You’ve probably seen Jonathan Keller because he’s taken a photo of himself every day for TEN YEARS (he started when he was 22!) and, I have an unconfirmed suspicion that he has single-handedly started the “I Take a Photo Of Myself Everyday for X Days” YouTube boom. (If you want to do it yourself, this program might help.)
Anyway, the brilliant part about JK is that the video isn’t his only project. He is a project man. And, as usual, I’m having a hugely hard time selectively picking things to show you. Basically, I want to recreate his web-page on my web-page. Not practical. Or legal. So you should just visit it.
I wanted to ask Jonathan about a billion questions about his photo project, then decided not to, and then ended up asking a few anyway. Luckily, he has (quite humorously) answered photo-project FAQs (er, AQs) on his web-page (seriously, go read it, my interview is very informative, but this is funny!).
According to his web-site, five years ago he was quite the internet star (as interpreted by me based on the number of emails he received never mind his youtube views), so I imagine with about 1000 more photos under his belt he’s quite the star now. Moral of the story: I consider myself lucky that I even got through the massive spam filter I hope he now has installed in his email.
How would you describe your art projects to someone who hasn’t seen them?
Ah, my elevator pitch is a tough sell. Thankfully I can just pull out my iPhone and show people. In the event that I, God forbid, don’t have my mobile portfolio, I begin by saying that most of my projects lie near the intersection of design, code & craft and are dictated by some sort of logical system. But in my systems, logic does not beget sense. In fact, the end result is often an amplification of the simplistic nature of the system’s assumptions and interpretations. Accumulation, iteration and revaluing the mundane also factor in often. When that explanation leaves one befuddled, I say “I’ve taken a photo of myself every day for the past 10 years. There’s a video of it on YouTube.”
When that explanation leaves one befuddled, I say “I’ve taken a photo of myself every day for the past 10 years. There’s a video of it on YouTube.”
What’s with the “c71123″?
When I was 5 years old, my father asked me to remember the numbers of three cows (the ‘c’) that needed to be bred (he was a professional artificial inseminator). The numbers were 7, 11, & 23. Being the math/number dork that I was at that age, I set out to remember those numbers for as long as I possibly could. 27 years later they hold a certain amount of nostalgic appeal. I knew the odd alphanumerics would be available as a URL, while also subtly referencing spam and numbered email addresses like hotgirl69@email.com.
What’s your favorite project you’ve done?
My favorite project is perpetually the one I just finished and put up online. There is nothing more satisfying than getting work out there for others to see. Though, to answer the spirit of question, I’d say the Princess Peach shirt as it encompasses most of the interests I’ve been involved with since I was young while also achieving what I desire for all my projects.
Which is your favorite box bot?
Like most things subjective, it’s hard to choose a single one. Overall, I like the way the beer and cigarette packages turn out. Odd, since I’ve never smoked and drink rarely. If I had to choose one to be my friend, it’d have to be the Dos Equis bug, while my mortal enemy would be the ogre Mr. Guinness. I think I can safely say that my least favorite is Boston Lager. A black mark on the otherwise shining beer genre.
What project has gotten the most reception from the public?
It’s quite humbling to be able to say that millions of people have seen a project I created.
The Adaption to My Generation (a daily photo project) by far. Check out the number comments on my site for proof positive. I’ve been fortunate enough to be featured in some very public spaces online and off and it’s quite humbling to be able to say that millions of people have seen a project I created.
What’s your process for taking photos of yourself? (more…)
Give three cheers (or more!) illustrator Ian Dingman is here!
(Okay, so I guess I wouldn’t really want someone saying I wasn’t cryptic & enigmatic anymore, but you know how we writers like to twist words to sell our journalistic tell-all article, er, wait, I don’t work for Vogue. Anyway, my title didn’t come out of nowhere, you can find out what I mean in a tag-team Currently Obsessed post coming to you tomorrow.)
Hopefully by now you’ve perused my favorite Ian Dingman pieces, realized he is the man behind the new cover for Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket, and are now ready to enjoy an entertaining interview with the art-star himself.
Just imagine Ian (who looks exactly like Ben Folds) and me sitting down at a nice cafe in Chicago eating chorizo and drinking Coca-Cola. I have a Moleskin reporter-style notebook and a UniBall pen and Ian is obviously carrying Rapidograph pens and some notebook which is actually exuding coolness in visible, describable colors (but I won’t describe them, because you wouldn’t believe me anyway).
