EYAO IV

Hey folks! Wanted to share with you the piece, "Peter", I have in at Eat Your Art Out IV “The Dark & Cryptic Origins of Nursery Rhymes” currently showing at Meltdown Comics out in L.A. If you're by some chance in the area, please go check the show out. There's some really amazing work on display there and it's all for sale, so if you dig on something, buy that shizz!


Much thanks and love to my homegirl, Jane Dope who got me a spot in the show.

: Justin

2/13/11 - Woodland Art Fair Application

FYI Lexington and area artists! The summer arts event in Lexington! A Lexington tradition that has an improved layout the last several yeas, thanks to Joe Artz!

AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park
Entry Deadline: March 31, 2011

LAL is now accepting artist applications via ZAPPlication for 2011's AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park.

Using ZAPPlication, artists are able to submit images of artwork and booths as well as applicant information 24 hours a day. There are more than 10 categories for entries, including 2-D and 3-D mixed media, ceramics, glass, fiber/leather, drawing/pastels, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, and wood.

The deadline to apply is March 31, at 9 a.m., and the application fee is $25. Artwork will be evaluated on the criteria of technique, craftsmanship, design, originality and presentation by jurors Stacey R. Chinn and Jennifer A. Reis. Acceptances will be announced through ZAPPlication in early May.

http://www.icontact-archive.com/cBWhbqpdMOdjp69viPKyyzOf6J6T8CQY?w=1

2/13/11 - Great Poster by Cricket Press's Sara and Brian Turner

If you want to get your event noticed in Lexington there is one sure fire way to success - get the poster design and screen printing talent of Cricket Press behind your cause! The Kentuckians for the Commonwealth group realized this when they wanted to get the word out about there Lexington Loves the Mountains events - Culminating with tomorrow's rally at the capitol.

2/7/11 - Editorial - What is the life and work of an artist worth?

Editorial:

Originally the illumnai were
to be made as a screen.

What is the worth of an artist? And who decides? Can an artist achieve full recognition of his or her contribution and value to society during their lifetime? Does society in general, even care, about artists, their work, their lives or their dreams? Recent trends in society tend to say no, that they don't care. For instance the file sharing phenomena of the last decade - at first it seemed like a a backlash against the perceived greed of the recording industry. Now it seems that people just like to get what they like for free regardless of the harm this inflicts to the creators of said desired items.

Bronze illumine.

Let's move this line of thought along to examine the "hometown" perception of the work and life of a particular fine artist.

What would you think of a NYC raised star art student who attended a top private east coast college, graduating with flourish and having a great many opportunities open to him who chose, of all places, to come and work in Lexington at the University of Kentucky Art Department? Furthermore he not only starts his career here but he stays on year after year, raising a family of two sons with a wife who patiently and regularly asks "...when are we going to go home - where you will be acknowledged and appreciated?" This artist does not go home but instead immerses completely and with no regrets into the day after day process of transforming himself into the artist of his dreams but also, amazingly shares this mission and passion with each student who passes through his tutelage, bringing or starting many of them along on the journey as well.
Do you even believe that this is a true story?

If you watch PBS much you have probably seen the series where a team of traveling experts travel around the country to town hall type meetings to discern not politics but the value of  individuals either acquired or inherited antiques and collectibles. I think the series is Travelling Road Show or something like that. In many cases participants in the process much to our (the viewers, and the TV  show subjects) delight it is often discovered that an item in question is really quite valuable, quite rare and definitely worth preserving. I suppose that something equivalent to the Road Show treatment needs to happen for the cultural community of Lexington - for we collectively possess items that we clearly don't know the significance of!

Let's not be poor caretakers and guardians of this legacy of untold value and benefit ...act now.

Friends of Tuska Meeting
6:30 PM,Wednesday 2/9/11
147 Old Park Avenue 40502
(Corner of Park and Central)

Come out and be prepared to be amazed by the artistic and intellectual endowment to our community from an artist who lived, worked and taught his entire professional career right here in LEXINGTON! Doesn't that kind of commitment and love deserve better?


