Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
July 26, 2007 2:24 AM

For an illustrator or designer, redesinging one's web portfolio can be one of the most gut-wrenching projects to work on, as you are often your own worst client to work for. I have probably dozens of photoshop files of various versions of 'new' designs for my website that never got built. Meanwhile, my site was growing some cobwebs, and my long-overdue overhaul was dead in the water.

So last fall, I made a deal with myself: You can keep the general design of the site in tact for the time being, but for god's sake, make the site dynamic -- SOMEHOW...and do it fast!

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
July 25, 200711:01 AM

i was long overdue for a new sketchbook, so last night i made this. ive been noticing and obsessing over clouds lately... my dad was a huge fan of them. he used to take rolls of film of them... so i guess this is a recent self-portrait in a way...

the bookcloth is from papersource. i really wish there were one of these in philly. the binding is a "4 needle coptic". I've only done that once before, but i think the result is pretty nice and simple. the inside paper juts out from underneath the covers. i'm not sure if i like it, but i wanted to try it. (i usually like it on other books.)

the other bottom 2 photos show the rest of my sketchbook making "ritual." i always create a notes/calendar section in the back and i always write the "d.o.b." in the front. bookmaking is so rewarding.

ps stay tuned for > new studio < information. here's a peak at the new space that my friend brian and i will be sharing. it's in this philadelphia landmark building. fun fun!!!

Posted by: jamie (116 posts)
July 24, 2007 8:12 AM

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
July 22, 2007 6:22 PM

Whoa. This was the first year I had the pleasure of attending the Village Voice Siren Music Festival. Yeah, that was my big bald held up there hob-nobbing with the rest of the VIP's...Invisibleman Paul Antonson of course was responsible for getting us on the guest list as he has created the amazing poster art for the show for the past seven years, though I'd say this year's was a standout.

This shot above is The Noisettes' amazing Shingai Shoniwa who electrified the crowd early on with a fun and rockin' set. MIA who I have been waiting a long time to check out in person was also a treat, and The Black Lips put on a cool performance, though they shoudn't have blown up Popcorn the chicken. I didn't get over to the other stage, and I missed the New York Dolls, but still a pretty incredible fun day. Thanks for the access PA!

My Siren pictures on flickr
Paul's Siren pictures on flickr

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
July 21, 200710:30 AM

I had a really fun time working up these Harry Potter illustrations for a The Wall Street Journal Online interactive. Click here to see the infographic, complete with floating scrolls (ala the Marauder Map) and animated owls. I haven't read the books but I really dig the films and was very enthused to illustrate within that universe. The entire time I worked on these the Harry Potter theme music was swirling through my head.

And really, I'd be remiss if I didn't address the best feline actor we have today and the true star of the entire Harry Potter series: Crookshanks the Cat. (As you can see from the illustration he is first in line to get his paws on 'The Deathly Hallows'). When I saw the new film 'Order of the Phoenix' and saw the work that Crookshanks had done, the type of cat actor he's become... well, I wept openly.

Posted by: eric (24 posts)
July 19, 200711:59 PM

This is a video of a hologram, which admittedly, is a little convoluted. The hologram and camera are still and the only thing moving is actually the light source. Yeah, I made it and I still have trouble wrapping my mind around it.

I had the chance to make only one image, so, I thought something as ephemeral as bubbles might be perfect. Now, I'll always have a three dimensional image of myself from this time in my life.

I made it at the Center for the Holographic Arts in Long Island City, Queens, through a continuing education course at The School of Visual Arts. The Holocenter is a non-profit arts center that has an amazing artist in residency program. It is one of only a few places in the world equipped with a pulse laser camera, which is a holographic laser fast enough and large enough to capture an image of a person. So, I consider myself very privileged.

The course seems to have been discontinued. Luckily, the Holocenter facilities are available for artists to create their own work and their equipment can be rented for a reasonable fee. Just email them for more information. Pictures (or videos) do not really do the images justice, you just have to see them in person to get the full effect.

You can go to the Holocenter to see some or Holographic Studios, which seems to be another place in NYC to check out and possibly make holograms. Although, I honestly don't know much about them.

Posted by: sara (25 posts)
July 18, 2007 9:00 AM

Today’s my dad’s birthday. Happy birthday, Pops!

Posted by: kerry (81 posts)
July 17, 200712:00 AM

Just after July 4th, Corrie and I spent three days kayaking and camping in Casco Bay, Maine. The trip was truly amazing. Organized through L. L. Bean, our small group of ten was led by two enthusiastic and experienced guides to the Goslings, two small islands, where we created a base camp. From there we explored the surrounding area, practiced our kayaking skills and got very, very wet while waiting out a storm. All our meals were prepared by our guides and all of it was top notch. We even had lobster! In fact I had two!!

A Flickr set our trip can be found here. Most of the images have captions and all have been placed on a map.

