Amy's Art

Food Journaling

2011-04-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

Lately I've had a bit of a food obsession. I've been analyzing everything that I eat, how it makes me feel, what its nutritional content (or lack thereof) is, what it is made of, and what I can make from scratch that doesn't involve adding a million ingredients and chemicals that store bought versions might have. This combined with my new love of experimental cooking and a desire to force myself to draw every day has spawned a food sketchbook - an illustrated journal of everything I eat. It's nothing too detailed, these are mostly quick 10 minute sketches.

2011-02-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

a shelf I made as a gift...

birdie book

2011-01-30T17:46:00.000-06:00

This is a sketchbook cover I made as a gift for a little girl.

a friend for the toothpaste giraffe...

2011-01-30T17:36:00.000-06:00

New Website!

2011-01-23T18:51:00.000-06:00

My website is finally up and running! There are still some things I'd like to tweak, but at the moment I'm just excited to have a functioning site. Yay!

Check it out!

Tour de Bhakti

2011-01-17T18:46:00.000-06:00

This is a poster I did awhile back for the Tour de Bhakti, a bicycle tour through the mountains to a yoga festival! The inspiration for the tour was Hanuman, who is featured doing the Lotus pose on his bicycle...

a whole year?

2011-01-17T18:35:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's been an entire year since I've posted on here. This past year has been a huge transition for me, complete with long periods of being in an art funk. I've somewhat snapped out of it and I'm making it my goal to get back on the blogging track, in hopes of keeping myself art funk free. I started a new sketchbook, I'm working on some new projects, and I decided this was an appropriate time to start updating again.

I've been playing around with combining my looser watercolory stuffs with text and design. Here's one such experiment:

The Penny Experiment

2010-01-09T21:43:00.003-06:00

I just donated this piece for The Penny Experiment, a project to turn 1 penny found lying on the ground into $1 million worth of food to donate to food banks.

I collaged the piece and sealed it with a thick coat of liquid medium, so there are a few odd looking shiny areas on the image...

In progress

2009-11-30T23:54:00.003-06:00

I'm still working on an environment for this guy:

hippityhop

2009-11-30T23:46:00.002-06:00

I was asked to create a birth announcement somehow incorporating the baby's 2 year old brother's work with my own.. his watercolor painting is the background and he calls his baby brother a grasshopper, hence the grasshopper.

(sans text and photos)

random collage

2009-11-30T23:43:00.003-06:00

just playing...

2009-06-15T16:25:00.002-05:00

2009-05-30T14:20:00.001-05:00

Temporary Portfolio

Portfolio

2009-04-26T15:19:00.003-05:00

Business Cards!

2009-04-20T22:17:00.005-05:00

show

2009-03-29T19:09:00.003-05:00

I added some roots to most of the grounds, and more plants and bug like creatures. i'm hoping it's finished/almost finshed...maybe? I can't decide entirely.

Roots, perhaps?

2009-03-29T16:46:00.002-05:00

I tried adding some roots off of one of the grounds to see how that would look and if it would fix some of the problems i was having with the middle section.

fishyfish

2009-03-25T22:07:00.002-05:00

Visual Essay 2

2009-03-22T21:09:00.001-05:00

Here are some things I'm working on for visual essay 2:

in progress... again

2009-03-15T16:15:00.003-05:00

I added more stuffs and changed the grounds some in hopes of ridding it of its "video-gamey" look. I also changed the character in the third section to fit in better with the rest.

grass!

2009-02-25T14:58:00.002-06:00

bfa show in progress

2009-02-24T23:50:00.004-06:00

this is my bfa show in progress. i still want to do a lot of work on the backgrounds, and also the ground - i was thinking of maybe having it change to grass by the end or something. i also want to play with the colors/light a little bit more to make the characters really pop off the page. also, as with the visual essay, my 7th character isn't there yet.

Visual Essay in progress

2009-02-24T22:43:00.008-06:00

This is my visual essay in progress. I'm having issues with the character that is supposed to be on page 7, which is why that one is left blank.

More in progress...

2009-02-17T23:08:00.006-06:00

I divided the panel into two sections to post so it would be easier to load and view, but they are going to be all in one piece. I still have to add the last two sections, and the backgrounds are just a filler right now - i'm still playing with colors and textures.

New Stuff

2009-02-02T20:02:00.005-06:00

So, I thought I'd post my work in progress for my senior show. Any feedback would be awesome.

I'm making a narrative of the transformation of a character, and I think it's going to be hung vertically, approximately 2 feet wide by 8 feet long. Right now I only have the characters without the background, but once I add backgrounds they will stack on top of one another so the ground from the first one will blend with the sky on the second one, and so on. The background is going to start out dark, and get progressively lighter with a slight change in hue. I also plan on adding smaller supplemental characters in with the large main character to add more interest.

Illustration 5: The State of The Union pt. 6

2009-01-24T17:13:00.004-06:00

Review your responses to the above questions. What sort of an illustrator are you?
um, a confused one.
It's pretty clear I'm more drawn to kid-related art. I have a certain style and mediums that I prefer to work in, but I wouldn't say I'm limited to. I prefer light-hearted work as opposed to conceptual work.

What sort of career do you want to have?
One where I can make quirky kid's art. I don't think I'd really want to work for most magazines, I'd rather illustrate books and stuff, but I'll take what I can get.

Does your present body of work reflect your aspirations? Could it do so more strongly?
I feel like I have a weird mish-mosh of work that could be A LOT stronger. I have a bunch of assignments that I never got around to reworking post-critique. I have sketchbook pages and doodles that I actually like better than some of my finished pieces, but I'm not sure if it's okay to include little things like that in a portfolio. I feel like some of my pieces are very clearly assignments and not work that I would have comfortably created on my own. From looking over all of my work I have a few drawings from drawing classes that I like, but for the most part charcoal and conte is not my thing, and it shows. I have a few messy abstract paintings from color studies that I kind of like because of the colors, but I don't think anyone else likes them. I have some illustrations that I completely hate, but everyone else loves. I have a bunch of demons that I'm happy with. I have a bunch of baby and bridal stationery from my internship and job, some that I like and some that I don't; a lot of it is very pink and feminine and kind of tacky looking, but actually have some detailed patterns on them, all of which I drew by hand.

List ten images/themes/techniques/subjects/formats that your portfolio needs in order to become more in line with your aspirations.
I have some pieces that very much resemble "kid art" but I could have more.
I think mainly I need more art that I've created on my own that aren't so obviously assignments that I wasn't really into. I tend to get really busy and not create much art on my own, and I think that's kind of biting me in the ass right now. I'm really not sure what my portfolio needs, but it doesn't feel very cohesive and I'm not at all confident about it.

Illustration 5: The State of The Union pt. 5

2009-01-24T11:27:00.005-06:00

If you had to spend the rest of your life illustrating one book, what would it be? Why?
I would want it to be a silly, quirky children's book with an amazing plot and lots of action so I wouldn't get bored.

