Noodles


I think there is a stylistic link between what Leger does relative to the puritan spirit effigies and they way they are realized. The whimsey and looseness of Leger's women and the circus performers (with their naive placement of arms, legs etc) fits with the funny spirit heads, which in some cases are equally naive and disproportionate to that of Leger. Granted, what the brush can do against the chisle on stone is slightly different--but what with what some of the calligrapher cum gravestone designers can do...align nicely.I should try to fuse them together to see what happens. If I were Gary Kelley, I might take a leap and work them together. Gary is a fan of working art history into images/illustrations (for me, bring it on as I adore art history). It will take me a bit wider on where I have been going..but worth spending a few sketches to test the waters. Maybe a little looksee with the projector?

A few more hours needed on the second Memento Mori book. Love the new format (square--7.5" x 7.5" as it is a good shape and also its on the creamier, uncoated text paper with the good, rich blacks). I should be able to get it to Lulu by Thursday this week. Book Three began January 1 (-March 31)--so,the Hartford Texas trip noodles will be in this piece. Am giving it some thought to perhaps reconfigure the first volume to this square format so I have a stack of books when they are done.

Another idea: When we were at Art Basel Miami, there were some nice shops in the Miami Convention Center (Taschen book, Davidoff, the Cartier Foundation, and some other art book shops). One of the art book shops had mini bound portfolios with small editions of one color (black ink on cream paper) prints in a little casebound portfolio. When I say little, they were about 5" x 7"finished size. Perhaps I need to spend some time with Joe Seppi at Pioneer press to see if he can do that sort of thing. I am thinking a small portfolio of letterpress images (maybe on a luscious paper like a high rag content Rives either cream or tan?) or even some on black paper with white ink(or matte foil) as another way to get the work out. I have even thought it might be fun to try it out with a valentine?(that is letterpress imagery). Need to get rolling if that is going to happen.

Onward to a toughcat.
Later>>

Chris Conn Askew


Fox and Girl, 2007
22"x13"
available>>

Chris Conn Askew is a former tattoo artist who is coming to the fore with his illustration and personal art. There was a great article on him in Juxtapoz which inspired me to want to learn more. I love his storybooky topics that he twists using a very simple palette with strong design/line work with a simple color palette (much like tattooing). Its interesting his new work is so strongly in vertical rectangles (which is a framed shape that might morp from a tattoo arm or leg shape. His type is sublime. I would love to see some wine labels done by him...or even some exotica like absinthe advertising.

I am fascinated with these tattoo artists...either the working guys in the business and also those that stop the tattooing and segue to art. Mike Giantand Ed Hardy,Chris Conn Askew are top of mind--but I plan to do a bit more boning up on this as I love the structure of their work, the integration of color (often ancillary to the design), the line work, and the simplicity of the message. My work is evolving and this channel could give me insight with these elements. There is a cool magazine, Tattoo Artist Magazine might be a good reference in addition to the Taschen book(icon).

Off topic but exciting, Perseopolis, the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi is a movie (art house)which has recieved a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. The books were very good--perhaps because I am a girl as it addresses a ton of women's issues, viewpoints and attitudes--but particularly expressive in her simple and strict black and white illustration. Here are some clips>>

Cleaning up some projects for Monday. Going to start the Toughcat to be paired with our old pal, the choker. More later, I hope!

