The Process

Keep Yourself and Your Art Fresh.

2010-02-16T14:51:00.002-05:00

A great entry from artist Eric Fortune's blog. These are certainly some of the most practical tips I've ever read on the subject.

Especially the part about overworking, which I tend to do often.

Check out the link below for the entire list:

http://ericfortuneart.blogspot.com/2010/01/tips-and-tricks-from-art-slave.html

What English Sounds Like to Foreigners

2009-12-18T17:58:00.003-05:00

I think this is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.

Ever wonder what English sounds like to Foreigners? Well, here is your answer.

The only catch is that its a 70's rock/dance tune written by a German or Italian composer.

Either way...solid gold!

Job gets mentioned on MSNBC

2009-12-14T13:26:00.002-05:00

My company gets mentioned on a show on MSNBC by a marketing and branding specialist (unfortunately, you have to watch like 5 minutes in).

Pretty cool.

Hot Websites

2009-12-09T14:52:00.003-05:00

Its getting cold outside, but that doesn't mean you can't check out some hot websites. These sites are more than just a clean layout with some pretty colors, they push the envelope in technology, UI, theme, and content. Its my secret weapon when I need to learn about hot new technology for a new client. I always seem to find something useful in here...

Check back every week as the position of the sites change. Oh, and make sure you have the latest Flash player: many of these sites take full advantage of the latest flash plugin.

http://www.designcharts.com/

Real Time for the Real World

2009-12-08T10:30:00.002-05:00

Google has announced that it will be unrolling "real-time" searches on its website in the next couple of days. Basically, this means that if you are interested in up to date information (up to the second up to date) you no longer have to Google a site that contains a live news feed (such as CNN). Now, the feed itself will be added to a window inside of google.

But this is more than just a feed of a specific topic, stream, or website, these are actual search results being pulled from the internet the second they happen, so content is not limited to what a particular source publishes. In more ways than one, it opens the door to learn about current events in a way that was never before possible. Typing in "NYC street closed" for example, could lead to tweets explaining what happened and how to detour around the block. Previously, this would have had to have been reported by a news outlet, added to their feed, and then 6-12 hours later, updated in Google's cache. Alternatively, you would have had to have been a subscriber already to access the information when it was added to the outlet's stream.

The most obvious advantages about this service is that it reduces the need for more searching. You will no longer have to wade through multiple layers of webpages to find what you are looking for in terms of current events, but will have live results immediately (for those of you looking for up to the second results). For everyone else content with Google's current system, dont worry, the regular indexed pages will show up underneath the real time results.

So the big question: how will this affect the internet as we know it today?

Obviously, the short term impact means that life will get a little bit faster. Why? Because we are finally seeing information being shared as it is created on a massive scale. Sure, Twitter and Facebook accomplish this and have been around for a while, but they have remained exclusive, with information unavailable to users who haven't subscribed or friend requested a particular source or stream. Real time searching allows all of this information to be available on a massive scale, opening it up to the public. A side effect of allowing information to be shared as it is created means that slower forms of media will become less relevant, and will dwindle in terms of audience (the same way that newspaper readership dwindled in the face of television news). My first thought is that cable news channels, already shifting to infotainment, will reduce the amount of news they broadcast even further, turning them into sheer color commentary for political agendas.

Why would I watch a cable news channel that filters the type of news I am receiving and is limited to a particular number of sources, when I could be receiving unfiltered information from people at ground zero of a particular event, news sources from around the world, opinions from leading experts, and background information from other websites? To top it off, I would be able to have the control to choose what does and does not get filtered as it is being created. Power to the people indeed.

Sure, there are pitfalls. How can we be sure the information being served up is relevant? Given the fact that Google got to where it is today based on the quality and relevance of its search engine, I can only give them the benefit of the doubt on this one, and see how it plays out in the coming days. One thing is for sure when it comes to relevancy, this will either make or break Google as a search engine contender in the future. If they wish to remain a forerunner, relevancy is of utmost importance.

In terms of accuracy and factual data: I leave this power in the hands of my peers. Misinformation has been spread and re-spread throughout history, from rumors in high school to entire events being faked (Orson Welles' broadcast of War of the Worlds). I didn't see this diminishing with the advent of the internet, nor with television news, or even with newspapers. Hell, even orators. I have no reason to believe it would disappear now that tweets, live feeds, and regular people are creating and reporting the news and live events. This problem will likely never go away as long as the human race endures.

In the end, how we use the information will be up to us. Will it be used to its full potential? Will it signal the end of television news? Will it finally mean the internet will be the ultimate form of entertainment and information? The answer really lies with us. I don't see that happening for a while, at least not until people realize that they have the control. The possibilities, however, are worth exploring.

Personally, I believe we all owe it to ourselves to stay as involved and active as possible, and try everything you possibly can; this day and age, if you snooze, you definitely lose.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T14:56:00.003-04:00

I had a couple of minutes before I had to get dressed up in my Indiana Jones costume, and decided to dig around a little bit on the web for some nice Halloween Photoshop tutorials.

It didn't take long before I found this one. A nice practical guide to creating dripping blood.