If you could go apprentice with any two artists in the history of the world, who would they be? Why?
Oh man. That's tough. Not to be cliche or anything, but I think first I'd have to apprentice with someone like Da Vinci to experience that era and the way art was made at that time. But then I'd want to be somewhere completely opposite, like with a nonfamous artist who lives in a hut in the middle of nowhere using found objects to create interesting art. I'd want to get two ends of some spectrum, one that's more realistic, observational, conceptual, and symbolic, and then one that goes with the flow and isn't heavily thought about.

If you were banned from the art world, but could have any career you wanted that wasn't in art, what would it be? Why?
I'd want to be a psychologist. People and the workings of the brain fascinate me, and I'd want to do something that helps make a difference.

Describe the project you would propose under the following circumstances. Describe the project in detail: what would it be, how would you spend the money, how would you schedule the time alloted, and how would the work be presented upon completion? 1) You have one month and one thousand dollars (all of which must be spent on art expenses). 2) Six months and ten thousand dollars. 3) One year and one hundred thousand dollars.

1) I'm not sure... wouldn't this all depend on who is giving me the money and time? If someone just handed me one thousand dollars and told me to make anything I wanted with it under the condition that it was finished in one month, I think I would make a book. I'd spend the money on supplies, obviously, and printing.
2 and 3) I think that this is just ridiculous. One thousand dollars isn't much for a project, but ten or one hundred thousand? I honestly think it's stupid that people even spend this much money on one project by themselves. But I guess if I was forced to take the money and do something art related with it I would want to make it collaborative. Like gathering poor art deprived children and painting a giant mural, or multiple murals, in a poor mural deprived city. Or, since I have six months and a year, I would divide the money and time among various cities and deprived kids.

Illustration 5: The State of The Union pt. 4

2009-01-22T20:20:00.020-06:00

List ten illustrators whose work you admire, or whose career you would like to emulate.

1. I recently stumbled upon Rubens LP's website, and I love the flow of the line and the colors he uses to create such simple forms.

2. Every child I've ever met has an extensive collection of Sandra Boynton books, and they always really excite me. They're all about personified animals doing and saying weird things. If I could make a living illustrating and writing about hippos going berserk, I totally would.

3. Speaking of children's books, I also love David Shannon's stories and illustrations. I love the textures and facial expressions of his characters, and the humorous aspect of his work.

4. I've always been attracted to fashion illustration. I don't particularly care for the fashion aspect, but more so the style that it's usually created with. Most fashion illustration is very loose and inky and sketchy with nice negative space, which I really enjoy. It also usually has a lot of lovely white space with pops of color. And I'm a pretty big people watcher and admire figure studies. One fashion illustrator in particular that I really enjoy is Sophie Griotto.

5. Eric Carle, because a career full of collaging colorful bugs and animals sounds like ridiculous amounts of fun.

6. I really like Wangechi Mutu's work, simply because I've never been able to successfully combine magazine cutouts and other collaged materials into a painting and make it look awesome.

7. I think Vincent Di Nguyen's work is gorgeous on so many levels.

8. I like the textures and atmosphere of Jessica Lopez's work, whose images I cannot swipe to put on here.

9. Robin Preiss's illustrations are very cute and whimsical.

10. I like Edmund Dulac.

Find ten magazines you think you could work for. Consider both the content of the magazine and the type of illustration, if any, that they use.
Highlights Magazine
The Art of Paper and Mixed Media
cmyk
Art on Paper
Card Creations
Artist's Cafe
High Five
Drawing
Artful Blogging

If you were starting your own magazine and your livelihood depended on it selling well and your sanity depended on it being something you wanted to spend all your time on, what would it be? What sorts of writers and artists would you hire? What subject matter would it deal with? How would you want it to look?
This is a really hard question for me... I haven't ever really had a desire to start a magazine. I hate those magazines that seem to have basically the same material repeated month to month. I would want to include a wide range of arts and writings - maybe some fiction and poetry, as well as articles on important events. It would be a way to promote various new artists and writers.

List ten non-magazine clients that you would like to work with. Why are these dream clients?
1.There is a tv channel for preschoolers called Noggin that has some pretty amazing art. It all comprises of quirky collages, cut paper, buttons, socks, and fun patterns. I really like it because it's not the typical animation and art that you see on tv for kids.

2. A greeting card company. Really I don't have a particular favorite, but I'm working for a stationary company right now making cards and invitations and such and I actually really enjoy it.

3. Scholastic. I've always wanted to illustrate children's books.

4. Really any book publishing company, to illustrate children's books.

5. As a child whenever my mom took me to the fabric store to get patterns to sew halloween costumes and such, I loved to look at those giant pattern books they have, because most of the clothing is illustrated. I think I'd want to work for the Vogue one, but really any of them would be fun.

6. I've also always wondered about designing wrapping paper. That sounds pretty lame, but some wrapping paper has pretty intricate illustrations on it. I've never paid attention to what companies make wrapping paper, so I don't have a particular one in mind.

7. A stationery company. I like the one I work at right now, but I don't have much freedom in what I make. Some companies, like Expressionery, have several illustrators with individual styles, so the work isn't as dictated by the company as where I am now, it's more like freelancing.

8. Concept art for movies would be pretty awesome.

Illustration 5: The State of The Union pt. 3

2009-01-22T14:03:00.006-06:00

Describe your typical creative process, from getting an assignment to finished piece.
When I get an assignment I usually read over it a few times, getting a feel for the requirements and trying to generate ideas that might work for it. Then I create thumbnails until I feel like I've exhausted my options and ideas, and when picking a composition or thumbnail I try to picture how it would look as a finished piece and if it would look right with the dimensions allowed, etc. and what mediums would best suit it. Sometimes I make half size rough drafts if the thumbnails aren't convincing me that my piece will turn out well. If I'm attempting to draw something new or complex that needs to be accurately represented, I'll do some research and find various examples to reference. Then I choose my surface, make a light pencil outline of whatever I'm illustrating, usually with bits of tracing paper to figure out the composition, and then I take it to completion.

Describe what you think your creative process should be like.
I don't really have a problem with my creative process, I'm sure everyone has their own way of working and I think my way works pretty well for me. The only problem I have with it is at times I get really stuck and either can't or don't generate enough thumbnails, like maybe I should improve upon my brainstorming skills and efforts.

Research and describe a professional creator's creative process.
Renee Kurilla starts out by focusing her attention with music. She then draws with a pencil or ballpoint pen in a sketchbook. If she's satisfied with her sketches, she will scan them and work with them in Photoshop or Flash. If not, she will consider the sketchbook process a warm up, and directly begin new drawings in Photoshop or Flash. I think this is one thing that I could add to my creative process - a warm up before I begin the finished piece.

