Maurizio Bongiovanni
It’s been a long day, so I’m not gonna say anything about Maurizio Bongiovanni’s work. Just let your eyes dig on it. More than enough for you.
{ Monthly Archives }
July 2010
Videos
Perspective can be a real bitch.
Sunset - Loveshines II
Animal Collective - Lion in a Coma
Honey Pie NSFW
Jack Hudson
Aside from having a name that sounds like he should be running out of an exploding building with several rescued hostages in his arms, Jack Hudson is also a great illustrator. With emphasis on the line work and color, Hudson pieces together his illustrations with memories and symbols like the best Jim Houser paintings, and a lot of humor thrown in for good measure. I guess you have to keep things pretty light when you’re defying death to save those hostages. When does he find the time to draw, though?
Allan Peters
Maybe there is something special about the icier parts of the Midwest, but there are some fantastic designers there. Is it the oppressive Winters? You get trapped in the house for months at a time because of inclimate weather, and there’s nothing else to do but get really really good at something? I’ve noticed there are some great artists/designers in Portland, too where it rains like a bastard for most of the year. Damn the pleasant environs I’ve lived in throughout my life, no wonder I’m not very good at anything. Whatever the reason, the results are still clear, and Allan Peters is a great example. The Minnesota-based designer is as talented as they come, and within the first five seconds I had already added his site to my “inspiration” bookmarks. Lots of ideas zooming around the old brain box after combing through his portfolio. Simple design, great color pairings, excellent font choices, and a classic aesthetic; plus he’s been shot before. Apparently I need to think about living somewhere a little more challenging.
Cam Floyd
It’s one of my flaws that I spend a majority of my time trying to see how people’s minds work based on whatever criteria I have about them; for author’s it’s their words, programmers it’s their code, and artists it’s their pieces. In all of those examples there is so much that can be inferred from structure, composition, and tone (if you think programming languages don’t have tone then you don’t spend enough time with them). Am I stupid enough to think that I’m right about what I infer? Sometimes… not usually. But I generally end up pretty close to a small part of the truth about a person. I liked looking into that small window of Cam Floyd’s mind, especially since it had the added bonus of his work being so visually appealing. His work is loose in a way that I really enjoy, but thoughtful enough that there is still organization to his compositions. And his illustrations keep that same style, but with the message being a little more direct. What all of my bullshit boils down to is that the guy is seriously talented as an artist, and from what I can tell, not a serial killer. Win/win.
Videos
Dedicated to anyone who found what they were looking for on four wheels and a plank of wood.
Cory Kennedy: Slice of Life
Doin’ It Baja
Josh Evans
I’ve been on vacation for the last two weeks or so, traveling the country, seeing old friends, making new enemies, saving Christmas with the California Raisins. The usual deal. When I got back, there was a friendly email from illustrator Josh Evans asking me to check out his work. Work checked and approved, Josh. Those country music star illustrations are worthy of turning into a tattoo, and that’s a pretty high compliment from me. While you’re scoping his portfolio, don’t miss his “Rankle Jones” project. He illustrated a scam email asking for investments for a movie, and it is fucking awesome. Who wouldn’t want to see a golf action/drama? Give Josh that old Secret Still welcome with your hit counts. All four of you.
Jeff Soto: Lifecycle
Without a doubt, the Secret Still number 1 favorite artist is Riverside, CA loc dog Jeff Soto. He’s been steady at the top of my list for nearly a decade now, to the point where I was surprised I didn’t nervously vomit on him a little when I met him a couple years ago. Just a bit. I kept my cool, showed him the tattoo I have of his Juxtapoz cover. He was a nice guy, and from what I saw, a great dad. And this year he’s given us all a fantastic Father’s Day present in the form of a new show at Jonathan Levine Gallery called Lifecycle. Like the title implies, the show’s pieces center around the various stages of life from birth through falling in love all the way to death. And no one symbolizes ideas better than Mr. Soto. His usual set of imagery is there, but transmuted and added onto in a thousand colorful ways to create a new dialog. His new work to me is always an hours long heart attack of analysis and amazement, and internet images never do it justice. There are so many little details that float around in the background that make me squeal like a delighted little school girl. Then comes the overly excited vomiting again. Just a bit.