Secondly, I'm not such a big fan of pinup artwork, but today is Halloween, so anything goes! And in the true spirit of Halloween, I decided to go ahead and post some halloween pinup artwork from an artist by the name of Matt Dixon (courtesy www.drawn.ca).

Now, with that under my belt, its off to the Village Halloween Parade!

Happy Halloween!

The Most Abused Web Design Trends

2009-10-27T08:59:00.004-04:00

See anything you recognize on this list?

Its a list of techniques that were overused and cheapened, as well as techniques that are definitely just downright awful.

I had a lot of fun looking through them all, and trying to remember when I used some of them (haven't we all?)

My absolute favorite, however, is by far the infamous spinning globe. Its right up there with the waving American Flag, which did not make the cut for this list.

The Bible in Legos

2009-10-26T16:13:00.002-04:00

Ever wish that the bible was illustrated panel by panel entirely in legos?

well, fear no longer! Its here! The Brick Testament tells the entire story of the bible play by play, all created in legos and photographed for your viewing pleasure.

Come one and all and find inspiration.

Periodic Table of Typefaces

2009-10-25T23:38:00.003-04:00

This chart is definitely a must for all graphic designers. In fact, I use it as my desktop wallpaper at the office.

But its more than just for show, not only does it show most of the core fonts that every designer show know and probably use, the fonts are actually arranged in a meaningful way according to the actual periodic table of elements for ease of selection and reference.

check out the high res version here.

Google Map Alphabet

2009-10-23T13:12:00.003-04:00

Just when you thought you had seen it all, there is the google map alphabet!

The typography was created by Rhett Dashwood, and I originally found this link from Irene Gallo's "The Art Department" blog.

Full piece (and interactive version) can be found here.

More Inspirational Photography

2009-10-21T11:29:00.003-04:00

Another batch of hot photography from a variety of sources, including national geographic.

Some are better than others, some are landscapes, some are exposure experiments.

Stunning Examples of Long Exposure Photography

2009-10-21T10:53:00.002-04:00

A fantastic post showing 15 examples of long exposure photography. See if you can guess how some of them were taken!

8 Best Viral Advertising Videos of 2009

2009-10-21T10:43:00.003-04:00

If there is anything I love, its a clever viral marketing video.

I don't know how this publication arrived at these being the top 8, but watching them sure is entertaining. And of course, if you need some inspiration for being creative and clever, well then take a look!

(Above: a sample viral video created for microsoft)

Today's Web Inspiration

2009-10-21T09:38:00.003-04:00

A handy reference of 10 more beautiful website designs for your inspiration and viewing pleasure.

Halo 3: ODST Trailer

2009-10-19T23:32:00.002-04:00

Even though I dont really play video games, I keep up with whats hot and whats not, pretty much the same way that many folks do with movies.

Today, I wanted to take the opportunity to spotlight the TV spot for Halo 3: ODST. I've talked to many people who have little to no interest in video games, yet are completely captivated by this trailer. For me, its one of the most beautiful commercials I've ever seen, sending chills up my spine when I see it. Not only does it manage to pack a huge emotional punch in the small span of 60 seconds, but the visuals are absolutely spectacular!

No volume boosting, annoying announcers, or half-witted humor, just straight forward beautiful cinematography, and for a video game no less! This would be a great trailer for a movie, and if this doesn't make you want to play the game I don't know what will. In fact, based on the quality of the trailer, it might be difficult for the game itself to live up to expectations of many who don't know the standards of games today and expect it to look like the trailer, but I digress...

There are a couple different versions floating around, but below is the full version:

Sam Weber's new website

2009-10-14T16:03:00.003-04:00

For all of you illustration junkies out there, Sam Weber just redesigned his website. A clean, left nav professional looking site, pretty common in the industry.

There is also what looks like some new and fresh work up there as well.

Check it out at: http://sampaints.com/

sending large files online

2009-10-13T13:12:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple suggestions if you need to send large files to a client online and email just isn't cutting it:

The first is called yousendit

It basically sends an email with a link to your file to the recipient. It is fast and easy to use, and the free version works for most circumstances.

http://www.yousendit.com

The second is called getdropbox

Having an account here basically allows you a certain amount of space on the internet that you can upload files to, etc. Also, getdropbox also allows you to send links to recipients for specific files.

I believe there is also a free account version with this service as well.

https://www.getdropbox.com

Facebook's Swansong?

2009-10-13T09:58:00.004-04:00

Over on the other side of the world (at least if your in New York) exists a country on the rise, with so many people in its borders, that even a fraction of them using a particular good or service can make it extremely powerful and profitable.

The specific case I'm talking about is China based internet provider Tencent, who makes an AIM-like internet chat product called QQ (Chinese teenagers use the Q as shorthand for "cute," as in "you are so Q!")

Due to the sheer number of users using this software, as well as other factors including a robust offering of other products that would put even Google to shame, QQ could put facebook out of business in a hurry if it takes off here in the states.

This is due in part not only to Tencent having a much larger social network than facebook, but through micro-virtual-currency purchases for games, upgrades and other online products. Also, Tencent is growing in leaps and bounds, and get this, is actually profitable (facebook is not).