Illustration 5: The State of The Union pt. 2

2009-01-21T20:01:00.011-06:00

Of the artwork you have done, what is your personal favorite piece? Why do you like it?
My demon scroll from Illustration 2, and everything that has spawned off of that. I mainly like the process of how I develop them, I think they're simple yet complex in some ways, and most of them have a personal meaning to them that viewers wouldn't really grasp but I know is there. I also just like the feel of them, the mood they give off, and the execution of them. They feel comfortable to me, and I'm most comfortable creating them.

I think this one is my favorite at the moment, just because it's the newest:

What piece do other people like most? Do you agree? Why do you think they like it?
Everyone tells me they like the "demons" best, too. They've said they like the handling of materials a lot, but mostly people say that they like the emotion or personality that the characters portray. I'm most comfortable and confident about them, and I think when you feel that way about your work it kind of makes it your best. I can draw a still life, but I really don't care to so it probably wouldn't be as appealing to anyone else... like the level of passion you have for something comes across in the finished piece.

What piece surprised you the most?
My invisible cities piece surprised me a lot. I know it has its flaws, and it is extremely orange, but that was the first time I really painted with acrylics, and considering that, I felt like it turned out pretty well.
...I'm having a hard time fitting the pieces together with my scanner... image to come soon!

Choose five doodles or sketches that you like as much as any of your finished pieces.

Illustration 5: Assignment One

2009-01-21T17:34:00.003-06:00

Our first assignment for Illustration 5 is to answer the following questions...

The State of The Union

What media do you like working in?
Gouache, Watercolor, Ink, Acrylic, Collage, Digital

What media do you hate working in? Why?
Graphite - I can never achieve a very strong value range, and I don't care for the smudgyness; Charcoal - it too is smudgy, and I also am unable to control it as well as I would like to; Scratchboard - again, I don't feel like I have much control over the medium, mainly it's hard to undo any mistakes, and I also have a hard time with value ranges within this medium; and Acrylic - I have a love/hate relationship with acrylics, while I love the results and detail I can get with it, I get very involved and have a hard time finishing and managing my time.

What media would you like to try but haven't?
I've actually never used oil paints before, but always wondered about them. Also I would like to expand my digital abilities and use programs such as Flash.

List three non-Illustration classes that have influenced you and/or your work positively.
Life drawing had a huge influence on me, not only in skill but it helped me to loosen up and see things from a different perspective. Color Studies was also an important class, as it helped me to understand color relationships and placement better. And, I hate to say it, Design Systems helped me with time management, craftsmanship, and placement of objects/compositions.

How has the work of your peers influenced you and your work?
Everyone has their own style and method of working, and I think that has kind of helped me to find a style and method of working that I'm comfortable with. Also they have inspired me to experiment with new mediums, methods, etc.

What sort of subject matter do you like to create work about?
Everything I can think of sounds really cliche. I like to create work based off of my personal life experiences, lessons I've learned, things I'm dealing with, but in a non-literal way. When I was younger I think I used art as an outlet for bottled up emotions and I think that's kind of always stuck with me to a point. But I also like to tell stories with my work that really have no deeper meaning, or make quirky characters.

What sort of subject matter do you like to read about?
I like to read about pretty much everything, including art, psychology, various religions that don't necessarily pertain to my beliefs, and cheesy novels.

What kind of music do you like? Why?
This is such an easy question, but I always find it so hard to answer. I don't stick with one particular genre of music. I don't like rap or country, but I'll listen to mostly anything else. My music varies with my mood. And I really like The Beatles.

What non-art related interest/hobbies/skills do you have?
I'm pretty sure I don't. Every Summer and Winter break I have a panic attack because school and art is no longer consuming my life and I can't ever remember what I'm supposed to do without it. I read a lot, I attempt to cook yummy food, and I like to be outside.

What is something that you like that nobody else likes?
Mushrooms.

If you had run of the world's museums, what three works of original art would you like to own?
Anything by Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley, or Degas

Number two...

2009-01-13T20:17:00.002-06:00

I think I still want to tweak a few things but this is the next in the story...

In Progress

2009-01-09T14:36:00.002-06:00

This is the beginning of a series that I'm experimenting with...

.

Cosmicomics Cover Illustration

2008-12-14T15:20:00.004-06:00

Cosmicomics Interior Illustrations

2008-12-14T15:18:00.003-06:00

Postage Stamps

2008-12-14T15:16:00.001-06:00

Jellyfish!

2008-12-14T15:12:00.005-06:00

A magazine spread for an article on the use of jellyfish's glowy genes in human dna to monitor protiens.

Celebrity Piece, minus some much needed edits...

2008-12-14T15:09:00.003-06:00

I never finished the background, and the face needs some touch ups too, but you get the idea.

Assignment 2: Celebrity

2008-09-28T14:46:00.003-05:00

For the next assignment I plan to draw Anna Farris from The House Bunny. Here are the reviews on the movie:

By Geoff Berkshire
Metromix
August 21, 2008
http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/the-house-bunny-review/570667/content

Playboy bunny Shelley (Anna Faris) sees her centerfold dreams shattered when she’s booted from Hugh Hefner’s mansion the morning after her 27th birthday. In order to avoid living on the streets, she decides to become “house mother” for a local sorority full of unpopular girls. Shelley teaches them how to wear make-up, throw parties and talk to boys, while the girls help her learn stuff (oh the irony!) to attract the interest of smart guy Oliver (Colin Hanks, inheriting the honorary Luke Wilson thankless bland boyfriend role).

Big questions: Do women want to root for a heroine who resembles a life size Barbie? Will men line up for a movie that practically bleeds pink? In other words, does this movie have an audience?

Catch it: A thoroughly unexpected product of Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison production company, “The House Bunny” is a rare female-driven light entertainment that emphasizes comedy over romance. Although it’s not even as strong as this year’s admittedly hit-and-miss “Baby Mama,” it does serve as a solid showcase for the Goldie Hawn-meets-Jennifer Coolidge charm of Faris and makes a convincing argument that her younger co-stars Emma Stone (“Superbad”) and Kat Dennings (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) deserve vehicles all their own.

Skip it: If you’d rather avoid the mental image conjured up by Shelley admitting, “One time at the mansion I even let Bob Saget grind on me during a slow dance.”

Bottom line: This unholy mash-up of “Legally Blonde,” “Revenge of the Nerds” and E!’s “The Girls Next Door” wants to wallow in chick flick clichés while also inviting boys to ogle a parade of pretty girls. That makes the script’s “pretty on the inside” theme awfully hard to swallow, but director Fred Wolf (“Strange Wilderness”) knows how to keep things perky and pleasant, smoothing over the rough spots with a predictable pop soundtrack heavy on Pussycat Dolls, Avril Lavigne and Rihanna. The result is fittingly brainless late summer fun that will look just at home on DVD a few months from now.

