Sources of Inspiration: Part Four


Back to Redondo Beach. Teeter Totter or See Saw with this little head balanced so beautifully in the middle. He seems dumbfounded. Dim? Stunned by being in such a wonderful arcade. Inspired simplicity.

I bet Mr. Baseman got something from a work or oeuvre such as this. Your thoughts?

two nice posts on Drawger


Today, Rob Dunlavey from Drawger has set up a show of images submitted by fellow Drawger illustrators of the President:

W: Portraits of a President

keep watching it as I am sure there will be more as time goes on.

And of course, the ever smart Mr. Brodner has commentary re Mr. Bush's new initiative>>

The commentary pretty much sums up how I feel.

Image Above from Drawger
Lone Rider by Tim OBrien
Cover for Mother Jones

stepping down from the soapbox for today.

in progress


Eyes are the mirror to one's soul. That's why I spend so much time on them whether it be a duck or a person--the eyes, for me, are key. This is the beginning of a new burqa image for my thesis.

Dead on Digby

Digby is an impassioned blogger we met in LA. This blogger is no kidding serious about the work, the messaging, the community, and making change which is happening. Today, Digby speaks on tonight's impending speech (which makes me nauseous just thinking about what is could and probably will be). Here is an excerpt:

Steamroller Democracy

by digby

I don't now about you, but I'm all on pins and needles waiting for the big speech tonight. The big question will finally be answered: how much is the president going to escalate the war and increase the American occupation?

Think about that. We just had an election that completely repudiated the president's strategy in the Iraq war. Only 12% of the public supports sending in more troops today. The military is not backing this either. Yet what are we watching on television all day? "How many more troops is the president going to send to Iraq?"

This is not just a slap in the face to the democratic process, it's a slap in the face to our concept of reality. I wrote before that this president has always governed by tantrum, and this is no exception. He is doing exactly the opposite of what logic would dictate, just as he did after the 2000 election debacle when he governed from the far right as if he'd won a huge ideological mandate --- and after 9/11 when he nonsensically insisted that we invade a country that had not been involved in the attacks.

I can hardly believe my eyes that he is getting away with it again. It's truly stunning.

to continue with this essay>>>

Hey Taschen Lovers!!

TASCHEN Warehouse Sale: Los Angeles
January 19, 2007 - January 21, 2007
TASCHEN Store Los Angeles, 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, Tel: 310 274 4300, email: store-la@taschen.com, United States

Thousands of slightly damaged and display copies from TASCHEN on sale at bargain basement prices, 50-75% off! 3 days only:
Friday, Jan 19th, from 10a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Saturday and Sunday, Jan 20th and Jan 21st from 11a.m. to 6p.m.
______________________________________________________________________________________
TASCHEN Warehouse Sale: New York
January 19, 2007 - January 21, 2007
TASCHEN Store New York , 107 Greene Street, NY 10012, United States

Thousands of slightly damaged and display copies from TASCHEN on sale at bargain basement prices, 50-75% off! 3 days only.
Friday January 19th, 11am to 8pm
Saturday January 20th, 11am to 8pm
Sunday January 21st, 12 to 7pm

Sources of Inspiration: Part Three


I have been getting waaaaaay too excited about the Redondo Beach Gallery and ARCADE and need to let it rest for a day or so...so I can share this lovely with you. I love picture menus. The ones from Big Boy, from take out chinese restaurants or those kooky chinese-cuban restaurants. In LA, the quicky Mexican or Chinese restaurants that have windows off the street often have the same thing happening in a much more frenetic way than the modified, smaller versions in the printed picture menus. What happens is that the menu becomes the facade of the building--as it does in this instance from Venice Beach. I love the color, the imagery, the nutty, whimsical grid and the exciting (and could be percieved as confusing) messaging going on. Throw in three dimensional things like fruit and drink bottles and this institution starts rocking. Mexican inspired palette. I am trying to think of how this has been manifested in the art world and have hit the shoals of nothingness. Do any of you?

Sources of Inspiration: Part Two


As I was saying, Redondo Beach's arcade is one of the more important galleries in Southern California. Or was I? I was dumbfounded at the entry by being greeted my this heap of blow up character dolls, Dora the Explorer, The Hulk, Spiderman etc. A mad collection of colors, images and shapes. Who buys these things? I know they sell them at the Circus and sometimes at fairs around here...but who buys them? and why? Can you really play with them? Who wants to hug a slick vinyl character that smells like an inner tube? I don't get it...but in not understanding it...it gets very exciting. Plus, look at this homemade point of purchase display. Get a load of that illustration. Where the hell did that come from? Maybe here>>

Sources of Inspiration: Part One



Here goes. So, we discovered the wonders of Redondo Beach. You probably know them all, so I won't bore you with all the details...although there is plenty to talk about and I am sure it will sneak in with other posts. But today, I wanted to talk about the wierd and wonderful little arcade they have at Redondo Beach (under the parking garage) which, from my perch, is one of the biggest sources of inspiration for many of the "happening" low brow dudes making names for themselves these days. K, A and I visited this arcade early in the morning on a weekday. It was open but the lights were barely on--and it was very very strange. They had an entire tilt a whirl visible from the entrance--and as one proceeded deeper and deeper, the odd, the old and the italian (always the best and most strangely styled rides and attractions) became more and more pervasive. There were rows upon rows of the money game that often middle aged ladies sit in front of--with a wide bar that moves back and forth (often with a lot of silver money on it) and more money on the tabletop. I have no idea how it works and have puzzled over it. There were rows upon rows of old fashioned skee ball (sp?). There were video driven games. And to my delight, there were art installations! The image at the top was a game that one throws balls and knocks down these little guys. I have never seen this sort of styling for this type of game. What were these things? Where did they come from? My only exposure to these mini, hair framed, punching bags was here>>

Joe Ledbetter>>
Tokidoki>>
Tim Biskup>>
Circus Punks>>

You get the idea. Where the hell have I been? I guess, the east coast.
Better late than never.