I ask incredible, thought-provoking questions that cause Ian to divulge his coolness in such a way that now I can use watercolors with such mastery that, like Ian, I’m asked to create a DVD cover for a Wes Anderson film.
Alright. So that didn’t happen. It was actually an email interview. But he does look a little like Ben Folds. And he does exude coolness, even over email. (PS He reads Stickers & Donuts! My heart melts!)
And now, the interview (there are MORE WONDERFUL IMAGES, so scroll on, my friend!):
1. Your life story. In a paragraph. Location. Education. Family. Crappy jobs.
I grew up in northwestern Illinois (Orion), went to college in the heart of Illinois (Illinois State University), and currently live in northeastern Illinois (Chicago). I have one brother and one sister, neither involved in the art. At one point we all lived about as far away from each other as possible within the United States (Portland, OR, Miami, FL, and New York, NY), but now we’re all relatively close again in the Midwest.
Until I finally got to the point of doing what I’ve always wanted to do, every job has been lame. Of course, the worst of the bunch came during high school. That said, I suppose vacuuming the “greens” at a mini golf course wins out.
I often incorporate the moon into my work as well, always thinking, “I haven’t drawn a moon in awhile,” when in actuality, I probably just did two or three pieces beforehand.
2. How would you describe the visual aspects of your artwork to someone who hasn’t seen it? How would you describe common themes in your work to, say, an English major?
Visually, I think my work tackles simple subjects and presents them in a mix of objectivity and subjectivity. My ink lines are usually precise. My watercolor is a little more on the awkward side. I try and let the medium run its own course (bleeding, striations, etc.) which I think produces a nice semi-controlled effect.
I believe my “stock” biography states my work has themes of humor, melancholy and season. I suppose these are all still valid, but more and more I think my work is centered around nostalgia and romantic ideals. I often incorporate the moon into my work as well, always thinking, “I haven’t drawn a moon in awhile,” when in actuality, I probably just did two or three pieces beforehand.
3. What are your favorite art supplies?
The essentials: Arches hot-pressed watercolor paper. Arches watercolor brushes. Rapidograph pens. Technical pencils. Dr. Ph. Martin’s concentrated water color. The fun stuff: Electric eraser. Cotton balls. Rolled paper. Vintage pencil sharpener. Crayons.
The first piece I ever had in the NY Times is probably my favorite commercial piece. It’s a relatively small drawing of a man floating on a lime in an imperfect block of blue water.
4. What’s your favorite piece of commercial work you’ve done, and your favorite piece of non-commercial work?
The first piece I ever had in the NY Times is probably my favorite commercial piece. It’s a relatively small drawing of a man floating on a lime in an imperfect block of blue water. (Maria’s Note: See first image in collage above.) I like it because I think it set a precedent or benchmark of how I wanted my style to look, so I’m always looking back to it as a reminder.
My favorite non-commercial piece I’ve done is probably a self-portrait that I completed in a day’s time. (Maria’s Note: See top right image above.) Again, it captured what I want my work to look like, so I sometimes find myself studying it. The work I’m always happiest with seem to be the pieces that I crank out without overthinking and overanalyzing.
5. If you were another version of yourself, and you could buy one piece of your own work that’s currently on your “Art for Sale” page, what would it be?
That’s hard… I suppose it would be the small drawing of a vintage medium format camera. (Maria’s Note: See top row, middle image in the collage above.) It’s pretty hard to screw up a drawing of such a pretty little machine.
6. What are you creatively inspired by?
Painters David Hockney and Luc Tuymans, and also photographer Uta Barth. I’ve always felt a connection to Hockney’s work whether it presents itself in my pieces or not. His compositions have always interested me as well as his color palette. Tuymans and Barth are influential in a more subliminal way. The atmospheres they create are genuinely moving, and I try to capture that in my work.
Things to look forward to [in the Criterion Collection release of Bottle Rocket]: on-screen menu pages galore, my awkward hand-drawn version of Futura, and among other things I’m leaving out, a 24-page booklet that might interest even the most casual Wes Anderson fans.
7. How did you get to do the cover art for Bottle Rocket’s Criterion Collection? Will we see your work just on the cover, or is it on the booklet, too? (Also, do you have a favorite Wes Anderson movie?)
I received a message from Criterion outlining the “Bottle Rocket” project and asking if I was interested. Of course I was interested as well as excited. I had seen the movie a long time ago and have always been a fan of Wes’ movies as well as Eric’s artwork. He unfortunately was unavailable for the project.
