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By: Shadra Strickland,
on 11/23/2009
illustration © 2009 Adam Taylor
A few months ago I met Adam Taylor, torn paper artist extraordinaire. This guy needs a book deal! Check him out at: http://www.adamtaylorillustrator.com
Adam recently sent me a hand made mini-book and his full color picturebook GEORGE IN THE U.K.
Please visit his web site for more details.
Bonne chance Adam! I’m a huge fan~
By: -----------------------------,
on 11/23/2009
Published in the Belgian magazine HUMO. More of me or mine.
By: Rebecca,
on 11/23/2009
Pierre Assouline is a journalist and writer whose columns appear regularly in Le Monde and
L’Histoire. His book, Herge: The Man Who Created Tintin, translated by Charles Ruas, offers a candid portrait of a man who revolutionized comics. In the excerpt below we learn about the origins of Tintin.
Tintin and Snowy were born on January 10, 1929, in Le Petite Vingtième. On that day the supplement for young readers in Le Vingième Siècle first published a comic strip under the title “The Adventures of Tintin, the ‘Petit Vingtième’ Reporter, in the Land of the Soviets,” the first two places of a weekly comic strip that would eventually number 121 in all.
These are the bare facts, but we are left with the question of why and how Tintin and Snowy came into being. According to Hergé, it was very simple: “The idea for the character of Tintin and the sort of adventures that would befall him came to me, I believe, in five minutes, the moment I first made a sketch of the figure of this hero: that is to say, he had not haunted my youth nor even my dreams. Although it’s possible that as a child I imagined myself in the role of a sort of Tintin.”
Tintin has a prehistory. Hergé made a sketch of a character resembling Tintin in the Totor series, which was a sort of trial run. This period of trial and error in the creation of a character is far from exceptional. To cite only two examples, Mickey Mouse was first called Mortimer, and Inspector Maigret in a previous life was Agent No. 49.
Hergé never denied it. When pressed to explain the origins of Tintin, he admitted that he was conceived of as the younger brother of Totor, the troop leader of the June Bugs. Tintin wore plus fours because Georges Remi sometimes wore them, and they might distinguish Tintin as easily as Chaplin’s vagabond’s baggy trousers did him. Hergé also gave him a tuft of hair that stood straight up on his forehead (first seen during a car chase in Land of the Soviets), drawing it as seen full face. If Tintin is shown in profile or three-quarters to the left or to the right, the facial features are only barely sketched in. The figure is in harmony with the face, the result being neutral, without dissonance. Everyone can identify with him because he is everyman.
Tintin was born at fifteen and therefore never had a childhood. What did Georges Remi look like at that age? Probably like Tintin – like him had the appearance of an intrepid Boy Scout – except that Remi combed his hair flat, he was thinner and taller, and his face was not as round. It has been said that Hergé had unconsciously taken the traits, attitudes, and gestures of his younger brother, Paul.
In terms of graphics, there is nothing simpler than Tintin. He is as uncomplicated as the story line. Tintin is a journalist or, rather, a reporter, which means the contrary of sedentary. He is less often shown writing at the typewriter than out in the field. In his eyes, the investigation of something, not the resolution, is the basis of his profession. Tintin seems to suggest that he is in fact a great reporter, a member of a select group of legendary journalists such as Albert Londres, Joseph Kessel, Édouard Helsey, Henri Béraud, and others. Of course Remi himself had wanted to become one of them – and he would, by proxy. Tintin would accomplish his dream. For one of the youngest people on a newspaper’s staff, belonging to this select group represented the ultimate promotion. For Remi it also symbolized a quest for adventure.
The transformation of Totor to Tintin would continue. Though a reporter, Tintin never loses the spirit of a Scout. On the contrary, he expresses it in his face, his attitudes, and his actions. It could be said of Tintin, as Voltaire said of Candide, that his face revealed his soul. Hergé’s constant dilemma was how to make Tintin lose his naïveté while remaining pure.
