Archives for category: KU alumni

Kutztown U artists heading to MOCCAfest in NYC

February 20, 2013 //

In Jeff Gum’s PIONEERS, two shipwreck salvagers from the year 3861 P.G.B. get more than they bargain for when they uncover the remains of an “ancient” NASA space vessel. Jeff and his classmates in illustration II are all pioneers of sorts. They all are making individual zines, or mini-comics to share at MOCCAfest 2013 in New York City, a first for KU.

Kutztown will be among a select group of colleges at the indie comic showcase at the historic Lexington Ave. Armory. SVA, MICA, and the Center for Cartoon Studies will be there, but most MOCCA exhibitors are publishers and established artists. Darby Minter’s 8-pager, above, has a working title – Dreaming in Botulism. It is the story a young girl’s nightmare, the result of food poisoning. Darby plans to customize her zine with a post-it note from Mom on the fridge on page 6.

The panel above is from “Isaiah Arpino’s Most Amazing Story With Both Panties And An Ostrich. As Isaiah says, “It’s crazy what you can find in a basement and where it will take you.”

Awkward Bunnies by Nathan Hurst will be a 12-page project. The caption to the drawing above is “Do you still wear acid wash jeans?” More of Nathan’s art can be seen at: Thesuburbanpilgrim.tumblr.com

Another artist who can be found on tumblr is Lauren Gillespie. She is working on a project called Scallywaggin’ –“the heartwarming tale of a rowdy gang of cutthroat space pirates and their bungling captain that scour the universe for fortunes untold….sort of.”

panel from Scallywaggin' ©2013 Lauren Gillespie

MOCCA, by the way, stands for Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. MOCCAfest will be April 6 & 7 this year. It is New York’s largest indie comics showcase, featuring hundreds of creators and publishers for two days of educational panel discussions, slide shows, and interviews. It is open to the public for just $10 a day, details can be found here. We will be showing more highlights of our Kutztown illustration student projects real soon.

Tags alternative press, comics, illustration, kutztown university, self publishing, zines

Categories cartooning, illustration, KU alumni

Ethan Ross On Broadway.

November 14, 2012 //

Signage for Christmas Story at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC

I know the purpose of higher education is not job-training. Still, I must admit there is nothing that warms this professor’s heart more than getting an email with the subject line: Hey Prof, I GOT A JOB!

Ethan Ross, NY designer, KU CD grad, class of 2012.

Ethan Ross wrote to say, “ I have been working full-time as a Junior Designer at aka NYC. I interned here over the summer and they offered me the job. The company is located in the Theater District in Manhattan and exclusively does advertising for Broadway. Right now our biggest shows are: “Matilda the Musical” and “GlenGarry Glen Ross.“

Ethan designed posters, signs, and banners for Christmas Story, the Musical. The image above is peppered with quotes from Jean Shepard’s beloved holiday tale, notably, “Oh My God, I shot my eye out!”

Ethan got to do edgier design work for the new rock musical, BARE.

Ethan Ross’s poster for BARE, an Off-Broadway musical

Ethan describes Bare as an “Off-Broadway musical about teenagers attending a Catholic boarding school and trying to find their own identities. I am the lead graphic designer on this show and have worked with a creative director from the beginning. In addition to the poster, I designed a direct-mail piece and a series of illustrations that are being used on the show’s social media outlets.”

He has also been doing a lot of art for Bare‘s Facebook page. Bare opens this week, Nov 19, at The New World Stage, 340 W 50th St.

I wrote to Ethan asking how he fared during Hurricane Sandy. He wrote back, “Sandy didn’t affect me much, thankfully. I live in Marble Hill in the Bronx which is pretty far north and on top of a cliff, so I didn’t have to worry about flooding or losing power. The only inconvenience I experienced was when the subways shut down after the storm I was essentially trapped for a few days.” Clearly, Ethan has adjusted to life beyond Kutztown. We expect to see more great things from him.