Learn more:

• Feb 1st 2011 Business Lexington article on Tuska House and current crisis by Ide Boudin
• Jan 21st 2011 - David Tabatsky comments on Tuska House in Facebook post

• David Tabatsky
 “It's been an honor to be brought into the Tuska world - one I see full of infinite possibilities as a learning center, a museum, a central point of community energy, and as a historic landmark of Kentucky art history. I've been deeply moved by Tuska's work - not only his absolute mastery as an artist of multiple media, but maybe even more by how he shows and teaches us the human condition. His work must live on. It would be a crime to...."

• Tuska Musuem on facebook  

John Tuska's motto - translated from Italian:
One life is not enough.

BIOGAMER GIRL #1

Hey folks! Justin here, and the first issue of 'BioGamer Girl' hits this week featuring cover art by yours truly. Visit the site up and order a copy! You'll dig it.

I'll post the cover here soon, so watch this space.

: J3000

2011 February 01 - Postmortem Report on Xombie Nation! CCG Meeting/Workshop

Thriller Stage Show Halloween 2010
photo by Jennifer Miller

Xombie Nation! was held last Sunday for the first time. We started out with an incredible dance routine by the mysterious Silent Hill zombie nurse. While still in shock and awe from the fantastic improvisational dance we moved on to nearly an hour of expressive and challenging poses by our model and muse. Here is a link to a flickr group set up expressly for sharing and commenting on CCG Themed Life Drawing (TLD) work: artwork and photos. This was our pilot run at having these sessions - I want feedback from our artists! Look for another CCG TLD session in February!

Billy talks about how he got started...

"Creepiest Artist in America" and famed Zombie artist Billy Tackett and his wife Heather closed out the January meeting with an hour-long talk about business strategies for freelance artists. Many gems of wisdom from Billy and Heather's "school of hard knocks" were eagerly taken in by the assembled audience of cartoonists, illustrators, teachers and students.

The couple shared excellent marketing and branding strategies and explained how to actually make money on the convention circuit! Keep your naming simple and logical - cool names will often just cloud your branding and folks won't know why your studio name doesn't match your website name! The concept of keeping a common style and appearance throughout your marketing materials was brought up several times. They even set up an abbreviated con table presenting some of their better selling  merchandise. Billy advised to used your art and design skills to make your booth/table reflect your art aesthetic and branding themes.

Examples of some of Billy's artwork
translated onto merchandise.

Thanks Billy and Heather! I hope you will come back and visit us again soon! Check out Billy's excellent website for his schedule of appearances and upcoming publishing project!

Justin Stewart was awarded the inaugural annual award for "the local cartoonist who contributed the most to the local artistic community."

The 2010 CCG Stewie Award is named after Justin and will be awarded annually at our Holiday Dinner. Justin was not available to attend that function this year so this announcement had to wait till now. Join me in congratulating and thanking Justin for all his work with Live Drawing Events and his assistance with this years UP! Fair! We are proud of you, guy! Nominations for the 2011 CCG Stewie will be accepted in November!

Fangirl Confessional: Episode 23 is here!!!!

The fine ladies at Fangirl Confessional let me sit in on their show and it was a blast! Hope you guys give it a listen and dig it.

Fangirl Confessional: Episode 23 is here!!!!: "Hey there wonderful peeps!  Just dropping by to let you know that the latest episode with special guest Justin Stewart is now ready for..."

2010/12/20 - Pencil Sketch - Live Art! Tron Legacy - Movie Tavern

Olivia Wilde from Tron Legacy - pencil sketch from movie still -
HB lead  in Staples 1.3mm mechanical pencil

Finally got over to one of Justin Stewart and Quarantine Comics Live Art events at Movie Tavern. The theme was Tron Legacy and I had been anxious to see this - being a video game player from when the first movie came out back in the '80s!

Thanks to Justin and Movie Tavern - had a great time and want to come back for more!

PS: If you want to attend one these contact Justin on his Facebook page - here is a link to the next happening Green Hornet Live Art! this Saturday 1/15/11 (link to FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117941404944537).

12/28/10 - The Year in Review - Political Cartoons

2010 - it's been quite a year! Let's see the one you like! (Cartoonists send me your toons as well to post here.) Blog members feel free to append to this post or readers can add comments with links to their images! 