Here are Tintin’s vital statistics: he is Caucasian, lacks a first name, an orphan, without a past, a native of Brussels (as opposed to Belgian), about fifteen years old, obviously celibate, excessively virtuous, chivalrous, brave, a defender of the weak and oppressed, never looks for trouble but always finds it; he is resourceful, takes chances, is discreet, and is a nonsmoker.
…
By: John,
on 11/23/2009
Alberto Mielgo is a Spanish illustrator living in London. He is a masterful painter who has an astonishing ability to create a kind of reductive literal realism that appears almost photographic. Here’s a small section…
… of a much larger illustration Mielgo created for an advertising client. On his blog he explains how he did six comprehensive roughs before this version of the image was settled on… and then, after execution, the project died!
Mielgo hints at his work on many major film and video game productions… but unfortunately, because of corporate secrecy, he is often unable to share much of that work with us. He had to take down an example of his contribution to Beatles Rockband, but was allowed to show a sketch from a Dorian Grey film project.
Alberto has also done some comics projects. This is a page from a story he drew for Image’s Popgun #3.
Illustration, concept art, comics… *whew!* … and somehow Mielgo finds the time to do fine art gallery painting as well!
Alberto Mielgo’s website.
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Tags: advertising, Alberto Mielgo, Comics, concept art, Illustration, oil painting
By: John,
on 11/22/2009
Chhuy-Ing IA is a character designer, illustrator and animator. She lives and works in Paris. Here’s a page of her personal work from her website.
Chhuy-Ing IA also has a fantastic blog, Ciia… what’s up? with tons of fun art and delightful little animations – and she recently published a sketchbook.
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Tags: character design, Chhuy-Ing IA, ciia, sketchbooks
The prompt for Illustration Friday this week is, “music.” I remembered a small elephant sketch I did a long time ago (I think it was with a crayon on a paper table cloth at a restaurant). I found the original sketch, which was okay, but I felt it needed a bit more. Here’s the sketch:
Original Trumpeting Elephant Sketch
Here’s my updated version (note – it looks small compared to the original sketch, but it’s actually 22″ long!):
Trumpeting Elephants
I had so much fun doing this and I like how it turned out. I’m going to put it in my portfolio the next time I update it.
By: -----------------------------,
on 11/20/2009
Published in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool. Goache, acrylic, fluo marker, ballpoint and pencil on book cover. More of me or mine.
The prompt for Illustration Friday was unbalanced, which totally cracked me up. I had lots of funny image ideas, but finally settled on this unbalanced elephant who is getting ready for a birthday party.
Unbalanced Elephant
Update: I liked this image, but I didn’t think the cake worked and the background was too plain. The cake was a good idea, but was too small compared to the packages and made the elephant look more balanced than unbalanced. So, I revised the image, and I think it works better, sans cake and with a more textured background. What do you think? The new version will be going into my portfolio next time I update it.
Unbalanced Elephant Take 2
By: yesisedit,
on 11/19/2009
By: [email protected],
on 11/19/2009
J’adore by Heather Amuny-Dey
If your in the San Francisco area this Saturday (11/21/09), this looks like it’s going to be a good show.
Details:
Super7 is proud to present the follow up to 2007’s blockbuster show “Birds of a Feather” with the new aptly titled show “Birds of a Feather 2″ featuring artwork by Dora Drimalas, Heather Amuny-Dey and Shay Ashley-Ometz. This show features three original new prints from each artist (nine in total) as well as a sampling of older, out-of-print and rare prints from each artist’s personal archive to create a whimsical and wonderful reflection on their lives.
Ladies Day Out by Dora Drimalas
Puffin by Shay Ashley-Ometz
Birds of a Feather 2’s title is taken from the popular phrase “Birds of a feather flock together”, as these three women share an important bond as friends, as well as each one having established themselves a significant role in the male driven world of design. It is a rare confluence of talent and ambition that has led each of them to become some of the most respected designers working today. Birds of a Feather 2 is their chance to share more personal work about life, love, heartbreak, happiness that feature our fair feathered friends.