The assignment turned out to be a massive undertaking that was slowly crafted over eight months. Wes was involved in every aspect of the project and nothing made it to final art without Wes’ approval. Things to look forward to: on-screen menu pages galore, my awkward hand-drawn version of Futura, and among other things I’m leaving out, a 24-page booklet that might interest even the most casual Wes Anderson fans. Favorite Wes Anderson movie? Rushmore, hands down.
8. What do you have on your walls at home?
I’ve got prints by Evah Fan, Justin Gabbard, Luke Ramsey and Amanda McCorkle. A fantastic collage by Rod Homer. A couple of Edgar Allen Poe postcards that are framed. My centerpiece is a print by an unknown artist (thrift store!) of two pink flamingos at night beneath a starry sky.
Above: An an entirely made up image of what is probably not actually on Ian Dingman’s wall. See below for image credits. (more…)
The end! The end! The end is here! Before you take off your party hats (…and start digging into that party fruit) (oh michael scott!) one last exclusive interview with…MIKE LAUGHEAD.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MORE ADORABLE GENE SIMMONS? Fact. Mike Laughead is foremost an illustrator. However, he also designs posters (which is why he is being included in our series) with his friend Tyson under the name…wait for it…wait for it…MIKE TYSON. Har har. Although Mike Tyson Design has not designed an extraordinary number of posters (PS what a strange sentence…Mike Tyson…posters…), it has released some rad-a-ma-tazz prints. Quite (cannibalistic-y) fierce.
Ratatat
2 color screen print
This Ratatat poster was my computer background for four months. The scarfy banner that is tangled up in the beard is great! This poster reminds me of Día de los Muertos (perhaps it’s the cool skeleton?), which is coming up soon. ALSO, THE (semi) KNEE SOCKS ARE SUPER TIGHT. I love stripped knee socks! I even wear my old soccer ones for shit and giggles. Sometimes. When I’m nostalgic for my youth.
One of Mike’s strengths is his ability to integrate halftone effects! For those curious kiddies who dream of one day creating their own photoshop compositions with halftones, Mike has an ultra-helpful halftone tutorial on his website. In ADDITION to that, his website includes a pictoral guide to his illustration process! Wee!
…section four of a particularly CHARMING Mike-comic, Unicorn Girl. Mike is inspired by comics, and has quite a few on his website!
What a lovely way to end! Mike Laughead is a brilliant illustrator, who has impressive credentials. From designing winning shirts for Threadless and La Fraise (like Threadless, but foreign) to book covers for Scholastic (see above!), Mike’s work transcends age demographics and geographic boundaries. His compositions are best described as playful and cute, always full of bold lines and saturated colors. Mike goes into more depth about the Mike Tyson Ratatat poster, and his describes his passion for Meximelts after the jump. (more…)
On this penultimate day of S&D’s poster party, I present to you the great KEVIN MERCER.
Spoon
2 color screen-print
As previous poster party posts suggest, I think overprints are magnificent. One of the most special aspects of screen-printing is the capability to create overprints! I love the layers of color, and the partial opacity of the ink. This exclusive get-to-know-Kevin-Mercer is an extra special treat, because HE IS A MASTER OF OVERPRINTING. The above poster was inspired by the Spoon song, “My Little Japanese Cigarette Case.” The asiany lion is slickity slick! It reminds me of Chinese New Year parades and lion dances.
TV on the Radio
3 color screen-print
THIS POSTER IS OUTRAGEOUSLY AWESOME, and proves his strong command of complementing colors. Hardly afraid of using S&D-bright colors, Kevin creates wonderful compositions full of stellar textures and graphics.
Arcade Fire
4 color screen-print
Kevin’s compositions have an exalted aesthetic, and are characterized by delicate hand-sketches.
(left to right) Fortune Magazine illustration, book jacket design
Those who want further affirmation of his heightened sense of style and unarguable talent should take a peak at his commissioned pieces. Kevin has done work on behalf of large clients, and has demonstrated great versatility. Above are samples, an editorial illustration (for FORTUNE MAGAZINE!) and a book jacket. Wee!
