By: Thomas James,
on 8/14/2015
Illustration Friday Editor and Creative Director Thomas James shares his process for generating ideas for illustration projects. Send us your own process here.
By: Thomas James,
on 8/9/2015
As promised last Friday, we are now in full effect taking Illustration Friday to the next level. The natural evolution of a fun weekly illustration challenge based on ideas is a deeper focus on the art of idea generation itself.
We’re starting small, with a stream of consciousness word list that one might create while brainstorming for this week’s topic of POINTY or any other of our weekly topics. I encourage you to make your own first, perhaps compare it to this list or even email yours to us if you’d like us to consider sharing it in a future blog post.
You will notice that in my own personal word process below I try to let my mind freely linger in one area for a while until some other interesting pathway offers itself up, or not. Sometimes you’ll need to give it a gentle nudge, or step away for a minute. The randomness itself is where the magic can sometimes happen. This process is pretty much guaranteed to take your mind to surprising places. This list took only a few minutes to create, but it could go on and on with further exploration.
As things progress, we’ll be adding a LOT more features to share a variety of approaches to generating good ideas, as described in last week’s 5-minute video, so stay tuned…
| pointy angle triangle mountain range mountaintop skyline pointy hat dunce cap witch’s hat pointing finger pointing out pointing at you/me/… what’s the point pointless |
round obtuse sharp sharp (smart) pokey knife kitchen knife cut stab poke sword lance joust medieval weapons mace |
vampire teeth wolf teeth shark teek/fin surfboard fingernails starfish star crescent moon thumbtack nail hammer and nail staple staple gun railroad stake king/queen crown, etc. |
Want even more inspiration? Check out the entries that have been submitted so far for this week’s topic.
Have fun!
By: Thomas James,
on 7/13/2015
Submitted by Chloé Bulpin for the Illustration Friday topic GARDEN.
By: Andy Yates,
on 7/9/2015
Ben Caldwell dazzles us this week with his eye-popping cover art for Catwoman’s Teen Titans GO! variant. In addition to comics, Caldwell has worked as a toy designer, on various animation/video-game projects, and childrens book illustration. He also writes and draws a popular series of “how to” books called Action! Cartooning. It’s nice to see more and more artists like Caldwell bringing their “animation-style” to comics. It makes perfect sense since there’s so much crossover nowadays between comics & the TV/movie industry.
Ben Caldwell is also known for The Dare Detectives! series of graphic novels, The Wizard of Oz All-Action Classics adaptation, and Star Wars Clone War Adventures comics.
Caldwell graduated from the Parsons School of Design for Illustration and currently lives in New York with his family.
You can see the latest sketches and project updates by following Mr. Caldwell on his twitter page here.
For more comics related art, you can follow me on my website comicstavern.com – Andy Yates
By: Thomas James,
on 7/6/2015
If you’ve ever wanted to work for Disney, well head on over to this “official website for Disney Television Animation talent and recruitment”. You can use it to view and even apply for a variety of artistic and production-related projects.
Visit the Disney Recruitment site here >>
By: Thomas James,
on 5/28/2015
We’re excited to announce this week’s topic, but first please enjoy the illustration above by Mariana Yatsuda Ikuta, our Pick of the Week for last week’s topic of PET. Thanks to everyone else for participating. We hope it was inspiring!
You can also see a gallery of all the other entries here.
And of course, you can now participate in this week’s topic:
Here’s how:
Step 1: Illustrate your interpretation of the current week’s topic (always viewable on the homepage).
Step 2: Post your image onto your blog / flickr / facebook, etc.
Step 3: Come back to Illustration Friday and submit your illustration (see big “Submit your illustration” button on the homepage).
Step 4: Your illustration will then be added to the participant gallery where it will be viewable along with everyone else’s from the IF community!
Also be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to our weekly email newsletter to keep up with our exciting community updates!
HAPPY ILLUSTRATING!
By: Thomas James,
on 5/28/2015
We’re excited to announce this week’s topic, but first please enjoy the illustration above by Mariana Yatsuda Ikuta, our Pick of the Week for last week’s topic of PET. Thanks to everyone else for participating. We hope it was inspiring!
You can also see a gallery of all the other entries here.
And of course, you can now participate in this week’s topic:
Here’s how:
Step 1: Illustrate your interpretation of the current week’s topic (always viewable on the homepage).
Step 2: Post your image onto your blog / flickr / facebook, etc.
Step 3: Come back to Illustration Friday and submit your illustration (see big “Submit your illustration” button on the homepage).
Step 4: Your illustration will then be added to the participant gallery where it will be viewable along with everyone else’s from the IF community!
Also be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to our weekly email newsletter to keep up with our exciting community updates!
HAPPY ILLUSTRATING!
By: Rachel Frankel,
on 12/11/2014
Sometimes I feel like the wrong people are being boosted up and supported by their community. That may be a loaded thing to say–I simply mean that some of the art scene here in the Bay has become a bit homogenous and male-dominated. It’s no secret that the fine art world can often feel a closed door to many emerging artists as they continue to boost those who are already successful and well-known.
But obviously, there is room for everyone. My momentary pessimism was quelled when I stumbled across photos of LOSTBOY’s first solo show hosted at Betti Ono Gallery here in Oakland. To see an illustrator my age succeed in this way is incredibly motivating and empowering. Also, it doesn’t hurt that their work is wonderful to behold.
LOSTBOY is a first-generation Korean artist, illustrator, maker and a self-described “proud Aquarius.” They focus on visceral imagery and use the integrity of linework to draw attention to themes of identity, affirmation, consciousness and self-discovery. They are a graduate of the Portland Northwest College of Art’s Illustration program, and currently reside in Los Angeles, CA (yay hometown!).