Bonus: “American Idol” fifth season runner-up Katharine McPhee co-stars as a pregnant sorority sister and tries to prove the whole reality stars in movies thing isn’t just a fad…by singing cover versions of “Like a Virgin” and “I Know What Boys Like.”

by Matt Stevens
http://www.eonline.com/movies/e_reviews/index.jsp?uuid=5df46382-234d-4939-90cb-1c21800d2210

Review in a Hurry: If you actually enjoyed The Hottie & the Nottie and/or Sorority Boys, you might find harebrained Bunny funny, with Anna Faris as a Playboy Playmate who makes over a loser sorority. Otherwise, hop on by, lest you fall down this rabbit hole of stupidity.
The Bigger Picture: Though scripted (sloppily) by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, Bunny is caged in some outdated, male-centric world, where sexy women are bimbos, smart women are frumps and all are willing to change themselves to score guys. Oh sure, the last act preaches "Be who you are!" but that implanted moral is as genuine as all the perky boobs.
The plot—a half-witted spawn of Legally Blonde (also Lutz and Smith) and Revenge of the Nerds—centers on Playboy Mansion resident and centerfold-wannabe Shelley Darlingson (Faris). Booted out of the house that Hef built, sweet but vapid Shelley moves in with the sorority girls of Zeta Alpha Zeta.
The Zetas are a bunch of ridiculous stereotypes, social misfits with tragic hairstyles and plaid-flannel wardrobes. They desperately need our airhead heroine's help—not just with makeup, manis and men, but also with their charter's survival. Unless these outcasts can recruit thirty new pledges, ZAZ will lose their house to the scheming be-yotches of Phi Iota Mu.
Slutty-dressed Shelley needs her sisters' help, too, as she tries to woo bland, brainy Oliver (Colin Hanks). Though why she strains to smarten up for him is unclear, since there are scant sparks between them.
Faris makes a convincing ditz, has a body of death and can handle the physical shtick. But her dumb-blonde movie is just dumb—stale jokes, silly characters and second-rate supporting actors who, despite their shameless overplaying, can't wring
laughs from the material.

By NATHAN LEE
Published: August 22, 2008
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/movies/22bunn.html?ref=movies

All hail Anna Faris, fake bimbo par excellence, master of the birdbrained double take, our reigning queen of intelligent stupidity. On the sneaker-clad heels of “Smiley Face,” an inspired stoner farce from 2007, come the plastic stiletto shenanigans of “The House Bunny,” a breezy, ditzy comedy about the misadventures of a Playboy bunny exiled from the chinchilla cocoon of Hugh Hefner’s mansion.
What’s a bunny to do? For Shelley Darlingson (Ms. Faris), it’s a pep-stepping, breast-jiggling hippity-hop to the next best thing to chez Playboy: the sisterhood of the sorority.
Rejected from the requisite house full of class-obsessed brats, Shelley falls in with the obligatory clutch of “ugly girls,” a ragtag tribe of crypto-lesbians, semi-midgets, clueless nerds and sarcastic anarchists. OMG, no wonder Zeta Alpha Zeta is about to be closed down for lack of pledges and heinous crimes against footwear. Makeover time! And ladies, don’t forget, “The eyes are the nipples of the face.”
Directed by Fred Wolf from a screenplay by the writers of “Legally Blonde,” Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, “House Bunny” puts a cheerful spin on its many clichés. This particular wheel hasn’t been reinvented, but at least it gets a nice fresh coat of bubblegum-pink paint and a star to pilot it with aplomb.

My two sentence summary:
Shelley (Anna Farris) is kicked out of the Playboy mansion. She then joins a sorority - Zeta Alpha Zeta - where she ends up helping the sorority girls to save their house and find their individuality.

My sy

1st Illustration 4 Assignment: Postion on Death Penalty

2008-09-28T14:39:00.005-05:00

I disagree with the death penalty. Based on my research, I found that most people receive the death penalty as a result of committing some form of murder. I do not follow the logic of punishing killing with more killing. Our country agrees that murder is wrong, and must be punished. But by killing the killers, we are simply doing what they did – making the decision to end another’s life. There are several factors that contribute to the decision to sentence someone to death. It depends on the jury, the judge, and the lawyers, among other things. There have been cases where two different people were tried for the exact same crime, yet one was sentenced to the death penalty and the other was not. I also believe that it is unjust for a group of randomly selected jurors to decide one’s fate. There are too many ever changing variables that contribute to the decision making process for the ruling of the death penalty to be fair and accurate, and jurors are not always fully informed on the exact rules of sentencing. The death penalty is also extremely expensive, and our tax money is paying for it. Not only does the death penalty sentence require a longer trial involving more paperwork and paid workers, the actual execution of a person costs a lot of money. Millions of dollars are being spent every year on the death penalty. I believe that that money would be much better spent trying to improve the jail system. Rather than taking the life of someone because they took another’s, we should give the murderer the resources to improve their mental state and their quality of life to prevent them from continuing their harmful behavior. Rarely do convicts receive proper counseling in jail. We are keeping them locked out of society because of their inappropriate actions, but if nothing is done to reverse their mode of thinking while they are in jail, they will most likely repeat their actions when they get out of jail. There are statistics showing that the majority of people sentenced to the death penalty are poor and from low class areas. Generally in areas such as these, people do not receive proper education or stable home lives growing up. It would make more sense to send someone to jail and educate them, counsel them, and help them learn how to live a more productive life when they get out of jail, as opposed to letting them sit in a cell staring at the wall, or executing them. This will also most likely cost millions of dollars, but it would be a much more productive solution to be spending a large sum of money on, and probably one that most Americans would not mind their tax dollars being spent on, as it would improve our communities.

Bibliography

Death Penalty Information Center. 25 Aug. 2008 .

"Death Penalty 101." American Civil Libirties Union. 25 Aug. 2008 .

O'Donnell, Margaret, and Kevin McNally. "Summaries Of Cases Authorized for the Death Penalty 1988 - 2008." Capital Defense Network. 25 Aug. 2008 .

This is my original Death Penalty piece. I'm not so happy with the way it turned out; I plan to rework it, I don't like the look of the lithocrayon and the white showing through with that texture. I also plan to bring out the colors and highlights more to distinguish the objects better.

Some guys I've been working on...

2008-09-03T20:20:00.005-05:00

In Class Excercise: Bug Letterforms

2008-05-30T10:29:00.002-05:00

In Class Excercise: Blind Contours

2008-05-30T10:28:00.002-05:00

In Class Excercise: Bread letterforms

2008-05-30T10:20:00.001-05:00

Reworked Rhetoric Devices

2008-05-30T10:14:00.003-05:00

Artist Research: James Horvath

2008-05-29T21:13:00.002-05:00

James Horvath has been a designer and illustrator for years, working for large corporations as well as freelance. A few of his many clients are Harper Collins Publishing, Lifestyle Transitions Magazine, Long Beach Mortgage, Nestles', Sprint, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. Records.