In 2006, I received a CD sampler from Polyvinyl Records (note visual above). I immediately fell in love with the CD sleeve. Not only do I get to listen to a band with “Boris Yeltsin” in its name…I get to own a pretty CD case too? Woah. TOO MANY COOL POINTS TO COUNT. Thus began my obsession with Kevin Mercer. Kevin designs under the alias Largemammal Print, his delightful design company. Although Sydney Bristow may be able to survive a North Korean(<insert any other minority here, because TV shows like playing the racist card..cough cough 24 ..cough>) firing squad, in terms of impeccable art, she has nothing on Kevin. Learning more about Kevin Mercer is only a skip-it count away.
Ever since last week’s introduction teaser, I’m sure you’ve been wondering, “who is that glorious male adjacent to a giant elvis chicken? He must as cool as Skeeter Valentine.” Well worry not, little one. You are about to meet the elvis chicken man. Pete Cardoso.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
2 color screen-print
…HOW ADORABLE. Three years ago, Maria and I (and another editor of the Public Journal) watched the fourth editor leave our upstate-new-york-cafe-meeting on a moped. With her boyfriend. What followed this event was an echo of “sighs.” This poster reminds me of that panda-precious moment.
Elvis Costello: 3 color screen-print
I love, love, love this. The colors are great and the portrait of Elvis is perfect. Oh and I love Elvis Costello! Triple score! (Confession: I started listening to Elvis Costello when I became a Gilmore Girls watcher. I was a wee young one who had big aspirations to be as cool as Lane Kim.)
(clockwise) The White Stripes: 2 color screen-print, The Living Things: 3 color screen-print, The Hold Steady: 6 color screen-print, Low: 2 color screen-print
What I find especially exhilerating is his female illustrations. They remind me of women on 1950s sewing patterns! In his White Stripes poster, he uses the iconic White Stripe color pallete, but makes it his own! And The Living Things poster is so vivid! Serial Killer Housewife? I think so. The contrast in texture in the ultra glamorous Low poster is great too! On one final note, I really hate the Hold Steady, but I love this poster (and Art Brut). I once saw Art Brut sing Smiths songs in a tiny kitchen! (LEGIT.)
Death Cab for Cutie
3 color screen-print
Ever since reading a very interesting article in Monday’s New York Times about the Babar exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum, I keep thinking about elephants (remember “The Elephant Show”?!). This Death Cab print is so wonderfully illustrated! The golden curly swirls add a great, delicate touch to an otherwise wrinkly animal. (Not that there’s anything wrong with wrinkles).
Roky Erickson
3 color screen-print
Now for something different! Pete does a glorious job capturing the psychadelic-santa-claus that is Roky Erickson, and portraying him as a cracked out Genie. One of my favorite baristas (who will no longer make me my americanos womp womp) first introduced me to Roky. This led to many youtube videos, and my now familiarization with Roky Erickson.
“you tell us. which one has the astigmatism?”
(clockwise) The Flaming Lips: 3 color screen-print, Modest Mouse: 2 color screen-print, Explosions in the Sky (2): 4 color screen-print, Explosions in the Sky: 3 color screen-print
…so I didn’t know what an “astigmatism” was until the acuvue twin commercial. It inspired me to question, “well do *I* have an astigmatism?”…leading to an inevitable google search. Good advertising? I suppose so. Anyways, HAPPY SMALL STAKES DAY!!!!! The Small Stakes (aka Jason Munn)’s elegant work has earned him mad cred in the art and music worlds. As a result of this attention, Jason’s work is easily recognizable and has popped up everywhere. Unlike those pesky Chuck E. Cheese bucktoothed animals, Jason’s cotton-crisp graphics and well-balanced compositions are too beautiful to bop. There are various themes throughout his work, including eyes (above!)…
(clockwise) Broken Social Scene: 2 color screen-print, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: 2 color screen-print, Wilco: 3 color screen-print, The National: 2 color screen-print
…birds (the broken social scene bird: NATURAL SELECTION is a bitch. oh but those poor Wilco birds: :(…they look like peeps that have been smeared on the bottom of a shoe)…
(clockwise) Matt Pond PA: 2 color screen-print (a 2 poster set), Feist: 2 color screen-print, Animal Collective 2 color screen-print
…frilly feathery swirls…
(clockwise) Built to Spill: 2 color screen-print (part of a 2 poster set), Why?: 2 color screen-print (also comes in silver!), Battles: 2 color screen-print, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: 2 color screen-print (part of a 2 sided poster)
…CLEVER TYPOGRAPHY…
(clockwise) Damien Jurado: 2 color screen-print, The Magnetic Fields: 2 color screen-print, Nada Surf: 2 color screen-print, The National: 2 color screen-print.