Fecal Face on Shepard Fairey


Great article on Shepard Fairey at Fecal Face.com. Take a look. As part of the commentary associated with the article, Fairey comments a bit on his clothing line association, the cost of goods and why they cannot afford to be made domestically:

"as far as corporations are concerned- where are the OBEY clothes being made?
Written by rdecute on 2007-08-14 19:18:57"

From: Shepard Fairey
Date: Mon Jul 28, 2003 9:40:38 PM US/Pacific
To: Marwan
Subject: Re: Obey clothing

Marwan,
I understand your concerns. When we first formed the Obey clothing company, I inquired about making the clothes domestically. The guys I work with explained that with the exception of certain items, clothing can not be manufactured domestically at a price the "streetwear" market will bear. Secondly, the U.S. makers who are more affordable, deliver a noticeably inferior product and pay their workers less relative to the cost of living in the U.S. than the people are paid in Asia relative to the cost of living there. Unfortunately, there are far fewer people who are willing to pay more for clothing to make sure it was made under humane conditions than there are who won't buy it if it costs more than the Gap's stuff. There is an incredibly low profit margin in clothing...20% if the brand is lucky. The store(retailer) however, has a standard mark-up of 100% or even more. For example, Obey wholesales its T-shirts for $9.50 but you rarely see them in the stores for less than $22. This is because the stores know what the consumer will pay and adds on a little extra. Retail rent is usually very expensive... so this policy is frustrating, but not hard to understand. The bottom line is that clothing is a very tough business overall; I do it as a platform for my graphics, not so much as an income source. Back to the labor conditions issue. My close friend Mike who is the clothing designer for Obey has spent a considerable amount of time with our manufacturers in China. The standard of living there is decidedly lower in general, but the factory conditions where the Obey stuff is made are very acceptable and people seemed more than happy to be working there. In fact, people came from hundreds of miles away because the pay is way better than what they could find in their town. Mike has actually spent the night in the factory many times to help make sure the production items were what he wanted. He describes the set-up as similar to college dorms with private bathrooms and lounge areas with T.V's. I feel it is irresponsible to generalize about all factories in China or India. Look at the breadth of working conditions in the U.S., is it not logical that there is a range of conditions in other countries as well? I am definitely anti-exploitation and I have been given enough reassurances to feel that I can have a clear conscience. Your own conscience has to guide you.

Take care.
-Shepard

Chokers and Toughcats 2/23/2008


at Castaways. Should be really fun. The Toughcats describe themselves as "We are a three piece band (resonator guitar, banjo/mandolin and drum kit with vocals) from the Fox Islands in Penobscot Bay, Maine". They are very tight and their drummer keeps the room warm with his high energy, silly behavior from rapping on drums to the full deal on a series of suitcases. NPR says"This trio uses vocal harmonies, uke, banjo, mandolin, suitcase and percussion to blend a mix of folk, rock, ragtime and bluegrass into their music. The track "043," off the 2006 album Piñata, features their brand of thumping percussion and energetic strings.

Along with making music, The Toughcats spend time in lobster fishing, carpentry, emergency medicine and other jobs. They have played live film scores for Bird Dog Productions and written music for Cecily Pingree's documentary film about designer Angela Adams. The Toughcats mix acting and movies into live performances, trying to always keep the audience on their toes."

NPR also has some mp3 files to listen to, too. The Phoenix is interesting too.

Pencil it in.

Delighted!

google makes me crazy!

I was googling and wikipedia searching for fun--some of my noteworthy relatives and ran into this lengthly discussion of my great, great paternal grandfather and mother (William Thaw and Eliza Burd Blair). I have always had bits and pieces of their story, the story of "the second wife" and the evil seed that sprang from the union with "that woman", Harry K. Thaw (murderer of Stanford White, husband to Evelyn Nesbit and all round kooky guy). Essentially, the OJ of the 1800s. Until my grandmother's last gasp, we were forbidden to have our pictures published (that includes weddings etc.) as an outcome of the press coverage of Harry's crime, trial and aftermath.

