“Mechanical” isn’t typically a word used to describe watercolors, but Scott Campbell‘s series of ink wash paintings gleam with the metallic precision of the objects he illustrates. Inspired by the spirit of human ingenuity, Campbell (featured in our current issue, Hi-Fructose Vol. 27) began the series of paintings of MacGyver-esque inventions when he was working on a project in Mexico City. During his stay there, he was exposed to Mexican prison tattoo culture and observed the elaborate and unexpected mechanisms inmates created to surmount restrictions in the name of body modification. For this series, Campbell chose ink wash painting for the inherent restrictions it imposes on his creative process — the ink brought forth intense focus and precision, as each mark placed on the page is permanent and nearly impossible to conceal. Campbell’s solo show, “Things Get Better,” will open May 23 at OHWOW in L.A. and will run through June 22. Take a look at some of the works in the show after the jump.

New York-based artist Jason Freeny is best known for his whimsically macabre sculptures that blend science with pop culture. Opened through precise vivisection, his re-adaptations of cartoon characters reveal their meticulously detailed and anatomically correct internal parts. In these sculptures, the viewer is shown a previously unimagined side to familiar icons, lending an added dose of reality to fantasy subjects. Hi-Fructose recently caught up with Jason at his studio to view his process and talk about his evolution as an artist. More words and photos after the jump.

Last Saturday, May 18, C.A.V.E. Gallery in Venice, Ca opened their five year anniversary group show, “High Five.” Featuring the work of Anthony Ausgang, Bayo, Vinz, Dan Quintana, Grady Gordon, Shark Toof, Taka Sudo, Tatiana Suarez, Craig “Skibs” Barker, Craww, DevNGosha and many other artists, the exhibition showcases a variety of aesthetic currents. From Anthony Ausgang’s color-saturated, warped paintings to Dan Quintana and Grady Gordon’s ghostly collaborative drawings to Tatiana Suarez’s glossy, doll-like portraits, the show samples many different styles at play in the contemporary art world. Take a look at some work from “High Five” after the jump.

Maria Garcia-Ibáñez is an artist who lives in both Mexico and Madrid. Garcia-Ibáñez creates work that addresses issues related to the analysis of identity and mobility. The ceramic spine shown above is entitled Motionless and was made out of glazed ceramic, polychrome, and gold. This poetic sculpture exudes the fragility and vulnerability of the human body while the decorative flowers and gold embellishments add a precious quality to the artists’ ceramic bones. See more after the jump!

Hosted at the historic Phoenix Hotel, ArtPadSF kicked off last night with an opening reception and party benefitting the SFMOMA SECA Award. Each gallery was given a pool-side hotel room to transform into a pop-up gallery, and visitors walked from room to room to see what each art space had to offer. Read the highlights and check out our exclusive photos after the jump!

Inspired by 19th and 20th-century illustration, Canadian artist Richard A. Kirk delicately renders his own version of nature in his ink works on paper. Human and animal anatomies unravel and rebuild among the flora and fauna, giving light to new creatures that symbolize the human impulse to go beyond the limits of our bodies and evolve using technology. Characters reminiscent of automata and cyborgs — which frequently made appearances in early science fiction novels — populate Kirk’s surreal forests. Take a look at some of Kirk’s work after the jump.