An international version of QQ just launched as a partnership with AIM, I'm sure its only a matter of time before this service takes off. Who knows, we could be looking at the new face of social networking... you heard it hear first!

Check out the link below for the full article and more details:

http://www.mercurybrief.com/?p=717

More Burger King!

2009-10-12T20:47:00.009-04:00

I love seeing the evolution of a companies brand. I was doing a little research on The King after yesterday's post, and ran across the history of the company logos.

I think its funny that each logo is a stereotype

of the era it came from. The 70's and 80's logos definitely look 70's and 80's.

So without further ado... the moment you've all been waiting for, Burger King's logos:

Interior Design and Burger King

2009-10-11T14:49:00.003-04:00

Burger King is planning on redoing the interior of ALL of their restaurants worldwide.

Not only is this a massive undertaking, but it is also a massive shift in design aesthetics.

The new look features a much more updated and futuristic version of the restaurant, which I have to say looks pretty nice, at least based on the pictures.

More on the new look can be found at this article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33197382/ns/business-food_inc/

Corporate Logos After the Financial Crisis

2009-10-11T11:22:00.002-04:00

I found these logos in an email forward. Pretty funny stuff.

Where the Wild Things Relax

2009-10-01T23:02:00.003-04:00

A beautiful still from the set of Where the Wild Things are.

An actor takes a break while waiting to shoot the next scene. He remains in full costume. The amount of emotion in this shot is uncanny. The movie looks pretty interesting as well. I found this picture on the official movie website, check it out to see some more shots.

More Inspirational Business Cards for your Amusement

2009-09-30T09:05:00.003-04:00

Check out these interesting websites to see more inspirational business cards:

http://cardobserver.com/gallery/the-great-farini

http://tasteofinkstud ios.com/business-card-design-portfolio.html

Font Game

2009-09-11T14:46:00.004-04:00

Are you interested in all things typography? Check out this fun quiz and lets see how many typefaces you can answer!

http://www.sporcle.com/games/fonts.php

I knocked down 14 of them right off the bat, the remaining fonts I had absolutely no idea, and eventually just gave up to get the answer. I dont know about anyone else, but I personally had never heard of them...

Rumble over Ikea Font!

2009-09-11T14:14:00.002-04:00

Ikea recently switched its font from Futura to Verdana, causing a huge uproar among the advertising and design community. Check out the article below for more details:

Critics want Ikea to go back to the Futura.

I think its interesting that people are so concerned about how another company chooses to market itself. Its almost as if many people feel as if they need to own part of the Ikea brand for themselves. Perhaps the reason is that Ikea has a strong enough brand that people actually DO feel as if they own part of the brand for themselves, even if in spirit alone.

Perhaps if I owned part of the actual company I might worry about a rebrand, or in this case, a repositioning, but generally speaking its ultimately up to Ikea how they choose to present themselves to the world. If they fail, thats ultimately their problem as well. I'm not so concerned with making it my own.

So what about the notion of creating better design instead of pandering to the lowest common denominator? Thats certainly a concern, but luckily, there are companies out there who do care about the finer points of design, legibility, and typography. Fortunately for the consumer, those company's products also usually reflect that conern as well.

Block Letters at the Movies

2009-09-10T21:48:00.002-04:00

A good friend of mine sent me this cool link. Its a short video showing hand drawn letters in modern movies, definately worth taking a look at.

50 Beautiful Websites

2009-09-08T10:41:00.002-04:00

We all love beautiful things, and here are 50 of them! 50 websites to be exact.

Great resource for inspiration for those of you in the design field, definately worth a bookmark.

http://dzineblog.com/2009/06/50-beautiful-website-designs-for-your-inspiration.html

...but is it art?

2009-09-02T21:34:00.002-04:00

New York City Photographer Zach Hyman takes photos of nude adults dancing in subway cars.

Not surprisingly, New Yorkers dont really seemed phased. Speaking from experience, I've seen brawls, people vomiting and passing out, the mentally ill screaming obscenities to themselves, religious radicals, and everything in between. I can't say a stripper would really surprise me that much either.

The article below brings up a lot of points... is it art? is it appropriate? are people surprised? At the end of the day, I think that many of these questions are really unknowns. What is known, however, is that the artist is certainly getting a lot of attention out of this....

http://news.aol.com/article/most-nyc-subway-riders-unfazed-by-nude/631562?icid=sphere_newsaol_inpage

Retrofuturism

2009-09-02T00:30:00.004-04:00

An interesting talk from an artist discussing his "retro futuristic work."

Everyone has seen this type of work before, its interesting to see one of the big names behind the canvas and hear him discuss.

http://www.ted.com/talks/bruce_mccall_s_faux_nostalgia.html

McDonalds gets Clever

2009-08-31T12:14:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine passed this link my way at work...its really a shame corporate advertising in the US has become so sanitized. In fact, its hard to believe many of these are actually for the fast-food chain McDonalds at all... but they are all definately worth taking a look at:

http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/40-clever-advertising-campaigns-of-mcdonalds/

Portraiture Makes a Comeback?

2009-08-27T21:04:00.002-04:00

Apparently, portraiture is making a comeback in popular culture, or at least according to this article from CNN it is:
Click here to read full article

Subway Map of the Internet

2009-08-22T16:26:00.003-04:00

Just when you thought you've seen it all, this comes along...

