Cranes is a slight experimentation into various patterns and textures with a single medium–pen–in a detailed tribal style. View Larger.
I finally got around to creating a Myspace page for Shaire Productions here. With all tasks, there’s always room for improvement, but it’s a start. =0)
If you happen to hit the malls this season, you can’t miss the stylings of the now-infamous tattooist Don Ed Hardy and fashion designer Christian Audigier (formerly of Von Dutch and Affliction Clothing). I admire their artistic talents and marketing genius. Tattoo artwork has become part of mainstream culture in recent years and the partnership of Ed and Christian has elevated the style to star status. The products range from clothing to shoes, perfume, bags, jewelry, and other accessories.
One of the most impressive displays of Ed Hardy’s talent was at the San Francisco Yerba Buena Center in 2002–a 500 foot long dragon scroll painting–it was beautiful seeing it in person as it became a sensory experience, wrapping around itself like a dragon’s body.
As today is New Year’s Eve, I’ve adapted the Angel Mandala artwork into a Calender format. Hopefully, it would be utilized. You could view and download the image (for personal use) here. Have a safe and happy New Years!
I’ve been trying to combine realistic elements with decorative pieces. Although I love black and white imagery, subtle coloration could bring out the content a bit more. Angel Mandala was influenced by the styles of Art & Crafts and Art Nouveau. View Larger.
The Rape of Europa documentary (from Menemsha Films) is based on the book of the same name by Lynn H. Nicholas. It’s a emotional look at the plundering of art in World War II by mass murderer and rejected artist, Hitler (as explored in the film, Max) and the Nazis, the social effects of the loss, art’s place in culture, and the Monument Men (who protected cultural treasures during the war).
From the film, it was reported that millions (!) of artworks were stolen from historical sites, museums, and countless victims of the Nazis. Some of the classical pieces were from Da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo. Others included the (Hitler dubbed “Degenerate Artists”) works of Van Gogh and Picasso. Backed by old news reel footage, The Rape of Europa is a compelling story–not just from an art perspective, but a cultural one. Religious artifacts (Torahs, bells, etc.) and the classic art treasures were housed in underground Nazi caves for the intention of being sent to Hitler’s (unbuilt) museum of art. Translating the millions of lives severed from the Holocaust into material objects is an astounding one. The film also touched on the stories of soldiers and their conflicts of saving lives vs. preserving historic monuments. Interviews from residents, victims, and historians recall the role of art for them–it was a source of history, memory, culture, and ultimately, identity.
Bucky Paper,, or carbon nanofiber (an achievement of nanotechnology), has been in the works for a few years now. It’s suppose to have the dexterity of regular paper, could be cut with scissors, yet be as strong as steel. Sounds like the Superman of papers, eh? I wonder though–if and when it hits the commercial market–how affordable would it be and would the general public have access to it? The speculation for uses is pretty impressive:
biological applications, replacement of metals for usage in planes, tv’s, and more. Instead of “going green”, we could “go bucky”. (Cheesy, I know) This power paper could perhaps lessen the need for certain natural resources–metal and wood–but of course, I’m no scientist, so hopefully, it’s environmentally sound.
As an artist/designer on the constant lookout for new materials, bucky paper sounds very promising. Besides the noble uses for it, this could open new doors for printing technology–if it is in fact printable. Fast-forward to a world with affordable bucky paper. . . Given that we live in a user-generated society–we could perhaps place personalized artwork on household furnishings–countertops, refrigerators–or even cars and bikes. Perhaps textbooks for schools? Or simply having archival gallery materials.
This dragon was originally created in pen/ink and vectorized on the computer. I’ll eventually create another design with this circular shape for a tee design, but for now, enjoy it digitally. =0)
For a larger view, click here.
This artwork was created while in a Halloween mindset. The concept was to replace a human backbone with a snake and a ribcage as wing elements. It veered away from that a bit, so I may revisit the theme a bit more later. The influences for this piece were artwork from Giger (bio-mechanical elements), mysticism, tattoo art, and alchemy (symbols in the background). Traditionally drawn with pen/ink, then scanned, and digitally colored. Larger image here.
As with all my projects, I do loads of research beforehand–trying to get into the core of the product, theme, or event. I notice that Voodoo (or Vudon/ Vodoun) is something that scares a lot of people in the Western world because of what has been portrayed in horror movies and the media (as with Wiccan beliefs). Researching it made me understand that it’s a valid religion not particularly associated with darkness, but with all things, there are a few bad apples along the way. More info here. It’s a cliche, but knowledge is power–to understand differences and realize similarities. As an artist, I find that researching unfamiliar topics broadens my creative vision and style.
In the voodoo research, chickens are used in religious ceremonies. The black chicken is used to absorb evil spirits, while the white chicken is used to cleanse the spirit. Influenced by this, I did a little creative licensing. In my artwork, the body of the chicken houses spirits, while it’s plucking away at savory little eyeballs. The drawing was first created in pencil, then cleaned up, and digitally colored and texturized. View Larger Image.
Designed this while I was on the cruise to Mexico: View Here. Precursor to my Halloween e-card.
