Poster

For an old friend who was the lead bassist for the Cincinnati Symphony, now in San Diego after a few years in San Francisco.

Middle Sea Blog

Hey, guys. I've been out of circulation for a bit. My internet's down. I'm going to post more, starting with a project I'm doing when I have some down time. I'll post my new map, soon, too. TAG's got me working on another project for their Hellfrost setting.

Here's the link to my blog: www.middleseachronicles.blogspot.com (I can't remember how to hot link things, so unless Christina fixes this, please copy and past the link)

The purpose of this blog is to explore lots of ideas and materials and just have fun. It's a place for me to feel no pressure about art and let loose when I need to.

Enjoy, guys! See you at lunch, soon!

J.

And one image from the blog, just so there's some art up in this post :P)

Logo & Illustrations

I don't believe I shared this logo design with my Cincinnati people. I created this for an online directory of bars, clubs, and events. Click on the image to see it full size.

I'm getting more aware of my audience. Before posting this piece, I lengthened the lady's skirt.

Illustrators Lunches the next two weeks

Next Wednesday lunch on the 28th is at Chi-nnati's in Kenwood and on the 5th of October it is at LeBoxx downtown.

I am on vacation so feel free to post any announcements you have or hear on the blog! Of course, do that even when I am not on vacation too!

Loren Long: Otis In Tattoo Form

From the Shelf Awareness site... Otis in Ink!

Got this great link today of this event  at Books & Books in Bal Harbour, Fla.(Thanks Will!). Click to see more pictures and the story.

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ar/theshelf/2011-09-19/otis_gets_special_ink_love_at_books_books.html

Hey everyone!
Here are a couple caricatures I just finished for some friends.
I'll be in town next week, but wont be there on Wednesday..

I'm curious if we can move the lunch to Thursday and I'll be there..

Hopefully I'll see you next week!

Gabe

Will Hillenbrand: Book Signing of Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze

Will Hillenbrand will be signing Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze Saturday the 17th at 1:00 pm at BLUE MARBLE in Ft. Thomas, KY.

Location: 1356 South Fort Thomas Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky 41075 , Phone: 859-781-0602   FAX: 859-781-0728

Email: bluemarble@fuse.net

Road Trip: Fantastic Art Workshop with Donato Giancola in Kenosha and Carol Schwartz has a Show In Milwaukee!

Carol Schwartz (Hi Carol!) sent me this link:

ROAD TRIP!

Fantastic Art Workshop with Donato Giancola

Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 14, 2011
9 am to 8 pm (there will be breaks for lunch and dinner.)
Class #0620631401 – Open to adults as well as advanced teen artists (17+)
$215 ($190 FOM) Fee does not include supplies or meals. A supply list will be available.

It is in Kenosha (about 6-7 hours away, but it is a bargain (and an excuse to visit Carol up in Milwaukee).

There is also a free art exhibit showcasing:  Steven Anderson, Volkan Baga, Edward Binkley, Aaron Boyd, Linda Dockey Graves, Jeff Easley, Bob Eggleton, Marc Fishman, Donato Giancola, Scott Gustafson, Christina Hess, Tim Holter Bruckner, Ingrid Kallick, Kristin Kest, Thomas Kuebler, Don Maitz, Jeff Menges, Aaron Miller, Jeff Miracola, Jim Nelson, John Jude Palencar, Steve Rude, Dave Seeley, Lothar Speer, John Stanko, Matthew Stewart, Vincent Villafranca, Janny Wurtz

More details: http://www.kenosha.org/museum/documents/KPMFantasticExWS.pdf

UPDATE: Carol did not mention that she is in a show in Milwaukee opening today! So if you go to the Fantastic Art Show, stop and visit her show as well!

http://www.wlc.edu/gallery/

Cincinnati Comic Expo

Reminder that the Cincinnati Comic Expo is this Saturday at Duke Energy Center from 10-5:30.