I just saw this one (We work, They Profit) on an Iraqi Student Solidarity site and it has that classic power of old style political cartooning - with strong allegorical types represented. Let's just take a nice long look at the form - and not obsess about the message or the speaker, shall we?

If you buy that this is a dying art - think again!  You need to study history and look at some of the great examples of this important art form! As long as we have corruption, waste, ignorance, intolerance and greed we will have a place for these brave critics who hold up a mirror to our lifestyle and politics.

12/14/10 - December CCG Meeting and Holiday Dinner

We will have an early and abbreviated CCG meeting this Sunday 12/19/10  at the Beaumont Branch Library (3080 Fieldstone Way Lexington, KY 40513 ) before we meet for the first DW&WP Cartooning Class. See agenda below.

We could also plan on a little CCG/DW&WP holiday meal afterwards? Sahara, Applebees, Masala, Fulin asian fusion, Pucini's, a Japanese grill and good Mexican place, are all nearby to the library. Let me know who might be interested and your preference(s) as with a large group it might help to have reservations.

Sunday 12/19/10 Agenda

1-1:45p CCG Meeting - Beaumont Branch Library Small Conference Room

1:45-2p Break

2-4:50p DW&WP Chapter One - Beaumont Branch Library Small Conference Room

5:30 or 6p Holiday dinner get together for all - please RSVP

For those we won't see this Sunday have a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to a great year for the CCG in 2011!

12/10/10 - Conan OBrien Visits New Corporate Brethren at DC Comics

With media mergers and conglomerates you get some strange pairings and some fun bedfellows. This one seems to be the latter. This video documents Conan's visit to WB Animation which animates DC Comics characters. Animation afficiandos look for Peter Girardi and Bruce Timm (now that's a name we all know and love!).

FANTAGRAPHICS Wants Your Art

The amazing indie publisher, Fantagraphics, wants art to hang in their new warehouse. Send some stuff if you'd like.

-Justin

11/29/10 - Drawing Words & Writing Pictures cartooning class now forming!

OK, The CCG is (bravely? foollishly?) going to try and fill the void for adult comic art education in Lexington with the first area DW&WP Class! Are you ready to start? Is it time to develop/hone your cartooning skill? Did this month's incredible UP! Fair fill you with inspiration and determination to make the leap and create your own comics masterpiece? Then this is for YOU!

If you are interested in attending/participating in a local meet up to work through the Drawing Words & Writing Pictures curriculum ( a 15-week college level course) please email the CCG Coordinator at (lexkyccg "at" gmail "dot" com.) Please email if you have questions..

This class is open to all and no previous drawing or writing experience is necessary. There will be no tuition but you will be expected to purchase the text and needed supplies (please inquire for a discounted text and basic supplies). Aspiring/developing/emerging cartoonists/comic creators are encouraged to attend. Act now! Once we have our minimum, classes will commence and entry will close.

See our new PAGE - a new feature on the blog! Just click on the tab to see the DW&WP Cartooning Class page.

Up! Fair Volunteers Needed

Hey folks! Would anyone like to volunteer for the upcoming Up! Fair (recently reported on in the Chevy Chaser)? If you'd like to learn more, you can go here to contact someone about volunteering.

They are looking for help on Saturday November 20th at the Carnegie Center in downtown Lexington. It would only be in four-hour shifts and the responsibilities would include:
- Assist with providing bottled water to all tabling guests during the day
- Watch tables for artists while they lead workshops
- Check in with teaching artists before workshops to ensure that they
have all of the teaching materials they need
- Help attendees find the workshops they are interested in

If you can, please do. It'd be a great way to meet and have some time to talk with the creators and I guarantee you'll have a good time.

Thanks!

10/16/10 - Kentucky featured in Underground Comic and Trade Paperback

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is not to often depicted in comics and if so it is only in passing or referenced with none too flattering associations. Having traveled and lived from one end of the US to the other has taught me that there are rednecks and cowboys all over (and hopefully not to pre-judge people or places). So I was happy to see Kentucky portrayed with a broader lens in a recent comic series, now available as a trade paperback: "Underground" written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Steve Lieber. Centered around two Kentucky State park rangers and the fictional Stillwater Cave this enthralling adventure story has several exciting sections that really capture the thrills and dangers inherent to cave exploration. It was also fun to find the local references that the authors embedded into the storyline through some obvious research or knowledge of the region.