It all stems from Benjamin Thaw>>son of William Thaw and Eliza Burd Blair and brother to my great great grandmother, Mary Thaw (who married William Reed Thompson.--but the author fills in all the gaps.. Mary Thaw and William Reed Thompson had 5 daughters: Dorothea, Isabel, Helen, Mary and my grandmother, Jean. I met Mary and a tiny lady who lived at Sparkhill (on the Hudson)--never married and always slept with her two dogs, russian wolfhounds. All the daughters went to Vassar and proceeded to marry and settle either in Pittsburgh or on the East Coast. They spent their summers in Watch Hill, RI (at least my grandmother and Aunt Mary--for their entire lives). Their father, Mr Thompson died very young (when my grandmother was small). My grandmother was significantly younger than the other sisters (with a distance of over 8 years between her age and the next oldest). She had a sister in college when she was in elementary school.

so, friends and more particularly, relatives of mine...read on...this is goooooood stuff.

Photo is of William Thaw (paterfamilias).

Chokers: The 2007 Jimmies: Best of the local music scene

Ithaca Journal says (along with Jim Catalano):

#6 Overall
#1 Acoustic CD: "Chicken Chokers, “07” - "Chad Crumm and friends return to the studio for the first time since the 1980s and come out with this raucous collection of old-time tunes"

.....and, they are now on ITUNES! (along with a teensie little chicken done by yours truly!)(and lets not forget getting into 2 illustration shows!).

Imagine that!

I opened my mailbox just after lunch with the regular "where is this?", "please do that", "think about this", "look at this", "call that person about this", and all the ancillary buy me, sell me, read me emails and there is this new name. I know this name as I have googled this person, Power Boothe, the Dean of the Hartford Art School! And Dean Boothe was writing me to ...imagine....welcoming me to Hartford. There's something new. A Master program paradigm for me. Now things are getting really exciting!

Boy howdy, this welcome is a novelty from an interesting person, no less. Trust the Tinklemans to migrate to a better place. I just didn't understand how much better.

Not to compare with Syracuse, but...the only exchange with the Dean were two. One, a cookie cutter welcome letter and two, the dissolution of the program letter. But I guess that is what tens of thousands of dollars gets you with SU. I wonder how many funding opportunities they miss by this sort of boneheadedness? Maybe if I had committed to funding a studio or lecture series or a building, I might have gotten an email. What do you think?

Higher bar with humanity at Hartford. Should be fun...and scary. Yipes!

Keep your Sunday Evenings Open!


Get ready. Get the tea brewing. Get snuggly. "The Complete Jane Austen" with Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday evenings-- With six books (four new, brand spanking NEW renderings--namely Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility!) From the schedule:
Jan. 13 Persuasion
Sally Hawkins appears as Anne Elliot, a woman destined for spinsterhood after a proposal eight years earlier. Then her spurned suitor reappears.
Jan 20 Northanger Abbey
In a medieval house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, romance addict Catherine Moreland (Felicity Jones) begins a relationship with the younger son of the estate.
Jan 27 Mansfield Park
After being sent to live at Mansfield Park, Fanny Price (Billie Piper) navigates a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among its occupants.
Feb 3 Miss Austen Regrets
Courtship she knew well; only the last act eluded her. A film biography that dramatizes Jane Austen’s lost loves.
Feb 10, 17 & 24 Pride and Prejudice
Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle is Elizabeth Bennet in the definitive adaptation of the most-loved of all Austen novels.
March 23 Emma
Kate Beckinsale stars in the title role as the tireless matchmaker who professes no interest in matrimony for herself, only for her orphaned protégée, Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton).
March 30 & April 6 Sense and Sensibility
Though poor, levelheaded Elinor Dashwood (Hattie Morahan) and her impulsive sister Marianne (Charity Wakefield) attract a trio of promising gentlemen.

Wa-Hoo!

Obey Shepard Fairey: Stellar Propogandist






Studio Number One
3780 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 210
Los Angeles, CA 90010
http://www.studionumber-one.com

Studio Number One (SNO) was founded on the belief that art does not just belong in museums and galleries, it should also be an integral part of the visual landscape. SNO creates bold, graphic media that stands out amid the urban clutter, beautifying the environment while stimulating the public with innovative design solutions.