Here are some of the local illustrators that will be there at tables:

David Michael Beck

Craig Boldman

David Mack

Tim Fuller

Woodrow J. Hinton III

Mike Maydak

Joe Slucher

 If I forgot anyone, let me know...

Loren Long: Book Signing of Otis and the Tornado

Loren Long will be signing Otis and the Tornado Saturday the 17th at 10:30am at Blue Manatee in Oakley.

Location: 3054 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Hope to see you there! 

Good news everyone! Loren just found out that Otis is on the NYT bestseller list!

Movie Poster

My most recent illustration job was a lot of fun to do. "One Day Summer" is a short film being released this month by Piñata Productions. The writer/director, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, liked my poster for the film "Intangible" but wanted something rougher, younger, and filled with punk rock energy.


The key to the scribbly look of the drawing was to not ink my drawing. The black lines are scans from the original pencils. 


The fun came from the client. We met at a restaurant; she talked and I sketched, and we pushed the sketches back and forth across the table until we agreed on a composition and attitude. She trusted me to do the job, and boom - we were both happy with the results. Ideal.

Maurice Mattei: Drawing Classes

Classes Start Monday, Sept 12th

From Maurice: I teach a drawing class at the Baker Hunt Art Center in lovely Covington, Ky. Today and Monday are the last days to register for my class. The class starts this Monday and continues every following Monday for 12 weeks. Class hours are 1-3pm. If interested, contact Teresa or Rosemary at 859-431-0020 or register on-line at www.bakerhunt.com.

http://www.mmattei.com/urbandwellers.htm

As Promised, Some Sketches for the Poster and Event Photos

Here we all are with out posters. We look like the Justice League of illustrators!

Ryan Answers a Question

Great night tonight at Joseph Beth! It was great to see so many illustrators in the audience and on the panel.

I brought my mock up of the Cincinnati skyline I illustrated. I hope to have a working one by the show... Any paper engineers out there?

The Discussion Begins

An Earlier Concept

First thoughts on the design. Yes, there is a dragon...

Ursula Roma: Sculpture Exhibition

The flyer says it all!

Maurice Mattei: Playing Acoustic at The Comet

Maurice says: I will be on between 9:30 and 10:00. I'll be doing an acoustic set. I believe the kids call it "unplugged"

The Comet Saturday, September 10th

Big Red Machine Poster

The original drawing was for a Reds Yearbook cover in 1976. The Sports Gallery store wanted an illustration for a poster to sell as they are bringing in all the starting eight players a couple at a time, starting with Dave Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo in two weeks. We decided to take the art from the yearbook and add the four missing players. Hello photoshop!

The original art is long gone (that's another story), so I scanned a printed cover at 1200 dpi and 16 x 20 inches which will be the poster size. You could see the original screens on the computer but not on a test print at full size. Whew! Fortunately, there were places I could add the four missing guys. So I hand painted, scanned and put them on. A little retouching and there we were.

Here's the original cover and the poster.

Books by the Banks Poster Unveiling

Thursday, September 8

7:00pm - 8:30pm Joseph Beth Booksellers

Celebrate the kick-off of the 2011 Books By the Banks, Cincinnati USA’s Book Festival with a panel discussion and a rare poster signing opportunity with acclaimed illustrators, including this year’s artist, Christina Wald. Also on hand will be Will Hillenbrand, C.F. Payne, Ryan Ostrander, and John Maggard discussing their work and the illustrations they created exclusively for the annual Books By the Banks posters. Since the book festival's inauguration in 2007, the posters – now considered unique collectors' items – have captured the essence of what Books by the Banks means to the community.

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239317536113388

Hope to see you there!

Sometime later this week I will post some sketches (including the unused concept) .

In the meantime, article in the Cincinnati Enquirer by Lauren Bishop:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110904/ENT07/109040338/Illustrator-s-poster-celebrates-books

Link for Coupon if you buy something the day of the event:
http://www.josephbeth.com/events/BBTB-11.pdf

My First Thumbnail of the Idea