A gorgeous map of the most used and important websites on the internet, plotted and connected according to the Tokyo Subway System, and color coded to their respective categorical interest. If thats not enough, it breaks down the connection points to establish how each site crosses media genres and interfaces with sites of other interests.

Not only is this map extremely fun to navigate and look at, its also an eye opener as to the movers and shakers on the internet today. Essentially, it serves up a who's who of the most important sites in the world (The more heavily trafficed sites being represented with larger buildings).

I was suprised to see Basecamp on there, but then again, it continues to grow in advertising agency usage in terms of project management system. The Pirate Bay also made a pretty hefty entry on the entertainment section. Google looks like the biggest building to me, followed by Youtube and Disney. I was surprised Firefox, Wikipedia, and Digg did not weigh in a little more heavily.

Also, not surprisingly, marketing and blog guru Seth Godin was listed as one of the most important trend setters in the "Advertising Line"

Check it out at zoomorama:

http://www.zoomorama.com/2477f0e8b447bb6570493cdac464c41f

ICON is back!

2009-08-18T20:47:00.003-04:00

ICON 6, also known as the Illustration Conference, will be held this year in Los Angeles from July 14-17, 2010.

It was nice of them to send out a SAVE THE DATE now, that gives me almost an entire year to make plans, hope thats not too short of notice......

http://www.theillustrationconference.org/

Time for Illustration West!

2009-08-09T22:49:00.002-04:00

The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles annual Illustration West 48 art exhibition is now open for entry.

Think you have what it takes? Click the link below, pay some money, and give it a shot:

http://www.entersila.com/

Deadline is September 30, 2009.

Good Luck!

Groundbreaking...

2009-08-07T22:25:00.004-04:00

This looks like one of the coolest things to come around in a long time. Its called Rhonda, and it allows the user to draw in 3d.

Unlike a 3d program where you have to build a model step by step, with Rhonda you can actually draw a line using a Wacom tablet, then move that line in 3D. Looks pretty cool to me.

Groundbreaking? we'll have to see, hopefully it will launch soon. Beta testing is available if you are interested: Rhonda's website

New Nickelodeon Logo!

2009-08-04T21:35:00.005-04:00

Yep, you guessed it from the title, Nickelodeon got a brand new logo.

Many people are calling it boring, but I'll let you decide for yourself...

Or, you can read the entire article at: WalletPop or another including kids' feedback at: Nickelodeon cleans up.

Movie Title Treatments

2009-08-02T11:21:00.004-04:00

Courtesy of Drawn.ca, I just took a look at this amazing website showing the title treatment of hundreds of movies dating back to the original King Kong.

Its a treat seeing how the typefaces have changed through the years in terms of style, but it also makes a great resource for book cover designers to gain inspiration.

Definately worth taking a look at, even for the non-designer or artist...

Movie Screenshots Collection

New Artwork

2009-07-28T00:17:00.003-04:00

21 Comic Artists

2009-07-20T22:13:00.005-04:00

I just finished reading this very interesting and thought provoking article on the 21 most influential comic book artists of all time.

Its a short and entertaining read, even for those not interested in comics, and gives a basic background of some of the fundamental shifts and changes through the years that led comics and superheroes to be what they are today (moviestars).

Reinventing the pencil: 21 artists who changed mainstream comics (for better or worse).

Anyway, my biggest criticism is that there were a couple of names I thought were missing from the list. I would have normally dismissed them, thinking the article was discussing purely superhero and supervillan comic books, but due to the inclusion of such artists as Basil Wolverton and Carl Barks, its clear that they were going for comics in general.

Since they were going for comics in general, I think that anyone would be hard pressed to say that a certain Robert Crumb didn't change the comic landscape. Not only did Crumb bring comics art houses and college campuses nation-wide, he also brough it to the mainstream via album art (Janis Joplin's Big Brother and the Holding Company, pictured below).

To that end, I was also surprised Charles Schultz didn't make the list. I personally don't care for the Peanuts series, but there is little doubt the impact Schultz had on panel comics, quick and expressive gesture and contour line drawings, and overall characterization.

and I suppose you could add Gary Larson and Matt Groeing as well.

...anyway, just food for thought. The article itself is an interesting read, and definatley worth the time. Take a look.

Invading the Vintage

2009-07-18T18:37:00.005-04:00

A recent post on drawn.ca showed a very awesome postcard series entitled "Invading the Vintage."

Basically, this series pokes fun at vintage Swiss landscape postcards by showing what the landscape would have looked like if aliens invaded at the time the picture was taken.

Not only is this a fun series to take a look at, it was clever in its conception.

check out Invading the Vintage to see the entire collection.

Hats off to Franco Brambilla!

New Artwork

2009-07-17T22:55:00.003-04:00

Places Series, Part II

New Artwork

2009-07-17T00:31:00.003-04:00

Places Series...

For Illustration Junkies

2009-07-17T00:27:00.002-04:00

I recently became a member of a website which I highly recommend called illustration mundo. It includes links to many artist's websites, as well as tons of articles and resources for illustrators of all levels.