The sketchbook image above was begun on the trip but completed at home thanks to some gorgeous photographs taken by one our guides, Gregg Bolton.

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
July 16, 200712:00 AM

Last year, I worked on this illustration for a regional magazine which I was really happy with. Unfortunately, as often happens in the magazine world, the story got held and the art never ran.

I recently got the OK to use the art for my promo purposes since it was languishing in editorial limbo for so long, so I though I'd pub this step-by-step slideshow that I put together while working on the piece, but never posted.

My process has changed a bit since I did this piece (I now use a lightbox to transfer the sketch to real paper rather than vellum), but I still think it's a good peek into my process. I'll try to document some more of these in the future, as I loved reading Step-by-Step Graphics magazine, and I think the simple tutorial can by one of the great ways to learn.

You can see the full pictures here and see a nice large version of the art on my site here.

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
July 15, 2007 3:45 PM

A drawings that came out of the sketchbook and then was digitally reworked of various sculptures at MOMA and Rockefeller University, including 'The River' by Aristide Maillol and Herbert Ferber's 'Homage to Piranesi' among others. Click here or on the image to see a larger version.

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
July 14, 200710:45 PM

More sketching done on the New York subway - the ever fruitful place to draw people who are staring down or sleeping. Click here or on the image to see a larger version.

Posted by: jamie (116 posts)
July 12, 2007 9:24 AM

Posted by: kurt (67 posts)
July 11, 2007 9:30 AM

St. Giglio Festival in Williamsburg began last Sat. with the ceremonial procession of a seven-story high statue topped with St. Giglio himself. It's a stone's throw away from the Lorimer St. on the "L" train.

Posted by: eric (24 posts)
July 9, 200711:26 PM

"While waiting on the platform for your subway train, quietly stand right behind an unsuspecting pigeon. As the train pulls into the station, give the bird a good heave-ho onto the tracks."

This is a collage/drawing I did for the book, Canceled Flight: 101 Tried and True Pigeon Killin' Methods. Don't worry, it was a vehicle for artists, not really a manual for the destruction of flying rats.

Although, people didn't always get the joke. The author received hate mail from protestors who hadn't even seen the book. And, one Barnes and Noble fanned the flames by accidently putting it in the kids' section. Oops.

I felt honored just to be published in the company of some of my favorite artists, including kozyndan and Ryan McGinness. But then, the original artwork from the book was exhibited in a travelling gallery show.

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
12:08 AM

Drawings in the sketchbook made over a few days riding various subway lines.

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
July 8, 2007 7:02 PM

My moon globe on a wooden pedestal and yet another back-of-the-head drawing.

Posted by: sara (25 posts)
July 6, 2007 9:00 AM

While procrastinating on a drawing project, I sewed this basket for my new bicycle, Wilbur. Hurray for slacking!

Posted by: kerry (81 posts)
July 5, 200712:00 AM

A two hour oil study on a tan ground with a burnt sienna imprimatura and limited palette consisting of burnt sienna, cold (blue) black, and lead white. This study is 8"x10" and was painted on February 7th, 2001 during Patrick Connor's portraiture class at the New York Academy of Art.

Posted by: pa (190 posts)
July 4, 2007 5:53 PM

Drawn in the sketchbook while there was still light.

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
12:00 PM

Well, it is the 4th of July, and one of my favorite things about America is the National Park Service. Utah has an unfair amount of natural physical beauty, and Canyonlands National Park spills over with majestic scenery at every turn.

I did this tiny thumbnail landscape in the Needles District of the park on a spectacular day last October. If you haven't taken advantage of the U.S. National Park system, you should, for it truly is one of the greatest gifts the government has given its people.

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
July 3, 2007 2:27 AM

Here are a few doodles from my current s-l-o-w-l-y progressing sketchbook. I worked up the values in photoshop...

I find that drawing in low light can really help make for a more interesting drawing. Often if I'm drawing while watching TV, the lights in the room are pretty dim, and it keeps the sketching loose and very fast. It can be a nice exercise to help disengage your brain when you are thinking about things too much. The guy in the lower left hand corner could be Darth Maul's pudgy, out-of-shape, underachieving older brother.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
July 2, 2007 9:25 PM

chirp. chirp. here's my illustration friday "twist."

as previously mentioned, i am taking an off-loom fibers class. last week we were shown netting. i decided to draw the loops and knots and what i remembered of the demonstration, and somehow the drawing turned into twisty, funny looking birds. (note: i then used the "live paint" feature of illustrator. if you've never used live paint before, you should try it. it's fun to use and much easier than the traditional way of coloring up art in illustrator. it was a new feature introduced in cs2.)

also, if you want to make your own net, check out this page.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
6:41 PM

garage sale. this weekend. long island. favorite thing. sold. 3 dollars.