…and Escherian tessellations/op-art fun! In 9th grade geometry class, the teacher made us write papers that connected a personal hobby to geometry. I was really into op-art at the time (I went to geometry nerd camp and we drew op-art all day)…HOW CONVENIENT. So maybe I was a cheater. At least I was honest. And smart. There was a kid that chose tractors. No comment.
In this fifth installment of S&D’s poster party extravaganza, I am honored to present to you the illustrious Jason Munn. Jason has had the opportunity to work for a diverse set of clients including Against Me! (2005’s album design? That was Jason.), Chronicle Books, Death Cab for Cutie, Feist, Little Otsu (a S&D favorite! remember our post on notebooks and planners?), New York Magazine, Patagonia (nature!), and Random House. Furthermore, his work is on permanent display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. HEAR FROM Jason and LISTEN TO ME RATTLE ON LIKE A PROUD BABY MAMA after the jump. Click Clack. (more…)
Based in Portland, designer Mike Klay seamlessly fuses his passions for drawing and halcyon Pacific Northwest landscapes.
Closing In - art print
2 color screen-print
Beautifully pensive, his latest prints, “Closing In,” capture the satisfying sight of tree-canopy-filtered light. Furthermore, these GLOW-IN-THE-DARK (oh em gee), and thus prove that not all fluorescent posters have to be of psilocybinic mushrooms (Made by sexually-unsatiated Spencer’s gremlins. Which work to the monotonous hums of Family Guy. The more you know. Shooting star!).
The Early Thaw - art print
3 color screen-print (WITH METALLIC BRONZE)
I love how the sun rays are represented in this print.
Mountain Goats
3 color screen-print
…edelweiss!
Simian Mobile Disco
3 color screen-print
This mad baller Simian Mobile Disco poster was chosen as a GigPosters Poster of the Week. The faint background of advertisements looks great behind the ultra-glamorous girl. And I love the movement in her hair! Super hair commercial-worthy.
Minus the Bear
2 color screen-print
…morbidly delightful.
I am delighted to present to you MIKE KLAY MONDAY (tight shit). I love how his work gorgeously reflects his life spent surrounded by West Coast scenery, and his use of clean, strong graphics. He has had the chance to work for a wide range of clients: from Wilco to many local Seattle businesses. Plus, he sent one of a stupendous photo of himself to S&D.
..as one S&D reader commented, “the totally rad mustache middle-picture-man is rocking.”
Well reader, here is what you have been waiting for. Learn more about Mike Klay, his design company Powerslide Design Co., and his desire to sell his condo. ONWARD for the interview!
Pièce de résistance?
Pixies
5 color screen-print
…I think so. This is my ultimate favorite Leia print (and Leia’s!). I love the Pixies, and I would gladly seize up an opportunity to listen to vinyl with a snuggly dog. In my imagination, the girl is a teenage Emily Elizabeth Howard…during her “awkward years” (goodbye pink dress, hello black eyeliner)…and Clifford (bleached) (because teenagers do questionable things… like bleach their dogs).
Sweet Dreams Art Print
5 color screen-print
Leia Bell’s prints are thematically whimsical, and often feature animal interactions, human interactions, OR animals juxtaposed with humans. The animals in Leia’s prints are always really strong characters. Which is great (Hooray for nature!). What I especially enjoy, however, is her prodigious gift for depicting amazing parasitic (humans getting pwned by animals) and mutualistic interactions (Pixies girl and Pixies dog need each other to lean on…aww…).
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
5 color screen-print
HOW CAN PEOPLE CLUB BABY SEALS?!?! Answer me this, Sarah Palin.
Band of Annuals
4 color screen-print
For Leia, selecting great color pallets is incredibly visceral. Her illustrations are impressively colorful (it’s unsurprising to find a 5+color screen-prints in her collection) and she has impeccable taste. I love how in this Band of Annuals print, the girl’s coat and shoes fit in perfectly with the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood theme. 
Kilby Court’s 5th Anniversary
3 color screen-print
“Oh, knife. I love you like a fat kid loves cake.” S&D School supplies post readers know that I find violent things sort of cute (like the nerf gun pen). I THINK THIS PRINT IS GREAT. (teehee).
