Scallywags and Pirates are all well and good, but let's be realistic. They aren't your buddies, in fact they probably think it would be cute to use your skull for a bowl. You know what happens to Pirates? They get eaten by bears.
The real heroes of the ocean are the Sea Captains. These stoic, grumpy and often romantic stallions of the blue beyond will oil their muskets with nary a warning. They have the obvious advantage of both legs and most of their digits. If that wasn't enough for you bolweevils, they boast a profound command of the drinking of Gin.
The only thing better is the sea monster. Not the kind that uses your vessel for a toothpick, the kind that carries you to school and takes back your milk money.
Juan F. Leguizamon gets it. His fun, clever style is enough to convert any land-locked unbeliever to parish of the sea. Check out his epic nautical series on the Behance network. Or take a look at Juan's website for more illustration & design by this talented artist.
* Images via Juan F. Leguizamon on the Behance Network.
So you loved 2001: A Space Odyssey and you think Wes Anderson is the cat's pajamas. You're not alone. Meet Mark Weaver. His limited edition silkscreen posters are something you'd expect to see while wandering the halls of Steve Zissou's Belafonte.
Mark's retro landscapes coupled with natural textures and scientific subject matter are what initially drew me to his work, but the icing on the cake was this little slice of space-age heaven.
Those of you who lived in Ventura in the late 90's and early 2000's remember this guy from Skate Street. He was the one that taught your little brother, your son, or your daughter how to skateboard. Heck, I even attended the girl's camp and learned a thing or two. I was 19 years old. Among the young kids I learned how to drop in, and all it cost me was a skinned knee.
He's a great artist, an awesome skateboarder, and an overall stand-up guy. Gavin was dignosed with Lyme disease some years back and today, he's confined to a wheelchair. His family and friends have done everything they can and more, but he still needs a lot of help. So they got together and decided to do something amazing: Throw him a benefit concert and art auction.
Since I can't play an instrument, I'll be contibuting some artwork:
Check out the Save the Dates for Lynell Smith and Steven Johnson's wedding. All hand-printed on a print Gocco using Wausau's Chocolate Truffle Paper.
Check out Spiewak's new fashion site, courtesy of The Compound Design. Their fall line is nothing short of to die for. Luckily you don't have to. Spiewak holds contests every week with event and jacket giveaways. Check out their Facebook page for more details on how you can win!
Well it's looking that way isn't it? With the latest Spiewak campaign making it's appearance at Magic this month, I'm about as giddy as can be.
Courtney Rust is getting her new website underway, with a dreamy new logo holding down the digital fort. Check it out at: www.courtneyrust.com
What's going on right now?Intercept tour posters fresh off the press! Dressed in Neenah environment Desert Storm.
At long last Spiewak's Golden Fleece catalog has arrived at my doorstep. Premiering at the 2008 Magic Convention in Las Vegas, this beauty heralds Spiewak's new line of outerwear for the 2008 season.
cover detail: silver foil stamp graphic with a clear foil stamp tree ring pattern on black stock.
It's been a busy month! The website has been updated with Ratt, Queensryche, and Heart so please break out the hairspray and your best leopard print Members Only and take a peek!
Speaking of hairspray, This month I've been freelancing at Paul Mitchell in Beverly Hills. They've got a great design team and their packaging ideas are killer. Not to mention a fully-stocked refridgerator and an economy-sized coffee machine. The future's uncertain but I can only say that little by little I plan on moving my computer closer to the kitchen.
The new Spiewak Golden Fleece campaign will be up next month so do mark your calendar. Also, if you happen to have a subscription to Aperture Magazine keep an eye out for the May issue. The Golden Fleece ad made the back cover with my Coney Island icon! Huzzah!
I recently finished working as Graphic Designer at the Geffen Playhouse thanks to an office-wide plague that had rendered half of the staff ill. Fortunately, my Kryptonian immune system remained unaffected, and I was able to work on the programs for Some Girl(s) and the new play by Joan Rivers without any flu-like symptoms. Hot damn! I will admit I was feeling slightly self-conscious about my outfit for several days out of the week. Oh for just one second of Joan's time to tell me what she thinks of it.
I've been traveling up the 101 to Kristen Williams's shock, several miles outside of Silverlake. Kristen has expressed great concern for my well being, citing that I might break out into hives if I left my neighborhood. This simply, is not true. I am doing fantastic, and my skin has never looked more lovely.
The reason for my travels is that I'm freelacing with the company The Vyant Group (also Degrees), of Thousand Oaks. Home of an Anthropologie and a Cheesecake Factory. It's a small company, with great designers, all with a wonderful sense of humor and a working coffee machine. But just as a warning, I hear tell the Creative Director shreds at Guitar Hero. I'm not intimidated. That's where I'm a viking.
http://www.vyantgroup.com/
Keep an eye out for anything Spiewak. Kristen and I are working on their new streetwear catalogs for 2008 with Josh Chapman of New York. I don't want to blow the surprise, but it's going to look incredible to say the very least.
http://www.spiewak.com/
Happy Holidays everyone!
Now I'm nearing my final days at Samuels Advertising and although I'll miss everyone here, even more than i'll miss Kristen, I'm more excited than anything about being able to focus on my own design. In my free time I'm looking forward to decorating the house with stray paint from my silkscreen, and my room with truant sheets of freshly cut paper and design. It's going to be quite a trip, but i'm ready to jump on it like a live grenade.
It's been pretty busy. At Samuels Advertising we've been doing some pretty epic albums that I'm notoriously excited about. Ratt and Heart! Both are still in production, but I got so excited I had to blurt it out like a kinderkid that just found out about his sister's surprise party. Can you blame me? Ratt n roll....
Simultaneously, Under MLD, I've just finished up the latest linebook for Spiewak's 2008 Spring collection! It's kind of like work but only if your job is being awesome and you can shop while you draw pictures all day.
