Tuesday in NYC

Today we had all of our SU meetings at the Clubhouse, The Society of Illustrators. I love it there...and in the daytime it is especially happy ( and remarkably cleaner than I remembered). There is the Children's book illustration show with some inspiring (but attainable) imagery. It doesnt blow my mind as much...and I can see work at some point getting into this show. But, I just need to do a book or ten.

We had Irene Gallo, the Art Director from Tor/Dial books. She was wonderful, straight-up, no kidding about working with illustrators, the expectations, deadlines etc. She is responsible for well over 400 book jackets over in 12 mos. It was far more the voice of reality than the illustrators who have spoken about book work, childrens books etc. She was followed by our critique by Greg Manchess. There was a huge range of work--some people really leaning into the work, others falling back on excuses and the need for them to get more illustration (at Illustration Academy). Greg's critiques were generous and yet pointed--and I think I gained a lot from each image critiqued. Lunch was at the Society (they offer a buffet daily) that was very convivial and fun. We then had Barry Blitt (!!) speak or really perform. He is very funny and self depricating--with his illustrations following his patter. He is best known for his work the the New Yorker (this week's with George Bush illustrating the " You Break it You Buy it" thinking. More than once he said "I have fear before I draw...its a New Yorker cover...it's god damned terrifying". A little comforting. We all laughed and laughed over his dry remarks and wonderfully funny images "The greatedst bad hair day of Larry King", The Presidential Allergies, and no end to wildly funny Michael Jackson stuff. George Bush is upfront and center in the pantheon of people he loves to hate. And we are right with him.

We had a little time, so Richard, Chris and another clasmate and I went to the Marlbough Gallery to see the 100 images Botero has painted from the New Yorker articles Seymore Hirsch wrote on Abu Gharib. They were amazing, disturbing and beautifully designed. They were shocking. Google it. You might see a few. It is worth the trip.

Yesterday, We saw Sharad Devarajah, the CED of Virgin Comix. Brilliant guy who graduated with a degree in advertising design from SU with a MBA from Columbia. Brilliant, articulate and a dealmaker. While in undergraduate school, he acquired the distribution rights to many of the comic companies for the South Asian Market. Since then, he has parlayed that into a partnership with Shakhar Kapur, Richard Branson and Deepak Chopra to create (in India) comics specifically designed by and for the Indian market. They hire creatives (painters, graffiti artists, etc.) and train them as a team to create these pubs. It all seems pretty cool and pretty nascent--def something to watch. He is also partnering with film makers etc. and the Branson team to play out movies/comics/graphic novels etc. I will go into this further later.

We had Steve Stroud, an Art Center trained illustrator whose work has evolved to his being a landscape painter. Nice work. He positively glows with pride and happiness in the work he has migrated to. He shows on the east coast in Nantucket, Vermont, Boston's Newbury Fine Art Gallery.

Brian Ajhar spoke and showed his work. He is known for these wonderful cariatures--for me the most recognizable are the donkey/elephant work he has done. He is a kind person who has done some children's books, editorial work etc. More later.

I met with John on my thesis. He likes my work but was positively blown out of his chair with my burka illustration. He thinks its SOI show material etc. He wants me to start entering it into shows etc... So its all good but unexpected. He rejected the birds in place of my taking the burka further--as he said that my rendering and imagery have developed to the point that now we need to take it to another level. Not too paralyzing but 10 new images. One step at a time.

More later

Rainy

Getting on the bus this morning to do the SU NYC thing. We have crits planned. Thesis meetings planned. We are going to hear and see: Sharad Devarajan, Steve Stroud,Brian Ajhar, Irene Gallo, Barry Blitt, Neil Swaab, Peter Cusack, Al Lorenze, Yuko Shimizu , Nancy Stahl and Guy Billot. Should be good. There are two slots still to be filled--so lets see who the surprise speakers are. Off schedule there is drawing etc. at the Society of Illustrators and a Wednesday presentation on licensing at SOI too. A group of us are staying at the Hotel Belleclaire (upper West Side @ 77th street)--a stones throw to Zabars, Fairway, Citarella and Ollie's Noodle House. So, eating is not a problem...and we hopefully will have breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien...one of my new all time favorites. And a garlic doggie at Grey's Papaya. Will be out of pocket (no technology except for phone and ipod)--but R. recommends I drop into the Apple store--and if I do, I will drop you a post! Cheers.

planning


Trying to get my act in gear for next week. Slogged through a bunch of stuff yesterday and I am moving...but it feels rather random. This picture is inspired by these the Date Farmers-- brilliant, very graphic and original illustrators I saw in Juxtapoz. They just opened a show at the Upper Playground. Here is the link to see more>>Need to start some dog illustrations. I think there might be an outlet for them with my new client...research is in order. Later>>

Bah! T.V.!