Tags graphic design

Categories graphic design, KU alumni

KUTZTOWN to LEGOLAND

October 15, 2012 //

Austin Carlson graduated from KU in May, 2012 with a BFA in Communication Design. He won the Don Breter Illustration Award. Lately he has been working at a supermarket near his home in Hanover, PA. That will all change in a few weeks when he flies to Denmark to start his new job as a designer for LEGO. I wrote to him to ask him to share some of the portfolio pieces that helped him land his dream job.

What is your new job title?

“I will be first working as a Junior Graphic Designer for LEGO and hopefully work up from there.”

What can you tell us about the interview?

“All I can say about the interview is that I doubt I will ever have a better job interview in my life! The LEGO Company paid for everything and I’m not overselling that statement.”

“They paid for my plane tickets there and back, my taxi rides, all my meals, two tickets for LEGO Land, plus about 150 dollars worth of LEGO sets. Also all the nine candidates that came for the job interview became quick friends. I still keep in touch with them and I will see two of them again real soon since they were hired also.”

Children’s book concept illustration © Austin Carlson 2012.

How long have you wanted to work for LEGO?

“I’ve always wanted to work for the LEGO Company!” says Austin. ”This is really a dream come true for me! Since I started building when I was 4, I always wanted a position at LEGO. I just had no clue what Graphic Design was as a kid. I thought you had to be a starving artist if you wanted a career in art.”

LEGO ad design by Austin Carlson, KU project, 2012

Austin shared a couple more curious images that look like two of his illustration classmates transformed into LEGO characters. He calls them Mini-Joe and Mini-Laura, see below. To view more of the artwork that impressed LEGO visit Austin Carlson’s portfolio site.

Mini-Joe and Mini-Laura by Austin Carlson, 2012.

Tags illustration, kutztown university, LEGO

Categories drawing, illustration, KU alumni

KU Print Show travels to Oaxaca, Mexico

June 23, 2012 //

Good news from Mexico! Our shipment of 28 prints arrived safely in Oaxaca, Mexico from Kutztown, PA. The self-portraits in a wide variety of media (including woodblock, etching, serigraphy, and lithography) will be exhibited at Benito Juarez University in the month of July. The prints are by Kutztown University faculty, students, alumni, and friends.

Self-portrait, a Lithograph, by Prof. James Rose

Sending prints to Oaxaca seems odd, like sending flowers to Longwood Gardens. Oaxaca has a great tradition of printmakers from Rufino Tamayo to Rodolfo Morales. Living artists Damian Flores, Shinzaburo Takeda and the ASARO collective continue the tradition. Oaxaca’s best known printmaker is Francisco Toledo. His IAGO, Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca, is the largest public print collection in all Latin America, and a mecca for printmakers.

The Resurgence of Printmaking in the U.S.

Kutztown’s printmaking studio is part of a bigger picture. In recent years many U.S. universities tossed their printing presses to make way for computer labs. Today there is growing interest in traditional printmaking. Young artists are rediscovering the pride and joy of working with their hands. By the way, for dispatches from the trenches of contemporary printmaking there is no better source than Printeresting, and a Kutztown grad, Jason Urban, is one of the creators of that site.

Fortunately, Kutztown University’s printmaking studio thrives under the leadership of Prof. Evan Summer. Evan has won international acclaim for his etchings. The studio is also equipped for lithography taught by Prof. James Rose. Evan opens the studio to visiting artists whenever he can. In 2011, Cesar Chavez of Oaxaca came to demonstrate Oaxaca-style woodblock printing. Cesar was impressed by the artwork he saw and suggested this exhibition to continue the artistic exchange.