After graduating from PNCA, LOSTBOY spent about 4 years in Oakland and recently moved back to their hometown to concentrate on preparing work for the aforementioned show, Core. LOSTBOY cites varied influences such as Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono, Ruth Asawa, and Antony and the Johnsons, in addition to fractals, oceanic imagery, and their own Asian-American heritage. In many ways, LOSTBOY’s work is about finding oneself and embracing one’s community, but it’s also about noticing and welcoming the unseen.
LOSTBOY’s solo show “Core” will be up at Betti Ono Gallery in Oakland until February 15, 2015. I can’t wait to see it myself and highly suggest you all check it out as well.
Follow along with LOSTBOY’s adventures:
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 12/5/2014
post by Heather Ryerson
Grace Helmer uses strong brush strokes to create her rich, ethereal oil illustrations. The expressive color progressions in her paintings give the work a delicate, transient presence; the viewer can’t help but be caught up in the joy and beauty of Helmer’s brief captured moments. Her style is used to especially great effect in her animated pieces. Constantly changing textures and shapes create a depth and dynamism that one might feel could easily be drunk from the canvas. Helmer graduated from the Camberwell College of Art in 2012 and is part of the illustration studio collective Day Job.
See portfolio | Watch an animaton
By: Andy Yates,
on 10/17/2014
If I was creating a new super-hero team, or relaunching an old super-hero comic book, the person I’d first think of to design/re-design my character’s costumes would be the great British artist Jamie McKelvie! He’s the one behind the excellent new costume designs of Captain Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers, and the wildly popular new version of Ms. Marvel, AKA Kamala Khan. You can see the design sheets posted above. McKelvie has been steadily producing some of the best conceived cover designs/art for many of Marvel Comics’ recent titles, including Ms. Marvel, Nightcrawler, and the recent(much too short-lived) Young Avengers re-launch.
Jamie McKelvie, and his frequent collaborator, Kieron Gillen, have recently launched a new, creator-owned series for Image Comics called The Wicked + The Devine. Their unique new-Mod take on super powered folks is a fresh addition to the usual, over-saturated fare.
You can see more art and follow Jamie McKelvie on his Twitter page here.
For more comics related art, you can follow me on my website comicstavern.com - Andy Yates
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 10/2/2014
Post by Heather Ryerson
Keith Negley’s moody, evocative editorial illustrations cannot be dismissed with a glance. They instead capture and entrance viewers, provoking pensive contemplation. Negley’s work combines high concept with strong composition and refined color palettes to create sophisticated yet accessible visuals that strengthen the written works they accompany. His illustrations can be found in respected news publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and NPR as well as among the pages of top publishing houses McSweeney’s and Nobrow. He attended The School of Visual Arts in New York and now lives in Washington.
See more of his work in his portfolio or on his blog.
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 7/18/2014
Posted by Heather Ryerson
Brian Stauffer uses a combination of sketching, painting, and digital collage to create editorial illustrations. Much of his work graces the pages of news and political publications like The New York Times, TIME, The New Yorker, The Nation, and Rolling Stone. His thought-provoking illustrations illuminate social issues and set the proper tone for their accompanying articles. Stauffer’s work would not be out of place at a vintage propaganda poster gallery, but can be found instead at notable art museums and institutes.
Discover his large body of work on his website.
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 7/4/2014
Post by Heather Ryerson
Sam Falconer’s fantastic illustrations reflect science and the human experience through digital, collage, and hand-painted textures. His clever scenes provoke philosophical thought while quickly getting to the heart of a story. His editorial illustrations regularly feature in top publications such as The Guardian, The Washington Post, and New Scientist magazine.
Check out more illustrations on his portfolio website.
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 6/20/2014
Paul Thurby is a British designer and illustrator who takes inspiration from mid-century design and charity shop finds. He has worked with an impressive list of clients including The New Yorker, The Guardian, and Tate Enterprises. His clever, fun, and whimsical Alphabet and Number series can be found in many art and design shops around the UK. Paul Thurby’s Alphabet book has been published in the UK, US, and Australia. See more of his work on his website.
By: David Hohn,
on 8/16/2013
By: Gemma Robinson,
on 4/9/2013
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| Disaggregated Accreditation by Gemma Robinson |
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| We Love E-Books by Gemma Robinson |
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| Gateway To The Universe by Gemma Robinson |
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By: DIANE SMITH,
on 2/9/2013
On this lovely afternoon, I was able to spend time painting. I realized that the little still life I just painted was OK, but...something about it isn't sitting well with me. I'm happy to be more comfortable working with acrylic paint, but it's still falling flat. That contrast that I like to emphasize just wasn't there once the colors dried. Also, I wanted to try something a little looser now that I'd solved the question of colors and mixing. So, I decided to try it again from a slightly different angle.
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| First paint (left) and today's painting (right) |
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| This doesn't exactly accurately represent the saturation of some of the colors, but it's close... |
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 7/17/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 6/24/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 5/1/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 3/3/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 3/2/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 3/1/2012
By: Ellis Nadler,
on 2/29/2012
By: Owen Schumacher,
on 2/29/2012
Illustration by Owen Schumacher
～PROFILE～
Painter / Graffiti Artist / Brooklyn's Shooting Star
A runaway at 15
Tagged around Lower Manhattan as SAMO©
Blondie's DJ
Warhol's apprentice. Haring's friend. Dead at 27
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Wikipedia Bio
Beautiful, I love the “BE YOU” illustrations.