It also doesn't hurt visibility if you are looking for ways to promote yourself, and is free to join.

Check it out at:

www.illustrationmundo.com

Great Designs

2009-06-16T20:07:00.004-04:00

Need some inspiration? Included are some great website designs created by various designers/companies. The main theme here is creating smart work that is consistent, modern, and elegant.

50-beautiful-website-designs-for-your-inspiration.html

Andy Warhol creates Digital Artwork

2009-05-02T14:41:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I wonder what history would be like if great artists of the world had access to a computer. How would DaVinci or Van Gogh use it to create art? Would they use it at all?

Interestingly enough, I ran across this clip of Andy Warhol creating a portrait on an early version of a digital painting program. Its interesting to see how warhol uses it, and how it compares to his traditional work, even in the computer's early state.

Often, since we are taught history in isolated events and chunks independant of a larger picture, I forget sometimes how timelines overlap. Its shocking to think Andy Warhol had access to digital art, but its an interesting reality I would love to learn more about.

New Artwork!

2009-04-12T22:06:00.001-04:00

Life Imitates Art?

2009-04-07T23:28:00.008-04:00

For an introspective and inspirational story on artists getting by in the world, or should I say, getting by in the world within the world, check out this cool cnn article.

The article discusses "second life," an online virtual reality world where players spend real money for art. The possibilities here are very interesting, as well as the fact that artists would choose such a progressive forum to display and sell their work.

New Artwork!

2009-03-31T20:17:00.003-04:00

The Truth about Twitter

2009-03-31T20:04:00.002-04:00

New Artwork

2009-03-09T22:58:00.003-04:00

New Artwork!

2009-02-21T21:45:00.001-05:00

New Artwork!

2009-02-19T23:48:00.003-05:00

Art-Zero

2009-02-03T01:11:00.002-05:00

I am working very hard on creating an art how-to and article database called Art-Zero, which can be found at www.art-zero.com.

Eventually, it will contain links to many resources, as well as include a number of articles and tutorials on art-related material.

Be sure to check back often as the content is continuously updated.

TriBeCa Open Art Walk | Registeration Now Open

2009-01-23T12:40:00.002-05:00

The following is from a Facebook blast to NYC Area Artists:

A quick note to artists in TriBeCa.The TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour [T.O.A.S.T.] is now taking registration for 2009's spring Art walk: toastartwalk.com

Deadline: Feb 15th, Registration fee: $125

Quick Notes of Interest:

-30,000 maps are printed and distributed throughout the city. Also available for artists use.
-Website listing + images.
-Advertising in all major media, prior to the event. including the NYTimes, Timeout NY, Gallery Guide, etc...
-Traffic of anywhere between 200-1000 people throughout the weekend coming through your space.
-Possible exposure to galleries and dealers.

The next planning meeting will be on: 7pm Feb 11th, at 50 White St.

More info at:http://www.toastartwalk.com/

New Artwork

2009-01-11T14:31:00.002-05:00

Mike Tyson.

More New Artwork

2009-01-09T22:27:00.004-05:00

Pirates vs Ninjas? Pirates all the way.

I revisited realism in this illustration so that I had an entry to Expose and Spectrum this year. There is no time to waste submitting entries, they are due very soon.

A bit more touching up and this should be ready...

New Artwork!

2009-01-09T22:21:00.003-05:00

yes, its been a while.

I took some time off to discover the deeper meaning of my life out on an island.... and, well, by meaning of life I mean artwork, and by island I mean Manhattan.

Anway, enjoy the new posts! Cheers to 2009 and many more to come!

New Artwork

2008-10-04T11:21:00.001-04:00

Brooklyn Furniture by "The Other Man's Treasures"

2008-10-04T11:13:00.002-04:00

Check out http://www.tomtinc.com/ for some very cool custom furniture. T.O.M.T. seems to be equal parts grit and retro styling, updated to fit into only the most chic Manhattan apartments.

One of the interesting things about this particular artist's collection is that each of the pieces are actually available for purchase.

All of the items are custom and hand-made directly by the artist, Rodney Allen Trice. It definately worth taking a look to see whats new.

Steve Jobs iInspires Artists and Students

2008-09-20T01:13:00.003-04:00

Here is a link I had forgotten about, but recently re-discovered when emailing someone some advice.

I didn't grasp the impact or entire gravity of the speech the first time I read it, but as the years have gone by and my career has unfolded, I don't think it could be more relevant, meaningful, and hit closer to home.

Everyone should read this speech:
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

CG Artwork

2008-09-17T09:57:00.004-04:00

Link to a great article on the basics of how the newly released game "Metal Gear Solid 4" uses SoftImage and 3D architecture in its development. Also an interesting insight into how the game development process takes place.

http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/customer_stories/metal_gear_4/default.aspx

New Artwork

2008-09-02T17:51:00.003-04:00

New Artwork

2008-09-02T17:48:00.004-04:00

New Artwork

2008-09-02T17:47:00.004-04:00

Another Gorgeous Animation

2008-09-02T17:41:00.005-04:00

I first learned of this animation from Irene Gallo's "The Art Department Blog." This is a beautiful animation worth checking out.