ART DIRECTION
BOOK DESIGN
BRAND DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
FASHION
IDENTITY
ILLUSTRATION
INTERACTIVE
PACKAGING
POSTERS

Guess who this is? Shepard Fairey! In my quest to wrap my head around what he is about--with the prompt from the Obey line of clothing (how is that managed? how does he justify (or does he need to? the porting of his art images to teeshirts and hoodies? Is it another licensing deal like Ed Hardy?).. His work in the stores reflect his print work with new shapes (probably not Fairey) but using his posters to promote his image and personal brand (framed in the store). In the hopping around, I found this critique of Fairey's work by Mark Vallen (sounds a bit like jealousy) which is interesting in his messaging...so if that is the case--now the plagarist is being plagarized by Obey the Purebreed etc.

There is nothing new about using old images as reference. Perhaps Shepard Fairey is a little close in with regard to how he uses those images, but somehow I think this helps in keeping his work as concentrated and good as it is. He could afford to tweak it a little further than he does (particularly in the nuclear image) in the layout--but overall, Fairey is taking the old image to a new place of his own propaganda.

I don't care what Vallen says. I think Fairey is a genius--repurposing images into other markets and using the funds and fame he garners into new arenas and ventures. This is a guy that is really carving out a broad swathe --from guerrilla art to art shows, to a design firm, a clothing line to promoting (and is funding/engaging) Swindle magazine to establishing a new gallery/exhibition space called Subliminal Projects, in the same space as Studio Number One. Subliminal Projects' Mission is stated:

"Subliminal Projects was created by artists Shepard Fairey and Blaze Blouin in 1995 as an artist collective, using skateboards as a fine art medium. By expanding beyond skateboards and apparel to include fine art prints, the group began drawing the attention of Aaron Rose, curator of Alleged Gallery in Ney York. As a result, Subliminal is one of the key groups responsible for cementing the relationship between the skateboard culture with the fine art world, working with the then-unknown artists such as Phil Frost, Thomas Campbell, Mike Mills, Dave Aaron, Shelter Serra and Mark Gonzales. By reintroducing Subliminal Projects to the current art scene, Shepard and Amanda Fairey continue to promote collaborations in the form of publications, art shows and events between artists of varying disciplines."

Look for his skateboards. They are great. I love the portraits and the vector-y swatches and flourishes. They are regal and very offical looking--with images of these guys with their baseball caps put on backwards. I initially thought they were dead gang members until I read who they were. There is that aura around them.

Juxtapoz has a great article on Fairey in their November 2007 issue.
Also, there are his books:
Obey: Supply & Demand: The Art of Shepard Fairey
E Pluribus Venom (pre-order)

Such politesse


I was struck with how polite everyone was to each other last night in New Hampshire--Everyone pleasing and thank you-ing each other, congratulating the winner (with some sort of nice recognition or anecdote), I thought I was losing it. What with the Brute in Chief, Rummy and all the rest of the monkeys (including Duke Blackheart) all flicking the bird at each other and the general populace, it was refreshing to see some practiced kindness and manners that elevated the playing field from the mire we have been existing in for the last eight years. It was impressive to see many of the candidates presenting themselves with intelligence, manners projecting an image of dignity. I am hopeful for many of the candidates--They seem to project a presidential air far more than anything we have seen in recent past. I don't love anyone (yet) but I am optimistic that change will be good. It seems someone is trying to listen to the heartbeat of our nation and perhaps rally us be stretching to be better versus ashamed of who we are. I am tired of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and the OC Housewives being the stretch for all of us versus educated and capable people who aspire to excellence versus the land of bling and sex.