Once again, I cannot get ahold of several images, but many more here.

Artist Research: Gianluca Foli

2008-05-29T21:03:00.002-05:00

Gianluca Foli has a minimalistic style and uses rich colors. His illustrations have been in many books and magazines. His clients include Fendi, Leo Burnett, Newton & Compton, Urban Magazine, and several others. I love his bright colors and textures. He has very subtle textures and usually puts his colors on a stark white background to bring them out more.
His website

Artist Research: Eugenia Tsimiklis

2008-05-29T20:53:00.002-05:00

Eugenia Tsimiklis has a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. She has worked as a Graphic Designer for an Architect firm, as well as a fashion designer. Her clients are 33south, FATAIM and theworldchico, and her works have been featured in The Big Issue, The Sunday Telegraph magazine, Beautiful Decay, neomu, Noise, etisoppo, pagesonline, Moody Buddha, in an exhibition at the Australian National Gallery and on a Channel 4 documentary, The Thin Club.

The rest of her images are copy protected, but can be found here.

She uses beautiful patterns and texture next to flat plain forms and basic ink lines to form a wonderful contrast.

Artist Research: Sam Vinhyl

2008-05-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

Sam Vinhyl graduated from the Camondo School of Art in Paris as a Designer and Interior Architect. His clients are:

BETC - Euro RSCG
Carrefour
Conforama
Darty
Gaumont Columbia Tristar
Groupe Casino
H-Paris (Scher-Devarrieux-Lafarge)
Mastery International Pictures
Mattel
Atmosphères
Freundin
SOGEDIF (Univers Poche, Pocket)
Surf Session Snowboard
Vivre Au Féminin

Sam Vinhyl has a very clean graphic style. His work is used mainly for advertisements and include figures.
Sam Vinhyl

Rhetorical Device #2

2008-05-29T20:42:00.002-05:00

Rhetorical Device #1

2008-05-29T20:40:00.002-05:00

Lettering/Image Cards 4

2008-05-28T22:59:00.002-05:00

Lettering/Image Cards 3

2008-05-28T22:58:00.003-05:00

Lettering/Image Cards 2

2008-05-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

Lettering/Image Cards 1

2008-05-28T22:54:00.002-05:00

Artist Research: Ryan Sanchez

2008-05-27T20:56:00.002-05:00

Ryan Sanchez creates a lot of editorial work and advertisements. He also illustrates children's books. His clients are Saatchi & Saatchi, Simon & Schuster, Anheuser Busch, Random House, Schwartz and Wade Books, Microsoft, Warner Brothers, McCann-Erickson, Foote Cone and Belding, Ogilvy and Mather, IBM , The New York Times, Spin Magazine, Billboard, RJ Reynolds, Harcourt Brace, Sony Pictures Television, The Monogram Group, Saban Entertainment, ShipShapes, Back Home Pictures, Lucky Magazine, Business 2.0, Stuff Magazine, John Cutler, ESPN, Big Builder, American Airlines, BBH USA, Bicycling Magazine, CIO Magazine, Detroit Home, LA Weekly, National Geographic, The Village Voice, Indianapolis Monthly, Men's Fitness, Men's Health, Milwaukee Magazine, Rio Promotions, UCLA Magazine, Tu Ciudad Magazine, The New Republic, Lillie's, Guitar World Acoustic, David Nicolas Photography, Santa Fe Reporter, Runner's World Magazine, Russell Simmon's One World Magazine, Utne Reader, Trader Joe's, Texas Monthly, and Urban Latino.
Most of his works are awkward and uncomfortable, but work well for his concept.
Look here

Artist Research: Jim Bradshaw

2008-05-27T20:49:00.002-05:00

Jim Bradshaw creates humorous illustrations with mixed media. Some clients of his are Nabisco, Nylabone, RoseArt, Better Health Magazine, Children's Television Workshop, among others.
In some pieces I like how Jim builds up his materials to get thick textures and patterns.
His site

Artist Research: Dan May

2008-05-27T20:42:00.002-05:00

"Dan May is an artist living in Atlanta, Ga. He spends his days (and nights) painting dreamlike environments that transcend space and time. These delightful yet haunting images are often based in personal observations of both human's and nature's relationships with each other, blended with a healthy dose of whimsy, fantasy and cautious relevance."

Clients:
WIRED Magazine
Evoke LA
Princeton University Press
The Stranger
St. Louis Magazine
SanFrancisco Chronicle
Minnesota Monthly
LA CityBeat
Sacramento News & Review
VC Reporter
OUT Magazine
3 Dogz Creative Inc.
VIZ Media
Dallas Observer
Think New Mexico
AOL Productions
The Pitch
River Front Times
OC Weekly
Orlando Weekly
Miami New Times
New Times Broward-Palm Beach
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
New Jersey Monthly
Indiana University Alumni Magazine
The Georgia Straight
Stonewave Apparel
Arizona Monthly
Cleveland Scene
Fort Worth Weekly
Aspen Magazine
Isthmus
Tu Ciudad Los Angeles
Pasadena Weekly
Colorado Springs Independent
San Diego CityBeat
Nashville Scene
Phoenix New Times
Pacific Sun
Santa Fe Reporter
Maui Time Weekly
LA Weekly
NY Law Journal
Metro Magazine
Tony’s di Napoli
Savoy Jazz
Zelnick Media
BroadBased Communications
Goulash Publishing LLC
SNAP Foundation
Badway On Broadway Productions
ECPAT

I'm a huge fan of crazy monsters, and Dan creates them beautifully. His work has a dark creepy yet oddly comfortable feel to it.
His site

Artist Research: Allan Sanders

2008-05-27T20:37:00.002-05:00

Allan's bio discloses that he lives by the sea and owns a stuffed penguin. He does not describe his own work, but he appears to do a lot of digital work and possibly some collage/painting. He also makes movies. His clients are The Guardian, The Observer, Science Museum, The Sunday Times, The New York Times, and many more. I enjoy Allan's work because although it is very goofy and busy, most of it has a blatantly obvious political or cultural message.
See him here

Artist Research: Andy Smith

2008-05-27T20:30:00.004-05:00

Andy Smith draws children's cartoons and illustrations. He has illustrated several books. Prior to book illustration, he was an animator. His clients include High Five Magazine, Your Big Backyard Magazine, LeapFrog, Jingle Punks, Oxford University Press, Plesh Creative Group, J. Walter Thompson Advertising, Animation Collective, Heavy.com, Stretch Films, Jumbo Pictures, Meredith Corporation/American Baby, Stone Arch Books, and Zonderkidz.
Andy's children's illustrations are unique as they aren't flat as many children's illustrations are. It appears as though he uses a lot of textured pastel papers and leaves unblended charcoal floating on top, giving nice depth and feel to his work.
Site