Birds of a Feather 2 is comprised exclusively of limited edition, hand screenprinted, signed and numbered editions of art that are priced for the average customer. The works lend themselves perfectly to be framed (sized to fit a standard 16×20 frame) and priced at a moderate $40 per print, the show is an overt attempt to create unique items and gifts in time for the holidays, and to encourage the access and opportunity to have and give artwork for those who traditionally are not able to afford it.
Show Dates/Times:
Birds of a Feather2 opens at Super7 San Francisco (1628 Post St., San Francisco, Ca. (415) 409-4700) on Saturday, November 21st at 7pm, with Dora Drimalas and Heather Amuny-Dey in attendance, and on Saturday, November 28th at 6pm at Super7 Florida (720 2nd Street North, St. Petersburg, Fl. 33701, (727) 822-8685).
About the artists:
Dora Drimalas is the principal of Hybrid-Design, and former Nike Senior Designer, whose San Francisco design studio is considered to be one of the finest boutique design studios in the country, with clients such as Apple, Nike, Starwood Hotels, Converse, Sony, Upper Playground and more.
Heather Amuny-Dey is now the Category Design Director for the Women’s Division at Nike, and the former Global Creative Director of the Nike Brand. Heather’s immense talent and ambition have landed her at the top of the corporate ladder despite her being only in her early 30’s. In the past Heather has overseen Nike’s execution and strategy for the World Cup in 2006, as well as the Olympics in 2004 and 2002.
Shay Ometz is a Senior Art Director at Fossil Watches in Dallas, Texas. After working for years in international advertising and design, she was recruited to help reshape th
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Cody Hudson for Bodega - CH5 Wall Decal
We’ve been seeing some good things happening in the world of wall art within the last few months, first with Poketo’s Spacetime Collection and now with Arkitip’s Bodega Collection.
Bodega is a curated collection of large scale, eco-friendly, temporary indoor art. The concept is to make the art of emerging and established artists alike, affordable and available to the public. Each piece is delivered as a complete package for the consumer and includes ready-to-apply art piece and tools for installation. Obsessed with process, Bodega creates high quality, layered die-cut vinyl art editions; representing some of the most captivating artists of our generation.
Designed by Wood Wood
California is literally in the house! Piece by Michael Leon
Designed by Barry McGee
Designed by Cody Hudson
I’m a fan of Cody Hudson’s work and I love his contributions to the series. You can purchase his (CH5) Wall Decal or any other piece from the Bodega collection right here.
The Bodega collection is available online exclusively through Arkitip.
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By: [email protected],
on 11/17/2009
Paul Goldberger more than held his own while discussing Why Architecture Matters with Stephen Colbert last night. The critic kept a cool head and even lent his expert opinion to the host's proposed "half Parthenon, half White House" design for the Colbert estate. In reference to his book, Goldberger also discussed how buildings can make us dream, think, and even cry. Fortunately, during his interview, we mostly just laughed:
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Paul Goldberger | ||||
| ||||
By: [email protected],
on 11/16/2009
At 11:30 this evening, New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger will be in the hot seat on the Colbert Report discussing his new book, Why Architecture Matters. While we can't predict what line of questioning Colbert will follow (is there some secret left-wing architectural conspiracy we're not aware of?), Goldberger should be well prepared after his speaking engagement at the Aspen Institute last week.
During his wide-ranging discussion with Dana Gioia, director of the Institute’s Harman-Eisner Program in the Arts, Goldberger touched upon the functional and symbolic effects of architecture, as well as the booming building business in China. A full video of their discussion is available below, and be sure to tune into Comedy Central this evening at 11:30.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/16/2009
§ Superhero division: Maxim presents 12 Superheroes Who Should Be On ’70s Vans, which, considering that several of these characters were created at a time when van art was an influence is a little Moebius strip for our tastes, but has Photoshop ever been used for a better purpose?
§ Indie Division: We’re very late on this, but The Daily Cross Hatch’s Indie Costume Contest Winners are too epic to ignore, esp. this Matt Furie-inspired Landwolf.
By: Shadra Strickland,
on 11/16/2009
Last week I was hosted by Mrs. Chrystal Carr-Jeter and the Cleveland Public Library in conjunction with BloomsburyUSA, for the opening of OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR, a traveling exhibition the 12 original paintings from the book. If you are in Cleveland, please stop by to see the work. Paintings will be on display until February 13, 2010. What an amazing time! I was given the royal treatment from the time I arrived to the time of my departure.