Racing to get a bunch of stuff done before next week's entertainment in NYC. Had a nice chat with fellow classmate, Mr. Williams and tried to get some planning together about things we would like to do. Need to pull up Juxtapose and see what galleries are advertising there...and where the shows are for a little low brow tour with Richard and his brother Chris.

Watched television last night and came to the conclusion I always do when I watch t.v. Unless, its something you know you want to watch, forget it. I got sucked into some really awful show about 2 or 3 women who "couldn't function" unless they got plastic surgery so they could be even more like barbie dolls than they were. They weren't hideously stupid...but certainly, no top of the class. And the plastic surgeons were waaaaaay into how fabulous they were. It really is shocking that this is something there must be a demand for, and an appetite for this sort of programming. We, Americans, must be the stupidest people on earth to feed into and support this sort of crap. The only thing I could glean from this show is 1. plastic surgery isn't simple and you can die; 2. Feed your brain profitably during your down time....forget regular t.v. because between this crap and QVC--there isnt much to learn and it promotes the idiotic mall culture that seems to be pervasive;3. the purpose of all of this money being spent on beauty was so these women would look good in bikinis--amazing juxtaposition with the state of health care in the US. Do you think a great reality show might include a family with no health insurance trying to get help for a sick child...one with asthma, say?

The sketch above is just me messing around with drawing images and tinting them in photoshop--fooling around with filters such as difference, luminosity, linear light. Always something interesting to learn. Too bad there are filters like transmigration, illiteration, morphic luminary.

Rummy has a brilliant future


From Donald Rumsfeld's mouth to our ears:

On Democracy
People elected
Those people to office.
That's what they think, and
That's life.
(Feb. 20, 2003)

Clever Hart Seely reads the paper and the DOD briefings. From his readings he finds poetry by Donald Rumsfeld in these papers--rising unbidden as a vapor. It is thought provoking writing. To quote Robbie, " it kinda makes you think".

You can listen to an interview by Steve Inskeep with Hart Seely on NPR > Additionally, the Seely/Rumsfeld combination has manifested itself in song and music too. NPR couldn't resist, and here is a story on that>>

Here are some appropriate favorites for this wonderful news from Hart Seely's book, Pieces of Intelligence: The Existential Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld:

The Unknown
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.
—Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing

The Digital Revolution
Oh my goodness gracious,
What you can buy off the Internet
In terms of overhead photography!
A trained ape can know an awful lot
Of what is going on in this world,
Just by punching on his mouse
For a relatively modest cost!
—June 9, 2001, following European trip

The Situation
Things will not be necessarily continuous.
The fact that they are something other than perfectly continuous
Ought not to be characterized as a pause.
There will be some things that people will see.
There will be some things that people won't see.
And life goes on.
—Oct. 12, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing

Richard Williams sums up his impression of Donald Rumsfeld here>

I guess there will be some things that people will see and that people won't see...But this Philip Glassian almost mantraesque notations we need to see and be sad that this will no longer continue in the governmental tomes.

On with the new!

Back to the Grind


Some votes still out. But hey, it sounds like we got what we asked for. Now the real work begins--hopefully with the new team acting more like grown-ups. I am, however, fearful, that all the rhetoric around "cleaning up Washington" sounds a bit like the former team. It would be good if we could all act sensibly and think without the jargon and partisan crap that the Republicans excell at. To toast the day, we all had a simple dinner at the Pourhouse regaled by the Sound of State (about 10 folks all playing brass instruments with a drum and base). They played a range of stuff from John Philip Sousa to Stevie Wonder (tres brass section in the HS band)--Hilarious.

We ran into our friend, the trumpet player and his daughter we affectionately call Bongo. Our friend loves his trumpet. He has a pocket trumpet and carries it everywhere (only exception I can imagine is in the courtroom)--playing it when driving the car--nosing his way into other bands and playing solos. He is terrific. His daughter, Bongo, is in third grade. She is an original. Straight brown hair, and a distinct gap in her top teeth, she (like her dad) carries her drum with her and when the old man is nosing his way into a band, she is right behind him...so often, you will see Bongo hard at work with any number of known local bands. She plays ice hockey, soccer and baseball--but her love is music (and her new dog, Curly). I can't wait to see how she grows up. Should be fun.

Am churning through a bunch of new surprise things all due Friday. Next week is in NYC with Syracuse. Have printed out a mini portfolio and am pleased and surprised with the results. Am working on my valentines idea. Sketches to come.

Show 'em you count! Vote!



James Montgomery Flagg's 1917 Uncle Sam, based on the original British Lord Kitchener poster of three years earlier, was used to recruit soldiers for both World War I and World War II. Flagg used a modified version of his own face for Uncle Sam, and veteran Walter Botts provided the pose.

Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United States, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852. He is often depicted as a serious elderly man with white hair and a goatee, dressed in clothing that recalls the design elements of the flag of the United States—for example, a top hat with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white striped trousers.

Origin of the Name

Common folklore holds origins trace back to soldiers stationed in upstate New York, who would receive barrels of meat stamped with the initials U.S. The soldiers jokingly referred to it as the initials of the troops' meat supplier, "Uncle" Samuel Wilson, of Troy, New York. The 87th United States Congress adopted the following resolution on September 15, 1961: "Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that the Congress salutes Uncle Sam Wilson of Troy, New York, as the progenitor of America's National symbol of Uncle Sam." A monument marks his birthplace in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Another theory suggests that Uncle Sam was a creation by Irish immigrants to the US who used the Gaelic acronym, SAM, or Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, which is the translation for United States of America, as a nickname for their new host country. Unfortunately, however, the precise origin of the term may never be proven.

from Wikipedia

Smokey is here as he mimics JM Flagg's original. The "Only You" is in reference to who can prevent forest fires. But today, "Only You" is about the difference you can make to changing the scary stuff going on. Please, make yourself heard.

D. Rumsfeld on Naysayers

SEC. RUMSFELD:

You know, as I listen to you, I think back of all the people who were naysayers during the Revolutionary War -- if they had prevailed, we would have no United States of America; to all the naysayers during the Civil War, and had they prevailed, there would be no 50 states here; and the naysayers in other conflicts. There have always been people who have been wanting to toss in the towel; people who felt that it isn't worth the price, it isn't worth the cost, and we really -- if we put our head down it'll go away. Well, it won't go away.

These people are determined, and they're going to keep after us. And our only -- our only task is to see that they don't prevail.

Radio Interview with Secretary Rumsfeld with Bill Cunningham, 700 WLW, Cincinnati, OH
10/31/06

Anticipating 11/07

New White House Strategy on Iraq
by Calvin Trillin

It seems now we'll get out, but in a way
Designed by White House spinners to convey
That George the Resolute would not endorse
A plan reversing vows to stay the course.
So they'll devise some "benchmarks" for Iraq
To meet. Or, quite reluctantly, they'll back
Some Plan B by a mover or a shaker--
Perhaps the plan devised by Jimmy Baker.
That all takes time. They cannot move much faster
Or they'd admit Iraq is a disaster.
From now on out, it's getting clear, what passes
For policy is coverage of their asses.
And those who die while this is in committee?
What must the White House think: "Oh, them? Oh, pity."

Deadline Poet, The Nation (www.thenation.com)
Posted 10/26//2006

done!


More homework in the hopper.Done! Started work on a new idea. Was admitted into the Little Chimp Society. I have a link in this posting but also a link back button under the Illustration Friday button to the right. Its a great space. I look forward to seeing this page grow. I think there is a lot to learn--and the work is terrific and polished. Not the scrapbook mommies making pictures. More sites to discover, update and maintain. I figure the more often I get my work out, the better. more later>

Dumpty

Was perusing ebay and ran into this. Love it. Wouldnt want to own it. It is 12" tall. Imagine! Am hot on the trail of valentines as a platform for new images....thus the research on ebay. The plague is sweeping through our house with aching bones, heavy heads, temperatures...you get the idea. Plan on listing to the Sunday morning talking heads and try to finish up my SU assignments.

Found a fun illustration website: The Little Chimp Society, a chatty, updaty site that showcases illustrators, details shows and events in a friendly, non-intimidating manner. It is very much an embracing community of people sharing their work. Its a great place to see people's portfolios. It is a by invitation only place.Check it out>>

>>more later.

"I wrap my arms around the sun."

Lyrics from Sim Redmond Band, Ithaca, NY>

Date with my hubby at the Rongo (the Rongovian Embassy to the United States)to hear Mary Lorson lead off for Sim Redmond's leavetaking concert. Sim and group are off to Japan. What an event! Mary Lorson was beautiful, bittersweet and gave us some new interpretations of her music. She was poetic and should be taken to the next level as she kicks the pants off of her peers--and deserves a wider exposure.

"Dark and enchanting, Lorson’s voice lingers in the room like the scent of a candle which has been blown out."
-The New Yorker

"Lorson sounds like an angel tussling with avowedly mortal concerns."
-Stevie Chick, The Times of London

Sim Redmond was unbelievable. Tight. New keyboardist and singer brings a hard polish to the already terrific Sim sound. Jorden Aceto is truly amazing--embroidering each song on his guitar that was original and new every time. He is a real star...They all make it seem so easy. Plus, a little hometown pride--they are our stars.

