Art and Illustration

Monday, March 7, 2011

Fifty and Fifty

Here's a big project featuring a bunch of very talented individuals, that has been getting alot of hype in the design/illustration circuit. The website says:

50 AND 50 IS A COLLECTIVE, CURATED PROJECT WHERE FIFTY DESIGNERS ARE INVITED TO REPRESENT THEIR STATE BY ILLUSTRATING ITS MOTTO. Fifty and Fifty was created by Dan Cassaro, who is also a talented designer.

Below are some of my favorites from the bunch.

Jess Hische did the one for PA (which is currently my computer background).

Kansas was done by Luke Bott.

And Connecticut by one of my favorite illustrators Meg Hunt.

I like how all the designers incorporated the same simple color palette, which is a nice alternative to using the traditional red, white, and blue. It was nice to see how the different artists utilized hand done type and imagery to represent the mottos. Nice work!

Call for Entries: American Illustration 30

Below is last year's cover featuring art by Sam Weber.

I haven't entered work in one of these since I graduated but I think this year is the year.

The deadline for submitting work to American Illustration has been extended until this Wednesday March 9th. Here's a little blurb about it from the website:

American Illustration and American Photography the award winning, large-format, beautifully designed and printed hardcover annuals offer high visibility and recognition where it matters most. Both are the exclusive source for assignment and commissioned work by many top art directors, designers, photo editors and art buyers.

When you enter the AI-AP Call For Entries, your work is seen by a jury made up exclusively of top creative professionals who assign and utilize photography and illustration, including art directors, designers, photo editors, art buyers, gallerists, editors and publishers. Those who can hire you, regardless of whether or not your work is selected, will see your work.Selected images appear in the hardcover books, one-image-per-page with an index that includes all creative credits and contact information. Books are distributed worldwide through retail outlets and through direct mail order.

Tonight!

My friend Brad Haubrich is having a show called Melt. Down. (click link for info) which will actually be in the store front window of our friends house on 9th street in South Philadelphia. Here's some of his work from his site that I really dig:

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Illustrated Maps.

My new personal project right now is making an illustrated map of Yellowstone National Park. I had the pleasure of having visited there last summer during my westward road trip. I know it's cheesy but seeing the forests and mountains there have left a lasting impression on my mind, and I would like to transfer this into a piece of work. Here are some cool reference pictures I've found that are becoming my inspiration.

I plan to combine some traditional map layouts, with some hand lettering, and little spot illustrations of the different attractions and animals. If you've never really checked out Yellowstone, Ken Burns has a great series on pbs called "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," that features yellowstone and many other beautiful sites in the US.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Portrait.

So i've been trying to paint figures more and i knew for a long time that I wanted to capture my beautiful roommate caitlin with my brush, and after much time and effort, this is my final! She is a person with a complex yet refined personality, which I was trying to express with the border around her. She is also a children's book artist (caitlinwelsh.com) so I associated these animals, the barn owl and the fox, with her because she is great at painting them.