WELCOME TO DAY THREE. Perhaps you were a tad worried. “Gosh. Two days of the tightest designers. You most certainly are going to disappointment me today, Tricia.” Well my naive grasshoppa. You are in for a wee disappointment, because today is going to be as memorable as the Full House episode where DJ babysits a kid who sticks his head between stair railings. I would like to present (the talented, accomplished, infamous) LEIA BELL! LEIA BELL! LEIA BELL! GASP GASP GASP. Those of you who have read my previous posts know that I love critters. This past Thanksgiving, I nearly died at the Holiday Market at Union Square when I saw an ENTIRE booth full of Nepalese-knitted critter mittens and hats. A truly blissful experience, it reminded me of my first introduction to Leia Bell at a Flatstock. A whole booth of divinely illustrated critter goods? Good grief. Tachycardia.
Learn more about Leia Bell after the jump. Clickity click click.
If I was condemned to a cloistral, cylinder-blocked room…I would be completely content if I had THIS with me:
Explosions In The Sky
4 color screen-print
Every time I look at The Bubble Process’ Explosions In the Sky poster, my eyes widen and I am reminded of why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE The Bubble Process. Their level of detail is so impeccable and alluring. This graphic is completely on point with the band’s epically layered instrumentals… and the name. I mean, when I hear “Explosions In The Sky,” I expect to see something exploding. In the sky. Delivered.
Bon Iver
4 color screen-print
This latest poster for Bon Iver perfectly captures Bon-Iver-melodrama. It makes me think of beer-bellied, plaid-clad, axe-toting burly men. And sylvan-y woodland fairies. Hooray!
Pretty Girls Make Graves
4 color screen-print
Gigposters selected this as a Poster of the Week. I love the color palette, which looks AMAZING overprinted.
…fabulous non-poster things. The “be warmed” holiday cards are screen-printed and will most definitely be MY holiday cards this year (Competition. starts. now. You have from now until December to prove yourself card-worthy, FRIENDS.) The card print is reminiscent of their poster for The Thermals. The Bubble Process has designed shirts for Dave Matthews Band, Jay Reatard, and the Hush Sound. The eye in the Jay Reatard image is super creepy (and very appropriate).
HAPPY HUMP DAY!!@@#@!!! HOORAY FOR DAY 2! WHICH IS JUST AS LOVELY AS DAY 1! Based in Ohio and Brooklyn, the Bubble Process (aka Nicholas REZabek and SEAN..or SEAN AND REZ…let’s be fair) never fails to deliver visually mind popping masterpieces. The Bubble Process prints are always extremely well-designed, and full of magnifying-glass-detail. Rez and Sean graciously agreed to be pummeled with my questions. Read about how they inspire one another (puppies!), their mutual love of Dan Grzeca prints, and DEVO(+Sean) after the JUMP!
My first Flatstock left me utterly floored. All the great prints? Overwhelming. I could not stop thinking about one specific print
…actually prints.
The Shins
3 color screen-print
THIS. !!! SICK SICK SICK !!! I mean…how ingenious. The head is a poster. The bottom is a poster. And together? Super poster. And OH! The MONSTER! Have you ever seen a more charming monster? I have a button that has the monster’s head, and I wear it all time. Jealous? I hope so.
The Kooks
3 color screen-print
I love the Kooks (thank you Tina), and I love these colors. This poster reminds me of my college bedroom, which was painted in these exact shades. The paint names? “Golden Poppy” and “Heart’s Desire.” Thus, I called the room my “opium love shack.”
Bloc Party
4 color screen-print
…pure eye candy. My favorite is the monster in the tighty whities.
Spoon
3 color screen-print
The knight is so fierce (and cute)!
Tad Carpenter. What a glorious way to begin the series. Based in Kansas City, Tad has been an illustrator for about 7 or 8 years, and a poster designer for about 3 years. His prints are always extremely fun, and pretty much make me feel like I’ve consecutively consumed 20 pixies sticks. Which is a good thing. Besides posters, his work has been featured on everything from clothes to home decor. His long list of bigwig clients includes Hallmark, Lee Jeans, Vera Wang, Sunrise Greetings, and Myspace (on the myspace secret show’s page, you can easily spot one of his prints). Tad also runs Vahalla Studios with Dan Padavic, another wonderful poster designer.
