chips $169.98

Apple Keyboard with Num. keypad $49.99

Microsoft Office 365 $49.99

3 Year Apple Care $169.99

WACOM CINTIQ 22HD $1,999.99

Total: $ 4,639.93

I am in search of funding for a new IMAC/Apple computer, Office 65/warranty/expandable keyboard with built in mousepad and WACOM CINTIQ. I have already invested in Adobe Creative Cloud that is $350 a year and other software for photo and video editing. My computer is not only a creative outlet but it’s the gateway to my independence.

Some people might start a go fund me page, but would be willing to sale a digital image of any painting, or drawing on http://www.kinggimpstudio.com for $100! This funds will go towards the repair of my computer. If you think this is a fair offer please share?

The real drawing start @ $1,200.

Real painting start @ $2,500.
Digital Art for $600
More Art

I have already contact the "Brit" foundation, Jill Fox, Parkville Lions Club, Red Hat Society, and Kiwanis Club, to see if they could help with some funding. The "Brit" fund has showed interested in help me. Can anyone please let me know if there are other places I could contact for financial aid. The "Brit" Fund has granted me $2,500.00 if I can raise the matching funds myself.

Sincerely,

Dan Keplinger

dank@kinggimp.com

There Are Only 12 Master Penmen in the World, This Guy Is the Youngest

It is interesting Wifey posted this, Over the last year I was talking to Brianna Leryn Pleasant​ how we are the generation that might need to keep the old ways of art alive.  Even though I am at #TowsonU working with new technology, I also need to balance that with my other styles of art. Working with the Cintiq might be cleaner and easier on my body, but it will never be the same as painting, drawing, printing and all that other stuff.  Technology makes stuff easy and happen now, but is that as rewarding?

A lost form of art, Technology vs. Human. I could get lost watching this fella. Daniel Keplinger, just one more person we shall meet to check off our bucket list!

Posted by King Gimp - Dan Keplinger on Wednesday, August 12, 2015

BEMAA Art Camp Week 5: Your inner voice is there to help with more than peer pressure.

No matter what age one is someone will try to tell you what path to take and it might not always be the right one. This always happened in my life, because people think they are trying to make my life easy, but how do they know what I want in life.

My life has never been, or will be easy because I fellow my inner voice and 99% of the time it is right. Posted by King Gimp - Dan Keplinger on Tuesday, July 21, 2015

BEMAA Art Camp Week 4: How best friends can help each other.

Another great day at BEMMA's art camp yesterday! Last week we talked about be bullied and trying to get help to solve them problem. It is best to keep telling another person about the problem until someone helps solve the situation rather then trying to get into a fight.

This week we did a 160 and talk about how best friend can help one another. I told the story about my best friend David Plumber from the Delray/Ridge days. He had CP too, but he could walk and David would always push me around school. In return I would always help him with since that was not his subject.

As you can see everyone can help each other in their own way.


Posted by King Gimp - Dan Keplinger on Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Arts Participation among People with Disabilities

New NEA Research on Arts Participation among People with Disabilities

Very interesting article, It is just funny how art is still that to be as a luxury, or something that should be done on intellectual level.  When one still goes to a museum there are still expectations of how one should act. Don't point, if you talk you need to whisper almost everything what art is against.

Art to me, is just about expressing how one feels! Art does not need to be complex, or cost a lot to produce. Of course there are different level of art, but the commend thread of every form of  art is the power of  emotions.

Really the lack of art in disability community is sad, because art is the only thing that is not full of rules.  Being creative is freedom, there are no right or wrong. For people with disabilities it might be the only true freedom they would have.

Artist Are Researchers Too

Bird 2014, Pastel on canvas 40in. X 38in. This is a very experimental piece, I was trying to combined two images that I work with often. I did an under drawing of the wheelchair icon and tried to blend it into parts of the eye. I think, I should play play with these two images in photoshop to develop it more.

I feel like PDWs have a sixth sense, as a way to protect them self from bad people. Would most people trust someone with banking information, or the things in daily life that wrong person could do a lot of damage with?