(A link to Irene's blog can be found at right)

Artwork Improved by Technology

2008-08-19T22:37:00.002-04:00

Here are some good (and not so good) photoshoped updates to existing famous pieces of art.

Every now and then its fun to have a little fun.

http://gizmodo.com/5030518/85-famous-works-of-art-improved-via-modern-technology

The Tale of How

2008-08-07T11:07:00.002-04:00

A beautiful and somewhat famous animation I found on the web some time ago. Don't forget to turn on your speakers!

Kudos to the Blackheart Gang for creating such a wonderful piece.

Flash Frenzy

2008-07-27T19:07:00.003-04:00

Fine Artist Rafaël Rozendaal creates interactive and cryptic flash-based pieces that force the viewer to ask the question, why?

Among my favorites are "JelloTime" and "BigLongNow."

These pieces have to be experienced to be believed.

http://www.newrafael.com/

Enter: Wordle

2008-07-22T23:19:00.002-04:00

Wordle is bar far the coolest thing I've played around with online in a long time.

Upon inputting words and phrases (or a blog) wordle creates some awesome Paula Scher style arrangements that can be edited and customized (obviously, never as cool as Paula's work though).

Fun to play around with and completely free to use, wordle is a definate must.

http://wordle.net/

(thanks Rena!)

Dedication

2008-07-21T01:11:00.003-04:00

The following link contains an article about a 112 year old artist who continues to draw to this day.

Not only is this a wonderful story about a window to another time, it is a story of aspiration and dedication. Personally, I find it inspiring and hope to someday create artwork at such an age as well.

Interestingly, the artist has spent many of his years in a mental institution due to dementia. I find that this only adds to the rich history and persona of the artist, creating another interesting layer to an already rich story.

Frank Calloway personifies a certain wanderlust of vintage charm, something we can normally only view from a distance. Whether known to the artist or not, it is his own history that lends himself to becoming an actual living, breathing element of the landscapes he creates.

Regardless of whether such an atmosphere is felt through family, history, storytelling, pop-culture or simply curiousity, the dense world this artist (re)creates is part of and dear to us all, whether we realize it or not.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/07/20/elderly.artist.ap/index.html
(photo from cnn.com)

The New Yorker Party

2008-07-07T19:46:00.007-04:00

The New Yorker is having a party this October 3,4,5, hope to see you there!

Tickets are available online at 12 noon E.T. on Friday, September 12th.

To sign up for official Festival Wire e-mails, visit festival.newyorker.com.

New Artwork

2008-07-06T13:23:00.002-04:00

New Artwork

2008-07-01T00:00:00.003-04:00

Concept Art!

2008-06-27T22:52:00.005-04:00

Looking for some hot concept art? Look no further.

visit http://www.conceptart.org/ for a wonderful variety of concept art by some of the biggest names in the industry today.

In addition, there are some interesting message boards where the artists discuss their visions, and merchandise (such as calendars and videos) can be found available for purchase.

picture above by Bluefooted

Imaginary Forces: Charlotte's Web

2008-06-24T12:57:00.003-04:00

The design and multimedia agency Imaginary Forces has created a fabuluos intro to the film Charlotte's Web.

The mix of 3d modeling and traditional illustration is quite appealing, all wrapped up in the classic soft and delicate treatment you would expect from a children's story turned into a movie.

You can check out this video as well as others on their homepage at: http://imaginaryforces.com/featured/5/365

(Be sure to click on the Play Video button at the bottom right of the screenshots.)

New Artwork

2008-06-24T12:52:00.003-04:00

New Artwork

2008-06-22T22:55:00.002-04:00

Wisdom From a Legend

2008-06-19T17:07:00.002-04:00

A friend passed this website onto me.

There is some great information from a living legend here, especially in the "10 Things I Have Learned" section.

http://www.miltonglaser.com/

Easy RGB

2008-06-17T18:46:00.005-04:00

Have a passion for color theory?

Easy RGB is an extremely useful website that converts colors from one format to another independantly from Photoshop.

Why, might you ask? Mostly because it appeals to the science behind the color theory, and actually provides the mathematical formulas for all of the conversions and harmonies to use in other programs, or just for curiousities sake.

In addition, it can convert pantone and cmyk colors to commercial swatches (such as Dutch Boy, Benjamin Moore, etc.)

Easy RGB can be found at: http://www.easyrgb.com/index.php?X=HOME

Where its At

2008-06-16T22:32:00.002-04:00

Rarely does the art department refer readers to other's blogs. That is, of course, unless you are Irene Gallo.

Art Director for Tor/Forge and Starscape Books, Gallo's sphere of influence extends far beyond the publishing industry and touches many artists and fans from many different backgrounds and genres.

Irene maintains a fantastic blog filled with interesting bits about the illustration industry, and updates it non-stop. The material is definately worth taking a look at.

The blog can be found here: www.igallo.blogspot.com

Interview with Tara McPherson

2008-06-11T21:52:00.003-04:00

Above is an interview from 50% Television with the artist on the eve of her solo show at NYC's Jonathan Levine Gallery.