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There are prints by KU Professors Evan Summer, James Rose, Miles DeCoster, Kevin McCloskey, and Elaine Cunfer. More are by grads and current students. Pennsylvania is not that different from Oaxaca in one respect. Rare is the artist fortunate enough to make a living from her art. Some KU printmakers are teachers. Others work in shops or offices. Our most recent grads may still be looking for meaningful work. However, all maintain a passion for self-expression through the enduring medium of printmaking. And we are grateful to Cesar Chavez and the Escuela de Bellas Artes, UABJO, for this opportunity to share our art with the people of Oaxaca.

Near Oaxaca? Visit the exhibition at UABJO, University of Benito Juarez Centro Cultural on Avenida Universidad. Opening Reception: Friday July 6, 7pm. Free and open to the public. The exhibition runs to the 19th of July. If you are not in Oaxaca, you can get an idea of the variety and quality of KU prints from the slide show above.

Tags art exhibition, illustration exhibition, kutztown university, oaxaca, printmaking, prints, woodblock prints, woodblocks

Categories Faculty, KU alumni, printmaking, Visiting Artist

Honorary Doctorate for KU C.D. grad

April 5, 2012 //

Eric Scheaffer from: http://www.signature-theatre.org

Today at an otherwise ho-hum University Senate meeting we learned Eric D. Scheaffer, a BFA grad from Kutztown’s famed Communication Design program will receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater on May 12 at commencement. The Fleetwood native has had extraordinary success in live theatre in the Washington D.C. area and beyond. He has been profiled several times on the PBS Newshour. The musical genius Stephen Sondheim declared Scheaffer’s interpretations of his musicals are his personal favorites.

Scheaffer’s many awards include six Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Direction, six Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Musical, and the Washingtonian of the Year Award. His Signature Theatre earned the 2009 Tony Award for the Outstanding Regional Theatre.

“Since cofounding Arlington’s Signature Theatre company in 1990, he has reveled in repeated waves of positive buzz that echoed in New York, Los Angeles, and London. One critic wrote that Schaeffer “seems to pull a bigger rabbit out of his hat every year.” -Washingtonian Magazine.

courtesy: http://www.milliondollarquartetlive.com

Scheaffer has also had four successful productions on Broadway, most recently Million Dollar Quartet. This show recreates the legendary rock and roll night when Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley jammed together at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Million Dollar Quartet can still be seen in New York on Broadway and in other major cities. And if you are heading toward D.C., the Signature Theatre’s spring line-up can be found here.

Categories KU alumni

He’s Got a Million of them –7 Great Designs by Greg Christman

January 29, 2012 //

Greg Christman is one of the most prolific illustrator/designers to come out of Kutztown’s C.D. Dept. His work is frequently seen on the hippest design blogs. He was recently featured in a spread in a new French design publication called the Book of Creation. I asked Greg to explain a few of his inventive images the French liked so much.

Greg: Did this when I was working at Gyro. Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction was looking for some artist shirts. I made this. It’s just a fun type experiment.

I love cats. Andy O’ Dore (also a KU CD grad) and I created/run a cat website (which has really blown up this year )… so you know I’m always making dumb cat things. This is exactly that… a dumb cat thing.

Love Harry Potter. No other explanation for this. This got reblogged thousands of times which was really, really amazing for me.

4-color screenprint for Slingshot Dakotas vinyl release of their record. Tom from Bird Apartment Printing screened this. He is also in the band. He is a talented screenprinter. I do a lot of work for him and his band. Excited that I’m doing their up and coming record on their new label.

Wonder Years? Band contacted me to do a t-shirt. Went through a few rounds and this one got made. Really happy with it.

Paint it Black poster: 2 -color screen printed poster for a show in DC. Contacted by the band to do it. Got a great response and sold a ton.

Asked about his career path, Greg responds: “Oh ___! Day job. I worked a crazy ad job for a few years. You know… 8am – 8pm, while still having work to do at home. It wore me out… so I quit. It was great for experience and I highly recommend anyone getting out of school to do the same… but MOVE ON. It’s what I did. I took a job that was far less stressful. It is fulfilling, allows me to do my own work, as well as spend time with my kid and wife. You have to have that balance. Design and illustration is fun and all, but life is way better and that ultimately makes you a better designer.”

