Sunday, November 2, 2008

{Postage Stamps}

:: Irish Culture ::

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links to visit




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:: Postage examples ::










Sunday, September 21, 2008

{Celebrity Project}



Our Second Project is covering an Illustration based off of a celebrity in a current movie. The film I have chosen to cover is called 'The Duchess.' Keira Knightley is the actress playing Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. The film is a startling portrait of a seemingly naïve young woman who enters the world of power and politics. A compulsive gambler who will eventually die in debt, she nevertheless enjoys the thrill ride of challenging the conventions of her times. In which women play more the role of an heir producer and dowry bringer.


{Three Reviews}


The L.A. Times {movie review 'The Duchess'}


Film.com {movie review 'Keira Knightley Talks Duchess'}


Future Movies {movie review 'The Duchess Movie Review'}


Cinematical.com {movie review 'TIFF Review : The Duchess'}

Monday, September 1, 2008

09.01.08 {Death Penalty Position}

When looking at history and at the situation of the world today, it embarrasses me to see that the United States is one of the very few countries that have the death penalty on its books. We share the ranks with such countries as Iran, China and North Korea. Even countries like Japan and France, the masters of the guillotine, have abandoned the death penalty in recent decades. When it comes to making a stand on the issue of the death penalty, I find it unsettling that America has only international ‘thugs’ as spiritual friends.
In recent years, with the advancement of DNA analysis and other high-tech forensic technology, quite a few people on death row were found to be innocent. These wrongful convictions may make up a substantial number of convictions, many of which are attributable to over zealous prosecutors and district attorneys. Often evidence is being withheld from police, juries bias, and especially in smaller cities simply not accustomed to dealing with the complicated capital punishment case. While some states, especially in the northern U.S. no longer have the death penalty, others in the south, especially Texas seems to have an express lane for those accused of capital crimes. The majority of all executions are performed in Texas, which has less than ten percent of the U.S. population. It is unsettling to think that the death penalty is handed out in a random manner and that in the past; possibly one out of ten prosecuted were executed innocently. When talking about the death penalty, the biggest issue that I have with supporting it is the prevalence of wrongful convictions, which seems to be unavoidable. One could argue that somebody could be released from prison after serving a lengthy term, but not be brought back from the dead.
The United States has a disproportionately high population, making up one percent of the general population. Many of these are violent and repeat offenders. Something within the structure of what we refer to as America may be inherently wrong to create an ever growing number of social outcasts. Our national inclination to support the death penalty may have its roots in some odd place such as early high school days in which the winners and losers, the stars and the outcasts are prematurely selected. Crime rates in most developed countries are significantly lower, prison populations disproportionately smaller with relatively few offenders guilty of a capital offense. All these speculations and thoughts about opposition to the death penalty and the origins of such prevalent violent crimes are brushed aside with some of the most violent cases of recent history. Some offenders are virtual poster children for the death penalty. Case and point Edward Duncan III, a convicted child molester with apparent previous child killings under his belt. The details of his most recent crimes are too horrific to list here, but it involves the killing of four individuals for the purpose of molesting two children. In his sadistic manner, he apparently created snuff movies of himself raping and violating the children. In court he was convicted of murder as the jury had to watch the horrific recordings of his acts. He showed no remorse. Seeing a case like this I cannot only say that I derive great comfort from knowing that the execution would rid the world of a potentially escape prone predator from ever walking the earth again. I must admit that the discussion of cruel and unusual punishment, in his case, has a ridiculous ring to it and that I must restrain myself not to devise appropriately barbaric methods of punishment. This however is part of most people’s human nature, and when all is said and done, I say I wish we would live in a world where the punishment could be stashed with other relics of our history. However the reality is this society seems to be barbaric, so barbaric measures seemed to be destined to stay on the books. Maybe in the 22nd Century America will not need the death penalty anymore.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

{Green Tea, Non Profit Money}


I am inspired by the microcosm of issues surrounding small autocrats running non-profit organizations. It seems as though they share the characteristics of tribal chiefs who run their own little kingdom. In this illustration the CEO of the Memphis zoo is having a non-profit tea party with his favorite pal and Memphis zoo superstar, the panda. He is pouring from an amply filled pot of non-profit money, which is sweetened with the syrup of Donations and creamed with City Subsidies. I shall name this work : The Party ain't over till the pork fat runs out!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

{Revised Version of Napoleon}


This Illustration was originally projected to be the cover of the Memphis Flyer. However, it was later in editorial meetings to be too lop-sided and controversial (by a thin margin). Although provocative and possibly modifiable by adding a tear jerking tree hugger to the picture, it was still 'too much.'  In a small town like Memphis there is still a significant amount of caution of alienating a potentially troublesome institution, such as the zoo administration. They might find themselves side-lined from future access to media information from the zoo. However even-handedness is the obligation of any publication and that teaches any political satirist to anticipate expectations.
The image you are viewing is an evolution of my earlier creation of Zoo Director, Chuck Brady. I decided to add other components to the illustration to symbolize the complexity of the controversy. 
  • The number one contention of the controversy is the irresponsible clear-cutting of a rare piece of ancient forest {symbolized by tree stumps and chain-saw}. 
  • Number two of the contention is that besides the trees affected, a complex ecosystem was destroyed with complete oblivion {symbolized by the squashed frog underneath the triumphant boot}. 
  • Number three of the contention is that the zoo professes to be interested in conservation, but to create their vision a perfect piece of natural ecology is sacrificed for an artificial piece of wildlife. {represented by a wooden crate titled 'ACME instant mild-life}. 
  • Lastly, the zoo has gained a reputation to be run by a self-serving money dynasty that is creating a zoo that is becoming progressively less affordable for the native population of Memphis of who at least a quarter are below the national property line {symbolized by a crop duster trailing a banner with the words 'Cha Ching'}.