Recently, Tad has been busy preparing for his current show at the Bluebottle Art Gallery in Seattle. Entitled “Mayhem, Mischief, and Monsters” (WHAT A GREAT NAME), the exhibit features 20 limited edition monster screen-prints (ready to be mixed and matched!), screen-prints on wood, ceramic plates, and paintings. I was super star-struck when he agreed to answer a few questions for Stickers and Donuts. THE INTERVIEW (He loves Golden Books! And Robert Rauschenberg! And rainy days!) + MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP! (more…)
As a wee one, I enjoyed singing with Gwen Stefani-vigor (thank you, primary colored cassette player…WITH MICROPHONE ATTACHMENT!$$!). Lou Pearlman’s brute thrust of 90s boy bands? I surrendered (my favorite was Lance. Early indication of my superb taste? I think so.) Some of my best memories involve sweat-drenched-you’re-incredibly-close-to-me-but-hey-that’s-cool shows in college cafeterias. I am overprotective of my MDR NC-50 headphones, and was kind of thrilled when someone thought I was a DJ. He was a waiter dressed as a baseball player. FYI.
I’m sorry if I’ve bored you with my long, personal-anecdote-backboned introduction. END OF FLOW CHART: I AM A MUSIC NERD AND I AM FASCINATED BY MUSIC-RELATED ART. Posters. Album covers. Buttons. But especially posters. Perhaps it’s the intimate interpretation of a music artist by an…artist. (Super artist overload!) Or, it’s the satisfaction of owning something exclusive and numbered. OR, maybe it’s the idea that a beautiful, ink-saturated silkscreened poster can capture the screams of…Andrew W.K. I just love, love, love poster art.
Although often overlooked, the poster art scene is gargantuan in heart and devotion. With a following as cultish as My So Called Life, a quick visit to GigPosters or OMG POSTERS illustrates the passion of both collectors and artists. I’ve been a GigPoster lurker ever since attending my first Flatstock, a series of poster shows presented by the American Poster Institute, and the support and coziness of the community is endearing. Honestly, it’s cute. Aww.
As a result of my obsession, I insisted that Maria let me do a series on poster art. She agreed, because she is a sick baller. So, I am going to pull a Michael Phelps. (YES. You did just read that. Way to be totally two-oh-oh-eight, Tricia). I asked eight of my favorite poster designers to discuss their work, the industry, and other juicy-fruity things. The featured designers are eight scintillating stars that you absolutely need to know. With Olympic prowess, they are champions of not only poster art, but also mainstream media and design. CONCLUSION! PAY ATTENTION, KIDDIES! As a result of this epic Michael Phelps quest, hopefully you will develop an appreciation of poster art. And maybe I’ll get on a cereal box. (win. win.)
PS- Kissy faces. I’ve missed you.
CLICK BELOW TO GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNER:
1. Tad Carpenter
2. The Bubble Process: Nicholas Rezabek and Sean Higgins
3. Leia Bell
4. Powerslide Design: Mike Klay
5. The Small Stakes: Jason Munn
6. Ghost Town: Pete Cardoso
7. Largemammal: Kevin Mercer
8. Mike Laughead
OR if you’d like to see them all at once, click HERE.
See all parts of the Luke Williams interview here!
Okay, so, I hate to say it, but there is a little bit too much coolness packed into this post. I am sad to think that some of you will not click on every single inspirational link I provide you with!
Alright, so hopefully you’ve examined Luke’s “Thanks for Nothing” cards and read about his work. Now, read about who he’s inspired by (um, plus some other great links that didn’t fit in Part II):
So, who is Luke inspired by?
By the way, Mr. Cox runs the graphic design blog www.changethethought.com, to which our new friend Luke is a contributor. (It’s a well-designed page with great content, and cheap art for sale.)
Other links to visit: It’s Nice That (exhibition where Luke’s work is being shown), and Destroy Today (in case you are wondering: “To destroy today is to make the most of the day — destruction as a form of creation”) the web-site of a fabulous web-designer I have come across many times before, who is apparently working with Luke to re-do Luke’s web-site!
If you can’t get enough of Luke you can order prints which will be “happily produced upon request.” Just send him an email at luke@lukelukeluke.com.
See all parts of the Luke Williams interview, as they are posted, here.
Above: 365 Day Calendar Cube, Solutions for Maryland 2008, Metaphor Print, and Weapons Pattern
I found graphic designer (see above) Luke Williams (he made those “Thanks for Nothing” cards from Gilah Press), while on one of my many ventures stumbling around the internet (yes, that’s pretty much what I do in my free time).