Artist Research: Lorena Siminovich

2008-05-27T20:21:00.002-05:00

Lorena Siminovich studied Graphic Design in Buenos Aires. Upon graduating she became an art director in NY. She has since moved to San Francisco and started a company called Petit Collage. She has written and illustrated several books and some of her clients are Anthropologie, Pottery Barn Kids, The Art Group, Habitat Uk, Galison, Templar Publishing, and Chronicle Books. I really like the simplicity of her work. She uses a lot of simple lines and flat color but still has personality and life to her compositions. She also has some lovely children's collages with great textures.
Website

Artist Research: Bob Staake

2008-05-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

Bob Staake is an illustrator and writer of children's and adult's books. His work is also seen on greeting cards, magazines, and cereal boxes. Some of his clients are:

Random House
Walt Disney Compnay
MTV / Nickelodeon
Mattel Toys
Random House
Klutz Press
Children's Television Workshop
Cartoon Network
MAD Magazine
Kenner Toys
Simon + Schuster
Scholastic
Little Golden Books

I totally love Bob's work. He has a ton of well developed fun characters and a wide range of abilities and styles.
Look at more

Artist Research: Àfrica Fanlo

2008-05-27T19:59:00.003-05:00

Àfrica Fanlo graduated from Barcelona University as a painter. Since then she has gained interest in engraving. She decided to begin illustrating through an interest in editorial work, and now works with illustration, motion, and video. Her clients are:

TV interactiva • TV3 • Intermón Oxfam • Cuentos Sin Fronteras • OSKAR jeunesse • laGalera • Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat • Alba Editorial • L'Auditori • edebé • Oxford University Press • Editorial Barcanova • SCACS • MRM WORLDWIDE Spain • Editoral Cruïlla grup SM • Ajuntament de Barcelona • Biblioteques de Barcelona • Faino Comunicació • Alpino • Personal work. • • Time Out • TIME OUT magazine

She has a nice whimsical style that kind of reminds me of old Nickelodeon cartoons. I'm disappointed that she only has one original posted on her website, the rest are photos of magazine spreads.
Her site

Article Illustration 3: Starfish Colony

2008-05-27T19:57:00.000-05:00

Article Illustration 2: Fashion and Architecture

2008-05-27T19:56:00.000-05:00

Article Illustration 1: Plastic Surgery

2008-05-27T19:53:00.003-05:00

This one doesn't read as clearly as I intended it to, I'm going to re-work it. Also, here is another version I did that I kind of like but still doesn't read how I wanted.

Artist Research: Isabelle Arsenault

2008-05-22T21:56:00.002-05:00

Isabelle Arsenault studied graphic design which led her to illustration. She is mainly an editorial illustrator, but has also illustrated a children's book. Her clients are HOW Magazine, Reader's Digest, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Harvard Business Review, Scholastic, and more. She uses a beautiful toned down color palette. Her images have a safe comforting feel to them, and a 1950's ish quality.
Her site

Artist Research: Santiago Grasso

2008-05-22T21:49:00.002-05:00

Santiago Grasso grew up and went to school in Argentina. He likes to create narrative pieces. He has worked for Sudamericana publishing house, Longseller, Aique, Kapelusz and LOM (Chile) publishing houses, Puerto de Palos publishing house, SM (Chile), Guillermo Schavelzon agency, Nueva magazine, Billiken magazine, SM Argentina, and Estrada publishing house. His work has a very nice loose simplicity to it.
Site

Artist Research: Angel D'Amico

2008-05-22T21:38:00.002-05:00

Angel draws, paints, screenprints, does digital work, graphic design, bookmaking, sewing, and photography. She uses combinations of these skills in her work. Her clients are YRB magazine, PEEL Magazine, Create Magazine, Venus, BPM, Los Angeles Journal, Don't Panic Media, RDA - KORG, Two x Four - Wrangler, The Gepetto Group - Topps, The Abbey Pub, MetroProper.com, Abbey Brown Soap, 160over90 - Aramark, Lollapalooza, The Whole 9, Tagur, Harp - Illy and Barilla, Mode Project - ECKO TV, Dance for Peace, Apparatus - Timberland, and Truestar Magazine. I love the vibrancy of her painting and the loose watercolors and splatters versus her strong inklines. I'm not so fond of some of her design work but I think her hand painted pieces come alive.
Her site

2008-05-22T21:26:00.003-05:00

Anson Liaw graduated from the Ontario College of Art and he now teaches Illustration there. His work is very conceptual, and is graphic as well as painterly. Some of his clients are FedEx, McDonalds, Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Nestle, Los Angeles Times, The Houghton Mifflin Company, and Harvard Business Review. I love the bright vibrant colors he uses in most of his pieces, and the painterly yet graphic quality. Some of them get really busy and hard to read, though.
Anson Liaw

Spot Illustration 8: Still Life + Love

2008-05-21T22:09:00.001-05:00

Spot Illustration 7: Sequence + Revolution

2008-05-21T22:08:00.002-05:00

Spot Illustration 6: Isolation + Interior

2008-05-21T22:06:00.001-05:00

Spot Illustration 5: Greed + Hands

2008-05-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

Spot Illustration 4: Fear + Shadow

2008-05-21T22:04:00.002-05:00

Spot Illustration 3: The Divine + Reflection

2008-05-21T22:03:00.002-05:00

Spot Illustration 2: Animals + Leadership

2008-05-21T22:02:00.002-05:00

Spot Illustration 1: Aging + Landscape

2008-05-21T22:01:00.002-05:00

Artist Research: Joyce Hesselburth

2008-05-20T22:49:00.002-05:00

"Meaning is the driving force behind Joyce Hesselberth’s illustrations. “Every item, every line, every texture is important,” says Hesselberth. Her conceptual illustrations are coolly figurative, at times witty or whimsical, but always succinct. Great illustration distills the main message of a text. It has the ability to take a complex or abstract concept and make it readily understandable. “The illustrator’s job is to complement the text, to make it come to life.” Hesselberth melds simple yet clever figures and shapes with original and archival photography to render a message. Her visual language is often sparse, intuitive and tactile. “An illustration must engage the senses and stimulate the imagination.” Hesselberth’s illustrations provide concise statements for corporate and editorial assignments and add wonder and fun to children’s literature."

Joyce Hesselburth

Her many clients:
AARP
American Express
Baltimore Sun
Bloomberg Personnel
Business Week
Child Magazine
CIO
Daleen
Emerge
Forbes
Frasier Paper
Glamour
Imagination Stage
Info World
Information Week
Janus
Jewish Times
Money
Natural Health
Newsweek
PC Magazine
Reader's Digest
Sports Illustrated
The Atlantic Monthly
The Chronicle Review
Time
United Airlines
US Airways
US News & World Report
Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
Yoga Journal

I enjoy the continuing themes in her pieces. She uses a lot of half faces and odd body angles, as well as whimsical animals and child-like images.