I did a little tour of the newly revamped University of Hartford ISDP websiteand reviewed the portfolios of the 2008 and 2009 classes. My goodness, there are a wide range of really talented people in the program! Its a bit paralyzing. I am getting very, very nervous. And the alumni (also now on the site as well)--with what looks like representative images from their thesis work. I did say I was getting wired with this...so I got on my surfboard and wildly was searching more I could see from the program. Jim O'Brien has two blogs--one on Hartford with pages on their trip to Pasadena, Summer 2007 (with shots of the field trips, teachers, students and facilities) which is great as it fleshes out the imagination. Jim is very astute--and seeing the program through his eyes doesn't make it any less scary--but makes it very real. It looks very nice and very much like a program (not the class of 4 from Syracuse). So, it will be great to be in a bigger group of people with a wide range of skills and talents unlike the close in group of the past two years. So, yes--I am nervous...but at least I have a good idea of what I am getting into...unlike the SU experience.

Did I tell you I am was invited to join the group (HAS ISDP) in Texas as we will not do it during my stay at SU? Ticket is bought. Room reserved. I am excited to see the Texas illustrators, to see Murray at the Rodeo, and to meet with my future classmates and get some idea of what to expect for July. It was very kind of the Ts to include me.

Trying to get some work done and out today. Erich's computer got a new Motherboard from the Applecare guy that came to the headquarters. So, maybe we can get back to normal tomorrow...and get the scanner to be operational. I have a dozen sketches I need to stuff into my computer to finalize the Memento Mori book. Number two book is almost ready to go to press (LULU)--With plans for the next one being January 1, 2008- March 31, 2008-- I will have some scrap to start the thesis with. I was thinking I should really try to pencil in what I want to do for a thesis--with maybe a little statement (always good to do--lesson from August- October 2007--write a statement and you have something more than a random group of pictures--the writing makes it sensible and tangible to other people). Plus, with some writing at the same time as the creation of the body of work, it may drive more/different learning through the push pull that both activities provide.

Exciting to have the second book almost done. Not much writing or excerpts from my blab here. That was determined in October. However, the response is that people like reading it. Book Three will include writing --and continue where Book One left off. It will be interesting to see where the work goes in the next quarter. I do not feel like this is in any way exhausted...and with the reading of the last quarter, I feel ready to do a little personal riffing--and see where freeform imagining can take me. I may be looking at a font (derived from the gravestones) and /or some color palettes to take it a little bit further. I think I am still sticking with black and white. We'll see what happens.

I have been trying to work with the projector--and am inspired by what I can do with it...but it isn't something one should use all the time. Again, new tool I need to figure out.

More later>>

Pashas on flying fish





I apologize for being a bit off my game and not giving you an entry yesterday. I am in a funky state of progress and yet, no progress--work moving but not ahead, dinner cooked--but not "on". I feel a bit like the rubber ball that is thrown, hits a wall and rebounds to the left and right until returns to the thrower. Scrambled might be the word. Confused?

However, I was reading the holiday Elle Decor magazine and fell in love with this work. The images above are done by Alexander Gorlizki, an English artist, and Riyaz Uddin, a master Miniature painter in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They collaborate on images that take the miniature painting to entirely different and wonderful place. You can see their work (paintings, portraits, packaging and products at their website>> There are flying elephants and pashas riding fish. Funny sunfaces, exotica like high heels and flamingos mixed in with traditional figures and calligraphy. Of course, they had magnificent indian palettes and patterns--but some of these images also are rendered on a stark white field. A little breath of fresh air--and a little inspiration about cross fertilization amongst cultures and skills. Gets me going.

It is hot around here for winter. 40˚ going to maybe 60˚ with all of our snow melted and mud mucky. The gang is full bore on the carriage house push back. Mandy is here painting. Dare Daniels is done. And Jamie, electrician extrodinaire is finalizing the electrical piece. New garage doors (fakes for wooden ones that work from Genson in Skaneatalas ). So, by spring, the "door yard" of the house will look a little more polished and a lot less Appalachian, and may function a whole lot better--opening up the possibility of the kitchen and back of the house project that dovetails with it. As R proclaims, it really brings us much more "pride of place". Slow but sure though.