I immediately bookmarked his site (which you should visit to see more of his work, and apparently there are fantastic updates coming soon!), and later he accepted my invitation for a little Stickers & Donuts artist interview (yay! we love it when they say yes!).
Luke is currently a senior in graphic design at Maryland Institute College of Art. He has already worked as a designer or intern at a handful of companies (Under Armor (sports-ware), Pentagram (design firm), Bechtel Corporation (engineering company), to name a few), and his work can be found everywhere from the internet to traveling exhibitions to actual stores. Did I mention he’s also a photographer? (Yes, some people get all the good genes.)
“Right now I am obsessed with my future. A healthy combination of fear and excitement has me very anxious to know what is in store for my career.” —Luke
His Nada Bike Idenitity & Promotion has recently gotten lots of attention (I love how doodle-y it is, and turquoise is my favorite color!), making the virtual circuit on blogs and an actual circuit in a traveling exhibition (www.itsnicethat.com).
On his dream job: “I would prefer the challenge of solving a problem that has few answers, and therefore the client would not be easy going. Oh, and the budget is enormous.” —Luke
And his photography cracks me up (Multilingual, above, is actually 6 separate photos, but I combined them here so they’d fit!). For someone whose dream job requires a big budget, he seems to have accomplished quite a bit with some colored paper and tongues!
Up later today: Designers that inspire Luke!
In this post, I’m going to explore just a few (okay, a lot) of A Print A Day illustrator Yasmine’s inspirations (read about her blog and her life history here (scroll)!). In the following few images, an “inspiration” image will appear on the left while a few A Print A Day images will appear on the right.
I think my inspiration comes from everyday things, from the weeds that grow on my lawn to breaking into an old abandoned mill and finding a treasure trove of decaying awesomeness. I like “pretty” things, but what I find even more attractive are the layers underneath. — Yasmine
LOCATION
Yasmine has lived all over the world, and is frequently inspired by her location. San Francisco offers everything from “the cute little mushroom grafs on the ground to the gorgeous Victorian architecture,” says Yasmine. While her other home in Arizona is more relaxed, she still finds inspiration in everything from “the tiny scorpions to the crazy amazing skies, especially during a thunderstorm.”
Yasmine has several mushroom prints, the one on the far right (Red Caps, a notepaper and label version can be downloaded free here) is one of her favorites.
COMICS
Yasmine was obsessed with comic books growing up, and still loves them now. From them she sometimes borrows a graphical pop-art aesthetic (middle) or classic comic panes. (Little-known fact: Yasmine’s blog was initially going to be an online comic! She says she still might make a printed comic or a zine one day.)
Some comics Yasmine loves (left to right, then top to bottom, click on image for larger version): Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, Blankets by Craig Thompson, Uncanny X-Men, Tank Girl, Archie, Tekkon Kinkreet (and other Manga), and Ghost World.
FOLK ART
“I get a majority of my inspiration from folk art: America, Russian, Filipino, or otherwise,” says Yasmine. “I love Amish craftsmanship and lines. I LOVE Pennsylvania Dutch images. I love ikat and batik patterns.”
FAMILY
Yasmine says she learned a lot of both the art and business of her work from her family. Her mom was an animator for Jem & the Holograms, and, in similar bright-color fair, Yasmine later worked for Lisa Frank. Some of her work still shows off such bright colors and cartoon-flavor.
OTHER ARTISTS
Yasmine admires a lot of illustrators, especially fairy-tale artists & self-taught artists (hence the folk art, which I’ve collected in the lower left hand corner of this image).
Left to right: Henry Darger (Check out this guy’s life story on Wikipedia! He was a recluse and his work was discovered posthumously, & his work is now one of the most famous examples of “outsider art“.); Edmund Dulac, who drew beatiful fairy tale images (she also loves Arthur Rackman, who also drew fairy tale art); Beatrix Potter; Gregory Blackstock, a man diagnosed as an autistic-savant who draws with amazing detail (Yasmine pointed me to a youtube video of him here); Folk Art: Pennsylvania Dutch, ikat and batik fabric patterns; Vera scarf (cool patterns on these).
This is the sad but true end to my Yasmine interview! You can view Parts I-III of this interview here and, of course, you can visit A Print A Day for more prints from Yasmine!
Yasmine, illustrator & owner of the blog A Print a Day (see previous post for more info), has, thus far, had an incredibly interesting life. Here’s the short version. (more…)
