Friday, July 29, 2011

Angeline Rivas











I'm so blown away by this beautiful work (in ballpoint pen!) of artist Angeline Rivas, who I just discovered via The Ghost Dancer tumblr.
That first piece is my favorite - so incredible!!

There are so many things to love about her images, but one thing I can't help but think about is that they're a perfect example of how making art doesn't have to mean spending boatloads on expensive materials and supplies. Of course quality supplies are often integral to certain work, but in the end they won't mean as much if you can't utilize them - ultimately, talent and creativity can't be bought. These visions are amazing!

More here: The Cavern Collection.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Southern Methodist University, 1972











Just a handful of scans from one of my mom's college yearbooks: an especially lovely year for the annual in my opinion, as all the sections were introduced with different line drawings like the woman in the last image. I think she was the herald for the "Beauty Queens" section!

The heatwave buzzing over us is just about all anyone seems to talk about around here lately, but while the humidity sure is stifling, in a way I'm actually alright with it because it's a great excuse to stay indoors with the cool air once I'm home from work and just draw for hours!

Friday, July 22, 2011

A few favorite found images of the week:


(via)

(via)


(via)


Busy thinking about the magical power of turning what appears in the mind into a tangible, physical reality. Sorcery indeed!


(p.s.: Magic Carpet Spells mix here!)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Illustration Inspiration: Mike Hinge



Illustrator and graphic designer Mike Hinge, who (like Bob Pepper) was quite prolific in the science fiction world throughout the 1960s-80s, is another artist whose work I have found myself turning back to time and time again.

I love his style of bright colors with the bold and intricate linework, and how the colors are blocked off in shapes to represent shading and detail: pop art style with a fantastical, science fiction edge. Another amazing example of incredible skill from an age of manually-done art!











In pulling up examples to post here, I came across this blog in my image search, which I found interesting since it seems to be all drafts and drawings from the author's personal collection. I always love seeing an artist's work in progress and the drafts that follow as the concept evolves; for me it's a great reminder of the long process of work involved in getting something to its desired endpoint - even when the artist seems never less than perfect.






In addition to his wide output of sci-fi novel covers and features, Mike Hinge illustrated portraits for Time Magazine, created typefaces, had a strip in Heavy Metal Magazine, and published a book in 1973 about his art called The Mike Hinge Experience. It seems to be difficult (or at least very expensive) to track down a copy, but maybe I'll get lucky and come across it somewhere one day - I could always use more psychedelic robots in my life!









Images sourced here, here, here, here and here.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Illustration Inspiration: Bob Pepper



This was originally intended as a post featuring two artists whose illustrations I find inspirational and wonderful, but I had so many images saved that I figured it would be best to dedicate a post to each. More to come!

An illustrator since 1962, Bob Pepper was quite prolific throughout the following two decades and in his own words "during the 70's & 80's [I] was well known and thought of as an artist who did decorative stylized approaches to serious subjects."

I don't even remember the first time I saw his art, but whenever it was - his work and style have really stuck with me! That his illustrations are from a time when artists worked without any kind of digital aid makes them all the more stunning and impressive to me. Long live the hand drawn!
















He is also the artist behind the iconic Forever Changes album cover by Love:



I loved the insight he gave in this short Q&A here on his work:

"My technique is to cement down charcoal paper, float water into areas of the illustration, and border the area with dark gouache which spreads and settles in the warpings of the wet paper. After that dries flat, I float dyes on top to color the area. I love the whole process of illustration, but mostly the research and bringing together of many different parts to form a coherent whole design that I like. I also think that your state of mind, (what interests you) has, really, everything to do with it!"




Images sourced here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and more in my flickr favorites.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

>>>>>>>Sneak Peeks!>>>>>>>>

Here's just a quick sneak peek at a few of the drawings I'll be selling as prints in the soon-to-be-open Golden Haze etsy shop!!!







I'll post the link when it's up and running - hopefully within the next couple of days!

<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>