All images © Greg Christman. We leave you with a photo of Greg and his son, Oliver. Greg is the mature one on the left.

Tags advice for illustrators, graphic design, illustration, kutztown university

Categories cartooning, graphic design, illustration, KU alumni

Jennifer Nye Holiday Card

December 17, 2011 //

We didn’t get a lot of real holiday cards this year. The loveliest illustrated card came from Jennifer Nye. I tore the top edge off my card as I opened it. (I get impatient near Christmas.) I asked Jen to send me the digital file and give me permission to share her charming image. WordPress provides a plug-in for this blog that adds the snow effect. It makes Jen’s drawing look like a frame from an animated film.

Jennifer Nye is a 2005 Kutztown University graduate. She did her internship at Crayola. Today she is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and fine artist in Lancaster, PA. Jennifer started her own freelancing business three years ago and works for a wide range of clientele. I think her web site looks great at nyedesignstudio.com. She feels it is time for a website update and has changes planned for early 2012. I promise to let you know about when that update happens.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Wishing all illustrators a very Merry Christmas,or Hannakuh, or Diwali, or any sacred day you may celebrate. Happy New Year! If any of you, not just Jen, has an updated website or any illustration success to share, please drop us a line.

Tags kutztown university

Categories illustration, KU alumni

Another Year, Another Calendar

December 9, 2011 //

Black is back. Twenty years ago at a party in Hoboken I overheard a young punk mother complaining because she couldn’t find black baby clothes for her toddler. Today black is back. I got two presents wrapped in black. One was a brilliant new calendar from CD alum Ross Moody’s greeting collective, 55his.com. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Spoiler Alert: 2011 is ending in a less than 3 weeks.

Sketches lifted from 55hi's blog about illustrating the 2012 calendar.

The Monster Calendar includes illustrations by Sock Monkee, Chris Sandlin. I got an artist’s proof, but the calendars available at 55his.com are part of a limited silkscreened edition. Illustrators will want to check out the 55hi’s blog to see the entire process of putting this work of art together.

If you want to help save the U.S.Post Office, get over to 55hi’s for all your greeting card and gift needs.

Or maybe save some money to spend at Sean Starwar’s site. The 2012 calendar picks up exactly where my Sean Starwar’s 2011 calendar leaves off. (see below.) Sean Starwars is one my favorite printmakers. Kutztown grad Jason Urban recently featured Starwars year-long printmaking project on the Printeresting site. Starwars grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, but now lives in rural Mississippi. I’ve met him a few times, and he is the nicest hyper-guy you would like to meet. Sean has a voracious appetite for Mountain Dew. Somewhere on the internet there is a Youtube video where he demonstrates how to add your own caffeine and sugar in an emergency when your local Piggly-Wiggly has nothing left on the shelf but the diet caffeine-free version!

Sean Starwars did a woodblock print every week of 2011. That’s over 50! Let that be an inspiration to you (and me.) Sean is having a holiday special sale at his Etsy page. Sean Starwar’s Etsy store page may be the only one that includes all three of these descriptive tags, “Mountain Dew” and “Christmas Sale” and “Rebel Scum.”

Remember. If you buy a calendar, always, always, check the date!

Tags calendars, illustration, printmaking, prints, woodblock prints, woodblocks

Categories graphic design, illustration, KU alumni, printmaking

Return of CD Grads

October 23, 2011 //

Elaine Cunfer, Kevin Cornell, Matt Twombly, and David Bullock

We had a full house, an audience of 177, for the David Bulluck Return of the CD Grads. Prof. Elaine Cunfer deserves a lot of credit; she did a great job organizing the event. Both speakers shared their passion for illustration. Matt Twombly talked about his internship at Marvel Comics. A highlight of that experience was a personal portfolio review from Joe Quesada Marvel’s editor-in-chief. He also talked about the four months he had to move back to his parents house, before landing his job at Science Magazine. He had some good news to share. At the end of this month Matt begins a brand new job for National Geographic. In his free time Matt is creating his own Western-themed comics.

