Showing posts with label Illustration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illustration. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

"Art to Lunch" exhibit and reception at Studio Pause this month


On Saturday, October 24th, award-winning cartoonist Mike Jenkins, who lives in northern Virginia, will be hosting his art reception, "Art to Lunch", from 6-8 pm at Studio Pause in Arlington, VA. For the past year or so, I've been following Mike's daily posts featuring the adventures of young Maggie and her struggles and challenges faced each and every day at school, as she forges ahead on her quest to make it through to another weekend. It is a truly amazing comic art series, and I'm always greatly impressed by Mike's seemingly inexhaustible ability to portray each single day that Maggie faces, in a brand new way. Drawn on brown paper lunch bags, it will be even more of a treat to see these works in person, so mark your calendars and don't sleep on this one!



Monday, January 19, 2015

Face to Face - Illustrations and prose by Martin Graff (the Face Zone) and Laura McClure (Animals for Sam), at the Griffin Art Center through 1/31/2015


Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure of attending the opening artists' reception for Martin Graff (The Face Zone) and Laura McClure (Animals for Sam), entitled Face To Face. The reception was held at a fantastic space in the heart of downtown Frederick, Maryland, known as The Griffin Art Center. Laura and Martin had their work on exhibit together, in the middle gallery (I believe there were three galleries altogether at the center). I met Marty (as he likes to be called) at another, comics-themed art opening in Frederick last year, and through him, Laura, who also had some of her art at the show. I've been gladly following their work via Facebook and blog posts ever since. While the two have a very different approach to their work, stylistically, what their art has in common is a symbiotic relationship with words. 


 Animals for Sam was started by Laura as a way to keep her young, animal-loving godson Sam informed about a wide variety of animal species - kind of like a weekly digital postcard. Laura hand-draws the animals on her computer, using a mouse, usually dressing them in human attire that relates to a certain aspect of a particular species, mostly having to do with their environment or geographic location. She also merges photographic imagery in the background, adding a sense of depth and dimension to her work. A verbal description, both highly factual and informative, while told in the artist's own conversational style, discusses everything from eating habits, to odd and unique physical and behavioral characteristics. Finally, a small graph is at the bottom of each blog post, illustrating the animal species' level of vulnerability to extinction. I could imagine myself thoroughly enjoying something like this as a boy, who like Sam, held a keen interest in wildlife and the natural world. At the show, the framed digital print pieces were quite popular, as many of them were sold. Looking forward to a book compiling these works, hopefully in the near future!



As with many artists and creative types, music plays a big role in Martin Graff's Face Zone works, which employ a cartoon-inspired minimalist approach visually. The influence of punk rock lyricism is evident in the clever verbal wordplay of the sometimes darkly humorous poetry and prose that accompanies The Face Zone illustrations. Martin's blog posts can range from contemplative to laugh-out-loud hilarious, but they always make excellent food-for-thought, which is probably where his influence as a public school teacher comes in as well. Along with his work hanging on the walls of the gallery, Martin had a newly published book compiling his Face Zone material available, a good many of which sold at the show. I highly recommend grabbing one for yourself HERE. In the meantime, don't hesitate to read more about Martin and The Face Zone in this recent article from The Frederick News-Post!









Be sure to check out Face to Face in person, at the Griffin Art Center, which runs through January 31st, 2015!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Cartoons on matchbooks

I stopped into the MARVA matchbook club meeting yesterday to hand off some old matchbooks (as you know, I love ephemera) and the group was very welcoming. They usually have piles they trade amongst themselves as everyone has to specialize. I found a few of cartoon interest:

matchbooks - 1940s cartoons
3 hillbilly gag cartoons, probably from the 1940s or early 1950s, on matchbook covers.

Matchbooks - won't be long now
"Won't Be Long Now" hillbilly cartoon gag on matchbook cover.

matchbooks - Cricket not Disney
A cricket that looks a lot like Disney's Jiminy on a "Li'l Cricket Food Stores" matchbook cover.

matchbooks Art Instruction
Matchbook ad for Art Instruction, Inc, the school that Charles Schulz attended (via correspondence) and taught at before Peanuts.

Matchbooks Art Instruction reverse
Interior of matchbook ad for Art Instruction, Inc, the school that Charles Schulz attended (via correspondence) and taught at before Peanuts.

matchbooks - Francisque Poulbot of France
Cartoon matchbook spotlighting French cartoonist.