A Spiritual Journey Chengdu, China

I knew that going to China would be a spiritual journey, but not in the form that it took. I was thinking that we would take a day trip to a Buddhist Temple, but sadly there was no time for that. Mr. Joe had everyday book up for us, we would leave the hotel at 9 a.m. and not get back until 10 at night. We at least we able to see a sample of the Buddhist tradition and at the shrine in town. Greg and I did light a candle for my brother Paul. It only seem fitting since when Paul was young people in the family would call him Buddha and when he opened his tattoo shop, he had a collection of Buddha figures. How more respect could it be than light a candle at a shrine, but he would rather it be done at a temple.

One night Mr. Joe took the Artists out for dinner, but before that  he invited us to his private studio. To me this was like going to his inner sanctum, this is where the master does his work and produces master pieces. Greg and I were talking and Mr. Joe's art has the status of what most Artists receive after death. So we walk into his basement that would be the size of a full school gym. There were crates full off his work and in the middle of the room he a few table but together covered with brushes, books and tubes of paint. I was just sitting there amazed by this sight, I was over come by all of this.  Then over in the corner I saw Mr. Joe's paint palette, I approached it as one would do as an alter, because this is where it all starts. This is the tool that lets him earn the type of living that lets him give back to his community and that brought as all together.

Peer Respect Chengdu, China

Before I continue on about our epic Chengdu adventure and I know that it will takes weeks for me to purge all of this goodness.  I would like to give a big thanks to Gregory Burns, without his input none of this would have been possible. Greg told the foundation about me when they asked about other disabled artist in America. Greg and I met in 2001 during a show for the Orthopedic Associate on the West coast, he said we also met at the Kennedy Center. Although we only have had frequent contact over the years, I must have made a real impression on him. His art career is where I strive to be, painting and speaking around the world.  I know he has just opened a new door for me and this will not be our only trip to Chengdu.  By the second night, I ask "how does my ass get an artist residency here"? If I do not go back with 5 Colours Foundation, it would be with the US Consulate. They were not only interested me as an Artist, but with my whole story. Even through Wifey likes to take the back seat, we were told that everyone was intrigued with our story. 

Last night Wifey and I had a few beers after our travels and I think we will be redoing this trip within a years, but Wifey gives it six months. I know Greg not only opened a new market on my art, but also a chapter of adventures. 

A Little Tour of Chengdu China

Before our events officially started Greg and Angie had time to take us to the town's garden and a market. Greg has been traveling Asia for 30 year as an Artist with a disability and met his Wife, Angie 17 years ago. We know it would not be easy going through the garden and shrine, but it was worth the task. When we did get stuck, surprisingly there was no problem getting help. For example, Greg would ask some guys to help get my chair up some stairs, he would just get to say "can you help my" and each time two, or three guys would just lift me and my chair up. The four of us were not expecting this willingness, but it was welcoming. We then went through a market for the experience, there was a man and his Wife that made decorative gourds. He wanted to give me one, not out of pity but as a sign of respect from one Artist to another. It turn out that he saw my artwork in the local paper. The gallery opening that I was invited to for is part of a bigger Art Festival that runs until the of October.

Trip to Chengdu China and Five Colours Foundation

  We just got back from Chengdu, China last night.  It was a life changing trip and I know this will not be our last trip there. Mr. Zhou Chunya aka Mr. Joe is one of the top 5 artist in China and built an Artists village after the earth quakes.  He also started the  5 Colours foundations for artists with disabilities. Mr. Joe is the gentleman in the back row in the blue to my left. Blue Roof Art Festival showcases influence of Chengdu collective

Before our events officially started Greg and Angie had time to take us to the town's garden and a market. Greg has been traveling Asia for 30 year as an Artist with a disability and met his Wife, Angie 17 years ago. We know it would not be easy going through the garden and shrine, but it was worth the task. When we did get stuck, surprisingly there was no problem getting help. For example, Greg would ask some guys to help get my chair up some stairs, he would just get to say "can you help my" and each time two, or three guys would just lift me and my chair up.  The four of us were not expecting this willingness, but it was welcoming.  We then went through a market for the experience, there was a man and his Wife that made decorative gourds. He wanted to give me one, not out of pity but as a sign of respect from one Artist to another. It turn out that he saw my artwork in the local paper. The gallery opening that I was invited to for is part of a bigger  Art Festival that runs until the of October.