Kevin Cornell punctuated his presentation with fond recollections of KU. He showed a hand-written index card on which I had scrawled a note,” Kevin, you have 12 recorded absences and I only took attendance 22 times. This is an insult to the concept of a studio class!”

Over lunch at the Tavern Kevin graciously told me I was on the mark with the criticism. During his presentation he said that students can’t expect to be “taught illustration” by a professor. One needs to do lots of work to gain illustration skills. He also had other painful truths, like, “Don’t expect your first job to be glamorous.”

Kevin illustrated Moustache! written by Mac Barnett, a brand new book published by Hyperion-Disney. So new, that it arrived in the KU bookstore on Friday, one day after the Return of the CD grads. Check it out. Kirkus Reviews praised the artwork “Cornell ushers the story forward with cinematic artwork, framed in elaborate medieval-like borders, but paced sequentially like a comic book.”

Tags children's books, children's literature, drawing, illustration

Categories drawing, illustration, KU alumni

TWO Star Illustrators Return

October 17, 2011 //

Poster by Kim Beyer. KU CD, class of 2012

Kevin Cornell and Matt Twombly will present their artwork at “The David Bullock Return of the CD Grads,” Thursday October 20, from 1 until 3pm. Location: Kutztown’s McFarland SUB, Alumni Auditorium. These are two very successful guys who do very different sorts of illustration. Some samples are posted here, but you should really check out their websites, by clicking on their names above.

Why is it called the David Bullock Return of the CD Grads? Professor Emeritus David Bullock was a founder of the CD dept and the longtime chair, so the event is named in his honor. Among his many contributions to the CD curriculum, Prof. Bullock developed the History of Graphic Design class. Prof. Elaine Cunfer works hard to put this popular annual event together, and this year the focus is on illustrators.

Comic page 2010 Matt Twombly

All C.D. student are expected to be there, but there will be extra seats and the public is welcome. For C.D. students with class conflicts, this is like a field trip. KU CD faculty will ask faculty across campus to allow you to make up lost classwork. There will be pizza and drinks available prior to the event at 12:30. Prof. Cunfer has thought of everything.

Kevin Cornell’s brilliant, entertaining, and award-winning web site, bearskinrug.co.uk gets several thousand hits some days. The artwork above was plucked from his massive gallery. Kevin has illustrated several books including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Matt Twombly’s web site, matthewtwombly.com is brand new and it showcases his illustration, comics and graphic design projects.

Life after KU and Weis Markets:

We often do a project in illustration classes, a staple of illustration programs everywhere, the old “How To… instructional illustration.’ We see a lot of “How to use Chop Sticks, Check your Oil, How to Back Up your Hard Drive.” Matt Twombly worked at the local supermarket while he attended Kutztown. I recall seeing him restocking yogurt in the dairy aisle. I guess he didn’t like it much. He did a wild series of illustrations on “How to get Fired from Weis Markets.” He now works as a designer for Science, a Washington, D.C. based publication, and he loves his job. He gets to do a new illustration for Science nearly every week.

The illustration Concentration blog has written about both of these talented individuals before. If you missed those entries read more about Kevin here, and Matt here.

Tags advice for illustrators, children's books, comics, drawing, illustration, kutztown university

Categories Faculty, illustration, KU alumni

Kutztown U artists heading to MOCCAfest in NYC

Ethan Ross On Broadway.

KUTZTOWN to LEGOLAND

KU Print Show travels to Oaxaca, Mexico

Honorary Doctorate for KU C.D. grad

He’s Got a Million of them –7 Great Designs by Greg Christman

Jennifer Nye Holiday Card

Another Year, Another Calendar

Return of CD Grads

TWO Star Illustrators Return

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