I arrived Thursday morning and once settled in, was whisked away to my first speaking engagement at Cleveland School of the Arts. It was a combined presentation with about 100 kids or so in the school cafeteria. We had a great time talking about art, their enthusiasm for the arts and reading, and how to make good choices from the examples they read about in books.
Exchange of the day
AWESOME KID A: “Where can we find your books?”
ME: “You can find my books in all major bookstores and online booksellers”
AWESOME KID B: “And in the library!”
ME: “YES! Especially in the library!!!”
AWESOME KIDS GROUP SHOT (click to enlarge)
Next we were off to the Martin Luther King branch of CPL where I shared ideas with librarians about how to show the exhibition, do a sound check, and get ready for the reception! I met more great librarians and was inspired by local Cleveland talent. Huge props to ChiefRocka Q-Nice, our spoken word artist of the evening, and local poet/genetic engineer, Sir Joshua.
The highlights of the night were performances by Q-Nice, a performance of “I Believe I Can Fly”, sung by Joshua Delk, from Cleveland School of the Arts, and a dramatic interpretation from Our Children Can Soar.
Afterward I shared a presentation of my work and talked a bit about my experience of illustrating Ruby Bridges as she took her first coura
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/13/2009
The Hero Initiative wants your Ed Hannigan art! Hannigan is a prolific artist from the late ’70s on, with work on such titles as THE DEFENDERS, GREEN ARROW, and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN. He’s just returned to comics with some covers for CAPTAIN ACTION.
The Hero Initiative is putting together an Ed Hannigan art exhibit to be shown at a museum in early 2010! As Ed has kept only a few of his own originals…we need your help!
If you have any Ed Hannigan art you can loan us for the exhibit, please contact Jim McLauchlin at: [email protected] . We’d need to get the art in-hand by December 15, and can return it to you by April 30.
By: Ken W. Min,
on 11/13/2009
recently did a piece for a couple expecting their first child. they wanted something to use as a banner for their announcement page on a website as well as a card. i was very flattered to contribute to their happy occasion. here's the piece as well as a close up.
By: Michelle,
on 11/11/2009
For more than 30 years of his life Albie Sachs lived as both lawyer and outlaw in an apartheid South Africa—working through the law in the public sphere, and against the law in the underground. As a result, he was detained in solitary confinement, tortured by sleep
deprivation, and eventually blown up by a car bomb which cost him his right arm and the sight of an eye. Later he returned to play an important part in drafting South Africa’s post-apartheid Constitution, and was appointed by Nelson Mandela to be a member of the country’s first Constitutional Court. As Sachs wrapped up his 15 year term this fall, Oxford published his book The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law. Below Sachs tells us why people all over the world visit the South African Constitutional Court every year.
Following his post is an excerpt from the opening of The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law which features artist Judith Mason. She explains the inspiration behind her Blue Dress, one of the art pieces acquired by Albie Sachs for the South African Constitutional Court gallery and the image on the cover of his book. To learn the full story behind Mason’s Blue Dress collection go here. And for more first hand perspective on South African culture and history, be sure to check out all of our Place of the Year contributions.
Justice Albie Sachs on the Constitutional Court Gallery
I recently had the great pleasure of visiting the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Parliament Square. Its site is wonderful, and the rather unprepossessing building it occupies has been artfully adapted to give it a friendly, functional and stylish character. The one feature that I thought worked badly, however, was the presence in strategic places on the walls of large oil portraits of dead white, male dignitaries who had occupied the building in the past. One day I will be a dead, white male judge myself, nothing wrong with that in itself. But if it is the only imagery you see, the story is one of unjust exclusion, at odds with the very notion of doing justice to all without favour or prejudice. And even those less afflicted with political correctness than myself would recognise that apart from one elegant Gainsborough portrait, the pictures represent rather gloomy dead souls haunting a building in which the evolving wisdom of the ages is intended to resolve the problems of today in a clear, transparent and convincing way. I couldn’t help comparing the paintings with those that hang in the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg, from which I have just stepped down as a judge after my fifteen year appointment came to an end. And this reflection made me realise what a remarkable place South Africa is to be in these days.