Artist Research: Joanna Barnum

2008-05-20T22:33:00.002-05:00

Joanna Barnum has a BFA in Illustration from Maryland Institute College of Art. She works mainly with children's illustrations, new age, and fantasy. "Her style is loose, expressive semi-realism, executed in a combination of watercolor and mixed media. Joanna’s personal work explores mythological archetypes through personal and traditional symbolism."
Her clients are:

Angelos Family Foods
Berengad Games
Cricket Magazine
Cutting Audio
Fuller Flippers, LLC (Quest Cards)
Maryland Department of Transportation ("Words on Wheels" project)
MysticPop magazine
Pentacle Magazine
SageWoman magazine
Saltboy Bookmakers
ScrollQuest
The Greatest Story of All Time (independent film, director: Nick Heim)
The Walters Art Museum(as event portrait artist)
Words & Numbers

I love the way she builds up her watercolors and the energy of her loose lines and paint.
Her site

Artist Research: Greg Grigoriou

2008-05-20T22:22:00.002-05:00

Greg Grigoriou graduated with a degree in illustration from Sheridan College. "His works have a range of appeal that stems from a keen awareness of brand identity. His interests range from fashion lifestyle, portraits, editorial and identity design." His clients are: Citibank, VMAI design, The Boston Globe, Vancouver Magazine, T&L golf, Canadian Business, Visila Design, Wells Fargo, AOL Time Warner, Professional Ski Instructors of America, Stelzner Communications, Harvard Business Review, American Way. I'm not too crazy about the main illustrations on his page but i really like his portraits and fashion illustration. He has a lot of texture in his work and I think it works best in the portraits and figures.
See him here

Artist Research: Greg Mably

2008-05-20T22:12:00.002-05:00

Greg Mably graduated from Ontario College of Art in 1991 and since has been published in magazines and corporate communications. His work has been on packaging, wrapping paper, greeting cards, posters, and animation. He has been recognized by AIGA, American Illustration, and the National Magazine Awards. I like his simple color palettes and shapes. I'm not too crazy about the content.
His website

IHT Article Research: Money for the blind

2008-05-20T20:08:00.002-05:00

It has been ruled that American currency is discriminatory for the blind as there is no difference between bills to describe their value. The United States is the only country that does not have a currency system that accommodates the visually impaired. Vending machine companies are furious, as they would have to rework the machines to accept the new currency. It is unknown how things will proceed; this was just brought up and will of course take time to bring into effect. It will cost roughly $178 million for new printing presses, and $50 million for new plates. To change the country's seven million vending machines could cost up to $3.5 billion. Also affected would be automatic teller machine manufacturers, as well as wallet manufacturers. It is only fair, however, to change the currency system to assist the millions of visually impaired people.

Related Links:
IHT
Article with quotes from the blind
Assisting the blind

Related Images:
Blind people
Money
Vending Machines
Wallets
Banks
Printing Presses
Court
United States

IHT Article Research: Fashion meets Architecture

2008-05-20T19:58:00.002-05:00

"Skin + Bones, Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture" is an exhibit in London showing the parallels of fashion and architecture over the last 25 years. The show begins with the 1980's and architect Zaha Hadid. One of the themes is "shelter", comparing Shigeru Ban's refuge camps with fashion designers Junya Watanabe, Yohji Yamamoto and Yeohlee Teng's clothing lines.

Related links:
IHT
About the exhibit
Lots of photos and descriptions
More of the same

Related Images:
Fashion
Runways
Architecture
Blueprints
Gallery

IHT Article Research: Silicone Mamma

2008-05-20T19:23:00.002-05:00

Seriously? Is this necessary?? I couldn't believe this article.

"My Beautiful Mommy" is a new children's book written to explain to kids why mommy came home from the hospital in bandages, needs recovery time, and suddenly has a perkier body and different face. Someone actually wrote this book, and it is actually needed in this society.

The idea of beauty has changed over time; in the Victorian era makeup was associated with fake prostitutes and showgirls and natural beauty was preferred. Later around 1910 flappers made makeup more acceptable and by the 50's hair dye was popular. Despite these products to enhance women's beauty, they were always subtle and secretive. Now, nothing is kept private. Celebrity plastic surgery is posted everywhere for the world to see. There is even a "mommy makeover" package now at the plastic surgeon's that consists of liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast lift, with or without breast implants. 91% of all cosmetic surgery patients are women hoping to look younger, or stay young. Plastic surgery is now so common among moms trying to recover their pre-pregnancy figure that a book had to be written to help their children understand.

Related Links:
IHT
Read a synopsis and purchase the book here!
Real life story
The official website

Images related to this topic:
Scalpels
Fake boobs
Women
Kids
Plastic Surgeons
Flappers, Showgirls, Prostitutes, 50s housewives
Thin waists
Bandages
Magazines

IHT Article Research: Tiny starfish inhabit undersea volcano

2008-05-20T14:40:00.002-05:00

Millions of tiny starfish (0.4 inches across with 2 inch long arms) were found on the Macquarie Ridge sea mounts that are part of a string of underwater volcanoes stretching 875 miles from south of New Zealand toward Antarctica. One Marine Biologist involved in the findings said that starfish usually only cover the slopes away from the tops of the underwater mountains. This is the first instance of finding starfish covering the tops of mountains. The cover spanned roughly 60 square miles. There is an odd lack of fish predation in this area, which explains the massive amount of starfish thriving there. It is unknown why there is a lack of fish predation here, however. Scientists are exploring the possibility of climate change directing fish elsewhere.

Related Links:
IHT
CNN
MSNBC

Associated Images:
Starfish
Ocean
Undersea mountains/volcanos
Scientists

IHT Article Research: Computers for Kids

2008-05-20T14:17:00.002-05:00

A nonprofit organization called One Laptop Per Child has been creating $100 laptops to donate to the poorest children in the world. OLPC has won several awards for this innovative design. "It has done for humanitarian design what the iPod has done for consumer products," said Paola Antonelli (iht). The plan has not yet been executed as thoroughly as founder Nicholas Negroponte had hoped. So far, the laptop is not yet down to its dream price of $100 (it is currently $187), and only 300,000 children have received them. Economists have bashed the idea of such a frivolous donation to countries that are more in need of food and books. However, the children that have already received these devices now have access to the Internet, electronic books, games, cameras and other learning opportunities. Teachers in areas where children have these laptops say that they have been of great use in the classroom. They have even helped with behavioral and disciplinary issues, because the teachers can now break up their lessons with laptop time, helping with boredom and concentration problems.
Links related to this topic:
IHT
Donate one yourself
OLPC
Wikipedia knows all

Images associated with this topic:
Laptops/the new $100 laptop
Poor children
Giving people
Manufacturers

Artist Research: Patrick Kouse

2008-05-19T21:14:00.002-05:00

Patrick Kouse graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design. He works with a variety of media. His clients include American Greeting, JP Morgan Chase, and Hooked on Phonics. His works have a very carefree air about them. I admire his ability to put such personality into all of his characters.
Look at more

Artist Research: Renee Kurilla

2008-05-19T21:05:00.002-05:00

Renee Kurilla attended the Art Institute of Boston. She creates computer generated images, paintings and animations. Her clients are Scott Foresman Publishing, Ragdoll, Knowledge Adventure, PBS Kids, Learning.com, Columbia University, Discovery Kids, and Cartoon Network. I am completely in love with Renee's cartoon characters. I like her versatility; some of her images are very simple, some rather complex.