I had met Steve back in 2000 at Orlando Florida's MegaCon. His then current work on DC's Hawkman and the independently produced Whiteout (recently released as a major motion picture) caught my attention and admiration.

A recent Facebook prompt lead me to visit Steve's profile - this all cascaded into renewing contact and getting caught up on Underground, his website (old and new cartoonists will want to check out the great Advice section) and another of his projects: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating A Graphic Novel" - co-written with Nat Gertler.

This easy to read book covers areas that many other good texts on creating comics just don't address, namely: a simple but effective process for writing plots/scripts and tips on how to ensure good results as the artist visualizes the written script. This bridging of written word and drawn images really doesn't get explained adequately or often enough in most "how to" books - they tend to be focus on either the writers perspective or that of the artist.
To clarify this point I have excerpted from wikipedia's entry for "comics" in the section defining comics. Read below Will Eisner's (the man responsible for popularizing the terms "sequential art" and "graphic novel") informed opinion -  (also check out the variants by others: McCloud and Harvey):

In 1996, Will Eisner published Graphic Storytelling, in which he defined comics as "the printed arrangement of art and balloons in sequence, particularly in comic books."^[42] Eisner's earlier, more influential definition from Comics and Sequential Art (1985) described the technique and structure of comics as sequential art, "the arrangement of pictures or images and words to narrate a story or dramatize an idea."^[43]

This blending of word and picture - and this includes the unseen words from the writer that inspire the images created by the artist - is what makes comics unique! Nat and Steve really hit the target and fill this void of information - kudos to them for this service to all who want to learn the deceptively complex set of skills necessary for effective sequential narrative/cartooning.

10/08/10 - Artists Presenting at the World Equestrian Games

A big part of the World Equestrian Games are all the exhibitors set up there on the grounds of the horse park. A number of these are involved in equine art and I came across two that caught my eye.

Debbie Sampson describes herself as a Sports Artist, and her website will certainly attest to that. I met her the first week of the WEG while she was painting at a booth near the Equine Village.

She has as a special fondness for equine sports and was working on a close up of a horse in oils with a pallet knife as we talked. She also works with many professional sports franchises which can be somewhat involved because of licensing issues.

The work that I saw that day was colorful, visceral and a bit abstract - it was, for me, very reminiscent of LeRoy Neiman. After vising her website I saw a versatility in her rendering  (as this striking dressage study demonstrates). She resides in Florida but will often travel to Kentucky for our numerous racing and equine events. I look forward to her next visit and hope that we can chat more then.

A nearby booth promoting a horse registry was hosting a drawing to have your horse immortalized in an oil painting portrait. There was a sample image (shown at right) that was quite striking, which drew me in to learn more - I later discovered the artist was none other than Richard Hescox.

This name sounded very familiar and after talking with the gentlemen from the registry I realized this was a well known science fiction cover artist. I believe he even did a cover or two for Marvel Comics - for their magazine line: Savage Sword of Conan or maybe Kull, The Conqueror. He also has a fine art website where he promotes his equine and portrait art. I was disappointed when I realized Richard was not actually in attendance there at the WEG since I was hoping to meet him in person  - but it was a fun connection to make.

Although I did not visit or see the American Academy of Equine Art during my two recent visits I would be remiss not to mention them and their full time presence at the Kentucky Horse Park while discussing equine art.  I hope learn more about this organization and it's members in the near future.  This non-profit group describes themselves (from their website):

The American Academy of Equine Art, Inc. was established in 1980 by a group of ten distinguished artists, individually famed for their work on equine subjects. Their aim was to maintain a degree of excellence within the genre, and to promote the academic representation of the equine form in drawing, painting and sculpture. Loosely based on the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the AAEA serves to educate and encourage a broad awareness and appreciation of contemporary equine art as a specific and distinctively worthy segment of fine art in America.