In particular I thought of the image of the Blue Dress in our Court. The Court was the first major new building of the post-apartheid era, constructed in the heart of the Old Fort Prison where both Gandhi and Mandela had been imprisoned. Thousands of visitors from all over the country and the world, visit the Court each year, not only to watch justice being done, but to journey through a remarkable building filled with extraordinarily rich and soulful artwork. And always, visitors pause for some minutes, and sometimes cry, when they see the Blue Dress.
The work on the cover of this book commemorates the courage of Phila Ndwandwe and Harald Sefola whose deaths during the Struggle were described to the Truth and Reconciliation Commision by their killers.
Phila Ndwandwe was shot by the security police after being kept naked for weeks in an attempt to make her inform on her comrades. She preserved her dignity by making panties of of a blue plastic bag. This garment was found wrapped around her pelvis when she was exhumed. ‘She simply would not talk’, one of the policeman involved in her death testified. ‘God…she was brave.’
…I wept when I heard Phila’s story, saying to myself, ‘I wish I could make you a dress.’ Acting on this childlike response, I collected discarded blue plastic bags that I sewed into a dress. On its skirt I painted this letter:
Sister, a plastic bag may not be the whole armour of God, but you were wrestling with flesh and blood, and against powers, against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in sordid places. Your weapons were your silence and a piece of rubbish. Finding that bag and wearing it until you were disinterred is such a frugal, common-sensical, house-wifey thing to do, an ordinary act…At some level you shamed your captors, and they did not compound their abuse by stripping you a second time. Yet they killed you. We only know your story because a sniggering man remembered how brave you were. Memorials to your courage are everywhere; they blow about in the streets and drift on the tide and cling to thorn-bushes. This dress is made from some of them. Hamba kahle. Umkhonto.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/11/2009
If you are interested in comics history and design issues, master letterer Todd Klein has got the blog for you. And now he’s done some real archaeological digging by discovering the creator of the Batman logo seen above — which was in use until 1965.
By: John,
on 11/10/2009
Each time a new image by Robin Yangge appears in the thumbnail previews for my Flickr contacts I know I will be transported to – not Max’s island where the Wild Things are – but perhaps some other, nearby island… one populated by Cyclopean trees, anthropomorphic animals and beautiful cherubic girl-women with huge almond shaped eyes.
The prolific Chinese artist has a massive gallery of gorgeous artwork as Robinart on Flickr
Robin Yangge’s website
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By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/10/2009
Curious Pages, a blog of children’s books, by award-winning illustrator Lane Smith and a guy named Bob.
Above, THE CARROT SEED by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson, 1945.
Below, Den Rode Kuffert by Elin Bing
By: Jennie,
on 11/9/2009
For today's nonfiction offerings, I'm giving you a slew of books that are Cybils nominees. They're all under 100 pages, which I normally don't review, but they're Cybils books, so they get a pass.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/9/2009
Here’s a little benefit and a pretty groovy piece of art that cat lovers may want to be aware of: Alex Ross has donated an original piece of classic Catwoman art to Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc, a cat rescue in Voorhess, NJ. The piece was created exclusively for SWRO. You can see a bigger version or bid on eBay here. Bidding ends Friday. The piece is signed by Ross and has never been seen anywhere.
Alex Ross Stated “Animal rescue is one of my favorite causes. Saved Whiskers does great work to save the lives of animals in need. Doing this painting for them was also a great excuse for me to illustrate a version of a character I love.”
All Proceeds for the auction will be donated to the Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc. — a non-profit 501(c)(3) cat & kitten rescue that is dedicated to saving the lives of countless felines.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/3/2009
This link has been making the rounds and its Not Comics, but it’s so worth a look: Soviet War Paintings. To the horrors of war you can add cold, bleak, brutal images rendered in rigid, propagandistic art styles .
Shadra! This is so cool! Thank’s for the support!