Look at her awesome website

Artist Research: Todd Casey

2008-05-19T20:38:00.002-05:00

Todd Casey received his BFA in Illustration from the Masschusetts College of Art. He later attended graduate school at the San Francisco Academy of Art for 2D Animation. He continued his education in illustration even further at Ringling School of Art and Design. Three degrees later, he decided to pursue a career in painting instead.
He says he's a painter, but there aren't any paintings on his website. I really don't like his portrait and figure drawings, they're so technical and perfectly rendered to lifelessness. I prefer his looser ink studies on his blog.
Website

Artist Research: Sameer Kulavoor

2008-05-19T20:00:00.003-05:00

Sameer Kulavoor is an illustrative designer/director of animation. He currently does freelance work in India. He paints and makes films. His clients are Virgin Atlantic Airways, Hienz, Chiuas Regal, Alpenlibe, Johnnie Walker, J. W. Mariott, Channel, Reader's Digest, L'Officiel India, Hutch, MTV, VH1, HSBC, Lee Jeans, Yahoo, and more. He has such a wide variety of works, I find some really enjoyable, others not so much.

More paintings and videos here

Artist Research: James Gulliver Hancock

2008-05-19T19:44:00.002-05:00

James Gulliver Hancock studied Visual Communication in Australia. He is now a multi media illustrator. His clients are Business Review Weekly Magazine, Business Review Magazine (USA), MotorTrend Magazine (USA), Herman Miller Furniture (USA), ESPN magazine, Sydney Opera House, City of Sydney, Swinburne University, University of Technology, PowerHouse Museum, Mjolk Fashions, Rip Curl fashion, Marie Claire Magazine, Ivy League Records, Sony/BMG (USA), Island/Universal (UK), British Telecom, Australian Financial Review, The Australian Government, NOISE, Fuzzy Events, MTV Australia, AMP, The National Gallery of Australia, and ABCTV.
His use of several mediums in each piece is very interesting and at times overwhelming. I think sometimes it works and other times it doesn't flow as well.

Website

Artist Research: Bella Pilar

2008-05-19T16:59:00.002-05:00

After years as a makeup artist Bella Pilar started doing fashion illustrations. Her main medium is watercolor. She went to FIT in NY and Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. She is also illustrating two children's books. Her clients include:

Baltimore
Bee
Brio
Cosmo Girl
D Magazine
Dallas Observer
Destination Wedding
Elegant Bride
Essence
Family Circle
Fashion 18
Fine Gardening
Girls Life
Glamour
Hamptons
Hartford Courant
Los Angeles Weddings
Marie Claire
Milwaukee Magazine
Nail Pro
Naperville
Natural Health
Positive Thinking
Skirt Magazine
Somerset Collection
Sweet 16
L'Uomo Vogue
VIV Magazine
Wedding Bells
Wedding Magazine (UK)
YM

among many others. I really enjoy Bella's carefree light illustrations.
Her website

Artist Research: Erin Petson

2008-05-19T16:29:00.004-05:00

Erin Petson's work is very experimental. She uses various media, including tape, magazine clippings, textiles, and collage. Her work has been exhibited in several countries. Her clients are Cheerios, Lancome, The Guardian, Penguin, Aquascutum, Selfridges, Play Station3, Exposure, Elle, Marie Claire, ASOS, Asda, Madame Figaro, WWD Beauty, Wallpaper, French Trotters, Jane Magazine, Time Out, Neiman Marcus, Little White Lies, Tank Magazine, Elegance Magazine , Bracewell , Country House, Oprah Magazine, New York Times, and Lascivious.
I wish the texture of the work was more apparent through the photos of it, but for the most part I love the different mediums she uses and the effect it gives.
Erin Petson

Visual Metaphors

2008-05-19T12:39:00.003-05:00

Target: Relationships/Marriage/Infidelity
Source: Wedding cake and figures
Ground: Figures and cake represent marriage
Tension: There are not usually 3 figures on a cake
This image uses juxtaposition.

Target: Fish environment
Source: Society
Ground: Interacting species, hierarchy
Tension: Big fish eating little fish
Juxtaposition is seen here.

Target: French fries and ketchup
Source: War
Ground: Fries and ketchup can represent soldiers and blood
Tension: French fries and ketchup are food
This is replacement.

Target: Wedding cake
Source: Marriage/divorce
Ground: Cakes represent marriage
Tension: The cake and marriage are being split
Fusion is used here.

Target: The world
Source: The internet
Ground: You can access most of the world through the internet
Tension: It is not a direct connection
This image uses fusion or juxtaposition.

Visual Metaphors

2008-05-18T21:44:00.004-05:00

Wesley Bedrosian

Target: Education system
Source: Fish
Ground: Fishing is random; joke about education being random
Tension: Education is not really this random
Shows the views that graduating is by chance just as fishing is.
This image uses replacement to depict the message.

Christoph Niemann

Target: Toothbrush
Source: Living beings
Ground: They connect together
Tension: Toothbrushes and toothpaste are not really alive/have appendages
The arms and legs reinforce the connection between the two elements.
This image uses fusion.

Thomas Fuchs

Target: Gas gauge
Source: Statue of Liberty
Ground: Similar shape
Tension: The Statue of Liberty relating to lack of gas
By combining these two images the artist is commenting on the gas situation in America.
This images uses juxtaposition.

Wesley Bedrosian

Target: House
Source: Coat
Ground:
Tension: You cannot wrap a house in a coat
By fitting the coat around the house it becomes an apparent comment on energy/heating issues.
This image uses replacement - instead of a person in the coat it's a house.

Christoph Niemann

Target: Binary Code
Source: Salt and Pepper
Ground: Similar shape and amounts
Tension: Binary code is not physical
By placing the code in salt and pepper shakers it shows the common everyday use of the code.
This image uses replacement of salt and pepper with binary code.

Tessellation Two: The Celebrity Craze

2008-05-18T20:47:00.002-05:00

Tessellation One: Video game obsession effects on children

2008-05-18T18:10:00.003-05:00

Bananarama; Visual Rhyme number three

2008-05-15T22:42:00.002-05:00

A-OK; Visual Rhyme number two

2008-05-15T22:25:00.002-05:00