Before I continue on about our epic Chengdu adventure and I know that it will takes weeks for me to purge all of this goodness.  I would like to give a big thanks to Gregory Burns, without his input none of this would have been possible. Greg told the foundation about me when they asked about other disabled artist in America. Greg and I met in 2001 during a show for the Orthopedic Associate on the West coast, he said we also met at the Kennedy Center. Although we only have had frequent contact over the years, I must have made a real impression on him. His art career is where I strive to be, painting and speaking around the world.  I know he has just opened a new door for me and this will not be our only trip to Chengdu.  By the second night, I ask "how does my ass get an artist residency here"? If I do not go back with 5 Colours Foundation, it would be with the US Consulate. They were not only interested me as an Artist, but with my whole story. Even through Wifey likes to take the back seat, we were told that everyone was intrigued with our story. 

Last night Wifey and I had a few beers after our travels and I think we will be redoing this trip within a years, but Wifey gives it six months. I know Greg not only opened a new market on my art, but also a chapter of adventures. 

The True Humanity of Art

My studio at TU is next to the Ceramics Art Camp, they are about middle school ages campers. I need to remember that before I blast some old school NIN, anyway yesterday I had my work out on the floor looking at it. I was still in my chair and one of the campers froze at the door staring at my work and not at me for once.  Later that that day Brianna and I went over to the teacher and offer her to bring the students over next week to see how I produce my art.

When people see my art on the wall, or online it does not scream I am disabled so you better like my stuff! They just have a connection to the work and are more likely to approach me since we have command thread. I see art as the bridge between the disabled community and the able body world. When it comes to art everyone has their own style, art is just a vehicle to bring people together and share ideas.

Voice, Message and Marks

Just by knowing the little art world that I do, is seems that artists are becoming more aware of how unhealthy the old school of art used to be. Some people say you should start using mediums that are less toxic, some people even say do not even eat in your studio. I think one should be safe, but not to the point that you become afraid of the medium that you can become one with.

I have been fining myself in a search for new mediums that I can really put my marks in. For example, ceramics and pastels that I can use with my hands and really develop as layers, I feel that oil paints do not offer this to me.

Maybe I also see how technology is taking the artist hand from their work. Although it is still their voice and message, but how can you really tell who’s hand manipulated the Medium.

For my subject of my work is as important as how I create it.

The Commend Thread

So what does disabilities and art have in commend? Right off the bat most people might say they both are hard roads to take in life, but look on the positive side.  Being that I am lucky enough to experience both fields for most of my life, I would say they both have given the gift to solves problems and the ability to see that there is not only one answer.

Everyone might give you their advise about how things should been done, but in the end you adopt the medium or services to best fit your voice/way of life.

This can be seen in artist work, when they find a medium to tell their story, or take a disability service to best help achieve independence.

You might not always reach goodness on your first attempt, but you build on that experience to learn how to improve for the next time.

Keplinger's Three S's of Being An Artist

1. You get to make shit up!

2. Good shit happens!

3. The income is shitty!

Two out of three is not bad. I keep saying art is not a career, it is a life style.

New Painting Headstick is Complete

I would like to take this time to thank V-LINC, especial John for helping me getting back on track  with the painting attachment.  It really saves me a lot of time, frustration, tape and give me my independence. Without this piece each time I want a different brush, I would have to wait for someone to tape it to  the stick. This piece is a very priceless part of my creative process. Some of my professors and producers would it looks to clean to be mine, come on get to work!

Thank You,
Dan

I Still Love The Smell of Clbolt Blue in The Mornings, But...

 
I did this at the end the my MFA work. I was thinking what choices we make and the obstacles comes with each choice. As I use pieces of imagery from my art work to create my videos, I will be posting the whole art piece for you to enjoy. I did show Prof. Stein from King Gimp the video/animation that I have been creating that is still a work in progress and he was very interested.  In fact, he might have me go to TU next Fall to play in their new computer lab to see what direction I could take with film.  Although, the computer stuff is interesting and easier on my body, it can never replace working on the surface of the canvas. The idea of me working in film, is to still have the marks that I make. When I do start using a new medium, I think of as a new accent for my art vocabulary and how it relates to my body of work