Secret Still

I’m pretty sure that if Antonio Santin doesn’t already hang out with Korin Faught, they should maybe grab a sandwich or something. I see so much similarity in their styles, and in some of the concepts they’re using. Santin’s work has that quiet, creepy intensity, like a stranger who stares at you without blinking for an hour. There just seem to be a lot of dark velvet covered secrets in his work, which is something I also see in Faught’s paintings. The level of detail in Santin’s work is fantastic, too. I mean, these are some gigantic paintings, so there’s a lot of background that can go into them. I love that shit, I soak it right up. I’m a fan of whatever David Lynch-ian world that Antonio Santin inhabits, and I hope he keeps opening those windows into it. During the day. I’d probably freak out if I encountered one at night.

Antonio Santin

All artists develop a reputation for various nuances in their style. In fact, it’s how we learn to tell artists’ work apart. Some are more broad, like the differences in the schools of painting, and some are more specific, like the fact that Michael Shapcott’s portraits all have piercing eyes that I’m pretty sure are looking right into my soul and judging me. If there’s one defining characteristic to his work, it’s those piercing eyes. And the beautiful style, of course. I’m especially impressed with how balanced his portraits are between the frenetic chaos of splatters and slashes, and the cool washes and, again, those damn piercing eyes. I don’t often talk about buying an artist’s work, because frankly I can’t afford to talk about it, let alone actually buy it, but in the immortal words of Wayne Campbell, “It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.”

Michael Shapcott

Ok, photographers, you win. I officially retire my camera and give up on any image capturing I might try to do in the future. My kid’s milestones will go unrecorded; my wedding won’t be documented by me; and whenever I see a sunset I won’t reach for a camera to try and capture that magical moment. Tim Simmons is the one to blame or celebrate, depending on your opinion of any pictures I’ve taken. The man can do things with a photograph that literally make my mind spin, as in a full 360 degree rotation in my skull. He shoots the world in a manner that makes it seem so alien and new, and that, for me anyway, is the ultimate photographic skill. I certainly have never been able to master it, or even beginner it, but here is Tim Simmons doing it better than anyone ever like he was just taking a walk in the park. You know what? It’s ok. I didn’t want to lug around my camera and extra lenses and whatnot to all my kid’s school events, or my friend’s parties, or anywhere for that matter. I just wish I had smoked less pot in the past so I could remember these things without having to photograph them.

Tim Simmons

Following my tradition of liking comics more the fewer words they use, Jon McNaught (previously mentioned) slips right into that part of my brain like a good puzzle piece. His work is quiet, well-paced, and subtly cinematic, the way a great comic should be. His style has this great simplified Chris Ware vibe that almost looks like a linocut. Just fucking fantastic, man. How could anyone possibly not love that? He just keeps getting better and better.

Jon McNaught

While I go about messing around with my FTP problems, I really couldn’t keep quiet any longer about the various arts and things I want to show you. First and foremost is UK master of illustration, Tom Bagshaw. It’s been a minute since last I looked in on Mr. Bagshaw, and damned if he didn’t go put up a bunch of new works from his Yokai Dreams series. His content has changed so dramatically that it kind of startled me at first, but that Bagshaw-ian style still remains. Things have gone a little deeper, a little darker, and it’s working like gangbusters for him. You keep that up, Tom, and illustrator isn’t going to come close to cutting it. I already think it’s not good enough for ya.

Tom Bagshaw

There will be more than just videos next week. This I almost promise you.

Meet the Sloths

Crater Face

Skateboarding Filmed with the Phantom Camera

Step into the Sensory Box

YACHT - Psychic City

Nike: Write the Future

Buddy Guy and Cat Power - Come On in My Kitchen

I’m having FTP issues that I’m too lazy or too busy to fix right now, so enjoy these videos that other people made.

Color a Sound

Inception Trailer

Mast Brothers Chocolate

The Distant Hours

Memoryhouse - Lately

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

Letting Up Despite Great Faults - Our Younger Noise

May Day w/ Shepard Fairey

Brighton FreakShow from Johnny McCulloch on Vimeo.

Ballpoint ninja and Secret Still Vato Loco por Vida Will Scobie wanted me to drop some knowledge on you about the show he’s a part of titled “The Brighton FreakShow.” Taking place in Brighton (duh), the show is like the special forces of Brighton illustrators, the cream of the crop if you will, all mixed together into a deliciously concocted stew. That video up there should give you a pretty good idea of the magic involved. If you are lucky enough to already be in or around the Brighton area, then get your lazy ass over to that show every Saturday in May. If you aren’t even in the UK, tough shit, because that volcano ain’t gonna let you in. But you can still enjoy the pretty pictures on the website.

Brighton FreakShow

Another back to back stack of tracks for your weekend distracts.

Love & Theft

The Kestrel by Falcon Motorcycles

Light Rhapsody

Sonar

Box Animation

If Doze and Kinsey had a Pacific Northwestern Tribal baby that only ate cardboard, it would be the closest thing to the work of Amose. French people are killing it in the graffiti world these days. Go Frogs.

Amose