For any readers unfamiliar with Tara McPherson, its worth checking out her site at http://www.taramcpherson.com/

The Process Presents: Mario Zucca

2008-06-11T00:22:00.010-04:00

Mario Zucca has a knack for striking a great balance between nostalgic images and styles as well as fresh perspectives and modern looks.

One of the things I find most interesting is seeing how such different styles interact with each other, yet are always able to consistently maintain a strong identity overall.

Mario has consistently appeared in American Illustration and maintains a list of clients including VH1, American Medical News, Crayola, ESPN: The Magazine, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Philadelphia Inquirer to name a few.

View Mario's work at: http://www.mariozucca.com/

The Most Precious Resource

2008-06-10T14:26:00.006-04:00

While working out today at the gym, I was thinking about something Jacob Thomas says to me quite often: time is the most valuable resource, its the only thing you can't ever get back.

How true this is. The time we spend doing things in our lives will never come back: once it is gone, it is gone. Although apparently obvious, it takes a second to understand the gravity of this concept:

I don't neccessarily think it means that time is "wasted." Everything we do in our lives we do for a reason, so even if the use of time isn't the best, I don't believe it can ever be completely wasted. To that end, I don't believe that doing the dishes, taking a nap, or running on a treadmill, respectively, is a waste of time, but rather our choice, some being more constructive than others.

The important thing is to always attempt to see the bright side of a situation. Use otherwise wasteful time to your advantage, or be happy knowing that once an activity is complete, you will be able to spend remaining time doing what you really want to do.

In the end, I think its important that every action should be as meaningful and positive as possible, to make the most out of the time we have.

Creativity Awards Call for Entries

2008-06-07T20:13:00.002-04:00

I recently received information regarding a creativity award contest called the Creativity Annual Awards.

They accept entries in a variety of media, including Print, Publications, Illustration, Green Marketing, Television, Radio, Film, and alternative media.

According to the mailer, work must be registered by July 15th to avoid late fees.

visit www.creativityawards.com for more information.

I'm not familiar with the publication date, but this is one of the few summer contests I've heard of. If your looking to boost freelance numbers and need some visibility this summer it might be worth checking out.

The Process Presents: Jacob Thomas

2008-06-06T17:08:00.008-04:00

A great illustrator, and an all around great guy, Jacob Thomas is a master at blending the most extreme composition and color with some great concepts. All this adds up to a wonderful blend of elements that create a strong, top tier editorial illustration portfolio.

I learned early on that telling Jake no wasn't an option. Its this "can do" additude that has influenced me so heavily over the past couple of years, and has really kept me eager to see what will be rolling out next.

Jacob Thomas has created work for Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Esquire, ESPN Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Harvard Business Review, LA Times, Men's Journal, Business Week, Continental Airlines, Ralph Lauren, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Wall Street Journal, University of Pittsburgh, Bath and Body Works and Vibe Magazine to name a few.

His work can be viewed at: http://www.theispot.com/portfolios/index.cfm?clientnumber=a2885&artistName=Jacob%20Thomas

Happy Birthday Velazquez

2008-06-06T09:33:00.003-04:00

Happy 409th birthday!

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez

June 6, 1599- August 6, 1660

American Illustration Selected

2008-06-05T00:37:00.004-04:00

The results are out, and so is the preview...

American Illustration released a slide show of the artists selected to be included in this year's annual, American Illustration 27.

Follow this link to check it out: http://www.ai-ap.com/cfe/aiss/AISlideSelected.html

And to everyone else, for what its worth, don't give up and good luck next year.

Interview with James Gurney

2008-06-03T19:32:00.005-04:00

Just today I was notified of a fairly recent interview with James Gurney by a reader of The Process. In the interview, Gurney talks baseball, blogs, and performance art.

If you didn't have a chance to check out Gurney's post a couple days ago, or want to know more about the thoughts behind his experience with the Missionaries, then I definately recommend taking a look.

A brief excerpt is as follows:

“Whenever I have any kind of adventure that has something to do with art I try to weave it into the blog,” he said. “…I think out loud about my art on topics ranging from aesthetics to paint stroke mixing. I’m learning a lot from people who have commented…They give insights and tips and writing a blog post can be a form of rough drafting material where you have a thousand editors read it and give you feedback. It’s a real privilege as both a writer and an artist to have access to a group of like-minded people to critique your work.”

To read the entire interview, visit: http://bloggasm.com/pencil-journalism-an-artists-attemp-to-depolarize-the-proselytizers

Special Thanks to Simon Owens for sending my way.

Superheroes at the Met

2008-06-03T17:23:00.002-04:00

From May 7, 2008–September 1, 2008 The Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art will be showing a special exhibition called Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy.

Sure to be a lot of fun, it opens at the perfect time given the upcoming superhero movies this summer.

Comic Book Detour: Adam Hughes

2008-06-03T01:22:00.010-04:00

After being inspired by James Jean's work on the Batgirl covers, I decided to take a break from Editorial for a moment and try my hand at some of my own comic-style artwork.

What a throw-back! It was interesting diving into the characters as they appear in comics today vs. the characters of yesteryear. After being quite moved and inspired by Michelle Phifer's Catwoman from Batman Returns, I decided to create my own version of the character as a cover to add into the portfolio.