"Clearly stepping out of the acoustic folk tradition, Redmond posesses strength as a composer, with catchy hooks and phrases that linger long after the song is over. Think early Dylan, think Robbie Robertson, JJ Cale, Dave Van Ronk, Van Morisson, and one can even hear a tint of some muse called up by James Taylor from time to time."
- Gene Ira Katz, Ithaca Times, Ithaca NY

Mary Lorson is here>>

Sim Redmond Band is here>>

Curveball,' the Wacko Who Turned Out to Be Our Only Source for the Presence of Bioweapon Vans in Iraq...

... Is Sung His Instructions to the Tune Of That Old Favorite, 'Hambone'

Curveball, Curveball, what they lack
Are excuses to attack.
Your assignment's crystal clear:
Tell them what they yearn to hear.
Curveball!

Curveball, Curveball, worry not
That baloney's all you've got,
Or that you're a boozy wreck.
Tenet doesn't care to check.
Curveball!

Curveball, Curveball, they don't mind
That there's nothing there to find.
Just concoct some bio scare.
Wolfowitz will go from there.
If they didn't know your game,
Why'd they give you such a name?
Curveball!

Calvin Trillin
The Nation

Once again.
Don't think about voting. Do it.
Countdown time.

thinking out loud.

Gotta print out all my birds around the same size for NYC. Need to do the quicky edit. Need to look at the paper requirements and see if I can write any of it now. Think I lost my car keys. Oops! Call the car guys and find out what the damage is to get new keys. Get the Baker work in front of my client. See how violently she vomits. React and reconsider (secretly, I think she will like the work). Figure out Thanksgiving and Christmas. Buy all Christmas presents. Review contents of present closet and see what's there. Jangle my business girl to get billing on the snippets we need to bill. KEOGH for this year? Call my boyfriend, Mr. Hair (truly!) and get him to take out the trees we talked about his spring! Adhere to the tenets and doctrine of mouse and rat identification presented by Pat the Bugman (truly...its on his card)to see if we do have critters in the walls. If not, we have ghosts.

Get ready to vote.

Talk it up. Get your friends ready to vote too. It's serious.

Speaking of voting and that impressive president we have--here is something fun for you. Do you listen to the funniest, shortiest podcast, "The President's Weekly Radio Address"? Its a must. These great "Onion" guys do it weekly...and words cannot capture the ascerbic and brilliant work they produce. Well, not to be limited, they now have a book "Destined for Destiny" that will def. be on my holiday gift piles to give to those I love. Audible has it...>>$14. worth of fun. The authors were on Al Franken on Tuesday--giving a very straight-faced interview about the so-called interviewing process they had to create with this book/ book on tape.

Picture is from Donald Brun. Love the decorative hair on this guy and the line/color technique. Tempting!

More Donald Brun



I like the little Gevaert dog. He has all sorts of Brun signatures..like the window highlight in his eye. Brun has used this on all sorts of creatures and heads. I like how Mary Blairish, and early Richard Scarry this guy is. Brun's work for Galoise cigarettes are all derivative of this type of ad...very graphic, flat direct. There is a terrific poster book for him at Alibris (which I may order as I am very taken with his work and energy).

A note: Donald Brun was one of the founders of AGI which positions itself as an elite design group (I read the world of branders, corporate identity guys and the self proclaimed leaders of graphic design) today. Historically it:

In the 1940s, commercial artists, mural makers, typographers, printmakers, art directors, illustrators and poster designers increasingly realised their common bonds, and the modern profession of graphic design began to be defined. In 1951, five graphic artists – two Swiss and three French – decided to formalise their relationship into some sort of association. Their idea was simply to share common interests and friendships across national and cultural borders.

It was a notion that soon attracted leading exponents of the graphic arts from elsewhere in Europe and in the USA. In 1952 the Alliance Graphique Internationale was incorporated in Paris with 65 members from 10 countries. The first AGI exhibition was held in Paris in 1955 and in 1969 the headquarters moved from Paris to Zurich. Student seminars were introduced in 1979 and the first Young Professional AGI Congress was held in London in 1994.

I much prefer their beginnings to the "smart set" that are the current, appointed group today. In the US, the members are>

Brun's work is fun, approachable and stylish. He also bridges the gap between graphic design and illustration that serves as an inspiration for me and those of us who are trying to do the same. His work is viable, fresh and communicates clearly and memorably. That counts for something, doesnt it?

Holidays in Switzerland

Brun promises that your swiss holiday be more than fun! More later.

Donald Brun (1909-1999) was one of the most successful Swiss graphic artists of his days. So why are people sometimes embarrassed when he is mentioned? Brun was the first of a line of designers who thought conceptually and self-confidently within the parameters of the market-place. And thus, at a very high level, he revealed the dubious morality surrounding the "good and beautiful poster".

Take that, Josef Muller-Brockmann!