ANNÉE DE L'ENFANCE [aka, Année internationale de l’enfant : 1979]

Francisque Poulbout (1879-1946)
Dessinateur humoriste, POULBOT devient célèbre vers 1910, grâce à ses dessins inspirés des gosses de la rue. Il crée en 1920 le Dispensaire de P'tits Poulbots et la République de Montmartre pour aider les enfants nécessiteux. Le nom de poulbot est aujourd’hui passé dans la langue courante pour désigner un gosse de la rue.

Translation by Portugese comics scholar Leo de Sa:

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD [1979]
Francisque Poulbout (1879-1946)
Cartoonist, POULBOT became famous around 1910, thanks to his drawings inspired by street kids. In 1920 he created the Dispensary of Little Poulbots and the Republic of Montmartre to help needy children. The name "poulbot" became the everyday-language designation for a street kid.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Oct 22: "The Mechanics Of Seduction" The Solo show of Glenn Arthur This Saturday

Not quite comics, but a Heavy Metal aesthetic surely..

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THIS SATURDAY

"The Mechanics of Seduction
"
The Solo Show of Glenn Arthur

With Special Musical Performance
by MATEO MONK

Complimentary Wine Courtesy by Wine District

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Glenn Arthur's "The Mechanics Of Seduction" is a series of paintings exploring the fascination, power and sensuality found within the human machine. Inspired by an era defined by industrial enlightenment and artistic innovation, Glenn fuses together a fanciful blend of elaborate and historical aesthetics. Each delicately painted female entices the viewer through mechanical elements while alluring them with hypnotic beauty into a world of ornate elegance wrapped in a cloak of disquieting surrealism. The juxtaposition of organic emotion and unfeeling apparatus demonstrates the unyielding, seductive romance between human and machine reminding us of the inherent desires that fuel us all.



Saturday, October 22nd, from 8-11pm

Location:
Art Whino Gallery
120 American Way
National Harbor, MD 20745

Reception begins at 8pm

Show end date: November 13th

The event is FREE and open to the public.

About the Artist

Glenn Arthur is a self taught visual artist from Orange County, California. Born in February of 1979, he grew up in a conservative, religious household with little to no influence in art. After shedding his roots he quickly realized that creating art would be his calling. Although he constantly doodled and sketched throughout his youth, Glenn did not come into painting until later in life when a friend forced a paintbrush into his hands and said, "You need to do this!" 

Since then Glenn has been diligently working on creating his own brand of beautifully painted images. Using acrylic paints on wooden panels, he adds in elements and influential symbols of his past and present to each piece. Beyond the aesthetics of his artwork, Glenn brings an overwhelming sense of passion to his paintings. Touching on themes of love, death, conflict and duality, Glenn's art tells stories of strength and hope through emotion and sentiment with his sensual beauties and signature hummingbirds. 

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mateo munkMateo Monk is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, adept at many styles of world roots music.  With twenty years of performing experience, his live shows are an exciting musical journey around the globe, exploring the rhythms of jazz, bossa nova, reggae, hindustani raga, bluegrass, soul and funk.  Performing solo on the guitar, flute, melodica, and vocals, Mateo utilizes a "looper" pedal to create fully textured rhythms, adorned with virtuosic melodic musings, all seamlessly woven into the song form in real time.  It's a modern spin on the iconic idea of the "one man band", executed by a one-of-a-kind artist with deep emotional sensibility and dazzling instrumental finesse.

Mateo spent six years in Boulder leading an original reggae/soul fusion band called Natural Kingdom with some success. While opening for the legendary reggae band Culture, he was "discovered" by acclaimed reggae producer Georges Kouakou and proceeded to record his first solo release entitled "Guidance and Protection" at Lion and Fox Studios in Washington DC. Georges co-produced several of African reggae superstar Alpha Blondy's groundbreaking records, including the "Jerusalem" album, and he has toured with many reggae greats including Culture, Burning Spear and the Wailers. While recording the record, Mateo also had the pleasure of working with Junior Marvin of Bob Marley and the Wailers. "Guidance and Protection" was picked up by the French record label Sankofa Blackstar and has received international airplay as well as frequent rotation on XM Radio in the US. In the fall of 2004, Mateo played a two week, multi-city tour throughout France with The Viceroys and Clinton Fearon of the Gladiators to promote the disc.