Friday, August 1, 2008

{The Grinch Who Ate Four Acres of Forest}



{Oh My God He's Back! For Seventeen More Acres}
There he comes, the Grinch who stole the forest. 
This is my second, in a series of political satires on a tragically disastrous political figure in Memphis, TN.  It is a representation of a zoo director who has incurred the wrath of the community by secretively cutting down an ancient forest in a park. He has just unleashed a new political fire-storm by claiming yet another seventeen acres of this virtually untouched forest land for one of his new {Green} projects, which his critics claim to be a sinister land-grab.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

{Trouble at the Memphis Zoo}


So after careful review, I decided to make a few changes to my earlier composition.  It didn't feel like the figure was stable, and a bit awkward just floating about like that. Plus I didn't care for the speech bubble either. I think this is a much better solution.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

{Trouble at the Memphis Zoo}


Example of Political Satire {local issues : Memphis, TN} This composition uses the image of a buffoonish totalitarian leader {Napoleon} who is reborn in the shape of a hackster zoo administrator whose greatest accomplishment is the clear-cutting of an ancient forest, which was protected by a Supreme Court ruling.

Monday, July 7, 2008

{Memphis Botanic Garden}



These are a few current concept illustrations for the Memphis Botanic Garden's 'My Big Backyard' 

Friday, May 30, 2008

{Personification}

{Anaphora}

{In Class Exercise}




A.R {Nora Krug}






{www.nora-krug.com}

Nora Krug is an Illustrator who works in mostly mixed media. She studied Graphic and Stage Design at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing arts and Illustration and Documentary Film at the Berlin University of Arts. She also attended the School of Visual Arts in NY. Her illustrations are visual narratives that have appeared in many different publications. She ccontinues today creating art and freelance work.

{clients}
New York Times
Los Angeles Times
Playboy
Comedy Central
Nylon Magazine
Print Magazine
American Illustration
ARS Electronica
The Guardian
etc.

Nora creates some pretty interesting stuff. I really like her color choices. The palette is so refined and works very well with her overall pieces. Some of her animations are pretty cool too.

A.R. {Chip Wass}






{www.worldofwassco.com}

Chip Wass attended the University of Iowa and The Art Institute of Chicago before he made his move to New York in 1989. He is an Illustrator and Designer where he has produced award-winning Illustrations and even character designs for several different clients. His style consists of creating digital works and animations.

{clients}
Disney
Nick at Nite
Cartoon Network
The New York Times
Entertainment Weekly
Penguin Books
Nike
Quiksilver
Newsweek
Instyle
Wired
Nick Jr.
Life Magazine
Suave
The NFL
Bravo
People
The Washington Post
Berlitz
Levi's
Pfizer
The Chicago Tribune
WFMU
The Metropolitan Opera
The Nation
Pizza Hut
etc.

Chipp has some really cool character designs. I can't believe that a lot of childhood characters that I have seen were designed by him! The style in which he uses is very smart in producing mass numbers. Rock on Dude.

A.R. {Greg Mably}






{www.gregmably.com}

Greg is an Artist based in Toronto Canada. He attended The Ontario College of Art gaining an extensive background in art as well as his BFA. He works for a lot of magazine companies as well as other corporate businesses. He has received recognition from businesses such as American Illustration, AIGA, etc.

{clients}
dotcom
etc.

Greg has a very unique style. I like the idea of vector based graphics with a twist. This is very cool to look at.

A.R. {Stephanie Wunderlich}






{www.wunderlich-illustration.de}

Stephanie Wunderlich is a freelance Illustrator with a means to an end. She works with several companies producing her work. Her style mostly consists of collaging and photoshop.

{clients}
Cosmopolitan
Stern
Geo Special
Eltern
Focus
Custo Barcelona
Wall Street Magazine
New York Magazine
Havard Business Review
Natural Health Magazine
Style Magazine

Stephanie is very minimalistic and creates some very vibrant pieces. I really love the way she takes figures and distorts them to a minimal style. It becomes very deco or retro. This is something everyone should check out.

A.R. {Coco}






{www.cocopit.biz}

Coco is an illustrator who has gained a perspective of insight through studying design and art in Paris. Coco likes to work in mixed media and revolves themes around design and fashion. Coco helped set up an organization in London called {getconfused} Coco is a freelance and full time designer as well as illustrator.

{clients}
Couture Jewellery
Demure Untamed
Anois Anais
Biba
etc.

I really love her style of collaging with mixed media
The idea of overlapping images and using slight washes or other medias to emphasize the subject matter is so inventive.

A.R {Ilana Kohn}






{www.ilanakohn.com}

Ilana attended the Pratt Institute after moving to Brooklyn as a child. She graduated with a BFA in Communication Design and Illustration. She works full time as a freelance illustrator in Greene Brooklyn. She uses a style of painting that mostly is pulled from ideas of impressionism and abstraction.

{clients}
The New York Times
Utne Reader
American Medical News
The Deal
LA Weekly
MeatPaper
Out
MyMidwest
Hanley Wood Media
The Stranger
L Magazine
Bitch!
Rockpile
The Rake
The Advocate
etc.

I find that Ilana has a refreshingly different approach to illustration. Most of her work is so aggressively done with a free flow. I love how loose the textures are in her work. It really contributes to an interesting point of view.