10/07/10 - World Equestrian Games and Spotlight on Lexington

We here in Lexington have been hearing about the World Equestrian Games or WEG for years now and I think many of us were tired of what seemed like a lot of hype before it even started! Well, as one those initial negative nellies I have to confess that I am now a convert and have been very impressed with Spotlight on Lexington (a 16-day festival of cultural performances, mostly musical in downtown Lexington) and the actual games themselves! Spotlight on Lexington performances are all free and open to the public! This is a great gift to the people of Lexington and I hope many in the area are recognizing the opportunity and taking in as many of these acts as possible. Thank you to the many sponsors who financed these fine performances!

I have attended the WEG twice now, both times with only a general admission pass ($25 at the gate). Even without attending the events I was very enthralled with what was available: specifically the numerous demonstrations at the Equine Village. If you are at all interested in the horse these presentations will be quite entertaining and uplifting. It is a joy to watch and be with people who are clearly doing something they love. Speaking of which, both of these ongoing (until Sunday 10/10/10) events are great opportunities for artists to draw, sketch and learn. Here you will be able to draw a wide spectrum of people and the many breeds and qualities of our equine friends. Two animals have made an immense impact on the development of human civilization: the dog and the horse. I find it quite touching that these noble animals seek our companionship, acceptance and dare I say, love.

The Kentucky Horse Park may very well be the premiere equine facility in all the world, something we Kentuckians can all have a little pride in. Don't be put off by fears of crowds or long lines - neither of these were an issue on the days I went (which were Tuesdays - the final weekend may be different).Take the LexTran shuttle and avoid the $20 parking fee at the park or ride share with a group of friends and split the cost. Just make sure and visit our state park during this once in a lifetime event! I would attend everyday if work and my fall allergies would allow!

Share your art! I encourage all my fellow artists to post a comment or send a link to online galleries of their sketches and drawings of the WEG or Spotlight events.

10/05/10 - Post 24-Hour Comics Day event

Congratulation to all who participated in 2010 24-Hour Comics Day event here in Lexington and across the nation!

Brett Hatfield,  a first-time visitor to our August CCG meeting and a frequent cartoon contributor to The Kentucky Kernel has a great facebook gallery post about his local 24HCD experience at Collectibles, Etc.

See his photos at : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1196490001

Brett, send a link when you post your comic! Jenny and Mike too!

Email or post a comment if anyone else out there has anything to share from this year's event!

PS: While researching the founder of  the 24-Hour Comics Dare, Scott McCloud, I found this interesting recent (2008) work of his. It is a 38-page online comic explaining the virtues of Google's Chrome browser. See a master at work, using the medium expertly to explain highly technical material in a clear and illuminating way.

10/01/10 - 2010 Lexington 24-Hour Comics Day event tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Saturday October 2nd,  is our 2nd time organizing a full blown 24-Hour Comics Day event here in Lexington! The kind folks at Collectibles, Etc. have stepped up to host the event for a second year as well! If you are interested in participating there are some spots left - but don't wait space is limited!

Sign up TODAY online here: 2010 Lexington 24-Hour Comic Day Participation Survey

If you are curious or just want to see the process:  the store opens at 11am on Saturday. There will be special sales and other fun stuff happening while the cartoonists are hard at work. Come out to cheer these folks on and save on your comics at the same time!

Challenge starts:
11 AM Saturday 10/02/10.
Challenge ends:
11 AM Sunday 10/03/10

Location:
Collectibles, Etc.
115 North Locust Hill Drive
Suite # 106
Lexington, KY 40509-1517
(859) 269-6633

09/30/10 - Fashion Illustration: Jennifer Lilya Video

Illustration and specifically Fashion Illustration does not get enough attention here. I was recently made aware of a very talented fashion illustrator (through a Facebook friend Gerry Acerno) by the name of Jennifer Lilya. She works with traditional media to create her striking and fun images.

I was interested in learning more about her working method (she works on 90# stonehenge with acrylic washes and sumi ink) and and found these videos by PinkyShears, an online magazine for the professionals in the fashion industry. Check out the embedded videos below:


Intro: Interview with Jennifer Lilya, Fashion Illustrator from PinkyShears on Vimeo.


Interview with Fashion Illustrator Jennifer Lilya. [Full Length] from PinkyShears on Vimeo.