01.08.07-2 from the sketchbook


Faber Castell Pitt pen, Pilot Precise V5 pen, Moleskine large sketchbook.
Drawn watching the less than fabulous Henry VIII on PBS last night. It is amazing that Henry was crowned, married 6 times, beheaded 2 wives, established the Church of England, and managed to joust, write music and send a lot more people to their deaths in three short hours. The styling was wierd--kind of gold leafed romance book covers/bodice rippers combined with fantasy concubine love bedrooms--a far cry from the filth, dirty stumpwork and embroidered encrusted hangings,smelly darkness that was closer to the truth. I would have expected this drama from A&E or Lifetime (where the junky women stuff resides) but not PBS. Where is the world coming to?

The Real Museums in Los Angeles

I learned a big truth about ten years ago that has been a continual surprise to me as I get older and scoot around to different places. Simply put, the truth is to look for and engage in what is "vernacular" in the area you visit, live or pass through. Look for the local cuisine, the local industries, those things that the locals take for granted and that are the essence of what is different and special about the area. When we lived in New York City, it was great working in the design world related to the fashion and beauty industy, something that is intrinstic to NYC (as much as working in the financial, publishing and entertainment businesses). It was pure New York--with the business being the magnet for very talented, eccentric and the most Manhattanite of all the Manhattanites. When we visit Pittsburgh, we delight in the Pirates with their dancing pirogies while we down Iron City Beer and devour these baroque sandwiches made by Primanti Brothers, a place that used to open around midnight and close around noon.There is a great website that celebrates Pittsburgh, the sports and the attitude that pervades the Burg. When we lived in Philadelphia, we partook of pretzels, cheesesteaks and Mummers-- along with taking in as much American History, old buildings and the world that surrounds that.

So, now with this long lead in-- I get to the point. One of the most exciting and least expected charge from our visit to LA was visiting the various beaches accompanied by these lovely plazas that point at the beach--chock a block with skate and surf shops. Wow! To go deep into the look and feel of the surf/skate community is unique to LA (and probably south and west to Hawaii)--and it's an aesthetic that in natural in context, but at Nordstroms in NJ or stutting down Broadway in NYC doesnt make sense at all. The palette is neutral/earth tones with screenprinting on everything often tone on tone with cool calligraphically inspired graphics replete with the skull thing, crosses, and images that are old engravings etc. Secondary inspiration from Mexican imagery (Day of the Dead),Black letter/"old english" typography, heraldic references,tattoo imagery.Lots of weathering both in the graphics and illustration but also fraying edges, inside out tees etc. Tattoos make sense within the context of this decorated world--where the sun shines 365 days a year and folks dress for that. Plus, the surfers go to where the waves are great--so there is a transience in the look and feel that is built into the graphics and general presentation. After this surf and skate immursion, it was great to people watch and see how it all plays out--the lovely girls with long skateboards tucked under their arms on the way to the sidewalks along Venice Beach, the boys with the entire skate rig complete with the funny, dun colored knit caps with brims (sideways)shuffling alongside-- And the complete sporty surf brothers--shedding this street ware for layers of high tech neoprene from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet and everything in between--leaning on each other to snap this black skin tight over themselves. The easing and squeezing of oneself into the winter rig takes almost as much time as the actual surfing.

This aesthetic makes sense in LA--and to that, so much of the art artwork that is seen in Juxatoz is surf/skate derivative or better, flows from commercial to gallery and back again. Shephard Fairey's work is for one. More later.

Some sites to check out:
Roxy>>
Quicksilver
Aqua VI
Hurley
Billabong
O'Neill

Introducing the Academy's Reading and Supplies List

Hi. I am linking to a page of recommended books, art and computer supplies that I use and reference. I will be updating as my likes/dislikes change and grow. I will be keeping a link on the left>> but today will link here>>>>>> too. Check it out. There might be something there to interest you.

Finalizing.


I am going to let this one sit and simmer to tweak later. More on the desk to get going. Its in the high 50s today. The cherry trees are in bloom and the willows are confused. Huge water flow off the hills towards Montour Falls. And the fabulous Montour Falls were booming with water and spray. Where is our winter? I dont think its all global warming...but maybe its a little poke in the side to all of us to consider that.

more later.

IF: BUZZED about 2007


Just back from the world of skaters and surfers and was made breathless by all the good stuff that is happening in that world. Tons of skulls and the like inspired by tattoo art and by the Mexican art surrounding the Day of the Dead. So, I have been madly whipping out little expressions of the New Year to commemorate these discoveries. Happy New Year to all my IF pals! 52 new weeks of Illustration Friday to look forward to!

Cheers!

Map of Culver City Art District


Click the image for a better view>>

For you. As you can see, plenty in a little place. Worth the visit...and of course the Jurassic is around there too!