After the tour, Mateo decided to settle in the Washington DC area to take advantage of the new set of connections and opportunities that recording the album had brought about. Since being in DC, he has been a member of four bands, One Night Stand featuring Walter Tate on sax (8/03 to 8/04), THC featuring Dezzy Hyson of Culture and Mojanya (8/04 to 12/05), The Kleen Kut Reggae Band from Liberia (12/05 to 10/9 with gaps), and currently, The Archives. He has also done plenty of freelance gigs, working in the studio and/or onstage with several notable artists, including Alpha Blondy, Junior Marvin, Thievery Corporation, and Ruth A. Brown. He is currently recording an album with the Archives that is being produced by Eric Hilton of the Thievery Corporation to be released under ESL Record's new ESL Dub-plate label. He is also in the process of producing two solo albums, one acoustic and one fully arranged electric disc. Lastly, Mateo regularly performs solo utilizing looping technology and blending together a wide variety of genres and influences.

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Art Whino
120 American Way
National Harbor, Maryland 20745
US

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Post and Times on Norman Rockwell exhibit

I'm of two minds about Rockwell, but I think if you approach him as a consummate illustrator, as Solomon does, you can enjoy his work more than if you worry about putting him into an artistic pantheon at the moment.

Norman Rockwell exhibit opens at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, By Blake Gopnik, Washington Post Sunday, July 4, 2010; E01. There are 86 comments now on this one mostly bashing Gopnik.


America, Illustrated, By DEBORAH SOLOMON, New York Times July 4, 2010

Monday, May 03, 2010

May 4: Richard Kelly at American Art (repost)

I've seen his collection - it's great. It's not exactly cartoonists, but there are people who went both ways in it like AB Frost.

McEvoy Auditorium, Lower Level
American Art Museum

This annual series provides insight and invaluable advice on collecting art from museum directors, curators, collectors, and art dealers and consultants. Free and open to the public; no advance registration required. All lectures begin at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Collecting for the Long Haul
Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Richard Kelly, The Kelly Collection of American Illustration

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Dec 5: Book illustrator at Medical Museum

 

 

The Art and Science of "OUTBREAK: Plagues that Changed History" with the artist Bryn Barnard

 

When:

 

Saturday, December 5, 2009, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Feel free to drop in; no reservations required.)

 

What:

 

Bryn Barnard, author and artist of "OUTBREAK: Plagues that Changed History," (on exhibit through Jan 22, 2010 at NMHM) will host three exciting programs on Saturday, December 5, 2009, including an illustration workshop and a special session aimed at younger audiences. Free, open to the public, no reservations required.

 

See the schedule online at http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/events/event_2ed.html for more details. Questions? Call (202) 782-2673 or email nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil.

 

Where:

 

National Museum of Health and Medicine, on the campus at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Building 54, Washington, D.C. 20307  (Enter at Elder St., NW)

Adults must present photo identification to gain entry to Walter Reed.

 

Contact:

 

(202) 782-2673 or email nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil

 

 

Saturday, August 15, 2009

William Gropper and a Semi- Secret History of Comics

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I ran across the above at a flea market recently. Gropper sounded familiar, so I picked it up.

According to William Gropper Papers: An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University, Gropper was a leftist cartoonist, but he apparently had to make a living like everyone else and the library has a clippings file of:

New York American 1934, undated - includes Robert Benchley columns (2 folders)

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I assume this drawing is for Benchley's column, but when Benchley's collection My Ten Years in a Quandry, and How They Grew came out, it was illustrated by the great Gluyas Williams. So my guess, and it's just a guess, is that nobody's really seen Gropper's illustrations for Benchley since they were done. In the book, one can find The Rule of 87, doubtless the work of fanatical reformers, is as follows: "One twin birth occurs to approximately 87 single births; one triplet to about 7,569 singles (87 squared); one quadruplet to about 658,503 singles (87 cubed); one quintuplet to about 57 million singles (87 to fourth power); one sextuplet to about five billion singles (87 to fifth power)". that's the rule. That's what we are supposed to abide by, whether we want to or not.

I'm sure modern fertility drugs have completely changed the rule.

This post benefited greatly from the help of Sara Duke of the Library of Congress. A search of the Library of Congress collections brings up 34 pieces by Gropper - to see them, go to http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html and type in "William Gropper".