CA and Print entries need to happen. The SILA and SOI work needs to get out in the next week. New work with new clients need to get ramped up. Need to finalize things with the glass company...business stuff that is. Have already started looking for summer programs for K and A. Found an interesting week of training for Cross Country for A...and something else. Do they have a history of film making for eighth graders? (NOT). This truly is a labyrinth that wouldnt be so simple if it weren't for the good old internet.

Work awaits.

ponderous drivel


A friend of mine has a family member who is slowly dying of cancer and it makes me think a little about the process this stoic group is going through and ideas that have been spinning around in my head that I just want to get out.

As you know, I have been reading, looking and sketching about death and what it means--particularly with a focus on the Puritan view of death. It has been an engaging process to gather and store the symbols and traditions that have existed and evolved as a way for people to be helped to comprehend death without explaining why. I was struck by the Puritan view of death being a portal, a door into another place and not the end of life but a transition that we only understand until the person passes through into that unknown space, time, zone.

I have also been intrigued by the concept of the bodily remains, and the spirit (also called the "departed"). As our brain, the chemistry and memories are part of the remains--does this mean the spirit is "unintelligent"? Or is there an aspect of the brain, the energy, the memories, the personal essence that goes beyond the physical and is fused with the spirit?

We are by nature, delicate creatures. I am always startled by people dying due to an accident or a sudden shock to their system. This immediate action causes death, separating the body from the spirit and soul--quickly, shocking. A heart attack or immediate physical breakdown does the same. A physical jolt to crack the connection of the body and spirit. However, when someone is suffering, sick and slowly breaking down, the body is pulling away allowing the spirit space to depart. The person participates in the break down of the body, the shift of chemistry, the dessication of the physical to give the spirit the power to separate. There is tremendous power of life entering this world we know it and we have participated in the energy or power of the spirit departing to another life we cannot define and are questing to better understand.

Newsy Bits: Wegmans to Stop Selling Cigarettes

From the Gannett News Service:

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products beginning Feb. 10, spokeswoman Jo Natale said this morning.

Until that date, only remaining inventory will be available for sale and no new product will be ordered, she said.

In a letter to employees dated Jan. 7, Wegmans Chief Executive Officer Danny Wegman and his daughter, President Colleen Wegman, said the company decided to stop selling tobacco products mainly because Wegmans cares about its employees.

A smoking cessation program will be offered to employees this year, according to the letter.

“For those of you who smoke, we know it is very difficult to stop,” the letter says.


In a news release issued this morning, Danny Wegman said the company respects a person’s right to smoke.

“But we also understand the destructive role smoking plays in health,” he said.

Tobacco is a very profitable category for Wegmans, Natale said, but did not provide specific numbers.


We commend our own Wegmans for pursuing what is right versus what is profitable. It is the right thing to do.

The Buffalo News has a more fleshed out article>>

Music Notation Resource

I was working on a project (a freebie) for the Trumansburg Music Boosters. The Boosters are a group of parents who help the music program financially and physically (feeding and preparing lunch for 1500 students for events etc)--and in return, they help fund music related expenses and programs. I figured versus me serving piles of sandwiches, my time would be better spent doing what I do--graphic design and illustration. Thus, teeshirts and logotypes. To get to my point, I was needing musical notation and many of the free sites (Dafont for example) did not have anything that really worked. I did discover that Mtthew Hindson, a composer working in Australia did..and HOW. So, if you need this sort of thing, I highly recommend this resource>>

new word

New word. Loved it so much, I wanted to give to you too.

arcanum \ar-KAY-nuhm\, noun;
plural arcana \-nuh\:
1. A secret; a mystery.
2. Specialized or mysterious knowledge, language, or information that is not accessible to the average person (generally used in the plural).

Arcanum is from the Latin, from arcanus "closed, secret," from arca, "chest, box," from arcere, "to shut in."

example:
Here we must enter briefly into the technical arcana of employment law.
-- Paul F. Campos, JurismaniaThe Madness of American Law