It wasn't long into the research process until I ran across another artist's interpretation of Catwoman: Adam Hughes. Easily the best version of any comic book character I have ever seen, Hughes' Catwoman comes to life with realistic emotions and facial features, managing to avoid many of the comic book pitfalls.

Alas, a hard act to follow. I was so impressed with Hughes' work and its accuracy to the spirit of the character, I wonder if "reinvention" is neccessary or even possible. In the end, I decided that re-creating Catwoman would work better as an "interpretation" than a "re-envision."

I will be posting progress of the work as well as source photos from the shoot itself.

To share Hughes' work and to ramp up the excitement a bit, I included some of his work on this post.

New Work

2008-05-29T01:12:00.002-04:00

A new image. "Space Picnic."

Flagging the Head

2008-05-29T01:06:00.004-04:00

Once again a fantastic tip is available at James Gurney's blog, "Gurney Journey."

This particular tip discusses "flagging the head," or in lay terms, adding white behind the central figures head so it doesn't get lost while simeltaneously drawing the viewer's attention.

The article can be found at: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/

(above illustration by Maurice Bower)

Sound Mind in a Sound Body

2008-05-28T21:08:00.003-04:00

These days, everyone knows the benefits of working out and getting exercise, but despite the overwhemling positive press, I thought it would be important to throw my hat into the ring.

The Ancient Greek phrase "sound mind in a sound body" comes to mind when I think of how exercise applies to the visual artists. Aside from increasing focus, keeping your body in good shape helps with perhaps an even more important trait: confidence.

As all artists know, being confident allows a certain amount of energy to be captured within the canvas. Also, confidence allows for more edgy and daring compositions and color combinations.

Confidence also shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to business. The more energy and poise you can bring to the bargaining table, the more likely things are to go your way.

Let's get going!

ICON5 Illustration Conference

2008-05-24T17:42:00.006-04:00

This year's ICON illustration conference will take place in New York City at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown.

Its a great opportunity to meet people and learn about the business, as well as explore some great new artists and see the city.

Standard registration is almost over, be sure to register by May 30th to avoid the late fees!

http://www.theillustrationconference.org/

(pictured above, ICON5: The Big Picture, by Edel Rodriguez)

The Process Presents: JAMES JEAN

2008-05-22T16:56:00.007-04:00

A legend in the modern illustration world, James Jean is known to both students and professionals alike as one of the leading illustrators in the field today.

His work pulls a variety of styles together to create a visually appealing and versatile portfolio, exceptional in almost measure.

Of particular note are the Fables comic book covers. These truly showcase a distinct and energetic style.

James Jean's website can be viewed at http://www.jamesjean.com/

Design Gangsta

2008-05-20T15:00:00.003-04:00

My first job out of college was as a graphic design associate, and now, as an art director in New York, I have the opportunity to view and create design all day long.

I think this video does a good job of summing everything up:

The New York City Environment

2008-05-19T00:24:00.011-04:00

I believe its important for people to be sensitive to their environment, and by that I mean paying attention to details in the world around them. I believe that the more details you can observe in everyday life, the richer and more interesting it makes your interpretation of the world around you. I would even go so far as to say that its these details in an environment that either conciously or subconciously add up to effect our outlook on life in general, or at least at the time.

This weekend I took some photos from the top of Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. At once, I struggled to realize the immense amount of detail packed into the world that lay before me: windows of buildings, halogen lights shining from every angle, people on the street below, brickwork glistening in the falling rain. All together this became quite overwhemling; I was unable to grasp the complexity and depth of what stood before me, and felt small. I contemplated my imprint in such a large world.

I think its healthy that we remind ourselves of this feeling from time to time. I believe it helps shake up our perception of the status quo, and adds a certain sense of wonder, longing and depth to our perception of the world around us.

Afterall, as artists its our job to express an interpretation of the world that surrounds us.

Why not bring a deeper understanding to your vision?

A Useful Resource

2008-05-17T11:24:00.009-04:00

James Gurney, an award winning fantasy illustror and landscape painter (known largely for his illustrations of Dinotopia) maintains a blog that I recently discovered lost in my internet favorites.

Now I know why it was listed in my favorites... this blog is an indespensible resource for tips and tricks for painters, as well as observations of nature I would have never even thought to look for.

Today's entry for example, are the results of a poll probing the most commonly used colors by todays artists as well as old masters.

Definately worth taking a look at: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/

(pictured above, illustrations by James Gurney)

A New Picture

2008-05-17T01:52:00.002-04:00

I created a new picture yesterday: Elephant Girl.

Watercolor and digital. Seemed to turn out pretty well.

Its Not Too Late!

2008-05-16T15:03:00.009-04:00

Some good friends of mine have formed a brand new theater ensemble and are putting on a show tonight at the Red Room. Its still not too late to purchase tickets.

Friday, May 16th, 2008 the ALL BALLS OUT Theater Ensemble presents "Retrograde" at the Red Room Theatre. E. Fourth St., 3rd Fl., New York City

Tickets can be found at: http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/143465

ALL BALLS OUT was gracious enough to let me design the new logo for the ensemble, shown above.

Go show your support!